tgif, wait saturday, crap....

Well, after a fairly busy week, I am all set for my first class, I have all the medical situations taken care of (in prep. for the busy time), and Taylor had a game tonight, so I got a break. Trent watched the babies after he dropped Taylor off and watched the first couple of innings. I swapped out with him and enjoyed a nice relaxing game. Actually it was an exciting game, but with a book in my ears and no babies to chase, it felt like a vacation. Taylor got in a good catch and a good hit, allowing two teammates to run home, and they were able to comeback from behind to tie 13 to 13. The team they played is ranked number one in the league right now, so that is pretty cool. I drove Trent's truck and because I just rearranged my bag (in preparation for class) I forgot my camera, but it was nice to just sit with nothing to do. I am pretty tired, but really glad that everything went so smoothly this week, everything was finished. Now, only one more week until I start earning credits again! I can't believe we have made it to this step, very exciting. But, it does seem like time speeds up when you get closer to any radical change in your life.

tiniest tidbit...

I asked Taylor, "Where are you in the book?" His reply was, "I don't know, I'm just listening to it." So, I asked, "Well, what is Lyra doing right now?" "Oh, she's with Iorek Byrnison in the town. They just got his armor back." (Trevor told me, last night, that "when I grow up, I'll get to have big underwear, like you and dad." oh boy! and gee, thanks. )

just goofing...

This is some of what I was talking about, the silliness that I usually don't catch with the camera. I am also including the TED video about this kind of thing that I posted on facebook (for those of you not there yet). Also, the fun preceded a good scrape to the chin for Trevor, he is now bandaged and fine. But, it illustrates how there is never a day without an injury, boo boo, or some type of misery. Yes, I here you Buddha, "life is pain".

now I remember....

One of the things that I meant to mention last night, was that I am such a sappy nerd. Well, not just that, but that it warmed my heart when I realized that the driving yesterday was very productive learning time. The babies (Trevor actually) wanted to watch the Muzzy cartoon in Spanish on the way to get Taylor. Trevor even passed crackers over the seat to Jewel anytime that she held her hand up and said, "I ant tome." It was very sweet. Taylor switched it to German on the way to music. And, on the way home after his lesson he sweetly read a book to Trevor, while Jewel took a nap. I love it when they learn just because. Another thing that has been on my mind for over a month, but that I just didn't feel up to tackling in blog format is the local watering restrictions. I haven't started any real gardening, so I don't really care, and I would hand water it anyway. But, we do live in a community that expects lush green grass year round. And, they will fine you for failing in that effort. We have already received a warning letter. Our response was to fertilize and seed a bit, and we watered once a week until 3 weeks ago. You see, one night on the local news there was a story about the local reservoir for our area. The story reported that it was going to dry up, not in a month or two, but as they reported "probably tomorrow". I have no idea why we didn't get that story a few months ago or even a week or two before it was dry. But, sure enough it was bone dry the next day and two days later it became illegal to use sprinklers to water your lawn. Now only hand watering is allowed. I only mention this because I think it is absolutely sick that it had to go completely dry before this was made a law, we've been in a drought for ages. And also, because my neighbors (one or two of them) have continued to water with their sprinklers at night. Sometimes twice a week! Luckily I have let it go because although the house next door was sold and is now being maintained, there are three new houses for sale within 4 doors of us and none of their yards are decent. We have kept the weeds out of ours and have cut it, which is more than the occupied house across the street has done. I don't blame them, the house next to them is for sale and until two weeks ago that yard looked like a jungle. No exaggerating, the weeds were several feet high, and you couldn't even find the sidewalk. It did get cut, but that was it. We haven't received another letter, so I hope there is some clause that allows the grass to die in the case that there is no water to water with, ha ha, sort of. I did let the kids water the front yard a bit yesterday by playing in the sprinkler my mom bought for them, for a few minutes. I just can't believe that when other places are shipping water in, our residents would rather have green grass until the water is gone, than have water for a bit longer. I am sure they are not aware of the risks, let's be honest, the perceived indestructibility of our society or even just parts of our way of life is a prevailing factor. It is exhausting to think about and I have allowed myself to (while still doing the little bits that I see helpful) stop thinking about it. We aren't yet in a place where we can live independently and we have a long way to go before we will be there. Until then, I just have to pretend that everyone wishes they could do more, and ignore those who blatantly don't care. Still, I am tempted to report the midnight watering fiends, and if they water two days in a row again, I will. The last thing that I wanted to mention is that I read (well, listen to) a lot of books. I tried several different ideas that would track and report the books I am reading, but for two reasons it seems that isn't possible. One, before I finish one I am starting the next or listing 4 I want to read, so I hardly pause to think about what I thought of the book before I start another; some I never finish, because I forget or don't want to. And two, I don't enjoy critiquing books, I either like it or I don't and I don't want to waste time discussing and dissecting all the things I like or don't like. But, on the other hand, when I become involved in a conversation about a particular book, I enjoy hearing others opinions of it and even inserting my agreement or disagreement. I have learned about hundreds of books to read from discussing books with others, so I would like a way to start those conversations more frequently. Perhaps when I start my classes it will happen. College, it would seem, should be a good place to find other readers, right? On that note, classes (well, the first one) start in two weeks. I still can not wait, although I suppose, despite my inability to do so, I am.

today...

