Dithers

I'm waving my magicians cape all around me as the pyrotechnics display on my brain-stage explodes with sparks of red, white and blue. The music in the background blares "The Final Countdown" by Europe. The final countdown is 6 months.

Somewhere between episodes of "Arrested Development" and the toxic smell of the red paint I washed off the glass door the other day, my mind seems to have gotten cluttered. I've had recurring dreams before but never dreamed of picking up figurines off the floor, turning around and seeing Dora under the table again, staring at me with her creepy/cheery grin and her helmet-head hair. I had this dream 5 times last night!

There's a lot going on around here. The numbers speaking to me in my head won't quiet down so I'm going to write "the list" here in hopes that it will therapeutically sooth my angst and let folks feel sorry for me. They'll say "Poor Alice. At least she had a reason to be committed this time."
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1) Joel is interviewing. He's had several interviews here in Little Rock, one coming up this weekend in Bentonville, and had one in Las Colinas in the DFW metroplex.
2) Joel hasn't been offered a salary starting at $1,000,000 like I had secretly hoped. With my secret plan, we would have paid off his loans, our mortgage, adopted several babies from Ethiopia, taken our new family of 12 on a cruise to Alaska, and then Joel and I would have taken a couples retreat, just the two of us, to an all-inclusive resort on the French Riviera.
3) Joel has to register for state-specific peds/medicine boards by February. This means a decision DEADLINE!
4) Silas turned 4 in September. He will need some sort of K4 education if he's ever going to make it into Yale.
5) Micah turned 3 just 2 days ago. He needs to be potty trained if he's ever going to make it into Yale.
6) Liza will be 3 in 1 year and 11 months. If we're going to adopt a baby by the time she's 3, we've got to get some paperwork going stat.
7) Minty Maize Ruff Ruff needs to be spayed so we don't have to send 11 puppies with her to doggy school whenever we have the money for her to go.
8) Our children keep trying to ride Lewis. Lewis keeps biting our children. This is all one big problem.
9) Rice Krispies Treats are just too delicious for me to ever be able to lose weight for Garrett's wedding.
10) I got a new camera for Christmas and have been taking lots of pictures. But I forget to get the card reader out of the disaster room before Micah goes in there to take a nap every day. By the time he wakes up, I've forgotten about uploading pictures. I'm starting to feel a great deal of guilt about this.

OK, thanks for listening. See you for my next session in a couple days.

the Shot Party

October 29, 2009
This is recorded for posterity sake. The Influenza Swineus Pandemic of 2009 will long be remembered by the thousands that stood in line at one of the mass flu shot clinics in Little Rock. I was one of them.

I have been unable to decide whether the worst part of the morning long ordeal was the three and a half hour wait, or the fact that I left my coffee in the minivan, or that by the time we left, I was less than %100 sure that we had even received that right vaccines.

Imagine, if you will, hundreds of people standing in line, in the rain. Now add at least one preschooler per adult. Now imagine a long, mall-like hallway with various tables and signs set up as you make your way towards your desired injection. It sort of reminded me of Frodo, Legolas, Gandolf, and Gimli making their way through the Mines of Moria, except instead of elves and dwarves as my companions, I had my three children under four years, and Jennifer my neighbor and her two children, ages three and one. Instead of a magical ring to rule them all and in the darkness bind them, I had BOB Duallie: The stroller to end all strollers. I tried not to run over other children and mothers, but there were too many people, not enough space and accidents do happen.

This was, of course, after we got in the doors. We arrived at 8:10am, a little less than an hour before the clinic was to open. We had armed ourselves with Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Jennifers laptop for movies, a hot potato game, bird house crafts, stickers, markers, and other snacks. Few of these were used, however, since the first hour and fifteen minutes were spent in the rain. Once we got through the doors, we could actually see the tables with coolers and those red medical biohazard bins! But it would be another two hours before we actually got our shots. So, we built the bird houses, we colored them with markers. We chided the boys for trying to push the black divider curtains over. I didn't like it when another mom said I was a virtual Martha Stuart. "I'll show YOU Marth Stuart" I wanted to say. Marth Stuart went to prison, you know. Since there were police around, I kept my cool instead of starting a riot.

