Friday, March 7, 2008
3's Circus at Shandon
Today was the 3's Circus at Shandon Methodist. It was so cute! The children were horseback riders, dancers, tigers, elephants, clowns, and muscle men. Bess was a horseback rider. She did a wonderful job!!! Baby Frank LOVED the performance. He even wore his cowboy sweater for the big day.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Eme's Party
Eme had her 4th Birthday at Country Adventures. Bess had a ball riding horses and playing with her friends! I could not get the pictures any bigger...I know they are hard to see!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Another CRAZY Day...Feb.20!
It was another crazy day with the Mannings. After I picked up Bess from school, I felt and heard the car doing something funny. I had to drop something off at a friend's house a block or two away from Bess's school, so I got out and noticed a big screw or something that looked like a screw in my back tire. It was making the loudest noise...air coming out of my tire FAST! Well, of course, today was the day that my cell phone was out of power (and I have not gotten a car charger yet). I tried Frank on his cell phone and my phone cut off on me right as it started ringing...Great...What to do?
Our house was right down the street so I decided to go home as quickly as possible, call Frank from my home phone, and charge my cell phone in the wall for a minute or two. Frank said for me not to drive, but that was not an option...We had too much to do today to be without a car. He said to go to Wal-Mart...Maybe a 5 min. drive. I grabbed Bess's ballet things, just in case and ran out the door. When I got back in the car the pressure in my tire had gone from 33 to 27 in maybe 2 minutes sitting in the driveway...The "normal" pressure in the other tires was 35 or 36. As I turned onto Trenholm heading towards Forest, the pressure began dropping faster and faster...24 then 19 then 16...Plus, we were stopping at every light we came to. At Trenholm Plaza I really did not think we were going to make it (and my phone now had maybe 1 min. max talk time on it). Frank was fussy because it was time for him to eat lunch and Bess would not stop talking to me...I was a nervous wreck. Finally, we pulled into Wal-Mart and my pressure in the tire was 7. It was completey flat.
The lady at the tire center said most of her people were at lunch and they could not even look at it for at least one hour and then it would take a while to get it fixed or replaced. Well, there was a Chick-fil-A nearby and luckily I had the stroller for Frank to ride in, so we were all set. Before we left, I called a friend with a child in Bess's dance class to see if she could possibly pick Bess up from Chick-fil-A. Of course, I had to use Wal-Mart's phone because mine kept on beeping that the power was fading. My friend said that was no problem at all so we were good to go.
We started walking to Chick-fil-A. After we got out of Wal-Mart's parking lot, we had to walk down a somewhat busy road for a minute or two before we got to Chick. What a sight!
We ate and then my friend, Juliana, picked up Bess for dance. Frank and I started walking back to Wal-Mart to check on my car. The lady said the new tire would be $140. Now that was the last thing I wanted to spend $140 on...But then, the technician said he might could fill the tire with air and patch the hole. This sounded MUCH better! Frank and I strolled around Wal-Mart and shopped for some birthday gifts (5 children with birthdays this weekend) while we waited. That saved me a trip to the toy store, which was great! While we were shopping, I was paged over the store intercom twice. I was not paying attention and did not hear the first time, apparently. Frank called the phone in the tire dept. (from his Caller ID) because I had used their phone to call him earlier when mine was out of power.
Another mom tip...Always charge your cell phone the night before...Plus get a car charger!
Anyway, we were done and ready to go. Wal-Mart only charged me $9.50 to fix my tire (thank goodness). I even made it on time to pick up Bess from dance at 2:15.
What a day!
