Anna Signs

I really enjoy some of the artwork Anna has been making. Like this one about her summer camp class at daycare...

Or these, that she wrote to me a few weeks ago when she had a really bad toothache. It turned out she actually had two teeth where the nerve went bad and they had abscessed. One already had a root canal and the other one already had a filling, so we ended up having those two teeth pulled. She has since also lost her two front top teeth. So there are a lot of holes in her mouth right now. This letter and drawing are really pathetic and I felt so bad that she was in so much pain that weekend.

She also makes a lot of signs and tapes them to her bedroom door. Like these two for her brother.

Oh the joys of having a little brother, ha!

Anna School Work

Been awhile since I posted - I have a few updates I need to get on here. Starting with this one - a really good one!

Found these when digging through the piles of paper on the kitchen island the other day. Finding these always makes me smile. (click any new view larger to read)

Do you know who J.B. is? Yes, she is six. And she loves him.

Computer class:

I thought this was a really accurate drawing

They must have just sent home some of the artwork/letters that had been displayed at school because some of these are from November.

About Sonar:

9 days later, about Baxter:

From Thanksgiving:

(translation: I am thankful for family because they take care of me. I am thankful for the army because without them we wouldn't be alive. I am thankful for food because without it we'd be dead. I am also thankful for god. I thank god because he is king.)

(translation: Fall is awesome to me. Do you think it's fun? It reminds me of pumpkin pie in the oven. Yummy! I just love fall.)

If she was in charge of the world:

(translation: If I were in charge of hte world I'd...

make money

be a queen

help schools

If I were in charge of the world there'd be...

lots of birds

candy as a vegetable

lots of schools

If I were in charge of the world there wouldn't be...

beans

lava

fire

or...

mean people

If I were in charge of the world!)

Candy as a vegetable is my personal favorite.

In other news...
On Sunday night Baxter shredded a foam bowling pin.

December Daily - Unexpected Addition - Thank you Letter to Santa

Anna is on Christmas break from school but is at daycare this week. I'm sure this was a prompted exercise today but I thought it was so so sweet.

6 year old translation:

"Dear Santa,
Thank you for my american girl doll. I take it everywhere I go, just not school. I really enjoy it. I love the accessories (I had to ask about that word). Her puppy is very cute. I named her Gracie. Sincerely, Anna"

Love it! The accessories she got were shoes, socks, hair ties, and a headband. She named the doll Gracie. The puppy is named Honey.

This will make a great closing page of some sort for my December Daily album. Moving the blogging journaling and photos into the actual scrapbook is my next project.

December Daily - Day Twenty-Two

Kevin goes to put on his shoes and an arch support is missing from one. Then we find it. In the water bowl. Baxter at work.

Carter is excited to go to school for once because they are having a Christmas party. It's so unusual for him to smile at this time of day. 

Anna is still sick. I work from home. Tassie is happy.

Later that night...

In the bathtub Carter tells me he found coins on the stairs and he put them in his piggy bank (Ham the pig that he got for his birthday) and that that was ok because they didn't come from daddy's bowl. (Kevin has a bowl of coins on the console table that we found Carter was stealing from to fill his piggy bank. I think he has learned that lesson now). Then he told me he was going to save his money to go to Disney World (this is what Anna always said). I told him he could use his money for whatever he wanted, it doesn't HAVE to be Disney World.

"I'm going to spend my money on....... long pause..... Starbucks!"

I laughed, "That is NOT what I expected you to say. What would you get at Starbucks?"

"Chocolate milk."

Oh the things that are important to you when you're 4. And oh the things I've taught my 4 year old that I want to spend my money on. Sigh. Perhaps a parenting faux paux.

That night I really needed to make a list. I was searching everywhere for my "list paper" and about to freak out because I had too much in my head and needed to make a list.

Then I found it.

December Daily - Day Thirteen

Well, it's almost half way through December and I haven't scrapped a page. But at least I'll have all my journaling done when I'm ready!

As I suspected Anna woke up sick. 102 fever and a horrible cough. Croup was going around the daycare and I think she might have caught it. Or if not, some other virus. I worked from home. She wrote her Christmas list

1. American Girl doll
2. Littlest Pet Shop
3. Robe

We put it in an envelope and then I had to explain stamps and why they cost money. It takes a lot of work to get that letter to the north pole I explained, gas, people, airplanes, cars. "Ah, I get it now."

Our kitchen pipes have been frozen for a few days. As you can see I really needed to do the dishes. So Kevin found a new use for my hair dryer and thawed the pipes. Yay. Then I got to do the dishes. Boo.

Anna spent most of the day in my bed watching cartoons. I started out in here, but was quickly annoyed with the Dora song and Wonder Pets song and so on and so on. So I switched it to a marathon of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Very early episodes. She thought that was hilarious. That evening she watched The Princess Bride. She didn't eat dinner. In fact she only ate toast, chicken noodle soup and cheese crackers. And motrin. My kids are so picky about the flavors. We have two chewable flavors and three liquid flavors of motrin. She only likes the Original Berry Motrin (that's the one with strawberry and raspberry, not to be confused with Fruit Flavored Motrin which is strawberry and cherry). And she likes the orange Delsym but not the orange chewable motrin - "those are spicy." I can't remember what Carter likes but it's the opposite. My medicine cabinet is full of every flavor they make.