The fun just kept going. We were shuffled to a folding table to hand over our paperwork. Micah kept trying to draw on his face with a read marker and Silas was coughing incessantly, a symptom of a bad upper respiratory virus, over which Joel had warned that health care workers might try to deny him a vaccine. After the lady at the table handed us a pile of paperwork three times the size I had originally given her, we stood in yet another line. After another 20 minutes or so, we were nearly through the gauntlet when...

**Twenty-four hours of reflection on the event has lead me to believe that what happened next was quite appropriate. KATV news was there to report on all the people getting shots. It makes sense; it really was a spectacle something akin to three-ring circus. And what what more news worthy than a mom hauling her three kids through the rain and masses to get shots?**

...the news reporter asked if she could film the kids getting their shots and interview me. She asked "Are all these yours?! And they're all under four?!" Thus I and my children were on the 5:00 news. I think I might have enjoyed this part a little bit except that I had been standing in the rain and wearing the same clothes I practically slept in. Plus with my three children four and under, I thought surely people would think I didn't understand how to use birth control. Now imagine a mom -looking perhaps like a wet mother cat dragging her wet rowdy kittens- being followed around by a camera and news crew.

When we finally sat down to get our shots, the six people at our station had difficulty remembering that we were getting H1N1 shots, as well as seasonal flu shots. They had to consult with one another whether they could do two different shots at one table and then when they finally decided, they had to track down seasonal flu shots for us. Jennifer and her kids, as well as a few other friends I saw there, had been lead to multiple destinations for single shots. Oh, and never mind that all our kids have to get yet another dose of the H1N1 vaccine to have the most effective immunity!

In the end, I couldn't help but think about how simple this clinic should have been. It was inefficient and confusing to patients as well as staff. (This is my plug for NO GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE). I think that giving birth was less complicated and faster than getting these shots!

To sum up: we got the shots. Hopefully we won't get the flu. But I think next year we might just risk it.

The Job of Being Human

Here's a list of household rules I've compiled. The consequences for breaking the rules change as needed. Some of them are listed and some are not; but make no mistake- there will be consequences. 

1. you may not ask “why” when  cleaning up

2. no hitting when you’re angry

3. when you start to grit your teeth, you have to go outside and run

4. no squealing as a means of communication

5. no punching through the peapod

6. no feeding Liza food unless directed by a mother or father

7. camping lantern may be turned on at nap time only

8. legos are for rest time only, and only if you’re 4

9. nap time is 2 hours, non-negotiable. Unless you’re 4

10. if you throw food, you don’t get dessert

11. if you throw food twice, you don’t get to finish your meal

12. mom must finish her coffee before she can do anything fun

13. no crafts before breakfast

14. we are ALWAYS gentle to animals and babies

15. when  playing “chase jet chase” or "chase jet car chase” you may not  hit in the face

16. when  standing in a chair to help cook, you wait for directions

17. when someone is standing in a chair next to you, you never push them off

18. when someone is standing in a chair, you may not try to stand in the same chair

19. we don’t jump on beds because that’s one way boys can break their arms.

20. you may jump off the back of the couch, but you may not stand on it for any other reason

21. the couches in the living room are for sitting only

22. you have to have on underwear before you can watch “Dinosaur Train” 

23. if you hurt your brother or sister more than twice in 15 minutes, either by accident or on purpose, you get a restraining order issued against you and you  may not be in the same room as that person or in extreme cases, you may not be on the same floor level

24. if you say your memory verse without any help, you get a milk shake

25. if you don't make a fuss at the door at MDO, you get a surprise in your car seat or booster seat when picked up

26. all toys must be picked up in the play room before playing with play dough

27. don't drink bath water 

28. don't eat sand, waffles off the floor, anything off the van floor, dead dried bugs, live bugs, berries from the yard, and don't ever, EVER even put anything from the creek in your mouth

29. bottles may not be used as baseball bats

30. toys for playing "snowball snowball get" must be soft toys

31. if you throw dinosaur goo, I will use your precious blanket to clean it up

32. if you hit your brother or sister with your precious blanket, I will put your precious blanket in my closet until nap time or bed time

33. until you can afford it replace it if it breaks, no touching the computer

34. we all help clean the kitchen after meals

35. we all help clean up toys 

36. we all help get ready to host small group on Tuesday nights

38. if we eat at the hospital, you must be compliant or you don't get jell-o 

39. I provide many things for you to play with but you are responsible for your own fun

40. if you  break something, I may be sad, but I will not be angry if you tell me before I find out on my own

41. if you pull the curtains out the wall again, you will not be allowed to play in the living room for the rest of your childhood

So I realize I'm a mean mom. But it's my hope that these rules, and maybe a couple I left out, will help our children become compassionate, initiating, responsible people who have fun and love freely because they understand their boundaries.