Our house was right down the street so I decided to go home as quickly as possible, call Frank from my home phone, and charge my cell phone in the wall for a minute or two. Frank said for me not to drive, but that was not an option...We had too much to do today to be without a car. He said to go to Wal-Mart...Maybe a 5 min. drive. I grabbed Bess's ballet things, just in case and ran out the door. When I got back in the car the pressure in my tire had gone from 33 to 27 in maybe 2 minutes sitting in the driveway...The "normal" pressure in the other tires was 35 or 36. As I turned onto Trenholm heading towards Forest, the pressure began dropping faster and faster...24 then 19 then 16...Plus, we were stopping at every light we came to. At Trenholm Plaza I really did not think we were going to make it (and my phone now had maybe 1 min. max talk time on it). Frank was fussy because it was time for him to eat lunch and Bess would not stop talking to me...I was a nervous wreck. Finally, we pulled into Wal-Mart and my pressure in the tire was 7. It was completey flat.
The lady at the tire center said most of her people were at lunch and they could not even look at it for at least one hour and then it would take a while to get it fixed or replaced. Well, there was a Chick-fil-A nearby and luckily I had the stroller for Frank to ride in, so we were all set. Before we left, I called a friend with a child in Bess's dance class to see if she could possibly pick Bess up from Chick-fil-A. Of course, I had to use Wal-Mart's phone because mine kept on beeping that the power was fading. My friend said that was no problem at all so we were good to go.
We started walking to Chick-fil-A. After we got out of Wal-Mart's parking lot, we had to walk down a somewhat busy road for a minute or two before we got to Chick. What a sight!
We ate and then my friend, Juliana, picked up Bess for dance. Frank and I started walking back to Wal-Mart to check on my car. The lady said the new tire would be $140. Now that was the last thing I wanted to spend $140 on...But then, the technician said he might could fill the tire with air and patch the hole. This sounded MUCH better! Frank and I strolled around Wal-Mart and shopped for some birthday gifts (5 children with birthdays this weekend) while we waited. That saved me a trip to the toy store, which was great! While we were shopping, I was paged over the store intercom twice. I was not paying attention and did not hear the first time, apparently. Frank called the phone in the tire dept. (from his Caller ID) because I had used their phone to call him earlier when mine was out of power.
Another mom tip...Always charge your cell phone the night before...Plus get a car charger!
Anyway, we were done and ready to go. Wal-Mart only charged me $9.50 to fix my tire (thank goodness). I even made it on time to pick up Bess from dance at 2:15.
What a day!
Happy Valentines Day!
Bess and Frank had a great Valentines Day! YaYa came last night and spent the night with us. She took Bess to school this morning and Frank and I took Baby Frank to the Surgery Center to get his tubes. He did very well! Hopefully, this is the end of his ear infections. YaYa took some cute pictures of the children during her visit.
Bess is going over her class list to make sure she has a Valentine for everyone.
Bess is working very hard writing her name on her classmates' Valentines.
Bess and Frank are working hard on the Valentines!
Bess is getting some markers out of the drawer to decorate her Valentines.
Bess was excited to find a Valentine surprise waiting on her after school...A dry erase alphabet board and markers.
Bess and Frank smile for the camera.
Bess loves her "G Man."
Bess is going over her class list to make sure she has a Valentine for everyone.
Bess is working very hard writing her name on her classmates' Valentines.
Bess and Frank are working hard on the Valentines!
Bess is getting some markers out of the drawer to decorate her Valentines.
Bess was excited to find a Valentine surprise waiting on her after school...A dry erase alphabet board and markers.
Bess and Frank smile for the camera.
Bess loves her "G Man."
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Sun. Feb. 10..."Tips" from Sallie
I want to pass along 2 mother "tips." These are probably common sense to the average mother, but I'm not quite your average mother!
Tip 1 - When you hear your 3 year-old and your 1 year-old on the monitor first thing in the morning (sounding like they are in the crib TOGETHER!) do not roll back over and close your eyes...GO IN THERE and check things out! I shut my eyes this morning and just stayed in bed a good 10 or so minutes while hearing Bess and Frank on the monitor this morning. They started getting louder and louder so I finally went to check on them. Frank had on NO pajamas or a diaper...Bess had taken his clothes off and was trying to be a little helper and change his diaper for me. This could have been a bad situation, but luckily for me, it was not.