While Kevin was using my hair dryer I tried to change the channel on the TV. It was that crazy show with the obstacle course that's impossible to complete and they fall in the water and everyone laughs and laughs. Carter about flipped out and claimed "Daddy is watching that" when really it was him. Boys. Then Kevin was watching that logging show and Carter had his feet propped up on the coffee table. Boys.

Tassie finally got some love. Kevin has been joking I should call it the 25 days of Baxter because I keep taking so many pictures of him. He's so dang cute! Except for when he pooped on the floor.

Sonar. July 2000 - October 31 2010

From Anna
This  is  Sonar, I like't him but now he's dead. And im sad. I like't it wheen he was com. And he's loveuboul to. I relly relly miss him. Sonar was a good dog. He was varry helpful to us.We miss him a lot . I like't to play owtside with him. He is black as you can see.

From Carter
I really really miss him.

In no particular order...

Kevin named him for his big ears.

He had a favorite spot on the couch.

When Kevin was away I would let him sleep in the bed.

When it snowed he looked like he had dandruff. He used the snow as an excuse to just poop on the deck.

At night he always slept under the bed. Tassie learned this from him.

He had horrible teeth and would chew rawhide until his gums would bleed.

Anna would cover him with a blanket to make sure he was cozy.

Always that spot on the couch, unless he finally got squeezed out.

He didn't mind when the kids covered him up.

They were always loving on him in the morning.

He didn't mind.

Carter has always loved dogs.

When he was a young whipper snapper and my running buddy at our house in Prairie Village.

A big teddy bear, good for cuddling up for a nap.

He would run down our long hallway at our first house and jump over the foot of the bed. We joked he needed a cape.

Also good for warming cold toes.

Even early on Anna would try to give Sonar her food.

Driving by PetSmart one day I stopped and looked at the puppies. He was the last of his litter and there weren't any parents so I really wasn't sure what kind of dog he was or how big he would get. They had named him "Sweetie." Little did I know, that name really fit.

He rode on my lap as I drove out to my grandma's immediately after picking him up. He slept. It was Thanksgiving weekend and Kevin was out of town. Boy was he mad when he found out I adopted a dog without him. He was mine from the beginning.

He lived at the apartment with me in Lenexa. It was on the first floor and he liked to sit on the porch and watch the world go by. If he started to bark I hushed him, afraid the neighbors would complain. I think this is where he learned to "talk" without making any noise. If you've met him you know. He was snap his mouth but nothing would come out. He was talking to you.

Instead of buying him toys I would pick up pieces of his food and flick them across the kitchen floor. When he got older he would take one piece of food from his bowl into the other room and flip it around for a few minutes until he finally ate it and then went to eat his dinner. I think this was from playing with his food pieces as a puppy.

He would climb the fence in Prairie Village to chase the squirrels. He was my running buddy for a long time.

As he got older he liked to stay outside more. He had an invisible fence collar. Sometimes the battery would die and I wouldn't know it. He would go on an adventure. One time to the retirement community nearby where some old ladies were taking good care of him. Another time to Ryan's steakhouse nearby where someone found him in the parking lot.

He was always in the driveway when I would bring the kids home from school. He was always happy to see me. I was always annoyed that he was under foot as I was carrying in a million bags.

He would get into any trash can. I would have to put a chair upside down on top of it to keep him out. He loved kleenex, preferably used. When he got frustrated he would pee on the carpet upstairs. When I gated that he would pee on the carpet going downstairs.

He was my first "baby." He was 10 years old. I am glad he didn't suffer, but sad I didn't have more time to say goodbye or for the kids to say goodbye. I'm glad he was in my arms to close his eyes.

We love you Sonar. Peace be with you.

Anna wrote this on my parent's computer in word this weekend

Click to view larger version.

Can't really argue with any of those.

Originals by Anna and Carter

Tonight the kids each wrote me a song. Well, Anna wrote what Carter said for his. Then they brought them to me...

Anna's:

Carter's:

I read/sang them and they laughed and laughed. Too funny.

A Week in the Life - Thursday

My earliest wake up call of the week: 4:30 am. I actually think I somehow hit snooze in my sleep because I didn't hear the alarm until 4:39. Crap! I hurried to get my running clothes on and head over to Candi's house. I left Tassie at home because I was super grumpy this morning and knew she would only annoy me. I let Candi take my picture even though I was not in a good mood and would really rather have been in bed. Super sleepy. Luckily Candi is chatty and talks a lot to get my going. When we finish it is light and the sun is starting to come up. That's nice.



They are having their basement refinished and I went inside to check out the progress. I'm excited and it's not even my house, but we do spend a lot of time there and it will be fun to have another "living" space to hang out.

