Blue Jeans
Maggie got a copy of Tangled for Easter. As a result we've been watching the movie on a regular basis on these rainy afternoons when the kids have been restless and normal activities are not occupying their time.
Today, after swimming lessons, while Maggie is eating peanut butter crackers, we have this conversation:
Maggie: Can I play Barbies in my room after Whitaker wakes up from his nap?
Me: Sure you can.
Maggie: Momma. I need to get thin wire.
Me: Um, Ok. Why?
Maggie (in a haughty, you ought to already know tone): You know! For blue jeans.
Me: Wait? Who's blue jeans. Why do you need thin wire for blue jeans?
Maggie: For Rapunzel
Me: Oh, you mean your horse? Did you name her Blue Jeans ? (here I was thinking I was cleverly catching on to her train of thought by remembering that in the Hannah Montana movie, she has a horse named Blue Jeans so I thought Maggie had named her Barbie horse Blue Jeans). What are you going to do with thin wire and Blue Jeans?
Maggie: I need Blue Jeans so he can marry Rapunzel
Me: I still don't understand why you need thin wire!?
Maggie, thoroughly exasperated with me: Mooooommmmmaaaaa! Thin Wire is Blue Jeans. That's hims real name in the movie. When he's a stealer, he's Thin Wire, when he's gonna marry Rapunzel, he's Blue Jeans.
Let me introduce to you Flynn Rider also known around our house as Thin Wire. His real name is Eugene or around our house he's Blue Jeans.
I'm so thankful I can count on my kids to provide some comic relief to my day. I wish I could capture in printed word the frustration, irritation and exasperation in Maggie's tone as we were having this discussion.
I'm trying not to think about the fact that in just a few short years, she may be speaking to me in that tone all the time.
In case you were in need of some more clarification about the characters of Tangled and all things Disney:
the horse in Tangled is named Mass-i-mus.
Cinderella has a fairy godmudder because fairy godmudders are good.
It turns out that Mother Gothel, the woman who steals Rapunzel from her Royal parents, is a Fodder-god-mudder. Fodder-god-mudders are bad.
I'm glad we don't have any Fodder-god-mudders around here.
Today, after swimming lessons, while Maggie is eating peanut butter crackers, we have this conversation:
Maggie: Can I play Barbies in my room after Whitaker wakes up from his nap?
Me: Sure you can.
Maggie: Momma. I need to get thin wire.
Me: Um, Ok. Why?
Maggie (in a haughty, you ought to already know tone): You know! For blue jeans.
Me: Wait? Who's blue jeans. Why do you need thin wire for blue jeans?
Maggie: For Rapunzel
Me: Oh, you mean your horse? Did you name her Blue Jeans ? (here I was thinking I was cleverly catching on to her train of thought by remembering that in the Hannah Montana movie, she has a horse named Blue Jeans so I thought Maggie had named her Barbie horse Blue Jeans). What are you going to do with thin wire and Blue Jeans?
Maggie: I need Blue Jeans so he can marry Rapunzel
Me: I still don't understand why you need thin wire!?
Maggie, thoroughly exasperated with me: Mooooommmmmaaaaa! Thin Wire is Blue Jeans. That's hims real name in the movie. When he's a stealer, he's Thin Wire, when he's gonna marry Rapunzel, he's Blue Jeans.
Let me introduce to you Flynn Rider also known around our house as Thin Wire. His real name is Eugene or around our house he's Blue Jeans.
I'm so thankful I can count on my kids to provide some comic relief to my day. I wish I could capture in printed word the frustration, irritation and exasperation in Maggie's tone as we were having this discussion.
I'm trying not to think about the fact that in just a few short years, she may be speaking to me in that tone all the time.
In case you were in need of some more clarification about the characters of Tangled and all things Disney:
the horse in Tangled is named Mass-i-mus.
Cinderella has a fairy godmudder because fairy godmudders are good.
