Master Bedroom - Complete With Purring Cat

The master bedroom is done, and I want to show it off a bit. Colby and Dean worked hard to put up the new trim. Colby and I did a fantastic job painting. The ceiling fan Colby picked out is lovely, but you can see from the photos that it casts a yellow hue over the room. I'm posting one photo with the light on and one with the light off so you can appreciate the true paint color. The photo with the messy bed is the one with the light off. Thank you monkeys for jumping on my bed.

I have a few more things to hang on the wall and some more drapes to add to the ones already there. Slowly but surely the house is feeling more like a Vescapades home and less like the place we moved into two years ago. Now if we could just do something about the horrid windows and teal siding.

First Day of Daycare

Well, it's official. I'm off my rocker. I decided that I needed a few more kids in the house and am now the proud caretaker of my friends' baby girl Reese. Her brother Gavin, he's 3 1/2, will join us for daycre in the next month or so. I've hoped for years that Sara's kids would get to grow up near mine. Ever since we moved to St. Joe I doubted that would ever happen. Now the fates have brought upon my good friends the loss of two jobs, the finding of new jobs in Lincoln, and hopefully a long and happy life here near my family.

Not only was Reese here today for daycare, but Sara and Reese will be living with us until they can get into their next home, maybe a few weeks. Yay!

I was also dumb enough to volunteer to watch Aubrie and Jaxson this morning while their Mommy went for a job interview. I had all 5 kids outside this morning, and the trash collector said, "Looks like you've got your hands full." Word.

Football and Remodeling

We spent this weekend finishing up some projects that were long overdue: fixing up the master bedroom and putting on the new front door. In between our work we still had plenty of time for play. Grandparents from all sides came to visit. We watched the Husker football game and ate pizza. We babysat our nephew-dog Pennington James. The girls carried him around the whole time, and Evie said, "Can I be P.J.'s mom while Carrie's gone?" She even earned a few bucks from Aunt Carrie for being such a good dog sitter.

We had dance class again on Saturday morning. Parking was awful downtown because of the football game, and I had a few choice words for the parking lot attendants charging $3.00 for an hour of parking. The first word started with F and the second started with Y. Carrie and Jacob watched Evie at dance class while I took the remaining children to the post office. Colby was at work, but I managed not to slit my wrists while enduring hellish parking, whiny kids, and football fans. Go me.

Happy Birthday Dade!

Dade turned 11 years old on September 25th. It's hard to believe I'm the parent of a middle schooler and will soon be looking at a young man instead of a boy.

Colby took Dade and his friends to laser tag and CiCi's Pizza. Colby's words upon returning home from the party: Just shoot me now. The boys had a fantastic time, but Daddy was a little overwhelmed, I guess. One of the kids has Aspberger's Syndrome and freaked out because he got stuck in plastic handcuffs. Another kid kept saying, "Goddamnit!" when he got shot in laser tag. He's 11 and apparently a sailor.

Brody spent Friday night at his friend's house so Dade could have a little break and hang out with the big boys. After all the times I've told my sons that your brother is your brother for life and more important than your friends, I let Dade ditch Brody for a big kid borthday party. And, yes, Brody made sure to point this out a hundred times.

Painting Continues

We are painting the walls in the bedroom this evening, three green and one off white. The kids are being very good (knock on wood) despite Soren's lack of a nap.

Brody had his check up with Dr. Quinlan the ENT doctor this afternoon. Everything looks really good, and Brody doesn't have to wear the ear plug in the tub anymore. Yay!

Back to painting.

Just Want to Share This Thought

True love is not measured in hugs and kisses, but in struggles and fears, and those who can work though those...they possess true love". Adam Murphy

Master Bedroom Remodel

Oh lord, there's wall paper underneath the paint!!! That's what went through my head last night when Colby started to pull off all the trim from the walls of our master bedroom. We all know how great paint sticks to wall paper, hence I was pulling sheets of paint from the walls. GREAT.

