Valentines From the Nursing Home

When I opened up a card from a family friend I almost cried to see these two Valentines inside!
These are to my kids from Jeanette, "the Crayon Lady".
Jeanette was a friend of my grandparents. She had a stroke in 2008 and had to move into a nursing home. She remembered it was my birthday July of 2009 and called to tell me Happy Birthday from her room. She was moved to another facility and no one told us and she called my parents to make sure we all knew.
She has ALWAYS sent us cards. She sends cards to me and all my cousins, plus our kids and probably most of our spouses. Bill has always said it's a shame Jeanette remembers his birthday every year, but his mother often forgets. It's not just birthdays though. It's every holiday under the sun!
My cousin and her daughter just went and visited Jeanette last week and her hands were really crippled up and knowing that makes these even more special!
Jeanette worked at a factory that made crayons, markers and water colors. She has supplied us since I was young with more of all of that than you can imagine.
Before she went to the nursing home I stopped with Naomi to see her at her house. Out she comes with 2 grocery bags full of crayons and such. I said "do you want me to choose which ones we need". "OH NO," she said "they're ALL for you!"
Jeanette is such a blessing to our family!

Family Photo

My cousin asked if I had a photo of the 4 of us together. No. He couldn't believe it.
I'll work on it. I told him. So on Thanksgiving I took my camera with me to my friends house and had her try to take a photo of us. Am I happy with it? No, but getting a picture of the 4 of us is like getting your drivers license photo taken. It's never gonna be great, just go with what you get! After 4 or 5 tries this was the best. It's only the best because I cropped it also! My camera has an extremely slow shutter speed and I don't know how to correct it!
Don't ask what Isaiah was doing. He should be the easy kid! Then Naomi was distracted by the items on the mantel and would not turn around with out screaming because we were trying to take her away from something that looked like it would make a good missile. We tried to stand her beside ups but she was not having that. Oh well. At least I have proof we were all at one place at one time, at least once in my kids childhood!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Veterans Day

My dad's Marine photo about 1968

My Grandfather on my father's side was in WWII as was his brother. Both in the Navy.
My Dad was a Marine for 2 tours of duty in Vietnam.
My Father in law was in the Army during the Korean War.
My cousin, and two different cousin's husbands were in the current war.
But saddest of all is Bill's uncle James Ray Sargent who's mother reluctantly signed papers for him to join the military at 17. He went to Vietnam when he turned 18. He only lived a short time. His remains were just identified in 2005. Fragments of him were found and they took DNA samples from his brother and identified him that way. His remains were buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Here's another website in honor of him with pictures.

If you think Pumpkins aren't safe in your neighborhood.....

An annual event by high school kids in Chagrin Falls Ohio. The "pumpkin roll". Yes, those are squashed pumpkins lining the street. Is it pitiful that I'm 35 and would LOVE to go?

JULY 4TH

Happy Independence Day

HAPPY EASTER!

No Bunny for Easter

Fawn is looking for Easter treat ideas for a kid on the Ketogenic Diet. That made me think of Resurrection Cookies. For some reason I was thinking that the cookies disappeared over night but no, they're just hollow. So that's out! What kind of mother would take a child through making cookies only to say "sorry, you can't have one!". That's the predicament us Keto-moms are in. Trying to find non-food treats for food centered holidays. But, if it helps our kids we find a way and remember it's only 2 or 3 Easter's we have to get through.
So if anyone has any ideas send them over to Fawn.
I thought I'd post a link to a Resurrection Cookie recipe I found on the Internet that illustrates it much better than I could!
Now here's what we're going through this Easter. Naomi is clueless so she could care less. There will be no Easter egg hunt for her. She doesn't do "in" she only does "take out and throw".
Isaiah wants a chocolate bunny. He told his Dad the Easter bunny will bring it and Bill said "son, do you really think there's a giant bunny my size going door to door?" Isaiah said "no that's not believable but maybe a little one."
Back when he asked me about Santa and I told him that yes his friend was right, I put the presents under the tree. The next question was "what about the Easter bunny?" and I told him Yep, that's me too. So we thought he understood. I think he does know he's just having trouble letting go! I've even been asking him to help pick stuff out for Naomi's basket thinking then he'd be on the giving side of it. I guess he's just at that age. In between knowing it's all not real and accepting it's all not real.