It turns out that Mother Gothel, the woman who steals Rapunzel from her Royal parents, is a Fodder-god-mudder. Fodder-god-mudders are bad.
I'm glad we don't have any Fodder-god-mudders around here.
Random Conversations with my Children
I know that this post will have no real appeal to anyone outside of my family, but since the main goal of this blog is for me to have a record of the things my family does, I thought that it was time to put together a post of Random Conversations with my children.
Momma: Maggie? Why did you spread your curtain that fell down all across the floor last night?
Walker recently went to the dentist and came home with a goody bag filled with a new toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. He left it in his Dad's truck but then asked Maggie to carry it to the house for him.
Maggie: Because a BIG cwocodile and a wittle cwocadile was gonna get me.
Momma: What were you more afraid of, the big one or the little one?
Maggie: Well, I sure wasn't afraid of the wittle one!
The children have been expressing a great deal of interest in what is going to happen to me as I get closer to my due date. Unfortunately/fortunately, they are pretty aware of the actual birthing process having watched a wide variety of animals give birth on the farm. Walker has expressed some anxiety over all the doctor appointments so we recently had him come with us. It was a busy day - I had to do a one hour glucose test where I drank a sugary orange drink (I found out that this drink contains 3x more sugar than a Mountain Dew soft drink!) and then after waiting for one hour, I have blood drawn. In the one hour wait time, we took Walker to the maternity ward, showed him the rooms and the nursery. He wasn't too impressed. Then we headed back to the lab to get the blood work. He wanted to come in and see what happened and was sitting in a chair across from me. He was a little scared but I just explained that the phlebotomist would stick a needle in my arm kind of like a shot and blood would come out through a tube and fill a little vase. He watched with a little horror as she inserted the needle, but the we could see him straining to see. The phlebotomist told him he could come over closer to see. So he watched me fill up to vials of blood.
Phlebotomist: Here's one vial of blood - all filled up. Touch it, it's very warm.
Walker: Momma! I didn't know your blood was so hot!
Phlebotomist: Ok. We got two tubes so we're all done.
Walker with great disappointment: Aw. Can't we just do another one?
I admit with some shame that occasionally we are those parents that threaten the kids with a wooden spoon. We've never actually had to use it really, just the threat scares them pretty good because I have told them stories of my mom hitting me with a wooden spoon or the 'pank turner (pancake turner/spatula) and I make it sound so gruesome that they know it will really hurt. The other night, Walker and Maggie were whining a great deal about cleaning up the toys they had gotten out.
Erik said threatening: Where is that wooden spoon?
Will, running into the kitchen: I get it for you, Daddy!
Walker picking his teeth with his fingernails: Momma. What did Maggie do with my gloss?
Momma: Gloss? I don't think you have any lip gloss, buddy.
Walker: No - my GLOSS! For my teeth!
Momma: Oh - your dental floss. Yeah, it's in the cupboard with the toothbrushes.
It has been a beautiful and sunny week here at Goodness Grows Farm. Yesterday, the children spent hours outside. Rather than come in the house and ask for one, they kids decided they would just get in the car and raid the stash of lollipops I keep in there for emergency bribe moments. So yesterday afternoon, Will comes in the house with a lollipop and says:
Will (with a big smile on his face and laughter in his voice: Momma. Chloe like me pop. So funny.
Momma (a little stricken, but complacent in only the way a farm mom can be when her children tell her about sharing their food with the pets): Oh yeah? Chloe likes lime lollipops, huh?
Will: Yeah. Her say 'Yummy in my tummy'! Then makes a big slurping noise.
It has been a beautiful and sunny week here at Goodness Grows Farm. Yesterday, the children spent hours outside. Rather than come in the house and ask for one, they kids decided they would just get in the car and raid the stash of lollipops I keep in there for emergency bribe moments. So yesterday afternoon, Will comes in the house with a lollipop and says:
Will (with a big smile on his face and laughter in his voice: Momma. Chloe like me pop. So funny.
