Relax…

My friend posted about cleaning with vinegar and baking soda (cause she is an organic kook)  and suddenly got me motivated to clean, and have the kids help. So, one bottle of vinegar and a half a box of baking soda later, my bathroom is clean. Even the floor and shower are pretty clean, although the build up of nasty (sorry tmi) was pretty bad so it may need more work or a professional. Anyway, it took 2 hours and I feel really good about it. Now I just have to keep it up so next time doesn’t take so long.

My daughter asked if she could call her friend Kara.  Five minutes later, still on the phone, she walks into the bathroom and shuts the door.  I hear her say the she needs to put the phone down, and a minute later that she has to put the phone down again.  Then water running.  What the heck?  The only person I talk to in the bathroom is Nathan and that is rare.  My daughter is becoming a teenager way too quickly.

Friday I got out of the car at home and almost stepped on a butterfly laying in the driveway.  I poked at it and it didn’t move at all so we figured it was dead.  I got a box to put it in so the kids could show it at school, and left it on the counter with the lid on for the weekend.  This morning  Joey asked me repeatedly why it was moving, but I just assumed it was because she was shaking the box.  When we got to school  I opened the lid and sure enough it was moving.  Somehow it survived the weekend shut in a box with no food, air, or water.  Now hopefully it can survive the cold and dangerous school yard, where flowers are scarce and feet are many.

Quinn has a fever of 103 and it is so sad to watch him and listen to him moan and snore, even when he is awake. His nose is so stuffed he is breathing through his mouth and so he drools everywhere. Poor little guy. We took him to the dr. today and he doesn’t have an ear infection or strep, so its just the yucks for now.

- quinn doesn’t want to use the toilet very much anymore, unless candy is involved

- johanna is reading really well (at least compared to her school friends)

- I am going crazy trying to deal with quinn’s stubbornness with the potty, his lack of willingness to nap, not sleeping through the night, and his diaper leaking every night because he won’t empty his bladder before bed, etc.

- johanna loves school and wants to stay there instead of coming home…I don’t blame her

- quinn is starting to sound out words like dog, cat, frog… he is obsessed with reading and if his trend continues he will be reading by the time he is three (scary and exciting)

-nathan is happy at his new job and still likes to cook dinner for the family (thank God)

I got an invite to a goodbye party.  I really hate saying goodbye.  It makes my heart sad, even though I know that God is in control and takes people to the places he needs them.  Quinn’s first teacher just left, too.  God has taken her to an awesome new job and education opportunity, but it is so sad to see her leave.  Anyway, I don’t like having to say goodbye.

American troops training the Iraqi troops.