Gender in December

I have a dilemma. It's probably a really stupid one but I'll throw it out there for ya, anyway. When I first found out I was pregnant, it was a week after the two little girls told me that they were "praying for a baby girl". I was floored that they would want another sister already, since Tommy was barely one and a half years old?! So, after trying to convince them to shift their prayers to some infertile couples that we knew (and having them say that they would pray for THEM too, but that they were still going to pray that we got a baby girl!), their prayers came true.

I didn't want to know the sex of my first baby, but I did hope for a girl and got what I wanted. I knew with all the others, for different reasons. I have every other sex, so this next one should be a girl...but you know about God's funny little jokes on me and how He likes to mess with me all of the time? I am very tempted to NOT find out the sex (at my appt. this Wed.), since it doesn't matter at ALL (never did!) what the sex of the baby is...on the OTHER hand...

I have tried to prepare the girls for the possibility that this baby is defying the odds of this family and it will be a BOY.

Me: Mari, you know, this baby might actually be a BOY?

Mari: But what if it's a girl?

Me: But what if it's a BOY?

Mari: But what if it's a girl?

You can see where this line of questioning goes...EVERY TIME and you can see, also, part of my problem. Analise is a little more practical, but I can see that she REALLY BELIEVES that her prayers will be answered and that it can really be nothing but a girl!

I know, I know, you are thinking "Oh, they will love the baby no matter what!". Yeah, that's true of course, but I wonder (especially about Mari)

(conversation happening RIGHT NOW)

Trina: Mari, will you still love the baby in mommy's tummy if it's a boy?

Mari: (thinking...) Yeah.

Bocker: (piping in) But it's gotta sleep in MY room, so it's a BOY

Mari (shrieking) NO! It's sleeping in MY room, so it's a GIRL!

sigh

Now they are running up to their rooms to plan who has the most room in their rooms and discuss further what the baby might be according to who has the most appropriate sleeping space.

I think I'll find out on Wednesday. (Hahahahaha, probably something will be "in the way" and I won't be able to find out?! That would be JUST LIKE God to do to me! He is so funny!).

What do YOU think?

An Interesting Perspective on the Housing Crisis

Bocker and I have the most inspired conversations on our bike rides. He noticed the big pile of garbage left by our neighbors who moved out on Monday:

Bocker: HO! THAT'S a HUGE pile of garbage! That's even a bigger pile than WE have!

I love to try to get out alone with him after a run but before supper. The minute we step on the pedals, he comes up with some phrase or suggestion that makes me laugh so hard I can hardly pedal. I try so hard not to show him I'm laughing because I don't want him to stop being funny and start getting self conscious about chattering like he does.

He's ALWAYS been a goofy notice-er. He's always noticed the strangest things that most people don't comment on or don't really even see at all.

His latest notices have been the for sale signs popping up all over the place. It USED to be a novelty to have a for sale sign in the neighborhood. Not so much, anymore. The first one he saw was the neighbor I just mentioned...then, the house next to that...then, the house just a couple doors down from that one. He exclaims about each of these signs like it's some great thing. I see the signs as a sadness. To me, it means one more neighbor we won't get to know, one more neighbor who had to move away, one more neighbor my kids won't grow up with, one more neighbor who can't afford a home. I've been reflecting a LOT lately on what a home really means. I'm too attached to the "things" of this world. It's kind of ironic that the more I try to get rid of "things", the more "things" I need for this family. You can only get rid of so much stuff before life gets REALLY tough. I have to keep my books, puzzles, games, toys, dishes, clothes, food, places to PUT all that stuff, the list goes on...and so does the bickering that there's not enough room for all that stuff!

Anyway, back to the housing crisis. After biking down the street and chattering about all the for sale signs. He starts asking me about moving to a different house (we had talked about it more than a year ago for a little while).

Bocker: Hey Mom? Would you rather MOVE? OR, would you rather stay at our home where there's nice toys and good food???

Well? How would YOU answer that one?

All Aboard The Princess Train

There's no getting around it. We have a full-fledged princess in our house and she will not be dethroned any time soon, I think.

Mari talks like Giselle from the movie Enchanted. She speaks as if everything is magical fairies and happy, little elves. Her sing-songy voice is so squeaky and light. She sounds like what you might imagine a sprite might sound like when she's speaking. Even though she can't say her "r"s, "l"s, "th"s, or "j"s she speaks very clearly and tinkly.