Momma (a little stricken, but complacent in only the way a farm mom can be when her children tell her about sharing their food with the pets): Oh yeah? Chloe likes lime lollipops, huh?
Will: Yeah. Her say 'Yummy in my tummy'! Then makes a big slurping noise.
Will (after eating lunch) sticking his belly out and lifting up his shirt: Dere's a baby in mys tummy.
Momma: Really? What kind of baby?
Will: A pink one.
Momma: So that must mean it is a girl baby.
Will (in his most indignant voice): NO! It is a pink one!
Will leaves kitchen in disgust.
Momma: Really? What kind of baby?
Will: A pink one.
Momma: So that must mean it is a girl baby.
Will (in his most indignant voice): NO! It is a pink one!
Will leaves kitchen in disgust.
The Great Debate
There comes a day in every mother and daughter's relationship when they must have a discussion. It is a matter of infinite importance and its aftereffects can be monumental. It is of great risk, but also great reward if it is done correctly.
And as it grew out just a bit in the Fall and last winter, I had was still able to put it in pig tails and hair bows.
I was always able to pull her hair to the side and put a little bow in it.
But then, I guess length of hair has nothing to do with how cute it looks.
In my defense, I do believe this was taken AFTER a nap.
Last February, my niece, Taylor, got this adorable wedge bob. It is super cute, and Maggie has said since then she wanted to get her hair cut like that. I'm not sure if I want to go for the wedge for Maggie.
Hair now:
Potential hair if we do a bob:
The great debate remains. What to do?
I'd love to hear from you.
Seriously . . . tell me what to do. I can't make the decision myself. This is one area where I am indecisive. I can't help it. I have horrible pictures to prove what the wrong haircut can do. Thankfully, they are at my moms house and I cannot post them here. What a relief. But trust me they are horrendous. Let's just say the "pixie" cut was not an attractive look for a chubby, early developing girl. No matter how much pink you wear, you know people are wondering if you are a boy.
See why I am so conflicted about what to do?
Help me. Please!
That issue? Hair.
Maggie's hair has grown quite long and we are approaching a crossroads. It is still in that state where when it is cared for and groomed, it looks beautiful. She has the hair I long for - straight, thick, and takes curl. Even when it hasn't been washed in a few days (or a week) it is healthy, shiny, and pretty - you can just brush it and it looks beautiful. I refer to it as Breck hair. However, it is starting to require more and more care. Gone are the days of once a day brushings and let it go. If I don't brush it as soon as she wakes up and put it in some sort of style, pig tails, pony tail, etc., it gets wild and unruly and ugly. We have to use leave in conditioner or a spray detangler to get a comb through it after it's washed, and let's not get into the rats nests we deal with in the morning. Needless to say, I now understand why women in pioneer times wore their hair in braids to bed and wore a bedcap.
But, I am able to do so much with it in its current state. I can curl it, put it in cute long pony tails, French braids and decorate it with all kinds of bows and barrettes. It's to the point now, where I think if I let it grow a few more inches, what we cut off could qualify to be sent to Locks of Love, a charity that collects hair to make wigs for children undergoing medical treatments that cause them to lose their hair. But, it would take another six months at least to grow it to the ten inch length that is required. Shorter hair is accepted, but it is not as desirable as the 10" lengths.
But, I am able to do so much with it in its current state. I can curl it, put it in cute long pony tails, French braids and decorate it with all kinds of bows and barrettes. It's to the point now, where I think if I let it grow a few more inches, what we cut off could qualify to be sent to Locks of Love, a charity that collects hair to make wigs for children undergoing medical treatments that cause them to lose their hair. But, it would take another six months at least to grow it to the ten inch length that is required. Shorter hair is accepted, but it is not as desirable as the 10" lengths.
