THIS is My Award

Remember a few days ago, I admitted I will not be receiving the Mom of the Year Award? 

Well, I may not get an award...but I often do get a reward.

Rewards like...

"Ubba Mom!"
"You're the best cooker Mom!"
"Let's read a book, Mom."
"Mom, I love it when I come home from school and my room is picked up!"
"Mom would you love to rock me?"
"Mom, come sit by me and hold my hand."
"Wanna go play baseball, Mom?"
"Come lay on the floor with me, Mom."
"Want to go play with my dollhouse?"
"I will go to the store with you, Mom!"
"Mom, pretend we are the kids and you are the mom, let's play house."  {I know...it's a   s t r e t c h!}  =)
"Want to color with me, Mom?"

and...
Kisses without asking,
Tight hugs,
Little fingers patting my back as I carry a baby to bed,
Big smiles...

Sometimes, I even get acknowledged publicly...like in a certain-someone's First Grade Journal! 

This entry is now copied, colored, framed & hung in the kitchen! Doesn't it sound like she thinks she is supposed to be doing the laundry...but I'm doing it FOR her!?  Breaks my heart.

This is the entry the day after the 'Early Dismissal Mishap."  She 'drawed' rainbows on the board and had Winnie the Pooh cupcakes for Dig's birthday after school.

This one is from the day I left to go to Ryan's sister's bachelorette party in Kansas City.

When she says 'I get to sleep with my Dad and stuf amanals,' she means ALOT of 'stuf amanals!' See for yourself... this picture is from February, but it's what happens everytime I'm gone overnight.  Somehow 3 people also sleep in there?!

Oh, P.S.

So as you can see... I'm rewarded Big time.

Mom of the Year Award

I will not be the recipient. 

It all happened on Dig's birthday.  It was Wednesday, Lane doesn't have school on Wednesdays.  Once a month South Hardin Schools let out early on Wednesdays for Teacher In-Services.  I knew this.  I even knew what time Drue was going to be let out.  1:55.  It said so, right on the purple weekly calendar Mrs. Bronzynski sent home. 

That morning Lane and I were busy making frosted cookies for his birthday snack for AWANA.  Ok, he was busy playing with new toys the UPS man delivered to him from Uncle Steve, I was busy making cookies.  We went to Mom and Dad's for lunch and birthday cupcakes.  I stayed around talking to Dad, all the time knowing I'd need to get Drue in a little bit.  I usually set the alarm on my phone to make sure I leave on time.  Today, however, my phone was dead so I left it in the car charging.

1:15 the phone rings.  Dad answered, "oh geesh!" and hands me the phone. It was Ryan.

"Do you know your daughter is the last one at school.  Did you forget she gets out early?  They've been calling you and left a message at home and finally got a hold of me in Algona!"

I explained that, yes, infact, I did know she gets out at 1:55.  The calendar said so!  He corrected me and said they got out at 12:55.  Lane and I walked to Mom & Dad's so I hung up the phone, yelled that I'd be back to get Dig.  I guess my brother told my dad, "the school better hope the calendar said 12:55 or they're going to have one mad mom on their hands!"  He knows his sister! 

I ran across the yards to our house, jumped in the car and drove way too fast to get to my baby.  I envisioned lots of tears and anger towards her momma...she'd been waiting for me for TWENTY minutes, which to a 6 year-old is all the time in the world!

I ran in the school, scanned the office, asked the nurse, since I guess she is who called.  She told me Drue was down in her classroom with Mrs. B.  I ran down the stairs and was met in the hall by Mrs. B and DD.  I apologized saying, I must have read the calendar wrong, blah, blah, blah.  My adrenaline was pumping away, I was so sad that I had messed up and let Drue down.

Then Mrs. B. told me it was actually her fault. 

Thank goodness!  I was feeling like a terrible mom!

Evidently, Mrs. B copied the weekly calendar on purple paper and passed them out to the kids.  Somehow, she realized there was a mistake on it and made new calendars with the correct dismissal time on GREEN paper.  She said there were a few girls that thought they liked the purple paper better and didn't 'trade' for the new, correct green one.  Drue wasn't the only one.  At least one other girl had to wait for her mom to get her also.  Mrs. Bronzynski let the two of them draw rainbows on the white board and gave Drue hugs to ease her nervousness. Drue had cried a little when she ran outside and realized I wasn't there. Then she waited outside for me, which she usually doesn't have to do.  I'm always waiting in line for her at least 15 minutes before school dismisses and she is ALWAYS the first kid (other than those who ride a bus) out of the building...never fails! 

Mrs. B. made sure it was not a scary situation and Drue actually enjoyed her alone time with her teacher....but I couldn't stop apologizing!  Drue finally said, "Mom!  It was really a mistake.  I know you're sorry!"

Mom of the Year Award?  Maybe next year. 

