We had a very exciting anniversary supper Saturday night at Red Robin with our 3-ring circus in tow, and I got a little perspective. While our children were quietly enjoying their onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and chocolate milk (yes, that’s what I feed my kids at restaurants), at the table in front of me was an 18 month-old whose mom was making a bottle for her. And at the table to my left was a 2 year-old wearing a bib who kept spilling his drink, taking the straw out, and climbing on everyone. It was at that moment that I … Read the rest
Post Vacation Stress Disorder
That’s a thing, right?
So here’s a glimpse into the kind of mother I really am. When we drove to Valparaiso to meet my parents and get the kids, I wasn’t waiting in anticipation, eager to get my little lovelies back. I wasn’t longing to hug them. I was thinking, “But my house is clean. The dishes are done. The laundry is done. Their beds are made. The bathrooms are clean. The toilets are actually flushed.”
For three full days, we were quiet and calm. We could be crazy if we wanted to, but we didn’t want to. Because,
… Read the rest Wednesday Wit: August 4, 2010
Me: Ada, can I have a bite of your cinnamon-sugar toast?
Ada: Ummm…. you can make your own and have a bite of that.
Ada: Can I have more celery?
Me: No, you have to eat everything on your plate before you have any seconds. That’s the rule.
Ada: Well that’s a bad rule. Here’s my rule. When I ask for food, I can have it. Is that a deal?
(Now Chad is laughing really hard and I’m the only one parenting)
The kids went swimming with my parents and Don and Carol last weekend. Ada convinced Carol to jump
… Read the rest Our Vacation
We took the kids to my parents’ house Wednesday, and get them back today (Sunday) as our annual anniversary break. It was quiet, restful, and so much fun. Here were some of my observations:
– It was so nice to just spontaneously decide to do something, and we left right then. No hounding children to get their shoes on, breaking up fights over who’s first in line or who gets to open the car door. We just left.
– Every night I almost turned on the monitor. The kids all sleep upstairs, and we sleep downstairs. So without a
… Read the rest Wednesday Wit: July 29, 2010
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Hey mom, I know how to spell DVD.
Ada: These are my Monday clothes, and tomorrow I’ll wear my Tuesday clothes.
Me: But today is Tuesday.
Ada: Well the calendar got ahead of me, but that’s ok.
Me: Ada, your clothes don’t match.
Ada: They don’t care.
“Thank you Lord for Ada, for her spunk and sass. I believe that someday this will be her ‘gift’ from you, that no one can push her around, that no one will pressure her into anything, that she has incredible self-confidence and knows who she is. Give us wisdom to guide that
… Read the rest My “favorite big girl” is almost 7
In 2 days Grace will be 7. I will have a 2nd grader. I really can’t believe it. This one sweet girl who started it all will be 7. Tonight she’s going on a date with her daddy to Chick Fil A (she really wants an Oreo milkshake) then to Toys R Us to pick out her present. Before you call that laziness, you need to understand that the girl loves to shop. Having that time with daddy will be more precious to her than merely opening a present in 5 seconds. She’ll get to talk to him tonight with … Read the rest
My Honda Odyssey
I, Janna Orlikowski, do hereby recant any negative or ill-willed comment I may have made about vans in the past. (I DO NOT, however, take anything back about station wagons).
I drove a van for 6 years until it came time to get another car and we (I) decided it was my turn to get something different, and Chad got the van. So I got a Chrysler Pacifica and loved it. Except for the times when I couldn’t fit a week’s worth of groceries in the back without rearranging seats, or the times we have to take a car-top carrier
… Read the rest Here goes nothin’
Well, here I am. Attempting a blog. I know, I know, you’re all thinking, “Finally!” Or…. maybe not.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to do a fair amount of thinking when I’m in bed wishing, praying to be sleeping. It’s probably because the other 4 people in the house are sleeping and I can actually finish a thought. Kind of like when you take a dog for a walk and it pulls you most of the way because it’s so darned excited. Last night I was thinking about how moms are really pioneers. Stay with me here. … Read the rest