Last night I took my 14 year old son to get some much needed new sneakers. He has always been hard on shoes, never outgrowing them, but wearing them out instead. This time was different. He outgrew his shoes. In fact, he skipped several sizes.
He bought a size 12!!!!
Whoa. That's a bigger size shoe than his father, both grandfathers and older brother.
He is pretty proud of that fact.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Wordless Wednesday
On the Staten Island Ferry. Approx. 1974. Notice what's behind us?
Me, Jonathan, Dad, and some friends.
(My sister is missing from the picture because she refused to stand that close to the water!!)
Sunday, August 12, 2007
The Tape Recorder
Originally posted Apr. 21, 2006
My 13 year old son bought an old, used tape recorder at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago. He is enthralled with it. He told me proudly that he was taping a couple of cd's so he could have them on tape. I chuckled to myself- I remember taping records to tapes!
He has been taping around the house for a few days and then playing back what he has taped. I listened to one of his playbacks and was first shocked, and then dismayed at what I heard. No, not one of the kids mouthing off. It was me. My voice was so hard and so ugly. I wasn't chewing anyone out, I was just giving instructions. Frankly, if I was one of the kids, I wouldn't have wanted to listen to me. What happened to me? If the phone rings, I don't talk like that to the person on the other end.
I have let myself get in a bad habit and thanks to his tape recorder, I am trying to change the way I speak to my children. But I can't do it. God has to do it through me and remind my 24/7 to be aware of how I'm speaking.
If you want a quick reality check, have someone tape record your day.
My 13 year old son bought an old, used tape recorder at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago. He is enthralled with it. He told me proudly that he was taping a couple of cd's so he could have them on tape. I chuckled to myself- I remember taping records to tapes!
He has been taping around the house for a few days and then playing back what he has taped. I listened to one of his playbacks and was first shocked, and then dismayed at what I heard. No, not one of the kids mouthing off. It was me. My voice was so hard and so ugly. I wasn't chewing anyone out, I was just giving instructions. Frankly, if I was one of the kids, I wouldn't have wanted to listen to me. What happened to me? If the phone rings, I don't talk like that to the person on the other end.
I have let myself get in a bad habit and thanks to his tape recorder, I am trying to change the way I speak to my children. But I can't do it. God has to do it through me and remind my 24/7 to be aware of how I'm speaking.
If you want a quick reality check, have someone tape record your day.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Monday, August 6, 2007
It's been quiet around my house!
The girls left Friday morning with their grandparents for the long, long drive to KS. They both squeezed into the back seat of my parents tiny Honda, along with hang up clothes and a host of other stuff. They didn't care one bit! Ellie was just beside herself Thursday evening- I don't think I have ever heard that girl laugh and carry on so much. They arrived in KS around 3:30am, safe and sound.
It is quiet around here. Well, not too quiet with Samuel. He seems to have gotten a burst of energy these past few days. Great, when my 2 main helpers with him are gone. He has kept me running, always checking on what he is doing.
I guess I didn't realize how much my girls pitch in around here. It has become very evident in the past few days! I've changed just about every diaper (Paul has even changed a few!!- not Paul Jr.!), picked up the house countless times, done morning jobs, kitchen jobs and so much laundry with no helpers. Well, Zack is here and he does help with morning jobs, but not laundry and diapers.
I have pictures of them leaving, but can't seem to get them off the camera. I'll keep trying.
It is quiet around here. Well, not too quiet with Samuel. He seems to have gotten a burst of energy these past few days. Great, when my 2 main helpers with him are gone. He has kept me running, always checking on what he is doing.
I guess I didn't realize how much my girls pitch in around here. It has become very evident in the past few days! I've changed just about every diaper (Paul has even changed a few!!- not Paul Jr.!), picked up the house countless times, done morning jobs, kitchen jobs and so much laundry with no helpers. Well, Zack is here and he does help with morning jobs, but not laundry and diapers.
I have pictures of them leaving, but can't seem to get them off the camera. I'll keep trying.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
It's been a while (and Wordless Wednesday)
since my last post. We've been busy around here, doing this and that. My parents were in town last weekend, so that kept us busy. We had a nice visit, and then they went down to Florida to see my brother for a few days. They are headed back this way tomorrow, and will take my girls back with them for a few weeks. Anna and Ellie are besides themselves with excitement. All week they have been packing and re-packing and counting clothes, making sure they have enough. I've tried to tell them they can do laundry at Grandma's but they insist on having at least 7 days worth of clothes.
I do not know what I am going to do without them. They are Sam's main source of entertainment and take care of him alot. I am going to have to be with him 24/7, unless he is sleeping. I've been spoiled! The best time to have younger children is when you have some older children to help out. Raising Sam has been the easiest because of my older children. They are great with him, and he has bonded tightly with Anna, and I think they will be close for life.
I'll leave you with my Wordless Wednesday (even though it is far from wordless today). Blogger won't let me move the pic, so instead of leaving you with wordless Wednesday, I'll start with it.
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