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday

I can't stop giggling when I see this one!  =)

Dayton Rodeo

Labor Day isn't Labor Day if we don't go to Grandma & Grandpa Larson's house in Dayton.  This year we went over Sunday for lunch and stayed for the Rodeo at 7. My aunt & uncle were home from Texas and it was my aunt Aimee's first rodeo.  We sat on the steep hill watching crazy men ride crazy bulls and the kids drank pop and ate popcorn.  Uncle Shawn and KK were there, too. 

We drove home and woke up early the next morning to get back to Dayton for the parade Monday.  Good grief do the kids get candy! It also helps that your great-grandpa knows everyone in the town and parade. In fact, our kids don't have to work very hard to get any candy. He literally stops the parade to talk to the person in it and asks for candy, they hand it to Grandpa John, he dumps it in the kids' bag!  Easy as that!  The kids made out very well!  So will our dentist, eventually. 

See who is closer to the parade...not the kids.  =)

Another fun thing about Labor Day is we usually run into some of our extended family.  My Uncle Ted's  ( grandma Ilene's brother...the Semprini's) family was all home and we tried to get a goup picture....can I tell you that we are one LOUD bunch!  Holy Cow! 

Cousins:  My Aunt Cindy, Cousin John Semprini, Cousin Jill Semprini Nehman, Uncle Mike standing on his tip toes, Mom, Cousin Joe Semprini and Cousin Julie Neal.  We were missing Uncle Jim and Cousin Jeff.

This is just Uncle Ted's & Grandma Ilene's family...and we're not all here...

and yes, I could name everyone if you asked.  =)

We're going to plan a big party for next year's get together...Watch out Dayton!!



Hearing Voices

Dig decided to take Rainbow Sherbert cups to Preschool for his birthday snack.  New rule, "no homemade snacks.  Everything must be prepackaged and whole."  Boring.  I was bummed we couldn't make fun cupcakes for fancy cookies, but Lane was happy taking sherbert.  Anyhoo...Lane was so excited to take them that he ate one on the way home from the grocery store.  I just happened to have a few extra Sporks in the console...always prepared. 

The checkout lady had been talking about how it won't be long before we put our Christmas decorations out. 

Lane says to me, "Mom, I just heard a little kitty in my head, it said, 'ChristmaaaaaS!' (in a high pitch)  and do you know I've heard Jesus talking in my head before?"

I begin to tell him how I think that is very special and ask him what Jesus said...

then Lane said,

"Well, I think it was Jesus, or maybe it was Darth Vader...I get those 2 voices confused." 

Dig's Party

Dig had a long day of waiting for his party.  By 9:00 am he was asking, "when are my guests coming?" 

"Only 8 more hours, Buddy!"

I failed to get any pictures of those guests...but here are some of the Little Man on his Big Day!

When the UPS man showed up at our door...Dig knew it could mean only one thing!  Uncle Steve & Lisa's presents!  Later that day the Speedy Delivery man brought a gift from cousins Cali & Clay and the Postman brought cards!  Dig made up a new rule on his birthday..."If the UPS man brings a presnt for you and the person it's from isn't going to be at your party, you can open the present when he brings it, even if it isn'tyour birthday."  So, I had to follow the rules. This really was his lucky day! 

Nanny's chalkboard counted down the days until Dig's birthday!

Lunchtime party at Nan & Pa's with Uncle Shawn, too!

Saturday was PaRtY dAy!  Dig & Daddy went to Wellsburg to pick up his cake.

Mario Brothers Cake

The blanket KK made just for Dig

Colorful markers!

A little embarrassed when we sang to him

The Luiken family-  DD age 6, Daddy 35, Dig 5 and Mommy 33.

Dinner Guest

Ten years ago this Fall, I had just moved back home to Mom and Dad's after spending the summer in Dallas with my aunt & uncle.  One cold morning my dad brought in two orphaned kittens.  I quickly took to the runty little boy, the fuzzy little girl bonded with Shawn.  Those of you who know me well, know that I do not like baby animals of any kind.  Kitties especially.  Thomas was right at the stage where he was starting to run around with his little tail straight up in the air.  He was just what I needed. I always wanted a big, fat cat...and Thomas grew up to be just that!

When Ryan and I got married, Thomas moved with me to our acreage.  He stayed inside until Drue was born, then he thought it was getting too crowded inside with a baby getting all of the attention so he became an outside farm cat.  He loved exploring and playing in the barn with the wild farm cats. 

Three years ago, when we moved to Eldora, Thomas decided he didn't like our new house.  We tried.  He would come in and meow to go right back out.  So, he went and lived in the pasture behind mom & dad's house.  He was familiar with the area and mom fed him every morning. 

Occasionally, Thomas will mosey over the whopping block to our house for a visit...usually when he can hear the kids playing in the back yard.

But, this entire week we've had a nightly dinner guest...I guess I should say, Cash has had a dinner guest. 

He doesn't mind, he must remember Thomas from our days at the farm. 

It's been two days now that Tom hasn't left our yard...

I think he's wishing he would have stayed three years ago!