School started exactly 3 weeks ago today for Zoe. I've been counting down the days until the first illness hits our house. One of her little friends came down with an ear infection and a fever in week one. I knew it was only a matter of time. Like clockwork, the end of week two started the drippy nose and a low-grade fever.
It wasn't anything I was too concerned about because Zoe tends to do that. She'll get a low-grade fever and a runny nose if she's overly tired. She gets that randomly throughout the year. I didn't think too much of it.
Yesterday afternoon she was totally okay. No runny nose. No low-grade fever. Energy I wish I could bottle. She was great.
Until 7:15.
She grabbed her ear, complained that it hurt and wanted to go to bed. She was asleep by 7:30.
It wasn't a restful sleep either. She'd toss and turn, whimper and just generally feel terrible. It broke my heart to see her like that.
I've planned to call the school and let them know she wouldn't be there. I've planned to call the doctor and get in to see him today.
She woke up, totally ready for school. No runny nose. No low-grade fever. No ear pain. Nothing. She's totally fine.
I woke up with a scratchy throat and a small headache. I have a feeling it jumped ship from her glands and landed in mine. I'm not taking bets that in a few days, I'll get 12 hours of sleep and feel totally refreshed.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
We Had Ourselves a Date
To celebrate our sixth anniversary, we went to the Fair. We got to eat Fair food, namely an elephant ear for me. I love them things. N was very excited because the official drink of the Fair was Pepsi. That basically means that I got to bring my small purse because N could purchase a Mt. Dew rather than requiring me to smuggle one in.
I also recently learned that the traditional anniversary gift for the sixth year is either sugar or iron. I'd say with the huge elephant ear and the equally huge Mt. Dew, we're covered!
We had bought tickets to Switchfoot about a month ago. We bought some Gold level seats because we like to watch our concerts in style. When we found our seats, we were like 15 rows from the stage. Hello awesome! See how excited we are!
As the sun was setting, the band came out and rocked it. Here's Jon Foreman, the lead singer belting out their tunes.
N got better pictures on his phone, but still a great show. Jon even climbed a concrete wall to enter the grandstands and mingle with the people up there.
They are full of energy, have great music and really connect with the crowd. We had a blast celebrating our marriage with these fine musicians.
Next year is wool. I'm thinking Ireland and a nice sweater from there. Knowing N, he's thinking petting zoo.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Six
Because we're celebrating six years of marriage together, I thought I'd celebrate with a list. After six years, that's how you begin to think. Lists for the grocery store, what the kiddos have to take to school in the morning, what your husband has to get done while he's home on the weekends, etc. Without further ado, the 6 odd facts about N, a la Letterman Style:
6) His love of reptiles and rodents: This has nothing to do with the fact that I like those things or I let him have any of those things as pets. It has everything to do with the fact that he can capture them so I don't have to. Once a tree frog got into our house and jumped into the underpart of the couch. N fished that bad boy out so I didn't have to.
He also oncetook apart the garage found a small snake in our garage and got rid of it because I was absolutely freaking out.
5) He will always let me have the last bite of dessert: Had I known this would be an important quality in a man, I so would've had that on my list years ago as a quality I wanted. As I grow older, I find this to be one of my favorite things about him. Don't count on him to leave any popcorn though.
4) He's constantly beat-boxing: He's always got some tune or beat going through his head. Always. Zoe will ask her daddy to give her a beat and he will. It's so natural that she assumes we all can do it. When she asks me to give her a beat, I can't, she gets a little frustrated and asks that we call daddy.
He can remix any song. Lately it's been Jesus Loves Me and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Zoe's bedtime songs are always way cooler when daddy is around. Mommy just does showtunes.
3) His dreams are vivid: He used to help do training in the Air Force. They'd go out in a big, wooded area and practice their combat skills. I don't know much about it, but he got to shoot guns, with I can only assume blanks because everyone always survived. One night, after some of this training, I woke up to him protecting me and him protending to shoot the bad guys. Anytime he does something is fun and can be reinacted, I can usually find him doing it in his sleep.
