Blog Bio from May 2016

I'm updating the blog bio for all of us, but after reading through the current one I decided I should post this one so that it did not get permanently lost.  Here it is:

This is what happens when two math geeks marry and have four kids!

Jenn
I am a stay at home mom. I love to quilt, sew, craft, blog and read. Sometimes I love to cook, sometimes I hate it, mostly because no one will help with menu planning but everyone complains about what I serve. I hate doing laundry and dishes. I love a good novel, but am not much of a non-fiction or literature reader . I love animals and rescue. In addition to our four two-legged kids, we also have three four-legged kids, plus an extra long term four-legged guest. Having a foster dog or two is not that unusual for us as I am a sucker for an animal in need. I love my kids and being a mom, except for when I want to run away from it all. In my next life I would like a clean house.

Michael
Our crazy leader. He loves all things Texas A&M (whoop!), college football, good beer, coaching kids sports, and his family. He even loves his wife enough to put up with all her crazy ideas, pets, and foster pets.

Sam-I-Am
Our firstborn Samuel Frank who died at birth in 1999. He was our gorgeous, curly, red-headed baby boy. He may not be with us on earth but he is still a big part of our family. We miss every day and love him very much.

Le President
Our oldest son Rehm. He is my walking encyclopedia. He loves politics, band, scouts, friends, school, learning, debating, leadership, and being right about everything, even when he's not. We affectionately call him Captain Oblivious because if there is something happening that he is not the center of he is completely clueless. He is currently binge watching The West Wing and mad that we didn't clue him in to the show ages ago. He only likes to read non-fiction, which I really don't understand.

Latte
Our oldest daughter. She is the most empathetic girl I know. She loves school, swim, dancing (even though she doesn't take lessons but will be part of the middle school team in the fall), performing, and all things social. She is loud and dramatic, mostly in a good way. She hates riding long distances in the car. She is as stubborn as her mother, especially when dealing with her mother.

Rubylicious
Our feisty second daughter. She is very dramatic. Her world is one of extremes. There is never any doubt about how Ruby feels about something or someone. She loves gymnastics, reading, friends, arts and crafts, making a mess, and her pets. Ruby is currently reading the Beverly Cleary Ramona series and the Junie B. Jones books.

DirtOur cautious third daughter. She is very sensitive and likes to do things in her own way and own time. She loves to play sports, any kind of competition, getting dirty, being tough, reading, playing with the neighbors, being in the middle of the action, choir, and scouts. She dislikes change of any kind for any reason. Eliza Claire is currently reading the Little House on the Prairie series and just finished the Percy Jackson series.

Updated May 2016

A Fun Reward

Ruby has been working very hard in gymnastics.  She recently got her front hip circle on the bar.  I would tell you what that is but I can't.  I don't know how to describe it.  Anyway, it was a big deal and she was very excited and proud, as she should be.  She asked if we could go to Bahama Bucks as a reward.  I was happy to oblige.

We don't got to Bahama Bucks often but we all enjoy it when we do.  If you aren't familiar with it, they sell snow cones.  I like it because their birthday cake snow cone with chocolate drizzle tastes very similar to snow creme.  Given I live somewhere it never snows, it is awesome to get a taste of snow creme occasionally.

It seems to take a while for the snow cones to be made.  I guess because they have to shave enough ice off of a giant block of ice to make it and even with a machine, it just isn't quick.  Bahama Bucks has several games you can play while you wait for your order and while you are eating.  My family loves this.  We always have the best family time.

This trip we got to play Headbands.  Hilarious!

Blast from the Past

I happened to read our individual descriptions on the left side of the blog and realized they were just a little bit out of date.  I have updated them to better reflect everyone's current interests.  However, I realized it was fun to look back on where we were.  Here are the old descriptions.  The best I can tell they are from the summer of 2011. This means the kids were 10, 7, 4, and 4.

This is what happens when two math geeks marry and have four kids!

Jenn
I no longer work outside the home. This is a new endeavor as I spent the last five years working part time for my church. I love to cook, take photos and blog. I hate doing laundry and dishes. I love a good novel, but am not much on non-fiction or literature. I love my kids and being a mom. 