It's Martin Luther King Day

Each year in school they study Martin Luther King.
And every year Isaiah messes up some pivotal fact about MLK.
Last year he told me Mr. King was killed by JFK and no matter what I said he would say "that's what they told us in school". I even showed him James Earl Ray on the Internet and still "that's not what they told us in school". I emailed his teacher and asked why she was teaching my son that MLK was killed by JFK and she called me laughing and said she did NOT teach that. Between the two of us we got him straightened out. Apparently he just heard snippets of that lesson!
This year he asked me "mom wouldn't it have been scary then? People bombing kids in their houses and at church!"
Once he and I were talking about MLK, he thinks MLK made a law saying that blacks and white can be friends, or something like that. He said he sure was glad that MLK made that law or he and Austin couldn't be friends.
I was trying to explain what it was like once, when blacks weren't allowed to drink from the same fountain, eat at the same restaurants etc... and Isaiah said "Mom, that's just silly" and he's right! That's a hard thing to explain to your kids. Trying to tell him about prejudice once I told him there were people who were afraid of black people simply because they're black and he said "Mooooomm, Mooooom! You're just kidding aren't you!? Why would anyone be afraid of Austin or James?"
For a long time Isaiah didn't even know that when someone said a person was black that they were talking about their skin. He thought they were talking about their shirts! Once we were at a McDonald's and Austin's Dad, who is a 6ft black man, was coming to get pick him up. Well Austin was the only one who saw his Dad pull in and he just up and jumped out of his seat and ran out the door. Isaiah got up and followed him to the door but then came back and when Austin's mom asked where Austin was Isaiah said "In the parking lot with some tall white guy" She jumped out of her chair to go see who in the heck had her son when Austin and his dad (wearing a white t-shirt) walked in the door. We all started laughing.
I've never used the word "race" to describe any one different than us. I myself was over 20 before I realised people considered Hispanic people to be a different race! I just considered them from different heritage I guess or ethnic back ground, which to me is more about their traditions and such than anything. I still don't get why Jewish people are considered different, that's a religion, we all had Jewish ancestors. Jesus was Jewish.
I must add that I've tried to tell Isaiah this presidential inauguration is historic, and he knows Barack Obama will be the first black president, but I don't think he understands why that is such a big deal. I want him to know history and know how hard it's been for blacks but I'm also glad that in his mind it's no big deal. He doesn't see why a person can do anything they want to and not be limited by the color of their skin.
Anyway, I hope to raise my kids to be open minded and accepting. To know just because we don't understand something or something isn't like us doesn't make it wrong. I want to do my part to make MLK's dream come true.

Happy New Year! 2009 is here?

The New Year is here isn't it?!!!
I UMMMMM... went to bed at 8:30 on New Years Eve! Missed the ball drop in Times Square but I did see footage of it at 5 a.m. on the morning news. I had heard the Jonas Brothers were "ringing in the New Year" and thought .. I'm getting old! The Jonas Brothers? REALLY America!!!! That's all we've got!???







Here's my New Years babies! Naomi has yet to see a hairbrush! Plus her hair was in a pony tail so it looks EXTRA messy. Plus her new favorite spot in the house is in front of the heating vent. So her hair is so full of static.



Here's by bigger baby, Elton, I mean Isaiah. He wore this outfit out to eat but then acted embarrassed about it and didn't want to put it back on to have his photo taken. So that's why he's not smiling. Of course any more his smiles are soooo fake and crazy looking. As much as he stands in the bathroom mirror making faces and such he should have perfected his photo face by now!




Both kids spent New Years day in their pajamas. It's cold out and I really didn't have to take them anywhere today. So why not save the laundry!

I told Isaiah happy New Year this morning and he said "why are you saying that?". I don't know what he was thinking! He's so crazy sometimes!

Santa's out of his bag!

On the way to school today (about a 2 minute drive), Isaiah had time to say
"Mom, some kids at school said there's no Santa. They said your parents just sneak the presents under the tree when you're sleeping. Is that true?"
Remember he's in 4th grade! We're surprised he's believed this long! I was about to pay his friend to tell him the truth. The gifts just keep getting more and more expensive and when your child can argue back that "Santa just has his Elves make them" and you have to argue back that some toys are trademarked and Santa can't just make them.
He said "if you're Santa where's your beard?" then laughed at his little joke.
Then before he got out of the car he said
"What about the Easter Bunny?"
I said: That's allllllll me too buddy. Sorry!

