Earlier this month, Adam's Grandma Ruthie passed away. This was his mom's mother. Although it was somewhat expected, it was still incredibly sad. We were fortunate to spend quite a bit of time with her in Florida, so I came to know her well over the years. I have not had a living grandmother in some time, so I adopted her as my own. She treated me as one of her own from the very beginning.
She was an incredible person and I don't use that word lightly. She had significant health problems the entire time I knew her but never once did I hear her complain. She had a hard time hearing, and at the end was confined to a wheelchair. She never let it get her down, she was always the first to suggest an outing or to invite someone over. She'd put on her lipstick, comb her hair and be ready to go.
There was no one, and I mean no one that did not like Ruthie. She was so positive and always had a kind word to say. I really never heard her badmouth anyone. She was a very accepting person and not at all judgemental. I remember when Adam and I first moved in together, I was nervous that she would disappove. She sent us a roasting pan as a housewarming gift. That was just her way. Live and let live.
If you met her even once, you were always welcome to stop by if you were nearby. You would sit on her couch and she would offer you drinks and food until you finally capitulated and had something. Once she got you to have something she was still not satisfied until you had some more. You'd sit together and talk about all of your relatives that she knew about. You'd have to review their health, the happiness and what was going on in their life. After that topic was exhausted she would want to know everything that was going on with you. I'd then get the scoop on all of her family members and then she would gush over the great grandchildren for the rest of the time.
She was the center of that family and they will be adrift without her. She will be sorely missed.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Paging Dr. Dan
I forgot to add this to my Fresh Baby post. Molly and Henry recently went to the dentist. Molly needs assistance brushing her teeth but refuses to let me help her. Adam teases her and tells her that if she doesn't brush her teeth they will fall out and she won't be cute anymore.
Henry and I tell her that if she doesn't let me help we are going to call Doctor Dan and have him come over and brush her teeth every day. She recently informed me to "Call Dr. Dan" when she wouldn't unclench her jaw to let me get the brush in her mouth. I cannot believe how incredibly sassy she is already!
Henry and I tell her that if she doesn't let me help we are going to call Doctor Dan and have him come over and brush her teeth every day. She recently informed me to "Call Dr. Dan" when she wouldn't unclench her jaw to let me get the brush in her mouth. I cannot believe how incredibly sassy she is already!
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Preschool? We're Not Ready!
I went to the orientation tonight for Henry's new preschool. I met his teachers, saw his classroom and got a class list. Amusingly, there are 13 girls in his class and 5 boys. The room is the size of a closet so I think this is a good thing. Hopefully the girls will be a calming influence. I saw his cubby labeled with his name and his coat hook. School starts Wednesday. I don't think either one of us are ready!
Does anyone have any soap for their mouths?
Molly is incredibly fresh. She was doing something naughty recently and told me to "Call Daddy" when I scolded her. Calling Adam at work is what I sometimes threaten when they are being bad (how retro of me right?) so she was clearly taunting me.
When I threaten taking away a privilege like ice cream for dessert and ask her if she wants to stop doing xxx before I take it away she screams "No!" in my face.
Henry was racing around way too late tonight and I told him to go to bed. He said "I'm Henry Richard Schnell and I can do ANYTHING!" Clearly his disobedience and meglomania was not the intended result of a recent pep talk where I taught him these words.
When I threaten taking away a privilege like ice cream for dessert and ask her if she wants to stop doing xxx before I take it away she screams "No!" in my face.
Henry was racing around way too late tonight and I told him to go to bed. He said "I'm Henry Richard Schnell and I can do ANYTHING!" Clearly his disobedience and meglomania was not the intended result of a recent pep talk where I taught him these words.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Fun Henry Style
Henry is always making up wacky games to play with Molly. Luckily she is as weird as him and is always game. Their most recent one is playing "Being Born." This involves stuffing your head under the other person's shirt making them look pregnant. When you remove your head you have been born. P.S. This game always ends with an injury.
Fortunately Henry is not acting out how he thought childbirth happens. Two of his friend's moms are pregnant and he asked how the baby gets out. I told him the honest truth and he said "Eww, do they poop them into the toilet?"
Fortunately Henry is not acting out how he thought childbirth happens. Two of his friend's moms are pregnant and he asked how the baby gets out. I told him the honest truth and he said "Eww, do they poop them into the toilet?"
