I Will Have a Great Day

Snuggles

Today E and I spent a few hours running around, bank, post office, gas station, grocery store, home for lunch then crash on the couch to watch the news. Exhausted. While the forecasters warned of an impending storm, E started drooling on me, fast asleep. Oh how I wish I could stay with him, snuggle on the couch all warm and cozy. Ignore the snow, the waiting work, laundry, dishes... Sigh. I slipped away, wishing I could stay. Sleep tight, little E!

Now!

Eli’s first 3 word sentence. A real developmental milestone.

"Stop it now!" Said emphatically to his brother a few days ago. And now over the weekend, to all of us. He's clearly working hard to influence those around him, his tactics are often crying and yelling. Well we're working on it.

How silly of me to hope for "I love you." They don't get around to that till much later.

Shelly's Character

Shelly's Character
  by Archer

Forgiving
gentle
kind
friendly
a loveing sister
helpful
shy
pretty
generous
happy
nice
funny
cheerful
caring
a six year old sister

(Nice work Arch, all so true of our beloved Shelly!)

Passing Time

We recently had a "delayed start" day at school due to bad weather. The kids decided to draw some of their favorite cartoon characters to pass the time.

Shelly opted for tracing what I had printed out for them.

Archer carefully eyed up the drawings and then struck out on his own to draw beloved Phineas, Ferb, and Perry the platypus.

Chores

Never are my kids so excited by the idea of chores as when we visit the farm. "Chores" on the farm to them means "adventure, things we don't do at home, stories to tell for weeks to come." And so when Travis asked the kids if they wanted to come help feed calves, the kids (not just mine, Leah's too) came running to their moms to find out if permission would be granted. We, the moms, held in our hands our children's dreams, will their hopes be dashed or allowed to soar into a great adventure? "Yes" we said, and then the scramble. Boots? Where are my boots! Snow pants, gloves, hats, my coat won't zip help me!! And they were off, disappearing from Grandpa's house before we could say "Goodbye, be good blah blah blah..." And then, instant quiet. I put E down for a nap and for the first time in a long time, sat down next to David on the couch. Wasn't crowded away by kids climbing and snuggling between us.

For two hours Travis had five young farmers who helped feed the calves, and whatever other chores were on the list. And somehow, after that eternity, he was still smiling when he brought them back, they all crowded in the back door of Grandpa's house still full of energy.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

How many times in my life have I traveled from home, along Hwy 43 and then Hwy 81, Beloit always marking the halfway point. Taco Johns is halfway. Dad always said no stopping, Mom sometimes talked him into stopping for some junk food along the way. Now its our turn, and we travel at a different pace, never leaving early in the morning, opting to travel late at night and make it to a hotel so we can move more slowly the next morning. This time around we didn't make it to Monroe until 11:30 at night. Straight to bed. Saturday we made it to Grandpa's just in time for lunch. And that's where I saw it all playing out. My childhood memories being reenacted right in front of me.

My mom and aunts would all be in the kitchen preparing a meal, or cleaning up afterwords, laughing and talking all the time. I stepped into the kitchen with my part to prepare and my kids ran off to play with my cousins' kids. They played on the steps (no major injures!). They played upstairs (pounded away on that old organ), just like we had. The cousins, now moms, joined our mothers and aunts in that same kitchen.

Somehow, no matter how many small children are running around, there are always enough arms to hold someone who is tired or bumped her head. There's always enough room for all of us, the uncles who tease and tickle, the aunts who snuggle and catch a running toddler on the way by to steal a hug. There's always enough room.

When the day was over and we were getting ready to leave, Leah and I went upstairs to survey the mess. I said to Leah, it never changes. The house looks the same as I remember from so long ago. The same rooms, pictures on the walls, kitchen that's not quite big enough but somehow we all still fit. And Great Grandpa in the middle of it all, always drawing us back to time together.

Car Update

Drilling holes to add weights, some with the kids' help, some after they were in bed. Those not occupied by drilling holes were roaming the basement in search of new toys. Elijah was the best at discovering the "new" stuff, that had been hidden in corners for years.

Fantastic Grandma

We took this picture around the time of E's birthday, that little puppy was a gift from Grandma.
Sometimes he takes it to bed with him and talks to it until he falls asleep.
A little friend (almost as big as he is, actually) to keep him company.
Thanks Grandma!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Archer says

"Talk to the thumb!"
Shelly says, "Why does it have a sad face?"

E won’t let me put a new diaper on him. He’s got the new one, he’s hugging it to his chest and saying “YAVE!” Save, I think? He’s saving it for later?

Project Mode

We are once again in project mode, we jump through our lives from one project to the next. This month, Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Cars. It is exactly one month away and today we took the first major step, cutting out the shapes. The discussion and preparation leading up to today was extensive. Getting the kits, drawing our designs, drilling holes. All of this surrounded by hours of discussion and research.

Today we went to visit Grandpa's workshop where the magic began. He was kind enough to spend his afternoon cutting out the cars, teaching the kids about the different kinds of saws he was using (that counts towards an achievement in the official Scout handbook - bonus!), and offering his advice. All the while, Grandma kept the youngest of the Five entertained upstairs so he didn't interfere with the power tools and design process.

