Rainy Day Random

Making movies with the kids is a fun way to break up some cabin fever during the winter storms. In this post are the videos we've made to date. Masterpieces...no, Fun...yes.

Walking on the Moon 

 

Catie and Nate Rock Video-

"Thanks for coming out Pollock Pines and keeping the scene Alive!!"

Chin People 12/2/2012

Birthday Bug

Yesterday, we celebrated my daughter's 8th birthday, but I can't help but feel like "yesterday"..she looked like this.

Today, she looks like this. The make up is for play, but if she could... she'd wear it all the time.
 She's too young and not ready for it.
I'M NOT ready for it...now..or in 2 years.
In fact, I don't think I'll be ever ready for it.
I know that I'll blink and she will be ready and and old enough. aaah. :)

Yesterday, she loved chocolate. Just
like her Aunt Katie who happens to be one of my sisters. They also share a dislike for onions and a love for music and dance. I love them both.
None of that has changed.

.
Her first birthday.

          



             Her 8th Birthday....how did it go by so fast?

I put this picture in because I love it. Catie calls it her "twinkie hair" picture. Did I mention I loved it? I love her face. I love her smile. I love the hair. I love her and am so thankful for the surprise blessing she was to us.

That hasn't changed either. Love you Catiebug!

More, More, More

This is the article write up I did for the Mountain Democrat, which may or may not be used and if used at all is likely to be rewritten, taken apart or added to...
Also, here is the link to the amazing slideshow put together by Lisa Richmond photography of the kids' performing at the retirement center and then at the school. Get out your tissues ladies (not to be sexist, but I doubt there are any men reading this). It's sweet and paints a perfect "picture" of the day.

More, More, More

On a rainy May morning Mrs. Hargon's 3rd/4th grade class, from Pinewood Elementary School in Pollock Pines, ventured down the hill to the El Dorado Care Center where they would be performing their musical, "Goin' Buggy". Months of practice had readied them for, what would be, their first performance. The anticipation of showing off all their hard work was fun, but what the kids took away from the day was so much more.

Mrs Hargon had been preparing the kids with what to expect at the care home: that some of the residents will not talk, some would talk a lot and that some would have difficulty hearing. They were encouraged to touch the hands of the people they meet, to speak clearly and a little louder than their "inside" voice which on any regular school day, amidst the busyness of class, comes naturally to them. It was explained  that these individuals once too, were children, moms and dads and/or professionals and grandparents and that the only difference between us and them was that they had aged. They were asked to engage in conversation and ask questions and most importantly to listen to them.

As the show started, wheelchairs scurried down the hall in response to the music and the sounds of children's voices singing to come see what was going on in the recreation room. During the show, the students shined and were energized by the smiles, claps and shouts of "more, more, more" from their audience.  It brought tears to this mom's eyes to watch the kids perform and perform well.

When the show ended and the costumes were neatly put away, the students re-entered the rec room to make clay crafts and talk with a few of the residents. More proud moments were observed as the kids thoughtfully and sincerely initiated conversations. One of our students described meeting a resident (Al) who had worked as a chief engineer building airplanes in the Air force during World War I. Toothless grins were witnessed on both sides of the age spectrum that day. Later, the kids shared how happy they felt to perform for the residents and that it made them feel good when one resident declared that it "made their day". The kids said it made them sad that some of the elderly don't have any family members to visit them and one student, Logan Rogers-3rd grader shared, "I'm really glad we got to come here because I don't have very many grandparents left and this is really cool."

