Merry Christmas From the Kerzman 6

First, the basics:



Brad – same job (ND Department of Transportation)– still hunts and plays basketball.

Jody – same job (KFYR-TV) – still drives kids around to a million activities, and occasionally scrapbooks. Occasionally.

Lexi – 11 years old – sixth grade – loves basketball, volleyball, her iPod, her friends, and her sisters… and once in awhile, she even loves her brother.
Jake – 9 years old – fourth grade - loves football, the Minnesota Vikings, basketball, football, his friends, video games,reading, football, and deep down, we think he even loves his sisters. Did I mention football?
Lizzy - 3 years old - loves dresses, tutus, jewelry, hunting, her baby sister, books, baking and arts and crafts.
Morgan – 1 year old – loves everything. Seriously. Happiest. Kid. Ever.
Bob – 10 years old – loves hunting, sleeping, and cleaning up the kitchen floor after Morgan eats.
Windsor – 4 years old – is now living with Uncle John. He has become a farm dog and has never been happier.

Now, the fun stuff….

Top 10 Things That Happened in 2010 (in no particular order!)

10. Lexi took a babysitting class, and quickly became our favorite babysitter. Having a built in babysitter has certainly made life a little easier. But, she is such a good babysitter, she is in demand. And everyone pays better than Mom.

9. Shea Family Reunion. Who knew there were actually enough Sheas to have a reunion? It’s true. There are. And we had a reunion, although it was about one fifth the size of a Kerzman reunion! It was great to see some of my long-lost cousins, their kids, and some relatives I didn’t even know I had. The kids and I took a few extra days and spent time at the farm and even tented it one night in the Black Hills. We did camp a few more times during the summer, closer to home. There’s just something about cooking over a fire, not showering, and spending time in the North Dakota sunshine that makes us all very happy.

8. Lexi went to California. Can you say road trip? Lexi tagged along with two of Brad’s aunts and one uncle on a road trip from Bismarck to California. They went for a wedding, but made stops in Colorado, Las Vegas, the ocean and the famous Hollywood sign that Lexi has always wanted to see.

7. Jake discovered scotch tape. He spent much of the summer building things out of paper and scotch tape. Jake built many paper guns, which my aunts compared to my dad’s obsession with building tractors out of playing cards and scotch tape when he was Jake’s age. I guess some things really are genetic.

6. Lizzy started speech. Yep, no more “ZaZa” for Lexi, no more “Hizzy huvs you”. She goes once a week, and has made amazing progress, but still has a very long way to go. Lucky for her, her teacher is a saint.

5. Lizzy went deer hunting. Lizzy and Brad bonded. Big time. They spent a few days in Mott and a few days in Bison. Lizzy wore a tutu the entire time, but got her nose right in as the guys gutted their deer.

4 Jake and Brad saw the Vikings win! I know, with the season they’re having, this is pretty amazing, but it is true. They went to the Vikings/Cowboys game. Jake is quite possibly the biggest Vikings fan in the world, and he probably knows more team stats than any other nine year old boy, and some adults too. Jake’s favorite tv channel is ESPN. He played flag football again this year, and now insists he is ready for “real” (tackle) football next fall. I’m a little scared.

3. Lizzy got her own blog. Check it out…. http://www.lizzy-isms.blogspot.com/ The kid says and does so many funny things, it’s the only way I can remember them all. Someday I will write a book. Until then, follow her online. She will make you smile. I promise. You can follow our family too at http://www.thekerzman6.blogspot.com/

2. Basketball. Lexi and Jake are both playing school ball and traveling basketball this year, which means our weekends are filled with games, Brad and I suffer from some major bleacher butt, and the little girls’ favorite meals are ring pops and concession stand hotdogs. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.

1. Morgan learned to walk. This was huge. I have never been anxious for my children to walk, because it means they’re growing up, but this time I was ready. After two months of being on the verge of walking, Morgan took off four days before her first birthday. She hasn’t stopped yet!

We hope your 2010 was as exciting as ours, and that you take a few moments to create your own top ten list for this year. Have a blessed Christmas and make 2011 the best year ever!

