warning: my husband may not approve this post, but he is not currently here to consult, so i will take my chances
we have entered a new era in the rutherford household:
there are no secrets when you have kids
case in point: i had a doctor's appointment early this morning so john took burrito to school. noodle went with me and fortunately, all went well. so we ran some errands, got back home, i check my email and what is in my inbox? an email from burrito's teacher who has sent me well wishes because burrito has gone to school and told her that noodle and i were sick and going to the doctor. now, he didn't get the whole story correct (which leads to more worries, making public things that were meant to be private and embellishing the details). noodle was not sick, he was just forced to go along with me.
now, truth be told, nothing too private has been revealed. thank goodness. burrito did not know or hear the real reason for my doctor's appointment or that would have been made public as well. not that it is of much consequence, just not something i need his teacher to know.
it gets better...
since the boys were babies (and being only 18 months apart, i did have 2 babies at once) we have celebrated naked sundays. now before too many images pop into your head, let me clarify. naked sundays are really not naked. we just instituted this tradition when they were young, that after coming home from church on sundays, we would take off their clothes and they could eat, sleep and play in their diapers. we really created this tradition as a sneaky way of getting their church clothes off before eating, so that pizza sauce (pizza is our sunday lunch staple) would not ruin their clothes. well, now that they are older, it is more of an undies sort of day, which i totally love! there's just something about little boys running around in undies that i just can't get enough of!
now let me make sure i emphasize that john and i do not take part in this tradition, so don't get any ideas.
anyways, all that to say, we had to have a serious talk with burrito this past sunday, that naked sundays were not to be mentioned to Mrs. B because she would not fully understand the meaning behind those words, and who wants to have that conversation with their child's preK teacher???
so, who knows....Mrs. B may already know about naked sundays and we don't know it. i haven't received that email yet! and hopefully won't!
which begs the following conversation....well, in a sort of chasing rabbits sort of way....what traditions do you love?
this time of year, with the hint of fall and cooler weather and college football and harvest festivals and pumpkins, it just makes me relish and treasure traditions. i am sort of a sentimentalist. and the fall is my most favorite time of year, perhaps because it is the season for holidays and family. we have these 2 scarecrows we display on our front porch every year. our first scarecrow was purchased just prior to noodle's birth, and we named it sammy, sort of a neutral kind of name, though i think she should be a she, seeing how i am totally outnumbered in this house. last year, we purchased a friend for sammy, sebastian, to sort of celebrate/commemorate our first fall in our current home. this may sound silly to you, but doing these sorts of traditional things with kids is all the more fun.
i can't wait for september 1 because that is when our fall wreath will go on the front door, regardless of the temperature outside. and october 1, sammy and sebastian will grace our front porch for another year.
i love the fall.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Hide and Secret
We were at dinner tonight trying to decipher what in the world Noodle was talking about. He was saying something like...
Monday, August 25, 2008
i HATE wallpaper!
and i don't usually say the word "hate" but i am pretty sure it applies in this case. i spent the better part of yesterday removing wallpaper, or should i say 2 layers of painted over wallpaper, from our dining room walls and kitchen soffits. i was fortunate that in most places, the wallpaper pulled down freely. other places, not the case. to make matters worse, they applied the first layer of wallpaper on unprimed drywall, so when you rip the wallpaper down, in some parts, the first layer of drywall would come off too.
but have no fear! thanks to this wonderful thing called the internet, i have a plethora of information to draw from in regards to repair. i feel like i am becoming more and more knowledgeable in home repair thanks to this old house.
so if you are needing to conquer some unsightly wallpaper and you don't know where to begin, let me suggest you come to me! i have done all of the research work for you! or maybe you should wait until i am completely finished, so that you can learn from my mistakes! :)
so i am on the completely unreasonable time table to finish this diy portion of our remodel. john's family is coming next thursday and my goal is to have this project completed so that we can enjoy our kitchen and dining room again. i won't bore you with the details but basically it goes like this: make repairs to drywall, one coat of Zinsser Gardz, texture, prime and then paint. I also need to touch up the paint on the baseboards and windowsills but this might have to come later.