She wears only dresses, but the only thing she wears that bears the title "dress" (in HER book) is the fluffy thing that you could wear for Easter or Christmas, or maybe even a wedding. Regular dresses; cotton, everyday dresses are called "Just Clothes" (or "Dust Cwoves"). Clothes that are not in a dress shaped pattern are called "NOOOOOOO! I don't want to weah dat!".

This morning, I was happy to show her the new barrettes I bought at Target last night.


She said (in her best Giselle voice)

"Oh, MOMMY! Day ah so beautifo... wif fwowuhs!"

I asked her which color she would choose for today.

"Ummmm (finger on her chin) I sink I wike...PINK, yes, PINK!" (...as though there were any other choice.)

I put it in her hair and took the matching one and put it on the other side (so cute with her new haircut).

"OH!" she exclaimed, "I got TWO, pink one of dohs!"

"Now I can DANCE!"

Uh. Okay. Yeah, I can see how if you have two barrettes, you could be inspired to dance (?).

I guess I'm not a princess because I just don't understand.



(I'll include this picture of Mari and her cousin, Wyatt...who stayed overnight last night, because she couldn't be bothered for me take a picture of her standing or dancing in her purple dress...because she isn't wearing a "dress". It's dust cwoves. Duh, what was I finking?)

Would That You Could Hear What I Hear

Bocker (this morning as he was playing with Tommy):

Oh, I like touching his tongue! It's so cute! Oh, Mama he's scratching his ear! His cheeks are red! He thinks I'm bald! I'm not bald, Tommy! (he just got a haircut)

(Later, in the car on the way to wally world to spend his Christmas gift card, he looked out the window and started this conversation):

"Hey Mom? I don't think there are any more tornadoes for thousands of days."

Me: Huh?

Bocker: I said that there's no tornadoes for thousands of days. A long long time ago there was a tornado but I don't think it was here except I think it was.

Me: ?

Niklaus, what made you think about tornadoes at this time of year?

Bocker: Well, I don't know, I was just thinking about tornadoes. I think that hurricanes are tougher than tornadoes, though.

Me: Well, actually...

Bocker: Yeah, they are WAY tougher.

Me: No, they are both very dangerous and they both are wind that's swirling around a lot and causing all kinds of damage. Tornados are faster but hurricanes make a big mess with the water and damage a lot more stuff... but we only have tornadoes on land and hurricanes happen where there is water...

Bocker: (perking up because the next think he thought of was...) Hey! You know, there's hurricanes in TEXAS, right? Hey Mama, you know those friends of mine who live in Texas, do you? They live in Texas and also there's bees in Texas and rattlesnakes. Oh, and there's cowboys in Texas too.

Me: Yup, you're right about all that!

Bocker: Mom, can tornadoes pick up bricks?

Me: Yes, they can pick up whole houses and smash them down into piles of sticks. See that big house there? A tornado is nothing to mess with. A tornado could pick up that big house and twist it around into a smushy pile of sticks.

Bocker: Yeah, but could a tornado pick up a brick?

Me: ?

Bocker, I just told you that a tornado could pick up an entire house MADE OF BRICKS, so don't you think it could pick up ONE brick?

Bocker: Yeah, I think it could maybe pick up one brick. I always wondered about that.

Me: Bocker?

Bocker: What?

Me: I love you.

Bocker: Yeah, I know.

Texas Obsession

I can't explain when it started or why, but my children are all about Texas. Every time someone mentions that state, it sets off a huge conversation about where they would go in Texas, what they might do in Texas, what and who they might see, and all kinds of questions get fired at me about the history and terrain of a state I've never been to (except for a layover in an airport once) and have no real pressing desire to visit (at least not as pressing as THEIR desire!). So, Bocker all of the sudden yesterday started talking about our old neighbors who moved months ago...to Texas, of course:

Bocker: Mom, why'd they have to move to Texas?

Me: Because their daddy got a job there.

Bocker: Why can't they move somewhere in THIS world?

Me: ? (No answer for that one. I know that Texas is probably nice in places and maybe a really different place to visit but I didn't realize it was...otherworldly!)

Bocker: (pausepausepause) Mom? Does Texas have real cactuses?

ALSO HEARD

Just now, as I was reading this article to the kids, Bocker came up to me, shared some of his freshly, self-frosted cupcake and asked:

"Mom? If someone eats frosting off a knife can they get worms in their brain?"

Complicated Situation

We always (me and the kids) get in this fight when we get in the van. I, being the mom, feel it is my duty to listen to talk radio so that they can stay abreast of current events in the world, and learn about the political climate, and the local news. I really believe that it's good to stimulate your children's minds by helping them to understand what's happening in the wider world outside their door.

Ahem.

