Over Christmas, we brought the kids to visit both of their great grandmothers at the nursing home. Nursing homes are very depressing, but you brings kids in and all the residents light up.
Shortly after that visit, Great Grandma Broekema (RIP) at 93 years old passed on. We chose to bring the girls to the funeral, which was open casket. This probably is very controversial, but we made our decision so we were able to have conversations on many levels about death, life and heaven.
It has been about three months since the funeral and there is not a day that doesn't go by that we don't have a conversation or question about heaven and death.
It is great that we have such great conversations, but I really need a break from death and heaven. So lets talk about the weather.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Lowered Stress Levels
Apparently not working is bad for my health. I have been sick since February and can't seem to shake this cough I have. It started with a dry cough that turned into a sinus infection (got antibiotics). The sinus infection cleared up, but I was still coughing and (close your eyes) hacking up Flem.
At this point, it has been five weeks and my husband threatens we will cancel the vacation if I am still hacking up a lung. So I go back to the doctor, he says my lungs are clear, but we agree on trying an inhaler.
The inhaler helps with the coughing spasms, but now my nose has become congested again. I can't win.
Apparently my body was in high stress mode for so long that it has completely crashed. Or my other theory is this is turning into some kind of allergy from the season change.
The irony of this whole episode is that my husband has started with a dry cough and will probably progress through the same symptoms into our vacation.
Well you won't see me threatening to cancel our vacation because of a little cough:)
At this point, it has been five weeks and my husband threatens we will cancel the vacation if I am still hacking up a lung. So I go back to the doctor, he says my lungs are clear, but we agree on trying an inhaler.
The inhaler helps with the coughing spasms, but now my nose has become congested again. I can't win.
Apparently my body was in high stress mode for so long that it has completely crashed. Or my other theory is this is turning into some kind of allergy from the season change.
The irony of this whole episode is that my husband has started with a dry cough and will probably progress through the same symptoms into our vacation.
Well you won't see me threatening to cancel our vacation because of a little cough:)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Toilet Paper
Everyone loves to do it at home.
Get your mind out of the gutter.
When I had three kids in diapers, I use to think I can't wait for them to all be potty trained. I would have extra money in my pocket.
Apparently, I was wrong.
Now that I am staying home, my household goes through a 24 pack of double roll toilet paper per week. You might ask, how is this possible?
Well apparently when you have four girls in the house going to the bathroom several times a day it adds up. And then you add dad into the mix who likes to do it at home. Viola! I have to go to the store every week to get more toilet paper.
I cringe at the thought of when puberty hits and I will be back to the budget of the diapers with having to buy additional paper products.
You can all let out your sympathy moan now. Have a great day!
Get your mind out of the gutter.
When I had three kids in diapers, I use to think I can't wait for them to all be potty trained. I would have extra money in my pocket.
Apparently, I was wrong.
Now that I am staying home, my household goes through a 24 pack of double roll toilet paper per week. You might ask, how is this possible?
Well apparently when you have four girls in the house going to the bathroom several times a day it adds up. And then you add dad into the mix who likes to do it at home. Viola! I have to go to the store every week to get more toilet paper.
I cringe at the thought of when puberty hits and I will be back to the budget of the diapers with having to buy additional paper products.
You can all let out your sympathy moan now. Have a great day!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Anniversary Date Night
We went out to a restaurant to celebrate our anniversary together. We picked a Japanese Stake house (Seigos in Sussex, WI). We've been before and really enjoy the fun atmosphere (I love the Martinis).
Except this time, we were seated with an older couple and a family with four kids (probably just bad luck). The whole point for us to go out is to not be with kids.
Surprisingly, the kids were well behaved, but I wasn't really interested in having a conversation with children between the ages of 5 and 12 (especially on a Saturday evening). Which was good because James and I really enjoy each other so we have a lot to talk about. We basically chatted with ourselves and briefly with the older couple next to us.
By this time, we've avoided talking with the family, however, I've overheard her conversation with the older couple and all she can talk about is her kids.
After two Martinis, I have to use the restroom so when I come back James has been sucked into a conversation with the mom of the family. And of course, she pulls me into the conversation about my kids. I am trying to be polite and let her chat about her kids. She is oblivious to how irritated we and the older couple are with having to talk about children so I think some of my comments have really gone over her head.
Now remember I am working on my third Martini by this time.