oh, and did i forget to say that i pulled a major muscle in my back yesterday after removing the wallpaper, so i am not sure of my ability to get much done tonight. and yes, i said tonight, because that is the only time i can get anything done around here, after Burrito and Noodle go to bed!
can i get an amen!?!?
but have no fear! thanks to this wonderful thing called the internet, i have a plethora of information to draw from in regards to repair. i feel like i am becoming more and more knowledgeable in home repair thanks to this old house.
so if you are needing to conquer some unsightly wallpaper and you don't know where to begin, let me suggest you come to me! i have done all of the research work for you! or maybe you should wait until i am completely finished, so that you can learn from my mistakes! :)
so i am on the completely unreasonable time table to finish this diy portion of our remodel. john's family is coming next thursday and my goal is to have this project completed so that we can enjoy our kitchen and dining room again. i won't bore you with the details but basically it goes like this: make repairs to drywall, one coat of Zinsser Gardz, texture, prime and then paint. I also need to touch up the paint on the baseboards and windowsills but this might have to come later.
oh, and did i forget to say that i pulled a major muscle in my back yesterday after removing the wallpaper, so i am not sure of my ability to get much done tonight. and yes, i said tonight, because that is the only time i can get anything done around here, after Burrito and Noodle go to bed!
can i get an amen!?!?
Saturday, August 23, 2008
A Little Funk...
Well, I've not been motivated to blog the last few days. I've been in a funk. It started Thursday and will not go away. I think I am tired. I fell asleep on the couch last night at 8p and did not wake up this morning until Burrito started rubbing on my arm to wake me up around 7a. I need the Lord. That's all it boils down to. I am glad tomorrow is Sunday.
Parents night quenched (somewhat) my fears of making the right choice for Burrito this year. His teacher started off the meeting by saying she really felt she has been called to teach preK and her utmost concern for them is that they would come to know and trust the Lord. Aaaahhh....that sounds so right. That's what I truly want for my boys, more than a great education, a saving knowledge of Christ. So maybe preK will be good! :) I signed up to be the room mother for his class. My mom was always the room mother and it seemed the thing to do but I am a little nervous about it now. Everyone has made such a big deal about it that I am wondering what I've signed up for!
Noodle had his first music class yesterday. It is a 2 year old class and he is about 2 months shy of his 3rd birthday. I think he was defintely the oldest and maybe the only one potty trained there. I was really proud of him. He was the first to participate and seemed to have a really good time. This has not always been the case with this momma's boy! I thought the class was a little lame but he seemed to like it and that's all that matters. Plus, it is 45 minutes of me time that is a rare commodity these days.
We also went up to have lunch with Burrito yesterday at school. It was fun to step into his world and Noodle loved it because I packed him a lunch and he ate at the table with all of the big kids. I don't think Burrito really cared that we were there, that little independent thing!
No wonder I fell asleep on the couch at 8 last night! :) It was a busy day!
Happy Sunday tomorrow!
Parents night quenched (somewhat) my fears of making the right choice for Burrito this year. His teacher started off the meeting by saying she really felt she has been called to teach preK and her utmost concern for them is that they would come to know and trust the Lord. Aaaahhh....that sounds so right. That's what I truly want for my boys, more than a great education, a saving knowledge of Christ. So maybe preK will be good! :) I signed up to be the room mother for his class. My mom was always the room mother and it seemed the thing to do but I am a little nervous about it now. Everyone has made such a big deal about it that I am wondering what I've signed up for!
Noodle had his first music class yesterday. It is a 2 year old class and he is about 2 months shy of his 3rd birthday. I think he was defintely the oldest and maybe the only one potty trained there. I was really proud of him. He was the first to participate and seemed to have a really good time. This has not always been the case with this momma's boy! I thought the class was a little lame but he seemed to like it and that's all that matters. Plus, it is 45 minutes of me time that is a rare commodity these days.