Tip 2 - When the ladies at the fabric store tell you not to use upholstery fabric on the crib bumper (The cow fabric that I happen to LOVE and could not live without!) because it cannot be washed, trust them!!! Frank took his pants and diaper off during his morning nap today and unfortunately for me, this time, got his bumper all wet...Well, I put it in the washing machine (anyway) and it is sitting out on the kitchen table to dry right now. At least we still have the cow rocking chair in Frank's room if the bumper is ruined! He might end up with a cowboy room and Bess's old pink and green toile bumper in his crib if his is messed up too bad! I think it might be time to bring out the duct tape. We had to use this to keep diapers on Bess, but not until she was around 2. Goodness!!!
Tip 1 - When you hear your 3 year-old and your 1 year-old on the monitor first thing in the morning (sounding like they are in the crib TOGETHER!) do not roll back over and close your eyes...GO IN THERE and check things out! I shut my eyes this morning and just stayed in bed a good 10 or so minutes while hearing Bess and Frank on the monitor this morning. They started getting louder and louder so I finally went to check on them. Frank had on NO pajamas or a diaper...Bess had taken his clothes off and was trying to be a little helper and change his diaper for me. This could have been a bad situation, but luckily for me, it was not.
Tip 2 - When the ladies at the fabric store tell you not to use upholstery fabric on the crib bumper (The cow fabric that I happen to LOVE and could not live without!) because it cannot be washed, trust them!!! Frank took his pants and diaper off during his morning nap today and unfortunately for me, this time, got his bumper all wet...Well, I put it in the washing machine (anyway) and it is sitting out on the kitchen table to dry right now. At least we still have the cow rocking chair in Frank's room if the bumper is ruined! He might end up with a cowboy room and Bess's old pink and green toile bumper in his crib if his is messed up too bad! I think it might be time to bring out the duct tape. We had to use this to keep diapers on Bess, but not until she was around 2. Goodness!!!
A Visit with YaYa and Big Daddy
YaYa and Big Daddy stayed and had dinner with us after Grandparents Day yesterday. Here are some pictures from the fun night!
Grandparents Day at Shandon
Friday was Grandparents Day at Bess's school, Shandon Methodist. The 3's, 4's, and 5's performed. It was so cute! We also visited her classroom to see what the 3's have been learning.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Feb. 5...Today was a great day for the Mannings!
Today was a great day for the Mannings. The beautiful weather had to help! It was so pretty that we all ate lunch outside in the backyard. Bess and Frank played hard from about 12:15 until after 2. The kids jumped in the jump castle, rode in the wagon, played on the swingset and just ran around. Frank took a very long afternoon nap, which is always a good thing! He was one worn out (and dirty) boy. The weather is supposed to be nice again tomorrow so hopefully, we can have another fun afternoon outside.
What a Day!
As Bess would say, "What a Day!" The day started normal...just like any other. Baby Frank and I left the house around 7:40, I dropped him off at Lauren's, and then I went on to school. I checked my messages on my cell phone around 9 and there was a missed call from Frank around 8:30. I called Frank back and he told me Bess was sick. She said her ears hurt. Since her tubes have fallen out in the past year, she has had maybe 2 or 3 ear infections. Of course, she told Frank that one of her ear plugs had fallen out of her ear in the bath the night before and I had gotten water in her ear. She said that was why her ears hurt. Who knows...Regardless, her ears hurt, and Frank gave in and let Bess have her pacifier and "Jammies" pillow.
I asked him if I should come home from school, and he said that he would take Bess up to his office until I got done teaching. He took her up there and she sat in a room and watched movies and was happy since she had her two favorites...pacifier and Jammies pillow.
