Mel’s Mundane Meanderings

We had a long day today, but a good day for the most part.

This morning I decided to keep Gabriel home from school, partially because today was just basically going to be a play-day anyway. I was still on the fence as of this morning whether I was going to try to dress the kids up and go anywhere… and then my friend Becky called me with a great idea of what the kids could be … David and Goliath!

We already had the armor, although Gabriel borrowed the arm guards and the helmet from Becky’s son; the “robes” were oversized T-shirts that we had; Mikaela’s headdress I got for $2.50 at Goodwill; their belts were my honors tassels from my high school graduation. Mikaela’s staff was a plastic candy-cane bought at the dollar store today – and I ripped a pillowcase into long strips of material to cover it and make it more staff-like. I spent a total of $3.50 out of my pocket for their getups … which makes me want to do cartwheels. And I think they made a very good David and Goliath, if I do say so myself.

So back to our day – after Becky called, we went to her house and did paper pumpkin crafts, carved a pumpkin, and made fall-shaped cookies. I had to laugh at Mikaela, my fearless child, half-buried in the cavernous, upturned pumpkin – she was the only one who would dig the seeds and innards out. It was a lot of fun.

Tonight we went to a church carnival, where the kids went on a cake walk, bounced through a bouncy-house, and played lots of games. And of course, got lots of candy. By the end of the night, I was carrying Mikaela’s headdress, Mikaela’s staff, Gabriel’s helmet and arm-guards and both kids’ shoes. We were all exhausted but the kids sure enjoyed themselves.

We’ve all been battling bronchitis, me the worst (as usual … it’s awful, every fall) – but I think things are looking up.

I’m slowly getting back in the groove with Mikaela. We had a good home-schooling session this morning – working on math worksheets, listening to a book on tape (and following along in the book), and having a reading lesson. She is doing so well with her reading! I’m still working out of “How To Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons,” a book I would recommend to anyone, especially anyone unsure how exactly to go about teaching phonics/reading.

It’s been a particularly rough last two weeks with the kids, probably partially because they weren’t feeling well, but they’ve been pretty awful nonetheless. Trying my patience at every turn. Sassing me and being disrespectful and disobedient and such. And of course, each time they are appropriately and consistently disciplined. At some point, I’m going to see the fruits of my labor … right?

Tonight I’m going to court to try to talk my way out of two tickets – one for “running a stop sign” (I paused!) and another give at the same time for not having my address changed on my driver’s license since I moved a year ago. Hope that goes well and I don’t have to cough up too much $.

I’m annoyed at Gabriel’s school right now. For one, there’s this: I pulled up to the school yesterday to pick him up and he was not out in front like he usually is. My heart started racing as I scanned and re-scanned all the kids’ faces … and no Gabriel. I calmed myself with the thought that perhaps he was in speech or OT. I rolled my window down and asked where he was – just at the moment a teacher’s aide ran up with him in tow. He had gone in line with the bus riders and it was not noticed for several minutes. I don’t know if he actually got on the bus or not. When he got in the car, he looked terrified and said, “I lost my parents!” I know I could make a big deal about this, but obviously he wasn’t being watched well.

The other thing is this coming Friday. We’re not really big on Halloween. I personally don’t think it’s a big deal to get dressed up and go to a fall festival … or even trick-or-treating at friends’ homes. But I think it should be up to the parents, you know? Well, Halloween stuff has been shoved down the kids’ throats at school all month long … Gabriel’s coming home singing about witches, which I definitely don’t approve of. Anyway, I got a note home saying to “send the kids in their costumes” on Friday for a day full of fun, including a halloween parade around the school. Well, this really hacks me off for two reasons – the first I already said, it should be up to the parents whether to celebrate or not, and to turn it into a major school holiday is just wrong. Secondly, we live in a low-income area … what about the kids who can’t afford a costume? They’re going to feel left out. I wasn’t planning on doing anything this year, partly because I don’t really have the $ to shell out for a costume, but now I’m faced with this dilemma. I may just let Gabriel stay home that day.

Gabriel’s class went on a field trip to a “pumpkin patch” today, and Mikaela and I went along. The “patch” consisted of pumpkins arranged on pallets outside of an Episcopal church…. not exactly what I was hoping for, photo-op-wise, but oh, well. Gabriel got to ride the bus for the very first time, and Mikaela and I (and a caravan of other parents in their cars) drove behind it. The church was very pretty and had a very old-looking courtyard decorated with fall mums, pumpkins and gourds. There were rows of seats set up, and a lady that worked there at the place put on a little show. It was nice enough, but I’m not entirely comfortable with all the Halloween-y stuff. Jack-o-Lanterns I can live with, but I could do without the witches and wizards. I digress.

So after the show, she kids were filed into the Episcopal church to look at the beautiful stained-glass windows. The same lady who’d put on the show pointed out the Mary, Joseph and Jesus figurines up near the altar and asked the kids if they had any questions. I was kind of shocked that this was allowed for a public school class … but hey, I’m not complaining!

