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Anyways. Surprising Rob was really fun. He was happy to see us, of course, and I was happy to hand him the kids and walk away.
My mom and dad and Dea stayed with us for another week and a half (my Dad didn't stay as long, actually, but you don't really care that much about the details anyway). It was great to have an excuse to see all our Cincinnati relatives, and there are quite a few. It was also nice to have my mom around to help unpack and make meals and do all the mountainous loads of laundry. My mother is very helpful. She is also nice to talk to.
I'll miss Dea. She is delightful and mellow, and she plays so well with Miciah. By the end, though, they were both ready to be apart again. It took them more than a month to want to spend time apart from each other.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is done!!! It was nice to walk in my door and see our kitchen done, just like we wanted it. I think it's awesome, and Rob did a great job. Thank you to Dustin and Mom and Dad Thacker who helped Rob get it all done during the time I was gone.
Teancom's HaircutEveryone got a haircut when we got home (during which no one noticed lice. Go figure), but no one's cut was as dramatic as Teancom's. He doesn't like to get his hair washed, which isn't such a big deal until his hair is long and sweaty. Rob had to wash Teancom's hair in the sink on Sunday morning, and that's really when you know it's time to cut his hair.
SoccerSoccer practices have started, and Miciah played in a pre-season tournament last weekend. They didn't win any games, but we didn't have any subs and it was HOT (oh, soccer in August). It was fun to watch the girls play and see how much they improved just from one day to the next. They're really obedient at this age, even if they can't always remember which direction we're going.
A few soccer comments:
1- Miciah played excellently at keeper. She isn't afraid of the ball and her positioning is great (though the coach kept getting annoyed that she wouldn't stay on the line. I'll have to tell her that I've taught Miciah to not stay on the line. Strategically, it's usually a bad move). She's actually braver in goal than at defense. I asked her why that is and she said, "It's easier when you're goalie." ... She is improving quickly and she's excited to play.
2- Elijah got on the field for his first practice and who knew that the kid can dribble (while running, no less) and shield the ball excellently. I don't think he learned that from anywhere, and I was impressed.
3- I want to kill a kid on Elijah's team who has figured out that if he falls on the ball and pushes the person trying to get the ball, the other person can't get the ball. If he was my kid, or if I was the coach, I would NOT be kind about his behavior.
I am assisting for Miciah's team, and loosely assisting for Eljiah's team. I think Miciah really appreciates me being more involved. I don't know why that's important to her, but I can oblige.
I'll make sure to get some soccer pictures this year.
More Teancom News
Look at this picture and tell me what's different about it:
That's UNDERWEAR!! We kept telling Teancom that as soon as we got home from the trip he was going to get potty trained. So Monday morning we put him in underwear. I kept saying, "You want to go potty on the potty, Teancom?" and he'd respond, "No. On the Potty Train."Anyways, it's been entirely successful. He hasn't had an accident since, umm, Monday I think. And he hasn't had a peeing accident since last Thursday or so. I knew Teancom was ready, and I thought it would go smoothly and quickly, and that has proven to be the case. Most of the time Teancom is going potty all by himself, too. It's fanTAStic.
We haven't really done nighttime stuff, just cause I don't really care, but he's dry in the mornings about half the time. This has inspired Elijah to want to be dry during the night, too. So we bought plastic sheets (not a bad idea for Cincinnati anyways) and put them on both boys' beds. So far it's gone decently.
Firefox
I took a few more programs off our C drive, and that helped our dying computer a little. But most importantly I installed and am using Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. And my computer hasn't frozen since. Hurray! ... I am still thinking about re-formating. And a new computer is still on the horizon, so thank you for everyone who gave their input. But hopefully we can stall a little while longer.
This Fall
Rob is teaching another class at NKU this fall. It's the same class he taught over the summer, but now he's teaching the lecture as well as the lab (he only did the lab before). He's really excited about it, even though it means that he's pretty stressed about everyone that's on his plate. He's preparing two lectures a week. He still has to get stuff done at work and publish a paper by November (that's his shoot-for date). He's applying for jobs all across the country. He's in the bishopric and because of the class he will be missing Tuesday night meetings. He's a father and husband, and he has to find a way to show us that we're still his priority, even though he'll be gone more. It'll make weekends more crucial. And more precious.
I'm already used to the idea of not seeing Rob as much. Not saying I LIKE the idea, but I like that he's getting to do something he loves. That it'll help his career. And the idea of a little more money in our pockets is a plus, too (paying down that debt Dave Ramsey style). All-in-all, it'll be worth it in the long run.
Back to School
School starts on August 31st for Miciah and Sept. 3rd for Elijah. ... Buying school supplies for 2 kids makes me feel very very very sorry for my parents, who had to do it for 8 kids. I spent around $100 on new supplies and hated every minute (and penny) of it! Ugh.
Anyways, Elijah has the same Kindergarten teacher as Miciah did. She was wonderful for Miciah and I think she'll be great for Elijah, too. I already warned her that Elijah and Miciah are VERY different children, so hopefully she remembers that.
Elijah is ready for school. He has just started counting almost as high as he wants. I've heard him count to 70. He also knows all his letters and their sounds, though he's not that great at putting their sounds together to make a word. I have full confidence that he'll learn how to read, and I imagine that one day it'll just CLICK, but I don't think it'll come as effortlessly as it did for Miciah. Which means that he'll actually have something to do in Kindergarten.
Not My Favorite
I have been chastised by more than one person about my obsession with Teancom, and specifically my use of the word "favorite." I will not seek to justify my actions, as much as I'd like to. All I can say is that after a few days I realized that they were right, and I should probably cut it out. Fortunately, Teancom is acquiring attributes that help out my new cause. Namely, he's getting an attitude, he's demanding to do things all by himself (and hence isn't always merely an extra appendage), he's throwing fits, and he can be clingy and grumpy and demanding.
With my mom around, I have also realized that Teancom is often only delightful FOR ME. He refused to let my mother be a part of his life, even after 6 weeks of being together. During the last few days he was beginning to warm up to her. ... Let me say that again:
During THE LAST FEW DAYS he was BEGINNING to warm up to her. ... That's simply ridiculous that it took so long. My mother is adorable and wonderful, and Teancom was nasty to her. What's up with that?
Anyways. The comments have helped me not just change my words but change my attitude. I still cuddle with Teancom the most (because he's the most cuddly), but after 3 weeks of being a single mom I was just as ready to sell him to the gypsies as I was my other children. And that's True (equal) Mother Love.
And there you go. Life is back to normal and posts should be back to the same old boring stuff. Miciah said, "Mom, next summer I don't want to go on a vacation." I told her that would be just fine. Then she added, "But the year after that, we have to go back to Yellowstone."
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