However...they, being their father's children, would rather listen to crappy country music. I don't mean classic country, that sweet, down-homey music with banjos and good ol' fashioned steel guitars. I mean the new junk that is written in about 5 seconds after being fitted into some popcountry formula and spewed out onto the radio, sung by some bubble headed blond (in most cases) over and over again until you feel like ripping the radio out and throwing it into the nearest ditc...breathe.

Okay, so I really don't mind some of the new country. Some of it is actually kinda catchy. I bought the Little Big Town CD and we've listened to that one over and over (Bocker used to make us listen to "Boondocks" repeatedly until we thought our heads were going to explode). All the kids (me too) know all the lyrics and we belt them out while driving down the highway all the time. One, other group we like is Lady Antebellum:

I'm Just Lookin' For a Good Time

Girl you're beautiful
You're bout near perfect
But I bet somebody's already told you that
Name your poison
Name your passion
Cause a boy like me just couldn't help but ask
Keep on talking to me baby
I'm hanging on your every word
Keep those drinks a coming maybe
We'll both get what we deserve

[Chorus]
How bout baby
We make a promise
To not promise anything more than one night
Complicated situations
Only get worse in the morning light
Hey I'm just lookin' for a good time

Put in a long hard week doing this 9 to 5
And you're just the girl to get that off my mind
You shouldn't 've worn that dress
You shouldn't dance like that
You got this little heart of mine in overdrive
I sure love this conversation
The band is good, the music's loud
But would you get the wrong impression
If I called us a cab right now

[Repeat Chorus]

Go ahead and lie to me and pull me close
Tell me that you love me even if you don't
The rule is don't you ever even talk about forever
But you never say never in life

[Repeat Chorus]

Hey I'm just lookin' for a good time

Wow, okayyyyyyy. Not exactly the nicest, most wholesome lyrics I guess. BUT, we do have fun with the melody and belt it out whenever it comes on the radio. Tonight, the kids were being extra squirrelly and would NOT go to bed. NONE OF THEM. They kept sneaking into my room to try and convince me they needed to sleep in my bed. Finally, everyone settled but, after a few minutes, Matty came in my room and told me something.

He said, "Hey Mom? I'm Just Lookin' For a Good Time came on the radio and Bocker knew what song it was going to be and he told me, 'I like that part where they say SITUATIONS'".

Then he chuckled at how random and funny that was and went back to bed.

Goofballs.

Duluth

I love Minnesota (for about 4 months of the year).

I may have mentioned before that Butch works out of town a lot. I don't advertise when he does (for obvious safety reasons) but lately, on and off, for the last few months, he's worked mainly in and around Duluth, MN. He works most of the week (sometimes all week) when he gets a job "out of town". He typically comes home on the weekend but on occasion has worked out of state and has had to stay for a weekend.

Last year, we went to Alexandria, MN when he had a job there. That was very nice and it introduced the kids to the idea of the "mini-vacation". It's great because we get to go to rinky-dink little museums where there aren't hardly any people (everyone's in school!) and the volunteers there love to spend extra time with our little group.

We've been promising the kids all summer to visit Duluth but I'm so glad we waited until last week! The weather was PERFECT. School was in session so we were the only kids around. We got to walk from Canal Park right up to Butch work site and take pictures and video of his crew in action! It was a little weird for Butch to have his worlds collide like that but he really enjoyed having us there to break up the boredom.

He stays in a hotel across the HUGEST bridge in Superior, WI (which is decidedly a NOT fabulous town) because it's a whole lot cheaper but very close to Duluth. We stayed in a suite so we didn't drive each other nuts and we all fit in there just fine.

I planned only one night and to visit the zoo but we ended up NOT going to the zoo and staying two extra nights.

Here are some pictures of some of the things we did.

HOTEL









(I had to buy a cheapy camera, another Kodak Easy Share, on this vacation so my pictures are a little blurry but as I was trying it out, I took this one of Bocker and Matty eating continental breakfast. Matty looked up and said, "No pictures on my vacation!" sorry Matty, no can do)



Mari started playing with the "kissing bears" she brought in her "packpack" to the hotel. They were REALLY gettin' it on, and the kids and I were completely shocked at the sound her bears made while making out. We asked her where they could have possibly learned that behavior. I still don't know.

(Trina is pointing out our "you are here" at the bottom tip of Lake Superior. This was a really cool, aerial view of the great lakes and was so huge it wouldn't fit in the camera viewfinder! I really recommend coming to this city and especially visiting the aquarium. It was a beautiful, interactive place that the kids really enjoyed.)