Why this cracks me up is because Zoe does the exact same thing. She once had a snowball fight in her dreams and threw things off her bed. On days that are particularly exciting, I try to take a nap.
2) He knows a joke for just about any topic: I'm not entirely sure if he Googles them prior to knowing he'll need one, but he's always got a knock, knock joke for Zoe or a joke/saying for any setting. He always amazes me with his random knowledge.
1) Speaking of random knowledge, he's an expert on anything comic: I'm not sure if it's because he used to have a ton of time on his hands or if he does now, but he can tell you the history and the connection between all the superheros. He knows why Xavier in X-Men is the way he is. He can also tell you why Robin is with Batman, what Thor's favorite bedtime snack is and what particles make up Kryptonite. I don't really retain any of this, but I get a little history lesson prior to any comic-based movie. Half the time I think he's just making it up, but then, somehow during the movie, that little tidbit of information gets mentioned. I wonder if he knows that much about Wonder Woman?
Thank you N for introducing me to the inner-workings of the comic world, beat-boxing remix versions of all songs and protecting me from imaginary enemies and reptiles! You are my hero love and I couldn't imagine my life without you. I love you.
6) His love of reptiles and rodents: This has nothing to do with the fact that I like those things or I let him have any of those things as pets. It has everything to do with the fact that he can capture them so I don't have to. Once a tree frog got into our house and jumped into the underpart of the couch. N fished that bad boy out so I didn't have to.
He also once
5) He will always let me have the last bite of dessert: Had I known this would be an important quality in a man, I so would've had that on my list years ago as a quality I wanted. As I grow older, I find this to be one of my favorite things about him. Don't count on him to leave any popcorn though.
4) He's constantly beat-boxing: He's always got some tune or beat going through his head. Always. Zoe will ask her daddy to give her a beat and he will. It's so natural that she assumes we all can do it. When she asks me to give her a beat, I can't, she gets a little frustrated and asks that we call daddy.
He can remix any song. Lately it's been Jesus Loves Me and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Zoe's bedtime songs are always way cooler when daddy is around. Mommy just does showtunes.
3) His dreams are vivid: He used to help do training in the Air Force. They'd go out in a big, wooded area and practice their combat skills. I don't know much about it, but he got to shoot guns, with I can only assume blanks because everyone always survived. One night, after some of this training, I woke up to him protecting me and him protending to shoot the bad guys. Anytime he does something is fun and can be reinacted, I can usually find him doing it in his sleep.
Why this cracks me up is because Zoe does the exact same thing. She once had a snowball fight in her dreams and threw things off her bed. On days that are particularly exciting, I try to take a nap.
2) He knows a joke for just about any topic: I'm not entirely sure if he Googles them prior to knowing he'll need one, but he's always got a knock, knock joke for Zoe or a joke/saying for any setting. He always amazes me with his random knowledge.
1) Speaking of random knowledge, he's an expert on anything comic: I'm not sure if it's because he used to have a ton of time on his hands or if he does now, but he can tell you the history and the connection between all the superheros. He knows why Xavier in X-Men is the way he is. He can also tell you why Robin is with Batman, what Thor's favorite bedtime snack is and what particles make up Kryptonite. I don't really retain any of this, but I get a little history lesson prior to any comic-based movie. Half the time I think he's just making it up, but then, somehow during the movie, that little tidbit of information gets mentioned. I wonder if he knows that much about Wonder Woman?
Thank you N for introducing me to the inner-workings of the comic world, beat-boxing remix versions of all songs and protecting me from imaginary enemies and reptiles! You are my hero love and I couldn't imagine my life without you. I love you.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The New Routine is in Full Swing
We are almost completely moved. It's only been going on for the better part of 2 months. I'm nothing if not efficient.
Once all the moving is done, I can finally focus on life. Don't get me wrong, I'm not checking out or anything, but it's hard to remember to search through magazines for a picture that starts with the letter "M" for Zoe's school project, sew a bear onto your daughter's AWANA vest, prepare for the story time at said AWANA, find a pair of ballet flats that you love and are somewhere in the stack of 5 boxes currently in front of your closet and remember to charge your phone.
