We're Opening the Pool

Last night we took the cover off the pool and added the chlorine to it. Set up Alfred to start cleaning and now all we have to do is wait for all the green to clear up and the silt to filter out. But it will also be a high of 66 degrees today and 59 degrees tomorrow so we won't be going swimming for a while yet anyway. The pool has a heater so we will probably be turning it on for Gabe's 4th Birthday party.

Matt Where's Your Insurance Card?

Yesterday I talked Matt into going for a walk with me and the kids. He agreed to go and went upstairs to get more comfortable shoes on. He comes down the stairs with his roller baldes on that he has not worn in over 5 years. I asked him if he was serious and then made sure he had his insurance card. He never did fall but complained that his shin were hurting afterwards. He's planning on doing it again next time. Hopefully he won't (knock on wood) break his arm like my uncle did trying to do the same thing.

Incident at School

Yesterday I received a call from another parent at MOPS asking if her child had pushed Gabriel. Gabriel had not mentioned it and was asleep at the time so I told her I would ask and let her know. With some careful investigation I found out Gabriel had been pushed by this child. His response was that the child "made a bad choice". Now the MOPS teachers and director had taken care of everything by outting the child in time out and letting the mom know what had happened. Gabriel was hurt and probably never would have said anything to me about except I had asked about that particular friend. Anyway the mom was calling because she was having her child make a sorry card for Gabriel and wanted to bring it by. I wasn't here last night when they brought the card to Gabriel but Matt said the child seemed clueless as to what was going on.

Okay so here are my thoughts on the whole thing.

It was very nice for the mom to be concerned and to have her child write draw a picture to apologize but,

It was handled well at school and a 3 year olds memory is only so long.

Children at this age need help finding the words to say during a conflict. In other words the adult should find out what the problem is and help give the child the words to solve the problem. For example: Johnny pushes Sandy down. The adult talks to Sandy and give Sandy words like, "Don't push me. It hurt me when I fell down because you pushed me." And then you talk to Johnny too and find out why he pushed Sandy and give him the words to solve the problem.

I also feel like making a child apologize is not teaching the child anything. You can tell is a child is really sorry for something and just saying the words "I'm sorry" doesn't make it all better. I have seen this so many times with kids who will hit someone or knock something down and say "I'm sorry" and then run off to play like nothing ever happened. It was very apparent that it was not heartfelt.

So those are my thoughts. I do want to say that the mom is doing the best she can and is trying to teach her child empathy and that it's not okay to push. But I just feel like it was handled at school and should have stayed there.

Gabriel's Birthday

Plans for Gabriel's birthday have started and invitations have been sent out. Gabriel is real excited that his cousin Amy and his aunts and uncles may be coming to spend his birthday with him. Every day the first question he asks is, "Is it my birthday today? Is Amy coming today?" I t is really cute.

On a side note he also keeps asking about Amy's birthday and if he will be going to her party. I really think he is in the party spirit.

To Clear Things Up

In a post comment on 99 things about me Seth stated that my April Fool's joke was "sorta...confusing". Well, Seth I have to agree with you. That is why I said #93, I really love April Fool's jokes as long as they are not on me. My very own joke backfired on me when I didn't know I was actually pregnant. And it's so true that I have a hard time keeping a secret so I left hits along the way. But they were too obvious, so yet again we are telling people earlier than Matt wanted. Oh, and Seth Matt will be very happy to know that you still look at his blog. So the answer is yes. I am pregnant and I will be due on December 26th, just in time for Christmas.

