Tadpole Update

I keep thinking about updating the tadpoles progress and I never do. We've had them for over 3 months now and they've yet to grow legs, arms, or anything else. They're fast little things and occasionally go up on their ledges where they can breathe real air. But nothing is happening.

Last night I was trying to clean out their bowls and I couldn't catch them. I had dumped them both in together while I cleaned one bowl and was trying to catch them so I could clean the other, without getting all that dirty water in the clean bowl. I tipped the bowl a little to try and scoop them up easier with the fish net and one of them jumped out and into the sink and it slid down the drain!!!! The kids were soooooooo upset. Fortunately, it went down the drain on the disposal side. Jon got a spoon and scooped it up somehow and got it back into the bowl. Phew!

IF they ever morph into frogs, I'll be sure to post some pictures. It sure is taking a lllooonnnggg time!

Nothing Too New

I guess I should write, since it's been awhile. The kids just finished up school on Friday and will be off-track for 2 weeks. I'm really looking forward to sleeping in a bit--or not--but just having a more relaxed schedule. I signed the kids up for an off-track bowling class. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, they get to bowl for 1 1/2 hours and then eat lunch. They sure are looking forward to it--especially Jarren. He remembers when I put the older two in this class a couple of years ago and he wasn't old enough to go.

I have been sick for most of this month. Jon and I have both had these horrible head colds--extremely stuffy, very hoarse, etc. I feel soooo much better, but my friend told me yesterday that I sounded like I didn't feel well. I am really looking forward to spring! It's been pretty warm here for the last few days--the kids have wanted to be outside a lot and have enjoyed the sunshine.

Jenna will randomly go to the bathroom. I keep thinking, "When the kids are off-track...." or "When this happens...." There's just no good time, so I just have to jump in and do it.

Other than that, things have pretty much been the same old things.

It's a Miracle....Well, Sort of....

Yesterday was one of those days when I just wanted to crawl back into bed and start over. Kendall has been really sick! Headache that won't go away, no voice, kind of sore throat. He slept in until 10 am yesterday and finally kicked the headache. He is going to district science fair and we had to go set up yesterday afternoon. The interview is tonight--I just hope his voice is back.

Back to my day---Jenna spilled milk all over, so I had to mop. Then she got her socks and pushed a chair up to the sink and started "washing" dishes, meaning--making puddles all over with her wet socks. She had a messy diaper, so took it off and sat on the toilet--a little too late--and left another mess for me to clean up. I was loading the dishwasher and she unscrewed the jet dry and started spilling it all over. She was "sitting" at the table eating a bowl of cereal for a bedtime snack and started climbing around--yes, the cereal ended up all over the floor--moping twice in a day isn't my idea of fun. And the list goes on.

I was downstairs helping Kristen find a box to use for her school Valentines when I heard Jenna calling me. I finally ran upstairs and found her in the bathroom with her clothes off. I thought, "Great! Now what mess do I get to clean?" She said, "Mom! Look!" and pointed to the toilet. She actually took off her diaper (and clothes) and went to the bathroom ALL BY HERSELF! I was stunned. I've been working with her (not as diligently as I should because I honestly don't have 3-7 days in a row to devote to this), but it just wasn't happening. YAY Jenna!!

Now for the "sort of" part. An hour later, she stood there in the hall and said, "Mom, I'm tinkling in my diaper." I knew it was too good to be true, but I kind of hoped she's just start going by herself. Well...at least it was a start.