After school, I went to pick her up. She really was not acting sick, but she said her ears still hurt. We actually had an appointment today at the ENT for Baby Frank so we were in luck. We then went to pick up Frank, came home, ate a quick late lunch, and then I tried to get a casserole ready for supper. Bess was watching Frank for me (they were both in his crib) while I cooked. I put the casserole in the fridge, threw some things in Frank's diaper bag, and we rushed out the door to the doctor. Frank had on no socks or shoes, his shirt was not the cleanest, and Bess had on mismatched socks and her hair was in her face (I'm not sure that Frank brushed it this morning), but we were all in the car on time...and there was a chicken spaghetti in the fridge that we could pop in the oven when we got home. I even remembered the forms I filled out for the ear doctor...This was going to be easy!
We got to the office and I noticed that the waiting room was about a fourth of the size it used to be. They were doing some remodeling. Great...The old children's waiting area was going to occupy the kids while we waited and it was gone...plus the stroller was in the car back in the parking garage! So here we were in a TINY waiting room that was filled with children and adults of all ages. Since I didn't have Frank in the stroller (not that it would have fit in the room anyway), I was holding him, watching Bess, and trying to get the forms and insurance card out of my pocketbook. Frank is a squirmer...I just about dropped him. Then, I saw a friend who was also waiting, so she watched Frank and Bess for a minute while I turned my forms in. She had already been waiting 30 min...How was I going to do this??? When I saw the sign on the wall that said "No food and drinks," I knew we were in trouble! I enojyed catching up with this friend, and her son and Frank are about the same age so they "played" together a little. Of course, Frank wanted my cell phone and her cell phone. He wants all things...whether it's cell phones, pacifiers, sippies, etc. He wants them all...No other child can have one! Anyway, Frank wanted my friend's cell phone the most so she said that was fine and I let her son play with (eat) my phone. During this time, Bess was being okay...What I had in my "pocketpurse" as she calls it seemed to occupy her. After 30 or so min. the boys were getting very restless. I was trying everything and nothing was working. Frank wanted to walk all around the waiting room, and he was especially interested in the bottle of a 9 month old little girl we met sitting near us. Then, my friend was called back (She waited well over an hour) so we did not have her cell phone anymore...This was not good!
In the meantime, my cell phone was ringing, but I couldn't answer it. I was pressing all the buttons and nothing was happening...This is a brand new phone that Frank brought home for me maybe 2 weeks ago. Then I opened the part on the back where the battery is and it was all wet inside. Note to self...DO not let children play with cell phones...esp. new ones! Okay, now the phone was on video and I could not get it to stop because I couldn't get the buttons to work. I had bigger problems to deal with than the cell phone, so I put it up and tried to keep Frank from getting other children's bottles, blankets, etc. while we waited. Bess was pretty good except that she wanted a snack and would not take NO for an answer. I kept on telling her the rules, and she was getting pretty restless.
Also, did I mention that this appt. was right in the middle of Frank's afternoon nap? With this ENT doctor, we had to take what we could get and if it was during naptime then we had to make do.
FINALLY we were called back to our room. What a sight for a 1 year old and a 3 year old. Bess was so excited about all the drawers filled with doctor stuff! She was not wanting to take no for an answer when I told her to stop, stop, stop. I had to threaten her with a pop. ..several times. How could I expect a 3 year old to act perfect, though, after waiting for so long with no kids waiting area. At one point, I was keeping Frank from getting into something and she had a drawer open and got one of those really long q-tips out and was trying to use it in her ears. Thank goodness the doctor did not come in at that moment, with a 3 year old going through his drawers touching things.
When the doctor came in, he looked in Frank's ears, and said they both looked bad...I guess that now makes 8 ear infections. He is getting tubes next Thurs. morning...Valentines Day. I'll have to get him a big Valentine treat! The doctor also looked in Bess's ears. She also had a double ear infection, and she will be getting another set of tubes and her adnoids (sp?) out in the next couple of months (or sooner if she has another infection before Spring). The doctor wrote some prescriptions and we were almost on our way. By the way, the doctor (being the very funny man that he is!) commented on Frank's nose...It seems extra bad during ear infections and he even wrote him a prescription for some medicine since it was almost raw. He said some moms come into the office and want to show him how bad their kids' noses get during ear infections. I assured him that I was not trying to show him this, but that I was trying to get a casserole made for supper before we left the house and I ran out of time. That is why the kids didn't look very neat!
