Category Archive for Family Circus

I feel like I’ve got a head full of cotton this week or something.  I’m starting to think I’m not getting enough caffeine.  This is something I may have to remedy this next month.  Because I need to function.  And when I catch myself staring at the wall during downtime (ha!  what’s that??), a trail of drool on my chin and my eyes stuck in a vacant expression… well, I have to assume it’s because I need SOMETHING, right?

(Of course, it could be the current lack of thyroid medication.  I do plan to work on that.  Soon.  Ish.  Don’t pester me!)

So anyhow, I’m going to take the opportunity to catch ya’ll up on some of the mundane details of our lives this last week.  What we have all been up to and that sort of jazz.  You’re welcome.

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Liam is cute, as always.  He’s been very adorable this week, perhaps wanting to make up for earlier in the month when I wanted to throttle him.  He has been attentive to his baby sister (a little on the rough side, perhaps, but attentive nonetheless), sharing his Hot Wheels with her.  He and Harry have been playing together an awful lot, which is great for getting the energy out of both of them.  Sometimes I do have to remind Harry to be careful with him, he’s still just a baby.  But Liam loves to rough-house and laughs his fool head off the whole time they’re playing.

Right now, they’re both watching “Cars” and every now and then, Liam will take a break from playing with his toys to gaze at the screen.  This is definitely a big hit with him.  Of course, it has CARS in it.

He’s been better about eating.  I feel I should knock on wood when I say that.  But I also haven’t been forcing the issue too much.  I do wish there was more variety in what he would eat and that he would consent to more fresh foods, especially meats, vegetables and fruit.  BUT… I’ll take what I can get.  Anyone have any spiffy ideas along these lines?

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Evie has been a lot more predictable this week.  She’s been a lot more interested in taking actual naps so I’ve been trying to take advantage of that.  In the morning, it’s not so easy, but in the afternoons we’ve taken to going upstairs together.  I’ll often nurse her in our bed and then leave her there while I take a shower, go through my closet (more on that in a minute), do laundry, etc and so forth.  Liam is napping so I’m free to do whatever I need to do with her.  And so far, she’s been great about sleeping.  Okay, admitedly, a time or two I napped with her.  I’m not made of steel here, people.

Yesterday, I laid her down and nursed and then left her be.  She snoozed and started to wake after a good while.  I nursed her again, thinking she would be ready to get up but that I would get a nursing in before she did.  But she fell back asleep for about another hour.  If I recall, I did something similar with Liam (minus the nursing) and had him nap in our bed until I finally moved him to his crib.  I’m not going to rush this, just go at her speed.  But being able to nap in a bed setting is an awesome thing.

I just wish we had a monitor, then I could feel comfortable to go downstairs while she slept.  Right now, we have a monitor set up in Liam’s room (often the only way I can tell he has woken up without going up to check on him!).  We have another cheapo monitor but it’s so cheap that it picks up the other monitor and won’t work on it’s own.  Anyone know a good solution for this?  Do I need to get a seperate (digital, perhaps?) monitor for Evie?

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Harry is keeping busy and not driving me too nuts.  I’ve had some funny conversations with him this last week (one involving mustaches and his intention to grow one when he can… GAH!).  Like I said, he’s been playing a lot with Liam.  He’s also been playing a lot of Wii.  Mario Kart is still the big hit around here and Harry is actually pretty danged good at it.  He’s unlocked a lot of the special content and takes a certain thrill in knocking Baby Peach off of ledges.

He still frustrates me, though, when it comes to shoes.  He’s completely worn through the new shoes we got him a couple months ago.  Turns out, he was using the one foot to break when riding his Razor scooter and it completely wore the shoe down so that his FOOT shows through the side.  OY.  The only other pair of closed shoes he has at the moment are lace-up boot-style shoes and he just cannot get the hang of tying shoes.  Yes, he is almost 9.  He keeps telling me he forgot how.  (insert image of me slapping my forehead)  Obviously, we’re going to have to buy some shoes this month.

And part of the reason for needing new shoes is… THIRD GRADE!  I swear, my heart skipped a beat as I typed that.  He starts on July 7 (Liam’s 2nd birthday!  GAAH!).  New backpack, new clothes, new shoes… I cannot believe he’s in THIRD GRADE.  What the heck happened to KINDERGARTEN?  He was in preschool when I started this blog, ya’ll.  This ain’t right.