Mrs. Hargon has had an amazing year with these kids. She's watched them surpass many of her expectations and we, as parents, couldn't have imagined such growth and accomplishment from our kids'. In the end, Mrs Hargon hopes that, through this experience, the kids will see how they can make a difference in someone else life, that they can gain and learn a lifetime of lessons from the people who have lived it out before them. She hopes that the residents would be encouraged and the kids' would become more compassionate and understanding of this frequently forgotten community. The kids got that ...and so much "more, more, more".  

by Melinda Gray, a proud mom

May 18, 2011

Forced Time Out

Today my youngest is home sick. Two nights ago he complained of feeling tired which is usually something my kids will never cop to at bedtime...during homework time-yes, when it's time to clean their room- yes, during shopping of any kind-oh yes, but rarely at bedtime do they express exhaustion or a readiness to go to bed. That was my first clue. Clue #2 came at approximately 12:30am when he came into my room and said, "I think I'm sick." When I asked him what made him feel bad he responded, "I threw up in the hallway."...yeah, that pretty much clinched it. He stayed home yesterday with a fever and enjoyed the company of his daddy who had a random and spontaneous day off due to weather and they watched cartoons and Indiana Jones.

This morning when he woke up and said his stomach hurt, I wasn't about to take any chances of barf happening outside the control of home. If you've ever cleaned out a car or car seat from a barf episode, then you get it. And you may have even shouted out, in empathetic agreement, an "Amen" and I would shout it right back because we can attest no matter how well you clean out that car seat and deconstruct it to get to all those nooks and crannies...it's never the same...never. Funkified forever.

I'm not sure if all mom's feel this way, but I sort of secretly love it a little bit when they are home sick..Not because I enjoy their discomfort at all. I want them well, always! But when they are sort of feeling "punky" and are at home and snuggling with you and calm and sweet...it reminds you of a time when they were like that all the time and life was perhaps less busy...though at the time, I thought life was crazy and that I was so busy. Hindsight..yeah, I get it. Nowadays, life does get pretty busy and this month especially is packed with celebrations of birthdays, mother's day, graduations, VBS meeting, Ladies Retreat writing, we have 5 field trips, an open house, a play performance and in the middle of that, I'm squeezing in my usual 6-7/days of work in the ER...and even now trying to recall all that is going on this month is making my brain start to hurt. Ok, well that could be caffeine withdrawal too, as I'm out of my favorite coffee. :(

These sick days can really throw wrench in a busy mom's schedule. The little things like having to get more dog food or helping out in one of the other kids' classes or having to miss an exercise class you were really excited to try, but it's all ok. I gladly forego these types of things for a day to snuggle and take care of my lovies. The secondary blessing for someone like myself who can tend to overfill her schedule with, what are, ALL good things..is that it is a forced time out. A day to snuggle, make snacks, watch cartoons and love on your boy....I will get some things accomplished that are "need to's" like running the dishwasher, cleaning out the guinea pig cage, maybe start some laundry, bake a large cookie for my oldest class play tonight and sneak in a blog post...hee hee because I have a hard time JUST sitting all day...well, that's not entirely true. I CAN sit all day and watch movies and relax, it's just that later tonight I'll be angry at myself and while wallowing in my sense of failure I may eat one of those hostess mini donuts....and from there the snowball grows. So, I'll sneak in some productivity amidst the hugging and loving on my boy and enjoy the forced time out God has given me. The good news...no barfing, no fever and he's perked up so far this morning. YAY!

Sometimes

Sometimes, a day just leaves you spent.

Sometimes, it can be a week or a month of exhausting events.

Sometimes, the day just doesn't go as you planned.

Sometimes, you wake up tired. 


Sometimes, you come home from a busy day and you don't want to do anything.

Sometimes, the laundry and other chores can wait.

Sometimes, you're child's/childrens' whining makes you want to whine too.

Sometimes, their words make you sad.

Sometimes, being a mom is really hard.

Sometimes, you feel bloated and gross.

Sometimes, it's PMS.

Sometimes, you worry about tomorrow.

Sometimes, I want to go somewhere far away, preferably Florence, Italy and escape.

Sometimes, when you feel like you've used up your energy and your body is tired,  all that sounds good is a jacuzzi and some wine. Then you wish you had a jacuzzi, so you just have your glass of wine.

Everyday, my kids' find a way to make me smile with their words and personalities.