The Stockings Are Hung

Morgan's stocking

I think we're finally almost ready for Christmas. Jake and Lizzy are dying to open their gifts. Lexi is excited about a break from school, and homework.

I have a few gifts that still need to be wrapped, but I got one big thing checked off my to-do list tonight: the stockings, all six of them, are finally hung!

I've sewn all our stockings and I had it in my head that Morgan's should be handmade too. I had good intentions to get her stocking done last year. I bought the fabric. But that's as far as I got.  Tonight, I kicked Brad and the kids out for an hour so I could sew. It took less than an hour, and actually turned out pretty cute.

Now, if I could only get her one year pictures taken.... she's 13 months, 11 days old... but who's counting?

I'm a "cool" mom!

It's almost 10:00 on a Saturday night, and I just finished scrubbing my kitchen floor. Why would I spend a Saturday night doing housework? Let me explain...

Lexi and her friends Tess and Taylor spent the day baking cookies. It was my idea and I knew they would make a mess, but I had no idea just how big of a disaster my kitchen would become. They were doing good at cleaning as they went.. until it was time to roll the sugar cookies. When I turned my back, one girl threw a little flour at another, then the third joined in. Before I knew it, it was a full fledged flour fight. Here's a short glimpse:

When it was all over, the girls said they couldn't believe I let them do that. They even told me I was "cool" and "the best mom". And they couldn't believe that instead of yelling at them, I grabbed the camera. I explained that the kitchen was already a mess, they were having fun, and it was just flour. You have to let loose every once in awhile.

They've been talking about that flour fight for hours. I'm sure they'll talk about it for days, maybe even years. It may even make it into a wedding toast. I am happy that something so simple can make my daughter and her friends so happy. I don't have a lot of money to take them shopping and to movies, but now I realize that just hanging out and being goofy is probably more memorable than any of those other things.

And, the best part.... my Christmas baking is done! But it will probably take a few more scrubbings before my kitchen floor is back to normal!

Behaving in Public

I have a rule I like to follow when I'm in public: would I act like this in front of my mother and my kids? If the answer is no, I quickly change my behavior. You never know who's watching, and call me crazy, but I have a certain "image" I like to uphold. I certainly don't want people telling my kids they saw me acting like a drunk crazy lady.

BFF's ~ Lexi, Tess, Taylor



Apparently not everyone has the same rule.

Tonight, I went to the Carrie Underwood concert with Lexi, her two best friends, and their moms. It was supposed to be a fun girls' night out. It was. Until the people showed up to claim their seats in front of us.

It was obvious they had already had too much to drink, yet they each had a beer in each hand. Their behavior got worse as the concert went on, and as they continued drinking.



Tess and Lexi, sporting their new t-shirts



Now, don't get me wrong. I'm totally fine with people having a good time. It's fun to go out and have fun. I get that. I'm not a fun hater. But, at some point I also believe one has to look at the situation, and decide when to tone it down a little.

The ladies in front of us forgot to do that.

Yes, I know it's cool to stand and dance to your favorite songs at a concert. But in the nosebleed seats? Really? Is that necessary? Especially when you've had a few too many drinks. It's actually kind of dangerous.

It started out just two gals in front of me were standing. It was annoying, but I wasn't feeling great and wasn't going to start a fight. I fjust wanted to make sure the girls could see. But when one of the gals in front of me turned around and said "Sorry I'm standing. You probably can't see." I got a little angry. I replied "Yeah, I can't see anything." Her response: "Stand up." She obviously wanted to pick a fight. I wasn't going there. Eventually all five of them were standing purely out of spite, and purely to prove a point. A friend sitting a few rows up started yelling at them to sit down (they were blocking her view too) but that was a mistake. That just made them mad.

Yes, I know people stand at concerts. I've done it. But again, in the nosebleed seats? Silly.

I was ok with it all, until the girls couldn't see. I actually found an usher and asked if it would be ok if we moved. He said sure, but by this time the concert was almost over and the girls decided it wasn't worth it.