Then, when I thought we were done, the nurse came in and asked me to sign some papers (since they will be giving Frank anesthesia next week). Bess and Frank both made a run for it out the door, and I tried to scribble my name and get after them. Frank was going through a trashcan in the hallway and Bess picked up the phone in the receptionist's area and was acting like she was taking on it. I had lost control...completely! I was trying to gather my things, the two kids, sign the forms, and still trying to press buttons on my cell phone because Frank was calling and I could not even answer my phone! I told the nurse, I didn't know if I should laugh or cry! We were finally done!
Now it was time to get the prescriptions filled and go home (and put our casserole in the oven). On the way home, Bess tells me she wants to go to the pet store and get a pet. This has been on her mind lately...NO WAY! At least, not anytime soon! She said she wants us to get a new gate and fence so the dog won't get out (That was my excuse for not getting a dog). She also said she wants a new baby sister. I can't seem to get it together with 2 kids and no dog...much less 3 and a dog!
We went through the Walgreens drive-thru and after waiting about 15 minutes behind 5 cars (I was not about to take the kids inside), we were told that it would be an hour to get them filled. That was fine...Frank could get them on his way home from work, except I could not call him and tell him this because my phone still did not work! In the meantime, I heard strange noises coming from Baby Frank...He was putting his hand in his mouth making himself sick in his carseat. It was definitely time to go home!
And the chicken spagehetti (that I doubled for a friend that had just had a baby) was very HOT...Way too hot for a nursing momma so there went that idea! When the recipe called for a can of extra hot rotels, I should have known...
What a day!
I asked him if I should come home from school, and he said that he would take Bess up to his office until I got done teaching. He took her up there and she sat in a room and watched movies and was happy since she had her two favorites...pacifier and Jammies pillow.
After school, I went to pick her up. She really was not acting sick, but she said her ears still hurt. We actually had an appointment today at the ENT for Baby Frank so we were in luck. We then went to pick up Frank, came home, ate a quick late lunch, and then I tried to get a casserole ready for supper. Bess was watching Frank for me (they were both in his crib) while I cooked. I put the casserole in the fridge, threw some things in Frank's diaper bag, and we rushed out the door to the doctor. Frank had on no socks or shoes, his shirt was not the cleanest, and Bess had on mismatched socks and her hair was in her face (I'm not sure that Frank brushed it this morning), but we were all in the car on time...and there was a chicken spaghetti in the fridge that we could pop in the oven when we got home. I even remembered the forms I filled out for the ear doctor...This was going to be easy!
We got to the office and I noticed that the waiting room was about a fourth of the size it used to be. They were doing some remodeling. Great...The old children's waiting area was going to occupy the kids while we waited and it was gone...plus the stroller was in the car back in the parking garage! So here we were in a TINY waiting room that was filled with children and adults of all ages. Since I didn't have Frank in the stroller (not that it would have fit in the room anyway), I was holding him, watching Bess, and trying to get the forms and insurance card out of my pocketbook. Frank is a squirmer...I just about dropped him. Then, I saw a friend who was also waiting, so she watched Frank and Bess for a minute while I turned my forms in. She had already been waiting 30 min...How was I going to do this??? When I saw the sign on the wall that said "No food and drinks," I knew we were in trouble! I enojyed catching up with this friend, and her son and Frank are about the same age so they "played" together a little. Of course, Frank wanted my cell phone and her cell phone. He wants all things...whether it's cell phones, pacifiers, sippies, etc. He wants them all...No other child can have one! Anyway, Frank wanted my friend's cell phone the most so she said that was fine and I let her son play with (eat) my phone. During this time, Bess was being okay...What I had in my "pocketpurse" as she calls it seemed to occupy her. After 30 or so min. the boys were getting very restless. I was trying everything and nothing was working. Frank wanted to walk all around the waiting room, and he was especially interested in the bottle of a 9 month old little girl we met sitting near us. Then, my friend was called back (She waited well over an hour) so we did not have her cell phone anymore...This was not good!
