Kate's Christmas List

I'm not really sure what to make of the list Kate presented to me tonight. I will write it they way she did.

1. Easy bake food
2. dog/dog/dog/dog
3. Litte House on the Prairie movies
4. Barbie/Barbie car
5. cell-phone
6. camera
7. jewelry
8. Diary of a Whimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
9. Baby pig
10. Husband

whaaaaaat?

Thankgiving

Thanksgiving was very nice and low key this year. I could tell you that the food was awesome, and that I pigged out, but Jeanne makes this kind of meal year-round, so while I loved it, I can't say it was super special. Yes my mother is a domestic goddess. Some day I do need to take a moment and express my gratitude for my children. I'm even going to try my best to not complain about them.I hope to be able to cook the way she does.

I am thankful for Ryan. I'm thankful that when he has an early morning game, he gets himself up and eats without a fight. In fact, we rely on Ryan to get the rest of us up! I'm thankful that he isn't a complainer or a whiner. I love that he usually tries his best in school and sports. I love that he is friends with so many diverse kids. I love that he doesn't just befriend fellow jocks.
Ryan is so good to Olivia and Brady. I said I wouldn't complain, so I will not comment on how he treats Kate. I love that of all my kids, he and I share one genetic trait: our eye color. Once again I won't complain, but you'd think after FOUR kids, there would be more similarities between us all.
Ryan will forever remain my mystery child, but when all is said and done, I feel like I get him. I think we are more alike that he realizes.

I am thankful for Kate. I love her dramatic flair, her bizarre sense of style, her kind heart, and spending one on one time with her. Last weekend, she and I went to the mall and dined together. She begged to try Chinese, and I happily obliged. Finally she admitted, she didn't care to ever try Chinese, she just wanted to eat the fortune cookie. Instead we dined on Taco Johns. There during our meal I learned that: she meets 20-30% of her friends in the bathroom, she thought Haiti was in the United States, she knows where it is because she had a map of it but threw it away, and countless other things that had me smiling to myself.
I love her beautiful dark brown eyes, the way she loves to draw, dance, sing, and play make believe. I am thankful that she lets her little sister play with her and her friends without complaining too often. She is such a sweet girl.

I am thankful for Olivia. Man if there isn't a sweeter little girl on the face of this earth. I love that she is learning to read. I love that she is learning to say her "r" words the right way. I love that she almost always goes with the flow. I appreciate how she doesn't really care about what she wears or how she looks. She's too busy being herself. She has been working hard all weekend making Christmas gifts for friends and family. She is such a good helper. She is a wonderful big and little sister. I love listening to her sing. I swear she knows the words to every pop song out there!

And, who can forget this little stinker? I love how Brady can take a clean house and tear in apart in under a minute flat. I enjoy watching go through countless loaves of bread 'cooking.' While I don't love his new fixation on flushing the toilet and putting things in it (including Thad's cell phone), I love how curious he is. I am thankful to finally have a boy who loves his mama. "My mama" is what he says. He is the best cuddler, gives the best bear hugs, and is also a pretty good little hockey player.
I am thankful for these four kids. Even though they fight, scream, hit, pinch, yell, scream, cry, push, shove, holler, and enjoy hurting one another, I think they are thankful for each other too.

50s day

Miss Olivia got to dress up today for 50s day in Kindergarten. I think they were celebrating the 50th day of school. Someone lent us a costume, but it was too big, and with a surprise 5 inches of snow this morning (which grew to over 10 inches), we settled on this.

I am so grateful to say that Olivia is one of the most amiable people I know. She really didn't care what she wore. She never does. Olivia just goes with the flow and is for the most part, a very sweet and joyous little girl.

As you can tell by the picture, Brady idolizes his "Leeleeah." It's pretty sweet.

In other news, after two days of enjoying our washer and dryer, our dishwasher took a poop. It was supposed to arrive today (thank goodness), but to my dismay, it is actually not coming for a week. Eek.

Then to top it off, Olivia had a cavity filled. Only it turned into two, and another two were found. What the heck???? I am totally embarrassed to even write this, but I swear she is a great tooth brusher.