When the confetti started falling from the ceiling, Lexi couldn't see it. I told her to stand, but she didn't want to, because then the people behind her wouldn't be able to see. Sad that an 11 year old has more manners than 30-something ladies.

That's Carrie, in the back of the truck, suspended from the ceiling!

Again, I don't mean to be a party pooper. It just got to me tonight. But I think the girls also learned some important lessons. They learned how important it is to be polite. They learned what too much alcohol can do to a person's judgement, behavior and manners. They probably also learned some new swear words (thankfully, they are good kids and wouldn't dream of saying a bad word).  And, most important, they said they had fun. That's what it's really about. I'm glad my daughter and her best friends had the opportunity to see such an amazing concert. Carrie Underwood really is an awesome performer.

But, Lexi and I agree, the best part of the evening was the cheesecake we had before the concert.

Maybe we should have another piece of cheesecake. Cheesecake fixes everything, right?

Morgan says thanks!

If you helped Morgan celebrate her first birthday, you'll be getting one of these in the mail very soon! Thanks to all who made it such a fun day!

Cool Cupcake Orange Birthday

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Life Goes On

I guess the world doesn't stop when I stop.

I spent much of last week in bed and on the couch. I caught a nasty bug… fever, headache, cough. Made for one miserable mama.

What's amazing though, is that life went on, all around me. Without me even noticing.

My kids still had to get to school and basketball practice. I drove them there. I even took the two little girls to doctor's appointments that had been scheduled months ago. I'm not really sure how I did it, but I did it. It's just what moms do. My husband was out of town, so it was up to me. It's amazing how moms always seem to find the strength to take care of others (but not so much ourselves).

I did manage to write my family's Christmas letter, and a friend's Christmas letter too. Then my wireless router died.

And that ended that. No way was I getting out of bed to sit at the computer just to check facebook and email.

We got a new router, and I have spent hours catching up on facebook.. it's amazing how quickly one can fall behind on everyone's status updates. And believe me I will sleep better tonight knowing that a friend from college got a great deal on a pair of shoes.

While I wasn't in any frame of mind to be on the computer while I was sick it would have been a nice distraction. Daytime tv is not my favorite. I tried reading, but the cold medication seemed to interfere with my comprehension. And there are only so many six hour naps a girl can take.

Now I'm back at work, trying to catch up on the news I missed last week. Again, the world went on without me.

There were fires at two Dickinson churches, a man pleaded guilty to killing a Wishek man, a murder for hire trial started in Fargo, a controversial new housing complex opened in downtown Bismarck.

And then there's the good news, people in our community doing good things.... like the MedCenter One doctors who are donating to Carrie's Kids, and the Burleigh County Sheriff's deputies who shaved their heads for charity.

Again, the world went on without me.

But now I'm back, and don't plan on missing any of this week's news.

Yesterday, I sat through six basketball games (my oldest two kids each played three games in a tourney... my daughter's team even won!) It was so good to be out of the house! That was my test.. I figured if I could survive six games, I could survive just about anything.

So I'm back to work, and back to being a mom. All that's missing... is my voice!

Morgan is One

This is the post I have been dreading. The one I have been procrastinating for over a week. The one that just doesn't seem possible.

This is the post where I wish my baby a happy first birthday.

Can you believe it?

Baby Morgan is one.

She's actually been one for about eight days now, but it's taken me this long to come to terms with that. It was one of those things that wasn't "real" until it was written.

The year flew by. Really. The older I get, the faster the years go. It honestly seems like just yesterday we were contemplating going to the hospital, or waiting it out at home for awhile longer. I blinked...and was transported from the seclusion of the hospital room (remember last year's H1N1 scare? No visitors were allowed at the hospital...talk about lonely!) to the chaos of Morgan's first birthday party.

I have been blessed to witness most of Morgan's milestones during this first year. Thanks to a flexible job and an understanding husband, and despite an uncomfortably low checkbook balance, I've been able to work less and spend more time hanging out with Morgs (and the other three, too!). All the milestones I missed with my other babies, I got to experience this time. That feels good.

