Jane's Garden is trying to kill me

A gardening layperson might not realize that gardening is dangerous and would try to argue that the problem is actually me.

They would be wrong.

Occasionally when I hang out with my sister Jane I try to help her with her garden.  Not because I like gardening or want to be helpful but because she blocks the TV and blocks any computer site I want to waste time on.

Jane is exhausting to watch.  Between the constant cleaning, huge garden and bundle of kids she is always busy. I think I missed out genetically on whatever she has, but because I don't want her to think I'm a total slacker I help out even though I'd rather spend my day watching Charmed.

On Friday I offered to pick peaches for her because I love peaches and it isn't a lot of work to pick a basket.  While picking -- I WAS STABBED BY A EARWIG!  It hurt!  I shook my hand frantically trying to remove it from my hand.  It wouldn't come off.  I disgustedly thought I was going to have to touch it to get it out of my hand.  At which point I shook even harder and it finally came off.

I was done picking peaches.

I went over and started picking beans.  I stepped on a bee.  I am allergic to bees so that was a problem.  Fortunately two benadryls helped and my foot didn't swell up.  Both times I've stepped on a bee (because 3 out of the 3 times I've been stung I stepped on it-- I consider that a talent) I swelled up to my knee and couldn't walk for two days.

Status:  Really happy that I can walk and my leg didn't fall off.  Considering cutting out a chunk from the bottom of my foot because it itches and hurts and drives me crazy when I walk on it.

Jane's Garden, Well Played.  You win this time.

Not My Namesake

Official Announcement:

My little (though taller) sister had a baby girl last week

Hurray!

Most important announcement:

Although, she was given permission to name said child after me; shockingly and inexplicably she chose not to.  

(I'm trying really hard not to be offended!)

She may say that they "already" have a daughter with whose middle name is mine.  But as that daughter was named after Mark's mother -- it doesn't count.  This is probably the last niece I will have, thus my last chance to have one of my siblings name a daughter after me ... and it hurts.

(The baby's middle name is Elizabeth.)

My Mom is on a Horse!

My mom hasn't ridden a horse since she was 16 years old.  So, I'm pretty proud of her!  Of course, it probably helps that her horse, Pretty Girl, thinks she is a dog and guards her.

All the animals my parents own are a little confused.  Their dog Buddy has a pet of his own -- a bunny.

And Yet Another Reason Why My Sister Jane Is Unbelievable

She writes weekly emails that include things like:  “Adam would have turned 16 on Thursday . . . We bought Superman colored balloons – the only yellow was a smiley face – perfect.  We had a party with pizza and cream soda at the cemetery.  David brought his guitar so we could sing Happy Birthday… and other songs.”   And she included a picture of her family at the cemetery.  I like knowing that if I feel like talking about Adam to her I can without worrying about hurting her.  Because we all miss him!

Christmas 2009

Yesterday we invited my husband’s cousin and her husband over for dinner.  The kids love having people over so it was fun.  They brought a gingerbread house to build and decorate which was a great idea.  I think we will have to do that in the future.  It will be a fun tradition.  Unfortunately, they left all the candy as well, darn them!

Late last night I walked downstairs to get the Christmas presents but Bri was sitting next to her dad on the couch watching TV.  I growled, “Go to bed!”  She immediately did.  I guess she properly interpreted the growl as an “I’m really tired and if I don’t put out the presents now; I’m going to bed and they’ll get the presents tomorrow after I wake up” kind of growl.

This morning at 7:00am I heard little Lizzy feet run down the hallway to the living room.  Jake came in a couple of times to get us up but I said we weren’t getting up until everyone was up.  I eventually got up but Will was back in bed muttering “So exciting” over and over before switching to “Toy Story 1 and Toy Story 2.”  We got him up but he wasn’t interested in any presents – because after all, why would he be?  We got him to open a couple but then he walked downstairs to watch TV, or maybe, just to get away from us.

I almost messed up Lizzy’s presents but fortunately didn’t.  She wanted the Indiana Jones number 2 set but I bought her number 4.  But she decided 4 was better.  My response was, “huh?  Oh, there is more than one set.”  I think the kids were happy with what they got but I know I have a Harry Potter DVD somewhere.  So, I have no idea what else I have hidden from myself.  I inevitably find things I’ve bought for Christmas months later. 

Daddy Daughter Date

My husband took Bri to New York this weekend to spend time together. They walked around Time Square, and went to two Broadway shows, The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera. Although, he was compelled to tease me by saying they saw Chicago and were about to see Hair. “Umm, I think that has a lot of nudity in it. I don’t think Bri will like it.” It took a couple of minutes for me to realize he was teasing.

Grandma

When I look up numbers in my cell phone I skip past my grandma’s phone number. I even thought about calling it the other day. But I doubt that anyone would answer and what would I say if they did? After all I don’t want to talk to them. I don't feel like deleting it. So, for now it stays.

Keeping it Real

When I talked to one of my sisters the other day she told me that she was having a hard time relating to the women in her neighborhood. My sister, who has a wide range of kids, is a little older than many of the other women and she tends to be pretty down to earth. So, I told her she has two options.

1. Start spending an hour a day on hair and makeup.

Or 2. Do what I would do and start lurking by a synagogue to find a Jewish BBF.

Belated Happy Birthday

Sorry E. I noticed that I posted (on your birthday) that I remembered your birthday because it was on Flag Day and I forgot, oops! There's some delicious irony in that isn't there? I love you even if I am self-consumed with breaking my house.

No, Virginia, There is no Santa Claus

As I was driving Lizzy and Jacob to Tae Kwan Do, I overheard Lizzy and Bri arguing over the tooth fairy.

“It doesn’t exist.”
“Then who gives you the money?”
“Mom.”
“What about Santa Claus?”
“He doesn’t exist either.”

One would think that the six year old would be the one arguing for the existence of fairies. No, it was Bri. She was desperately trying to extend Lizzy’s childhood. Jake, of course, took the side of crushing faith, joy and folklore. Poor Bri, she tried so hard.

The eleventh commandment (that I'm sure was left off inadvertently): Thou shalt not smite thy brother

I was sitting next to Jake in the pew when suddenly he picks up a hymnal and hits himself in the forehead. What!? He follows that up by kneeing the pew in front of him. I don’t know why. Maybe he was bored. Probably he was just expressing his feelings at being forced to go to church. It just got better from there. I look over at my husband who is taking a nap while I’m trying to keep the kids contained in our area. When we got home the kids start talking about smiting each other. I told Lizzy to stop smiting Jake and she responds, “I’m not smiting him. I’m pretending to kick him.” At least they are picking something up from church.

Field Trip

I took all the kids to the library last night because I had puttered around my day and went shopping with Marcy. I took everyone because I didn’t want Bri and Jake to play Game Cube while I was gone. It was not the brightest idea to go at 6:30 dragging them away from playing games. I envisioned a quick in and out trip. But . . .

Lizzy cried and whined over not getting to choose the movie because I didn’t check out the movie she wanted last week. Jake was shushed by a custodian. Will as usual headed straight for the Dr. Seuss books. He emptied the books from the shelves onto the table and stimmed with them.

I help Jake choose some new graphic novels and tell everyone it’s time to leave. The movie Lizzy wants to check out next week ends up in a librarian’s desk with Lizzy’s name on it. I check out three copies of Dr. Seuss’ The butter battle book. And Will’s not pleased that the four copies of The Foot Book have been left behind. He doesn’t realizes how lucky he is that I have peeps in the Children’s Section because otherwise we may not be allowed back.

Librarian Teri tells me that she has the identical model of Lizzy at home.