Pictures from Larkin's First Communion

Larkin's First Communion--April 24, 2010

Larkin with her Godparents--Mike and Jane

Larkin with Great Grandma Zina and Great Grandpa Dwayne

Grandma Jeannie, Grandpa Tom, and Larkin

Larkin with her good friend, Anna

Larkin after Mass

Larkin with Grandma Diane and Grandpa Bill.....she clearly had enough with pictures at this point and was 'starving.'

Prayers

Bennett is getting ready for bed and Larkin decides she needs to sleep in Mason's bed so we ended up saying prayers together tonight.

Larkin: Bennett you need to say prayers nicely tonight( we haven't even started at this point)

Bennett: Sissssyyyyyyy I knowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwuh.

Larkin: Well, you always pray for stupid people or stupid stuff

Me: Larkin, he can pray for anything and anyone.

(She gives me this look like...REEEEAAALLLLYYYY???)

Bennett: Ya! Ha ha, nana boo boo face, Sissy. I can say whatever I want.

Me: Bennett, don't call Larkin names. Larkin, worry about yourself.

Bennett: Ya! Worry about yourself ( I stop him)

Me: Okay, prayers. Now. Go.

(We proceed with the Lord's Prayer and a Hail Mary then it is time when the kids can pray for someone or something)

(and we limit it to five things or people....otherwise Bennett would go on all night long.)

Me: Larkin, who would you like to pray for tonight?

Bennett: She wants to pray for all the coo-coo banana heads in her class.

Me: That is not nice, now it is Larkin's turn Bennett. You need to wait. Larkin, who would you like to pray for tonight?

Larkin: Mom, Jerry, Bennett, Mason, and Alex. And my Webkinz.

(she starts laughing....I am losing my patience with the whole praying thing at this point.)

Me: Ok. Thanks. Bennett your turn.

(and I really felt as if my thanks was sarcastic)

Bennett: Okay. Hmmmmm.

Me: Bennett, NOW!

Bennett: You can't yell when you pray, Mom. Mrs. Frederich says only nice voices when you pray.

Me: Yes, Bennett I am sorry. Who is on your list?

Bennett: Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Eyeball Face Head. Poopy eyeball....

Me: Okay, you are NOT PRAYING ANYMORE. NOT PRAYING. YOU ARE DONE. GOOD NIGHT. I WILL SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.

(I am almost out the door and almost in tears because I am tired and frustrated and irritated.

Bennett: Mom?

(Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Three. Two. One.)

Me: Yes, Bennett?

Bennett: I pray for you tonight okay?

Me: Okay, Bennett. You can do it by yourself. Five people. Just do it yourself, I have stuff I need to get done.

(I am standing in the hallway and hear the kids)

Bennett: I pray for Mommy, and Mommy, and Mommy, and Mommy, and Mommy again.

Larkin: Geeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Bennett she doesn't need that many prayers.

Bennett: Moooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!

Me: WHAT?

Bennett: Sissy said you don't need that many prayers. You do, right Mommy?

Me: Yes. I need prayers and for both of you to be quiet. Good Night. I love you both. See you in the morning.

Bennett: Ha ha!!! Mommy needs prayers. Mommy needs prayers. Mommy needs prayers.....

Larkin: SHUT UP BENNETTTTTTTTTTTTT

(at this point I proceed to the basement so I can't hear anymore).....

Please pray for me :).

mornings...

I am not a morning person. I would love to be, but no matter how early I go to bed I don't ever want to get up and going for the day. If I had it my way, the world would start at noon. However, there are certain things I look forward to every morning:

Some people do coffee, I used to do Diet Coke with Lime. But for about the last two month there is nothing better than a Diet Mt. Dew. I am a much happier person after a few swigs.

Kellog's Special K Protein Bar. Yum! I have even mastered the art of telling which ones are the freshest at the gas station. If you would like pointers on how to do this, I would be glad to help.

As soon as I get to school, woot.com is the first thing I check once my computer is turned on. I 'usually' don't buy anything, but sometimes I just can't help myself! I would suggest checking it out.

So, until the world starts at noon, I am going to rely on these three things to get me through the mornings...well, at least the next 6 weeks--then I can sleep as late as I want, right?!?!?

Have a great morning!

