Yesterday, Jack came home from kindergarten with a note from TBTITWW:
"Mr. and Mrs. Hemmersmeier,
I have asked Jack not to use the word "freakin" in the classroom. Thank you."
Finally,
Sam's fifth tooth has broken through the gum and the sixth is just about there. (What did you think I was announcing?!?) The poor guy has had just four teeth for the last 7 months. Cute, but not all that effective, unless you count torture. Each of us has been a victim of Sam's attacks. You never know when he'll strike. For instance, I may be lying across Maria's bed trying to sneak in a phone call and here comes Sam... Suddenly, without provocation, he takes a small chunk out of my calf! And it HURTS.
So, here's to hoping those teeth finally coming through will put an end to Sam's need to bite. Cute, isn't he?
This morning was my morning off. Alexandra (The Best Babysitter In The World) came over extra early so I could attend the all-school mass at Jack's school. (By the way, I've never felt so tall in all my life! When we all stood during the procession, I felt like a giant among all those kids! Very weird.)
If you're all waiting to hear how horrible it went (based, of course, on previous Hemmersmeier mass experiences), I'm here to disappoint. The children were EXCELLENT! Never have I attended so quiet a mass. There was no chattering, screaming, giggling, banging of kneelers, etc. I couldn't get over it. (Thank God I didn't have Maria, Luke and Sam with me!!!) Jack was great and only occasionally glanced back to give me a big grin. It was really wonderful. I was so proud!
After attending mass, I headed out to run some errands and picked up some goodies for Maria. I found some tiny bottles of glittery nail polish and little-bitty lip glosses. Oh, and some colorful headbands. We're growing out her bangs to see how that looks and I thought the headbands would help keep the hair out of her eyes. So, upon my return and Alexandra's release, I put The Little Boys down for their naps and Maria and I had some girly time. We donned headbands and flavored lip gloss. We were FANCY.
The unfortunate side effect of all this girly stuff 
was Maria's sudden (never before exhibited) desire to share with her brothers...
Luke did. And, not only did we know about it, but so did the whole neighborhood.
Jack, Maria and Luke went outside for a while after dinner tonight while I cleaned up the kitchen and Dan gave Sam a bath. When Sam was out of the bath, I called Luke inside. He was on the playset, so I hollered that it was time for him to come in.
"GOT POOP!!!" He yells.
Sheesh. Can you say it any louder?
In other news today...
Maria, as you can see, helped herself to some Parmesan cheese at dinner tonight. Hmmmm... would you like some spaghetti to go with that cheese?!?
Maria: Mom!!! Cheerio's nose is coming off!
Mom: What?!?
Maria: Her nose is coming off!!! Come look!
Mom: I'll be there in a sec.
Maria: Dad! Daaaaaaddd! Quick! Come look. Cheerio's nose is coming off! Hurry!
Now, I was pretty sure that Cheerio's nose wasn't coming off, but I was a little nervous. Listening to Maria's panicked statements, I thought maybe Cheerio had scraped it on something. I start thinking there'd be blood and maybe some skin hanging off (ewwwwwww).
Thankfully, that was not the case. However, from the outside looking in (we were outside, the dog was inside looking out at us), it did, in fact, look like her nose was not coming off, but rubbing off. Where there was black, it was now mostly golden-brownish -- the color of the rest of her.
Very mysterious.
Maria: Maybe we should get something... like black marker to fix it.
Mom: Ummm... let's see here...
An investigation ensued and we realized it was simply Cheerio-colored dirt covering up part of her normally black nose. Rubbed right off. Thank goodness.
I think I'll set my ringtone to the sound of a screaming child, since that's what I hear any time my phone rings. Seriously. You probably think I'm exaggerating, but just ask my sister and new business partner, Margaret. Phone rings, I answer, screaming ensues. And, despite the size of my house, I cannot seem to find a good hiding place.
Jack, Maria, Luke and Sam
Start to wonder where I am
I'm in my room trying to hide
Hoping for some time to bide
I really need to take this call
Now, however, someone falls
Screaming, yelling and some crying
Now my caller hears me sighing
Sorry, sorry, I've got to run
Now nobody's having any fun
Hang up the phone and open the door
I don't think I can take any more
But then I see four big grins
Maybe I can put away the gin :-)
Following the phone call with Margaret, we round up the troops to go shoe shopping for Dan. Why, oh why do we do this to ourselves? What time of day do you suppose it was? Yep. LATE AFTERNOON. I put Sam in the car, who starts to fuss, since he's the only one in there. I grab Luke, shove his feet into his sandals and get him in. Holler for Jack to get his sandals on and get in the car and go in search of Maria. I find Maria in her bed pouting. Hmmm. I carry her to the car, grab her crocs and tell her to get them on and get into her seat. She starts bawling. I run into the house to grab keys and my husband. Come back out to find Maria still bawling. Ugh. We get her into her seat and head out.