I needed to experience those milestones. Because now, I finally feel like our family is complete. I know I've said that before, but this time I mean it. This sweet baby has been a blessing to us, and she completes our family. She is the bookend, the baby, the one we didn't know we were missing until now, when we can't remember what we did without her.

Yet, as sure as I am that Morgan is our last baby, I still can't bring myself to get rid of the baby things. 

I haven't nursed her for eight days, and haven't pumped for ten days. But the breast pump is still out, still plugged in even. The bottles are still in the cupboard, where they are taking up valuable space. I think about throwing them away everyday, but doing so seems so final. I can't do it. But I have no problem giving her whole milk in a sippy cup. I'm ready to be done with the whole nursing/pumping thing, but I just can't take the final steps.

It took until yesterday, exactly one week after her birthday, to turn her carseat from rear facing to forward facing. I thought of it even before her birthday, but I had a million excuses as to why it could wait. I finally mentioned it to Brad, and he turned it around immediately. She's much happier sitting forward, but it still makes me sad.



Lovin' the smash cake!



The same is true with this birthday blog. I've been thinking about writing it for weeks, but until now, just couldn't make myself do it.

Morgan is one.

She is walking, giggling, waving bye-bye and charming everyone she meets. She is a good girl and her smile is contagious.



Turning one is a huge milestone. We had a party. We had cake (for breakfast and for lunch and for supper). It was a great day.

There will be many more birthdays, each one just as bittersweet. But I'm ready.....just as soon as I throw those bottles away......



Unbelievable

It all started as a one word status update on Facebook.

Unbelievable.

It was the one word I could think of to explain my day. I was frustrated, amazed, tired, and upset all at once. I knew if I posted that one word, people would wonder what was up. I hate those vague status updates, the ones where people post something and you know they're looking for attention and sympathy. I almost didn't post it, for that reason. I wasn't sure I was ready to explain my unbelieveable day. And I certainly didn't want any sympathy.

Still, I posted it. Just one word.

Unbelievable.

And the response was, well, unbelievable.

There were question marks, my cousin wondering what was up. There were funny comments about the Vikings. I then felt the need to explain myself, which I did. But there are so many other unbelievable things that are going through my head. Unbelievable and random things that have me scratching my head, and have me once again feeling the need to share. So, here is the continuation of my one word status update:

Unbelievable how incompetent and lazy some people are.
Unbelieveable how tired I am.
Unbelievable how my son thinks being a Lions fan might be a good idea, because his team is playing unbelieveably bad.
Unbelieveable that my baby will be one next week.
Unbelievable how much better I feel after a visit to the chiorpractor.
Unbelievable that until April, I'd never been to a chiorpractor in my life.
Unbelievable how much my Lexi likes basketball. I had a great time with her shooting baskets at the Y.
Unbelievable how good it feels to work out.
Unbelievable that the tv remote is STILL missing. It's going on two weeks. I've quit watching tv. That is unbelievably lazy.
Unbelievable how much Jake and I clash. It makes me unbelievably sad when we fight, and makes me feel like an unbelievably bad mom.
Unbelievable how when running late, I manage to hit every single red light.
Unbelievable how hungry I am.
Unbelievable how easy it is to hurt someone's feelings.
Unbelievable how tough it can be to forgive, once your feelings have been hurt.
Unbelievable that I've done a full day's work in less than three hours.
Unbelievable that we are completely out of dishwasher soap. You can believe I will be stopping at the store before heading home. No way am I washing dishes by hand.
Unbelievable how, despite all the crappy stuff that happens to me, and the negative thoughts I've been having, how truly blessed I am. I have an unbelievable husband and unbelievable kids....and really, in the end, those are the things that are really important in life.
Unbelievable how writing this has me feeling better already.

Kitchen Lessons

Brad spent most of ths evenng cleaning the oven. It was long overdue, but it's just one of those things I never get done.

He should probably get Husband of the Year for tackling this job. It was pretty gross. But, while I do the majority of the cooking, it can't be completely my fault.

Remember this summer when Lexi and Tess were on a baking frenzy? I think a few pans of their famous monster bars must have overflowed in the oven.

A six-course meal, calls for fancy china.
Amazingly, only one glass got broken!