99 Things About Me

1. I was born in Dalton, GA.
2. I lived there until I was 3.
3. We moved to Signal Mtn., TN where I lived until I married Matt.
4. My parent’s own a plant nursery where I worked in the summers.
5. My major started out in horticulture.
6. I changed my major to Early Childhood Education.
7. I worked at Bath and Body Works in college.
8. I also worked in a preschool during college.
9. After graduating I got a job in a Montessori School as the after school coordinator.
10. I later became a teacher in the classroom until Abby was born.
11. I have never done drugs.
12. I didn’t drink until college.
13. I only tried smoking once.
14. Growing up I was a blabber mouth.
15. My sister and I didn’t get along when we were younger.
16. Now we do. (for the most part)
17. I love my brother and sister.
18. I love my parent’s too.
19. My mother and I fought a lot until I went to school.
20. We get along great now.
21. I always wanted a family and kids.
22. When Matt and I were dating I made sure he wanted the same thing.
23. I love Matt.
24. I love my kids.
25. Matt and I got married in Aug. of ’97.
26. We waited 5 years to have kids. (He finally gave in when my father said he was ready for grandkids of his own.)
27. I consider Matt’s family my own.
28. I loved being pregnant, both times, despite the symptoms.
29. I don’t remember the first time I held Abby, though I have pictures.
30. I love being a mother and wife.
31. I would like to have 4 kids.
32. I sometimes miss teaching but I like being a stay at home mom.
33. I am a pleaser.
34. I am very sensitive.
35. I don’t exercise enough.
36. I would like to lose 20 pounds.
37. but I am not motivated enough.
38. Country music is my favorite music but I listen to almost anything.
39. My car is filled with children’s CDs.
40. I like mixed CDs.
41. I go shopping to make myself feel better.
42. I like coffee in the mornings.
43. I like hot tea at night.
44. I enjoy sewing.
45. I would like to take more sewing classes.
46. I would love to learn quilting.
47. I would also like to learn to knit.
48. I don’t keep secrets very well.
49. I have a secret I am dying to share.
50. I can’t wait to give away presents.
51. I love to host parties.
52. I tend to make too much food.
53. I enjoy cooking.
54. I also enjoy eating out.
55. I have a hard time resisting a Starbucks when I see one.
56. I enjoy scrapbooking but am very far behind.
57. I am very glad I tried MOPS.
58. I am worried about coming up with cool crafts.
59. I am a neat freak.
60. I can’t stand clutter.
61. I enjoy cleaning when the mood hits me.
62. Though I feel like my house is never clean.
63. I want to feel more versed in the Bible.
64. I am doing a Bible study on my own to accomplish this.
65. My favorite holiday is Christmas.
66. This year I am getting a great Christmas present.
67. I love my kids.
68. I enjoy spending time with my family.
69. And with Matt’s.
70. I enjoy taking the kids to the park.
71. My favorite T.V. shows are SG-1 and SG Atlantis.
72. I enjoy helping people.
73. I am almost too optimistic.
74. I do what I say I will and when I say I will do it.
75. Spring is my favorite season.
76. I wish I could paint well.
77. I am never wrong, at least that’s how I act sometimes.
78. It drives me nuts how pesamistic Matt can be.
79. I want to take the kids to Disney at least once.
80. I enjoy working in the garden.
81. I am shy until you get to know me and then you can’t get me to shut up.
82. I am somewhat organized.
83. I play the flute. Though not much anymore.
84. I played the flute at my brother’s wedding.
85. I’ve been out of the country only once.
86. I went to Japan.
87. I came back early.
88. I dislike fish and mushrooms.
89. I love winter for the snow, not the cold.
90. I miss the mountains.
91. I would like to be closer to family but I like it here too.
92. I am glad my kids have cousins close to their own age, because I enjoyed playing with mine.
93. I really love April Fool's jokes as long as they are not on me.
    
94. I enjoy cut flowers, but never buy any.
    
95. My favorite foods are cheeseburgers and pizza.
96. My favorite desserts are strawberry pie and baklava.
97. I enjoy going on family outings.
98. I have only been to 11 of the 50 states.
99. I like swimming but can’t dive.

This is something that I have been wanting to do for a while and just never took the time to do it. I was actually easier than I thought it would be. I hope you enjoy and that it gives you some insite on who I am.

Seldom and Never Posting

Matt has posted on his site inviting any of our friends who would like to visit to come this summer. We do hope some of you can make it. We will be opening the pool as soon as the temperature permits or by Gabriel's 4th birthday party on the 13th. (I am crazy but we will be having a pool party since I didn't want to fight all day with the kids on staying out of the pool. ) If we have to turn on the heater then so be it. Just let us know when you are coming and we will be sure to make room for you.

Gabriel the Brave

This is Gabriel the Brave and his trusty steed. He is fighting the tree, oops I mean dragon in my parents' backyard. He had a blast riding the horse swing and hitting the tree with his sword.

Catnip, Where's the Catnip?

Last weekend Matt picked up some catnip for the kitties. He gave them some outside and then left the bag on the kitchen counter. Later that day I found Silly, who normally does not jump on the counter, on the counter. He has ripped open the bag and is really enjoying himself. I knocked him off the counter, cleaned up the catnip and put it in a new bag. I then put the bag in the cabinet. Then I started finding Oliver on the counter. He was sniffing around trying to find the catnip he could smell. And then yesterday I came home to find half the roll of paper towels rolled off the roll. (The roll is under the cabinet the catnip is in.) I guess the cats were trying to find a way into the closet. I have now moved the catnip into the utility closet.

Where's my Beer?

When Matt got home from work he decided that his day warranted a beer. So he pops one open and begins to unwind from his day. He goes outside to see Gabriel swing "all by himself" and then starts helping me get the table and kids ready for dinner. He sets his beer on the table to take off Abby's shirt and then walks over to get the milk. He then starts looking for his beer. He can't find it anywhere and is dumb founded. All the sudden the beer appears back on the table by Abby's hand. She had gotten hold of the beer and was drinking it. Upon Matt asking her if she liked it she said, "Yes."

Gabriel Swings!!!!

I was beginning to think I would never see this. Gabriel is now swinging by his own power. We've been working on this since we moved here last year and today he was actually able to make himself move. It was great to see the look of joy and pride on his face.

Way to go Gabriel!!!!

Bodily Functions

My sister-in-law, Etsuko, called today and asked if I was pregnant. As we talked our conversation turned to bodily functions. In this case potty training. She will be potty training her soon to be three year old and was asking for advice. But my question for you is why is it that you put a bunch of moms with preschoolers into a room and at some point the conversation will turn to bodily functions? Is this where are lives are or do we think that much about it? My reminder to myself and other moms trying to potty train is that you never see a college student wearing diapers. So relax and let it happen with a little guidance from you.

Severe Weather

Friday night we had strong thunder storms and tornado warnings. We took the kids to the basement until the warning had past. Then last night we had more severe weather. Yesterday while working in the yard Matt discovered that part of our siding was broken. Matt thought he had gotten it fixed but this morning it was torn off again. We are going to call someone in hopes of just repairing the one strip. I wonder how often we will have to get the kids up from their beds in the middle of the night for severe weather earnings.

Are You Ready??

I am Pregnant!!!