Waiting.....
The best kindergarten teacher EVER
Andrew and Kate - we're saving this picture for their wedding montage!
Is he not the cutest kid in the world?
"R is for recess. We learned the recess rules."
Sitting patiently in the HOT gym
Our song and dance man
The boys
It's baaaack! Humidity hit with a vengance today and just made everything seem that much more frustrating. Here was what bugged me today:
1. Jagged can lids. I sliced my thumb on one this morning. It hurt like a, well, you know. I immediately called Melissa because I knew I'd get some understanding there. And it's my left thumb. Do you realize how much the left thumb is used? By a south-paw like me? A lot.
2. Marcs. Sometimes I wonder why I keep going back to that store. I know it's because of the packs of Mary Englebreit notecards for 59 cents and the nice duffel bags for $6.99. But I swear I always get THE slowest checker, who is then so amazed and grateful that I am bagging my own stuff. I gotta get outta here, lady. I got places to be. But I'll see you next week for more closeout deals!
3. Trying to make the most of some extra time, to no avail. Even after all that time spent reading People magazine in line at Marc's, I found myself with some leftover time, before I had to be back at the school. So I tried to finish up a last minute project, but the sewing machine wasn't cooperating and I just got ink everywhere. So much for trying to be productive.
4. White shirts. I got a couple new ones lately--really cute for summer. But I always get stuff on them! (See #2 above.) Right where the kitchen counter top meets the waistline. Arrrgh!
5. Sweat, the bane of my existence. It wreaks havoc on my hair, my face, my clothing. And there I was, at the school for the Kindergarten celebration, talking to Miss Zkiab, her family and best friend, and other parents--all the while completely melting. Oh yes, everyone was complaining about the heat. Oh, I know, you are sweaty, ha ha, isn't it crazy how hot it is? Give me a break, people. You all look perfectly fine and completely put together. Don't talk to me about your minor bouts of perspiration. Even Emma recommended that I change my clothes before going to Grandma Franklin's retirement party. Botox is looking better and better.
Today's lessons? A second shower may be necessary, and I must get the A/C fixed in the van.
Glenn loaded up the kids' mp3 players last week, and Andrew asked for Brian Regan. He spent most of the day Friday listening to the donut lady joke over and over and over again. When Porter came over Friday afternoon, Andrew gave him a headphone so they both could listen. The funny thing was how much Porter was laughing--because that's what Andrew was going, not because he agrees that "Springschmidz for lunatics" was hilarious.
Today I was fortunate enough to have NOTHING to do while all the kids were at school! No, I did not exercise to make up for this morning, nor did I sneak any cookies that are meant for Andrew's class. I headed down to the hospital to visit with my friend and meet her new twin boys. They were born yesterday at about 34 weeks, which is great for a twin pregnancy, and they were both over 5 1/2 pounds. The little guys are gorgeous! They are in the step-down NICU, which is where Emma and Leah spent most of their hospital stay, so a wave of emotions hit me as we went in to see them.
I have to say, I can't belive I had twins. And mine were even smaller than my friends' when they were born! I got to (yes, I said got to) change a diaper and I just felt like I might break him! I saw a lot of myself in my friend, especially when she was talking about the desire for equality between the babies. You give one a kiss, you feel like you have to give the other one a kiss right away. I was actually glad she told me how she felt, because I felt exactly the same--and a little crazy for feeling that way! Now, a decade later, I have some validation!
Those early days are somewhat of a blur, and sometimes I don't know how Glenn and I came out on the other end. I know what she's in for, both good and bad, and I will have to admit--as I was sitting there holding one bundle and then the other, that the newborn twin days kind of flashed before my eyes. I watched her trying to get one to nurse without much success, and I watched her keep her cool and calmly offer a bottle. I know she's worried about all that. I don't know that she fully understands that it will all work itself out in the end. I can say that with hindsight now, yet I know my friend is full of the good sense and patience it will take to see it through.
My mind was full as we juggled the babies back and forth between us, and I thought of how much help I had and how I did it on my own all day. I thought about how glad I was when Daddy came home every evening. I thought about how my mom stayed with us for five weeks that summer. I thought about how people who came to visit were handed a baby. But I also thought about the first time I held Emma and Leah together, a couple of days after they were born, about how they immediately turned towards each other when they were reunited at home, and how they've pretty much been joined at the hip ever since.
...but not for the reality show reasons. No, I am your usual, garden variety loser, one who sets out to do one healthy, productive thing and ends up doing something really lame instead.
Yes, there I was at 6:00 am, dressed to sweat, but instead churning out the cake mix cookies and picking at the dough. Now by way of explanation, I really did need to make these cookies for Andrew's kindergarten celebration tomorrow, so I guess I was kind of being productive. I did have the fleeting thought that I could use this time to make an extra nice breakfast for the kids, something nice and hot and yummy. Nope. They had cold cereal and oatmeal..jpg)