The Things We Hope Will Last (and pictures from this summer)

It's official that in less than 9 months that Joel will finish his residency and right now we're a little worse for wear. For example, the "L" button is missing on our laptop, the only computer we've had since the beginning of Joel's second year of medical school. We recently got a new modem only to find out that it did not solve our ever slowing internet access. We don't think this computer will make it through the year. When it dies, you can expect a new post sometime in July 2010. 

I don't think we can handle anymore home repairs. We just bought some nice $400 springs so we can open our garage door again. Minty Maizy Ruff Ruff has been trying to abolish the window sill outside our kitchen and I'm pretty sure she'll attempt to chew the cable wires so that we won't be able to watch our 12 channels on TV anymore.

A couple other things that have suffered wear and tear over the last 3 years: all but one of our fish have now met their maker, the dryer makes an abominable sound, 3 out of the 6 chairs at our kitchen table have collapsed under someone's weight, and the light that comes on when you open the garage door hasn't illuminated our comings and goings for about 2 years.

Minty Maizy Ruff Ruff: our newest family member has joined Sabrina as an "outside only" pet

The boys and Garrett, the neighbor, painting gold nuggets for Silas' 4th birthday party

Baby Liza (not pictured: her one tooth)

But among all these things that are destined pass are many that shall not. I think we're going to come out of these 4 years, not unscathed, but like having passed through a fire of sorts. Even a month ago I questioned what a future for Joel and I would like, thinking maybe our testing would result in our being burnt to a crisp. But up from the ashes we're rising to new heights. We're learning to trust and love one another on a deeper level that we didn't know before. We're learning that it's better to have a marriage that matters to one another than to have a marriage that looks great to every body else.

I got a hair cut

In the lives of our children, we're leaning to let go of many things. We no longer grieve our inability to provide the safest carseats possible, or the toys whose manufacturers would have us believe would make our children brilliant. We're learning to care less about how we appear as parents and more about how our children appear to the Lord; that for now, we're fully responsible for that.

Trying to keep Silas and Micah from spoiling in the heat

Liza is a crawling machine

We've learned that to live a life without the Lord would be the worst possible thing that could happen to our children.  May we do our best to both model the love of a warm God- not just tolerating our presence- but delighting in every choice that actively moves us towards him. And may we prevent as many accidents possible, especially the ones involving diaper rash cream and carpet or broken bones and stitches. 

Shooting the breeze after a fast game of "chase jet chase"

Not Because You Told Me To

But thanks for the reminder to post anyway. And no, there are no pictures. Things happen slowly around here and I forget to take pictures. Or sometimes I remember and I can't find the camera. And to be honest, there have been a handful of days recently that I simply don't want to commemorate. 

I'm hoping that the worst of it has passed now. By using my new mantra "I only have to outlast them by one more than they've got" here's the good we've accomplished as of tonight:

1) it's 8:15 and everyone is asleep, or at least they're quietly laying in their beds.

2) the toys have been picked up 5/6 nights this week.

3) Micah's 2-year-old screaming tantrums have become confined to the time-out chair.

4) no one has thrown food at a meal in a very long time.

Still in progress: no hitting, biting, throwing toys, putting fingers in Liza's mouth, getting up at 6:30 in the morning, jumping on the beds, yelling during prayer time, pulling up vegetables before they've had a chance to produce, jumping off the back of the couch, pouring water on their brother's head, drinking from the water in the sand box, emptying soap into the bath tub, pouring a bowl full of pennies on the carpet, standing on the table in the hallway, holding down the water button on the refrigerator until there's so much water I need a beach towel to clean it up, hitting glass doors with t-ball bats...I could go on...

But it's quiet now and I'm shooting for 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep tonight. Time to get that going.

Weigh-In

Something I know everyone has laid awake at night thinking about: what foods do Joel and Alice like to eat? Great news for you- you'll now be able to go to sleep a little earlier because...

Joel and I have created a scale from 1-10. We each have a scale, but for the most part they're close enough that for publishing purposes, I've combined them. Some examples are included for clarification as well as occasional reference.