Today was one of those days that ended with a walk to the park for no other reason than to prevent the kids from destroying another room if only for 30 minutes. If Trent hadn't cleaned the kitchen while we were out it would still be filthy, and I wouldn't care. I left the house at 10:30 am and didn't get back home until 3 pm (I know, some do this everyday). I would have been gone from 9 am on, but Trevor still had a little cough, so I made him skip gymnastics. When we got home I tolerated 3 hours of the fussing and fighting and decided to take the babies for a walk. The babies were into everything all morning and couldn't settle down when we made it home again. I tried to clean, but the babies kept interrupting my efforts with their inability to share and collective curiosities. Sometimes they can be so sweet, and other times they are miserable to each other. I can't even remember all the things I was going to write about, but I know there were a few. (I'm so tired I just spelled write 'right'; wrong!) One thing that I didn't know I was going to mention until 10 minutes ago, when on a whim, I decided to look up Neil Gaiman's website is, and I have informed Trent, so now I can freely share, that I am infatuated with Neil Gaiman. I can't believe I never noticed the author of The Sandman comics, I guess I just didn't really notice authors back then, but I am thoroughly obsessed now. His blog is fantastic. Other things I was going to blog about involved the kids. Mostly Trevor, mainly further elaborations on the videos in the first post from today, so I guess I'll let it go. There was something I was going to say about all the funny things I catch the kids doing but I never catch on video (like when Taylor entertains the babies being silly, or he and Trevor pretend to be commandos, ducking around corners and rolling on the floor with imaginary guns). And something else about how funny Trevor is when he uses words incorrectly (like when he gets upset and says that "Jewel is recognizing" him). Taylor is home again, thankfully, I miss him after a day and a week becomes torture. Tomorrow we get to learn stuff. YEA!! Oh, yeah, Jami and Pete had the baby at 1 am today!! I didn't get to go see him, but Trent reported that all went well and he is alert and healthy. Congrats to them! Well, I tried to think about it, but I am too tired, good night!

Trevor, oh Trevor

I didn't get a video of Taylor's song. He said his arms were "sore" and he and his teacher were playing the game Taylor invented when I arrived at the end of the lesson. I did get some footage of the babies, particularly Trevor at the park during the lesson. The videos are bouncy and drift away from the subject because I was trying to keep track of the child behind me while getting video of the one in front of me. These are just a few from the weekend; normal everyday activities. This little gem wasn't going to get posted, but Mimi requested it. Very embarrassing (listen closely).

illness....

Trent used his long lunch to watch the babies while I got to watch part of Taylor's baseball game. The Diamondbacks won 9 to 8, my mother reported. I watched three innings in the middle and we were up 7 to 3 when I left. The part I saw was exciting, so I can only imagine that the end was great. Our team has a great group of pitchers and infielders, so it is always fun to watch them play. Taylor made it on base from balls before the inning ended, and struck out his second at bat. He is really good a batting, but hasn't had a big hit during a game. But, now that his skills are better, it is only a matter of time. The babies have a little cold like thing happening, no big deal, but I don't like to take them around others to spread their germs when I can avoid it. Last night we took turns going to the gym so that they didn't go to the daycare, which is almost frustrating because there are often other children who do show up there with running noses. We even decided to cancel our get together tonight, so that our friends' baby doesn't get sick. The other couple coming is within weeks of having their first, so they definitely don't need any colds in their house now. We wanted to reschedule for next weekend, but it looks like that may not work out. Well, that's what's up now. Here are a few videos of the babies from yesterday. I am not sure why I didn't take the camera to the baseball game, but I will try to remember to make a video the next game. I am also planning to ask Taylor and his music teacher to perform the song they have been writing for the last few lessons on Monday.

mastering the camera...

After Taylor's game on Tuesday, he and a few lectures went to my mom and dad's for the week. Trevor and I learned all about intestines, which led to a whole body study, after he asked, while sitting on the toilet, where poop comes from. We also played on iknowthat.com, putting the animals into the appropriate habitats. We did a little sign language and spanish, as usual, and colored. We built towers, discussed shapes, and in general "played preschool". A fun week naturally. Trevor also made a little video, several actually, but only this one was more than a few seconds long. He is learning, and tried to get it right, I'll post any more that he does. I captured a little video of Jewel pretending to read, but it is not a good representation of how cute it is when she does this, and it is one of Taylor's books, so no pictures. When she reads one of her own books, she makes the words she is saying "match" with what she sees in the picture. I will try to capture this more accurately as soon as I get the camera out before she stops reading.

TED to the rescue...

daddy got a little break....

Trent surprised us with a long lunch... Jewel stopped playing when I entered the room, but she had been playing the piano. Trevor doesn't like it when you don't listen to him. Daddy likes to aggravate.