We also went up to have lunch with Burrito yesterday at school. It was fun to step into his world and Noodle loved it because I packed him a lunch and he ate at the table with all of the big kids. I don't think Burrito really cared that we were there, that little independent thing!
No wonder I fell asleep on the couch at 8 last night! :) It was a busy day!
Happy Sunday tomorrow!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Questions about God
Lately Burrito has been obsessed with whether people or things are taller than him. It's been interesting to see this relational learning.
Today in the car we were reviewing the story of Jonah that we read last night. I was reminding the boys that we cannot hide from God, that he sees us all the time. Well, of course, this led into 101 questions about can God see us here and can God see us there?
Burrito said, "God can see us right now in the car?"
"Yes, remember we cannot see God, but He always sees us."
"Is God taller than me?" The question of the week.
"Yes, Burrito, God is taller than you. He is bigger than everyone." This seemed like a good answer without getting too complicated.
"Can God drink margaritas?"
Oh my. How do you answer that one?!? John and I have told our boys that margaritas are for adults, so I think Burrito was really asking if God was an adult, this was just the way he knew to ask that question.
Parents night is tonight for T's school. I will post more tomorrow.
Today in the car we were reviewing the story of Jonah that we read last night. I was reminding the boys that we cannot hide from God, that he sees us all the time. Well, of course, this led into 101 questions about can God see us here and can God see us there?
Burrito said, "God can see us right now in the car?"
"Yes, remember we cannot see God, but He always sees us."
"Is God taller than me?" The question of the week.
"Yes, Burrito, God is taller than you. He is bigger than everyone." This seemed like a good answer without getting too complicated.
"Can God drink margaritas?"
Oh my. How do you answer that one?!? John and I have told our boys that margaritas are for adults, so I think Burrito was really asking if God was an adult, this was just the way he knew to ask that question.
Parents night is tonight for T's school. I will post more tomorrow.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Been thinking....
Rain makes me a little melancholy and contemplative. I love it. This is my true nature but many times life gets in the way of just slowing down and thinking.
I like reading other blogs because I like to hear about what other moms are doing and thinking. I read one today that really made me think and evaluate my parenting, my philosophy of parenting and other random things that I could not relay fast enough to my husband at dinner tonight. He thinks I am a little crazy I think, reading other people's blogs, but it can be so addicting and so helpful even!
Anyways, this mom was fielding questions from her blog readers and someone inquired about her plans for educating her children. She has 2 boys, 1 girl and pregnant with a boy (and the oldest is 3.5 years!) She qualified her answer first with her experience in education: attended a private Christian elementary and middle school, public high school, a Bible college, majored in education and taught in the public school for 6 years. She admitted to not having made her mind up completely as to what she will do but she did mention taking this training course while she was a teacher that addressed different learning styles (meaning boy vs. girl). Have you noticed how most elementary school teachers are female and typically teach with that bent towards girls and how they learn? It is only natural to teach how you would want to be taught. I think about this as I parent 2 boys. I don't like wrestling or bugs or dirt but they do and I think I need to be okay with that.
And then John and a good friend were talking several nights ago about how boys are being neutered (for lack of a better term) in the classroom because their teachers can't appreciate how boys think and operate. There are positive ways to channel their need to compete, race, exert physical energy, etc.
And this blogging mom also made a point that traditional schools are just, by nature, very inefficient. The learning that takes place at school for 7 hours a day can take place in half that time at home. That is just the nature of traditional schooling, so many kids to one teacher, passing periods, disruptions, etc.
So all of that had me thinking and evaluating what I think is best for our boys. I have not made any decisions today, though I tend to overreact and make everything an immediate crisis! :)
Then to top it off, Burrito gets a note sent home today that he was wrestling with another boy at school during circle time and continued to do so after the teacher gave a warning. He lost his candy privilege for the day. When I picked him up from school, his teacher said that he was a little sad today and that she sent a note home for me. I was thinking that he was missing me and didn't want to be at school. Ha, silly me, I should have known better! The note said he was "very remorseful," which I think is a nice way of putting that he had a meltdown when told he was not to receive a candy treat at the end of the day.