Sam-I-Am
Our firstborn who died at birth. He was our sweet red-headed baby boy. He may not be with us on earth but that makes him no less part of our family. We miss and love him very much.

The Grinch
Our oldest son Rehm. He is my walking encyclopedia. He loves Harry Potter, the ocean, space, science, Pokemon, Phineas and Ferb and anything that has a screen. He loves to know why and how things work. 

Cindy Loo Who
Our oldest daughter. She is the most empathetic girl I know. She loves school, playing with her little sisters and all things social. She is as stubborn as her mother, especially when dealing with her mother.

Thing 1
Our feisty second daughter. She is very dramatic. Her world is one of extremes. She loves to dress up and to play Barbies. 

Thing 2Our cautious third daughter. She is very sensitive and likes to do things in her own way and own time. She loves to play sports and loves cars and tracks and seeing how things work together. 

Therapist List

Charlotte was complaining about having to let the dogs out. Ruby tells her, "Don't worry, I'll put it on your therapist list!"

I asked, "What do you mean?"

Ruby: I'm sort of her therapist. Every day we go in my room and make clay projects and work through stuff. Like, not yelling so much and stuff.

Where does she get this stuff?


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Stealing Her Joy

Last week Charlotte and Ruby decided they were going to build hammocks in the back yard with some old sheets. I was completely fine with this idea. I thought it was fun, creative and going to allow them to use their problem solving skills. I know, it is shocking that my first answer wasn't "No!" I was completely on board, even if I did not think they would be successful.

Ruby came in to get duct tape. Their plan was to tape the sheets up. I told her they could t use the duct tape on the sheets. A few minutes later they were braiding duct tape to make a rope. At this point, I very clearly told them, "no duct tape, at all." It was my only rule of this project. I went back to making dinner.

About 30 minutes later they came in very excited. They had made a hammock! They were very proud of themselves and I was very proud of me for sticking with the project and making it work. Until, I walked outside and saw...



Yep, that's a whole lot of duct tape holding up that hammock. I sent my daughter to her room for willfully disobeying. She was furious. When she tried to yell at me I told her she could write her feelings down and share them with me but she was not going to yell at me.

She returned a bit later with this:



After we calmly discussed how creative and determined she was, we addressed the willfully breaking the rules. She conceded that I did have a point. Then she and Ruby skipped back out and made two more hammocks with no duct tape! Ironic isn't it?



My guess is that duct tape will never come off of the swing set

Jenn

Oblivious

When Ruby walked out of school this afternoon my first thought was "how did I not notice her outfit this morning?" Then I thought, "you didn't walk her to a school and she was still in her pajamas when she came to breakfast." 

That's when I realized that I did walk her to school! So how did I miss this completely non-matching outfit? The answer: I have absolutely no clue. We were running late, Eliza Claire was freaking out over running late and one if the other two was having some crisis, though at this point I have no idea what it was. I guess Ruby's wardrobe was the last thing on my mind. 

I love these jeans. I think they are adorable and fit Ruby's style perfectly. Why she paired them with this shirt is a mystery. I'm sure if I asked her she would have some reason that seems perfectly obvious in her world but would never occur to me. 

In the end, it really doesn't matter if she looks like a rag-a-muffin or not. She is one amazing kid. 

Jenn

I Don't want to grow up!

Saturday was a day with lots of chores much to Ruby and Eliza Claire's dislike. Rehm was at a band competition and Fiesta Texas. Charlotte was hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa ushering at a kids show at the Zach and just getting spoiled.

Ruby spent most of the afternoon playing with her friend Ellery that lives close by. She was not happy when we insisted that she come in to get ready for dinner. She was MAD! She pitched quite the fit. She was also hungry and when Ruby is hungry she gets extra mad.

She eventually calmed down, we went to dinner, had a great time and came home. After we got home she apologized to me for get mad. Her dad complimented her on being mature and apologizing without prompting.

Ruby immediately said, "I don't want to be mature! That means I have to move out of the house!"

Oh, how I live this girl. She always keeps me on my toes.

Jenn

Sleeping through the Night

This girl has woken up the past two nights between 1:00 and 2:00 am. Her teacher has been out sick Monday and Tuesday. Given her nighttime concerns, I'd say she was worried about Miss Z.


