The Enforcer

Beside the obvious swear words, there are a couple of everyday words and phrases that we do not allow Katie to say, such as stupid, shut up and whatever.  Because these words are not the sanctioned cuss words, Katie often hears the words on TV and when she does, she turns into the Enforcer of No Naughty Words.  For example, if she hears the word "stupid" she will immediately come running to us with unbridled enthusiasm and tattle on whoever said the word.  "Momma, Scooby Doo said 'stupid.'  He was naughty.  That was a no-no!"  I think she enjoys being the reprimander because it makes her feel powerful, especially when it is Rick or I that slip up.  However, thanks to Katie and her chastising, we are mending our ways.  Also, be warned, if you visit us and say any naughty word, Katie will out you by pointing to your error and announcing your no-no to the room.

Greta Garbo

Katie has a Barbie phone that is programmed to have Barbie call her every so often.  This afternoon it was ringing and I told Katie her phone was ringing.  She stated, "I don't feel like talking."  This surprised me because Katie loves talking on the phone, but also because I am known for not answering the phone when I do not feel like talking.  Did she inherit this infuriating (according to my friends) trait from me?  Is this a glimpse of her teenage years when she will be a Greta Garbo and "vant to be alone"?

They Didn't Tell Me

I've been feeling under the weather lately.  Tuesday I had my biopsies, which was a lot more painful than I anticipated especially the endometrial biopsy.  I guess I didn't give it a whole lot of thought until I was in the doctor's office and he described the procedure to me.  After the 15 seconds of intense pain, I was required to remain lying down for 5-10 minutes.  Apparently getting up to quickly after the procedure can make you faint.  So the nurse hung out with me until I felt well enough to sit up.  I still didn't feel the best, but the nurse did comment that my color had come back--didn't realize I lost it.  Anyway, after another 5 minutes of sitting, I was on my merry way.  But it doesn't end there.  Either I wasn't paying attention or it wasn't mentioned, but the cramping/stabbing pain can last for 2-3 days.  I believe that nine out of ten women probably won't have the procedure if they knew before hand what it entailed.  Perhaps that is why they didn't advise me of such until I was up on the table and garbed in a filmsy gown and their non-skid socks.

So now I wait for the results.  I thought I was also coming down with the flu since I had the chills, aches, stiff neck and sore throat.  It lasted one night and I was fine the next day.  Perhaps it was also the result of the biopsies.  The aches, stiff neck and sore throat could have been a result of me tensing up during the procedure.  I knew at one point I was clenching my jaw.

Valentine's Day flew by without a post from me, so here's the recap.  I got a dozen roses from Rick, as well as two boxes of candy.  Katie got six roses from Rick, as well as two little boxes of candy and a tethered electronic helicopter.  Katie has gotten pretty good at taking off and landing her aircraft.  Rick had also bought a huge, styrofoam glider plane for Katie and I.  The other day Katie and I decorated it with polka dots and various other colored forms, but we haven't flown it yet.  We have to go into the cotton field to fly it so there is no danger of it landing in the trees.  Below is Katie wearing her new Valentine's ballerina tutu.  You can also see the candy and flowers in the background.

 

Close up of Katie's flowers

  

Close up of my flowers

 

Hiding In Plain Site

This morning Katie got up at 6 am.  Just a little bit ago, I was working in the kitchen and noticed I couldn't hear her playing anymore.  I couldn't find her in her bedroom or our bedroom.  A little panicked, I assumed that she went outside, so I called for her out of the front door.  That is when I heard a snore.  There she was, fast asleep on the sofa.  She was cuddled up in my black snuggie on our black sofa with just the top of her head visable, so that explains why I didn't see her the first time through the living room.  For the picture, I moved the snuggie down so you can see her face.

The Pink Abominable Snowman

Of course Katie wanted to go outside to play in the cold, rotten white stuff and I obliged.  However, I did fiercely bundle her up.  Two pairs of socks, snow pants, scarf, mittens, hat and sunglasses--it was really bright from the snow.  Therefore, here is Rick's picture of the day, the Pink Abominable Snowman..........

 

The Pink Abominable Snowman likes to make snow angels......

 

 

 

And has two snow castles..........

And a snow horse......

Blindingly White

I really need to start watching the local news, so I can avoid shocks like this.................

Truth be told, I didn't know that it snowed outside until my doctor's office called.  They had a lot of cancellations and wanted to move up my appointment.  When they called they had woke me up and I had yet to look out the window.  However, you think I would have been tipped off when she said, "We've had a lot of cancellations because of the weather."  Oblivious to the white stuff, I changed my appointment to 1:30 pm, but then had to call and change it to Tuesday once I looked outside.  In addition, because I close all of our blinds and drapes at night, Katie had no clue about the ground cover, so I had her open the front door.  She was so excited when she saw the blindingly white scene before her.

Regardless, according to the local weatherman, we have a winter storm warning until midnight and it will snow on and off until then.  However, it is supposed to warm up tomorrow. Looks like Rick bailed out of here just in time.  As a side note, you will note that during this entire post I have not referred to the white stuff as what it is for saying the word "snow" is considered swearing in our household.

Hon, how do you like you Thursday picture?!!

Alive and Kicking

Rick left for Wichita this morning.  He'll spend tomorrow in Wichita and then drive over to Kansas City, which is from where he will fly home.  Rick doesn't usually have short trips, so it's nice to know that he will be home in two days.