I know that sounds silly, I do always remember to charge my phone! Life is a bit hectic still and the holidays are upon us.
I know what you're thinking. I've lost track of time and my ballet flats. We are 10 days into birthday season. We have, at a minimum, one birthday a week until mid-October, plus our anniversary. Honestly, I like the anniversary celebration a whole lot more than my birthday for several reasons, but mainly because I feel like we've accomplished something. With a birthday you've been alive for 34 years. Yeah, congratulations, you've been breathing for 34 years. Yeah you! Here's some cake! Don't get me wrong, I love birthdays, but I just don't feel like they really represent anything great now.
Unlike our girl's birthdays. Zoe is super excited as her birthday is the next in line. She always tells people it's her second birthday, but last night I told her it's her fifth birthday. Now the word fifth is her favorite word. She thinks it's so fun to say. Really, she'll be a whole hand, so that's a huge accomplishment! Plus she's no longer calling it her second birthday, so another accomplishment! Yeah Zoe!
Anyway, as I was saying, I like the anniversary better. I feel like that 6 on our imaginary anniversary cake means something. I envision a cake with camouflage decoration, a bride in her gown with camouflage paint on her face pointing a gun off one side of the cake and the groom, dressed in a tux with a camouflaged painted face, pointing his gun off the other side. In a kinda "I got your back" type scene.
In many ways that's how our marriage feels. We're both fiercely protective of our marriage and of each other. No matter what, I know N has my back. For the last 6 years, he's been keeping his post. I've had friends come and go, but he's always been there in the trenches with me. He encourages me, loves me inspite of my quirks, supports me and holds me accountable.
That proverbial "6" that will be on our imaginary camouflage cake this year has more weight that I can fully describe. It's the milestone in life that I'm most proud of. In spite of all this chaos and moving and settling into a routine, he's my constant.
Tomorrow we celebrate this milestone. Our anniversary tradition is to attend a concert. This year Switchfoot came to the Fair on our anniversary. I have a feeling they did it just for us. I wonder if I can convince N to wear camouflage paint on his face to the concert. Maybe I will so when I eat my second elephant ear, they won't recognize me.
Once all the moving is done, I can finally focus on life. Don't get me wrong, I'm not checking out or anything, but it's hard to remember to search through magazines for a picture that starts with the letter "M" for Zoe's school project, sew a bear onto your daughter's AWANA vest, prepare for the story time at said AWANA, find a pair of ballet flats that you love and are somewhere in the stack of 5 boxes currently in front of your closet and remember to charge your phone.
I know that sounds silly, I do always remember to charge my phone! Life is a bit hectic still and the holidays are upon us.
I know what you're thinking. I've lost track of time and my ballet flats. We are 10 days into birthday season. We have, at a minimum, one birthday a week until mid-October, plus our anniversary. Honestly, I like the anniversary celebration a whole lot more than my birthday for several reasons, but mainly because I feel like we've accomplished something. With a birthday you've been alive for 34 years. Yeah, congratulations, you've been breathing for 34 years. Yeah you! Here's some cake! Don't get me wrong, I love birthdays, but I just don't feel like they really represent anything great now.
Unlike our girl's birthdays. Zoe is super excited as her birthday is the next in line. She always tells people it's her second birthday, but last night I told her it's her fifth birthday. Now the word fifth is her favorite word. She thinks it's so fun to say. Really, she'll be a whole hand, so that's a huge accomplishment! Plus she's no longer calling it her second birthday, so another accomplishment! Yeah Zoe!
Anyway, as I was saying, I like the anniversary better. I feel like that 6 on our imaginary anniversary cake means something. I envision a cake with camouflage decoration, a bride in her gown with camouflage paint on her face pointing a gun off one side of the cake and the groom, dressed in a tux with a camouflaged painted face, pointing his gun off the other side. In a kinda "I got your back" type scene.
In many ways that's how our marriage feels. We're both fiercely protective of our marriage and of each other. No matter what, I know N has my back. For the last 6 years, he's been keeping his post. I've had friends come and go, but he's always been there in the trenches with me. He encourages me, loves me inspite of my quirks, supports me and holds me accountable.