Monday night she wanted to go to school "right now! Even though it is the middle of the night." Tuesday she told me she couldn't sleep because she missed Miss Z.

We were both thrilled to see Miss Z. Back at school today. I'm glad she is feeling better and Ruby can quit worrying. I'm also hoping that tonight she will stay in her room all night!


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Ruby and Rawleighs

Cici, I remembered the Rawleighs tonight. Ruby was hilarious! She kept repeating, "Is it really, really cold or is it burning?"

I told her that Granny would have sworn that Rawleighs would fix any bruise, cut or scrape. She wanted to know how it worked. I told her I didn't know but Granny was usually right about things like this.















As you can see she could not hold still for a picture. And yes, her shirt is wrong side out and backwards. I didn't bother mentioning it. She would have just shrugged and told me she didn't care.

Charlotte, later, complained about her carpet burn on her knee from Saturday's basketball game. I told her Rawleighs would fix it right up and slathered some on her,as well.

I told Charlotte that you bought me my can when I went to college. She wanted to know if I would buy her her own can of Rawleighs when she went to college. Then she asked where you could buy it. I told her maybe Websters.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

No Sleep for the Weary and other Sunday Happenings

Ugh! I just left Charlotte's room. She had a horrible time falling asleep tonight. She was stressed over not being able to sleep which just makes it that much harder. She kept falling asleep, snoring or talking, then waking and swearing she had not been to sleep at all, yet. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! We've got to find a better solution.

In the morning I have to decide whether to wake her at her regular time or let her sleep and then freak out when she wakes and realizes she is late for school.

This morning I left everyone the same message in their hearts. I hid them in their seats at the table knowing that everyone doesn't usually sit down to eat breakfast together on Sundays.



Ruby had breakfast first. She came back upstairs with a twinkle in her eye. She snuggled up to me and asked if she really was my favorite. I assured her that she was. She gave me the biggest smile and hug. It was adorable.

All went well until we came home from church and Charlotte found her heart. Everyone just happened to be in the kitchen, Charlotte read hers aloud, to herself. Immediately there were multiple exclamations about each person having that message. Eliza Claire declared that she found hers first so clearly she was the favorite. Ruby informed her that she had found hers before Eliza Claire and was therefore the favorite. I assured them all that they are all my favorites. Luckily, they all took it in good humor and today's message did not backfire.

Ruby's head is looking better today and is bandage free. Still a bit bruised but healing, I just realized that I forgot to put any Rawleighs on it before I sent her to bed. My Granny swore by this salve for everything, but especially bruises. Mom even reminded me today when I talked to her and I still didn't do it.



It was such a nice day that Ruby asked if we could eat dinner outside. She offered to clean and set the table. It was a lovely evening for dining outside. It's a good thing we got that end before the next arctic blast this week.



Eliza Claire has decided that since I am hiding surprises for her that she should hide surprises for me. Being seven she can not wait for me to find them. She always comes to give me a nudge in the right direction. Tonight, she left these treasures for me.



Her note says, "You're my star." She really knows how to make a mom feel special. Maybe, I'm her favorite!

Jenn - the favorite mom

Overheard from the Backseat

But stealing is more fun! ~Eliza Claire

What?! It seems Ruby was telling Eliza Claire that she should ask to borrow Ruby's socks before taking them.

Meanwhile Charlotte was doing a neb treatment for her wheezy cough that just won't go away.



Given our afternoon of appointments. I was glad she could do the treatment in the van on the way to the dentist.

Jenn

Why?

Please tell me why my girls can not use toothpaste neatly? It is constantly all over the counter and sink, caked on their toothbrushes, on the floor, on the cabinet fronts, everywhere. I noticed yesterday, while laying on the bathroom floor with Ruby, who was mad about something and refusing to go to bed, that there is even a spot about the size of a pencil eraser on the ceiling! It is just gross, disgusting, and drives me crazy!



I'm seriously considering taking away the toothpaste and making them just brush with water for a while.

Jenn

Aliases

Ruby has started a new thing. Wh e you say something to her or ask her to do something and use her name in the request she will say, "I'm not Ruby, I'm _______!" She always picks a different name, typically from a list of I've memorized. Of course, if you list off all the names as part of your request she will come up with a new name. This sounds really annoying but it is actually extremely adorable, especially since she always has a big smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye during these exchanges.