I crank the radio in order to drown out Maria's crying as we head across town. I turn around to check on everyone and notice that Jack is barefoot. He gives me a dumbfounded look when I ask where his shoes are. Dan's blood pressure visibly rises. I tell Jack he'll have to be in a stroller at the store since he has no shoes.
After Jack's painful (and, 
as you can see, filthy) walk across the hot parking lot, we drag the kids into Kohl's and I get Jack and Sam situated in a double stroller. When Maria realizes there are now only single strollers left and Luke gets the seat, the tears start flowing again. And silent they are not.
We make it to the shoe aisle where Sam manages to knock a few things off the shelves and Jack starts screeching just for something to do. Dan switches Luke and Maria around and Luke runs over to mess with Jack and Sam. Jack pokes Luke in the eye. Luke screams.
We split up. Dan heads out to the van with Maria and Luke. I browse some more with Jack and Sam. I manage to find some possibilities for Dan, note their position and head out of the store. I get Jack and Sam into the car and send Dan off to purchase some shoes. Let's hope they last for a long, long time.
Sam's new talent? Sticking out his tongue. I mean, he could do it before and he loves to make raspberries. (Although it isn't really raspberries at this age. I'd say it's, well, spitting.)
Anyway, it seems he's just discovered that he can stick it out and keep it out. So, for your enjoyment, I've posted a picture and video!
I could tell Jack was in a mood yesterday when I picked him up from school. Usually he bounds into the car with a big grin and tells me what a great day he had. Not this time.
The librarian walked him to the car (okay - minivan) and sorrowfully explained that she had had to send a note home with Jack, and as a result he wasn't able to check out a book. She felt terrible. She told me she really likes Jack. She apologized.
Jack was crushed. He was so looking forward to being able to check out a book and bring it home!
Rather than discussing the matter right then, I let Jack eat a snack on the way home and restrained from peppering him with questions as I normally do. After we got home Jack told me he wasn't feeling very happy. I asked why and he tearfully responded that he wasn't allowed to bring a library book home today and, "he was the only one."
He cried.
I cried.
I think I cried more than he did. I was so sad for him! The note was for kicking a classmate's chair during library time not stopping when asked to. I understand the rules and I understand the consequences, and so does Jack. But I still felt terrible.
Later in the evening, we attended Back To School Night and as we walked in the door, Jack's teacher (The Best Teacher In The Whole World) pulled me aside to tell me...
She cried.
She said she felt terrible. Jack had had a really great day - his best yet... until library time. When the kids returned from the library she immediately noticed Jack's demeanor and asked him about it. She said he wrapped his arms around her and...
He cried.
Jack told her what had happened and TBTITWW even walked back with him to the library to discuss it with the librarian (just to verify that the punishment fit the crime, I think). Despite everybody's tears, all agreed that the consequences were justified.
TBTITWW, however, did tell me she plans to return to the library on Monday to see if Jack can check out a book then, rather than having to wait the whole week. :-)
Did I mention the Jack has The Best Teacher In The Whole World? Really, she knows what the kids need, she cares about each one of them and she wants them to love school and learning. How could they not, with her in the classroom?
We may be spending Jack's college money on kindergarten tuition, but it's worth it. He's in the right place.
The more children you have, the more adaptable they are.
Poor Sam just petered out this morning. Despite a blaring television and screeching siblings, he sacked out right on the playroom floor.
A little chocolate on her shirt (and face) to go with the yogurt IN HER HAIR.
Luke, Maria and Sam were all eating a nice lunch. Then the phone rang. It was a very nice woman from Uppercase Living calling me in response to an email I had sent. The kids continued eating as I paced around the kitchen while on the phone.
Hearing laughter in the background, the woman I was speaking to remarked that it sounded like my kids were having fun. Having fun alright - drawing on each other with their yogurt.
Where do they get these ideas?!?
Maria (as you can see from the picture below) didn't just have a small glob in her hair. No. It looks, instead, as though she washed her hair in yogurt. Blech! So, what did I do? Throw her in the tub? No, I grabbed the camera and now I'm blogging about it.
Speaking of phone calls, my kids seem to be at their worst when it's my sisters that call. You read about The Little Boys in yesterday's blog when Caroline called. Today, Margaret called -- just as I was getting the kids out of the car after picking Jack up from school. I think she got in a quick question before Jack managed to open the door to the house , throw his stuff inside and LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN while he got set to ride his Big Wheel. With the phone to my ear and the baby on my hip I see the dog shoot past me. I must have made some type of panicked sound because immediately Margaret said, "I'll talk to you later!"