This school thing just feels so new to me, which has probably attributed to my overreactions about education in general. It doesn't help things that John is a teacher. Makes it a little complicated.
Tell me to relax. Tell me this is just the beginning.
Okay, on a lighter note. I thought I would include this picture of Noodle eating pizza the other night. I think he enjoyed it, don't you. And last night, while eating spaghetti and meatballs, my darling hubby thought it would be funny to smear spaghetti sauce and noodles all over his face to match our two sons. The boys were rolling in laughter. Man, I wish I had a picture of that one!
Two other funny stories:
Remember how I told you that Burrito calls bras "overalls?" Well, we were at Walmart last night and we somehow ended up in the bra section. So both boys run over, start smashing on the padded cups and yelling "Overalls!" There was a lady not too far down the aisle from us and I'm pretty sure John wanted to disappear!
The other story is about Noodle. John was on the computer the other day and I was fussing at him about it because he was reading the Olympic news before viewing it later that night. I don't want to know what has happened so that it is exciting when we are watching. And I don't want him to know either. So I said, quite chidingly, "John get off the computer!" Not realizing that Noodle was even paying attention to our conversation he suddenly yelled out, "Dad, get off the puter!" We both just died laughing. So remember Noodle when you are working on your puter! :)
I like reading other blogs because I like to hear about what other moms are doing and thinking. I read one today that really made me think and evaluate my parenting, my philosophy of parenting and other random things that I could not relay fast enough to my husband at dinner tonight. He thinks I am a little crazy I think, reading other people's blogs, but it can be so addicting and so helpful even!
Anyways, this mom was fielding questions from her blog readers and someone inquired about her plans for educating her children. She has 2 boys, 1 girl and pregnant with a boy (and the oldest is 3.5 years!) She qualified her answer first with her experience in education: attended a private Christian elementary and middle school, public high school, a Bible college, majored in education and taught in the public school for 6 years. She admitted to not having made her mind up completely as to what she will do but she did mention taking this training course while she was a teacher that addressed different learning styles (meaning boy vs. girl). Have you noticed how most elementary school teachers are female and typically teach with that bent towards girls and how they learn? It is only natural to teach how you would want to be taught. I think about this as I parent 2 boys. I don't like wrestling or bugs or dirt but they do and I think I need to be okay with that.
And then John and a good friend were talking several nights ago about how boys are being neutered (for lack of a better term) in the classroom because their teachers can't appreciate how boys think and operate. There are positive ways to channel their need to compete, race, exert physical energy, etc.
And this blogging mom also made a point that traditional schools are just, by nature, very inefficient. The learning that takes place at school for 7 hours a day can take place in half that time at home. That is just the nature of traditional schooling, so many kids to one teacher, passing periods, disruptions, etc.
So all of that had me thinking and evaluating what I think is best for our boys. I have not made any decisions today, though I tend to overreact and make everything an immediate crisis! :)
Then to top it off, Burrito gets a note sent home today that he was wrestling with another boy at school during circle time and continued to do so after the teacher gave a warning. He lost his candy privilege for the day. When I picked him up from school, his teacher said that he was a little sad today and that she sent a note home for me. I was thinking that he was missing me and didn't want to be at school. Ha, silly me, I should have known better! The note said he was "very remorseful," which I think is a nice way of putting that he had a meltdown when told he was not to receive a candy treat at the end of the day.
This school thing just feels so new to me, which has probably attributed to my overreactions about education in general. It doesn't help things that John is a teacher. Makes it a little complicated.
Tell me to relax. Tell me this is just the beginning.
Okay, on a lighter note. I thought I would include this picture of Noodle eating pizza the other night. I think he enjoyed it, don't you. And last night, while eating spaghetti and meatballs, my darling hubby thought it would be funny to smear spaghetti sauce and noodles all over his face to match our two sons. The boys were rolling in laughter. Man, I wish I had a picture of that one!