(Fill in the Blank) Three's

I am over myself. When I do something that I consider stupid, I beat myself up for awhile and then I'm over it. So, Kendall's DARE graduation is over and done with and now I'm moving on.
I remember hearing about kids entering the "Terrible Two's" for a long time before I ever had kids of my own. When Kendall hit about 20 months old, he started having tantrums and doing naughty things. Since then, I've noticed that all of my kids hit the "Terrible Two's" a few months early. But NO ONE ever prepared me for the "(Fill in the Blank) Three's." I don't even know what they're called---Ferocious? Terrifying? Aggravating? No word bad enough? About 3 months before my kids hit their third birthday, they hit this Three stage that is very frustrating---for both the child and for me. In just the last week, Jenna has hit that milestone and just from previous experience, I'm not planning on it going away until she's well past four years old. EVERYTHING is "No, I do it!" And she tries to do EVERYTHING. From pouring her own juice, to turning the bath water on and off, to running the microwave, to changing her own diaper, to sweeping the floor, to making her own macaroni and cheese, to getting the toothpaste on her toothbrush and brushing her teeth. I could go on and on. Ah, the frustration and tantrums that come when she can't do it, because in her mind, she can. She can do a lot, but not everything. And (for me at least) the "Terrible Two's" were NOTHING compared to the Three's. FINALLY, after 4 kids, I am learning how best to deal with it. I hope I can teach her to keep the attitude that she can do it all, with a lot of hard work and patience.

Biggest Loser....

Well...I guess when I try and stack too many blocks on the tower, it eventually comes crashing down. Some days, I am so insanely busy and other days are busy, but not too terribly crazy. I didn't sleep well last night--my throat is hurting sooo bad and Jenna seems to be getting sick. I had to run to the store for more pain reliever and Jenna fell asleep on the way home. I came in and put her to bed and went to doze on the couch myself. Kendall was really late getting home from school. He walked in with a new t-shirt on and I realized that I had totally missed his DARE graduation!!!! What kind of a mother am I?!?! DARE is a program the kids go through to help them learn to say NO to drugs. He had to write an essay and complete the program to graduate and I SPACED IT!!! I actually remembered this morning, but then after running around, not feeling well, and dealing with a grumpy and tired girl, I spaced it. There's no way I can make it up to him and I just keep beating myself up over it. I can just picture him watching the parents come in and me not being there. He said there was one other boy who didn't have parents there and he started to cry. I asked Kendall why he didn't call me and he said because he thought I was too busy and I don't really care about him and what he does anyway. I guess that's the message I'm sending to him. I'd better get to changing that ASAP. I still can't believe that I let him down like that. I am such a loser!

I Will Survive...

I'm not a big fan of winter. I love the snow and cold and everything that goes with it until around New Years and then I am done! This year, aside from Christmas vacation, it hasn't been too bad--as far as the cold goes--and we haven't had too terribly much snow. Yesterday, when that little ground hog saw his shadow and predicted 6 more weeks of winter, I realized that I will survive! Six more weeks isn't that far off (Christmas was about 6 weeks ago). The next few days are supposed to be in the mid to upper 40s, so I am a little afraid that I'll get spring fever. :) But I will survive....

Just a funny Jenna story: I'm not sure, but I am thinking that when she gets put in time out, she thinks she's in jail. Any time anyone does something that makes her mad or that she thinks is naughty, she tells them, "You're going to go in jail!" She yelled that to me in church on Sunday because I told her she had to share the crayons. Last night, she was teetering on the edge of the ottoman, right next to the fireplace and I warned her to be careful. She told me to go to jail, so I pretended to go. I opened the door to the garage and stepped out and she started sobbing. I'm not sure what exactly she's thinking when she says it, but apparently it's just a threat and she doesn't really want anyone to go anywhere.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yesterday was my birthday. Let me tell you....I am sooo excited to be another year older--NOT! Fortunately I don't feel any older. :)

First thing in the morning, we went over to the school to see all of the 5th and 6th grade Science Fair displays. Here's Kendall with his blue ribbon:I had such a nice day--so many phone calls, emails, visits. It really made my day special! I got some smelly Bath & Body Works soaps, some licorice pastels (candies), an iTunes gift card, earrings, money, and a new cell phone. No, it's not another line, but just a new phone. That was the hit of the gifts--all 4 kids were DYING to get their hands on it to try it out. But I think one of the best gifts was that the kids got along! No fighting, teasing, screaming, whining, etc.(smelling the soaps)

My sister and her two darling babies stopped by for a minute and then my parents and youngest brother and sister came and went out to dinner with us. It was such a good meal and we had a good time visiting.

I LOVE snowmen!! So...I don't know why I've never thought of this before....I made a snowman cake!I think I should've trimmed the head down so it was smaller than the bottom "snowball." But I guess it tastes the same no matter how it looks and I still thought it was pretty cute. All in all, it was a really GREAT day!