The Christmas Tampon

Isaiah made this little beauty when he was in preschool! I believe it was supposed to be a sheep or something. Ann was the director of the preschool and she ended up getting sick the day they made these. She apparently was the only one who knew exactly what it was supposed to be! The teacher took directions over the phone.... but somehow I don't think she got it quite right.

Whatever it was supposed to be, it's always been The Christmas Tampon in our home. And will forever be known as such.

Sorry Santa!!

Sorry we missed you Santa. We go every year to see Santa at Possum Run's Christmas open house. Santa was there on Saturday from 10-4 but Naomi was running a slight fever and the roads were a MESS! Possum Run is kind of out in the middle of no where. Back a long and winding road. I love it there, but the road to get there is one of those that your stomach flies up to your throat as you go over hill after hill, and it feel like the tires are coming off the road. (They actually do if you go fast enough, yeah... I was 16 once!)
We did get a Christmas tree. It sure makes the house smell good! I wanted a small tree. Usually we all go out but it was so nasty out I just sent Bill out yesterday to get one. I had him cut a foot off the bottom of the tree he got. It was almost to the ceiling. I don't know why I want a little tree this year but I do! This one's still really round.
An old family friend puts up a HUGE tree every year! I mean, it's a struggle to get it in the house then she has to saw off the limbs to get it out! I have a picture of Isaiah in front of her tree from about 2 years ago, I'll have to find it and post a photo.

It's a wrap

Today I wrapped the kids Christmas presents. ALL OF THEM! I am so happy that's over. I thought I'd do a few then just kept going and trudged through and got them all done! Now for the tree. We've been getting a live tree. When we had a fake tree I put it up sometimes before Thanksgiving, but I don't want dead needles all over the house so we'll be waiting a while on the tree this year. Though Christmas is just 25 days away!!!!! YIKES! I decided this year I want a little tree. Usually we get one about 7 ft. Goes up to the ceiling. This year I want a little one, maybe 4 ft. I don't know why, I just do. When Isaiah was little I made a little tree for his room, decorated it with his Matchbox cars. Since Naomi's been sick I just feel so ho-hum. I don't really want to go all out with the decorating. A lot of days I already feel overwhelmed and decorations are just one more thing to put up, clean off, take down. It's not just Christmas, I've pretty much skipped all holidays. I used to decorate for Thanksgiving, Easter all that. Hearts in the window for Valentines. Oh, well . One day, God willing, she'll be able to help make decorations and it'll all be do-able again.
Man this turned depressing! I wasn't headed in this direction when I started!

Thanksgiving

If all went well we told Isaiah that we'd try to go to our friends in North Carolina over Thanksgiving. Well things haven't went well. Bill's work is iffy. Naomi's diet still needs tweaking. None of us can seem to stay healthy! So I just assumed he knew we'd be staying home. When I asked him if there was anything special he'd like to do on Thanksgiving he said "Go to Austin's?" You'd think by now he'd realize going to Austin's takes some planning. We can't just jump in the car and drive 8 1/2 hours away. I told him there's no way we were going to make it to Austin's for Thanksgiving, it's gonna be a low key Thanksgiving this year. My husband feels like it'd just be torture to have the house smelling of good food when Naomi can't have any. What ever! I don't think it'd matter one way or the other to her. I'm all for going out to eat anyway and if Bill volunteer's to stay home with Naomi while Isaiah and I go out with my Dad, more power to him! My mom has to work anyway. I'm not a turkey fan! Sorry, I'm just not.
I really wish we could just blink and be in North Carolina! I really miss everyone there too and would love to make the trip, it's just not possible right now!
Oh well, there will be time.

The Bag Lady

For the 2nd year, Isaiah designed a "costume" for his Grammy. Last year it was a bag decorated with Spongebob and the words "kick me" written on the back! At least this year he made her holes to breath and see through, he left that detail out last year.
I think this bag was decorated with a pumpkin. He put a Vote Democrat sticker on it that mom peeled off. I'm not sure why..... see the big circular badge? It's a big Obama '08 pin! Maybe she didn't notice, I see she forgot to take her work name badge off too!