In the meantime, my cell phone was ringing, but I couldn't answer it. I was pressing all the buttons and nothing was happening...This is a brand new phone that Frank brought home for me maybe 2 weeks ago. Then I opened the part on the back where the battery is and it was all wet inside. Note to self...DO not let children play with cell phones...esp. new ones! Okay, now the phone was on video and I could not get it to stop because I couldn't get the buttons to work. I had bigger problems to deal with than the cell phone, so I put it up and tried to keep Frank from getting other children's bottles, blankets, etc. while we waited. Bess was pretty good except that she wanted a snack and would not take NO for an answer. I kept on telling her the rules, and she was getting pretty restless.
Also, did I mention that this appt. was right in the middle of Frank's afternoon nap? With this ENT doctor, we had to take what we could get and if it was during naptime then we had to make do.
FINALLY we were called back to our room. What a sight for a 1 year old and a 3 year old. Bess was so excited about all the drawers filled with doctor stuff! She was not wanting to take no for an answer when I told her to stop, stop, stop. I had to threaten her with a pop. ..several times. How could I expect a 3 year old to act perfect, though, after waiting for so long with no kids waiting area. At one point, I was keeping Frank from getting into something and she had a drawer open and got one of those really long q-tips out and was trying to use it in her ears. Thank goodness the doctor did not come in at that moment, with a 3 year old going through his drawers touching things.
When the doctor came in, he looked in Frank's ears, and said they both looked bad...I guess that now makes 8 ear infections. He is getting tubes next Thurs. morning...Valentines Day. I'll have to get him a big Valentine treat! The doctor also looked in Bess's ears. She also had a double ear infection, and she will be getting another set of tubes and her adnoids (sp?) out in the next couple of months (or sooner if she has another infection before Spring). The doctor wrote some prescriptions and we were almost on our way. By the way, the doctor (being the very funny man that he is!) commented on Frank's nose...It seems extra bad during ear infections and he even wrote him a prescription for some medicine since it was almost raw. He said some moms come into the office and want to show him how bad their kids' noses get during ear infections. I assured him that I was not trying to show him this, but that I was trying to get a casserole made for supper before we left the house and I ran out of time. That is why the kids didn't look very neat!
Then, when I thought we were done, the nurse came in and asked me to sign some papers (since they will be giving Frank anesthesia next week). Bess and Frank both made a run for it out the door, and I tried to scribble my name and get after them. Frank was going through a trashcan in the hallway and Bess picked up the phone in the receptionist's area and was acting like she was taking on it. I had lost control...completely! I was trying to gather my things, the two kids, sign the forms, and still trying to press buttons on my cell phone because Frank was calling and I could not even answer my phone! I told the nurse, I didn't know if I should laugh or cry! We were finally done!
Now it was time to get the prescriptions filled and go home (and put our casserole in the oven). On the way home, Bess tells me she wants to go to the pet store and get a pet. This has been on her mind lately...NO WAY! At least, not anytime soon! She said she wants us to get a new gate and fence so the dog won't get out (That was my excuse for not getting a dog). She also said she wants a new baby sister. I can't seem to get it together with 2 kids and no dog...much less 3 and a dog!
We went through the Walgreens drive-thru and after waiting about 15 minutes behind 5 cars (I was not about to take the kids inside), we were told that it would be an hour to get them filled. That was fine...Frank could get them on his way home from work, except I could not call him and tell him this because my phone still did not work! In the meantime, I heard strange noises coming from Baby Frank...He was putting his hand in his mouth making himself sick in his carseat. It was definitely time to go home!
And the chicken spagehetti (that I doubled for a friend that had just had a baby) was very HOT...Way too hot for a nursing momma so there went that idea! When the recipe called for a can of extra hot rotels, I should have known...
What a day!
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