by Grant
I think that it's a no-brainer to realize that different people have different priorities. Another brilliant statement is "people are different." Well, I mention these because I (as well as others) tend to get tunnel vision in our lives. We think that people share our thoughts and attitudes about things and we are incredulous when they don't. I've noticed that as more and more happens in my life, two things happen. First, I am more aware and empathetic of other people and their problems and Secondly I have less and less time to do anything about it. I struggle with priorities on a daily basis. I marvel at those people that "have their act together." Because I know how hard life is with children (primarily young ones) both Rebekah and myself have a hard time imposing on others to help with child care. Generally this is done when there are Dr. appointments, but we've canceled several just because it's too hard. The girls haven't been to the Dr. in quite awhile so we can't tell you how much they weigh. But Rebekah did figure out (don't ask how) that they're about 10 lbs. Life is progressing.
This post is a bit maudlin probably because I'm really tired. I've thought several times that I need to make one thing very clear. We are very grateful for our children, family and friends. Although life is very challenging we are happier than we've ever been. This kind of leads me back to the realization that children fill a void in life (for most people).
For memorial day, our two families (mine and Tim 'n Keren's) went to a couple different parks. The weather was nice and it was fun to see the kids focus their energy in such a healthy manner. I'm convinced that the children of today don't expend their energy in positive ways. I think we ought to bring recess into high school. Tired kids (up to a point) are better behaved kids. I think channeling the energy of children is critical. Turning on the TV is too easy.
Thank you and good night.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
For those about to rear (children), we salute you.
by Grant
I was thinking the other day about some of the things that make a good wife and mother. One is being tough. I once dated a girl that looked really good on paper (stop laughing). I had just come out of a relationship that was a frickin' roller coaster ride. She (roller-coaster ride) was something truly special... and not in all a good way. Looks and personality in spades. But lacking a bit in the emotional stability department (did I say a little, I meant huge amounts). Anyway, back to paper lady. Paper lady wasn't the most beautiful chick in the henhouse but she had emotional stability (or so I thought) and important things like a correct religious persuasion, a good family, and frugality. Important things when dating someone that might end up walking off with half your stuff someday. But one thing she was not--she was not tough. She had very little stamina. I am thankful that my wife is a tough cookie. The other day we went to Wal-Mart and she insisted on picking up the dog-food to show me she could do it. I had to laugh as she hefted the fifty lb. bag up like it was one of our babies. One tough hombre my dad would say. I think that being tough enables a mother to sacrifice so many things in life. She (and most mothers) sacrifice their figure, time, sleep, sanity (occasionally), their immaculate (once again some mothers) house, hobbies, and many other things too numerous to mention. I think that being a parent, but especially being a mother, can be epitomized by the word "sacrifice." You have to be tough to make the sacrifices. Sacrifice doesn't mean you do everything for your children, but rather you make decisions that are hard in order to rear your children properly. You spank them when your heart aches because you know that its necessary. You make them work because they need to learn the skill. You curb their whining, you make them eat their vegetables, you take away their car keys (or phone), you ground them or pull the distributor cap off their car. You do all these seemingly fruitless things because you're trying by the sweat of your brow to instill in your kids what is good and proper. And it's a mostly thankless job. But I appreciate my tough Mom for all her sacrifices. And I know that my wife appreciates her tough Mom as well.
about the title:It comes from For Those About To Die, We Salute You (a saying to Roman Gladiators before combat)
Baby/Life Update: The girls are a blast when they're not fussing. They track (follow things with their eyes) well and respond to sounds differently. They also have different personalities. They're sleeping better. Life is slowly getting more sane. Forrest is pretty good pretty much all the time. He has really matured and I am proud of him. He helped me get Serenity dressed this morning and acts nothing but loving towards his sisters. Titus is becoming quite the character. He's been such a wallflower for so long and in Forrest's shadow that I marvel when his little personality asserts itself. He's a little more athletic and more of a daredevil. Unfortunately, he's also getting more rebellious which is really frustrating Rebekah. But I think he'll be a great kid once we get through his desire to assert his will. There can be only one (winner--to quote Highlander) and that's gonna be me.
I was thinking the other day about some of the things that make a good wife and mother. One is being tough. I once dated a girl that looked really good on paper (stop laughing). I had just come out of a relationship that was a frickin' roller coaster ride. She (roller-coaster ride) was something truly special... and not in all a good way. Looks and personality in spades. But lacking a bit in the emotional stability department (did I say a little, I meant huge amounts). Anyway, back to paper lady. Paper lady wasn't the most beautiful chick in the henhouse but she had emotional stability (or so I thought) and important things like a correct religious persuasion, a good family, and frugality. Important things when dating someone that might end up walking off with half your stuff someday. But one thing she was not--she was not tough. She had very little stamina. I am thankful that my wife is a tough cookie. The other day we went to Wal-Mart and she insisted on picking up the dog-food to show me she could do it. I had to laugh as she hefted the fifty lb. bag up like it was one of our babies. One tough hombre my dad would say. I think that being tough enables a mother to sacrifice so many things in life. She (and most mothers) sacrifice their figure, time, sleep, sanity (occasionally), their immaculate (once again some mothers) house, hobbies, and many other things too numerous to mention. I think that being a parent, but especially being a mother, can be epitomized by the word "sacrifice." You have to be tough to make the sacrifices. Sacrifice doesn't mean you do everything for your children, but rather you make decisions that are hard in order to rear your children properly. You spank them when your heart aches because you know that its necessary. You make them work because they need to learn the skill. You curb their whining, you make them eat their vegetables, you take away their car keys (or phone), you ground them or pull the distributor cap off their car. You do all these seemingly fruitless things because you're trying by the sweat of your brow to instill in your kids what is good and proper. And it's a mostly thankless job. But I appreciate my tough Mom for all her sacrifices. And I know that my wife appreciates her tough Mom as well.
about the title:It comes from For Those About To Die, We Salute You (a saying to Roman Gladiators before combat)
Baby/Life Update: The girls are a blast when they're not fussing. They track (follow things with their eyes) well and respond to sounds differently. They also have different personalities. They're sleeping better. Life is slowly getting more sane. Forrest is pretty good pretty much all the time. He has really matured and I am proud of him. He helped me get Serenity dressed this morning and acts nothing but loving towards his sisters. Titus is becoming quite the character. He's been such a wallflower for so long and in Forrest's shadow that I marvel when his little personality asserts itself. He's a little more athletic and more of a daredevil. Unfortunately, he's also getting more rebellious which is really frustrating Rebekah. But I think he'll be a great kid once we get through his desire to assert his will. There can be only one (winner--to quote Highlander) and that's gonna be me.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Ugh Ugh
by Grant
Caveman speak for "Hit me over head with big rock and put out of misery." My back is hurting really bad even though I've been trying to keep stretching the muscles (that's prounounced musKels, not muss-els). Today at work I was having a really hard time with the pain and extreme fatigue. I finally decided it was allergies or illness that was making me miserable and pled sick @ noon. I came home and slept for most of the afternoon, but as any mom knows you can never get enough rest when you're sick. But, on a lighter note I found some music stations on our Satellite which we didn't use to have. I found a channel called rawhide which is the kind of music my Dad always preferred. Less whine and twang than typical "country". I'm not sure if falls under my Dad's definition of "Western" (before it became Country Western) but it seems pretty similar. Titus is having a good time listening. He was dancing (hopping) around for a while, but now he's chilling out on the couch with his feet up in the air doing some kind of couch-dancing. Talk about lazy :)
Caveman speak for "Hit me over head with big rock and put out of misery." My back is hurting really bad even though I've been trying to keep stretching the muscles (that's prounounced musKels, not muss-els). Today at work I was having a really hard time with the pain and extreme fatigue. I finally decided it was allergies or illness that was making me miserable and pled sick @ noon. I came home and slept for most of the afternoon, but as any mom knows you can never get enough rest when you're sick. But, on a lighter note I found some music stations on our Satellite which we didn't use to have. I found a channel called rawhide which is the kind of music my Dad always preferred. Less whine and twang than typical "country". I'm not sure if falls under my Dad's definition of "Western" (before it became Country Western) but it seems pretty similar. Titus is having a good time listening. He was dancing (hopping) around for a while, but now he's chilling out on the couch with his feet up in the air doing some kind of couch-dancing. Talk about lazy :)
Aah bummer, I think it's just a free preview. Guess I still need a record player.
Oh, the girls are sleeping pretty good at night, but Rebekah isn't. Not sure why.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Pics for the fam
by Grant
Great-Grandma Jones, et. al.
Grandma Ballard
Deuce (Mommy left out to protect the photographer)
Not jealous, just regressing to baby states
Forrest proudly holding Liberty
Baby/Life Update:
Haven't heard anything more about my Dad. I guess no news is good news.
I was wracking my pea-sized brain the other day trying to figure out something for Rebekah and I happened into Rite-Aid. Hadn't been in there since it had been built about a year ago. Wandered around with my co-workers killing time and happened upon some dark chocolate. My wife loves chocolate, but I'm always concerned about buying foodstuffs for women that are concerned about their weight. My Mom, who looks great I think, never wants chocolate, cause then she'll eat it. (This confuses me, as I thought that's what you were supposed to do, but I don't question it). I say, women should be allowed to eat chocolate on special occasions like Mother's Day, Birthdays, Christmas, Columbus day, sunrise, sunset, children nap times, etc. etc. etc. Well, I pondered over what dark chocolate to get as they actually had a decent selection (I think Wal-Mart has two types). I had selected a couple bars and then thought, why don't I just get one of each. So I got Cadbury royal Dark, Hershey Cacao 60%, Giardelli 70% Cacao, Heart of Africa Dark Chocolate, Sinfully Dark, black-hole dark, and absence of light Dark. Ok, those last few I made up cause I couldn't remember the names, but the most highly concentrated one contained 85% Cacao. That's pretty pure baby. You just lick a square of chocolate and you're high for a day. Don't actually take a bite or you'll overdose and give your husband a passionate kiss.
Great-Grandma Jones, et. al.
Grandma Ballard
Deuce (Mommy left out to protect the photographer)
Not jealous, just regressing to baby states
Forrest proudly holding Liberty
Baby/Life Update:
Haven't heard anything more about my Dad. I guess no news is good news.
I was wracking my pea-sized brain the other day trying to figure out something for Rebekah and I happened into Rite-Aid. Hadn't been in there since it had been built about a year ago. Wandered around with my co-workers killing time and happened upon some dark chocolate. My wife loves chocolate, but I'm always concerned about buying foodstuffs for women that are concerned about their weight. My Mom, who looks great I think, never wants chocolate, cause then she'll eat it. (This confuses me, as I thought that's what you were supposed to do, but I don't question it). I say, women should be allowed to eat chocolate on special occasions like Mother's Day, Birthdays, Christmas, Columbus day, sunrise, sunset, children nap times, etc. etc. etc. Well, I pondered over what dark chocolate to get as they actually had a decent selection (I think Wal-Mart has two types). I had selected a couple bars and then thought, why don't I just get one of each. So I got Cadbury royal Dark, Hershey Cacao 60%, Giardelli 70% Cacao, Heart of Africa Dark Chocolate, Sinfully Dark, black-hole dark, and absence of light Dark. Ok, those last few I made up cause I couldn't remember the names, but the most highly concentrated one contained 85% Cacao. That's pretty pure baby. You just lick a square of chocolate and you're high for a day. Don't actually take a bite or you'll overdose and give your husband a passionate kiss.
Friday, May 11, 2007
My Dad
by Grant
My Dad is still struggling. He had to go to the emergency room last night because he was feeling so poorly, but they didn't find anything specific. Frustrating because they can't pinpoint the problem until he has something major (like a heart attack). I will know more later.
My Dad is still struggling. He had to go to the emergency room last night because he was feeling so poorly, but they didn't find anything specific. Frustrating because they can't pinpoint the problem until he has something major (like a heart attack). I will know more later.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Simpsons word of this day
by Grant
Protagonist. You've all heard of antagonist, but how often do you use its polar opposite? I actually use it fairly frequently when I wish to appear smarter than the average polar bear. Protagonist roughly translates to hero, but that's not exact. The main character in a movie that's the "good" guy is the protagonist. The bad guy is the antagonist. Man, my fingers don't want to type those words. I was telling a friend about a movie which features a woman in a very aggressive role and I pondered whether women were protagonists (wondering if the word was gender neutral or if there was a specific female version. Like heroine is the female version of hero -- although nobody uses it anymore). My friend, who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty, was of the opinion that women could never be protagonists, but rather that they were always and forever the antagonist. Thankfully, nobody of the female persuasion was within strangling range.
BTW, did you know that vendetta is an Italian word?
Baby/Life Update:
I'm alone with the boys trying to tap out this blog before they beat me about the head and shoulders in their insistence to go outside. The girls had a "check-up" with a Child Development person. I guess that they're right on track and probably a little bit ahead in some cases. That's good news. It's very common for preemies to always be behind, but although the girls are small they're doing well. We've had some interesting instances of favoritism amongst the sub teen girls in our social circle. Basically, one baby is preferred over the other. I find this incredibly odd since, well, THEY'RE IDENTICAL TWINS! I won't go into any more details other than to mention that I have banned baby holding by non-adults during social events containing multiple families. This is the last thing I need.
Protagonist. You've all heard of antagonist, but how often do you use its polar opposite? I actually use it fairly frequently when I wish to appear smarter than the average polar bear. Protagonist roughly translates to hero, but that's not exact. The main character in a movie that's the "good" guy is the protagonist. The bad guy is the antagonist. Man, my fingers don't want to type those words. I was telling a friend about a movie which features a woman in a very aggressive role and I pondered whether women were protagonists (wondering if the word was gender neutral or if there was a specific female version. Like heroine is the female version of hero -- although nobody uses it anymore). My friend, who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty, was of the opinion that women could never be protagonists, but rather that they were always and forever the antagonist. Thankfully, nobody of the female persuasion was within strangling range.
BTW, did you know that vendetta is an Italian word?
Baby/Life Update:
I'm alone with the boys trying to tap out this blog before they beat me about the head and shoulders in their insistence to go outside. The girls had a "check-up" with a Child Development person. I guess that they're right on track and probably a little bit ahead in some cases. That's good news. It's very common for preemies to always be behind, but although the girls are small they're doing well. We've had some interesting instances of favoritism amongst the sub teen girls in our social circle. Basically, one baby is preferred over the other. I find this incredibly odd since, well, THEY'RE IDENTICAL TWINS! I won't go into any more details other than to mention that I have banned baby holding by non-adults during social events containing multiple families. This is the last thing I need.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Tiny (Titus) Dancer
He does good until he sees the camera. And no, he's not imitating me.
Tiny Dancer comes from an Elton John song. I got it from the animated movie "Open Season" which although somewhat anti-hunting is a delightful romp. Let's face it, any movie I can watch 100 times and not vomit is pretty good. I finally got to vomit stage on Disney's "Cars" after about 150 times. Maybe 125. I think I only got to 30 on Ice Age 2.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Too Funny
by Grant
Ok, maybe not, but I think it's good. I'm sitting here w/ my laptop doing some work and reading some news articles. I pulled up an article on Paris Hilton and her jailbound fun. Titus is sitting on my lap (biting my coffee cup w/ his teeth for fun) and he saw a picture of Paris Hilton and he said "cock-a-doodle-doo"
I guess she looks like a chicken or a rooster or something.
Ok, maybe not, but I think it's good. I'm sitting here w/ my laptop doing some work and reading some news articles. I pulled up an article on Paris Hilton and her jailbound fun. Titus is sitting on my lap (biting my coffee cup w/ his teeth for fun) and he saw a picture of Paris Hilton and he said "cock-a-doodle-doo"
I guess she looks like a chicken or a rooster or something.
Follow-up on Record Player
by Grant
Thanks to my brother, my Aunt, and the Sanfords for responding. I found a really nice one that's very nostalgic that does what I want for $150 (regular $250). This would be nice because it is new and I could buy needles (very difficult for older ones). However, I'm not sure if I can justify that or not. One of my fondest memories growing up was listening to the record player, which is odd because it wasn't that frequent. Dad always played Christmas records so that's a big part of the season for me. Or at least it was. This last Christmas probably went down as one of the worst ever because Rebekah was in the hospital. But the record that I remember the most was "How the West was Won." Methinks this is because there was a cool painting on the album cover of a train falling off a railroad trestle. You could see logs breaking loose from train cars and people scrambling to save themselves, in vain I might add.
Baby/Life Update:
Keren and Tim watched the girls one night so Rebekah got probably her first full nights sleep in a couple months. I guess it went pretty well and they enjoyed it. The boys have colds so they're a bit crabbier than normal. Rebekah and the boys went with me to get more rocks. That was arduous. But the migrant worker drove by and stopped to look at an irrigation ditch and the boys said "Dad, there's Leo!" Pretty funny that they remembered his name. Even funnier that a south of the border dude is named Leo.
Right now we're moderating fights over a new toy tractor. Why do we bother?
Thanks to my brother, my Aunt, and the Sanfords for responding. I found a really nice one that's very nostalgic that does what I want for $150 (regular $250). This would be nice because it is new and I could buy needles (very difficult for older ones). However, I'm not sure if I can justify that or not. One of my fondest memories growing up was listening to the record player, which is odd because it wasn't that frequent. Dad always played Christmas records so that's a big part of the season for me. Or at least it was. This last Christmas probably went down as one of the worst ever because Rebekah was in the hospital. But the record that I remember the most was "How the West was Won." Methinks this is because there was a cool painting on the album cover of a train falling off a railroad trestle. You could see logs breaking loose from train cars and people scrambling to save themselves, in vain I might add.
Baby/Life Update:
Keren and Tim watched the girls one night so Rebekah got probably her first full nights sleep in a couple months. I guess it went pretty well and they enjoyed it. The boys have colds so they're a bit crabbier than normal. Rebekah and the boys went with me to get more rocks. That was arduous. But the migrant worker drove by and stopped to look at an irrigation ditch and the boys said "Dad, there's Leo!" Pretty funny that they remembered his name. Even funnier that a south of the border dude is named Leo.
Right now we're moderating fights over a new toy tractor. Why do we bother?
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