Pieces of Us

Quote of the Day

Ginny:

Sometimes I just want to say, 'Mom, When is Christmas? But then I stop myself and say, "Ginny wait, it will come."

The Boys of Summer

    This summer the boys had fun doing some great 'guy' things while we girls were running about Portland and whatnot.  First off was Cub Scout Day Camp at the fairgrounds.  This was a great experience for AJ.  So many fun crafts and learning experiences. Caleb got to come and join in on the last day and as you can see he had a BALL.

The boys also went on a trip with Popa, Nanny and their Dad to Nevada. They got to visit the Cabela's store. Now bear in mind they stayed at a SUPER nice hotel in Reno. This one to be exact.... Peppermill

But there are NO pictures of that. Only a picture in front of the Cabela's store. So you know what they value the most.

They also got in a little fishing time this summer. Interestingly, Caleb proved to be the best angler this time around.

This boy

    This boy gets more handsome with each new day.  And charming to boot!  That boy can charm his way out of anything. 

Another fun comparison

Although there is an age difference in this one.  I think Genevieve was 2 when I took this picture of her wearing a poncho I knit for her.  Jillian wears it now at 18 months.

 

Jillybean is 18 months old.

    She is now at that stage.  THAT stage.  The one where every time you try to snap a pic she yells "NO" and runs away.  Today a little bribery did the trick. She loves a good "pockel". I took her pictures in this spot because this is the exact place I took Ginny's 18 month pictures several years ago.  I could say it seems like yesterday but it actually seems like eons ago. Ginny has seemed old for a very long time.  I think I can say she is my one kid where I never say 'I can't believe she is turning _______."  Well, I may say it but I don't feel it.  She always seems older than she is.

    So to make a long story longer, here are some pictures from today of Jillian and her 'pockel'.

These I chose to show you side by side as they were taken exactly one year apart. In the same shirt which she was wearing as a dress a year ago.

I should have put the beret on her again. But hey, I did the best I could with what little memory I have left.

Incidentally, these were her very first real pigtails ever. Normally she rocks the Joan Jett spiky mullet do.

Pockels require much manipulation with the hands.

And they are quite drippy. Especially when combined with some residual boogies. Darn colds.

Looking rather official in this one.

Best be licking off all that juice.

That's right I said EVERY lick.

'Don't be coveting my pockel' she says.

Now I must warn you.

Turn away if you do not have a little boy of your own.

No. I mean that.

Just the mere glance at the sweetness that is this face...

You'll be in big trouble wanting one for yourself.

I warned you.

I did.

I really tried.

And now for fun, I give you Genevieve in the same place in the yard at the exact same age.

OK, maybe not.  The more I look at this picture I think Ginny might have been One.  But who can remembe these details?  Certainly not me.

OK, Correction #2.  She was 19 months.  She was such a chubster!

Genevieve 19 months

Keep meaning to post this.

    Most of our ribbon haul. :) It's kind of fun seeing them all together.  The girls were ecstatic today to each receive a check for their gardening wins. (2.00 and 3.00 but hey...free money!)

 

 

I promise

    I promise to get back to faithful blogging real soon!  Summer is just such a non structured fun, lazy time for us that I am not motivated to post much.  The last week I have been very busy lesson planning and have not had time to even think about doing a lot of blogging.  I have some things in the back of my mind and will be at it again soon!

 

Not sure if I should be happy or sad

    That Ginny is getting so used to medical procedures. Everyone here is sick.  This in itself is not so bad, I'd rather them all get a cold at the same time rather than space it out over 2 months.  Interestingly Mike and i got this cold first and they followed 10 or so days later. Caleb was first followed by AJ and on down the line. This strain is weird in that if you have any infections you are prone to, the cold will weaken you enough to get said infection.  Mike got the ear infection and our Ginny is having a terrible Bladder/kidney issue again.

    Today I was very busy- as I have been the last few weeks- getting lessons together for the new year.  I was at the church making about 500 copies to put notebooks together when Mike called and said I needed to take Ginny to the Dr. RIGHT NOW. Mike is not an alarmist by any means so I knew I needed to drop everything and get home which I did. She was curled into a tight ball sobbing and screaming when I got in the door so I grabbed a few things and started shuttling her to the car. On the way she was vomiting profusely and so I ran back in to get a bag for the ride. Thankfully the Urgent Care is right across the road from us so we got there in a couple minutes.

    Ginny was crying that her back hurt badly, mostly the right side. We were ushered right in to a room.  Ginny couldn't pee but we explained to her that if she drank some liquid and peed a little she would not need a catheter and that was enough to convince her. She was so afraid to drink because she would throw up every time. Finally we got a sample from her which indeed showed infection. As soon as she peed her back pain completely subsided and she was SO happy and sweet. Before that she could not even lay down without screaming. When she gets blood up into her ureters it causes a LOT of intense pain so we think it flushed out when she went to the bathroom.