We pulled our bed mattresses out into the living room so that the bedroom could be totally devoted to painting. We need a new ceiling fan (check the photo to get a glimpse of the lovely 1990 fan currently in place), new switch plates, new vents, and new trim. We really need new flooring, but we can't do it ourselves and we're broke so that has to wait.

By the way, we're hoping to have this all done by Sunday. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Perspective

Sometimes I get so frustrated with my children. They can make me madder than anything on this earth. I get so tired of listening to them fight and cry and whine and tattle. I'm fed up with complaints about dinner, wiping butts, and filling sippy cups.

But I think sometimes what my life would be without all the insanity. I think how lonely I would be without anyone to scold and how helpless I would feel if I couldn't tie their shoes or help them with a band aid. I think sometimes how nice it would be to not have to worry so much about what will happen to me, if I will get to see my children grow up or how they could live without me (or how I could go on without them). I get angry when I think of all the bad things that await them in their lives and cry because I know they will hurt.

I've learned many things in the 11 years I've been a parent. Children make our lives worth living, but they make that life both sweet and bittersweet. Parenthood is filled with joy and worry, elation and pain, tears of joy and tears of sorrow. I live in the confort of the mundane and relish the day to day activities of being a mom.

I've been thinking a lot about life. And I kind of like mine.

Finally, the First Day of Dance

After missing the first two weeks, Evelyn finally got to attend her first ballet/tap class. We spent an hour the night before trying on every possible combination of leotard, skirt, and tutu before settling on what to wear. I hope this isn't a reflection on what's to come.


Arriving at our destination, 8 or so little girls filed in all in pink leotards and pink tights. Not Evie. Never to be the follower, she chose black and blue leopard print. The teachers are bubbly and cheerful, pretty much what you'd expect from people making a living prancing around in ballet slippers. Evie had a fantastic time and can't wait to go back next week. She's already decided to wear a pink leotard and gold sparkly tutu next week.

Later on in the day, Colby's mom came with our nephew Ethan. She offered to watch all the kids while Colby and I went out for supper, an offer which I accepted without hesitation. We went to a quaint little Mexican restaurant and then Ivanna Cone. Colby had the most amazing ice cream ever - chocolate stout- made with chocolate and Guinness beer. It was surprisingly rich and had that bitter, dark chocolate taste I love. Evie's dance studio is directly upstairs from Ivanna Cone and the Indogo Bridge bookstore. It's like a Mommy/Evie heaven: tutus, ice cream, books, and coffee.

My New Plant

After funerals there are often numerous beautiful potted plants and flowers that need a happy home. Unfortunately for this plant, it got to come home with me. I can raise kids, but I can't keep a house plant alive for the life of me.

I know nothing about this plant, not even what kind it is. I hope it isn't toxic for cats because Tiger loves it. My neighbor called it a "fake banana plant." I bought it a new pot and some good potting soil to keep it happy. It gets some some sun, but not too much, at its current location in front of the banister.

If anyone knows what this thing is and how to care for it, I would appreciate any input. Does it need lots of sun and water?? For now, I'll just water it and give it some sun. I hear that music makes plants grow better, and hopefully this one likes Green Day and Miley Cyrus. It will have to learn to like the sound of Keith Olberman's voice, or at least Rachael Maddow. Good god, what if it's a conservative houseplant??

Back to Normal Life

After weeks of illness, I think we're finally back to being the normal, fun-loving, rowdy Vescapades family. Colby is still a little under the weather, but he's well enough to mow and do all the other regular Dad activities. On his day home from work Monday, I took a photo of our quiet afternoon. As much as I enjoy a quiet afternoon, it usually means someone isn't feeling well.

Actually, my quiet afternoons are now being interrupted by our developmentally disabled neighbor, Kurt Textley, and his LOUD radio blaring in the back yard. We've asked the group home repeatedly to keep him in check. We hadn't had any problems with the next door group home until Kurt's arrival. We can only take so much junk tossed over the fence into our yard, and I shouldn't have to close my windows just so that I don't have to listen to his radio all day. Not that it would matter anyway because I can hear the music with the windows closed. It is entertaining, however, to hear him singing along. He also stands in the backyard listening to his iPod and yelling out, "Hey Shorty! Hey Shorty!" and "Fuck you, bitch!" Obviously, he likes the gangsta rap.