Got the dog. Got the kids inside. Got onto the computer to find a solution to Margaret's problem. Call Margaret. Talk for 30 seconds. Maria comes running to me screaming that Sam is falling off Jack's bed. Hang up on Margaret. Go into Jack's room to find Jack and Luke on the bed and Jack pulling on Sam's arm (the only thing I can see of him). Sam is stuck between the wall and the bed. Screaming.
I rescue Sam.
And give up.
I'm really happy to have my book club to go to tonight.
Wooohooo! My sister and I are in business together! She just signed up to become an Uppercase Living demonstrator. I am so excited. I never thought I'd be in business for myself, much less with one of my sisters (who, by the way, lives quite some distance from me).
If you haven't checked out Uppercase Living yet, you should - it's really neat and you can do so many things with it. I'm really looking forward to comparing notes with my sister - she's extremely creative and has terrific ideas. This is a picture of what she did with a custom expression from UL. Everyone I've shown it to just loves it.
Watch out - Maggie 'n Me are going to change the world (or at least your homes) - one expression at a time :-)
My kids have phone radar. Doesn't matter where I am or where they are. If the phone rings or I start dialing, they appear as if I had screamed "ICE CREAM!!!!"
As I was fixing dinner this evening I thought (foolishly) that I'd give one of my sisters a call. As you know from previous posts, this wasn't one of my better ideas considering the time of day. However, I was just calling to touch base, since I hadn't talked to her in a couple of days and I planned to keep it short. Very short.
I don't think I was able to talk for more than, oh, 30 seconds before I had to circumvent disaster. Sam got into the dog water and Luke, thinking it looked like loads of fun, proceeded to help his brother splash it all over my kitchen floor. Mid-scream I accidentally hung up on my sister. I pulled the boys out of the water, put Luke in time out and put the dog bowl with remaining water in the pantry on top of the dog food bin.
I redialed the phone and as I'm trying to sop up the mess, Sam comes crawling at super speed through the water, goes into a skid and slams into the wall. Starts BAWLING.
I gave up on the phone attempt and told my sis I'd call her tomorrow (while I have a babysitter and am far, far away from the house). I continued to keep an eye on my cooking dinner and steped into the laundry room to feed the cat. During which time Sam got into the pantry and DUMPED THE REMAINING DOG WATER ONTO THE PANTRY FLOOR.
Sheesh.
...of the PTA!!! (Okay, at Jack's school it's the HSA, but same thing). Me. Susan. Formerly known as I'm-never-going-to-have-children-as-long-as-I-live girl.
My name is Susan and despite my first 27 years, I married a law-abider. I had kids (not just one or two spaced out, mind you, but FOUR in five years). I drive a mini-van. And, now, I'm a member of the PTA.
, I love it all. Here's a little something you don't hear without little ones around:Well, I guess I'm not quite adjusted to Jack having started kindergarten yet. New things keep happening. Today was the first day I dropped him off. I didn't walk him in. I let him out right in front of the school's front door and watched him walk in - without me. I'm so proud of him! Why do I feel so depressed?
At least I'm not alone. My friend called this morning... she said she cried when she dropped her son off this morning (no names to protect the bereft).
It sure is hard letting them go. And, God help us, this is just the beginning!
Yesterday morning Dan and I were discussing something in tense tones. I don't remember what it was and we weren't really arguing so much as picking at each other about it. Maria, overhearing us, walked into where we were and said, "Hey guys! Why don't you try working together?" She then turned around and walked out.
?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
This weekend was the Kiawanis Club's annual Clarksville rodeo. We missed it last year, so we decided to take the kids this year. Anne, Jason and Joey were in town, so they came with us. The gates opened at 6 p.m., but the rodeo didn't start until 8 p.m. Way past my kids' bedtimes, but what the heck.
Truthfully, the kids were great and had a blast. They even understood when the horse won and when the cowboy won during the bronc riding. There was a scary moment when a horse flipped onto a cowboy and we 
said a quick prayer. (I think Luke may be a priest one day -- if he can learn to stop beating people up and pulling his sister's hair. Oh, and the ear-piercing scream thing... that would never work up there on the altar.) Lots of drama, but the cowboy was okay and walked out of the arena.
Anne and Joey, Sam, Luke and I made it until around 9:15 before we made our exit. Jack and Maria stayed behind wi
th Dan and Jason, who apparently entered them into the find-your-shoes-in-a-pile contest and a chase-the-chicken contest. Darn the luck, they didn't win either one. (I would have killed Dan, had one of those kids brought a chicken home!)