1- the worst food I've ever tasted. I will avoid this food at all costs. Example: natto*

2- I hate it, but I could choke it down if I had to. Examples: peas (J) raw onions (a)

3- I would eat it if served to me only. Examples: roast (J) dry chicken (a)

4- I wouldn't order it in a restaurant or anything but I would not complain. Example: green beans (J) 

5- I don't like or dislike. Examples: apple pie (J) rice (a)

6- I am sometimes in the mood to eat it. Example: broccoli  

7- I will sometimes ask for it. Example: spaghetti (J)

8- I will ask for it regularly. Examples: crackers (J)  Chic-Fil-A (a)

9- I like it a whole lot. Example: chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit

10- The best food I've ever tasted and I would like it on my birthday. Examples: brownies (J) steak, chocolate truffles, twice baked potatoes, red beans and rice, chocolate chip cookie bars, cherry turn overs, crescents, fair-trade medium-dark roasted coffee with cream and sugar, hot chocolate, chocolate peanut butter bars, christmas cookies with peppermint icing, french bread with butter, summer tomato-basil tart with mozzarella, powder sugar doughnuts, cherry toaster streudels, cheese pizza, fresh tamales with jalapeños, Velveeta shells and cheese with broccoli, green salad with artichokes and blue cheese dressing, stuffed figs with prosciutto, etc., etc., etc (A). It's amazing I don't weigh 1000 lbs. 

*a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans

Quirky

Liza was 12 weeks old yesterday. She is a really fun baby. Here's why:

1. Her favorite activity is to talk and laugh. 

2. She likes to play in her bouncy seat. 

3. She likes to look at her mobile go around and around and around.

4. Though she looks surprised every time, she's always happy in the bath. 

5. Silas and Micah are very interesting to her, probably because of all the noise they make.

6. In good Fank fashion, she loves to be outside, even when it's cold (but not windy).

The traditional "sack of potatoes" hold 

Liza also has some quirks. In fact, she is the most peculiar baby I've ever know. As you know, she's had colic. Frustrating, but normal. Here are the not-so-normal-drive-me-crazy little tid-bits about her:

1. won't sleep in a bed*

2. doesn't like to wear hats

3. doesn't like to nurse on my left side

4. doesn't like to nurse under a blanket

5. occasionally won't nurse at all

6. doesn't tolerate milk products in my diet

7. has no predictable sleeping schedule, unlike her brothers at this same age**

Sitting in the bouncy seat outside

*We haven't actually tried to put her in a bed in about 6 weeks. After the colic set in, we did whatever we could to get her to sleep, and keep her asleep. This meant sleeping in her car seat or swing, where she currently sleeps. In the next couple of weeks, we'll probably start the transition to the pack and play.

**This is most likely related to the colic as well.

POST LOGUE:

Liza is now 14 weeks old. We have still not attempted to put her in a bed to sleep. She is, however, taking 3 regular naps and goes to bed at about the same time every night. Almost all of these bedtimes occur with little or no crying! But please, don't bother asking me if she's "sleeping through the night". That's all relative now. 

Mega-saucing: the "new" Liza

Intriguing Bible Lessons

Here's the bedtime conversation between Joel and Silas:

Silas:  "I was faithful at church today!"

Joel:  "Oh?  What does faithful mean?"

Silas: "It means you bake someone a birthday cake on their birthday..."

Joel: "Oh, that's nice.  What else could you do that is nice?"

Silas: "Gordon was nice when he pulled Thomas out from the smoke and fire..."

Joel: "You're right.  What could you do that is nice?"

Silas: "I could pull Micah out from a puddle when a snake drags him in."

Joel:  "You're right.   You probably could do that."

Yes, we're teaching our children lessons with an exceedingly limited scope.

2009 Winter Games

Today, Silas and Micah have been playing together more than fighting. 

This morning, while climbing inside the vacuum cleaner box (we finally got a new vacuum cleaner), Silas said, "Mom, you can be Mary, Micah can be Jesus, and I can be the newborn baby and I'll sleep in the baby manger. Liza can be the Angel." He then closed himself inside the "baby manger". 

Since then, Liza has napped in the swing while the boys ride their bikes around the dining room table, with an occasional break to bake cookies in their kitchen. Come over to try some. They have sugar, oil, broccoli, powdered sugar and syrup in them.