And a few weekends ago, Lexi had both Tess and Taylor over for a sleepover. They are so good at thinking of things to do. This sleepover was all about cooking. They planned, shopped for, and cooked Lizzy, Morgan and I an entire meal. We're talking a six course meal. It was actually delicious. But the best part wasn't the food in my belly (although I do love food!). The best part was watching them work together and plan this big project. They learned how to slice potatoes and cook noodles, but they also learned about teamwork, following directions  and organization.

Perhaps their next lesson will be how to clean an oven....



The Chefs







Morgan-Cam

Brad's aunt gave me this today... it's totally Morgan... I wish I had a "Morgan-Cam"!

Big Brother Jake

Jake acts like he doesn't like his sisters, but the truth is, he loves them. He especially loves Lizzy.

Yes, they clash a lot. Everyday, actually. Multiple times. I get so tired of refereeing their arguments. But I know they fight, because they love each other, and because they are so much a like.

Tonight, Jake finally admitted how much he loves Lizzy. He just discovered my Lizzy-isms Blog. Now I can't get him to stop reading it. He is sitting at the computer, laughing hysterically. A few times, he's been laughing so hard, he fell off his chair. At one point he said to me " Thanks for showing me this Mom. It's so funny." He's even become an official "follower" and told me if he's ever sad, he's going to go read some Lizzy-isms. That, he says, is the best way to make anyone smile.

So think what you will. Poor Jake. The only boy with three sisters. But I know the truth. Jake loves his sisters. And Jake wouldn't know what to do without his sisters, especially without Lizzy...because without Lizzy, Jake says "there would be no sunshine, and also no Lizzy-isms."

Breaking Point

I hit a breaking point of sorts tonight.

It's been a long construction season and a busy fall sports season. Not to mention speech, Faith Formation, work, and the other everyday adventures that four kids bring. I've been handling the chaos pretty well, until this week.

I'm not really sure what happened, but suddenly I have no patience left for my children. I am trying not to feel sorry for myself.. I know there are people who do the parenting thing solo all the time, and my hat is off to those parents. I couldn't do it.

Tonight, I decided when the going gets tough, the tough make salsa.

I gave the big kids chores: one gave the little girls baths, the other folded and put away two loads of laundry. While they did that, I made salsa.

I've never made salsa before. I don't even really like salsa that much. But tonight, it seemed like a project I needed to tackle. I have boxes of tomatoes I picked from the garden now sitting in boxes in the basement. I have been patiently waiting for them to ripen. Tonight, there were enough red ones to make two batches of salsa (one batch takes 18 tomatoes). I stopped after one batch. But I gotta say, I'm pretty excited about this salsa. It looks, and smells, just like the stuff we buy.

But I'm even more excited about this salsa, because it may have saved me from doing, or saying, something I know I would regret. I was at a breaking point tonight. I was either going to freak out on my kids, or do something constructive. I'm so happy I chose the latter. I'm pretty sure they're happy about that too.

And the best part is, I have more tomatoes...waiting for the next time I need a "break".

Sweet Baby Morgan

It must be tough being the fourth child.

Lexi is 11 and responsible, and busy.

Jake is 9 and suffering from major middle child syndrome.

Lizzy is three and, well, she's Lizzy. See more at lizzy-isms.blogspot.com

And then there's Morgan. Nearly 11 months old, and the calmest, sweetest, mellowest baby ever. Sometimes she's so mellow, we forget about her.

I suppose when you live in a crazy, busy house like ours, and you're the baby, you sort of have to be mellow. The poor thing was dragged to her first basketball game at just ten days old. She still takes some of her best naps in gyms, and the buzzer never even wakes her.

While I love having such a mellow, patient, easy-going baby, I can't help but feel a little sorry for Miss Morgan too. Case in point, last weekend's photo shoot. It was supposed to be a photo shoot for Morgan. But Lizzy managed to steal the show.

The pictures of Lizzy are amazing, and I love them all (see just a few at lizzy-isms.blogspot.com) But what you won't see there are the equally amazing pictures of sweet baby Morgan. Again, the photographers managed to capture her easy-going personality, just like they captured Lizzy's Punky Brewster style and personality.