Everyday, I get to be a mom.

Everyday, I wake up thankful for another chance to learn and grow from my Lord.

Everyday, I hug my family and tell them I love them.

Everyday, God holds me in His hand.

Everyday, I am thankful for the blessings of health and provision.

Everyday, I feel blessed to have family and friends that love me.

Everyday, that my husband is home I am happy.

Everyday, the Lord is faithful.

Everyday, is a day that the Lord has made...

His promises are true everyday, even if sometimes I forget.

Nested

Easter afternoon we came across a brand new nest that had been lovingly and masterfully made in the tree right in front of our deck. We've had nests in this same tree before but usually they are hidden deep within the tree. This particular nest looked perfect and was placed up on top and exposed to the sky. I'm not sure if this is the safest place for a nest, but I'm thankful that it's in a place where we can see it. Anyhow, while looking at this little home I was amazed at how wonderfully it is made. I don't think I could make a nest like that, unless I had some superglue and even then it would not look this good. It so awesome to see how these birds without the use of any hands can make such a secure and sturdy homes and while up in a tree no less. The time taken to prepare a home for their babies to be laid, incubate, hatch and grow does not happen quickly. I read that it takes somewhere between 2-5 days to build a nest without interruptions. That's impressive. And that many birds will refurbish their old homes to prepare for new young. The birds know instinctively what to do. They are equipped  for the job and given the environment, adapt to make sure they have a safe warm place for their young. 

Don't we, as mama's, do the same thing? (Well, most of us. That's another subject for another day.) If not before, then during the pregnancy we are getting ready for our little bundles in various ways. We buy supplies, ready a room, get the car seat, scrutinize over nursery themes, read books, toss around baby names, visit the doctor to check the health of both baby and mama. It's a process. God uses our bodies for approximately 40 weeks to grow a life and give us ample time to ready our hearts and homes for His creation. 

This picture was taken today. Two lovely smooth blue eggs in their made-especially-for-them home. Aren't they cute?? I hope that we get to see glimpses of the adults. I really hope that we get to see the birth of these little babes. 

To be continued.....

Easter Week

 This week we celebrated many things. One big event was Great Grandma Kemp's 98th Birthday. This was her 3rd birthday celebration in the week..When you get to 98, you'll get extra parties too.. 
Doesn't she look great?

 We had a blast on our stealth bunny mission hiding eggs and baskets for my niece and nephew.  What made it even more fun was not getting caught by Becky or their labradoodle, Gandalph. Also it was fun getting all the pictures of them texted to us as they were discovering and hunting for all the goodies when they woke up from their nap. 

Sssshhh.

hippity hop.

 We spent an afternoon at the Folsom zoo and park and had fun hanging out...Well, until they started fighting but, it's not like a vacation makes them angels or anything.

Love these faces. 

Over the week, we really enjoyed sleeping in. We played, ate, ate out, enjoyed time with family, 

went to Wacky-Tacky, had some play-dates both planned and impromptu and ended the week with the celebration of Easter Sunday. 

They woke up excited. 

Did I mention they were excited? 

Here, Nate is giving me the "thumbs up" for the nerf gun in his basket. 

Easter baskets had a little candy, a couple toys, new summer pajamas, 

and a new t-shirt for each of them. 

Jack really likes legos. 

He thought this guy was the coolest. 

We had a great morning worship at church, (HE IS RISEN!) Lance said the service was great.
I worked with the adventure kids-children's church.
 It was a lovely day to fellowship with our church family.

 We headed home to eat deviled eggs and smoked salmon, cheese and crackers and watch The Voyage of the Dawn Treader while the ham cooked and we waited for my parents to arrive. There was, of course, an easter egg hunt. As Jack has gotten older, he finds more fun in the hiding than in the finding. So he played the Easter Bunny and Catie and Nate hunted. 

Enter Grandma and Grandpa Bach. 

Doesn't my dad look thrilled? 

