The things you miss....

It's a little crazy at times with Jim gone, but I'd take the chaos any day over being the one away from home. Because as much as I'm dying to sneak out on my own, it's hard to be the one on the phone thinking about all the things you miss....

...The Sun 'N Fun primary activity which quickly turned into a wet and wild party as it started to POUR five minutes after the we started. ...The most amazing thunderstorms and some good ol' Florida flooding.

...Stephanie Nixon huddling with the girls to stay dry
while Nathan danced in the rain.

...Nathan's wild hair day (to say nothing of his personality) at school.

...Nathan rifling through legos for twenty minutes and then placing this creation the desk, "Don't let any one see this! It's the start of Annikan." :)

...Nathan's piano performance at the talent show.

...our biggest fans!
...getting ready for the big day!
...our little dancing queen.

...watching your little girls grow. (whose feet in Lindsey's shoes?!)

..."heee, heee, heee"

"Look at me!"

..."Tickle Me!"

...."Nigh, Night daddy, I love you!"

And just when you think everyone's in bed, Aimee need's a pacifier, Lindsey needs more water in a sippy cup, Elise has a dot on her finger that itches and Nathan has a million questions in his head he just has to get out..."What if daddy doesn't find a house for us in Missouri?" "We'll live in our van." "How will we change clothes?" "We won't. Isn't that fun? And when it rains, we'll step outside for a shower!" "Where will I play legos?" "We'll keep the legos under your seat and when it's not raining, we'll find a parking lot, pull them out and play." "Oh, well, I guess it I'd like to live in the van." "Great!" :) ....."But, I'm not sure what I want to be when I grow up." "That's okay, you've got eons to think about it." "Do you think they'll have a new job for me?"

..."If I die and you give my kidneys to someone else, what will happen when I am resurrected? Will I not have kidneys? " "I'm sure God will find them for you" "How will they take my kidney's out?" "Nathan! No one is taking your kidneys, so go to bed!" (this came after making cookies one night and explaining he can't eat the dough because he'll get salmonella poisoning which could make him very sick and then his kidneys would fail and he'd have to get new ones and have an IV and every other not fun thing in life) :) "Then why does Mr. Dale get to eat some?" (because Dale just happened to come in right AFTER my explanation and snitch his favorite part of the cookie -the dough) "Because he's an adult and our big bodies can handle it."

So many questions, so little time. "Mom, can I see what you're typing?" "Nope, go to bed." And now, it's a good night. Aaaah, take a moment to enjoy the silence. I'm off to a very inviting queen size bed with the softest sheets that I get all to myself! But, I do miss you Jim. :) Life isn't the same without you and I'm sorry for all the things you miss.

You're a mean mom

Sunday, May 17, 2009
It’s deliciously hot outside. I love it. Yesterday I went to check the mail and was lured to lay on the driveway and bake like a cookie in the oven. Elise decided she’d rather be one of the cookies in the freezer. :) Not me, I love feeling all toasty from the outside in.

After Elise’s recital yesterday, we got our summer pool pass to the aquatic center and spent an hour splashing about in the cool water –what a treat. Elise did so well in her recital. I was so proud of her. Nathan was riveted and wiped his eyes after seeing her performance. “That was my favorite one,” he declared in her honor. That made me happy to see his support and love for her. Especially since most the time, lately, they are teasing, rolling eyes and sticking out tongues.

Elise wondered why she got flowers last year…. and I melted, of course. “Oh sweetie, I just didn’t get a chance to slip away and surprise you with Daddy not being here to watch the kids.” “I could go with you….” She softly suggested. How could I resist. Off we went to Walmart because I needed milk anyway and we arrived home with four beautiful roses (one for each girl), a hot wheels car (because Nathan does NOT want flowers!), and a box of pop tarts since it was such a special day. We chose the box with the most fiber and the least amount of sugar and I told them we wouldn’t be indulging like this at every recital. :)

Nathan had surgery last Monday. He had a skin tag poking out his backside which was understandably uncomfortable for him. It was supposed to be a quick snip, cauterize and off we go. The anesthesia made him so loopy, it was weird to watch as he slowly went off to la la land. The doctor informed me that he had to do sutures, but not to worry, they would dissolve. The surgery took about five minutes and forty minutes later I got to see Nathan recover happily with a purple popsicle. After going through two more, he was off to the bathroom to pee so we could go home. There he experienced his first real sensation of pain and cried for about five minutes before I could convince him to stop trying and to lie back on the bed.

Tylenol was the best they could give him and away we went. Around 2:30 in the afternoon Nathan had to REALLY go to the bathroom. He spelled it out for me, “Mom I have to go p-o-o-p-y!” It sounded more like he was going to have a baby than just a visit to the restroom. He screamed for about ten minutes solid, while I called the doctor a little frantic about the fact that Nathan was in so much pain. They could do nothing, of course. So, after what felt like he “broke a bone” inside and much screaming, he finished what he started and went to recover (completely drenched in sweat) with an episode of toot and puddle (how appropriate). :)

Well, now it’s Sunday and Nathan still cries every time he has to go. I kept him home for two days thinking he’d be okay by Thursday. However, he’s still bleeding, crying and now he’s just plain not going. He keeps wishing he’d never gotten his skin tag off as he’s dealing with his first bout of prolonged pain (hindsight is 20/20… ha, ha). I wish he hadn’t done it either since it takes him about45 minutes in the bathroom, the most part of which he’s crying out for me to be with him. We were 40 minutes late to church this morning so he could try. I bet everyone thought it was because I couldn’t get the four kids going by myself. I did get two invitations to dinner (Thanks Ruth and Jana). :) Of course, we couldn’t accept either because we are waiting for the inevitable moment where Nathan REALLY has to go.

Jim took off for Missouri on Tuesday. He arrived Wednesday, settled Thursday, prepped for his class Friday and Saturday and is checking out the wards today. As busy as he is, it’s probably not enough. He misses us and we all miss him too. Aimee is such a daddy’s girl, she asks for him every day. Yesterday she said, “I miss daddy. Daddy’s at work.” I’ve only been scared once: at 2 am, when Lindsey dragged herself across the living room in her leg braces instead of simply calling out to me to go to the bathroom. I’ve learned to lock the doors while it’s still light outside and go to bed at a decent hour.

Aimee was so cute today in pig tails, I could just eat her up! She has a new trick. If you ask her how old she is she’ll say, “two.” Then, if you ask her her name, she’ll say, “two.” It works the other way too. If you ask her her name, she’ll say, “Aimee.” Then, if you ask her how old she is, she’ll say, “Aimee.” That’s her daddy’s girl! :)

Monday, May 18, 2009 “you’re a mean mom!”
This morning I made the usual Monday breakfast of muffins and eggs. The eggs must be eaten first. Lindsey took one look at the table and declared she wanted cereal. “Tough!” I said and kept cooking. “You’re a mean mom!” she let me know as she huffed away from the table. Realizing it had no affect on me whatsoever, she came back and said it a little louder. “Hmph!” was followed by the chant, “you’re a mean mom. You’re a mean mom. You’re a mean mom!” I smiled when Elise and Nathan both came to my rescue, knowing full well it would only be a matter of days, if not hours before they, too, took up the chant and let everyone know just how mean I am!

Krista bought me twilight and new moon to complete my collection! That was a very sweet surprise to my day.