Blogging for Super Grandma and Grandpa

I have decided to try to commit to my blog again. I am not happy with my current rate of several times a year posting. 

So to try to motivate myself to keep at it I am dedicating my new attempt to Super Grandma and Grandpa. That's what we call great grandparents (my grandparents). I'm not sure where that name came from. That's just always what we've said. I remember once a friend asked me "can they fly?".  So, since I am bad at keeping in touch through phone calls and I don't do Facebook here we go....

We'll start with some funny things Charlotte has been saying lately. I wrote them down on sticky notes, and thank goodness, because I wouldn't remember them all. 

• "My dad could invent a time machine and he invented pickles." (Interesting)

• "Can I sleep with my eyes open?" (I reply "Yes, but if you get out of bed then you with have to sleep with them closed".  Works every time.)

• "When I have a fever or cough or am just really dramatic the best thing to do is eat cinnamon bread."

• "Presents are beautiful things." (This was just a random thought she shared while we were watching tv). 

• (I had just asked her what she wanted for lunch). "I don't know but don't say "same old, same old" cuz I DONT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!"

• "Why did the bananas cross the road? Because they were hungry!!  Wait, did I say chickens or bananas??" (Apparently she has very short term memory). 

• "College is where you go to get a new husband". 

• "The reason I want you to be the mom is because you are much bigger than me". (Hmmm, was this even up for discussion?). 

• And last but definitely not least ......

  "Real dinosaurs existed back in....ummm....I'd say the 80's." (Really?  The 80's). "Yes, I'm totally serious!!"  

Couples Counseling

How many people does it take to re-light a water heater?  At our house apparently 2. 

So, I guess our water heater (1 of 2) pilot blew out a few weeks ago?  I have noticed our water not being very warm. I finally got up the guts to go investigate. I lost my nerve when the instructions start with "If you smell gas, STOP, call 911!"  I just knew I was going to blow up the house. 

Since not showering for several days was not kind to others I decided to go to Plan B: sacrifice my husband. 

He acted like this was no big deal with stories of how he had to light his all the time as a kid (and with an actual lighter no less.  Who gives a kid a lighter and says "now, if you smell gas...."?.). Anyway, so I wait downstairs for the explosion and nothing.  He can't get it to light either! 

So, I have no choice but to go up there. We read the instructions repeatedly, discussed how much it would cost to have someone else do this, and after 4 tries it finally lit!  It sounded like a blow torch. Our victory was bittersweet since I knew the explosion would now happen in the middle of the night while we were all sleeping. 

But, thanks to the grace of God, we made it and I am about to take my first non-lukewarm shower in weeks. 

Now that's some couples counseling. Go team!

1st Day of 2nd Grade

Connor did great his 1st day he didn't cry or run out of the room and this morning he said, "mom, you liked school right?".  I said yes I always had liked it (I didn't tell him I also always cried my first day). He said," I like school too. I am excited to go". Come rely different t from the last two years when I had to force him the first few days. 

His teacher is Ms. Decker. She has a lot of experience (21 years), twin 3rd grade boys, and seems just the right balance of kind and firm. 

Charlotte and Mommy had "girl day" after we dropped him off. We met my friend Erin and her daughter Rylie at the mall and ate and played. At the end we treated the girls (and ourselves unfortunately to fancy cupcakes). 

We have future plans for pedicures!

She's Gonna Be High Maintenance

So besides the fact that she cries when a speck of dirt is on her and don't even mention a bug, she is now freaking out about the red spot on her face. She asked me "Mom, what is it?!?  When will it go away?!"  I told her just a bug bite but still today she is all upset about it. 

I dread her first pimple. 

How did this child come from her love of the great outdoors camping mother?  

Luckily I do a homemade photo calendar each year.  The pictures for this month (March) are always from last March and so on. 

I am so far behind now on blogging I can't remember what we really did last April (that's where I'm caught up to).  So, I looked at the calendar and the only thing on April is this.....

 





Now what's really funny is that I know for a fact this pic was taken in May at my neighbors house.  So, the official story for April 2012 is........nothing happened!