Ice Cream

Walking Around and In Canal Park

(aftermath of ice cream)








Butch's Work Site



We got to get up really close to see the building that he was helping to construct right downtown Duluth. He is actually looking forward to going back to do the upper floors because his view of Canal Park and the lake is phenomenal from up there! I hope we can go back too, and maybe spend one or two nights, go back to Gooseberry Falls, or see some of the lighthouses and visit some more museums.

The crane operator had to load a plank back on to the truck because it was wrong. I was amazed to watch how he had to lace it through the steel I beams, hoist it over the beautiful next door building with the really big windows, over the street lamp and onto the truck without really being able to have a clear view. It's quite an operation! You should have seen the look on the lady's face who was stuck in traffic under it as it was coming down. She looked up in horror and had that "get me outta here!" look on her face as she rolled down the window and craned her neck to see what was going on! Butch ran across the street to hop up on the truck as a way of reassuring her that she wasn't actually UNDER the plank and that she was perfectly safe where she was. The operator did a wonderful job of getting the plank back on the truck nice and safe.
SAFETY FIRST!
Gooseberry Falls
Bocker's always been obsessed with lava. He asks me a million questions about it all the time. This trip was FULL of references to lava. He was in lava heaven.
Weazy thought Tommy's toes were as pretty as the scenery.
I let Matty venture out much more than anyone else (against my instinct), but he needed a little freedom after being "extra safety monitor" for so many days! It did just the trick for an increasingly whiny boy who was getting a little stifled in the van.




Two Harbors Museum

The "Edna G" tugboat has been in the harbor for over 100 years. It's a floating museum (big ships don't need the tugs anymore we were told by the wonderful guide who gave us a private tour). We also got to see a big taconite ship load up and pull away from the big loading dock. It was quite interesting for us landlubbers.
Trina is freaked out by mannequins. So am I.

We all had a great time and had a very positive reaction to our little/big group as we walked around Duluth and the other places we went. Sometimes we got strange looks (probably because of the presence of school age children during school hours) but, overall, if someone asked me if all those kids were mine, they were very sweet and would say something like "Oh, I was one of seven!" or "I have 6 of my own!" or "Good for you!" or "They are so well behaved!". It was a good thing for everyone that we took this little trip.
Next post:

Kidspeak from the last few weeks

I've got some doozies from the trip.

At dinner after our first night home together, we discussed where we'd like to go if we had unlimited funds and time to do it right.

I suggested to go South.

Mari said "Keksis". Bocker said "Texas!". He also wondered how long it would take to get there. Butch said it would take a couple of days. Bocker then wondered how long it would take to walk there. Trina told him it would take about a week of walking. Bocker said we couldn't do that, we'd probably get "walk-sick".

Obviously

Mama: (carrying Mari out to get the mail, I notice she has some pink goo all over her mint green pants)
Hey, Mari? What's that on your leg?



Mari: My feets.

Faith In His Father

Niklaus: Hey Daddy? Can you just move this out of the way quick so I can bike around?

Depends on How You Look For It

Weazy: (digging around in my wallet and purse at Niklaus' swimming lessons this morning...the vending machine is right behind us...)

Mama: Weazy, quit stealing all my quarters!

Weazy: It's not stealing, Mama...it's scrounging. (rolls her eyes dramatically) It's a totally different thing!

Huh? Crazysistersayswha?

Mari (loudly making an announcement at breakfast this morning: Mama! I wan nother one shweebuh!

Everyone: Huh?

Weazy: "Tree butt?"

Trina: Do you want another waffle?

Mari: NO! I got waffle wight heeyo (with a "duh" tone to her voice)!

Everyone: ?

Trina: OH! Mari you want more SYRUP?

Mari: YEAH!

Shweebuh=Syrup

Who knew?

Thomas' Baptism (Saturday, May 10, 2008)

I wanted one more picture before he got baptized. Note the very non-baptizey look on his face? You can totally tell he's still a pagan baby in this picture, can't you? Also, note that he is not wearing a silky, girly outfit or baptismal gown. It's sort of a tradition in this family now. Matthew got baptized in a white, quilted McDonald's brand outfit with light blue piping from Wal-Mart (sounds kind of tacky, but it was really cute). Niklaus got baptized in an off white, Old Navy onesie and jeans (at the last minute, I couldn't find the outfit from Matty's baptism so I wrapped him up in a blanket and hoped no one noticed). Thomas was wearing his Easter outfit (he was going to wear the outfit that his cousin, Wyatt wore but Trine forgot to bring it. I kind of figured that might happen and I don't really care.). Redneck baptisms for the boys in this family I guess.