Her current list of names includes, but is not limited to:

Ralph - this was her first and most popular choice
Phillip Johnny Bob - this is from the Junie B. Jones series. PJB isnJunie's stuffed elephant
Olaf - from Frozen
Gus
Simon

A typical conversation with Ruby now goes something like this:

Me: Hey, Ruby!

Ruby: I'm not Ruby, I'm Ralph!

Me: Hey, Ralph!

Ruby: I'm not Ralph, I'm Phillip Johnny Bob!

Me: Hey, Ruby, Ralph, Phillip Johnny Bob, Olaf, Simon, Gus, whoever you are!

Then she giggles and says, "I'm Table" or some other such nonsense.

This girl always cracks me up and keeps me on my toes. I'm so lucky to be her Mom.
Jenn

Friday

Today has been another fun and laid back day.






I've officially lost my mind and started a block of the month quilt at a local quilt shop. I didn't know what has possessed me. I hope I'm not in too far over my head. At least I'm trying something new and getting out of my comfort zone.

Shoe shopping with Rehm was not torture today. I'm so glad he has settled on a brand he likes. Now we can be in and out in half an hour. And they didn't cost a fortune.

Ruby told Cici at lunch "to be responsible" when Cici asked her to do a cartwheel in the restaurant. Of course, Cici was joking.

Papa took Charlotte and Eliza Claire fishing today. Eliza Claire caught her first fish. At least, she says it is her first. I think she has caught some before but if so,Nashe doesn't remember. If the anglers are anywhere near accurate (truthful), the fish was a two foot long carp. Charlotte was not so lucky. She didn't even get a bite!

Papa called Charlotte "Cheese Bob" this afternoon when she was wearing a stool on her head. He meant Sponge Bob but didn't come up with it. Charlotte is now calling him "Cat Head" because Phineas is sitting on the back do the chair he is sitting in.

Jenn

Vocabulary

Michael and I were discussing if there were any scenes in Ghostbusters that we need to fast forward through.

Ruby: Why?

Me: Because of inappropriate sexual content.

Ruby: OK, I have absolutely no clue what "content" means!

Oh my goodness! Of all the words of that sentence that she doesn't know, that wasn't the one I would have thought she didn't know!


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

I Love You the Most

I promise this is the last post on the kids 14 Days of Valentine's.

Honestly, when I saw this idea I thought it was cute but too much work. I wasn't going to do it. Over lunch, at the end of January, my friend Dianne said she was going to do it and urged me to give it a go myself.

I'm so glad I listened to her! My kids have absolutely loved it. They are very excited each day to see what I write. If I'm behind on getting them done, they remind me. The girls love to compare each other's each day, which definitely keeps it challenging for me.

I'm traveling this week. One of the girls' biggest concerns about me being gone was who would do their valentines.

When I told Ruby it was going to be Daddy she was not very confident in his ability. She inquired if I had taught him how to do them. I assured her I had. Actually, I did them for him. All he has to do is tape them on their doors. I think he is up to that challenge. And, he has plenty of other things to keep him busy while I'm gone.

A couple of days ago I decided to basically tell each child they were my favorite. That day they received the following:

Ruby: I love you the most

Eliza Claire: I love you the best

Charlotte: I love you the highest

Rehm: I love you the greatest

That night Ruby asked, "Do you really love me the most?"

I replied, "Yes! I love you the most. And, I love Eliza Claire the best. And, I love Charlotte the highest. And, I love Rehm the greatest."

"But, you love me the most, Mommy?" She insisted.

"Yes, Ruby, I most certainly do!"


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

The Lint Fairy

About once a week I find evidence that the Lint Fairy has visited. She is such an awesome
fairy. She randomly visits and cleans the lint filter on my dryer.
I don't know why she does this but I do know she enjoys it immensely as I have caught a glimpse once or twice.


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Parenting on Display

Let me set the scene for you.  Wednesdays are a very busy day.  The girls come home from school and have an hour to have snack and get homework done before we leave for choir.  We pick Rehm up from school and arrive at church, 30 minutes away, about 10 minutes late for choir.  Following choir we have church dinner and then Bible Study for me and mid-week programming for the kids.  It is a busy day.  There is no good way to do it.  And no way to skip it because all four kids love choir and their respective programming.