Two other funny stories:Remember how I told you that Burrito calls bras "overalls?" Well, we were at Walmart last night and we somehow ended up in the bra section. So both boys run over, start smashing on the padded cups and yelling "Overalls!" There was a lady not too far down the aisle from us and I'm pretty sure John wanted to disappear!
The other story is about Noodle. John was on the computer the other day and I was fussing at him about it because he was reading the Olympic news before viewing it later that night. I don't want to know what has happened so that it is exciting when we are watching. And I don't want him to know either. So I said, quite chidingly, "John get off the computer!" Not realizing that Noodle was even paying attention to our conversation he suddenly yelled out, "Dad, get off the puter!" We both just died laughing. So remember Noodle when you are working on your puter! :)
Friday, August 15, 2008
We had a baby girl!!!
Guess that caught your attention huh?
Read on to get the real story :)
Today is Friday, which means a school day for Burrito. We were up early trying to get everything ready. John was about to leave when we heard someone banging on our front door.
Quite unusual at our house in the 7:00 hour.
It was our neighbor a few houses down. Great, sweet Christian family who we have spoken with on several occasions but have not had the opportunity to get to know very well. His wife had been up sick (quite violently) since 4 am and he needed to take her to the ER. They have a son who is 2 and a daughter who is 6 months. He needed me to watch the kids while they went to the ER.
BABY HEAVEN!
He couldn't fork over that baby girl quick enough for me. Noodle played with the son and I had the delight of feeding the baby girl a bottle! We had a great time and the kids were great. Noodle was glad to have some play friends on a day when Burrito was in school.
It felt so good to help this family out. Pray for the mom, that this stomach bug would flee quickly and her strength would be restored. I suspect a good friendship is brewing! :)
So it made for a peculiar day, as Noodle and I had planned on going grocery shopping while Burrito was in school. Instead, we went after we picked up him from school and wasn't that an adventure! Burrito was in rare form, as all of his exuberant energy had been pent up all day at school, and Noodle was working on zero nap for the day. But we survived.
Burrito picked up a new phrase today at school. I suspect, with much chagrin, that this is only the beginning. "Don't even think about it." That was the phrase I heard numerous times throughout the evening. "I need you to use nice words Burrito" was spoken so often that at one point in the car Noodle quite matter of factly said, "We need to pray for you!" John and I couldn't help but laugh at the truth spoken in those words. Out of the mouth of a 2 year old!
Read on to get the real story :)
Today is Friday, which means a school day for Burrito. We were up early trying to get everything ready. John was about to leave when we heard someone banging on our front door.
Quite unusual at our house in the 7:00 hour.
It was our neighbor a few houses down. Great, sweet Christian family who we have spoken with on several occasions but have not had the opportunity to get to know very well. His wife had been up sick (quite violently) since 4 am and he needed to take her to the ER. They have a son who is 2 and a daughter who is 6 months. He needed me to watch the kids while they went to the ER.
BABY HEAVEN!
He couldn't fork over that baby girl quick enough for me. Noodle played with the son and I had the delight of feeding the baby girl a bottle! We had a great time and the kids were great. Noodle was glad to have some play friends on a day when Burrito was in school.
It felt so good to help this family out. Pray for the mom, that this stomach bug would flee quickly and her strength would be restored. I suspect a good friendship is brewing! :)
So it made for a peculiar day, as Noodle and I had planned on going grocery shopping while Burrito was in school. Instead, we went after we picked up him from school and wasn't that an adventure! Burrito was in rare form, as all of his exuberant energy had been pent up all day at school, and Noodle was working on zero nap for the day. But we survived.
Burrito picked up a new phrase today at school. I suspect, with much chagrin, that this is only the beginning. "Don't even think about it." That was the phrase I heard numerous times throughout the evening. "I need you to use nice words Burrito" was spoken so often that at one point in the car Noodle quite matter of factly said, "We need to pray for you!" John and I couldn't help but laugh at the truth spoken in those words. Out of the mouth of a 2 year old!
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