What have I been doing?  Hmmmm......let me think.  Today I did some laundry.  I don't mind doing that chore.  I keep on top of it, so we never have mountains of dirty clothes.  Also, it's pretty easy when your washer and dryer are in your home.  Perhaps why I love doing laundry--yes, I said love--is because of the years I lived in townhouses and apartments that did not have their own washer/dryer, so I had to do laundry in the community laundry room in the basement.

I have also been busy with Scentsy.  The new Spring/Summer scents are coming out and I anxiously await for the testers to come in the mall.  If you are interested in having a Scentsy party, drop me a line.  You can have a home party or a catalog party.

MOPS keeps me busy especially with the Great Moms Walk coming up.  The GMW is a large fundraiser for my local MOPS group and there is a lot to do in the area of publicity.

Tomorrow is the big doctor's appointment.  I will be having three biopsies done.  Abnormal cells again, so this time my doctor is going the aggressive route by biopsying three different areas.  Not looking forward to the procedure at all.  I also am not looking forward to the results.

Today, Katie got a package from my Aunt Fern.  She received two little books.  One was a paper doll book that had stick on clothes and the other was a magic picture book.  The picture book is neat.  You use the edge of a coin or spoon to scratch the white page and slowly a picture emerges.  Not having seen that type of book before, I am intrigued with how it works.  Anyway, thank you Auntie Fern for thinking of Katie.  Katie loves the paper dolls and just like with the last one, we spent a fair amount of time sticking various clothing  combinations on the paper doll..

That's about it.  I just wanted to do a quick post so that you all know that I am still alive and kicking.

Nuggets of Wisdom

Nugget #1:  "Momma, you can't have your night-night clothes on when the sun is out."  (I was still in my pajamas at 11:30 am.  What a way to make me feel guilty!) 

Nugget #2:  "Momma I don't feel well.  (Katie has been a little under the weather.  We were at MOPS on Monday, so it is not a surprise.)  "I want ice cream for breakfast."  I respond with a no, which Katie volleys back with, "But it will make me feel better."  What a little shyster!

Recap Sunday

Rick and I bought a webcam and signed up for Skype.  We've, or I should say, Katie's been talking to her cousins in Pennsylvania.  She got to see her cousins' rooms and she showed her room to her cousins.  Unfortunately, her room was a mess.  Which brings up something I said to Rick, which was, "Great I have to keep the house 100% cleaned and picked up now that people can see it on the "phone."  It's an end of an era.

In Katie news, she has started accessing her day and commenting on what type of day it was.  She'll state, "I'm having a bad day." when she has been naughty.  She also saw an armadillo yesterday down at the shop.  They are ugly creatures, but Katie was not afraid and watched it for quite a long time.  However, she cannot say armadillo.  It comes out as "ittle-dillo."  I have been working with her on reading and writing.  Her favorite letter to write is "x".

Friday we went to the NCCIL (National Center for Childrens Illustrated Literature) with a few other MOPS and Moppets.  We had storytime and then created a craft.  Katie had to create a picture that looked like the music sounded.  Unfortunately, the speakers were not working in the craft room, so the instructor had to play the song on her iphone and hold the phone up to each child's ear.  After the craft, Katie and a few of her friends ran like maniacs in the gallery room of the NCCIL.  We then went to McDonald's and Kate got to play with her friend McKenzie.  According to Katie, "It was a good day."  I have been researching pre-K options for Katie which I hope for her to start attending in the fall.  We don't have any local options--well, we do but they are income based and Katie doesn't qualify--so I'll be driving to Abilene at least two days a week.  I have also been looking into pre-ballet classes for Katie.  Those classes are for 3-5 year olds.  She LOVES ballet.  The other day I bought her a little ballet outfit and leotards.  She is at her happiest when she is twirling.  Rick commented that she is just like her mother for you see after our wedding reception, I stood on the porch of the Grand Hotel and twirled and twirled while Rick rocked in a chair.  It wasn't the champagne, but I was truly happy and my wedding dress was made for twirling.

I have been staying up way too late--3 am or so.  Because of this I am getting up at 10 am.  I don't think I have slept in like this since I was a teenager.  All I know is that it seriously cuts into my day.

Tonight we are having dinner with some friends in Abilene.  I hope that Katie behaves herself.  The last time we had dinner with these friends, she acted up.  Rick was so mad!  He vowed not to go out to dinner until she grew up.  I think that was about nine months ago and we have gone out to dinner only once in those nine months.  Hopefully Katie has changed so it's not another nine month wait.

Below is a picture of Katie coloring.  She wearing Rick's slippers.  When Rick asked her why she was wearing them, she commented that her feet were cold so that is why she stole them.  She didn't care that Rick's feet were cold.

 

The other day Katie decided she wanted to nap outside, so she hauled her bedding and pillow outside and put it on the pool storage bench.  It was rather cold outside, but she didn't mind.  She never did actually nap, but did rest on the bench for a while--long enough for my fingers to go numb from the cold.

 

Well, it's past noon and I need to get my day started. Happy Sunday everyone.

Smiles In The Dark

Let me set the scene for you.  Katie and I in her bedroom.  It's 4 am in the morning.  (Yes, she was up at that awful hour working on mazes in her puzzle book.)  To get her to stay in her bed, I told her I would sleep with her.  I turned her light off and Katie immediately exclaimed, "Mommy, my eyes are black!  Turn the light back on!"  It made me smile.

Scentsy Sale

During the month of February, select Scentsy products are 10% off--even some of the combo packs.  You can check out the sale at my website at http://brendakirschner.scentsy.us