A Glance Back

Somebody Wants a Baby

5rudbergs — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:41:49 +0000

Elsie pointed to one of the pictures on Stella’s birth announcement and said, “mommy, can we buy that baby?” I was laughing at Elsie when she stated, “we should buy a baby mommy.” “Why?” I asked. “Betause I’m drowing up!”

Wings In Heaven

5rudbergs — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:27:41 +0000

Driving to Costco this evening we listen to Elsie and Ava carry on their typical conversation.

Ava: “When I get to heaven I’m going to ask Jesus for a pair of wings”

Elsie: “I’m excited! I’m going to ask for wings too”

Ava: “Mom, will Jesus give me wings?”

Me: “I don’t know hon”

Ava: “I bet he will”

Elsie: “Yeah, he will”

“Eyes are the window to the soul”

5rudbergs — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:14:56 +0000

Last night at the dinner table it was the usual…..eating talking, talking-eating, and of course chaos. At one point during the meal, Matt and I were just looking at each other across the table. I didn’t realize that Taylor was watching us until she said, “why are you looking at each other like that?” We laughed then had to explain that we were talking with our eyes. “How do you do that?” Taylor asked. We shared with her the little secret…when you fall madly in love with someone and get to know everything about them, you will know what they are thinking by merely looking into their eyes.

I’m so thankful to have a husband who knows me so well, inside and out.

Intuition

5rudbergs — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:04:11 +0000

We were at Costco doing our regular shopping. Matt went his separate way to shop for the men’s retreat while I took the girls. Shopping at Costco alone with the girls can be a bit stressful. The endless begging for food, toys, and samples, along with the fighting makes for a not so fun experience. This particular night we were shopping at dinner time so the girls were hungry and extra crabby. Note to self: Never shop alone at Costco during the dinner hour with 3 hungry children.

On the verge of tearing my hair out, I finally finish my shopping. I arrived at the check-out, load all my items on the conveyor belt, keep the girls contained, all the while answering their endless questions. The cashier looks at me and says, “your Costco card is expired!!” with a snotty little expectant tone. I explain to her that our Costco card is through our church. And that I had recently spoken with the church secretary who assured me the membership had been paid. She furiously types on the register, looks at me and says, “you owe $130! How are you going to pay for that?” By this point I’m getting more than irritated as I feel am I being treated like a criminal. Mindful that 3 pairs of eyes are watching what I do and say, I remain calm and respectful . Again, I explain the situation and to my avail she calls over her supervisor. The supervisor was more than polite and keyed in some codes that would allow the transaction to proceed. (Now how hard was that?!)

As I stand there seething with anger, but holding my tongue, Elsie says, “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” until she finally gets my attention. “Yes honey?” In her incredible insight Elsie says, “mommy, she is lite the Debil!” Translation: Mommy, she is like the Devil! I’m thinking, “Did she just say what I think she said?” So I ask “what Elsie?” Again she says, “Mommy, she is lite the Debil!” I may have gone a bit overboard when I asked Elsie “what?” four to five times to ensure the cashier heard her correctly.

The moral of this story….Never underestimate the intuation of toddler!

“Skip being a teenager”

5rudbergs — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:23:23 +0000

Ava is STILL obsessed with smoking. Her fear of smoking might actually be getting worse. (We may need the help of Auntie Livy with some coping skills.)

Ava ceaslessly points out every single person she sees smoking or even smells smoke on. I continue to have to ask her not to point at people who are smoking. I have repeatedly asked her to whisper in my ear if she feels the need to inform me that someone is “SMOKKKKKKKKKKINNNNNNNNNNG!”

A while back I was trying to alleviate her fears about smoking. She got stuck on this idea that she HAD to smoke. I told her about being a teenager, and how her friends may choose to smoke because they think it’s cool. We talked about making good choices and making the right choice regardless of what her friends might do. Since that talk…the conversation somehow got twisted in her head to where she believes she will HAVE to smoke when she is a teenager. Countless times I have explained that it’s HER choice. She doesn’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to do.