 

May

 

Now, It just occurred to me you may be wondering, "Why does she feel obiligated to blog for each month of the year?".  Boring!  So sorry, but my black and white only brain has to operate this way.

 

Connor finished Kindergarten and sadly enough was sick his last day of school!  He missed his first official "Last Day of School!" party.  I think I cried but he didn't seem to care.  I think he was just glad he got to stay home. :)  Luckily he had his graduation the day before.

 

  Connor and Mrs. Hall

 

 I have to admit this is a great pic but I mainly like it because it makes me look thin.  hahaha.

  Connor received the Super Scientist award.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Life at the Improv

Before I continue my catch up blogging for last year I thought I'd add some more funny sayings from the kids:

• I've been teaching the kids how to put their own clothes away after I fold everything.  I had given Charlotte her basket and suddenly from upstairs I hear screaming and crying.  I ran upstairs and she is balling her eyes out and sobbing, "WHY ARE THERE BOY SOCKS IN MY BASKET??  NOT BOY SOCKS!". 

• Charlotte has been having dreams. On particularly weird one was that "wrapping paper people" were in her room stealing all her hair bows. Creepy.

• In the car Charlotte was singing the following song: "He never, never, never, ever let's you go (waving her finger around) cuz Santa Claus loves you so!". And I'm thinking she's singing about Jesus. Oh Well.

• I keep 2 neighbor kids after school and Connor and the kindergarten girl play school and house on occasion.  I heard them upstairs having the following conversation:
• Sophie:  Honey, what do you do for your job?
• Connor:  I make boxes.  I sell boxes.  I clean boxes.
• A few minutes later.......
• S:  Honey, that palm tree in our room is beautiful (he has a beach themed room).
• C:  Not as beautiful as my surfboard on the wall.
• S:  Oh, honey, you won that surfboard years ago.
• C:  I know, I've had it since I was a kid.
• A few minutes later........
• C:  Listen!  You don't know my mother!
• S:  Yes I do!
• C:  No you don't!

Charlotte One liners:

• If a friend doesn't speak Spanish to another friend she gets "a-lonely".
• To Connor:  You helped me out of bed!  I couldn't have done it without you Connor!
• Hey, Yuck!  Who cut the pizza?! or Someone did the cheese! (She's been learning from the other goofy kids)
• Out of the blue in the car:  Mom, am I weird?
• Connor, are you wearing panties?
• I like Connor.  He's my boy.
• Can we have a holly, jolly Christmas?

Connor Deep Thoughts:

• Mom, I can see through the glass in the car window.
• Santa, is an elf hiding his ears.

And finally........

Charlotte has an invisible friend named Yana.  She has been with us for at least 8-9 months now.  It's weird.  She talks about her all the time.  She'll point out houses where Yana "lives".  One time she saw her in the Walmart parking lot????  Yana's mom is Sarah.  However, lately Yana has been being naughty so I've told Charlotte she can't play with her.  She thinks it's really funny.  I think she is starting to get the whole idea that Yana is pretend but for a while there it was freaking me out!





I

2012

Wow.  The thought of posting for an entire year is daunting. 

I'm not really sure why I never blogged this year but I think it's just called life. 

So my New Year's Resolution is to post on the last day of every month going forward.....Check back. Dad and Mom, it's your job to call and give me grief if I don't do it. :)

February

I forgot I had already blogged about our 1st Annual Coleman's New Year's Eve Bash last year. Wow. I'm already up to February!

As you can see Charlotte began the new year by becoming a fashionista. She went through a underwear over pj's over diaper phase. This one was actually taken at my work (church) so you can tell she's not afraid to put it all out there!

We also had a nice family Valentine's dinner. We had fancy plastic glasses from the dollar store and the kids enjoyed eating with candles.

March

I just love this pic so I had to include it. Connor was all excited about climbing the rock wall but he put one foot on it and said no way!