Here are a few of my favorites of sweet baby Morgan:

 

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Better Late Than Never

I was so good about keeping up on pictures with my first three kids. But poor Morgan keeps getting forgotten. I had her three month pictures taken when she was four months old. And now I finally got her nine month pictures taken... she's ten months old. Oops.  But, the ten month picture will hang on the wall, with the rest of the Morgan pictures. And if anyone ever comments that she looks so much older, bigger, etc in her nine month pictures than the other kids do in their nine month pictures, I will just smile and nod. Hey, at least the pictures were taken... better late, than never!

Sleeping Beauties

I am sleeping on the couch tonight.

I've been kicked out of my own bed.

Lizzy didn't have a nap today and she was an absolute mess from about 6:00 on. Bless her heart, at about 9:00 Lexi finally finished her homework and offered to watch a movie with Miss Lizzy Crabby Pants. I was so relieved, as I was trying to get Morgan to sleep at the same time. It didn't even dawn on me until it was too late.... they went to my bedroom to watch a movie.

By the time Brad got home and I got Morgan to bed, both Lexi and Lizzy had fallen asleep in our bed. They are both snoring. And they're cuddled so cute, I just don't have the heart to move them.

So, I'm on the couch upstairs tonight, and Brad is on the couch downstairs. I can hear him snoring all the way up here, so maybe it's a blessing that these sleeping beauties took over our bed! This bed mix-up could mean everyone will get some much needed rest!

Jake-isms

Lizzy may be the only kid with an entire blog dedicated to the funny things she says and does, but that doesn't mean the rest of my kids don't have their fair share of "isms". Today, it's all Jake.

• Tonight he told me he's not going to get married. He's going to have a job like Dad's, but no family. He's going to live in a small, inexpensive house. But he will make lots of money, like Dad, and since he won't have a big house or a big family to pay for, he will be rich. Rich in money anyway. He admitted he might get a little lonely. He went on to say when he gets lonely and wants a good meal, he will go visit Lexi and her family.
• Over a big plate of spaghetti, Jake was re-thinking his life plan and said maybe he will have a girlfriend someday, but not a wife. He doesn't want to share his house, or his money, but it might be nice to have some company once in awhile. He will not share his house with his girlfriend though.
• Lexi is going to an opera on Friday. I asked her if she was looking forward to it and while she was trying to decide if she was excited about it or not, Jake piped in his opera knowledge... "people think it's just  fat ladies singing in high pitched voices but really it's a play that all the words in it are put into a musical".
• I must have been frowning as I was washing the supper dishes, because out of the blue, Jake told me it takes 23 muscles to smile, but 67 to frown so I should smile more. It would be easier on my muscles.
• I brought home a couple of big boxes from work today. We used one to protect the table when Lizzy fingerpainted, and the other has become a toy. Jake convinced Lizzy and Brad to tape the box shut with him inside... he wanted to be mailed to Grandma's!
• This morning Jake was studying his football (the same one Lizzy snuggled at naptime yesterday) and says to me: "I'm not trying to say a bad word, but look at this... my football says 'wtf'. Isn't that sort of inappropriate, Mom?". Um, yeah. And how does he know what "wtf" means???

All My Spare Time

I often feel like people expect more of me because I work part time. Many people think because I'm off in the afternoons I have time to do all kinds of "extra" things. Others think I spend my afternoons shopping or watching tv. The truth is, the only tv I watch anymore is "Dora" and "Phineas and Ferb".  

I don't know why, but tonight I really feel the need to share the events of today.. and to prove that I really don't have time to watch soap operas.