When Maggie was just two, I took the bull by the horns and cut off all of the wispy baby hair she had straggling down her back leaving a cute little bob. It fell just to the bottom of her ears and was adorable. I was looking back at those pictures today and debating about what to do.
Here's her hair the summer after I cut it, over a year and a half ago. The front is a little messy, but the back - oh, the back. How cute is that little flip?
And as it grew out just a bit in the Fall and last winter, I had was still able to put it in pig tails and hair bows.
I was always able to pull her hair to the side and put a little bow in it.
I love this photo - she reminds me of the character Darby, on the Playhouse Disney show, My Friends Tigger and Pooh.
But then, I guess length of hair has nothing to do with how cute it looks.
In my defense, I do believe this was taken AFTER a nap.
Last February, my niece, Taylor, got this adorable wedge bob. It is super cute, and Maggie has said since then she wanted to get her hair cut like that. I'm not sure if I want to go for the wedge for Maggie.
Straight
Curly
The great debate remains. What to do?
I'd love to hear from you.
Seriously . . . tell me what to do. I can't make the decision myself. This is one area where I am indecisive. I can't help it. I have horrible pictures to prove what the wrong haircut can do. Thankfully, they are at my moms house and I cannot post them here. What a relief. But trust me they are horrendous. Let's just say the "pixie" cut was not an attractive look for a chubby, early developing girl. No matter how much pink you wear, you know people are wondering if you are a boy.
See why I am so conflicted about what to do?
Help me. Please!
Maggie's preschool program
Friday, December 18th, Maggie had the opportunity to perform in her preschool program. I knew that they were doing certain songs because they were the only songs I heard her sing for about a month.
I wish that for the preschool portion of the program the school would leave the house lights up so we could get good pictures. Unfortunately, the ceiling of the school gymnasium/auditorium is painted a dark blue gray, so there is no chance for my external flash to be of any help in lighting the cast. 
The first song was Jingle Bells followed by Away in A Manger, God Made Me, and the grand finale was Skidamarink.
I don't think I'm ever prepared for how adorable the program actually is. My heart beat a little bit faster as the children filed into the gymnasium and the teachers lined them up on stage. Maggie got up on stage, scanned the crowed and waved at us. She was so excited. Once the music started, our dancing girl got her groove on, swaying to the beat and going along with all of the hand motions. I was overcome at how small yet big and young yet mature she seemed up there on that stage. She was completely unaffected by the crowd or by the children around her that had stage fright and forgot the songs and the motions they had practiced for so long. It always surprises me that my children are able to perform so easily since I am very bad at preparing them for what the program actually entails - getting up on stage in front of about 100 or so people and singing and dancing. I'm so glad that they seem to enjoy performing and do so with gusto. I'm very proud of how hard the practice and how much they want to please.
Maggie just melted my heart yet again that night. That's such a great feeling. I'm so grateful to have been so blessed.
Maggie just melted my heart yet again that night. That's such a great feeling. I'm so grateful to have been so blessed.
I wish that for the preschool portion of the program the school would leave the house lights up so we could get good pictures. Unfortunately, the ceiling of the school gymnasium/auditorium is painted a dark blue gray, so there is no chance for my external flash to be of any help in lighting the cast. The first song was Jingle Bells followed by Away in A Manger, God Made Me, and the grand finale was Skidamarink.Many family members have asked questions about the origins of the song - I remember hearing it on a TV show my sisters watched called Sharon, Lois and Brahm. Here is a little information I found on Wikipedia on the song.
Skidamarink is a very popular children's song with a long history. It was originally the grand finale song of the 1910 Broadway musical, "The Echo". Since the title is gibberish, it has had various spellings over the years.
Though the original musical only lasted a few months, the song endured and was re-popularized in the 1950s by Jimmy Durante.
The song began appearing on many song collections for children's shows in the 1980s. The most popular versions were by the Australian show, Bananas in Pyjamas, and the Canadian show, The Elephant Show.