    The Dr thought it best she get an injection of really high power antibiotics since she is prone to grow very resistant and bizarre bacteria.  I was so proud that Ginny did not seem upset at all. Even when we saw the hypodermic which was the biggest I have ever seen!  Bigger than the ones we used on our horses by a LOT. She was calm and did not wiggle while they gave her the injection in her bum muscle and then we headed home. I bought her a Littlest Pet Shop toy for her bravery and she has been happily playing (and keeping liquids down!) ever since.

Miss Actually is almost Six

    In a few weeks Miss Ginny will be turning Six.  Last night I read through all my old blogs and laughed til I cried at all the silly things she has said and all the goofy antics she has pulled over the years. I started blogging right before Ginny's first birthday.  In fact the 5 year anniversary of this blog was on August 9.    So in essence Ginny's entire life has been blogged here aside from her first 11 months.   I had forgotten some of the cute little things she used to say and so I thought I'd compile a list here for your enjoyment.

    "OK People, HIGH FIVE!"- Ginny age 18 months playing with Little People.

    "Rubby"- Age 18 months- her word for Zebra.

    "Oh how tute!" -Age 2 "cute"

    "My pink! My Pink!  See my bone!"- Age 2 regarding her cast and xray

    "Mommy, I got snort!"- Age 2 regarding a cough

    "Mama, do not talk us that way!  We are not babies we are just people!"- Age 2.5 regarding the way I baby     talked to Caleb.

    I went to tuck Ginny in and she was sitting in her bed drawing in her notebook.  The drawing was very         detailed and colorful.
"That's lovely, tell me what you are drawing." I said
"It's an ALIEN!  And on this page I drew Underpants!" Said she.- Age 2.5

    "I should get a trophy for that one!" - Genevieve after a very loud, un-ladylike burp. Age 3

    "Mommy, I wish Santa Claus could hear my giggles."- Ginny age 3

    "I don't want to pray with you tonight Mom, I just want to talk to God."- Genevieve age 4

    "I wonder why I am not twins with Maddy and Gabby? AJ and I can be twins, but he is a boy and boys don't sleep in girly rooms."- musings of Genevieve age 4

    "Smell me Mommy!  I smell pristine!" -Genevieve after her bath..Age 4

    Me: "Ginny, you look like a princess!"

    Ginny: "Yeah!  A bossy one!" - Age 4

    " When I grow up and get married I am going to born babies and go on dates!"- Genevieve age 5

    " Yesterday I saw Peter Pan out in the yard...but he's running late today."- Genevieve age 5

    "I cut my finger." said Ginny.
    "Oh you did, are you ok?"
    "Yeah, Jesus healed me!"  Age 5

    "Mom, When I grow up I want to be a Bapnitizer."  You know a person that bapnitizes people.  It sounds      fun!" Age 5

 

    Ginny: "Yeah!  A bossy one!" - Age 4

    " When I grow up and get married I am going to born babies and go on dates!"- Genevieve age 5

    " Yesterday I saw Peter Pan out in the yard...but he's running late today."- Genevieve age 5

    "I cut my finger." said Ginny.
    "Oh you did, are you ok?"
    "Yeah, Jesus healed me!"  Age 5

    "Mom, When I grow up I want to be a Bapnitizer."  You know a person that bapnitizes people.  It sounds      fun!" Age 5

 

Notes on the Bean

     Jillian is growing and changing so quickly lately.  Suddenly her body seems heavy when I carry her.  I weighed her on the Wii Fit and she is up to 22 lbs. Her little face even has chub on it now! With this growth also comes other new skills like climbing.  This has not been as great as it sounds.  The other day I went to check on her in her room and she wasn't there.  Suddenly I felt her pat my head...from the TOP bunk.  I removed the ladder right away because she is a hyper girl and bounces around crazy.  I know she would launch herself not unlike what she did today off of Ginny's bed which is thankfully much closer to the ground.

    Last night she was very fussy.  She has had one eye tooth come in but three more are poking just under the skin surface.  I heard her crying a lot so even though it was late I decided to get her up.  We sat on the couch in the dark (if I put lights on she gets too wild) and she looked at me and shrugged her shoulders and said, "A hug?"  Well. Of course my dear!  Then she leaned in and gave me a kiss and said 'I Yuh You".  I was so glad that even though i have a cold and was very tired I spent that time with her.  It is so fleeting. The dark room didn't work because she climbed down and scampered off to retrieve the ice cream scoop and bring it to me followed by all the baby spoons in the house which she then began banging on the fireplace screen. After that she raced down the hall screaming for AJ and Ginny and I almost had to restrain her.

    Another advancement in her skills is singing. She doesn't make real words but when she hears a song she babblesings for the longest time and moves her hands and arms to the music. It is very endearing.  She LOVES music. TV and movies don't really interest her in the least.  She can't sit still that long. Her cuddliness is non existent right now and I do miss nursing her to sleep.  She only wants to nurse sitting next to me on the couch now, I will spare you the details!

    It's been a lot of fun to see all of the kids interact with her and help to teach her things.  She sure knows how to move herself up in the pecking order.  In fact I think she has made her way to the top.