After that, the kids were filed back outside, where they took pictures in the “patch.” After that, we all drove to a nearby park where the kids ate their lunches and played on the playground. The problem there was that the restrooms were locked and when Mikaela has to go – Mikaela has to go. There ain’t no holdin’ it. So, I snuck her (don’t you love my grammar?) around the side of the restroom building, pulled her pants down halfway, and held her up with her legs out of the way. She managed to pee all over my feet. After she’d finished, I was walking barefoot, flip-flops in hand, trying to shuffle my feet through the grass to get them somewhat wiped off … and then I walked right through a sticker patch. I’m sure I looked like the three stooges stumbling around. Oh, the things you don’t realize that fall under the umbrella of “motherhood” when you sign up for it!

I still wouldn’t change a thing. Read the rest of this entry »

The kids and I have our annual fall upper-respiratory infection. Gabriel had it first and is on the mend; tonight Mikaela woke up crying with the infection’s telltale barky cough. Right now she’s on the couch with the cool-air humidifier right next to her.

Despite our hacking, we are going on a field trip tomorrow. Gabriel’s class is going to a pumpkin patch and I’m going along and taking Mikaela. Gabriel’s teacher is so laid-back about me visiting and bringing Mikaela with me … it’s really nice. Anyway, I hope I get some good photos.

There’s not much news to report. I’m keeping busy with the kids, the house, church and friends. Gabriel is enjoying school, and Mikaela is doing well with her homeschooling lessons. I am about to start Before Five In a Row curriculum with her and I’m really excited. I’ll let you know what I think after we get started!

Somehow, my baby is five years old. Gabriel is now “officially” five – since 3:14 (CDT). It’s hard to believe I’ve been a parent for five years now. Could I say five one more time? And for all of you out there playing a drinking game, Maverick.

Seriously, back to Gabriel. This has been an amazing last year. I’ve gone from panic and despair at his developmental delays to – more recently – elation at how quickly he’s catching up. We had a teacher meeting yesterday and his preschool teacher and I are both amazed at how well he’s doing. He still needs to improve on his speech and motor skills, but otherwise, he is right there with his peers. His teacher said he did “appropriate things at appropriate times” and that he re-directed very well when he gets off task. I just couldn’t be more pleased. I went into this whole pre-K thing with fear and trepidation, but his wonderful teacher (who is a devout Christian) has put me at complete ease. Now next year, I may hate his teacher and wind up pulling him out and going back to homeschooling … but for right now, I feel like this is the perfect thing.

So, yeah … Gabriel is five. I still can’t really wrap my brain around it. Maybe it’s because he’s been behind his peers until very recently? It’s been easier to think of him as a sweet innocent baby. But he’s growing up on me. I just couldn’t be more proud of him. He loves school and he loves playing soccer. He’s even started trying some vegetables (be still my beating heart!). He’s definitely learned to stand up for himself this year … so now I have TWO bullheaded children. Somewhere God is laughing heartily.

Gabriel this morning, playing with his toys (notice that Papa seems to be enjoying himself as well!!):

Gabriel is doing well in school. Today he switched from half days to full days – and he seemed to do just fine with it. His teacher is really great and has taken an interest in him and his development … and I’m sure that makes all the difference.

Gabriel is advancing all around. He is doing much better with his motor skills and his speech. Anyone can understand him now – not so just 9 months or a year ago. He’s worked so hard and I’m so proud of him.

Untitled from Melanie Plemons on Vimeo.

Mikaela is a snowflake. It’s hard to believe sometimes that she’s only been on this earth for 43 months. She is so smart and funny and fearless … and on the flipside sneaky and manipulative. But hey, let’s talk about her good side.

She makes me laugh every day – no, more like every hour these days. Especially her vocabulary, which continually shocks me. I mean, it’s hard knowing what’s “age appropriate,” since Gabriel was still using mostly unintelligible one and two-word phrases at this age…. but she seems like she’s doing really well.

Last week we were out in a public restroom and she was in the stall with me. She voluntarily turned herself around and faced the wall, saying, “I give you some privacy.”

Her fearlessness continues to amaze me. She held a bearded dragon today without batting an eye. Gabriel screams about bugs and she stomps on them, it cracks me up.

Oh, and she’s observant. Too much for her own good sometimes! This Sunday I had the lazies and a stuffy nose. Jay was pretty sick, as was Gabriel – and I had just planned on staying home as well. Mikaela looked at me and said, “You not sick. Get up and take me to church.” (!) Nothing like having your bluff called by a three-year-old!

I’m trying to get back in the homeschool groove with her. I had her work on a page that showed different fall items – a scarecrow, a pumpkin, corn, etc. Each item has three letters under it, and the student has to circle the beginning letter of the picture (s for scarecrow, etc.). I had to help her some, but she did pretty well. We also worked on tracing her numbers and counting out beads, talking about fall and drawing a fall tree, and tracing her name (she can write it without tracing but she needs a lot of work on her penmanship and spacing). I still need to give her a reading lesson. I guess I should get on that seeing as though it’s bedtime. Where do all the hours go?

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