Example 1, the million dollar question that is always asked to us "Are you going to have anymore children?" My response, "Absolutely NOT!" She continues to go on how she would love to have more children (yeah because you have nothing else to talk about and not once does she talk to her husband during the dinner). At this point I stick my finger down my throat, figuratively.
Example 2, Then she talks about how great it is to have the older ones take care of the younger ones like on their family vacation. My response, "I want my children to be children not parents and I will never make my older children be responsible for the younger ones." She still doesn't get the hint.
Example 3, Without missing a beat, she goes into how her youngest has such stomach problems with different kinds of foods. I think my eyes have gone cross-eyed at this point. I think the old couple is chuckling at my comments. I might have been a little snappy when I said, "Well you figure out what foods don't work and you don't feed them those anymore."
We finally got our bill, paid and quickly left. Now, I was laughing by the time I got out to the parking lot, but come on.
Note to all mothers out there when having conversations with other adults (not your girlfriends): If you can't hold a conversation without talking about your kids, please pick up a newspaper or read an article online. This will arm you with other topics to talk about.
Except this time, we were seated with an older couple and a family with four kids (probably just bad luck). The whole point for us to go out is to not be with kids.
Surprisingly, the kids were well behaved, but I wasn't really interested in having a conversation with children between the ages of 5 and 12 (especially on a Saturday evening). Which was good because James and I really enjoy each other so we have a lot to talk about. We basically chatted with ourselves and briefly with the older couple next to us.
By this time, we've avoided talking with the family, however, I've overheard her conversation with the older couple and all she can talk about is her kids.
After two Martinis, I have to use the restroom so when I come back James has been sucked into a conversation with the mom of the family. And of course, she pulls me into the conversation about my kids. I am trying to be polite and let her chat about her kids. She is oblivious to how irritated we and the older couple are with having to talk about children so I think some of my comments have really gone over her head.
Now remember I am working on my third Martini by this time.
Example 1, the million dollar question that is always asked to us "Are you going to have anymore children?" My response, "Absolutely NOT!" She continues to go on how she would love to have more children (yeah because you have nothing else to talk about and not once does she talk to her husband during the dinner). At this point I stick my finger down my throat, figuratively.
Example 2, Then she talks about how great it is to have the older ones take care of the younger ones like on their family vacation. My response, "I want my children to be children not parents and I will never make my older children be responsible for the younger ones." She still doesn't get the hint.
Example 3, Without missing a beat, she goes into how her youngest has such stomach problems with different kinds of foods. I think my eyes have gone cross-eyed at this point. I think the old couple is chuckling at my comments. I might have been a little snappy when I said, "Well you figure out what foods don't work and you don't feed them those anymore."
We finally got our bill, paid and quickly left. Now, I was laughing by the time I got out to the parking lot, but come on.
Note to all mothers out there when having conversations with other adults (not your girlfriends): If you can't hold a conversation without talking about your kids, please pick up a newspaper or read an article online. This will arm you with other topics to talk about.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Nine Years
It's pretty scary when Child #1 comes home from school discussing with Child #2 and #3 about who they are going to live with if mom and dad get a divorce. Apparently half of the kids in school have divorce parents (oh, the innocence is disappearing). Somehow this has turned into some kind of cool status because these kids get to do a lot more things. Then again, Child #1 claims she is the only one in her class that hasn't been to Disney World (Of course, my response to this is "has any of the kids been on a airplane to Washington DC?, Hah!). I am not ready to take them to Disney, frankly, I don't really want to take them to Disney.
Anyway I digress, my point here is James and I have been married nine year in March. Evidently for our ages, a nine year marriage, not to mention a first marriage, is pretty rare. We are finding ourselves as the minority rather than the majority (How sad is that?). This doesn't even include the couples who want to get divorce, but can't afford it right now.
I can't imagine what the future will hold for our youth, especially for my children. It is scary to think the generations behind us are taking any kind of commitment so leisurely.
Anyway I digress, my point here is James and I have been married nine year in March. Evidently for our ages, a nine year marriage, not to mention a first marriage, is pretty rare. We are finding ourselves as the minority rather than the majority (How sad is that?). This doesn't even include the couples who want to get divorce, but can't afford it right now.
I can't imagine what the future will hold for our youth, especially for my children. It is scary to think the generations behind us are taking any kind of commitment so leisurely.
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