A Blank Slate
I love the age that Henry is right now. He is very knowledgeable about the things he has been exposed to but the rest of the world is just one big unknown.
We passed an advertisement for a TV show on a subway station today. It was a picture of the actors laying in piles of styrofoam packing peanuts and only their faces were showing.
Molly declared that they were taking a bath in popcorn. Henry corrected her and told her that they were swimming in a pool of marshmallows.
We passed an advertisement for a TV show on a subway station today. It was a picture of the actors laying in piles of styrofoam packing peanuts and only their faces were showing.
Molly declared that they were taking a bath in popcorn. Henry corrected her and told her that they were swimming in a pool of marshmallows.
More Funny Molly-isms
Recent quotes from Molly:
"What?" Said in a very snotty voice when you call her
"Relaxin!" The answer when I asked what she was doing sprawled naked on the couch
"Don't touch me!" and "Leave me alone!" Her responses when I tried to give her a hug while she was watching a show.
"No like that!" Said in response to many things that Henry does to her
You can imagine who she learned these wonderful phrases from right?
"What?" Said in a very snotty voice when you call her
"Relaxin!" The answer when I asked what she was doing sprawled naked on the couch
"Don't touch me!" and "Leave me alone!" Her responses when I tried to give her a hug while she was watching a show.
"No like that!" Said in response to many things that Henry does to her
You can imagine who she learned these wonderful phrases from right?
Such a Rookie Move
Molly loves to color. Loves loves loves it. I decided to go to IKEA today to buy her an easel since she loved the one at her friend's house. Why not get some paint too right? This for the child who covers herself with any marker she finds, colors on my walls...
This evening I decided to set them both up with the paint at the easel while I made dinner and unpacked the IKEA bags. Going well...why haven't I done this earlier? My poor little art deprived children.
First I notice the paint footprints on the wood floor. OK. Back to unpacking the bags and loading the new dishes in the dishwasher. Every three second "wash my hands" "wash my brush" "more paint!" Start the dinner and am interupted every 5 seconds to wipe paint from the floor or stop Molly from pouring her own paint. I look over an Molly looks like a teenage mutant ninga turtle with a swipe of paint across her face. They got paint on the refrigerator multiple times. Then the fighting starts. OK, time to pull the plug.
Dinner on the stove, kids covered in paint. Oops, can't give them a bath because I am waiting for the grocery delivery. Strip them in the kitchen and carry them to the bathroom so they don't get paint covered footprints everywhere. Swab Molly down and not noticing that Henry is smearing hand soap all over his feet and legs. Drop him into the tub to rinse his feet. Put him down on a hand towel b/c of course the bathroom is devoid of towels when you need them. Henry shouts "She's peeing on the floor!" Look down at big puddle of pee. Of course the doorbell rings at that exact second. Throw hand towel down on puddle of pee and race to get the door for the groceries. Convince children that delivery man does not need to see them naked and quarantine them to their room.
Answer door, try to put away perishables. Two naked kids, dinner on the stove, boxes of groceries everywhere, place is a mess with the packaging from the shopping. Get a diaper on Molly and Henry dresses himself. Molly is now rooting through the groceries getting her own snack. Throw 2 bananas into the monkey cage and run into the kitchen to rescue dinner.
Grab pork chops from oven and blazing pan heat goes through pot holder and I drop the pan. Oil splatters into oven dripping into fire and the stove starts shooting flames Slam door shut, turn off oven, start opening doors and windows in hallway to avoid smoke alarm going off.Smoke clears, feed Molly some dinner b/c she didn't nap and is going to bed early.
Adam walks in and of course is not hungry because he "had a big lunch" Henry refused to eat anything but a yogurt. I am as sick as a dog so I don't want to eat. Dinner goes in fridge basically uneaten except for a few toddler nibbles.
I am blaming my stupidity on the cold medicine that I am doped up on. Really that is the only explanation. Tomorrow I am going back to anesthesizing them with TV while I get things done. Really much more effective
This evening I decided to set them both up with the paint at the easel while I made dinner and unpacked the IKEA bags. Going well...why haven't I done this earlier? My poor little art deprived children.
