milestones

I was reflecting this evening on how we, as parents, marvel and celebrate each milestone our child makes with his power of communication.

First, we celebrate at the sound of our infant’s very first cry. Later, we tell everyone with pride at our little blessing’s first spoken words. Then, we revel in our (most certainly) precocious little tot’s vocabulary and amazing mastery of speech. Eventually, we begin to mark other milestones with joy, but they slowly those milestones shift from spoken words to written words.

Today I’m celebrating a milestone with the spoken word. A while ago, after another ‘birds and bees’ conversation, I asked the boys if their friends ever talked about sex, kissing, or dating. Not surprisingly, the answer was no. Today, Alexander reminded me of that conversation, and told me that it had come up between himself and two friends. We had a nice conversation, which eventually included his brothers, and I clarified a few things and corrected a few misconceptions.

Hurray for open lines of communication! I can’t imagine yet what the next milestone is that I’ll be celebrating, but I’ll enjoy this one for now.

The week from Hell

Two of my kiddos had to have surgery in the same week. Matthew needed eye surgery again, adn Alexander had to have a few biopsies taken. We now have some answers- he has glucoamylase deficiency. I have an overwhelming need to remodel the house. At least it's a positive outlet for my stress.

Just like me already!

I have a new laptop, finally.

It dislikes me.

I cannot get the internet to work!

This pretty much means that I don't have a laptop, as I'm still stuck in the basement. Grrr....

Oh NO!

Poor little Alexander fell while Rollerblading and sprained his arm badly. Luckily, the ER says it's not broken.

Ironically, it has not slowed him down in the least. He kept riding his scooter today and I caught him trying to put on his roller blades. His brothers were glad to only have to share them among 2 boys, not three.

I think I need to get everyone their own pair!

16 to go... perhaps?

As of tomorrow, we only have 16 paydays to go until beloved hubby gets home. Someone told me once that counting by paydays makes it seem to go by faster than counting days, and in the military, we all pretty much live for payday anyway.

So as of tomorrow, we only have 16 paydays left. 8 mortgage payments. 2 semesters. 5 birthdays... wait, that one doesn't help. 3 seasons? I think I'll stick to paydays.

And today hubby sent a message that said "171 to go". That's only 11 paydays. If true, it's the epitome of awesome. (I'm still counting 16- better to be surprised than let down)

Trip Essentials

1. New laptop. Check.
Well, it's ordered.

2. Van checkup. Check.
Needs a ton of work- as in, cash- to be wyoming worthy. Though I'm still not sure why the A/C is critical in Idaho in October...

3. Kidlets. Check.
They're excited, we have a few appointments to complete before we leave, but no problems anticipated.

4. Knitting. Check.
I was taking several projects, but now just 2, maybe 5. Of which I'm sure I'll have a grand total of 30 minutes total knitting time, they're still coming.

5. Camera. Darn it!
It broke just the other day. And after I pay the van doctor (see #2) I think the camera will just have to wait. Ah well, I'll just document my trip with napkin sketches. :)

Eventuality

I knew it. Someday, it would happen. Eventually, this day would come. I tried to avoid this kind of thing, really I did. I've managed to avoid it so far, quite successfully actually.

But yesterday I had an event at the new school that I will be soon attending, and I will admit, when I walked in surrounded by people with entire alphabets after their name, I felt a little out of place. Always one for a challenge, I dove right in and struck up several conversations. It was nice; informative, motivating, and interesting, and I even was able to hold my own. At first.

After a bit, things took a turn and I felt a distinct change in conversation. Were discussing such and such program in Wichita, and I was just little old me. Without an alphabet my little old ideas just didn't have much credibility in that room. So I did it. I actually did it.

I name-dropped. Instant credibility, and all of a sudden my ideas were of value. I didn't make me all that glad, though. While I'm glad that, in the end, the event was a success and I walked away with a lot of information, motivation, and new acquaintances, I wish I had been able to walk away with all that all by myself. I'm also starting to wonder if, even if I have my own alphabet, if I'll ever be able to stand on my own ideas without throwing so-and-so's name or such-and-such program into the conversation.

Sigh. I so hate politicking.

The Fourth of July

Okay, well it wasn't picture perfect. We will absolutely never stay at home again. I think we might go to Kansas City for next year... but that is still TBD. Maybe, just maybe, I'll finally talk my beloved into Sea World.

Here are some photos I took (before I set my camera down and forgot my photographer duties, that is!)Left to Right: Alexander, Avery, Matthew, Lauren

Andrew

Matthew

Alexander

The kiddos and I. No one is actually sad-- the sun was kinda bright (hence the squints) and Alexander was aptly named. He's definitely a smart alec!

Kansas Loch Ness Monster!!

Yesterday I went to Lake Afton with the Children, and saw the most incredible sight! Bobbing through the water was this creature... I've never seen anything like it!

I knew that no one would ever believe me, so I took a picture for posterity.


I don't think there is any cause for alarm, though. It probably doesn't cause too much trouble. Well, usually.

Lazy (and not so lazy) Summer Days

What a wonderful Summer!

After 2 crazy busy years that had us running non-stop, we've just kinda laid around.


I've pretty much finished my extensive internship, and I've been enjoying my vacation before grad school starts this fall.

I've been knitting--maybe a little too much, given that I'm finishing projects in a single day. Projects like this one:




Yeah, it's a scarf. A scarf that I designed and knit in just one day. Yummy and soft and almost ethereal... it only weighs about 100 grams! I can't wait for this fall!








Other than that, there has been a lot of playing around here. The boys have no shortage of imagination! Here they are as knights:

Left to Right: Alex, Andrew, Alexander, Kobe, Matthew, Madison (in the fort)

I love my mailman

So I took a break today, only find that the kids had got the mail. Thor was holding it for me...

And inside I gleefully saw this...

It's my new burgandy/plum/dark rose semi-solid cashmere cobweb weight lace yarn!!!!! Of course, it's not burgandy/plum/dark rose yet because I get to do that part. :) Here's one more picture of it, on a penny, with a strand of regular sewing thread for comparison. The sewing thread is the top thread.

Freedom!

In January I was thrilled to learn that a professor of mine also taught, as her "day job", at KU.

In March I took my GRE exam, and didn't do as well as I'd have liked. But I did okay.

In May I learned that I'd been accepted into the Master's of Public Health program at KU. My professor, already mentioned, ask that I request her as my advisor. And she told me the good classes to take. (oh, the joys of having a couple someones in my corner!)

Now I am just about to complete my undergrad degree, and I'm going to take a nice l-o-n-g vacation this summer. I've already picked out some of the must-see yarn stores and attractions... if you follow along here, you can follow along with our adventures!