Broken something

You know how band-aids fix anything? Well, some times bigger band-aids are required.

Eli fell off the couch last night.  He just rolled right off.  He fell on his wrist, and was really upset.  Being the good mom I am, I told him to suck it up and that he'd be fine.  Well, hours later he was still complaining about it, and so, being the good mom I am I wrapped it up in a tensor and told him he'd be fine.  He was so excited for his cast on his broken arm.  Of course Silas wanted one too, so we fixed up his broken foot.  He couldn't have been more pleased.

If you were worried, Eli was still complaining this morning, so, for only the second time in his entire life I took him to the doctor, who disappointingly told him that his arm wasn't broken and wouldn't require a real cast.  We went home quite dejected, but somehow I think he's going to make it.

Sleeping Beauties

My baby sister graduated from high school this week.  Craziness!  After her all-night grad party she came home with a bunch of her friends to watch movies fall asleep on the floor.

I was trying to stay out of the way, so I didn't put Silas down for a nap when I usually do.  He put himself to sleep.

I love both of them, my baby sister, and my baby.

Fashion Emergency

I went to the mall tonight. I never got to the mall.  I especially never go to the mall without my kids, which means I never go to the mall and actually look around.  Tonight I did.  And, I didn't like what I saw.  First of all, I saw that while I have always fancied myself a pretty fantastic fashionista, I don't have a single item in my wardrobe that could be considered new and hip.  Seriously.  My wardrobe 90% of the time is jeans and a t-shirt.  That's it.  I try to wear cute t-shirts, not over-sized, make my body look like a square, t-shirts, but still, it's just jeans and a t-shirt. My attempt at 'the summer of no pants' is failing dismally, and my self esteem after window shopping tonight is following it.  So, what's a girl to do? Problem number one, we have no money to deal with my suddenly pressing fashion emergency, so really, short of ripping up the clothes I own to create new wonders, shopping will continue to be a futile experience.  Problem number two, I'm afraid I just don't have it any more. I wouldn't even know where to start.  Maybe I should start ripping up?  Maybe I should pray for a giant bag of barely worn hand-me-downs from a rich relative to land on my head?  Maybe I should just go wash my jeans so I can wear them again tomorrow?

Never Cry over Spilled Soap

Silas is such a helpful boy. When he sees a problem, like a dirty kitchen floor, he tackles it head on.  Like the evening he emptied an entire bucket of dishwasher soap across the kitchen floor.  His sweet cousin Mari was an accomplice, but she got off easy because, well really, who could blame a face like that? And let's face it, Silas has never been known for his ability to resist dumping whatever he can find.  When I came around the corner and said, "What's going on here?"  Mari started crying immediately. She knew she was in trouble.  Silas, on the other hand started laughing and pointing at his art work. I said, "No one move, I need my camera."  By the time I got back Mari was really sure she was dead meat, and Silas was still laughing.  There was soap everywhere, including in the dark recesses of his diaper. At least the floor is clean!

 

Here he is actually trying to clean it up.  He was so cute, clutching the soap in his sweaty fists and dropping minute amounts back in the bucket.  

Stress

You know you're stressed when:  You put your underwear on inside out and backwards and don't realize it until the evening when you finally go to the bathroom without being accompanied by two littles under your feet.  (Does anyone else no longer know the meaning of the word privacy?)

You know you're stressed when: When asked, you can't remember your anniversary date or how to spell your darling second child's middle name.  Seriously, I had to pull out the important documents file to check.

You know you're stressed when: It takes you an entire weekend without your purse, which has all ID, money, credit cards, gift cards, anything important in the world, to remember what the heck you did the day you lost it.  Honestly, last Thursday was gone for four days. 

You know you're stressed when: You let your son fall asleep on the floor rather than clean off the bed that currently rivaling Everest in altitude.

The good news is, I got my underwear sorted out, I remembered my anniversary after just a little thinking, and looked up Silas's middle name: it is spelled Jeremiah, I found my purse, and Eli is asleep.  And, I made yogurt tonight. I love yogurt. Half full, that's right, half full

Dreams

The other night, just a few minutes after Eli fell asleep he woke up and said, "Mom, I'm having a good dream. It's about a tower of cups, but the cups are actually elephant noses. And it's an octopus made out of cups and a Santa Clause hat. And it's a Santa Octopus. And it's a person's project. Isn't that cool?"

Then his head hit the pillow and he was asleep again.

But, perhaps he wasn't quite asleep, but only in that between awake and asleep place where you can kind of control what you're dreaming, but it's still just as fantastical, because a few minutes later he sat up again and said, "Mom, what are bumblebee's stingers made out of?" I told him I didn't know, but if he wanted we could look it up the next day.  He said, "Well mom, since you are on your computer, why don't you look it up and tell me when I wake up."

And again, a few minutes later, "Mom, that would be great if we had clocks on our shoes."

Um, I pretty much LOVE what my three year old comes up with.  And, I love Santa Clause Octopi.

People Are Good

Yesterday I called for help for the people of Slave Lake, Alberta, who have been displaced from their homes because of wild fires on Sunday.  It's been amazing to see how people have come together to offer that help.  I've had phone calls and emails and visits to my home from people who want to help.  I love being able to watch it!

For those looking for an update, the town of Slave Lake has released a damage assessment of the town.  Being the technical genius that I am, I can't figure out how to put the image on the blog, but go to this link, and you will see it. Katey's home, luckily, is green. Green is good on this map.  The light pink is okay too, it just means taht your house is damaged, but it's still there.  The darkest pink: bad.  Those houses aren't actually there any more. They're gone. Destroyed.  Katey's is green.  That's good. But, here's the image showing you just how close she was to being pink.

See where the little computer hand is?  (Yes, I took a picture of my computer screen - maybe I am a genius.) That's where Katey's house is. Dark pink on one side, light pink on the other.  Katey said that the tree outside of her house is still standing and green.  However, no one has been back in to see the state of the contents within.  Smoke can be terribly damaging.

Looking at that damage assessment, you can see just how much need there is in Slave Lake.

If you missed it, I'm collecting donations for the people in Slave Lake.  Katey, specifically, and beyond her family, the entire community.  Katey's husband is in a position to be able to distribute the donations, so you know it will go to those in need. You can drop off any donations at my house in Calgary, or you can make monetary donations to my paypal at jennyvangy@gmail.com.  I will make sure that 100% of the donations get into the hands of those in need to rebuild what they have lost. You can also email me at the same address if you have any questions.  I have already been so impressed at the hearts of the people who have read my blog and reached out to help, and as I continue to pray for the people who have lost so much, I know I will continue to be amazed!