Several years after the conclusions of The Elephant Show, in the late 1990s, the original performers on that show, Sharon, Lois & Bram, briefly had their own show entitled, Skinnamarink TV.
[edit]Typical Version of Lyrics
Skidamarink a dinky dink,
Skidamarin,ky doo,
I - love - you!
Skidamarink a dinky dink,
Skidamarinky doo,
I - love - you!
I love you in the morning
and in the afternoon,
I love you in the evening
and underneath the moon;
Oh, Skidamarink a dinky dink,
Skidamarinky doo,
I - LOVE - YOU!
I love you, Maggie May!
Maggie's first day of 2 day preschool
Today was Maggie's first day of Preschool!
We started off with the breakfast of her choice. Chocolate pannycakies.
Look at those hoodlums. What a trio. Can you tell we were out later than we planned doing corn at Travis & Julia's? We were only 1/2 an hour off, but Maggie was really the only one happy to be awake!
This girl loves her chocolate pancakes (chocolate chip pancakes to the rest of the world).Here is Maggie's back pack. She got this last year for Christmas and decided she didn't need a new one. Part of me is glad to have saved the $10 but part of me feels like she should have gotten a new one. For what? I don't know. It just must be that "mom guilt".
She did get to pick out a lunch box even though she really didn't need one. Ok, I've absolved myself of the mom guilt - she got an unnecessary lunch box. Her world is complete with princesses and tinker bell. On a side note: we were at Kmart on Sunday and Will pointed to an outfit and kept saying "bell, bell" - I looked up and it was a Tinkerbell outfit. He's so smart!
Here's my angel all dressed and ready for school. I stayed up last night and made her new korker hair bows. She didn't want her hair pulled back - just one barrette off to the side. I can't believe how long her hair has gotten since last year! She's getting so big.
Walker wouldn't pose with them today. He was a little jealous of the fact that Maggie was going to school before him. He doesn't start until next Tuesday and even though we were headed to His School after we dropped Maggie off for HIS orientation, he was still being a bugger and refused to take a group picture. Next week will be an entirely different story though when we have HIS first day of Kindergarten! Look at that Willie J posing with his big sis! What a cutie. He absolutely loves those crocs even though they are purple and are Maggie's - he thinks they are his and they are doggies so he loves them. Who cares? I'm happy he has a pair of shoes he can put on all by himself!
Now Maggie gets to pose alone. Nana got Maggie this outfit at Old Navy on Sunday. She has been so excited to wear it. I found her the peep toe shoes at Walmart and she's even wearing new panties. I had to get her some school panties b/c so many of her panties are stained - not from accidents - but from falling in or playing in the mud and dirt here at the farm. I never thought to pre-treat them for stains until I realized how many of her panties were stained and dirty and thought about a teacher seeing them. So, we bought a brand new package of Tinkerbell panties too. Phew! Now at least if she has an accident at school, she'll have had clean panties.
Willie had to get out his lunch box just in case.
Maggie showing off her back pack again.
If you can imagine it, we were late getting to school. As I was ready to pack up to leave, Walker all of a sudden decides HE is ready to have is picture taken. I try to calmly explain that "we do not have time for individual pictures. If you wanted a picture today, you should have taken one with your sister on her first day of school like you did with her on YOUR first day of school! Now GET IN THE CAR!"
Willie had to get out his lunch box just in case.Maggie showing off her back pack again.
If you can imagine it, we were late getting to school. As I was ready to pack up to leave, Walker all of a sudden decides HE is ready to have is picture taken. I try to calmly explain that "we do not have time for individual pictures. If you wanted a picture today, you should have taken one with your sister on her first day of school like you did with her on YOUR first day of school! Now GET IN THE CAR!" He was not happy about this and dragged his feet until I actually got in the car, put it in gear, and said, "See ya!" then he came running.
We got Maggie through the door a little bit late. That's why I like going back to places I'm familiar with - they know what to expect from us Schwalm's!
