Last Tuesday, we went to Grand Blanc to visit Sandy and her son, Phillip. This is a video of part of Ellie’s Annie video. Phillip was the director.
In order to fully appreciate the moment, I’m sure that you had to be there. But, it was hilarious.
Thanks Phillip!
(Well, except for the laundry room, the office and the basement.)
Grandma and Grandpa B. gave us the gift of a cleaning service for a few months. Wow…what a nice gift. They say that they did it to help, not because our house is such a mess! I’m sure that is true. It has been a challenge to juggle everything. And, the reality is that I really dislike cleaning my house. (I know that almost everybody hates to clean a house. But, I’ve met a few who like it. ) And, I’m just not good at it. I must lack discipline in that area. I really am not sure why. Mike and I had chores growing up and it was a fair amount, I think. So, we were taught to clean, but we were definitely not treated like slaves. And, I cleaned houses for 6 weeks during college. So, I’ve been professionally trained by one of the best house cleaners in the world, I think. I mean, she is good…but she doesn’t clean anymore. Oh well….I’m so excited. We’ve spent quite a bit of time decluttering lately. Our cleaning person will come every two weeks. And, maybe that will give me time to work on some organizational things. Or read. Or participate in an online bible study that is now in week three while I’m still reading week 1! Or scrapbook. Or work.
Ok…enough of the house cleaning rambling.
We’re doing well here. Training is Wednesday and I’m excited. I am going to have to work on hiring some substitutes, but that will work out ok.
Ellie is going to have her first field trip soon. Her preschool is going bowling together. Younger siblings are invited, but I’m going to try to make arrangements for Thomas. I’m not sure that I’m ready to let Thomas have access to bowling balls yet. You should see how far he could throw a pumpkin.
Thomas is spending most of his time pretending to be a cat or a dog. He loves to lick too. Ugh. Sometimes, Ellie joins him but she refrains from licking.
Ellie got her hair cut today, but Thomas refused. I was too tired to fight him so he won. Next time. We went to Cookie Cutters in Canton. If you don’t know it, I will just say that it is too child friendly. Thomas cannot rip himself away from their big slide long enough to have a hair cut. But, they were advertising $8.95 haircuts this week. But, I’ll have to take him somewhere less stimulating.
Andy is getting over a cold. Some herbal tea is helping him get over it.
Tomorrow, we’re going to Grand Blanc to see Sandy and Phillip.
Wednesday, our house is getting cleaned. Yahoooooooooooooooo.
Maybe, just maybe I’ll post some pictures.
On Thomas…
His words are becoming clearer every day. He’s big and he is busy. He still calls me cutie most of the time, but occassionally I am “Teesa” or “Mommy.” I admit, when he calls me mommy, my heart melts. He loves to wrestle with his daddy and tries to teach Ellie a move or two. While he still enjoys watching Hi-5, he is starting to enjoy Go Diego Go! also. And, finally, he is bringing us books to read. I have been trying to read to him for so long. But, he wouldn’t sit still. He would just throw the book.
On Ellie…
She had to decide between swimming lessons and ballet. It was a difficult decision to her because she misses swimming lessons so much. But, she decided to continue taking ballet. In April or May she will get some swimming lessons in before it is time to go camping. She is very proud of being a 5 year old. She tells everyone that she sees that she turned into a 5 year old. I get to teach some Spanish in her preschool tomorrow. I’m a little nervous because it was difficult to talk the teacher into letting me teach. This is Ms. S’ first year of teaching preschool. She used to teach Kindergarten.
On Andy…
His exams are next week and he is very ready for the semester to end. 
On me..
I’ve been working and playing with the kids mostly. Today, I took Jori to check on her wig. Her insurance is paying for most of this wig ($3000+!!!). I can’t believe how real it looks. They really go through extraordinary efforts to make it look like her hair. (She will lose it in the next week or two.) I can’t remember the name of this place. It is in West Bloomfield. She is doing ok, but is very emotional. It was wonderful to finally be able to spend some time with her. We went to lunch after the fitting at Champs. She will have chemo treatments through the middle of April and then radiation for four or five weeks. I just can’t imagine all that her family is going through. Cancer really sucks!
Work is going well and is keeping me busy. I think I’m finished hiring for a while and training is next week. The new term starts the first week of February.
So, we’ve been plugging along….hopefully, I’ll have some more pictures to post soon! (Thomas needs a hair cut!)
A while ago, Ellie’s doll broke; her head came off. I was trying to fix the doll, but Ellie stopped me.
“That’s St. Cecilia!”
Huh?
“Well, mom. The killers cut her head off. So, I was just a little bit sad when my doll broke. But, then I remembered St. Cecilia. And, I would love to have a St. Cecilia doll.”
I’ll try to remember to take a picture.
Ok..I promise not to get too political during this election. And, I don’t agree with everything this guy says, but I really like this image. And, I like a lot of what he stands for, even if he is “out there” as Andy says. Anyway, If you don’t know much about Mr. Paul, he used to be an OB. So, anyway, if I offended..sorry. I don’t promote Republicans very often. Although, Mr. Paul is not very Republican by today’s standards. So, this will probably be one of very few, if any, political posts from me.
I’m at Panera bread on my lunch break. I have 5 interviews scheduled today.
(the first interview was a winner! Yahoo!)
I’m watching two people on a blind date in front of me. They met at an online service. They are a bit loud so I can’t help but eavesdrop. I wish I could type the conversation. I think that the date is going well. I can see the man, but not the woman. He is definitely interested in her. I don’t know how she feels.
Anyway, it’s almost painful to watch/hear. They are exchanging their online dating horror stories. Ugh.
So, Andy, I love you so much. And, I’m so glad that I’m finished dating!
Ok..off to work before the next interview…..
January, Thomas got his first hair cut, Grandma Mathis passed away…
February, Mary Therese was born, Andy and Ellie went to the daddy/daughter dance…
March, I saw Mike for the first time since June of 2002, Ellie wrote her first letter ‘E,’ and Thomas went to the ER for the first time…
April, Mike met Ellie and Thomas for the first time, Ellie caught her first fish for the year, we spent a couple of night at Weber’s, Ellie went to preschool for the first time…
May, we went to A Day Out With Thomas at GFV, we went to the zoo several times, Thomas and I went to the Mother/Son dance…
June, Cade was born, we went camping at Sugarloaf Lake, Thomas turned 2,
July, Andy celebrated another birthday, we went camping in South Haven, we saw the Hi-5 concert…
August, we went camping at Interlochen, Andy and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary, and Futura Language Professionals hired me as a teacher..
September, I was offered the Michigan Bilingual Area Manager position, Andy started school, we fed the giraffes at the Detroit zoo, Ellie had her first day of school at ASCS, and I posted my 100th post
October, I celebrated another birthday, we went to the orchard a lot…
November, we celebrated Lice Fest 2007, The Ekblads announced that another child will be joining their family in July 0f 2008, Mike quit reporting to his parole officer…
December, cancer news, Ellie celebrated her 5th birthday at the Jungle Book theatre, the kids played in the snow, Ellie sang at her preschool program…
Life has texture. We had intense happiness and bitter sorrow this year. I look forward to 2008, taking it one day at a time, giving God thanks for all.