The girls and I are headed to story time today. We haven't gone in ages because of illness, so it will be nice to see our library friends again.

Still Sick!

Colby's home from work today with a sore throat and body aches but no fever. Soren is coughing like crazy, but it looks like her fever has packed it's bags and moved onto the next poor soul (hopefully no one is this house). This is the longest we have ever had a sickness hanging around.

Thankfully, we were well enough to travel to Norfolk for my grandma's funeral though Soren was still feverish and miserable. Like most old folks, my grandmother has an entire house full of stuff to go through, and I'm told she was the type to stash money in odd places. Trying to clear out the house will be like a treasure hunt, I guess. We're inheriting her minivan which is nice since ours has lots of miles.

Here's hoping for a much more healthy and interesting week. Until then, I will continue my disinfectant vigilance and hope that I remain flu-less.

A Tale of Two Sorens

This stupid H1N1 flu is just about the crappiest thing to ever invade the Vescapades home. Mice, you're #1. Brody started it all with fever, sore throat, coughing, and diarrhea. Next came Evie with the same symptoms, minus the poop and add the puke. It's Soren's turn now. Same shit, different day (so the saying goes) for two weeks. As it goes with sick kids, one minute they're fine, and the next they're sick as can be. These photos were both taken yesterday but are worlds apart.

We're heading to Norfolk tonight with a van of sick kids to attend my grandmother's funeral tomorrow. Yes, in the middle of all this shit my grandmother passed away this week. I'm so glad we took the kids out of school one day to drive to Norfolk to visit her in the hospital because my plans to visit her last weekend were thwarted by the flu. Miss you, Grandma.

Trying to Eat Less Corporate Food, a.k.a. Making Food That Takes an Hour to Prepare and 7 Minutes to Consume

In an attempt to continue to curb our consumption of processed food (or corporate food, thanks Stacy), I took 4 chicken breasts, cut them into chunks with my dull-ass knives, then breaded them and fried them in canola oil on the stove top. I paired the chicken with roasted potatoes with my usual olive oil, salt, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Here are the two problems with my avoidance of corporate food:

1. Seriously, this makes a lot of dishes and a huge mess. Three pie plates needed to flour, egg, and seasoned flour the chicken. Dutch oven needed to fry them. Plate to put them on after they've been cooked to soak up some grease. Cutting board and knives used to cut them up in the first place. Dish I put the chicken in to thaw in the refrigerator. The list goes on and on. Compare this to corporate chicken: piece of foil on the cookie sheet that I just throw away after I'm done. That's it. By the time I was done there was grease splatter and flour everywhere. All this while 2 sick little girls whined at me for the f-ing hour and a half it took to do all of this.

2. After all my hard work, food was consumed in all of 10 minutes. I hadn't even sat down to eat (I was still frying nuggets) by the time the kids were done. Plus, the house smelled of fried chicken for 2 days even with the windows open.

Really, instead of feeling good about making something homemade for my family I just felt tired, greasy, and let down. Don't get me wrong, my family eats mostly homemade items. Don't even get me started on their requests for Pop Tarts and Hamburger Helper. However, I think I'll stick to the processed chicken nuggets and thank the lord I wasn't a housewife 75 years ago.

And the Sickness Continues

Evie hasn't moved from her spot on the couch all day. She hasn't eaten anything since yesterday morning. Her throat hurts, and she has a cough.

Soren had a horrible day yesterday. She looked like death warmed over as you can tell from the photo. Colby and I spent most of yesterday sitting in a chair holding one girl or the other. Neither of us got much sleep last night between Evelyn's coughing and crying, Soren's fever, and cleaning up puked on sheets thanks to a mean coughing attack from Soren.