Hard core rodeoers that they are, Jack, Maria, Dan and Jason all waltzed in around 11:15 p.m. Jack and Maria were covered in dust, hay, stray chicken feathers and who-knows-what. Quick showers, jammies and to bed and all was well.
Cowboy Luke (that's what we have to call him now) was ready to go back to the rodeo on Saturday, but we decided one night was enough this time.
Now that Jack's in school ALL DAY every day, Maria and I are getting some girl time in while The Little Boys nap.
Today we did toes. Glitter polish (courtesy of Gran) and little pink butterfly stickers (which took quite some time picking out). Aren't they cute? 
Oh, and we can't forget the yummy chocolate milk consumed while being pampered!
We had a very frightening experience yesterday afternoon. (Yes, believe it or not, it was more frightening than attempting mass.)
Despite the heat, I was giving the Little Boys haircuts on the patio. Jack was in his spot under the pine trees muddying up his school uniform. (WHY do they have to have white shirts?!?) Maria was in the house, so I tracked her down and told her she had to come outside. "It's too hot!!!" she said. It was hot, so I told her she could stay inside, but had to stay by the back door 
so I could keep an eye on her.
I started with Luke (who was EXCELLENT, by the way. Of course, that's probably because he wanted to avoid being cut up like last time). Maria stood at the back door opening and closing, opening and closing and occasionally making a comment.
h wasn't loud because I've been hoarse the last few days) I kept searching. I opened the door to the garage and heard a muffled, "I can't get out." SHE WAS IN THE VAN. The doors are kiddie locked....is H
Now, let's think of some words that begin with the letter H. Hmmmm. How about HAIRRAISING...
HELLISH...
HORRENDOUS...
HOPELESS...
Do you need to ask how mass went this morning?
As I'm dragging The Other Three out the door, the Deacon (who held to door open wide for us) said, "You've attended mass when you've made it through the consecration." Whew! Barely made it.
Sheesh. Wonderful Ms. Sharon was even there helping entertain the kids. Truthfully, Maria was an angel. The boys... not quite. Now, Sam was tired. Mass was in the middle of what should be his occasional morning nap. Still... WE WERE AT THE SCHOOL. There were LOTS of children there. Why were mine the only ones who couldn't keep quiet and still?
Thankfully, I didn't hear any snorting or other boy-like noises coming from Jack's row, where he sat with his class. Of course, I just may have missed it while Luke wrangling in the back.
Say a prayer... wish us luck... get out the Tylenol. We're going to mass!
Today is the Feast of the Assumption and Jack's school is having a mass at 10 a.m. All are welcome (at least, until they see us coming!) Jack will sit with a 4th grade buddy and his class. I'm planning to sneak in and sit at the back with The Other Three.
Sweet Sharon, church nursery coordinator and catholic school mother, offered to help me during mass today when she found out we'd be there. Why would she think I'd need help? Oh, that's right. She sat behind us on Saturday night (before we disgracefully removed ourselves to the narthex).
Q: what do these items have in common?
a rubber, star-shaped ball that goes into strobe effect when bouncedif jack's behavior in mass this evening is any indication of how he's going to fare in catholic school we're in BIIIIIGGGGGG trouble. to be fair, his siblings didn't behave one whit better. not only did we have to leave our pew to sit in the narthex, but dan finally left for good, taking our oldest and youngest with him to the car. i weathered it out to the bitter end with luke and maria.
cut us a little slack... dan has to work tomorrow, so we had to attend the 5:30 p.m. mass this evening. NOT a good time for us. (see previous post regarding family pictures).
maria, ever hopeful, jumped into the car after mass and asked, "can we have a sucker?" uhhhhh... NO!!!
after arriving home we delivered the little boys straight to their beds and had jack and maria practice kneeling, standing and then sitting quietly for five minutes each. how successful do you think that was? not very. first of all, someone put them in the same room. (no names, to protect the, uh, innocent). we separated them and still they acted silly. after being reprimanded you'd think we'd beaten them they howled so loud. not one minute later (remember, we were timing things, so we know) they were at it again!!! it was all so painful i kept cheating on the time so we could be done with it and get them in bed.
aaaahhhhhhh. the silence of a house full of sleeping children!
p.s. prayers for jack's success in catholic school and for our next attempt at mass are greatly appreciated.
well, today was it. the BIG DAY. kindergarten. was jack excited? let me put it this way. he was up and in my room before 6 a.m. "hurry up, let's get ready to go!" he says. ugh. by the time i got out of the shower, jack's at my bathroom door completely dressed, head to foot, new shoes (TIED!!!) and even the belt.