7:00 am - I wake up, an hour late. Oops.
7:05 am - Morgan wants to eat. Crap. I don't have time for this. As I feed her, I watch the clock, thinking, ok I still have 30 minutes to get ready. I can do this. Crap. Now I have 20 minutes.
7:30 am - Morgan finally finishes eating, and goes back to sleep. I go downstairs to wake up Lexi, who has also overslept.
7:32 am - I turn on the light in Jake's room, and try to wake him up. He doesn't move.
7:35 am - I hop in the shower. No time to wash my hair though.
7:40 am - Fastest shower in history, done. Now I sit down to pump a bottle for Morgan for later. Times like these I really wish she was on formula. I count down the days til her first birthday (47 days, if my early morning math is correct) while I pump.
7:50 am - I make sure Lexi is up and get Jake out of bed. When I tell Jake it's 7:50, he hops up and exclaims "crap! I thought it was like 6:50!". I can so relate, buddy. He gets in the shower. I get dressed, fix my not-washed hair and put some makeup on to cover the dark circles under my eyes
8:00 am - Lizzy and Morgan are still sleeping, and at this point, it's best they just keep sleeping. Lexi picks out clothes for them and I find shoes and speech homework (we'll need that later and won't have time to come home before speech)
8:10 am - We are out the door. Lexi buckles Morgan into her seat, I buckle Lizzy in. Jake runs back in to get all the things we forgot.
8:15 am - I drop the big kids off at school...and Jake exclaims, again, "crap!". He forgot his cello. Orchestra isn't until 2:00 pm. I should have time to bring it by before then.
8:20 am - I drop the little girls off at daycare.
8:30 am - I arrive at work. During the next four hours I shoot, write and edit a vosb and a pkg. I somehow find time to eat a banana (thank goodness I threw that in my purse earlier... I am starving) I really have to pee, but there's no time for that.
12:30 pm - I leave work and pick up the little girls at daycare. They are still eating lunch, so I hang out for awhile.
12:45 pm - We leave daycare, and rush home to grab Jake's cello and a Diet Coke. I know, I should grab something to eat too, but I forget.
1:00 pm - I get the little girls out of their seats, and drag them into school, along with Jake's cello. The office is busy. We stand and wait for about five minutes (five minutes I don't really have to spare). Finally the secretary nods at me, I leave the cello and we are out of there.
1:10 pm - Lizzy, Morgan and I arrive at Lizzy's speech. Five minutes early! That's a first! We even beat the teacher there! I celebrate a little, then kick myself. I totally had time to make a sandwich, or pee.. maybe both.
1:15 pm - Lizzy's speech class starts. Morgan and I spend the next 45 minutes trying to be quiet and not distract Lizzy from this super important speech therapy.
2:00 pm - Speech is done. We have 55 whole "free" minutes before we have to pick up Jake. I take the long way home, hoping Lizzy will fall asleep. No such luck.
2:15 pm - We arrive home. I nurse Morgan and Lizzy plays. At this point, I've given up on a nap. If she falls asleep now, it will not be pretty when we have to go pick up Jake.
3:00 pm - Once again, the little girls and I load up in the van and drive to school. We just have to pick up Jake today, Lexi has basketball practice.. which means we'll have to go back later and get her.
3:15 pm - Home again. I pay Jake $2 to watch the little girls for 20 minutes so I can take a quick nap. I don't sleep, but the fact that I get to sit down helps me recharge.
4:00 pm - Surprise! Brad got rained out and is home from work early! We are all in shock.
4:20 pm - I go to pick up Lexi from basketball practice. What a treat... no little girls to tag along. I savor the peace and quiet while I wait for her in the parking lot.
4:40 pm - Jake has football tonight. Usually we leave straight from basketball practice, but with Brad home early, he offers to take Jake to practice. I am thrilled.
4:50 pm - Crap. We're all going to be home for supper, and I'm home now, so there's no excuse for mac and cheese or frozen pizza. I had actually planned to make sloppy joes, and now I even have time to make them. I spend the next hour making sloppy joes, french fries, cucumber salad and helping Lizzy make rice krispie bars (a project to keep her from falling asleep. A nap at this time of day is never good). Morgan sits in her high chair and eats for about an hour straight. Lexi sits at the counter and does homework. I also do the dishes,clean the kitchen floor and switch the laundry during this time.
6:10 pm - The boys get home from football and we sit down as a family for supper. So strange, and so nice. I'm glad I took the time to cook something.
6:40 pm - Brad goes outside to mow the lawn, Jake is sent to his room to clean, Lexi continues with her homework, Lizzy plays, and Morgan eats more while I do the dishes. Again.
6:42 pm  - The doorbell rings. Crap. Totally forgot we babysit Jorja on Monday nights. Bless her heart, Lexi takes Jorja, Lizzy and Morgan outside so I can finish the dishes.
7:15 pm - Lexi and I give all three little girls a bath. Talk about challenging.
7:30 pm - Lizzy is near meltdown stage. Such a long day, and no nap. I sit down to feed Morgan and put her to bed. Lizzy goes downstairs with the other kids.
8:00 pm - Morgan is asleep, so I put her to bed. Lizzy comes upstairs, begging for someone to hold her. I sit back down and rock her. Morgan wakes up, so I rock them both.
8:15 pm - Jorja is sleeping, so Lexi brings her upstairs and puts her on the couch so she can finish that pile of homework.
8:30 pm - Jorja starts stirring, Jake lays down with her. Jake falls alseep, Jorja wakes up.
8:45 pm - Brad comes inside, showers, and takes the little girls off my lap. I rock Jorja.
9:00 pm - Lexi comes back upstairs and takes Jorja. We visit for a few minutes, then Sheena and Jesse arrive to pick up Jorja.
9:15 pm - Finally, everyone is sleeping. I should really switch the laundry, or shave my legs. Instead, I brush my teeth and head to bed.