Change

I remember it was so annoying to hear people "I can't believe how fast they grow" or something of that nature before I had kids but now .... really? Do they have to? Time truly goes by too quickly. I was looking through pictures last night and couldn't believe the difference in the kids in just three years! Here are a couple of pictures I was looking at:

Alex, Mason, Bennett, and Larkin--2007

Alex, Mason, Larkin, and Bennett 2010

The night from you know where....

Here is a recap of my night. It was worse than having an infant!

9:00 All in the house is quiet. Well, except for Jerry and Bennett both snoring.

10:00 Larkin cries because she is cold.

10:30 I am FINALLY in bed.

10:45 Still awake. Can't fall asleep, afraid we are all going to oversleep.

11:00 Still awake. For those of you who know me well, know it never takes more than 5 minutes to fall asleep.

11:10 Jerry wants to know "what the heck all the commotion is in here"--There was none.

11:15 or so.... Finally sleeping

12:00 Bennett comes in crying. Wants to sleep with us. I roll over and tell him he can if he doesn't move. I should have added the "do not grind your teeth" clause.

12:20 Jerry rolls on Bennett. Bennett cries. Jerry swears.

1:04 Bennett is grinding his teeth. I carry him back to his bed. Lay with him for a few minutes to make sure he is 'really' sleeping.

1:30 Larkin is talking in her sleep. Total Jibberish.

2:14 Jerry: WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?
Me: What?
Jerry: Stop it now. I mean now. NOW.
Me: Okay, sorry.
Jerry: Yep, uh huh. Sure.

Pause........

Jerry: I ASKED WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!

(I don't answer)

Jerry: WHAAAAATTEVVVEEEEERRRRRRRR
Me: Roll over Jerry, you are hogging my side of the bed.
Jerry: (NICE AS CAN BE) Oh, I am sorry. I didn't mean to.
3 seconds later..... SNORING.

3:30: Bennett is bawling. He informed me that he didn't move so I should have left him in our bed. Get him calmed down and lay with him until he falls back asleep.

4:00ish: Finally fall back asleep.

4:20: Jerry: What time is it? Did I oversleep?
Kelly: NO! Go back to sleep.

4:30ish: I finally fall back asleep.

4:46. Alarm blaring in my ear.

I no longer feel guilty for sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday.

How much can I get done in 48 hours??

We will see this weekend! I have the whole thing to myself! I am super excited to get some stuff done around the house, plus a little shopping!
Here is what I have thought of so far.....

Wash the windows outside
"Clean out" the toy box (aka donate toys)
Clean fridge
Rearrange my closet and organize my things in our new dresser
"Clean" Larkin's room (aka THROW stuff away)
"Clean" the boys' room (aka....you get the picture)
Finish at least SOME of my homework (I have about 10 things due in the next two weeks)
Find something to hang on the wall in our bedroom
Have dinner icolewith N!
Buy a first communion veil and shoes for Larkin
Buy Bennett some "fast" sandals
Wash all the winter things of the kids and store them for the winter


Doesn't that sound like a GREAT weekend??? Anyone want to come over to help!??!?!

SPRING!

I LOVE SPRING FOR THESE REASONS.......

*No boots, snowpants, hats, or mittens!
*Play dates at the park!
*Fresh air in the house!
*Walks and riding bike!
*Baseball!
*Golf!
*Sandals!
*The sun!
*Grilling!
*Sleeping with the window open!
...and the list goes on......

Joe Mauer

I love my job. Really, I do. There are days when I wish I was in the business world or a stay-at-home mom, but when it is all said and done, I can only imagine being in the education world. Many people will disagree, but teachers don't get paid real great. Yes, we get July off and most of June and most of August but we also correct papers many nights until 10pm and buy hundreds and hundreds of dollars of things for our classrooms each year and spend a large majority of Sundays getting ready for the next week. (And by the way, I am not complaining!) I would be lying if I said I didn't want to get paid more for what I do.

Anyway...How about Joe Mauer? He is so cute, isn't he? Well, he should be cute. He earns my yearly salary in just .22 games or if you want to look at it by homeruns, he only has to hit .04 to earn what I do in a year. I guess it does take him .31 hits or .15 RBIs if you want to look at it from a different angle. Poor Guy. And to think, he has never had to deal with a crabby parent.

To look on the bright side of things.....I will only have to work 623.68 years to make what he does.

And you know what else? Joe Mauer will probably never get the thrill of seeing a sixth grader's smile because they are finally able to ask you in English how you are doing.

I think I will stick with my job.