First I notice the paint footprints on the wood floor. OK. Back to unpacking the bags and loading the new dishes in the dishwasher. Every three second "wash my hands" "wash my brush" "more paint!" Start the dinner and am interupted every 5 seconds to wipe paint from the floor or stop Molly from pouring her own paint. I look over an Molly looks like a teenage mutant ninga turtle with a swipe of paint across her face. They got paint on the refrigerator multiple times. Then the fighting starts. OK, time to pull the plug.
Dinner on the stove, kids covered in paint. Oops, can't give them a bath because I am waiting for the grocery delivery. Strip them in the kitchen and carry them to the bathroom so they don't get paint covered footprints everywhere. Swab Molly down and not noticing that Henry is smearing hand soap all over his feet and legs. Drop him into the tub to rinse his feet. Put him down on a hand towel b/c of course the bathroom is devoid of towels when you need them. Henry shouts "She's peeing on the floor!" Look down at big puddle of pee. Of course the doorbell rings at that exact second. Throw hand towel down on puddle of pee and race to get the door for the groceries. Convince children that delivery man does not need to see them naked and quarantine them to their room.
Answer door, try to put away perishables. Two naked kids, dinner on the stove, boxes of groceries everywhere, place is a mess with the packaging from the shopping. Get a diaper on Molly and Henry dresses himself. Molly is now rooting through the groceries getting her own snack. Throw 2 bananas into the monkey cage and run into the kitchen to rescue dinner.
Grab pork chops from oven and blazing pan heat goes through pot holder and I drop the pan. Oil splatters into oven dripping into fire and the stove starts shooting flames Slam door shut, turn off oven, start opening doors and windows in hallway to avoid smoke alarm going off.Smoke clears, feed Molly some dinner b/c she didn't nap and is going to bed early.
Adam walks in and of course is not hungry because he "had a big lunch" Henry refused to eat anything but a yogurt. I am as sick as a dog so I don't want to eat. Dinner goes in fridge basically uneaten except for a few toddler nibbles.
I am blaming my stupidity on the cold medicine that I am doped up on. Really that is the only explanation. Tomorrow I am going back to anesthesizing them with TV while I get things done. Really much more effective
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wild, wild girl
I have mentioned in past posts that my daughter refuses to wear clothing. I never really believed people when they said they could not keep clothing on their child; I admit I thought they were a bit strange and ineffective parents. Well, karma is a bitch and I have a nudist for a child.
When I tell Molly she needs to put her diaper/underwear/pull-up on she looks me straight in the eye and says "No." And then she adds "Being bad!" I chase her down, wrestle some clothing on her and she is in her birthday suit again within minutes.
Today I put a king size air mattress in front of our couch and the kids had fun rolling around on it all day. This evening before bed, the kids were having a treat of some cartoons and popcorn. Molly was sprawled out on the couch (naked of course), looked at me and with the biggest grin on her face said "Eating popcorn! Watching Teeee-Veeeee!" It clearly was a highlight in her life full of trial and neglect. Adam called them in for their bath and Molly stood up on the couch (not allowed) threw her arms out and did a swan dive onto the air mattress. She stood up, dusted herself off, looked at me and said "Taking my bath!" She marched down the hall, knocked on the door and said "Knock knock...who issssss it?"
When I tell Molly she needs to put her diaper/underwear/pull-up on she looks me straight in the eye and says "No." And then she adds "Being bad!" I chase her down, wrestle some clothing on her and she is in her birthday suit again within minutes.
Today I put a king size air mattress in front of our couch and the kids had fun rolling around on it all day. This evening before bed, the kids were having a treat of some cartoons and popcorn. Molly was sprawled out on the couch (naked of course), looked at me and with the biggest grin on her face said "Eating popcorn! Watching Teeee-Veeeee!" It clearly was a highlight in her life full of trial and neglect. Adam called them in for their bath and Molly stood up on the couch (not allowed) threw her arms out and did a swan dive onto the air mattress. She stood up, dusted herself off, looked at me and said "Taking my bath!" She marched down the hall, knocked on the door and said "Knock knock...who issssss it?"
Oh Wise One
This afternoon I told Henry that we needed to go to the store to buy dishwasher detergent. He asked "What's detergent?" I said "Soap." He said "Why didn't you just say soap?"
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