(My mom always brings something up when she comes to visit..today, she brought a sequoia tree...No, I'm serious. In that bag is a small and ready to plant sequoia...

Has she seen how many trees are in our yard? Thanks Grandma!)

Happy Grandma!

Catie performed for us...songs, dances...It's cute.

Is her room clean? No. 

It's too bad she's so shy...

Haven't you ever seen an Italian Easter Bunny? 

This is my dad. Happy to see the family? Yes. 

Happy Catie is sharing her Reese's Peanut Butter egg with him...OH Yes.

All in all, a great week and a great celebration. 

I'm thankful that remembering what Jesus did for us does not only 

occur on Easter and that we get to see our family more often than on holidays. 

What I will miss...sleeping in. :)

A Story of a Pickle

 

My Catie has many nicknames...CatieBug, Bug, Bugga-baby,  CatieCakes, Beebug and her favorite and most recent is Pickle which is ironic because she doesn't even like pickles. Catie loves chocolate which I believe  is in her DNA because since she was dancing in my belly and I craved chocolate. ALL. THE. TIME.

I ate chocolate donuts, coco puffs, coco crispies..drank mocha's. Given between chocolate and anything else, she chooses the chocolate every-time. Maybe if I'd eaten more carrots, she's be more cooperative at dinner time. 

Catie loves to dance, sing loud in the car (hmmm wonder where she gets that from), color, paint...dress up with clothes and make-up and currently she is disgruntled because  she wants to play a computer game where she gets to put make up on a virtual doll. I love this girl. I love her when she sings, and dances and colors and even when she gives me that grumpy face while crossing her arms and grunts out a big "harumph". It's cute really. But I must get off the computer as to not exasperate my girl any longer...or "hurt her feelings for two weeks".

Breathe them in

My sweet babes snuggled up with their special blankets
on grandma's couch. I just want to eat them up. 

 I don't know if you'll think this is bizarre, but I love to smell my kids. Their hair, their breath, their stinky feet...I love it all. It's my drug. I wish I could capture it and save it for later like a scratch n' sniff sticker. Pictures and movies are great, but no comparison to the warmth of their tiny bodies and hearing the beating of their hearts and their individual sweet smells. Someday their bodies will grow and their glands will begin to produce and their smell will not be as inviting. But it's more than the smell, it's these moments when their bodies seem to be an exact fit in my arms and in my lap and I know it will go by faster that I would like. It's a natural part of growing up and going through the stages of independence until they will become adults and leave. But it doesn't mean that I have to like it. My youngest will be 5 in May and I still love to scoop him up and hold him like an infant..and he loves it, my 9 yr old-not so much. But it reminds me of that sweet book where the mama sneaks into her son's room and rocks him and sings "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be." Oh, how that book used to make me cry. But, I hear from my mom and know that your babies are your babies forever and your love for them doesn't stop because they grow. So, for now. For tonight, I will smell their hair, tickle and try to bite their feet and cherish in my heart these moments and pray that maybe God will slow down time for a bit so that I can breathe them all in.

The birth of "Elvis"

It was 9 years ago today my first child was born. He was 8lbs 1 oz, born 5 days late of his Groundhog day-estimated-due-date and would have waited longer had it not been for the beauty of Pitocin.  His name is Jackson Everett and he is a blessing and a joy to us..well, most days. :) We had tried for 6 months to conceive our first child and I was frustrated when it wasn't happening "quickly". I panicked at the thought that we may be one of those couples who struggle long term with having children because until it does finally happen..each month is a roller coaster of highs (hoping) and lows (seeing the dumb white stick seem to read "NO! YOU ARE STILL NOT PREGNANT!"). I had this insane idea that because my husband and I were both virgins when we got married that I would be a sperm sponge and the first second I was off birth control I would immediately start lactating or something like that. But being the control freak that I am, when it did not happen right away..I was scared. Now, looking back I realize how utterly ridiculous and impatient I was. And those of you who actually had or are currently having infertility problems I apologize and beg forgiveness for myself and any other control freak like myself, who ridiculously panicked at what was really not a long time to wait.