how proud i was that he did everything - all by himself! how frustrated i was that he did everything - all by himself! i mean, if he can do it all himself, speedy-fast, what is all the delay about on a daily basis?!? check back with me in a week or two. i have a feeling things aren't going to continue in this manner. one can only hope, though, right?
so we get to school - ALL of us, of course - and jack
is already making a beeline for his friends and waving me off. what? he's acting as if he doesn't need me to walk him into his classroom. huh. sniffling moms and kids all around. us? not a tear. well, except for sam, but that doesn't count because it's from the eye drops i put in this morning.
with jack settled in, the rest of us loaded back into the van and headed home. we parked in the garage and before the key was even out of the ignition maria asked, "mom, when will jack be home?" i KNEW she'd miss him!!! (the other day i asked her if she'd miss jack while he was at school all day and she said, "no. i like luke better. i like sam better, too." whatever.) i was surprised that she misses him already...)
well... that's it. he's there and we're here at home. waiting it out.
i'm sure glad today's a half-day.
to think i wondered if i'd have enough material to keep a blog going. ha. with four children five and under, i have an endless supply. fortunately or unfortunately :-)
jack is learning to tell time (on a real clock) and the other day he mentioned wanting an alarm clock. i filed that idea, but then i happened to come across these adorable, simple and cheap(!) alarm clocks at hobby lobby. (don't worry... i did NOT go there with my kids). not only were they cheap and simple, they also came in the requisite colors. yellow for the big boy and what other color is there for his sister (who is also learning to tell time because it's monkey see, monkey do around here)?
anyhow, when i gave jack and maria their new clocks last night you'd have thought they won the lottery. they were SO excited! it was cute. they couldn't wait to go to bed to be awakened in the morning by their new alarm clocks. ever hopeful, i set them to ring at 7:30 a.m.
my hopes were dashed this morning when here comes jack, alarm clock in tow, to the kitchen at 6:37 a.m. "it didn't go off," he said. i explained that it wouldn't ring until 7:30 and we talked about when that would be and where the hands on the clock would be at 7:30. he asked for oatmeal and set his clock on the table to watch it as he ate...
thump, thump, thump, thump... guess who's up now? with alarm clock in tow, here comes maria into the kitchen. "it didn't go off," she says. (can you here my sigh fr
om where you are?) i gave here the same spiel i gave jack, but she was a little more frustrated, i think. "it's broken," she says. "no..." i say. "it WILL go off, when it's time."
oatmeal finished, jack announced he was going back to bed (to wait for the alarm clock to "wake" him) and maria set up to watch her clock as i fixed her some breakfast. while she ate and waited, i got my little boys up and dressed.
tick...tick...tick...
the clocks did eventually go off. as they were set to. unfortunately, though, by that time there was no one left to wake.
today is sunday. the first day of a very emotional week. on friday this little boy will start kindergarten. i can't believe it. of course, neither can any of my close friends. they all knew me as the one that would NEVER have kids. they probably all smirked when jack came along. i think they gaped when maria followed 14 months later. jaws dropped with luke and i think minds went blank when sam showed up. i don't think they believe i live in a real house and not the funny farm...
jack and i are both nervous and excited about his new venture. he's got his uniforms, new shoes and a big kid backpack. luckily a small fee covers his supplies. i don't have to buy them, which is a good thing because for the last three years i've hyperventilated any time i've had to pass through the school supply aisle at wal-mart.
oh, and jack's had his kindergarten physical. it went smoothly enough, but when the doc predicted jack would be the class clown i got a few butterflies in my stomach. i don't know that catholic school is the place for a clown, despite his many endearing qualities (like volunteering his sister for the first round of shots).
well, wish us luck as the countdown begins. i'm sure i'll be shedding a few tears on friday. come to think of it, his teacher might, too...
so... i recently became an uppercase living demonstrator. have you seen this yet?!? it is sooooo cool. i was actually in search of something like this for maria's room and when i found uppercase, i jumped right in with both feet. i've never sold anything (other than girl scout cookies 30 years ago) but i didn't hesitate. the product sells itself! these beautiful expressions can be easily applied to your walls, windows, mirrors or any other relatively smooth surface. and (drum roll, please...) they can be REMOVED without damaging the surface. what an awesome way to add something to your home, office, car, etc.
not only do i get to be the first to show people this great new product, but i also get to have some adult time in the evenings when i do demonstrations. i didn't realize how much i needed this. it's really put a shot of energy and excitement into things for me.
go check it out at www.uppercaseliving.com. my ID # is 832718 and token is "cheerio."
the picture here is of my little boys' room...