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Kile is recovering.  Slowly.  He’s back at work this week, but comes home in the evening exhausted.  Believe it or not, summer is an insanely busy time at a university.  That’s when all the work gets done, apparently.  It’s sort of their “crunch time”.  So there hasn’t been a lot of opportunity for him to sit down and rest at work, I think.

Of course, he’s been going in rather early.  Early for HIM, I guess.  Normally he was leaving the house at 8 or later.  This week, it’s been common for him to be out of the house by 7:30.  Now, one would think that then maybe he’d leave a little early, even if that is at 4:30.  That’s what he SHOULD be doing.  But no, he’s leaving at 5:30, or later.  Which is better than 6 or 6:30 like he might normally.  But then, he normally would leave that late because he was going in late.

But try explaining to him that he should either go in late and come home late or go in early and come home early.  DEAF EARS, I tell you.  It’s like talking to a wall.

When he does get home, he’s pretty much toast.  He even fell asleep during the first hour of “I Love the New Millenium” last night.  That’s got to tell you something right there.

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As for me?  I’m getting my haircut tomorrow!  It’s at a “cool, hip” new salon downtown.  I’m actually a little nervous about it, to be honest.  I fear I’m not cool enough for this place.  I’ve read reviews online and several of the (glowing) reviews mentioned how this is a great place for everyone!  Even SOCCER MOMS.  As if that is so incredible to believe.  I fear they will think I’m an enormous nerd.  And will they think I’m an even more enormous nerd when I ask for an a-line graduated bob?  I find myself trying to figure out what to wear, hoping I’ll look somewhat normal.

I’m also worried about how much it will cost.  I hope it’s not too expensive.  What do haircuts cost you all, so I can I get a good idea?  I haven’t paid over $40, not including tip, so I’m just not sure what to expect.

As I mentioned up above, I’ve been cleaning out my closet.  I already have about two metric tons of old clothes to donate and I think I could probably get about two tons more.  There are a LOT of clothes I have that I never wear anymore (and some I never have worn at all, but were hand-me-downs).  Plus, there’s a bunch of maternity clothes that I will not be wearing.  Some of those I will be selling becuase they are really nice and in nice condition, but the rest are getting donated.

I even have quite the pile of shoes to donate.  My closet is actually starting to look (gasp) organized.  Perhaps now I’ll actually hang things up instead of throwing them in a pile on top of my dresser.  It’s all part of a greater plan to simplify and toss stuff that we don’t need or use.  LESS STUFF.  It’s a big goal, people.  Because we?  Have a lot of stuff.  A LOT.  Don’t get me started on the garage.

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So that’s the story from around these parts.  WHEW.  That ended up being longer than I expected.  Apparently, I had quite a bit to say.  At any rate, I’m SO glad it’s a Friday and that the weekend (and payday!) stretches before us.  Anyone here have any big plans?  My biggest plan is my haircut (photos to follow, hopefully!).  And maybe some sleep?  Definitely some coffee or something.  We’ll see!

Tags: Evelyn, Harry, Kile, Liam, Mario Kart, naps, Wii
Filed under Family Circus, It's All About Me |

I’m dealing pretty well, all things considered, with the extra responsibilities I have to shoulder in the wake of Kile’s hernia surgery.  It’s a huge adjustment around here.  I guess I never really realized how much I depend on Kile to do a lot of the heavy lifting around here.  And now that it’s all on me?  Well… I can only hope that all this lifting will result in some finely toned upper arms for me.  I think that would be only fair, wouldn’t it?

Liam is a huge part of this.  Normally, I wouldn’t have a problem with this.  Still, I am responsible for getting him up in the morning, changing just about all of his diapers (since that involves lifting him onto the changing table), putting him in his high chair for meals, carrying him up to bed and putting him into the crib for naps and bedtime, putting him in his carseat, putting him in the pack n’ play and taking him out again, lifting him into shopping carts, etc and so forth.  It’s not a lot more than I normally do anyhow, but I think it’s the knowledge that I’m the only one who can do this is what is freaking me out a little bit.  I’d never stopped to think about how nice it is to have a “back up”.  I will say this, I breathe a sigh of relief at bedtime because I know there is a large chunk of time in front of me that I will not have to worry about being “on duty” for picking up Liam.

Dealing with the garbage has long been my responsibility anyhow, so that’s no big deal.  But yesterday I filled a garbage bag with old clothes from my closet, ready to donate when the truck visits our street next week and had to drag it downstairs all by myself.  That thing was HEAVY.  Normally, I would have had Kile carry it down for me.  (And we wonder why he had a hernia?)