After Grandpa's work was done we came home for more project time. During this extended time, the parents (mostly David) did some sanding and shaping while the kids played. I know this is supposed to be the kids' project and the parents aren't supposed to do all the work for them. But reality sets in, they're only interested in sanding for so long, and the parents don't want the cars to look bad, so... The kids play.

My favorite part about the sanding at the kitchen table was listening to the sounds from the rest of the house. Pitter patter little feet running, THUD! Little person falls down but gets right back up. Pat pat pat goes E's hand on Shelly's back, gentle love pats getting harder and harder until it sounds more like slapping, she moves away and E starts his gun sound effects "shew! shew!" to which Shelly and Archer are supposed to either run away or fall down instantly. The sanding continues, sawdust on our clothes and kitchen floor, shouts of joy coming from a few feet away, another thud, more running...

Somehow this is exactly how it is supposed to be, with Mom and Dad (truthfully, mostly Dad) working on the projects while the kids run around. Someday they'll do it for their kids, because they'll want the best for them, the same as we want for ours.

Snowy!

Finally, after two years without a good blizzard, we've got one. The kids are thrilled and eager to throw snowballs at me. Through sheer chance, Elijah was not home tonight and he's usually my big excuse for not getting out there to clear off the driveway. He won't want to be out there for very long. I can't leave him in the house alone. Therefore, clearly I can't go shovel the driveway.

Well like I said, he's not here. So. First I tried to start up this Monster.

No luck. Shovel it is. And I shoveled. And shoveled. And the neighbor came over and she shoveled with me, and that's when Archer showed up to watch us shovel and listen to our conversation. I told him he's not allowed to stand there and watch me work, he has to help. Or go somewhere else. So he went away, about four feet, and laid on the snow. All the while, the Monster was watching from the garage. Mocking us. "You neglect me for two years and then expect me to just jump up and clear your driveway for you? Ha! Here I am, warm and dry in the garage while you're out there... You missed a spot! Hahaha!"

Eventually we finished, and then the moment they had been waiting for. Snowball Fight. "Fight! When can we fight? When does the fight start??" Ground rules were laid. No ice. No faces. No injuries.

The snow really started flying then, they teamed up on me and chased and we all ran and shouted and it was fantastic and fun for about three minutes. Because, its all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Me. I ran into/over a five gallon bucket filled with rocks and really scraped up my shin. And Shelly said I hit her in the arm with a snowball and she was hurt too. Archer was too cold (why doesn't he have a hat on??). And that was it, game over, time to go inside.

Now David's home, he's fixed the Monster and tamed it, and he's snow blowing the driveway, because its still snowing out there, three hours after I finished shoveling.

P.S. My leg still hurts. Three hours later.

Mr. Talker

Today when I gave Elijah his breakfast (leftover mashed potatoes, it's what he wanted), he noticed the steam and announced, "Hot! Bow!" And when I asked if I could share, he was happy to hand over his spoon. "Mom. Hot! Bow. Ok?" Meaning, "Mom, it's hot, blow on it, ok?" What a smarty. Now we're enjoying meatballs for lunch. Or, as E would say, me-baum!

The Day That Archer Swam

Swimming lessons. I wasn't happy after the first day, I didn't have confidence in the teacher, Shelly looked miserable, I was wondering if we'd made a mistake. But we'll stick it out; the lessons have been paid for so we'll just have to stick with it. Perhaps things will get better.

And today as I sat watching the class, I heard a beautiful sound. Shelly was laughing. Enjoying the water. Music! And then I saw something I wasn't expecting - Archer was swimming! A lot of splashing and squinting his eyes and SWIMMING!! I am so proud!

Home Sweet Home

For a whole week (almost) my wonderful husband has been away. Lucky Los Angeles. Its warmer there, warmer than the frigid below zero temps here in Wisconsin Winter. Except that earlier this week we had a high of 59 and in LA it was only 57 (WHAT?). Anyway, today its back to 20 below, but everything is warmer because my husband is home.

Today was an early release day for the kids, they would be done at 1:05. David's plane was landing at 1:15 so he'd just have to wait an extra few minutes before we could get there. Except, I didn't want him to wait. Or actually, I didn't want to wait. So we skipped out early, got lunch at a drive through and went to the airport to surprise him. And we waited. Endlessly. For 45 minutes.

Archer kept a close eye on the arrival time of Dad's flight. Updating me every two minutes about the fact that nothing had changed yet. Still... waiting... Shelly carefully put the finishing touches on her "Welcome Home" banner and asked us to sign our names to it. 

Finally the arrivals board showed "Arrived" on his flight number and we stood at the end of the hallway waiting. Endlessly, for another 5 or 10 minutes. And then. There he was, not expecting us, not realizing what was happening as E ran, arms outstretched, and finally reached him, grabbed his daddy's legs and hung on in the biggest bear hug a two year old can manage.

And we were SO glad he was home, and glad for the little adventure to get out of school early and watch the planes and the people at the airport. We navigated the escalators (E's first time?), shared Dad's soft pretzel and soda that he'd gotten (his only food since 5:00 this morning), and everyone talked over everyone else to share their stories one on top of the other. And finally Dad was home, and life with the Fortier Five was back to normal, and all was right with the world.