That proverbial "6" that will be on our imaginary camouflage cake this year has more weight that I can fully describe. It's the milestone in life that I'm most proud of. In spite of all this chaos and moving and settling into a routine, he's my constant.
Tomorrow we celebrate this milestone. Our anniversary tradition is to attend a concert. This year Switchfoot came to the Fair on our anniversary. I have a feeling they did it just for us. I wonder if I can convince N to wear camouflage paint on his face to the concert. Maybe I will so when I eat my second elephant ear, they won't recognize me.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A Mini Us
As N and I watch Zoe, we're fascinated by how she can be so much like me and so much like N and yet so much just herself. As she gets older, I see much of me coming out in her, yet with a sense of adventure that is all N.
Yesterday she had to call daddy. She stood at the phone with her hand on her hip and proceeded to talk, nonstop about things.
Daddy, I wanted to call and let you know that I'm fine and I miss you. Right now mommy and I are with the quilt ladies at the clubhouse. It's only for girls, you know. They are working on their quilts while mommy and I are playing. Don't worry about us, we're fine, just having a girls day. So Daddy, how are you?
The whole time she's either got her hand on her hip or she's winding the phone cord around her finger. It's amazing to see yourself come out in such a little person.
It's also a little scary!
Yesterday she had to call daddy. She stood at the phone with her hand on her hip and proceeded to talk, nonstop about things.
Daddy, I wanted to call and let you know that I'm fine and I miss you. Right now mommy and I are with the quilt ladies at the clubhouse. It's only for girls, you know. They are working on their quilts while mommy and I are playing. Don't worry about us, we're fine, just having a girls day. So Daddy, how are you?
The whole time she's either got her hand on her hip or she's winding the phone cord around her finger. It's amazing to see yourself come out in such a little person.
It's also a little scary!
Monday, September 12, 2011
The Small Joys
My mom and I were talking yesterday and comparing notes. Both of us are going through a transition right now. She's having to give up some space and share her home. I'm having to give up my home and reduce my space to a single bedroom. What we found funny is that both of our friends come up and ask, "how are you doing with all this? How's it living with someone?" They're really concerned about our relationship and having to live in the same house with your mom/daughter. Of all the transition hurdles we're facing, that's not even on the list. The space, the clutter, the moving...all that is on the list. Our relationship is the joy of this whole process.
As I looked back on my mom's life, she is a woman of relationships. Her motto has always been to collect people. People are in your life for a reason. Maybe it's to encourage you. Maybe it's to challenge you. Maybe it's to walk this journey of life with you. That's been her life. She had a great relationship with her grandma. A good relationship with her mom later in life. She had a fantastic relationship with me and Zoe.
Of all the stuff going on, we are still good. I couldn't help but say a little prayer of thanks for that.
As I looked back on my mom's life, she is a woman of relationships. Her motto has always been to collect people. People are in your life for a reason. Maybe it's to encourage you. Maybe it's to challenge you. Maybe it's to walk this journey of life with you. That's been her life. She had a great relationship with her grandma. A good relationship with her mom later in life. She had a fantastic relationship with me and Zoe.
Of all the stuff going on, we are still good. I couldn't help but say a little prayer of thanks for that.
Friday, September 9, 2011
I Tapped Out For a Bit
Apparently when life gets a little chaotic, this blog suffers. Honestly, I meant to keep better record of our life, but let's face it that was a pipe dream.
In the last few weeks, we've:
1) moved
2) started Pre-K
3) started AWANA
4) lost all track of time
The biggest happening that really feels like a month in the making is the move. We had to do a three-point move. My mom cleaned out her house and got ready for Zoe and I to move in. I had to pack up our house for either my mom's house or for Oregon. N moved into a duplex in Oregon.
It was much cleaning, packing, cleaning, de-junking, packing, sorting, packing, moving and moving. We rented a truck for the big move last weekend. In a sad commentary, the truck was too small, so not all our stuff fit in it. We're having to do the remainder piece mail and it's ugly. These last 48 hours have been the first of our new routine. Because we're still unpacking, sorting, cleaning, unpacking it's taking a little longer. This weekend is a big clean out of the old house and getting it ready to go on the market.