Normally, I wouldn’t have a problem with this.  And I don’t now.  But it’s just… ALL AT ONCE.  And it feels awful to say it like that.  Last night, we did leftovers for dinner, so that was different.  But Monday night, Kile was exhausted from his first day back at work and asked if I could fix dinner.  Sure I could and I did.  I made plenty of spaghetti (hence the leftovers) and it all turned out fine.  But on top of that I was dealing with Liam and his dinner and getting him in the high chair, dealing with Evie (who was having a particularly clingy day on Monday) and trying to deal with about five other things at the same time.

There are 3 1/2 more weeks of this.  Normally, I wouldn’t have a problem with that.  But…

I want to schedule a hair appointment for this weekend.  How is this going to work out?  I have to try to make sure it will be during Liam’s naptime, so I won’t have to worry about Kile needing to lift him anywhere.  Plus, I’ll need to make sure Harry is on hand just in case he does.  As for Evie, I’ll need to make sure that she’s well fed and perhaps snoozing away herself.  Even then, I know I’ll feel guilty pretty much the whole time and will be rushing home after, just in case I’m needed.

I guess this is what it’s like, huh?  This is a little bit of what it’s like to be responsible for an entire family.  Perhaps, just maybe, this is what Kile feels like day in and day out.  Like he has to shoulder the burden for all of us.

If there’s anything I can get out of this little “experience”, I’m thinking that it’s a new appreciation for everything Kile does.  I don’t think I’ll be taking him for granted anytime soon.  Certainly, I don’t have a problem with that.

Tags: hernia, Kile, responsibility, surgery
Filed under Family Circus |

We went to the drive-in last night and saw “Get Smart”.  A good time was had by all and the kids were pretty cooperative.  Evie even fell asleep in her bouncer seat, after craning her neck so she could see the movie screen.  Goofy girl.  Still, it was late, late, late by the time we got home.  Liam pretty much just crashed right out.  Do not pass go, do not collect $200.  Evie followed right behind and surprised the heck out of me by not cracking an eyelid until after 5am.  She didn’t even shift from her position.  Girl was TIRED.

We didn’t roll out of bed until after 9:30 this morning as a result.  In fact, Harry was the FIRST one up (when does that ever happen?) and Liam was the last one up.  I wonder if we haven’t entered into some sort of weird portal or something, some sort of Bizaaro World.

So today has been rather lazy so far.  We missed church, of course.  We’ve just now managed to have some lunch.  Perhaps, maybe, we’ll make it out into the Outside World.  Where, of course, we will not b spending any money.  Because one needs to have money to spend in order to spend money (at least, that’s our philosophy, but then we don’t use credit cards).

Anyhow, to appease you good readers (all two of you), I’m going to post the following video.  I took it the other afternoon of Evie.  I was hoping to get her to “talk” to me.  She is a big-time coo-er.  I’ve never had such a talkative baby.  She gave a coo or two, but I mostly was able to get smiles out of her.  Which, you know, isn’t so bad.  I mean, I’m still totally going to eat her.

Tags: drive-in, Evelyn, video
Filed under Family Circus |

I have so much to say that I almost don’t want to say anything. Have you ever felt like that? There have been so many thoughts and reflections and realizations this last week that I kept thinking, “I need to remember to blog about that. When I get ten minutes.” And now? I’m just not sure where I would begin. So I… won’t? I’m sure snippets will emerge here and there over the days and weeks to come. In the meantime, I’m just going to post some pictures and hope you all don’t unsubscribe at the same time, causing Google Reader to crash. Sound like a plan?

My niece’s wedding was gorgeous.  She looked awesome.  I can’t believe she’s old enough to get married.

I’m a little jealous.  I would like a carriage ride courtesy of beautiful Clydesdale horses!

I spent a lot of time here.  So did Kile.

Snuggle buddies.  She really enjoyed sleeping in with Kile while we were there.

The afternoons were prime opportunities to find a sunbeam and nap.  The dogs couldn’t resist.

Snickers looked awesome with the “Vintage” action.

It feels like Evie grew up a lot while we were there.

She really dug when I would set her on the floor to look around and explore.

There aren’t a whole lot of Liam pictures.  Liam and I weren’t the best of friends on this trip.

This is “Thor”.  I wish I’d gotten more pictures of him.  He was really something.  He’d been shaved but they left him a furry head, feet and poof on his tail.  HEE!

Harry would like to remind us that he wants “Rock Band”.  We get it, Harry.

Tags: Elko, Evie, Harry, vacation, wedding
Filed under Family Circus, General Snark |