One night when Matt was tucking her in, she became SO worried and worked up over having to smoke when she is a teenager. Matt finally decided to tell her that she could skip being a teenager. The next morning she proudly came up to me and told me that she was going to skip being a teenager so she would not have to smoke. Taylor who is standing beside me says, “can I skip being a teenager too?” with a very puzzled look on her face. Thanks Daddy!

Since then I have heard these statements from Ava….

“I want to skip being a teenager”

“I want to be a dog because dogs don’t smoke”

“Wait, I want to be a movie because movies can’t smoke”

“Mom, I just want to stay a kid my whole life”

Ava, if we could only keep this fear in you until you actually are a teenager! In the mean time, you keep cracking me up!

Bedtime talk with Daddy

5rudbergs — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:03:52 +0000

Matt’s tucking the girls into bed right now. From the living room I can hear bits and pieces of their conversation. Ava begins to ask Matt where the devil is. To that he replies, “the devil is in outer space.” Ava wants to know how you get there. Matt tells Ava that you can’t go there. Ava then tells Matt, “only bad people can live in outerspace with the debil. The ones who worship the golden man. Remember dad?” (I think they are referring to worshiping idols.) Matt is telling her something else which I cannot hear….then I hear Ava saying, “I don’t love other gods Dad. And I’m NOT following the Debil’s ways!”

Ava was telling Matt that if we lived in China you can only have 1 baby. Taylor and Ava discussed this with Matt for a bit then said….”we don’t want to go to China daddy. Do we have to go to China Daddy?” I hope I didn’t freak them out from our conversation earlier today. I forget how we got onto the topic, but I was telling them how fortunate we are to live in America. I was explaining to them that in many other countries the government is corrupt. I’m always amazed at how much information they retain and continue to process in those spongy little brains of theirs.

Girl Power!

5rudbergs — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:14:49 +0000

Typically I have to pry any information out of Taylor as to how her day went at school. Today when she got home, I hadn’t even had a chance to ask how her day was, and she said, “guess what happened on the bus today?”

Taylor began….”This boy on the bus said that boys are stronger than girls!” So Taylor did what I’d expect a daughter of mine to do…..she raised up her arms, showed him her “guns” and said “NA UHHHHHHHHH, Look at MY muscles!”

I guess she has a voice at school after all.

My most observant and vocal child…Ava

5rudbergs — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:23:47 +0000

Driving home we’re sitting at a stop light, as Ava looks into the car next to us she says, “mommy, that’s a fat girl!”

To that I say, “Ava, that’s not a very nice thing to say about someone. I would like you tell me something you like about her instead.”

Ava stares at her for a while and replies, “I like her hands.”

“What do you like about her hands Ava?”, I ask.

“They’re pretty?” Ava questions.

Not sure this is working???? I’m thankful the girl in the car next to us couldn’t hear Ava. I don’t usually get that lucky as Ava frequently points out someone that is “SMOKING” or a women that “appears” to have a baby in her tummy.

Moving up in the world

5rudbergs — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:45:29 +0000

Taylor is 6 1/2 and will start the 1^st grade tomorrow. Where has the time gone? My baby girl is growing up so fast! I can’t help but feel anxious as she begins another year of school. Starting something new has always been a struggle for Taylor….until the routine is established. I am praying that her teacher will be sensitive to Taylor and her needs…making first grade a successful year. Taylor is still reserved in social settings and quite painfully shy. My hope this school year is that she will adjust easily, gain the confidence she needs to speak up, ask questions, and HAVE FUN!

Taylor lost her two front teeth this Summer and look absolutely adorable. I’m not sure I’m ready for her to lose the “baby” look…but I know I can’t stop it. We’re about to embark on “the awkward stage.” Although she still loves me to sing to her, snuggle and cuddle with her….in so many ways she is changing and growing up so fast I hardly have time to adjust.

In many ways Taylor has been my most challenging child…but there is such a tender spot in my heart for her! Of all my children my heart has broken more times for Taylor as I watched her endure painful/fearful experiences. So many times I have had to hold back from falling apart to be strong for this little child of mine. I never knew being a mother could involve so much turmoil. I pray these difficult experiences will only mold and shape her character to be more like Jesus’. I anxiously watch and wait as Taylor begins a new chapter of her life! On to first grade she goes, it feels as if I’m having to let go more and more………