Here's a very short video of the big moment!




This is my Uncle Tommy with Thomas. He is my dad's brother and one of the nicest people I know. I was so happy to name Thomas after him. His son, Billy is marrying my friend Rachie at the end of June. Rachie and Billy are Thomas' Godparents. Also, Rachie is one of the most sickeningly beautiful gorgeous supermodels of the world. Then she smiles and she starts to get other-worldly beautiful.




Here are some of the umpteen kids that were at the (thankfully, private) baptism playing in the baptismal hot tub.

I guess all that baptizing tired him out. Tommy and Papa took a little cat-nap at the party we had here afterward.

He got some nice presents but the nicest part of the day was that we got to spend time with beloved friends and family and got to welcome Thomas into our Christian family.

Thomas got very excited when his Godmother told him that he can come and visit her at her house someday soon (beware, this video may cause you to pass out from the cuteness. And I'm not talking about the baby!)


P.S. I was looking at some old posts from a couple of years ago and I found Mari's baptism pictures. It's kind of funny that Mari was baptized on the same day (vigil of Pentecost!) and that it was also the day of the TLM at our historic church! We went to that Mass yesterday too (the girls and I)! Trina and I also went today to the TLM at the once a month service in a nearby town because a friend's daughter was having her First Holy Communion today and we didn't want to miss her big day. It was a weekend of lovely sacraments. The same priest said both Masses. Today, he said that baptisms were traditionally held on Easter vigil and Pentecost vigil in the early church!

P.P.S. Bocker and Mari were climbing all over me while I was holding Thomas this afternoon. Bocker was rubbing Thomas' head and said, "Holy baby! Hey, that was funny when that guy who was wearing the weird clothes dumped water on Tommy's head last night!"

I guess I shouldn't assume that the kids will just sort of absorb the faith! I think I have some explaining to do!

Niktastic Bockerisms (Continued)

...another naptime conversation...


Me: Hey, Niklaus, when Thomas comes, he will be right here (pointing to the space between us near where he will be feeding at naptime) instead of down here (pointing to my belly) and then I'll have to flip over and feed him on the other side and you can snuggle my back (he thinks I NEED him to take a nap. He's proud of the roll of "official snuggler" for me at naptime).

N: I know, I know, now, let me snuggle you already!

Me:I'm sorry I got mad that you didn't eat your lunch, Niklaus.

N: That's okay (his goofy face just 2 inches away from mine).

Me: It's just that I need you to be strong and healthy so you have to eat when I say.

N: When Thomas comes, I will be your little boy, right?

Me: ?

Me: Of course, you'll ALWAYS be my little boy, so will Matty, so will Thomas...

N: But you said that you didn't want me to grow. You said that you wanted me to be little forever and that I should stop growing "right now"!
(smiles)

Me: (aha!) Oh, Niklaus, that's not really the truth! I just joke with you when I say to "STOP IT RIGHT NOW! STOP GROWING SO BIG! I'M GOING TO PRESS ON YOUR HEAD SO YOU STAY LITTLE FOREVER!"! I really want you to grow big and strong, just like Daddy!

N: (knowing that already so he's laughing at how smart he was to try to get out of eating stuff he doesn't want to) I know, I know!

Me: You little stinker!

N: Hey, Mom? You want a drink of water or sompthin'? You can have one of my candy hearts too! (hands me a candy heart).

Me: Thanks, Niklaus.

N: (sniffs my face) Hey, Mom? Can I smell your breath with the candy in there?

Me: Sure (opening my mouth and breathing right in his face...which is still 2 inches from mine).
Well? Doesn't it smell nice?

N: Kinda. It smells like minty and stink.
Can we just stop talking and go to sleep now?

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

Niklaus and I are in bed this afternoon for a nap. Niklaus asks, "Mom, can I talk to Thomas?"

Me: Yes, of course.
N: Okay, but I need you to move your shirt.

Me: Okay, but talk very gently. I think he's trying to take a nap too.
N: (whisper-talks and cups his hand so I don't hear his private, brother chat) Hey, Thomas, when it's time for you to come out, there's this really big, special hole that you gotta go in (I've been reading the book Angel in the Waters to him but I don't remember saying anything about a "hole". I've been letting them watch just a few episodes of A Baby Story with me in the mornings to get the idea of the hospital and what happens to get the baby out of there. It was really funny that he thought I couldn't hear him!) and don't be scared. You gotta go there and then, when you come out, I'll be there to hold you...okay?

