Apparently I am getting deaf in my old age and I can't hear or understand people on the phone anymore. Today, I was at Target buying a booster seat for Rori. I wasn't sure if it would be ok if I bought a backless one since it was for Bill's car and I didn't want to spend the extra money for one with a back. However, if it meant that I was an irresponsible parent by getting the backless one, I would shell out the additional $30. So, I called my friend, April, since she was on my mind because I had been discussing our church outreach with her earlier, and she has 4 kids--one of which is Rori's bestie, or BFF, or bosom friend, or kindred spirit, as it may be. Anyway, April didn't answer the phone, but called me back as I was checking out, so I was a little distracted--at least that's what I blame it on. This is how the conversation went:

Me:  "Is it okay if I get a backless booster?"

April: "Yes, Rachel and Maya have backless ones. It's totally fine. Oh shoot I forgot Rachel's socks! They won't let her go to school without them next Monday!"

Me: "Um. Okay. That stinks. Bye."

Actually, we chatted a bit more, but I thought, "how odd. Rachel's school has some serious restrictions on hygiene. I guess they don't allow sandals or something." Then I thought, well, I'm at Target, I'll call her back and offer to pick up socks and give them to her at church on Wednesday. I wonder if she needs a special kind. So, I called April.

Me: "Since I'm at Target, do you want me to pick up socks for Rachel and give them to you Wednesday?"

April: "Socks? Huh?"

Me: "I thought she needed socks in order to go to school on Monday."

April: "No....she needs shots."

Me: "Oh. That makes more sense."

The end.

Mating of the vegetables

This year my zucchini, while having giant plants, have not produced the size and quantity of vegetables that they did last year. Several of them got to be just larger than baby carrots and then they start to rot. I was getting really frustrated until I googled it. It appears that the problem is that earlier in the summer we set up a bee trap to keep the bees away from the swing set. My garden is near the swing set, so we set the trap on the other side of the yard. I haven't noticed too many bees in the last month or two. Apparently the bees take the pollen from the male zucchini flowers and put them inside the female ones. If this doesn't happen, the zucchini stop growing and are small and rot. So, the sites I looked at suggested that I pick the male flowers and pull the petals off and tickle the inside of the female flower with the stamen. It sounds kind of naughty, but I may try it. If the neighbors hear giggling from me in the backyard, it's probably because I am mating my zucchini.

Ballerinas

Growing up I always wanted to be a ballerina. I absolutely loved everything about ballet. I read books about it, practiced at home, and when I was finally old enough to be on toe, it was like all my dreams had come true. Alas, eventually I stopped taking lessons, but I occasionally still put on my toe shoes and danced around my room--even in college. I even took lessons one summer after Rori was born. Unfortunately all that did was make me realize I was old and out of shape!

I have always hoped that Rori would become interested in ballet. Today she was watching Barbie as the Nutcracker and Waltz of the Flowers came on. I told her that I had danced to that song a long time ago and asked if she wanted to see my ballet shoes. I pulled out my toe shoes and we both tried them on and I think she felt the magic too! We hobbled around in them and then put on my regular ballet slippers and danced around the living room. I was in heaven. She told me she wants to take ballet and it just made my heart melt into goo!

Happy Fifth Birthday Rori Rose

Dear Rori,

You are such a joy for your papa and me. You are everything I hoped you would be. You are girly and sweet, fun and loving. You have a gentle spirit. When your brother won't share with you, you share with him anyway. When someone is hurt you worry about them. You are always concerned about others feelings. You never want to hurt anyone. If someone is left out, you will go to them. We joke that you are very diplomatic and would make a great politician (but please choose something else). You are excited to learn about Jesus and look forward to hearing Bible stories. You pray for your family, Grandpa Hoo Hoo's heart, Juliana's vomit, and Grandpa Casey's job search--all without prompting. I threatened you that I wasn't going to let you turn five because I don't want you to grow up. But it happening anyway. I love you so much, baby girl. I can't express my gratitude that God chose ME to be your mommy! What a wonderful gift He has given me.

Coming Soon

Rori's fifth birthday was today, and her birthday post is coming tomorrow evening--I just didn't want anyone to think I forgot! The reason it's not tonight, is because I have to find the pictures I want to use, and some of them were from today and I'm tired and going to bed. I think I need my sleep because apparently, last night, in the middle of the night Bill woke up to me hitting him and telling him I hate him...hmmmmm I don't really remember that... I am not sure if I believe him, but just in case, I'm going to go to bed early. I hope he sleeps with one eye open!

Baconators and Insanity

Wendy.s came out with the Bacona.tor sandwich a few years ago. It always looked tasty to me, but there was no way I could justify the calories and fat. I always swore that while I was nursing, I would get one. You burn about 500 extra calories from nursing, so you get to eat a bit more and still lose weight. Well, I am in the process of weaning what is most likely my last baby. And I am about to start a killer new workout program. So, it was now or never. Today. I. Ate. A. Bacona.tor. And it was delicious and gross at the same time. I didn't finish it because the soggy, greasy, bun ended up grossing me out and I just couldn't do it to my arteries. While I am horrified about it, I also have something I can check off of my bucket list.

I am now back on the healthy eating wagon. I have to be. I bought Insanit.y! Have you heard of it? It's a crazy new workout program that is 60 days of the hardest most intense cardio you have ever experienced. I did the fit test last week and then attempted the first DVD right after. I got through the warm up and stretching and then Shaun T. said, "suicide drills." I told him to go away, and I turned off the tv and paced around the house until the urge to vomit subsided. The next day I did the first DVD again, without doing the fit test first and made it through. But, I promptly popped 3 ibuprofen for the pain that I felt creeping up on me.  I am officially starting the 60 day workout today and am really excited to see if I can make it through it. We took before photos (which I'm not going to post because I want to maintain some dignity) because if you send in your before and afters, they will send you a free t-shirt, which I will wear proudly. I am not expecting huge changes, just to drop the last 10 pregnancy pounds. Can I call them pregnancy pounds if they were left over from Liam when I got pregnant with Brendan? ;)

Wish me luck!

Happy Belated Birthday Liam James!

Liam's third birthday was while we were in Florida, so we celebrated as a family this last weekend. I'm so glad we took the time to do a special day for him because he thanked us for his presents several times throughout the day, and still prays and thanks Jesus for his birthday presents :)

My dear Liam,
You have taught me so much over the last year. I have learned all about the super heroes. I can name ones that I didn't even know existed just a year ago. I can explain varying stories from the X-Men (thanks to your papa) that I didn't know. You wear your Darth Vader cape every day and pretend you're Batman. But when you're Spiderman you take the cape off and have to change into your Spiderman shoes. You have charmed your Sunday School teachers with a dimpled grin.

You like to play rough, but when you play with your baby brother, a sweetness comes in your voice and you are very gentle with him. Even when he tries to take your toys, you gently say, "no no." You pretty much ignored me for the first 6 months of Brendan's life, but one day, all of a sudden you came back to me--much to Papa's dismay!

You don't give your love freely. It must be earned, which makes it that much sweeter when you do give it. You are the best darn snuggler, and when you say, "I Yuve you mama." I melt into a pile of goo and would go to the moon for you.

I love you so much, my first born son!