Afterwards I head to a local coffee shop to get a Zebra Mocha.


Home. No one else is up yet. While I'm showering Anna comes down and snuggles with Tassie on the bathroom rug. It's really cute and I wish I had the camera. Then it's over and she's off to watch cartoons. She can turn on the TV and cable by herself and navigate to the channel she wants now that she can read. It's very handy.

Anna didn't have school today and I'm off on Thursdays. We had planned a girls day but of course when Carter got wind of it he wanted to come. He promised to have good behavior and I gave in, thinking I want to have quality time with my children but fully knowing I may regret my decision. The kids eat yogurt and Carter also has a pancake while I do the dishes from last night.

I check email and work for about 30 minutes to make sure the day goes smoothly while I'm gone. We're ready to go. Anna had written me a sticky note earlier in the week and put it on my mirror. It says "Dot froget adowt Thrsday mommy" translation "Don't forget about Thursday mommy"


8:45 I had a long list of errands and returns to get done. We were ready early so I decided to go ahead and drive to the outlet mall since none of the other stores were open anyway and it takes 45 minute to get there.

9:30 Carter has to potty so we go to Target, take care of business and get a few things. It starts to sprinkle.

10:00 We head over to Banana Republic Outlet so I can return a few things my mom got me for my birthday that don't fit. It really starts to rain. Luckily Anna has an umbrella and rain coat and Carter and I have hooded sweatshirts and I brought the double stroller. We are wet.

Kids are great at BR. We head across to Stride Rite Outlet to look for sandals. They have nothing I want in either kids' size. I find a pair of shoes in a half size larger on clearance ($12!) for Anna for fall. We buy these and now she has to go potty. So we head next door to Gap Outlet where they have a bathroom.

We get a few things here as well including a gift for Anna's teacher who is having a baby and some shorts for Carter. Carter starts to whine. I think he's hungry. It's 11:00 so I decide we can eat and we are probably done at this outdoor rainy mall. I run in the rain pushing the stroller to the nearest restaurant Chipotle and we eat.

Carter eats little and drinks a full drink of orange soda. Then he has to potty again. We are done around noon. I have an appointment to get my bangs trimmed at 1:00so we go ahead and leave. We are soaked by the time we get in the car what with all the unloading and loading of the stroller and bags, etc.


12:30 We're early but it's ok. Bang trim goes wonderfully. No charge.

We head to regular Banana Republic because I need to exchange some shirts and I have two pair of BR Outlet pants I want to get altered. The lady tells me they can't alter the BR Outlet pants. "Not even if I pay you?" "No. They are a completely different store" she says. "Owned by the same company" I think. Whatever. Carter gets really fussy. We go back and forth and back and forth. Do you want to go home? Do you want to go to daycare? Do you want to stay and have good behavior and get a treat? He thinks about it. We go outside and he thinks some more. He decides to have good behavior and seems to pull himself together. He's tired I can tell but he won't lay down in the stroller.

I try on one skirt and decide there isn't anything I want. I only have 30 days for returns so I decide to just get store credit so we can leave. Waiting in line Carter starts to mess with some contraption on a manequin. I pick him up and hold him while he begins to throw a fit while I wait for the one lady in front of me to checkout so I can get my store credit before my 30 days expires on my receipt.

Finally.

We leave. I didn't get to half of the things on my list but I can tell this is only going to get worse. We drive home. It pours. Both kids fall asleep. I owe Anna a treat for her good behavior so I go through the Dairy Queen drive through.

We get home and Carter wakes up and throws a fit.


The heating and air conditioning repair guy arrives (long ongoing saga). I move some laundry around.


3:00 I decide to try to take a nap. The kids keep coming in every five minutes. The thermostat is right outside our bedroom door and the guy keeps talking loudly to Kevin as he's fixing stuff.

I actually think I fell asleep for awhile.


4:40 The kids are begging me to get up to play babies. Eh. "I'm serious" Anna keeps saying.

I play babies by sitting in the chair in Carter's room and watching them play with the baby toys I'm planning to sell in an upcoming garage sale.

5:15 make dinner. Carter helps. Homemade margherita pizza.


Anna opens another present from her birthday party last weekend and I teach her how to make a pot holder.



Carter wants to do everything his big sister does. He gives it a try. I check email and make sure the day went smoothly and there aren't any issues for tomorrow. Find out I probably need to hire another person for some new work we are expecting. Post a job on Career Builder and in Facebook and LinkedIn hoping to get some resumes ASAP.

While Kevin does the dishes I give baths, brush teeth and put both kids to bed. I read "Froggy gets dressed" to Carter. Anna reads me a story from a new Curious George book she got for her birthday. She's never read it before and reads the entire thing. Carter won't stay in his bed. A pretty typical night.

Anna reads Curious George from Cara on Vimeo.

Anna reads Curious George and Carter won't stay in his bed.

8:30 Kevin and I watch a DVR'd episode of The Office while we eat our DQ I got earlier. Tassie gets raw hide because it's her fourth birthday. Happy birthday Tassie.

Blog. Bed.