Anyhow after a wonderful, exciting and distracting vacation to Italy in April of that year..we saw that anticipated double blue line that declared "yes" we were pregnant. It wasn't a bad pregnancy as far as most go. Some nausea..a veracious and finicky appetite, weight gain (nuff said),...feeling like your body is a science experiment or like your body has been taken over by an alien and it had. We called the baby "Elvis" during those first 5 months..it was sort of a private joke from some movie that I can't even recall now. But when we got the ultrasound and found out if was a boy, we already knew "Jack" would be his name. I wasn't really uncomfortable until that last month..and that month when your "nesting" or maternally psychotic, as I like to call it, is a funny one. You will never in your whole life look forward to a pelvic exam as you will in your last month of pregnancy because you are just SURE or really hoping you're dilated to 8 and you will be one of those rare individuals that "didn't even feel labor pains" and the baby practically slides out!! Shoot, I even tried to check my own cervix...you laugh, but some of you did the same thing!! Like I said...maternally psychotic. But with each of those visits during those last four weeks the results revealed I was a mere 1, then 1.5 then 2...and then a 2 again. I was actually so glad when I did go in on Feb 6 of 2002 and saw that my blood pressure was up so they'd have to induce me...muahahaha. (As if I had planned it.)

The labor itself was 8 hrs start to finish. They started me on Pitocin, broke my water and the contractions started out light but a very consistent every two minutes. When it got pretty uncomfortable I opted for the epidural..I give kudos to those who go all natural but I figured "why hurt"...if my appendix was being taken out I wouldn't go "all natural" and it's not like he was going to be born with higher IQ points or I would get my deductible waived if I didn't get it. Anyway, it didn't work so well. My left leg was "all kinds of numb" but I could feel everywhere else...They had me change positions and gave me more boluses to no avail. When it was "time" I remember the nurse saying.."oh he's gotta big head! You're going to be pushing for at least an hour!" Couldn't she lie to me in that moment? Geez lady! Give a soon-to-be-first-time-mom a break! Anyway, it was just that way..one hour later and I remember every contraction, every "burn" and when I finally birthed what felt like should have been a water buffalo..the pain that everyone says "goes away" after birth was still there.. and I recall my doctor inspecting the damage and feeling around and as they showed me my beautiful little big-headed slime ball. I touched his sweet face and smiled and so happy he was healthy but I couldn't help feeling distracted and  thinking, "HEY DOC,COULD YOU PLEASE GET YOUR HAND OUT OF MY VAGINA!" My poor husband and his stoicism was down "there" too watching and said.."so Doc, how bad is it?" and my doctor used me as a anatomical map to describe what small, worse and the worst tears look like. Glad I could be available for your educational purposes...anyone else wanna look?? Later he told me he was trying to remain calm but really he was thinking "HOLY CRAP! No wonder it hurts so much!!" Thanks, babe.

My left leg was numb for almost 24 hrs after delivery and when they finally got me up and showed me the peri-bottle, the tucks, and the creams that I could use for my "parts", I thought "no prob". I mean, I'm an RN, I am woman, hear me roar!..I've got this..but what I didn't expect was HOW swollen I was. I poked my head out of the bathroom door and whispered to my sleepy husband.."OH MY GOSH HONEY! I pushed so hard I grew testicles!!!!" He laughed at my dramatics but I then wondered if I'd ever go back to normal. Well, you do..at least mostly normal. The best is when you get to go home with your sweet baby to your sweet home where you spent agonizing hours and hundreds of dollars getting the nursery ready for your little bundle.  Each mama's story is beautiful, some heart wrenching and some funny and a first lesson in humility and that control is an illusion. This baby has been teaching me humility for his whole life and I have a feeling it's far from over.. But happy birthday to my big-headed-once-slimy-water-buffalo-of-a-boy named Jack. I love you more than you can imagine. :)