Yet, as productive as today was, I can think of a dozen things I didn't get done today. I didn't schedule an ENT check for Lizzy. I didn't make it to the Girl Scouts office. I didn't make it to the Y. Oh well. There's always tomorrow. Today is in the books...and for those who think I have it made, working just four hours a day, I challenge them to live one afternoon in my shoes. Still as overscheduled as my life is, I wouldn't change a thing....

Crap.. Morgan is fussing.. maybe the day isnt done....

Friday Night Lights

When I was a kid, Friday nights in the fall meant it was football night. My friends and I would sit on the rickety old wooden bleachers and cheer for the not-so-good Bison Cardinals. I don't remember details from any of the games, but there are lots of things I do remember: sitting on each other's feet to stay warm, hot chocolate, snow, and fun. It's an experience I want my own kids to have, even though their hometown is a lot bigger than mine, the Friday night football experience is one every child should have.



I've been meaning to take the kids, especially Jake, to a Bismarck High School football game. Lexi and Jake are huge Demons fans and I think they even bleed maroon already. Jake is also a football nut, and actually understands the game. I have always felt he should be at the home games, cheering on the Demons. Lexi has been to a few games with her friends, but Jake had never had the chance, until last night.

Lexi, Lizzy and Lexi's friends!

It was Bismarck High vs. Century High.. a big in-town rivalry. I figured this was the perfect game for us. I had a friend get tickets for the kids, Jake's buddy Grant and me (who knew you could get tickets in advance? I am such a class B kid sometimes!) We had  Lexi's friends and their parents over for supper, then we all headed to the game together. The weather was awful - rain, snow and wind....we were soaked before we even sat down. The game didn't go the way we hoped - BHS lost, 20-14. Jake's friend was bored and cold - but Jake and the girls were so into the game, and the experience, we stayed until the last two minutes of the game.

Do I wish the weather would have been better? Absolutely. Do I wish the Demons would have won? Of course. But I would not change those things if I could, because they just add to the experience, and the memory these kids will have forever. The kids sat near us (not beside us parents, that would not be cool), watched the game and even cheered... Jake even made a good call, before the ref did (pass interference.... finally, playstation and NFL Sundays are paying off!)



Jake and his buddy, Grant enjoying some concessions!



We will go to another game, and cheer even louder for the Demons. One day, maybe we'll even get to watch Jake play for BHS. But even if he doesn't play football in high school, you can bet we will still go to the games, because now that my kids have had a taste of the Friday night tradition, they've decided it's a tradition we will continue, no matter how cold and miserable the weather is. Afterall, the weather, and the fun with friends, are the details they'll remember long after they've graduated from Bismarck High.