We started our 2nd season with Connor's new team the Fire. Since I am blogging a year behind I can tell you we have made some really good friends on this team and just love it. Several of the players are extremely good and we've done pretty well. In the year since this pic was taken Connor has come a long way and really goes after the ball whereas he used to hesitate. He has even played a bit of goalie. Our coaches are awesome! They really encourage the boys to just have fun and aren't crazy like some of the others. I even saw one team doing pushups when they lost. Ridiculous!

This next story is a tribute to my late husband.  Yes, he sacrificed for the family, and all what remains is really just a shell of the former man.  As you can see below there is a gorgeous, testosterone injected, black truck. Our Tahoe finally had seen it's day after 11 years.  I really loved that thing.  I didn’t have to worry about it getting scratched or dented because it already was, drove like a tank, felt safe, ah, the memories. 

However, I carpool and the truck only held 3 kids so I was constantly putting Charlotte's carseat in and out. So after one month of not so gentle persuasion Aaron caved (aka got sick of me), I mean graciously agreed to a minivan.......Check it out ladies! Seats 8! I've even starting taking care of 2 of my neighbors after school and my car payment is almost paid for each month!

It looks just like the one below. I had to use stock photos since mine is now appropriately filled with honeycomb on the floor, kid toys, and a port-a-potty.

Thanks Aaron :)

 

Male Bonding

 

Aaron took Connor to an archery range to have some fun.  He loved it.  The funniest part was when he shot the "buffalo/cow" target right in the behind!  He thought that was great. 

 

We also started our patio.  I'll try to track down some completed photos.

 

 

Ok. Now for some comic relief (sorry my formatting is all messed up).

· I asked Charlotte for help cleaning out the car and she told me, "I can't because my legs are tired of walking." What?

· Connor's new favorite saying when he's excited, "Oh yeah, this is gonna be epic!"

· Connor out of the blue while driving in the car, "Mom, did you know there are some shots that suck?". I finally figured out he is talking about when blood is drawn.

· Another time I wasn't getting any help around the house and I told Connor:

Mom: You know, someday you'll have to do all the work.

Connor: No I won't!

Mom: Why? You'd better not tell me you are going to make your wife do all the work.

Connor: No because I'm not gonna have one!

· Deep thoughts from Connor: Trees in the winter are like bald people.

· Deep thoughts from Charlotte: How much do fish like water?

 

 

Well I'm done for now!  Not sure what's going on but I can't upload anymore pics and the formatting is getting crazy.  I guess my computer is revolting.  Goodnight.

Charlotte's New Big Girl Room

Note:  Click on pics to make them bigger.

Well after 3 months we finally finished Charlotte's new room.  Really it's been done but we decided to do the chair rail ourselves.  Not easy.  That's what's taken forever but Praise the Lord she no longer has an air compressor and nail gun in the middle of her room (yes, we unplug it when not in use!).

When she saw her bed she said it looked like her brother's.  So when I told her it was her big GIRL bed she insisted, "NO, it's a BIG BOY bed."  Oh Well.

What really makes the room so special is that the loveseat was my great grandparents on my dad's side and the bed was my grandparents on my mom's side.  The little play table was my mom's when she was growing up!  The lamps were also my mom's but I remember them in my room when I was little.  The wall hanging with the pink border (in the background) is a calligraphy saying that my Aunt Sharon had made for me when I was around 12.  This room is full of history.  I love it!

I love her laughing in this one!

This last picture is special because the wall hanging bordered by red is a Noah's Ark cross stich with the alphabet made by my grandma (dad's mom).  I think I have a better picture of it on a posting from December.  We've always called our great grandparents "super grandma" and "super grandpa" and they surely are. 

 

Finally, a million thanks to my mom's friend Debbie Gregor for lovingly caring for the loveseat for 10++ years until I had room for it. :)

 

Don't tell the kids but we are going to see Super Grandma and Grandpa for Thanksgiving.  Connor is going to be soooooo excited to ride on an airplane.  We can't wait!