Me: be sure to tell him to "go toward the light"!
N: (puts his face back on my belly) Okay, you gotta go where it's light, Mommy said...Hey, Mom? What if he's too scared to come out or something? What if he changes his mind? I think he should just stay in there for a while. I don't think he wants to come out yet!

Me: Well, he may just decide that it's nice and comfy in there and he'll want to stay! But, we should try to get him to come out so we can snuggle him and love him...don't you think?
N: Yeah! (pats my tummy and nods his head) Ya hear that, Tommy? (kisses my belly) Have a good rest, Thomas. Don't kick Mommy any more right now, okay? She wants to rest too!

Bockerisms, Part III or: More Reasons to Love Age 4

Niklaus opened the door to the bathroom this morning and peeped in at me...

N: Mooooo-oooooom, I'm going to grow my spikeys todayyyyyyy!"

Me: Uh, Bocker? What are you talking about?

N: You know, (rolls eyes and holds his hand palm up) like daddy has? I'm going to grow up big and get my spikeys!

Me: Yeahhhhh, but what the heck are 'spikeys' anyway? (knowing full well, but wanting to hear it from him)

N: (rolling eyes again and sighing) You know, on my FACE, just like Daddy! I can feel them growing right NOW!

Yesterday we had a dental appt. for the middle three. It was a very opportune thing because on Friday night, Niklaus was goofing around in the living room, (he literally "bounces" around inside the house in the winter time) and turned to get away from Weazy. He landed right next to me (on the computer) and I saw him bash his lower lip and teeth on the end of the rocking horse. He held his lip for second and then looked worried as he said to me, "Am I bleeding???" and as he said the word "bleeding", the "B" made him splatter blood all over my face and shirt. Yes, you are bleeding, son! We grabbed a wet towel to stop the bleeding and I pulled his crooked front tooth forward to get it back in it's rightful place (not knowing that that was the right thing to do). He stopped crying when he stopped bleeding but I thought that we might have to go to the ER and get him some stitches (it was a REALLY deep gash on his lower lip that I won't gross you out with pictures of).

Here is the poor horsey after Niklaus attacked it with his tooth and lip:


Luckily, I have this cousin who was going to come over anyway who happens to work in the dental office where we had our Monday appt.! She called the dentist and she said that they probably wouldn't bother to stitch it and gave us some good instructions so we left it at that.

It was a lesson on "the right thing". You know what I mean? What is the right thing to do in this case? It's not simple. Some people would just automatically think, "Well, DUH! Take him to the ER then they can tell you if he needs stitches or not!" But lets think about that. If I brought him to the ER, we would sit there for no less than THREE HOURS while we fill out paper work (at 8pm, it would get ugly really fast with a 4 year old!) and then, in the end, they might tell us, "I'm sorry, we don't do anything for lips. We just let them heal themselves." OR they would say, "Okay, lets sedate him, hold him down and put very teeny stitches in his lip in the hopes that MAYBE this would lessen any scarring." Imagine THAT horrible scene? So, in the end, we just went to the dentist on Monday and the doctor said that his tooth wasn't broken, his lip was healing well, and to look for infection. Other than that, he should be just fine. I'm glad I had sensible people around that night to curb my mom-reaction of "holy-moly that thing looks hideous! Let's bring him to the ER this INSTANT!" because it wasn't something I could fix really fast.

So, when Niklaus sat down in the chair to get (a very gentle) cleaning, he pointed to the door, and gave me a meaningful look as a way of telling me that I needed to leave (he likes to be a big boy and do this on his own!). I sneaked behind the wall to hear what he might say to the hygienist without me in the room.

Nicole: So, you have a new baby at your house (she saw my huge belly)?

Niklaus: Yeah, it's Thomas.

Nicole: Oh, his name is Thomas?

Niklaus: Yeah, but he's not "out", yet!

Another thing he said when I had gone to check on the other kids was:

Nicole: So, which school do your brothers and sisters go to?

Niklaus: None of them.

Nicole: Oh! Do they homeschool?

Niklaus: Yeah, I teach them.

Nicole: You DO? Does your mom help?

Niklaus: Yeah, she helps.

Mysonthecrazymatty

Matty graduated from advanced blue belt into red belt in karate tonight. He also decided to stop going to karate after tonight(the dojo wasn't the very best and I had a lot of issues with the way they run their business, we'll probably all join a place that teaches Thaikwando in the fall). He really liked baseball last summer and is looking forward to it this year, and maybe trying football in the early fall.

Tonight, I was both embarrassed by him and so proud of him at the same time. See, when they finally receive their belts, the instructor asks them individual questions as he's putting on the belt. Such as: "Are you going to work really hard for your (next color) belt?", "Are you going to listen to your mom?"
To which the kid then says, "YES, SIR!!!" then each kid gives him a high five and they move on.