No Country For Old Men

I've sat down to update our blog about 4 times since the last post. Each time, the boys squabbled over a toy, Liza spit out her pacifier, Micah asked me to open the door on a toy that has a door, Liza spit out her pacifier again, Silas needed his pants buttoned and zipped, the phone rang, Micah asked me to open the door on a toy that has a door again, Liza needed to eat, Liza needed help going back to sleep, Micah bit Silas, Silas pushed Micah into a wall, Joel came home, a friend brought us supper and wanted to meet Liza, Liza needed help going back to sleep again after meeting the friend, Liza spit out her pacifier...and now I need to help put train tracks together. 

I guess you're pretty  much updated on life over here.

Elizabeth Hope

Liza was born on Saturday, November 29 at 5:52am. It was a (nearly too) quick and mostly uncomplicated delivery. She weighed 6 lbs and 14 oz and is 20 inches long. She's a very sweet girl and likes to eat every 4 hours for an entire hour each feeding.

Silas and Micah have loved having her home. So far, Silas has taught Liza that fire is hot and you shouldn't touch it. Micah has given her very gentle kisses and likes to try to share his milk from his sippy cup with her. He's also interested in seeing what will happen if shakes paper in her face. It will be interesting to see whether she learns to sleep with all the noise or rather learns to function with less sleep. With her parents on either side of the spectrum, she could go either way.

The New Baby

If you ask me if she's been born yet, I'm going to lie to you and tell you yes.

A Quick Growing-up Update

It's officially fall at our house. You can tell because 1) Silas and Micah are fully clothed in 3/4 of the pictures in this post and 2) everyone looks so happy. It's been an eventful season so far and there's still so much more to come. 

Here are the highlights: after a quick trip the hospital 3 weeks ago and medication for pre-term labor ever since, new baby will be 35 weeks gestational age on Friday! It's been really difficult to try to be still during this time but the state of our house and the amount of laundry that needs to be folded and put away will attest that I'm at least not tending those chores. It's sort of like an alternating workout: most people choose between a cardio workout or focus on a specific muscle group for that day. Mine has been choosing between cleaning the kitchen that day or doing a load of laundry. I've vacuumed the upstairs once, the downstairs once, and the middle floor once. Twice in the last three weeks I've picked up toys. 
Micah has been talking more and more. He's really fun to listen to, especially at meal times. This is good because otherwise I would probably be frustrated with him all the time. He's a VERY picky eater and even the food he loves (that is, bananas), he eats very little of. Micah has also learned to run, is trying to jump, and really likes to try to throw himself down the stairs when I'm holding his hand. I think he has no idea there's a baby coming and I'm a little worried about how he'll take it. When I'm sitting down he likes to be in my lap or in my face. It's lovable for certain; it won't be as easy when I'm trying to nurse a newborn.
Silas is getting bigger and bigger. When I see him, I don't see "my first baby" anymore. He's doing things like buttoning his own shirts and catching fish with a fishing pole. He's started play fighting and wrestling with his buddies, and "shooting" at pesky mice and dinosaurs in our backyard with whatever stick, pine cone or rock he can find that reminds him of a weapon. Friends with boys said this would happen with or without exposure to violence. They were right. No one uses guns on Sesame Street or Thomas the Train. 
Hopefully we'll get some good pictures of Halloween this year. You may experience some deja vu when you see what Silas wants to be...I can't wait. Then it's the baby (or Thanksgiving with the Fanks), then Christmas...

Where is the time going?

No Turning Back Now

After going on vacation for the first time as a family, I don't think we'll ever stop planning for the next one. What a wonderful week! It was much needed after Joel's work schedule in August and I think I'll be drawing strength from its memories this week as we now tackle what I believe to be the most emotionally difficult task yet: Silas and Micah are giving up the pacifiers.

Dreading bed time. The boys are now asleep after a combined 1 1/2 hours of crying.

 Micah and Silas with their special animals that we got today since they're working so hard to overcome their addiction. Silas picked out a dinosaur that he named "T-Rex" and Micah liked the monkey best. The monkey's name is "Coke, Coke, Banana," one of Micah's favorite sayings.