Kit Kat's, Hershey Bars and Reese's cups... full size like I mentioned in an earlier post. I'll have to ask today which was most popular, she also bought animal crackers for the really little babies this year.

Her 1st Halloween Keto-style

We took Naomi along for trick or treat but she didn't actually go door to door. She was most excited about seeing all the kids running around in costumes. Her Daddy carried her most of the time. Some people offered candy to her but we simply said "no thank you she's on a special diet". Easy peasy!

She loved just being out and about. We went trick or treat in the village I grew up in, where my parents still live. She sure looked cute in her cheerleader costume! She's a Buckeye! She's GOT to be an Ohio State University Cheerleader at least once during her childhood!

The most polite trick or treater ever!

This is how it goes when Isaiah trick or treats

Isaiah: Trick or Treat

the person gives him candy

Isaiah : Happy Halloween

Isaiah walks 2 ft to the next person

Isaiah: Trick or Treat

more candy given

Isaiah: Happy Halloween

He makes sure to say Happy Halloween to everyone in thanks for his candy.

One place had a lot of kids and after they gave him candy he walked away, then turned, came back two steps and made sure he said "Thank You"

I don't know what I did to this kid to make him so paranoid that he has to make sure he thanks everyone but I'm proud of him. He is a nice boy! and He's proud to be nice!

One unique thing about Isaiah, even though there was still abou 15 minutes left of trick or treat, is bag was full and he said "you know I think that's enough, I've got plenty of candy". No one could ever call him greedy!

Checking his list...

He's been a very good boy this year! We told Isaiah the country was having a rough time this year and he would have to scale down his Christmas list. Santa has to give extra to little boys who don't already have so much. As one of his friends said "Dude! I can't believe you have all this stuff".

I don't know if he took anything off the list or he just squished the list together, but here it is. Notice at the bottom right "specil camera" I'll show what that's for in another post, but the rest of the list is mainly Lego related. Bill went online earlier to check the prices of some of these. Some were $19.99, some in the $50 range but the Death Star it's $399.99!!!!!!!!!! No 9 year old, needs $400 worth of Legos! He had better get that thing entered into the Smithsonian or something! For some reason he wants 2 of some items. For example the "AT-TE Walker", oh sure only 2? How about 4? They're only $89.99 each! Why he wants 2 is beyond me. But I wouldn't doubt if one of his friends saw them also and Isaiah has offered to ask for 2 so when he comes over he'll have his own to play with. He is a very thoughtful boy and he won't be getting coal this year, but he won't be getting half this stuff either!

Trick or Freeze 2008

This was one of our favorite options for a costume for Naomi this year. Although common sense took over, it's OHIO! This would be perfect for trick or treating in maybe Florida but not here. She'd have to wear a coat over the whole thing and some sort of thick tights at least! She'd be better off as an Eskimo!
She'll be on the Ketogenic diet this Halloween, but that's no big deal. I usually just push her along in the stroller while her brother runs door to door. People usually give him extra candy for his sister too. A local orthodontist will buy the kids candy for $1/pound up to 5 pounds, plus make an equal donation to the United Way and he ships all the candy he collects over seas to U.S. soldiers. So we may even make a little money with the uneaten candy.
Isaiah's favorite line is "Happy Halloween-er". It never gets old.... to him! Thankfully he's still into Star Wars, it's been about 4 years now, and he wants to recycle last years costume and be Anakin Skywalker again. In these tough economic times, that's a great thing!
My mom always used to make my costumes, it's just so much easier to go buy what they want! Plus I HATE to sew!
I cannot forget to mention that my mom gives out the regular size candy bars! She's got to be one of the most popular houses in her neighborhood! I was at her house last week and see she's got Hershey bars and Reese's cups and she's going to try to get some teddy grahams for the really little ones! Last year Isaiah made her a Spongebob "mask" out of a paper grocery bag and she sat there and wore that bag over her head all night. He's planning on making her something else this year, but I'm not sure what. He thinks Grammy really loves Pirates of the Carribean, when actually Grammy just really loves Johnny Depp!