With the move has come some emotions. We have a duplex that N's living in that has enough storage for all our stuff, so that's the great news. It's a little place that's ours. However, it's about 180 miles away from me. That's been hard to lose my home. I find part of my identity in my home and it's not a place that I live in daily. I'm not complaining, this is just a stepping stone to a future where I can have a home that we hopefully build and then I can make up for these two years!
Zoe has adjusted quite well. Her perfect place is where all her people are under one roof. I honestly think if she could have a house that had rooms for the entire family, she'd be a happy girl. She loves her new rooms, both at grandma's and in Oregon.
In a nice blessing, Toby has also adjusted quite well. He's come out of his shell and is total puppy. We have a hard time getting him to come inside, which was absolutely NOT the case at our prior house. Apparently Grandma's is also his happy place. I can't even begin to explain how awesome that is. We were worried he'd take several steps back and it's been a painful process to get him out of his shell. Praise the Lord that he feels more at home at grandma's then he did at our home!
In the midst of all the packing and change, we started Pre-K. Zoe LOVES it. She's got 24 kids in her class and she's making new friends. Zoe is a picky eater. She only drinks water. She isn't too keen on very many veggies or fruits. She's stubborn. After the first day of class she was SUPER excited because she tried something new: a carrot. She now claims them as one of her favorite foods. Go Zoe!
In the midst of all the change, there are so many blessings. N still loves his dam job. He's making great friends and passing all his exams. If we have to live apart during the week, it's such a blessing that he still likes what he does.
That's our life in a nutshell. Nothing terribly exciting just terribly busy!
In the last few weeks, we've:
1) moved
2) started Pre-K
3) started AWANA
4) lost all track of time
The biggest happening that really feels like a month in the making is the move. We had to do a three-point move. My mom cleaned out her house and got ready for Zoe and I to move in. I had to pack up our house for either my mom's house or for Oregon. N moved into a duplex in Oregon.
It was much cleaning, packing, cleaning, de-junking, packing, sorting, packing, moving and moving. We rented a truck for the big move last weekend. In a sad commentary, the truck was too small, so not all our stuff fit in it. We're having to do the remainder piece mail and it's ugly. These last 48 hours have been the first of our new routine. Because we're still unpacking, sorting, cleaning, unpacking it's taking a little longer. This weekend is a big clean out of the old house and getting it ready to go on the market.
With the move has come some emotions. We have a duplex that N's living in that has enough storage for all our stuff, so that's the great news. It's a little place that's ours. However, it's about 180 miles away from me. That's been hard to lose my home. I find part of my identity in my home and it's not a place that I live in daily. I'm not complaining, this is just a stepping stone to a future where I can have a home that we hopefully build and then I can make up for these two years!
Zoe has adjusted quite well. Her perfect place is where all her people are under one roof. I honestly think if she could have a house that had rooms for the entire family, she'd be a happy girl. She loves her new rooms, both at grandma's and in Oregon.
In a nice blessing, Toby has also adjusted quite well. He's come out of his shell and is total puppy. We have a hard time getting him to come inside, which was absolutely NOT the case at our prior house. Apparently Grandma's is also his happy place. I can't even begin to explain how awesome that is. We were worried he'd take several steps back and it's been a painful process to get him out of his shell. Praise the Lord that he feels more at home at grandma's then he did at our home!
In the midst of all the packing and change, we started Pre-K. Zoe LOVES it. She's got 24 kids in her class and she's making new friends. Zoe is a picky eater. She only drinks water. She isn't too keen on very many veggies or fruits. She's stubborn. After the first day of class she was SUPER excited because she tried something new: a carrot. She now claims them as one of her favorite foods. Go Zoe!
In the midst of all the change, there are so many blessings. N still loves his dam job. He's making great friends and passing all his exams. If we have to live apart during the week, it's such a blessing that he still likes what he does.
That's our life in a nutshell. Nothing terribly exciting just terribly busy!
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