Today, when we were leaving the house I had to insist that Ruby bring a coat.  Not, wear it, just bring it.  She didn't want to but I knew she would need it before we got home as the lows are in the upper 20s this week.  She was not happy.  We get to choir and all the kids hop out of the car.  Ruby left her coat in the car.  I wasn't surprised since she didn't want to bring it with her in the first place. 

When I picked Ruby up from choir the first thing she asked is, "where's my coat?"  I asked if she brought it to choir.  She said she didn't.  I replied, "well, that means it is in the car."  She lost it!  According to her I was supposed to have known she wanted me to bring it in, even though she did not ask me to.  Then she insisted that we go immediately to the car to get it.

Of course, if I had brought the coat in we could have just as easily had a fit because I was supposed to know she wanted it left in the car.  You just never know what Ruby will be personally offended by at any given moment.

I had four hungry kids and food on the table waiting for all of them.  I explained that it wasn't a choice to get the coat right then but I would be happy to walk with her to get it after dinner. 

She proceeded to cry, yell and generally be mad at me.  By this time we were in the fellowship hall filled with other diners.  She started hitting me with a stuffed bunny she had with her just to make sure I really understood how upset she was with me.  I took the bunny away.  Of course, that made her madder.  She refused to eat.  She yelled while hiding under my chair.  She decided to eat a little bit but didn't like the way it was plated.  And on, and on, and on. 

All this time, we are sitting at a table with my Mother and Father in law and surrounded by many people.  My parenting was very much on display.  It was embarrassing and I felt like everyone in the room was staring at me and judging my fitness as a parent.  I know my perception and reality were not in sync.  But there is nothing like a misbehaving kid to make you feel like the whole world is judging you.

I remained firm in my expectations and weathered the Wrath of Ruby.  Finally, she had earned the privilege of having her bunny back and had met the requirements for me to walk her to the car for her coat.  She berated me on the way to the car for not being able to read her mind and know she wanted me to bring her coat.  I explained that we had had a miscommunication but she was not excepting any responsibility for the fiasco that had transpired. 

Once we retrieved the coat we had about two minutes of happy, tranquil Ruby.  Then I said something, I don't even remember what, that got her started again. 

At this point she was upset that I was going to Bible Study.  She told me I did too much and I needed to quit something so I would be home more nights.  I explained that my Bible Study takes place while she is at What-A-Wednesday.  It didn't matter.  I needed to quit something!

We get back in the building and she insists that I have to take her bunny to Bible Study with me.  Yes, the bunny that she got mad at me for taking away from her a half an hour earlier.  Now she could only survive the evening if it went with me.

We went to the restroom before taking her to class.  In the restroom, she informed me that I needed to stop embarrassing her!  All I had done all evening was embarrass her. 

I was very happy to drop her off at her class and told her teachers that I hope her behavior was much better for them than it had been for me.  Of course, she was an angel for them and her happy sunny self when we picked her up. 

Parenting this child sure is a tiring, full-time job.  She is worth every minute of it.  And, deep down I would not change her one tiny bit.  She is perfect and she is Ruby. 

 All my classmates loved that bunny joined us for study tonight.

Jenn

Twins being twins

The girls wanted to snuggle last night. I think they were just trying together out of going to sleep.









Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Curls

Charlotte has discovered that she can roll her own hair and wake up with curls whenever she wants to.

Last night she rolled her hair and Ruby's and put Eliza Claire's in a bun so they would all have curls this morning.

Ruby woke up with not a single curler still in her hair, and thus stick straight hair. Eliza Claire's hair was still wet so she had no curls. Charlotte was in tears because she had waves on one side and tight curls on the other.

Of course they were trying to leave the house for early church.

Charlotte and Ruby were not happy. Eliza Claire was unphased by the results.

Charlotte decided a pony tail would make hers acceptable.

Ruby needed curls. She left the house with hot rollers in her hair and instructions on when to take them out. I have no idea if she ended up with curls or not or what they looked like. But she wasn't pitching a fit any more so hopefully the results didn't start a new one.

Ah, life with girls


Jenn- Posted from my iPhone