I put Connor to bed on Friday nights. We have taken to telling stories instead of reading them. This Friday I told him the story of how he got all the stuffed animals on his bed, which is plenty. "Me and Daddy got Rocky for you when we went to Colorado. You were in my belly." and "Papa Craig gave Cowboy to Maddy and she gave him to you."
Then I told him the story of when he was born. I told him how at 2:00 in the morning I woke up and told Daddy that the baby was on it's way! I told him that we got to the hospital at 4:30 and they said "Yup! The baby is coming!" I told him how they gave me some medicine and he came out of my belly. (Just that easy!) I mentioned how we didn't know if he was going to be a girl or boy so when he came out Daddy said "It's a boy!"
"Did you know I was boy because of my short hair?"
"No. We knew you were a boy because you have a peanut."
That was so hilarious that he actually choked himself laughing.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Murderer on the Loose
There was a murder by my house. One subdivision over a lady was shot in her home at point blank range. Murdered.
I didn't know her but I have a friend whose kids knew her kids. She had 4 kids. She was killed at about 3:00 in the afternoon, right when her Jr. High student was coming home. I just think about how this past summer was the last summer she will spend with her kids. How she went school clothes shopping for the last time. How she got up in the morning, made lunches, sent her kids off to school like a normal day. Not knowing it would be the last time they would see each other. She was probably waiting for them to come home not knowing she would be dead by the time they got there. My heart is breaking for them.
The killer was her daughters boyfriend. Or ex-boyfriend maybe. I don't know the details but she had probably told the daughter to break up with him because he was bad news. Probably violent. And does it make it better that it wasn't just a random crime? Not for them it doesn't, but for me it does. At least I'm safe from this particular horror... for now.
The kid was on the loose for about 2 hours. They thought he might be hiding in our subdivision. There were cops EVERYWERE. They had so much trouble finding him because all the schools were letting out right then and there were kids all over the place. Even the sniffer dogs were having trouble keeping his scent because of all the people walking every direction. Of course this is all happening right when my kids are getting off the bus at 3:45.
Which only makes me think back to just last week when the bus driver let my kids off at the wrong bus stop. I felt like I was being crazy for getting so upset about it. I felt like everyone was snickering behind my back for how mad I was. What did I think, that a murderer was hiding around the corner? Well... yeah, maybe. And then 5 days later there really is a murderer hiding in our subdivision. So there! I told you so!
I didn't know her but I have a friend whose kids knew her kids. She had 4 kids. She was killed at about 3:00 in the afternoon, right when her Jr. High student was coming home. I just think about how this past summer was the last summer she will spend with her kids. How she went school clothes shopping for the last time. How she got up in the morning, made lunches, sent her kids off to school like a normal day. Not knowing it would be the last time they would see each other. She was probably waiting for them to come home not knowing she would be dead by the time they got there. My heart is breaking for them.
The killer was her daughters boyfriend. Or ex-boyfriend maybe. I don't know the details but she had probably told the daughter to break up with him because he was bad news. Probably violent. And does it make it better that it wasn't just a random crime? Not for them it doesn't, but for me it does. At least I'm safe from this particular horror... for now.
The kid was on the loose for about 2 hours. They thought he might be hiding in our subdivision. There were cops EVERYWERE. They had so much trouble finding him because all the schools were letting out right then and there were kids all over the place. Even the sniffer dogs were having trouble keeping his scent because of all the people walking every direction. Of course this is all happening right when my kids are getting off the bus at 3:45.
Which only makes me think back to just last week when the bus driver let my kids off at the wrong bus stop. I felt like I was being crazy for getting so upset about it. I felt like everyone was snickering behind my back for how mad I was. What did I think, that a murderer was hiding around the corner? Well... yeah, maybe. And then 5 days later there really is a murderer hiding in our subdivision. So there! I told you so!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
First Day of Kindergarten!
Well the first week of school is over. Everyone is very happy. Connor is so proud of himself. He feels like such a big kid now, especially since he has some experience at that school because he went to preschool there. So he knows the layout and sees his old teacher in the halls. I think that gives him a lot of confidence and security. It's not all brand new.
Maddy is moving up in the world too. In 4th grade they move upstairs in the school, which is big kid. They also move to the big kid playground. Very exciting. Her classroom is laid out much more big kid too. Rows of desks instead of tables. They are really starting to transition into jr. high. Jr. High! Ok, breathe, it's still 3 years away.