The Great Vacation of 2008 was a huge success. With 8 adults, 3 3-year-olds and 4 1-year-olds all sharing a beach house, I didn't expect to enjoy myself as much as I actually did. Sure, a couple of times there were people in my way when I needed my morning coffee, and there was certainly a squabble or two over sharing toys. And then there was the arsenic hour in which all children between the ages of 0 and 35 get fussy just before dinner is ready. But everyone was gracious and patient toward one another and I know I'm better for it.

Despite this precious picture, Micah actually seemed to hate the beach until the day we left.

At the National Naval Aviation Museum with JG, Ava and Abbi

Learning how to fish

 

Silas and Andrew at Fort Morgan

Finally, if you're still reading, here are the final highlights: 

*Sitting around the beach fire in the dark with the grown-ups. I always feel like I'm up to no good when I'm out after dark- and to me, that's a good feeling.

*Getting to watch good parenting in action. I think this played a large part in being able to share a house with so many people. 

*Watching the array of personalities that have developed in each family's children. From compassionate, bold, loud, observant, fun-loving and patient, there was so much to take in and dream up where our children were concerned. (Not pictured in this post: Mason and Corrinne. I don't know how I managed to come home with zero pictures of them.)

*Sitting on the beach during naptime.

*Being able to watch Joel have so much fun with the boys. I think I really underestimated the effect of being away from our house. 

Now the plug for next year because everyone is invited...

"PINE IN '09"

A Rainy Day Summary

AM: Micah had his 15-month well-baby check-up (at 19 months...oops.) He has gained a little over 2 lbs and now weighs in at 22 lbs, placing him in the 5th percentile. No worries though- his head continues to be larger than at least 85 out of 100 babies his age. Good for him because it's really cute.

PM: took naps, watched the refrigerator repair man, boys knocked each other over several times with handfuls of walmart bags. Even though it had been raining all day (and was still raining) I decided we should go for a walk. Another mom and her boys on our street joined us with umbrellas for some fresh air. Everyone got muddy and wet but we successfully accomplished much running and much throwing of rocks and hickory nuts into the creek for about an hour and a half.


For supper, I cooked a roast with potatoes and carrots. The following are the boys responses to this meal.
"Mmmm...I like the ketchup, mom."  He definitely at all the ketchup (with his carrot, I guess). Add that to the 1/4 pbj sandwich he had for lunch and that's the grand tally of Silas' food intake for the day.
"It's a hot dog!" This particular roast recipe didn't call for hot dogs. I think Micah must have been referring to the carrots. He ate all the food on his plate, and most of Silas'.

Two Recipes in One Long Day

I'm inspired by reading recipes on other friends' blogs. I baked today so I thought I would post the details.

Normally meat loaf takes me about 10-15 minutes to prepare because of chopping up onions. My eyes start watering the second I remove the peel and to be sure we can all digest the onion (Silas and Micah may take after me when it comes to eating onions) I have to really dice it finely. Chocolate chip cookies take me less than 5 minutes to whip up if I put the brown sugar in the same place in the pantry every time. Today it was, in fact, where it was supposed to be. But both recipes took nearly an hour to complete, and that wasn't including baking time.

9:45am- put Micah down for nap/start getting out ingredients for meatloaf
9:50- drain can of tomatoes/help Joel find Silas' shorts to go to the hardware store
9:55- start to peel onion/discuss why Silas is not going with Joel to the hardware store (he wouldn't put his shorts on)
9:56- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch"
9:57- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch"
9:58- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch"
9:59- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch. Please don't ask me anymore."
10:05- finish dicing onion/tell Silas not to throw onion peel on the floor
10:06- answer phone. It's Joel who can't find what he's looking for at the store
10:10-dump in raisins, spices, eggs, bread crumbs and onion
10:11- bring a crying Micah out of bed to play with Silas
10:13- hollar at Silas to stop pushing Micah
10:14- hollar at Micah to get off of the train tracks Silas is trying to play with
10:15-realize ground beef is still frozen and put in microwave to thaw
10:17- hollar at Silas to not touch/push/hit/hug/kiss/help MIcah anymore
10:18- pick up a crying Micah who has fallen off a step stool and hit the playroom wall
10:25- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch, remember? You're not supposed to ask me anymore. And please don't hug Micah right now, either."
10:28- mix up meat with bread crumb/tomato/onion mixture
10:30- Joel comes home
10:35- meat loaf goes into the oven.