I wish my life involved something more than sickness, but for the past week it's been like the movie Groundhog Day. I feel blessed that it's only a passing virus and not a chronic illness, though. The weather is so beautiful, and I want nothing more than to take the kids outside to walk their babies or meander through the zoo. We haven't even been able to go to story time. Come on, girls!! Let's show this virus who's boss!

The Sickness Continues

Well, Evie now has a fever. It started Friday evening. She had to miss her very first dance class. This stupid flu is really pissing me off. Evelyn is soooooo much easier to care for when she's sick than is Brody. Brody is a complainer. Evie just quietly asks for a drink and her medicine without a fuss. Brody cries. Evie chills. In honor of the first Husker game of the season, the girls put on their cheerleader suits. You can see in Evie's eyes that she feels crummy, but she still has a pose and a smile. Since Brody missed 4 days of school, he is now sitting at the "preschool table" doing his homework and, of course, bitching about it.

My back is stiff as a board today, and I can barely turn my head. I LOVE getting older. I think it has something to do with sitting on the couch for like 10 hours yesterday reading My Sister's Keeper. I can't say that I really liked the book so much as just wanted to know who dies in the end.

Today's beautiful weather means yard work. The grass is about a foot high, and I think Colby is finally going to build the compost box. I will be looking straight ahead and attempting to not mess up my back anymore than it already is.

So Far, So Good

My week: disinfectant wipes, mop, medicine, call the doctor, more medicine, call the doctor again, have a cabin fever induced meltdown, cook, medicine again, disinfect, and, of course, disinfect.

So far no one else is sick (knock on wood, throw salt over my shoulder, cross my fingers, carry a horse shoe, and find a 4 leaf clover). My usual cleanliness is in overdrive to the point of obession. The kids are tired of hearing me say, "And wash your hands. . . WITH SOAP!" They usually respond with, "I know MOM! And I'll sing Happy Birthday while I do it and wipe up my mess after." What good little children.

I got raves for last night's roasted potatoes. Even Brody who repeatedly squeaked out, "I am not going to eat those!" despite having absolutely no voice (just like him to still have the drive to bitch even without a voice) ended up liking them and asking for more. The main course was breaded cod which everyone also loved, although I must give Target the credit for its masterful frozen fish creations.

Well, back to disinfecting. I'm pretty sure Brody just touched the remote control. DOn't worry, I'm on it!!

H1N1 Hits the Vescapades House

Despite a negative test, Dr. Hottie thinks Brody has the dreaded H1N1 flu virus. It sounds like it's starting to hit Lincoln's schools pretty hard. The poor kid has a fever, cough, and horrible sore throat for which Dr. Hottie prescribed some Tylenol with codeine. I'm hoping that my freakish housecleaning will keep it, whatever it is, from spreading. I think I should've bought stock in handsoap and disinfectant wipes. He's missed two days of school this week and won't be going tomorrow either. Good thing he's just a first grader.

In other news, I've been experimenting with some new recipes. Homemade cheeseburger macaroni was a hit with the girls and Colby. Corn fritters were a hit with me and Soren. Tonight's grilled fish with lemon concoction was not well received, but my sour-hating husband kindly choked his down anyway. I guess I'll have to make meatloaf to make up for it. Of course, if I really wanted to please the kiddos I'd just make chicken nuggets every night. I'm planning on experimenting on Colby's coworkers with a chocolate and saltine cracker creation for Friday's food day at the office. Today's banana muffins were gone in a flash, so at least I have that going for me. :)

Fall Soccer Begins on a Sour Note

Brody had his first Fall soccer game last night. He has mostly the same kids on his team and the same coach as Spring soccer because they try to group kids by school district. Unfortunately, Brody wasn't feeling well. He still has a fever today and is heading to see Dr. Hottie at 10am. Despite not feeling well, which he didn't tell me by the way, Brody played okay. They only lost by one goal, not that anyone really keeps score. The kids all played hard and had fun.

What stinks about soccer is that it's on Monday evenings after the kids have spent long days at school and parents are ready for it to be Friday already. A couple of parents (including us) said that their kids fell asleep on the way to the soccer fields. We'll see how this all pans out.

Go Avengers!