And you know it's not the official start of school until I get into a fight with the bus driver. Allow me to remind you of last year. I never finished the story last year but after much drama they moved the bus stop to the park, which is the best bus stop in the whole wide world.
So this year when the flyer came out saying where the bus stop is they put it back at the bad bus stop. The one that caused all the drama to begin with. I tell myself to say out of it. I tried to stay out of it last year but that didn't happen. I tell myself I don't care, just stay out of it. So my friend emailed the bus boss and asked what was going on. He said it was mistake and the bus stop will be at the park.
Fine.
On the first day of school the bus driver says no, the bus stop will be at the old spot until they can "officially" change it. My friend told her that her boss said this was the stop. She didn't like it.
So after school on the very first day Larry and I and other parents are waiting at the park, the good bus stop. The bus pulls up and I'm all excited to see Connor's face as he gets off the bus for the very first time. I got the camera ready and everything.
The bus driver says to me "Your kids are at the other stop."
"What?!"
"Your kids got off at the other stop."
Why on flipping earth did she let me kids off at another stop? So Larry and I go running over there. I was so mad. I wasn't there when Connor got off the bus!! Maddy was crying because she knew she had made a mistake. But I wasn't mad at her. I was mad at the bus driver. I was so so so mad.
So I called her boss. Convienently I have his number in my phone from last year. They wanted me to leave a message for him. That wasn't going to happen. I told them I would wait. They tried to explain that they didn't know how long it would be.
"I'm extermely upset. I'm not leaving a message, no one is going to call me back, I'm talking to someone right now. I'll wait."
I didn't have to wait long. He got right on the phone. I tried to hold it together, really, I did. He is already fully aware of all the back and forth that has occured. I tell him "She left my kindergartener standing on the side of the road by himself!" I started to cry. I tell him that I was waiting at the other bus stop and she let Connor off at the wrong stop!
He said he would talk to her and change the bus stop officially to the park. The next day everyone came home with a letter saying the bus stop was moved to the park. Jeeze! I don't know why I have to get involved before anything gets accomplished. I tried to stay out of it!
Maddy is moving up in the world too. In 4th grade they move upstairs in the school, which is big kid. They also move to the big kid playground. Very exciting. Her classroom is laid out much more big kid too. Rows of desks instead of tables. They are really starting to transition into jr. high. Jr. High! Ok, breathe, it's still 3 years away.
And you know it's not the official start of school until I get into a fight with the bus driver. Allow me to remind you of last year. I never finished the story last year but after much drama they moved the bus stop to the park, which is the best bus stop in the whole wide world.
So this year when the flyer came out saying where the bus stop is they put it back at the bad bus stop. The one that caused all the drama to begin with. I tell myself to say out of it. I tried to stay out of it last year but that didn't happen. I tell myself I don't care, just stay out of it. So my friend emailed the bus boss and asked what was going on. He said it was mistake and the bus stop will be at the park.
Fine.
On the first day of school the bus driver says no, the bus stop will be at the old spot until they can "officially" change it. My friend told her that her boss said this was the stop. She didn't like it.
So after school on the very first day Larry and I and other parents are waiting at the park, the good bus stop. The bus pulls up and I'm all excited to see Connor's face as he gets off the bus for the very first time. I got the camera ready and everything.
The bus driver says to me "Your kids are at the other stop."
"What?!"
"Your kids got off at the other stop."
Why on flipping earth did she let me kids off at another stop? So Larry and I go running over there. I was so mad. I wasn't there when Connor got off the bus!! Maddy was crying because she knew she had made a mistake. But I wasn't mad at her. I was mad at the bus driver. I was so so so mad.
So I called her boss. Convienently I have his number in my phone from last year. They wanted me to leave a message for him. That wasn't going to happen. I told them I would wait. They tried to explain that they didn't know how long it would be.
"I'm extermely upset. I'm not leaving a message, no one is going to call me back, I'm talking to someone right now. I'll wait."
I didn't have to wait long. He got right on the phone. I tried to hold it together, really, I did. He is already fully aware of all the back and forth that has occured. I tell him "She left my kindergartener standing on the side of the road by himself!" I started to cry. I tell him that I was waiting at the other bus stop and she let Connor off at the wrong stop!