The chocolate chip cookie attempt was a little more simple. It went like this:
mixed up flour, baking soda, salt with creamed butter/sugar/brown sugar/vanilla/eggs.
Went to get Micah up from his afternoon nap.
Had to give Micah a bath/wash sheets/blankets/clothes because he pooped and then took his diaper off.
Strapped Micah into booster seat/gave both kids a snack so they wouldn't go anywhere.
Mixed in chocolate chips and proceeded to bake.
They were the best chocolate chip cookies I've had in a long time.


I'll start posting pictures again when mom's camera comes back from the shop.

I'll tell you why it's been over a month since I've posted: Micah. 

The child has no fear (except an initial fear of balloons. Even this seems to have passed) and as of yet, no limit to the motor skill development acrobatics he's willing to experiment with. His most common attempt is (I can only assume) to see how far he can lean over to get something off a table or desk while standing in a chair. I've seen him attempt to defy gravity over and over. I used to think that the effects of gravity would soon defeat his will to try things at greater heights than any 18 month old should. And I don't think it isn't that he doesn't understand. Micah just doesn't seem to care how many times he gets hurt. 

For the most part, all Micah's falling and crying has helped Silas to become a more caring and compassionate brother.  Other times it's difficult to determine if Micah got hurt on his own, was hurt by Silas, or if Micah cannot make a board book open to the page he wants. Tonight there was even a combination of two. Micah wanted to show Silas a page with bouncing balls. I know this because he had already shown it to me 90 times, saying "ball" 3 times per showing. When I came to the playroom to find out why there was so much screaming, I saw Micah waving the little book in the air. Silas, also very red-faced, complained "He keeps putting that book in my way." 

I'm not sure why the picture is sideways. I did everything that's worked in the past to rotate it but what you see is what you get tonight.

No Way to Catch Up

Joel's sweatshirt from 6th grade. It's been nice to have him around so much.

It's been very difficult to get anything done in the last 6 weeks. We have a couch in the great room that is piled high with 5 loads of clean laundry, waiting to be folded and put away. When we need to find something to wear, we go to the foot of the mountain and conduct a search for something that matches. It somehow doesn't seem justifiable that I post on our blog while the mountain grows. I have to wonder, too, if that mountain isn't really a volcano that erupts when no one is looking. Sometimes I come downstairs and find that there are clothes on the floor, the table, and the stairs. I know I didn't leave them anywhere but on the couch. 

Despite neglecting other huge household tasks, here's a Fank. Family update:

Joel's had a "normal" schedule this month. He works from 8-5 (most days. Some days it's 8:30-3:30) and has weekends off. This week, he's been especially focused on killing flies. Now that the mice are gone, the flies have come in force. At first we though  maybe we had flies because it takes me about 2 1/2 hours to clean the kitchen after each meal. But now we know it's actually because we have a bajillion flies outside and they like to come in when Silas opens the door to "let Lewis out" or "Let Sabrina in" or "Just let Micah out because he wants to play outside." Joel has also been working very hard at managing a decent fantasy baseball team. I also ought to mention the incredible load of parenting and household management Joel has graciously picked up without being asked. He's wiped noses countless times in the morning and changed many diapers so I wouldn't have to throw up. He continues to put my needs and the boys' needs before his own and I don't think I've ever felt more loved.

Silas  has made the transition to the big bed for the 4th time. He's doing better than he's ever done, despite being sick with a cold, cough and pink eye. Against my better judgement, he especially likes to jump off the bed/couch/hearth/coffee table/deck bench. Most of the time, he clears Micah who watches in quiet wonder. Silas continues to be a good big brother to Micah. He is the first to offer Micah his toys when Micah is crying. Definitely the first to pick up Micah's milk when Micah throws it on the floor time after time after time, saying "Micah, we don't drop milk on the floor!"

We've been spending a lot of time outside recently. Silas and Micah's favorite activity is to play in the sandbox, then sit in the swimming pool, then sit in the sandbox and play some more.

Micah is now 16 months old. He's the same age that Silas was when Micah was born. This seems strange to me because Micah seems so much younger than Silas was at the same age. Micah is loving his new ability to walk fast and climb down from things instead of falling off. While has hasn't fallen down the stairs yet, he has managed to bust his lip and bruise and bloody his nose on separate occasions climbing up the stairs. He now has 7 teeth and is, bless his  heart, about to have 3 new molars at once. Micah has such a lovable and quirky personality. He really wants to please but has his own opinions on how toys should be played with, what food should taste like, and how much sleep he needs. I love how much he wants to be with his brother. The amount of time they spend playing well together versus how much time they spend fighting/hitting/biting/kicking each other makes me really glad we had 2 so close together.

