oh my, where did the summer go? I blinked and it was gone, just like that.

seeing it slip by made me especially sad this year because I knew it meant that I would be sending my 5 year old to Kindergarten FOR THE LAST TIME.

I did it with Zoe when she was [...]]]>

oh my, where did the summer go? I blinked and it was gone, just like that.

seeing it slip by made me especially sad this year because I knew it meant that I would be sending my 5 year old to Kindergarten FOR THE LAST TIME.

I did it with Zoe when she was 5 and with Zach when he was 5. you would think this old gal was used to it by now.

But she is not.

I think what makes it so hard this time around is that my little guy is such a home-body. He doesn’t mind staying at home and kicking back with mom. He loves waking up and flipping on the xbox and having the entire couch all to himself, without the intrusions of his siblings.

And I must say, I’ve grown to love this little routine we had together. But it’s ending.

The thought is rough. I haven’t yet accepted it. Just give me time…. how ’bout ONE MORE year????

“Dear Kindergarten,    I’m NOT ready yet. Come back next year. Or maybe the year AFTER that!”

*sigh*

How did you get through this transition, Veteran Moms???

But remember where you are, people. This can’t exactly come as a shock to all of you regular readers! So suck [...]]]>
I know….I know. I am quite sure you are telling yourself, “I didn’t come visit your site, today to subject myself to such a horrific vision of this magnitude!”

But remember where you are, people. This can’t exactly come as a shock to all of you regular readers! So suck it up. The following is disturbing. Just feel fortunate I made all of the following pictures Black and White!!!

I want to know what it is, in particular that peeks a 3 year olds’ curiosity, when it comes to cramming objects down the Latrine.

Seriously, this has to be the 4th or possibly even 5th time my husband has had to get down on his hands and knees and root around down there, searching for the last innocent victim that Zander has so heartlessly sent to their watery grave.

Of the long extended history of the sport of Toilet Hide Away, my husband/Plumber in Training has retrieved numerous items. Toys, socks, underwear, writing utensils, toothbrushes. I can only seek solace in the fact that we don’t have any small pets in our household!

Two full weeks of relaxing, rejuvenating, therapeutic……Oh,…..wait, I forgot. My kids aren’t going to be in school….My three year old won’t be with my mother all day….For TWO WHOLE weeks!And thanks to two [...]]]>
Thanks to having the most wonderful and understanding employers in the entire world, I have all of Christmas Break off of work.

Two full weeks of relaxing, rejuvenating, therapeutic……
Oh,…..wait, I forgot. My kids aren’t going to be in school….
My three year old won’t be with my mother all day….
For TWO WHOLE weeks!
And thanks to two consecutive Winter Blizzards having swept across the Pacific Northwest, there’s a wall of fresh white snow standing tall behind the wheels of my car…..
And not a single adult to interact with as far as the mouth eye can scream see.

Crap.

It would appear my Winter Wonderland may be quickly shifting towards the likes of an epic Horror film.

P.S. Is there white stuff there, where you’re at???

[...]]]>

The “relaxing” medicine they gave her right before hand was the most entertaining part of our day. Although, watching my little [...]]]>
Pre-surgery, Zoe was upbeat and willing. Ready and raring to go.
“Are you nervous, sweetie?”
“Pffffft! No.” (As if to say, “Mommy! I AM six years old, I KNOW what I’m doing!”)
What a brave little girl!

The “relaxing” medicine they gave her right before hand was the most entertaining part of our day. Although, watching my little girl act like a raging drunk wasn’t the prettiest thing to witness.

Here is the elephant on her hospital room wall, that she INSISTED was currently charging at her:

Waiting for the O.R. to call her down was just slightly beyond excruciating.
I had my trusty drug of choice coping mechanism standing by…..

Some of the longest 45 minutes of my life went by…..
This is the part of parenthood I cannot stand….the loss of control, the feeling of worry and helplessness. Every parent goes through it. Every parent loathes it.

But she did great. No problems, no bumps or hiccups. Minimal blood loss and she returned from surgery fast asleep.

Aaaaaah…… A huge sigh of relief. My baby girl is back with me and she is okay.
And then, she woke up……….

Part two in the “Intolerable moments in Parenthood” series. Watching your child feel pain and fear and sadness. All at once.

Again, you’re powerless and you just want to curl right up alongside them and take every ounce of their pain from them, absorb it into your own body, if you must. Anything, to make it go away.

Since her throat was too sore for her to speak, she pointed to the little hospital pain chart they kept in the room…….

Poor baby. There have only been one or two times in all of her life that she has been in that amount of pain. And really…..a six isn’t too shabby!

This, on the other hand, was mommy’s pain level……

After eating a spoonful of pudding, post surgery, she exclaimed, “Oh!! I can’t eat this.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I’ve only ever had pudding when I had tonsils in my mouth!”

I promised her repeatedly, “We won’t ever take your tonsils out again!”
Words that, at the time, served as more of a comfort since she was far too loopy to understand their simplicity.

She is still feeling pretty uncomfortable but we’re trying our best to keep her hydrated and just seeking solace in the fact that by the time she’s old enough to hold a grudge, she won’t even remember this lousy experience.
That, and this fall she won’t be missing another month’s worth of school due to recurrent strep throat and tonsillitis.

The tonsils are gone for good but I know that eventually her smile will return.

…..right after a bath.

(Yes, that’s my children, the future Olympic Salmonella Skating Champions of the World.)

Me: “Yes…..”

Zach: “Who killed him, mommy?”

Me: “Nobody killed him sweetie, he had cancer.”

Zach: (in deep thought) “Beau didn’t smoke!”

Since Zoe was a baby, I have always taken the kids photos myself. I really see no point in paying someone else, who doesn’t really know my child, to capture them on film.I would much rather have the job, myself.

Each picture reveals their own special [...]]]>