So we leave Maggie at preschool, rush home to meet Kevin & Jacob - I'm babysitting today, and get ready to go to the Primary Center where Walker will go to Kindergarten. While we were home for that 15 minutes, Walker manages to get stung by a yellow jacket. We unfortunately had a yellow jacket problem - it wasn't bad until it started getting so cold out, but Sunday night, they started coming in looking for warmth in the house! I called a guy yesterday and had it treated, but even though they are dying, they are somehow getting in the house. We have them in the laundry room and the dining and living rooms. Walker was innocently pushing his truck through the dining room and accidentally put his hand on one and got stung. He freaked out and then freaked out worse because the ice pack I gave him after I treated the sting was . . . wait for it . . .
TOO COLD!
So I load up a 5 1/2 year old, a two year old and a one year old and rush over to Knoch listening to the 5 1/2 year old wailing like a banshee. We get to the turn at the school and I say, "We are almost there" and the tears and wailing instantly stop. We get unloaded and go right into the school. Walker's room is the first one on the right and Mrs. Minner was waiting for all of us to arrive. She led Walker right to a little desk, gave a small speech about the school year, told us what she needed us to do and have for the year and then the kids got to look for their cubby and explore the room. We then headed out to the front of the school so the kids could take a bus
ride to get some experience with the school bus. That was pretty wrenching for me. Walker climbed up the steps to that big bus with no fear and got right on - I could see him walk down the aisle, choose a seat and slide over to the window to look for me. He had a small moment of panic when he couldn't see me right away, but then I waved and he smiled that toothless grin back, and all was OK. They went off on their ride, came back and unloaded and our orientation was over. One hour of complete calm, happy, NORMAL, Walker.
We load up again, pull out of the parking lot and all of a sudden, "WAHHHH!!" Walker's finger started to hurt again. We had some time to kill before picking up Maggie, so we stopped at the grocery store and picked up some popsicles and milk and then went to pick her up. The crying and wailing commenced yet again. And again, the ice bag was too cold.
Once at Maggie's school, I saw one of Walker's old preschool buddies, Kendyl. I said, "Hey, Walker, I see Kendyl. Want to get out and see her?" and the crying stopped and he came into the building with me. We waited patiently and soon we saw these little critters emerge from
their classroom, not quite understanding how to proceed in a straight line.
Maggie of course, hose nose Harriet, had to separate from the line so she could see out over everyone to make sure she knew what was going on! She was funny!
All the kids were so excited to see their mommies and/or daddies and all had smiling faces - no tear streaks were evident at all. It was a good day. Once home, Maggie told me she learned about the "letter song, sitting on the carpets, and kiss koss sauce." Which is "criss cross-applesauce" the new terminology for sitting "Indian style" or crossed legged on the floor.
Overall, she had a very fun day. I feel a little guilty because the day was not anything like it was Walker's first day of school. There was no moments of quiet and calm - we hurried through the morning and there was little time to anticipate how Maggie was doing at school while we waited for her at home. I suppose it was a good thing - it's inevitable when you have multiple children. I try to remind myself of the saying that "Fair" isn't that everybody gets the same thing but that everybody gets what they need - and Maggie did. She doesn't know that her first day of preschool was any different than Walker's first day of preschool - but I do. I guess I'm just going to have to get used to all the differences and realize ways to make the differences special. It's hard for me because I'm the one that wants to make these memories special for the kids, but I don't think they really will remember anything I did or didn't do. Who knows? I'm
sure in 10 years, I'll get an earful from their therapists.
Maggie got to pick what we eat tonight since it was her special first day of school and of course, she chose "Rabioli." Hopefully over supper we will all be able to sit down and talk about the day in a more calm manner, let the kids tell their stories and have some fun. I'm sure if I ever look back at this blog and read this entry, I will be shocked at what actually happened vs. what I remember happening.
Hopefully I'll never forget this:
