The Talk

Tim was asking so many questions last week on a particular topic that I decided to sit him down and have a discussion.  It was about time I gave him the facts.

Tim "So who is Willie's brother?"
Mom "Jase and Jep are Willie's brothers."
Tim "He has two brothers?"
Mom "Yes."
Tim "But who is Si?"
Mom "Si is Phil's brother and uncle to Jase, Jep and Willie."
Tim "Who is Miss Kay?"
Mom "Miss Kay is married to Phil and is Jase, Jep and Willie's mom."
Tim "Married to Phil?  Is he a dad?"
Mom "Phil is Jase, Jep and Willie's dad."
Tim "Ooooooooohhhhhhhhhh."
Tim "Who are Godwin and Martin?"
Mom "They are family friends."

I think we covered all the bases pretty well.
That should hold him for a bit.

Happy 16th Birthday Joshua!!

My baby. sniff

Special Education

Ah Tim.  My Tim.

He has struggled in school to get those sounds and letters to make sense and put it all together to speak words and write words and read words.  1st grade is hard.  He has had all of the interventions with reading and math help and the school asked permission to test him.  Permission granted. The results are in.  He has a real issue with his short term memory.  It is hindering his learning.  He will be put into a setting and working hard on that short term memory and he will be successful because that little boy does not give up.  Day after day he heads to school and tries his very best and concentrates and comes home exhausted.

Now my youngest makes sense to me.  When I have told him to make his bed, get dressed and brush his teeth and 20 minutes later he is wandering around naked with an action figure and asks to make popcorn....my directions just might not have registered.  I get it now.

Mommy will slow down.  Mommy will look you in the eye and give you one direction and ask you to repeat it.  Mommy will praise you for your diligence and stay the course and work hard with you and pray for your brain.  And I will be proud of what you accomplish and live everyday to see those dimples.

I love you Timothy.

I'm Skaaaaaaaaaating!

Since last summer I have been working at inline skating.  Took a fall on a hill and learned the wonders of road rash.  Now I skate at RollerDome in Minneapolis.  Getting ready to do my first 1/2 marathon with my daughter Sarah.  The thing I have not yet gotten the hang of is braking.  It seems so simple. Bend your knees and put your right heel down.  It doesn't happen that way for me. I have the right form but whenever I need to stop I just run into a metal waste receptacle.  It does the trick.  I showed Pat my brake and asked if something was wrong with it.   Indeed there was.  It was worn down to nothing.  When my new brake comes in the mail this week I should be able to slow and stop without the use of a trash can.  So excited!

Daydreaming

My feet were here last summer.

Student Led Conference

Timmers got to take the reins of his conference last week.  He grabbed his binder and led mom and dad to a place on the carpet.  It went something like this....
"Here's me.  I drew this.  I wrote that. I made this.  Here's another one I drew.  See?  Here's me. This. And this. And this. Oh and that." He flipped through the pages with lightening speed and then we got our picture taken.

The 10 second conference.  Amazing. And just so darn informative.

Truth In Town

Who Was That Kind Stranger?

Joshua loves a good tshirt.  The snarkier the better.  I picked one out for him for Valentine's Day.  It had the Superman logo on it.
Last Friday he told me that he was cruising to Pre Chem and a young lady ahead of him dropped her pencil case.  Pencils scattered everywhere.  Joshua unzipped his sweatshirt to reveal the superman tshirt underneath.  He helped her pick up every last pencil, zipped up and ran to Pre Chem.  The crowd that had gathered laughed and cheered.

BAM!

Tim wasn't feeling well last week.  He stayed home with me for two days and then headed off to Awana  where he ran to the bathroom to throw up.  After dropping ALL Streamers off I usually crank the tunes, sing at the top of my lungs in my empty car and drive home to my empty house.  I looked at my phone while in the garage.  9 missed calls.  5 missed texts from Pat.  4 missed texts from Josh.  I returned to church. I pulled up.
This was the conversation that Josh had with Tim.
Tim "Is that mom?"
I hit the curb with the car.
Josh "Yeah. That's mom."

Maybe They Do Listen

When I make supper there are usually 4 out of 6 that like it.  The moans and groans from the other two are met with my usual lecture. "There are children in this world that didn't eat yesterday.  They didn't eat today and they won't be eating tomorrow.  They have no food to eat. When they ask their mommies for food they will be told they don't have any food to give them.  How heartbreaking. We need to be grateful for what we have."

Yeah we know.  Blah blah blah.  Whatever mom.

This morning Griffen was doing his usual.  Meowing that there wasn't enough food or water and threatening to tip both bowls over if someone didn't meet his demands.  I asked Nathan to check on Griff.  I heard him say, "Griffen there is food right here see? (shaking of bowl)  And this bowl is full of water!  See Griff?  You have enough food and water.  You need to be grateful for what you have."

Happy 7th Birthday Timmers!!

It Is Time

to see.
Bifocally.

2012 Christmas Form Letter

Oh my.  Already time to put my thinking cap on and try to remember all of the things I was supposed to remember to tell you about my family. I will start with the cat.

Griffen is 13 years old.  He is actually lazier than he was last year.  He has to take naps after he gets done napping.  But since people keep telling me cats can live to be 20 I am feeling much more encouraged about him.7 more years of feline bliss. We helped him don his Christmas sweater this year complete with a santa hat and white beard. He loved it.  I could tell.

Tim. timtimtim.  He is becoming a big boy. I think.  Still working hard in 1st grade with numbers and letters. Trying to keep up with his older siblings and begging his parents for a dog. He gave mommy head lice for Christmas. If it weren't for Timothy my life would not be the same. He keeps us marching on.

Nathan is a thinker. A talker. A dreamer. A builder. All good and fun things.  He stumps mom on a regular basis with the questions he has.  Since his love language is physical touch we hug it out everyday. He has no choice. He had a benign lump removed from his forehead this year and has a small scar which is better than a benign lump.

Sarah loves middle school and all the socialization that entails.  She is focused on school work and straight A's. And inline skating with Daddy. 10 miles has been accomplished. She lost her hamster Lumpy in the last year.  The service was beautiful. Mascara is now allowed. She is growing up and mom and dad are completely against that. She says two words consistently. One Direction.

Joshua has transitioned to the life of a highschool freshman.  His shoulders and back ache with the 30 pounds of books that he carries.  He loves all of his teachers and enjoys telling upperclassmen that he is a junior. In the spring he will drive.  That's a very real threat. He volunteers with the 3rd grade boys Awana group.  He tells me that all they do is sit on each other's heads between verse recitations.

Carla began substitute teaching this fall. Wow. It is nice to get those brain cells working again in the classroom. She makes at least one child cry whenever she subs.  Wiped out describes her pretty well when she gets home.  She now sidewalk counsels outside of the 3rd largest abortion mill in the nation.  Planned Parenthood in St. Paul, MN.  Heart wrenching.  She still finds time for herself at Walmart and Aldi.  Her only goal at 47 years old is napping. With Griffen.

Patrick lost 63 pounds in the last year and inline skates like a pro.  He has met and exceeded many of his goals!! He works hard for the money and is also still involved with many things at Faith Community Church.  He puts up with so much from his wife it is a wonder they are heading into 19 years of marriage. Patience is a virtue.  So grateful to God for such a loving husband and daddy!

There you have it.  We are perfect. Our kids are smart, beautiful, accomplished and so much better than yours. We continue to do this life like nobody's business.  Yeah.  The Streams have it alllllllllllll figured out.

Merry Christmas 2012!!

An Extra Syllable

My Sarah has added two letters to the end of certain words.  I am doing my informal observations at home.  Trying my best to understand the appropriate usage.  I'll keep you posted but in the meantime her utterances sound like this.

"MommmmmUH!!!!"

"I don't knooooooowUH!!"

"That's not fairrrrrrrrrrUH!!"

"Why can't I UH??!!"

"NooooooooooUH!!"

No Title

The Things We Do For Love

Mornings.  Mornings here in the Stream house.  Oy.
Round One.
The Bigs are up by 6:15am.  After breakfast is frantic lunchmaking, hair straightening, back pack packing and hugs for Daddy.  I grab my coffee with cream and we are out the door by 6:50am. Josh to high school. Check. Sarah to middle school. Check.  Me in the car alone, sipping coffee and listening to talk radio.  Check. Check. Check.
Round Two.  The Littles are harder to rouse.  Nathan gets dressed and gets cozy in our bed to do his 20 min of silent reading. Basically they eat and talk, brush teeth and talk, get their gear on and talk. Tim can't find his pants, his shirt, a sock, his favorite car, his corn cob pipe or his button nose.  Last week he had a TIM SIZED meltdown but only because the night before my husband and I had talked about how he hadn't melted down for awhile.  Totally our fault.
This morning he couldn't find his ninja dude. It was in a pair of pants he tried on yesterday.  They were 3 inches too short and ripped in both knees and the orphan look isn't in this winter.  I threw them away. Piled them under drippy, oily, grungy things.  His ninja dude was in the pocket. It is 8:25am. We need to leave at 8:30am. The boy was beginning to freak.  I reassured him I TOTALLY KNEW WHERE THIS DUDE WAS!! I went outside, dug into the disgustingness and pulled out the pants. Side pocket? Nope. Side pocket? Nope. I prayed, "Dear Lord, I need this dude."  I was thrilled to discover a back pocket holding the ninja that I raised over my head in victory!! YES!


getinthecarhaveagooddayatschoolloveyouseeyousoonbye

Playing

I never had an opinion on school buses.  I am glad they bring two of my children home through the fog of yelling and swearing and carrying on but I don't give them another thought.

On the first couple of days of highschool for Josh I gave him a ride.  I parked in front and prayed over him and wished him a good day.  A school bus pulled in front of me and a school bus pulled in back of me and honked.  Constantly.  Neither bus left room for this mom to get out either.  What to do?  What to do?
I waited and listened to the honking. And made my move when the buses did.  Lesson learned.  I now avoid them as best I can and drop off the eldest somewhere else.  Joshua would like to devise some kind of video game that shows me avoiding school buses.  Driving this way and that while they all try to devour me.  Or maybe a game like Frogger.  I drive while they hit my van.  Either way it would need a name. Busser.  Mommer.  Leave the Bus Alone Carla!

Here It Is Again

The Repost I Post Every Year

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2008

PSA: Helpful Christmas Decorating Tips

There are a few guidelines we follow around here when it comes to decorating for Christmas. The first and most obvious to us is Christmas-Keep Out of Reach of Children. Joshua and Sarah are at the perfect age to stand in awe of the Tannenbaum, but I can send them to your house to do that. There are Littles to think about. So here are the Stream Family Decorating Guidelines.

1. When dragging out the fake Tannenbaum make sure the calendar reads December 23rd.

2. Find a small corner in the living room and jam the tree in.

3. Using heavy wire, nail that baby to the wall.

4. Use lights sparingly. Remember last year? Nathan ate a red bulb like candy.

5. Decorations are fine, but why spread them all over the tree? They eventually migrate to the top anyway. Start at the top.

6. If concerned about the lack of presents, make some decoys. Otherwise the real loot does not belong under the tree until the calendar reads December 23rd.

7. If the loot does make it under there early due to a fatal case of "Christmas Spirit" stand guard at all times with a roll of wrapping paper, scissors and scotch tape. Rewrap swiftly and consistently.

8. All other decorations are put on hold.

9. Except the manger scene. And the Santa cookie jar. And the wreath. And a paper chain. Maybe stockings.

10. Hang stockings from the ceiling.

My Youngest

heading off to Elf School.

Trying

I give fitness a minimal effort. I don't want to do it for weeks at a time and then I decide to step it up a bit.  It's cyclical.  I asked for and received ankle weights for my birthday. I figured doing some knee lifts would count as cardio and resistance training. Two birds.
While making tacos last night I strapped those bad boys on, cranked some music and did a little workout.  Step. Lunge. Hop. Flex those abs. Grapevine and a kick ball change, turn around and stir that hamburger.  I did my best. I was being active! I was multi tasking! I was already working off the calories in the tacos I was about to consume!

Tim rained on my parade by saying "Mom what are you doing?? You can't do that! You are too old for that!"

Lost

It is no secret in my family that I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag.  I am directionally challenged. I am ok with that now.  Whenever I get directions to somewhere I get nervous.  Driving to the Twin Cities is no fun for me.  It is a given that I will make a wrong turn in Minneapolis and find myself in Fargo, ND.  I can't backtrack either.  Left is now right. Right is now left. WHUT??  I do Google Maps and hastily scribble down the address neglecting to write the approximate miles or ETA.  Joshua Stream knows full well what it is like as I tried to get him to a weekend retreat and drove for a least an hour more than I needed to.  Good times.

I usually resort to having my GPS.
GO PAT STREAM!!

Shout Out

As a delightful consequence of growing older I seem to care less and less what other people think of me.  I carried that attitude to my daughter's middle school when she needed a ride home.  I noticed two 6th graders in front of the school working feverishly on a tree.  Digging at the roots with their hands, kicking at it with their shoes and then they took turns shaking the stuffing out of it.  I watched them and wondered if anyone else cared that this was going on.  I rolled down my window and yelled in my no nonsense mom voice, "LEAVE THE TREE ALONE PLEASE!!"  They stopped and stared me down as my daughter got in the van.  The tree was saved.  She was mortified.  Win-win.

Gratitude

I have tried to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. There have been seasons in my life of pity parties, comparison to others, depression and woe is Carla.  I received the book 1000 Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.  I was challenged.  The book itself was difficult to get through.  The writing style was not easy for me and the story of heartache for Ann was soooo sad.  BUT I bought a journal and began writing.  The big things, the little things, I woke up thinking of things to be grateful for and ended the day with them as well.  The pages began to fill and so did my heart.  To overflowing.  To bursting.  Somedays I couldn't wait to scribble IT ALL DOWN on paper before it flew from my brain.  I started on January 6th, 2012 and reached 1000 gifts on July 25th, 2012.  But why stop there?  I continue to write as God's blessings are never ending.

Just a few from me.

#32    A friendship of 32 years with Shelly

#43   Making others laugh

#215 A coat to match my eyes

#508  Feeling beautiful inside

#597 Grocery shopping with my daughter Sarah

#785  Mulch

#796  Thrift store treasures

#988   He restores my soul



If you are needing to be challenged in this area of your life please consider this book for Christmas. :)

Life Happens

We had some plans one night last week.  Since nobody had anything going on and all homework was done, Patrick was going to make a roaring fire in the fireplace and we would all snuggle and watch a show.  Family time!!
Here is the reality version.  Mommy started puking around 4:30pm.   Everything on the inside wanted to get to the outside in the swiftest way possible. Sarah was already feeling poorly and lying on the couch. Daddy got home at 5pm to find a massive virus on the laptop.  Like the kind that eats laptops.  He set to work on that.  I whimpered to Joshua to please make supper.  Mac and Cheese for himself and Tim.  Nathan wanted oatmeal.  Everything after that is kind of a blur for me. But I guess Joshua cleaned the kitchen, played Wii with the littles, got them ready for bed, read them a story and tucked them in.  Sarah and I found sleep and Daddy fixed the laptop after 3 hours.

Some days are like this.

Happy 9th Birthday Nathan!!

We love you so much!!

Aaaaaaand.....Cut

I am not well versed in the culinary arts.  If you have hung around here long enough you would know.  I have photos posted to prove it.
On last night's menu was meatloaf and squash.  I was told by my husband that the little squash can be hard to get open.  So I looked through an array of knives that might get the job done.  Paring?  Butcher?  Razory bread?  Steak?  Ginsu?  Good grief. I ended up using a butcher knife to get halfway through and another knife for resistance and cut my index finger.  Sliced. Tim helped me by yelling, "OH NO! NO WAY! NOT GOOD!"  And then he went to find Joshua. I wrapped the digit and kept cutting, I mean smashing the squash on the counter hoping just to break it open. Joshua came up and was instructed to make the meatloaf.  Throw that in and this and one of those and sprinkle that and set it in the oven!  Supper was delish, I am sporting some of Nathan's neon bandaids and a lesson was learned.
Next time we have squash I am going to set them in the street and run over them with my car.

Oh the Joys

Nathan got a bump in the middle of his forehead last year.  The details of how he received it are rather sketchy at this point.  He seemed to be continually getting hit there and so it stayed.  This bump turned a bluish color and set up camp.  Nathan hated it. He ordered it to leave. We were referred to a plastic surgeon who suggested surgery to remove it.  Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul, MN is one of the most amazing places EVER! I felt like an intruder as everything is geared for smaller people.  This affair lasted all day even though surgery took 15 minutes. The good doctor came to talk to Patrick and I afterward and said, "I have done these types of surgeries at least 800 times and I have never seen anything like that. Not in a bad way."  So we wait.  We wait to see what pathology wants to call it.

Nathan is so happy!! He loved all of his nurses and remembered each name and has made plans to have surgery there again someday.  He keeps exclaiming as he rubs his forehead, "It is just so flat, Mom!!"

Dear Younger Mom Friends

I once had four children under the age of 8.  I seriously on most days thought that I would never make it.  That I would lose my mind.  My life seemed so insane as the kids just did their thing and I tried to figure them out, and lead them like a sheperd mom of rabid feral cats. (James Dobson calls it "routine panic.")  I clearly remember watching the clock and when my husband came home throwing myself into his arms and sobbing.  I could never remember what I had done during a full day or think that what I had accomplished was much of an accomplishment.
Those years are behind me now.  I am not there. I am here. All four of my cherubs are now being socialized in public school. I miss them and can't wait to hear about their days spent away from me. Two in elementary school, one in middle school and one in high school. Wow. My work is not done though. My children need me more than ever to help navigate the path that God has them on.
When I ponder just how I did it only one thing comes to mind. One second, one minute, one hour at a time.  One bath, one diaper change, one nap, one bottle, one kiss, one hug at a time. And all of those moments turned into years.  And I miss them. Not everything about them. But most things.

You can do this mommies.  I am praying for you!!

The Last 7 Days

Got into a car accident last Friday. We are fine.  Rear ended. $4,000 worth of damage.  Just me and Timmers in the car. He was THRILLED!  I spent much time on the phone to insurance, body shop, etc. We now get a Town & Country to drive around for a week.  Fully loaded.

Nathan was sent home with head lice on Monday. I washed and dried and shampooed and vacuumed my way to exhaustion over those little buggers.  Every time I felt a scratch I started the whole insane routine over again.

Yesterday I lost my voice due to a cold. I spent the day in bed. Without lice I hope.

Incredibly I have felt an enormous sense of peace about the last 7 days.  I mean I took it all in stride and just figured this is life and it is what it is.

A huge step of maturity for me. sniff  I am gettin all growed up!