A thought occurred to me and I quickly tried to get Matty's attention. I mouthed to Matty, "Just say 'yes sir'!" because I saw that "Matty twinkle" in his eye and knew darn well what he was planning. I also knew that he was struggling as much as I was with what his answer would be...but after he saw what I was trying to get him to do, he looked pretty, darn confident in his decision.

Sigh.

So, the instructor called his name, told him to raise his arms up, and as he's putting on the belt he asks, "Matt, are you going to work really hard for your advanced belt?"

"NO! SIR!"

"Are you going to work really hard for your black belt...someday?"

"NO! SIR!"

What could I do? It's a small room with a ton of people in it, probably all thinking how disrespectful this kid is or that maybe he has "behavioral problems"? But, I just smiled (after I kind of cringed) knowing the truth behind his answer.

Matty will NOT lie. He will not say he's going to do something if he means not to do it. He will NOT say something just to appease everyone (even very publicly) if it is not the 100 percent truth.

(Oh, I forgot that before we even went tonight, we were discussing whether or not he'd continue with this place and he told me the reasons he didn't want to. One was that he was concerned that it was too much money. Two was that he didn't like the fact that the owner/instructor didn't teach them very much and he relied on his student/instructors too much. Three was that he thought it was appalling that the owner had a framed dollar in his office. I explained that that's just what new business owners do, that it was kind of a tradition to frame your "first dollar" but the more I explained it, the stupider it sounded and I realized that I have an very observant son. I knew (just by knowing him well) that he thought that that was a kind of blasphemy or "money worship" of some sort. I don't lecture or talk about that kind of stuff so I was surprised that he even thought of that!)

That's Matty. Oh, two more things about this goofy son of mine...After karate, we went to Papa Murphy's to pick some stuff up for supper. I went in by myself (Weazy and Matty were in the van) and I came out with arms full. Matthew jumped out of his seat and leaned into the driver's seat and asked, "What can I help you with, Mom?". It struck me that he NEVER forgets or misses an opportunity to help someone when they need it. I told him that. I told him how happy and proud I was that, when he sees someone in need, he doesn't EVER hesitate to help that person and that that was a quality that most people DO NOT have (especially so young, he's had it forever). He said, "Sure they do, everyone does that, right?!". And that's what he really thinks.

Weazy helped, too, but only after seeing Matty's example. She's been doing that a lot lately, too. She also sat and counted the cinnamon rolls that I got for breakfast tomorrow morning and noticed that there was one extra roll than person in our family. I joked to her, "Yeah, that's for me because I'm a 'two-fer'! I have a whole, extra person inside me right now, so I get TWO of everything!" She and Matty sat and thought about that for a second and Matty blurts out:

"Hey, Mom...AND you have TWO hearts inside your body right now!"

I love that kid.

The Magical Age

We sure had a busy day today! Niklaus' birthday was on Friday so we celebrated it today at 4pm. The reason we chose the later time was because I wanted to go to the 1pm Mass at St. Walburga's.

The Mass was lovely and will only get better as time goes on, I'm sure. We saw a number of familiar faces, which was nice.

I can't help but wonder if the reason the Mass developed into the new order of Mass is because of all of the stuff we CAN'T hear? I haven't grown up with the older form and only have attended a handful of those Masses so I wish I knew the reasoning behind all of the inaudible prayer? I know it's easy enough to KNOW what the priest is saying/praying, but it's hard to capture my children's attention when it seems like there's "nothing" going on up there at the altar. We will sit closer next time, but in the meanwhile, it's got me thinking that there should be some kind of "happy medium" for Mass. Some kind of meld of what's good about the older order and the new? I explained (on the way to Mass) some of the reasons why it is different than what they're used to, and some of the reasons why it has changed but my love for this form doesn't quite translate the way I want it too. I very much dislike not knowing what the proper thing to say or do is. Apparently, many people don't know (as evidenced by how many-even the older folks-were looking around, sheepishly for group-guidance on sitting, standing, and kneeling!) or remember "what to DO" at the older form of Mass. I should be encouraged by the fact that my children chose this Mass over the 6pm Mass at our parish. They were both so disgusted by the music last week, that I doubt very much they were able to pray during Mass or concentrate on the miracle of the Eucharist at all! I haven't asked them yet, but I think they would like to go to St. Walburga's again!