 If you know anyone in the market for a home in LR with an apple tree in the back, you should have them call me. Other important Alice updates: well, there aren't any except that I'm now over 12 weeks along with the new baby and throwing up fewer than 4 times/week. But that isn't really an Alice update, is it? Oh here's one: I made an angel food cake last night and found the game "Tri-Bond" at GoodWill for a dollar.

I'm currently the real estate agent for this lovely 1961 house.

Joel and I had a garage sale last weekend. After we got some doughnuts for breakfast, and Arby's for lunch, we made about $37. But, the best part of the garage sale was getting rid of a huge box of worthless baseball cards, some baby clothes that I didn't feel good about donating, a recliner no one has room for, and some of the leftovers from the big garage sale in Texarkana last weekend. 

Someone bought this Santa teapot for $.25. I think the old saying should go,

 "One man's trash is another man's trash that somebody else wants to take home with him."

I Was Tagged

Erin tagged me.  Here are 7 things you may not know about me.

1) I think Wednesday should be spelled "Wensday." If I'm ever president, I will try to change the spelling for everyone.

2) Apparently, I'm on a shoe-buying schedule. One pair/18 months.

3) I love Miss Vickie's Jalapeno Potato Chips.

4) I was once in a Japanese magazine.

5) My last date was to the Container Store and it was HOT.

6) I'm about to retire from my job as a one-hour-a-week-Spanish teacher for a while to be a 

stay-at-home mom of 3.

7) For my birthday (which is October 7, FYI), I would like the icecream maker attachment that goes with my mixer. Or an immersion blender. You can choose.

I tag Andrea B., Emily P., Amy V., and Melody L. (go on Melody, I dare you.)

Getting Out of the House

I'm really sorry that I have no pictures to post. With as much as I have to say, and without pictures, that probably means few will make it to the end of this post. 

THE CAMPING TRIP

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The first night of all four us and Lewis sleeping in a tent together was far worse than I ever imagined. It wasn't because it was too crowded (although it was), it was because the temperature dropped below 39. Silas woke up 3 times, Micah woke up 5 times, and I woke up 2 times on my own to worry about my children being warm enough. We were in our tent from only 9 until 7. You can do the math.

The next night, after consulting a professional fireman, we turned on our space heater. We woke up when Micah crawled out of his peapod at 6am but it was fun to wake up to such a happy baby. Both Silas and Micah loved being outside all weekend.  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed being with old friends. They were more fun than I had remembered. It was also great to share our campsite with the Bradleys, even though they slept in the car the second night. We had some great hot dogs and hamburgers and pudgy pies. And no one threw up, not even once.

THE BIG TRIP TO PHOENIX

Flying with Silas and Micah surprised me. They were exceptionally well-behaved on the airplane. Micah slept on every flight (although he didn't fall asleep until landing in LR on the way back) and Silas tried very hard not to kick the seat in front of him. Joel and I found new and creative ways to haul carseats through terminals and by the time our last flight was over, we were like a well-oiled machine.

Being in Phoenix also surprised me. No- I should say that being in Mountain Standard time surprised me. I didn't know until this trip how dependent I have become on such a rigid nap/bedtime schedule. I'm pretty sure I cried more than the children. I cried the most on the day that Silas woke us all up at 4:30am. I thought it was 6:30 so I let him get up out of bed only to realize an hour later (when I was making sure it was at least 7:30 before I let him out of our room) that I was sorely mistaken. This went on all weekend. Now throw in a myriad of wedding activities and 2 cars for 8 (2 in space in-efficient carseats).  I was very proud of the entire Fank. family. All the adults were long-suffering with the children, but more impressive, was how patient everyone was with each other. The possibilities for strife were endless and honestly, I came pretty close to losing it with the little ones. But Papa, Gamma, and Emily came to the rescue every time. The wedding would have been a disaster without their help. The wedding, by the way, was really lovely, and it was so great to see all the family members, meet Christina and see some of Joel's friends from highschool. Another highlight was going to the Neighborhood Church with Emily. This experience was so unique that I won't write about it now, but it's definitely worth sharing.