He said he would talk to her and change the bus stop officially to the park. The next day everyone came home with a letter saying the bus stop was moved to the park. Jeeze! I don't know why I have to get involved before anything gets accomplished. I tried to stay out of it!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Chinese Food
There is a show on Nickelodeon called Ni Hao, Kai-lan that Connor loves. I've never really watched it but it's about a Chinese girl. I don't know if it takes place in China or what, but it's Chinese themed.
A few weeks back we were in the pool and some older boys mentioned the show. Connor just lit up! He loves that show. But then before he could say anything to them one of the boys said "That show is for babies." Which just crushed Connor. I was interested to see how this would play out.
I kinda half forgot about it but I noticed recently that now when he watches the show he sings the theme song but adds the word "stupid" into it. And then the other day he was in the living room with me and it came on in the family room. He said "UH! Ni Hao, Kai-lan is on." kind of angry about it but then rushed in there to watch it. Like he was mad at himself for liking it.
So I followed him in there and said "Oh, this is such a good show." and watched the whole thing with him.
Well! Since then Connor has gotten interested in all things Chinese. He knows a couple Chinese words. He can count to three in Chinese. He knows the Chinese characters for a couple of numbers. "The symbol for the number 8 looks like a moustache." he says. I think he has been taking notes this whole time but keeping them to himself since he didn't want anyone to know that he's been watching this baby show.
He told me the other day that he wanted to go to a Chinese restaurant. Ok, well... that's new. We never eat Chinese. I thought we could go down to Panda Express or something. No. It had to be a real Chinese restaurant with Chinese lights hanging from the ceiling. This was going to take some research.
I found a place that I was hoping would fit the bill. It got good reviews and was reasonably priced. I just had to cross my fingers that it had Chinese lanterns on the ceiling. They didn't mention any authentic decor on their website.
We headed down there on Saturday afternoon. Much to our delight they DID have some Chinese lanterns. I was supposed to ask the waiter if he spoke Chinese so that Connor could practice his Chinese words but I didn't. I felt kinda weird about it and Connor didn't bring it up so I let it slide. Besides, I think he would have been too embarrassed anyways. Maybe next time.
The food was very good and Connor did a great job and tried everything. We got him sweet and sour chicken with fried rice. It came with Egg Drop soup and an egg roll. He liked the outer shell of the egg roll and said he liked the soup but didn't eat much of it. He ate all the fried rice and a bit of the chicken.
I was so proud of him! He really stepped out of his comfort zone on this one.
A few weeks back we were in the pool and some older boys mentioned the show. Connor just lit up! He loves that show. But then before he could say anything to them one of the boys said "That show is for babies." Which just crushed Connor. I was interested to see how this would play out.
I kinda half forgot about it but I noticed recently that now when he watches the show he sings the theme song but adds the word "stupid" into it. And then the other day he was in the living room with me and it came on in the family room. He said "UH! Ni Hao, Kai-lan is on." kind of angry about it but then rushed in there to watch it. Like he was mad at himself for liking it.
So I followed him in there and said "Oh, this is such a good show." and watched the whole thing with him.
Well! Since then Connor has gotten interested in all things Chinese. He knows a couple Chinese words. He can count to three in Chinese. He knows the Chinese characters for a couple of numbers. "The symbol for the number 8 looks like a moustache." he says. I think he has been taking notes this whole time but keeping them to himself since he didn't want anyone to know that he's been watching this baby show.
He told me the other day that he wanted to go to a Chinese restaurant. Ok, well... that's new. We never eat Chinese. I thought we could go down to Panda Express or something. No. It had to be a real Chinese restaurant with Chinese lights hanging from the ceiling. This was going to take some research.
I found a place that I was hoping would fit the bill. It got good reviews and was reasonably priced. I just had to cross my fingers that it had Chinese lanterns on the ceiling. They didn't mention any authentic decor on their website.
We headed down there on Saturday afternoon. Much to our delight they DID have some Chinese lanterns. I was supposed to ask the waiter if he spoke Chinese so that Connor could practice his Chinese words but I didn't. I felt kinda weird about it and Connor didn't bring it up so I let it slide. Besides, I think he would have been too embarrassed anyways. Maybe next time.
The food was very good and Connor did a great job and tried everything. We got him sweet and sour chicken with fried rice. It came with Egg Drop soup and an egg roll. He liked the outer shell of the egg roll and said he liked the soup but didn't eat much of it. He ate all the fried rice and a bit of the chicken.
I was so proud of him! He really stepped out of his comfort zone on this one.
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