Connor's New Big Kid Room

Christmas 2011

We were lucky to have my parents and my brother's family at our house for Christmas this past year. It was really special since it was also the first Christmas in our new house and I had really gone all out on the decorating. Along with the fact that I almost didn't have any decorations at all (see previous post "The Grinch that Almost Stole Christmas")!!

Charlotte had fun getting to know her cousins more. Here she is with Lily, Kevin and Rebekah's middle daughter who is three weeks older than Connor.

Charlotte made her first pierogi (Polish food). We even staged a photo recreation of me making my first pierogi at her age. I think the measuring cup and rolling pin are the same ones I used.

The kids made an obnoxious birthday cake for Jesus which actually was really good. I think it had to do with the piles of crunchy sprinkles mixed into the frosting!

Connor being Connor. Apparently decorating cakes for Jesus is AWESOME!!!!

Charlotte getting into the holiday spirit---haha!

The gift that keeps on giving---Scrunched up $1 bills!

Later that night Aaron put together Connor's big gift--a Green Machine.

Charlotte got my old Cabbage Patch type doll. Remember when they were impossible to get and women used to fight in the stores to get one? Luckily my grandma sews and had made me one!

New Years 2012

For New Years Eve we had some friends/neighbors over and had a great time. It was nice to not have to go out and everyone got to walk home rather than risk the roads after midnight.

I've been trying to come up with a caption for this photo of our neighbors Chris and Leslie.

Chris: "Hi. I'm Chris. Wanna see my Ferrari parked outside? Really. I swear."

Leslie: "What-EVER!".

The kids at midnight.

Steve opening champagne for the grownups.

Charlotte midnight snacking.

The Funny Things They Say

• I was cleaning out my purse and shaking it over the sink to get the crumbs out. I didn't realize there was change in one pocket. As it fell into the garbage disposal I said out loud, "Am I an idiot!??!". Charlotte was apparently listening because she said, "No......(long pause).......Not yet!"

• Charlotte has been walking around the house saying "I want Jesus". I thought "wow, I must be doing a really good job talking about God and the Bible" until I realized she has really been asking for "Cheez It's".

• We drove by a wreck and I said that we should say a quick prayer. Charlotte folded her hands and said, "Thank you God for bars." I know she meant cereal bars but it was pretty funny.

• Connor: Dad how much do you weigh?
• Aaron: Alot.
• Connor: Will you get on the scale?
• Aaron: No.
• Connor: Why not? Will it break?

• Charlotte made up a song in the car the other day. While I can't describe the tune but the words were: "Mommy's car's a mess, Mommy's car's a mess, But that's OK! "

Home Church

A couple of times we have, for various reasons, missed going to church so we tried to have church at home. The kids loved it although it wasn's quite been the worshipful experience I had hoped. Here's how it went:

Connor holds up his children's Bible and asks us questions about the pictures such as, "Why is the crab not biting the whale's tonque?" (Jonah). All Aaron and I could come up with was "Uh, because God is controlling the crab?". Not very spiritual. Next Connor had us sing "Row, row, row your boat" and then went around the living room shaking a rain stick. At this point Charlotte said "Ok. Buckle your seatbelts!" and then Connor told us it was intermission!

Valentine's Day

Connor had to do a valentine for each kid in his class and I asked him who he wanted to start with. I was surprised when he said "Ava". I asked him why her? Maybe there was something going on here! "Because Mom, her name only has 3 letters!" Yep. Still doesn't have a clue!

First Loose Tooth

Connor came home from school and told me he had his first "wiggly" tooth. I do not like loose teeth. It gives me the creeps. Of course all his friends were telling him to just twist it! Gross. Two weeks went by and that tooth was not getting any looser!

On Saturday we went to his soccer game and I saw a ball going flying toward Connor's face and then saw him bend over and pick something up off the ground. He was crying on the field so I ran to him and the ball had knocked out his tooth! He was still very upset until he got back to the bench and the other boys "oooh-ed" and "aaahhh-ed" over it. Then he felt pretty cool and I didn't have to be creeped out by his loose tooth anymore!

And last, but not least, potty training! Ugh.