To say that it's been an expensive week would be an understatement....but hey, I'm eating apples and doing a puzzle with Olivia and Brady while Thad and Ryan are at hockey, and Kate is at dance. What do I have to complain about?

I suppose I could write about our brand new washer/dryer that we had to purchase on a whim. I could talk about the fact that I'm sucked into reading Melissa Gilbert's (yes the actress who played Laura Ingalls) autobiography. Or I could discuss how my oldest two children are on thin ice with their parents. But really...who cares? These are more fun.

The last time you felt honestly broken? Last December when I broke my foot.
Would you rather have ten kids, or none? TEN
Are you there for your friends? Yes I think I am
Last person to see you cry? Okay this is embarrassing, but my students saw me get pretty choked up last week, which has never happened. Long story short, another student was crying about her level of stress being a new English language learner, lonely, failing most classes, and feeling so lost. I spoke to my students about reaching out to her.
What do you do when you get nervous? Um…if it’s really bad I have to use the bathroom
Be honest, do you like people in general? I think so
Does anyone completely understand you? No I’m too complex to be fully understood
Do you have a reason to smile right now? Always :)
Do you tell your mom or dad everything? Not necessarily, but I also don’t hide anything
Are you easy to get along with? Yes…I’m pretty amiable
What was the last drink that you put in your mouth? Water
What size bed do you have? KING—I highly recommend it!
Have you ever done something you told yourself you wouldn’t do? Never say never
Would people refer to you as a goodie goodie, bad news, or neither? Goodie for sure
Have you ever been hurt by someone you never thought would hurt you? Yes
Do you regret a past relationship? YES…two specifically
Would you rather spend a Friday night at a concert or a crazy party? Neither
Are you a jealous person? Only when I’m feeling really insecure
Have you bought any clothing items in the last week? Today, but Thad doesn’t know
Is there anyone you want to come see you? My former students and my D.C. friends!
Do you like cotton candy? YES!
Do you have a friend of the opposite sex you can talk to? Yes
Who was the first person you talked to today? Brady when I asked him to please stop talking before 6am

I am, I think, I know

Taken from Vicky's post...I encourage you to do the same.

I am: 5 feet 4 inches tall.
I think: obsessively over people who I know are sad, sick, or suffering in some way.
I know: that I shouldn’t want to change certain things about myself, but I still do.
I want: to go on a big family vacation….
I have: no tatoos or body piercings, although some days I would like a tatoo.
I dislike: when people use religion as an excuse to be super judgemental.
I miss: the free spirit that accompanies youth.
I fear: certain things that don’t need to be repeated here.
I feel: every single thing. I swear it’s related to my astrology sign. Being a Cancer is both a blessing and a curse.
I hear: not so well on my left side thanks to Olivia breaking my ear drum a few years ago.
I smell: good?
I crave: the opportunity to travel next summer to another historical seminar.
I search: through my closet and drawers all the time. I can’t keep track of my stuff.
I wonder: why can’t we all just get along?
I regret: my inability to be wild.
I love: loving others.
I care: too much for my own good.
I am always: listening to music.
I worry: about everyone and everything
I remember: everything. The joke is wha.t a clear memory I have.
I have: not enough time
I dance: with my kids and their friends. Or at Zumba. And I look like a freak.
I sing: all the time…even for my students. No one likes it.
I don’t always: have patience although I try to.
I argue: if I feel it’s really important. Or more than that.
I write: texts and emails more than ever.
I lose: track of time when I’m napping.
I wish: That everyone felt loved in this world.
I listen: to my children. Even when I don’t want to, I try and listen to them.
I don't understand: cruelty, the new method of math used in elementary schools, and Phil Spector's hairdo.
I can usually be found: at home, work, or at Target.
I am scared: of snakes but not spiders. I don’t like to kill them.
I need: to see my girlfriends who live too far away..soon!
I forget: nothing long term, but a lot if it’s short term.
I am happy: that I get to go to Vegas next summer!

See what I mean?

This kid is bizarre...and oh so inventive!