After Mass, we went on an emergency trip to Target to purchase party supplies! We weren't able to go out yesterday because of the snowstorm. I don't trust that rear-wheel-drive van in those slippery conditions. We had to hustle to get home in time to set up the party (while Niklaus and Mari took a much needed nap at home with Daddy).

We got ready for the party just in time for guests (my siblings and their families, Mom and Dad, and the three neighbor kids). There were 15 grand kids, 3 extra kids, and 10 adults and it was very nice. Even with all those people in the house, it was very peaceful and sweet. I still wish I had one, big room to fit everyone in!

Here is a video of Niklaus opening presents and a mini-tour of the house with all of the people in it (small main floor!). I have NO room for a Christmas tree and Dad gave me heck tonight for not having one, "No tree for the kids???". I told him that it is Advent, NOT Christmas yet (but really, I'm still trying to figure out just where I'll put the thing!). It may have to be a last minute, front porch kind of deal. Santa will be okay with that, right?

Here is a video of Matty almost smashing the cake completely into his shirt (while the candle was LIT!). He claims it was an accident, but I think it was a secret plot to hog all the frosting for himself. The cake was deeeelicious (even if it was a little smudged)!


My little boy is four now! Four is my favorite age. It's been my favorite ever since my little sister, Anna was four. I distinctly remember thinking that four was my favorite "kid age" back then. I babysat a LOT back then and all of my favorite kids were four. I think it's because it's the age where they can communicate well, but they are still struggling with meaning, which makes everything they say hilariously funny. They are still very sweet and babyish, but are big enough to do most things for themselves. By the time they turn five, they are just a little wiser in the ways of manipulating the grown-ups. But for one, blessed year, they are still four: un-jaded, innocent, silly, laugh-out-loud goofy, crazy kids.

Happy birthday to my big, four-year-old, boy!

He asked me tonight if we could go again to "scrape around in the dark". I sat there COMPLETELY bewildered. I finally figured out that he wanted to go outside to shovel snow like he and I had done last night in the middle of the storm (just to get the bulk of it out of the way of the porch steps). He had so much fun in the snow with me, he wanted to do it again tonight!

(See? Four is AWESOME!)

The Price of Freedom

Analise and I went out for a special mom and daughter night tonight. Unlike me, my girls LOOOOOOVE shopping so we went to the clothing store I work at and got some things for Analise and Mari. After, we went down the mall and into a Dunn Brothers where we had cocoa, and coffee, and a little snack. Weazy chattered the whole time about all kinds of things and it was a nice time for both of us.

She said that she was really thirsty for some water and noticed that they had bottled water on the wall by the cooler.
"Should I go over there and see how much it is?", she said. She's becoming more aware of the price of things since we try to be frugal and she is learning about how much things cost and the value of things.
"Naw, I'll just go up to the counter and get some ice water.", I said. When I came back she asked, "How much was it?". I told her it was free and you should have seen the look of pleasure on her face. "Wow, REALLY? That's so COOL!".

Could you imagine a conversation like this 20 years ago? Who could have imagined that we would see a day where water was a major monthly purchase (or filters for "purified" water)?

Our purchases for the night: $28
Water: Free
Spending alone time with my 7 year old: Priceless

Katrina, Analise, and Mariela with their new haircuts. I think Analise has a piece of Halloween candy in her mouth. Mari's hair is covered by her "'at" but you can see the curl at the bottom if you look close. I thought cutting off the mullet would make it all straight (that's what happened to Trina's when she was little) but it's even more curly now that the infant fuzz has been snipped off. Analise's is a curly swirl but it sure looks cute and is much easier to brush through. I hope they all grow it long again, but this is how they like it for now.

I Lied

Okay, so it only took a day to get everything off of my computer and to start over! That guy is a wiz, I tell you! The only thing I haven't gotten fully restored yet is my beloved "favorites" list! If you could just take a second to say even "hi" in the comments box, then I could get you back into my favorites (especially you who I had to email to get your blog address, could you email it to me again...you know who you are!). I should have just written them down, but I didn't have time and my list was getting kind of HUGE!

Now, whilst I'm re-compiling my list of must-read blogs (I should really investigate one of those "bloglines" things I have heard about)...

We went to the 101 market on Friday (Matty: It's soooo boring there. There's NOTHING to do. Just leave me home alone!!!!!)

We met Katrina and her kids, and my mom and dad.

The kids were sooooo bored:









Mari calls them "kumpins" and she tries to lift EVERY kumpin she sees. She just tries (with a cute grunt) and says, "Nope!" after she can't do it and walks to the next one. I think she really believes that one of these days, she'll actually be able to lift one that is three times bigger than her. I wish I had an ounce of that kind of hope and confidence.