My sweet bubby

Isaac's job in our home is to provide the work and entertainment for the rest of the family. He can be so silly. Expressing emotion is an acquired skill that we've worked long and hard at. Isaac took a long time to learn how to smile and even cry. Lately he's been attempting to show surprise. (like when I tell him no) He says, "oh, you scared me like boo."
I love that boy!

Movie Night

Three generations of DeLapp girls went to see "New Moon" tonight. First of all, the audience, including my daughter, was as entertaining as the movie. Grown women were swooning over "Jacob" and Lily would then audibly ask why they did that.:-) The movie itself was so much better than the first. I had read book 2 & 3 together, so I couldn't remember where the movie was going to leave us hanging...and they did. Definitely a girls night movie, no husbands allowed.

Senility

I've had my flaky moments, but lately I've really lost "it". Earlier this week I was driving home, stopped at red light and turned to look at Nate. His seat was unbuckled and empty! Panic set in! I thought I had forgotten to buckle him in. I called to him. No answer. Where was he? Did I leave him somewhere? Could he get out on his own? I thought about getting out right there to see where he was hiding. Even with my heart pounding, I decided to get out of traffic first. Before I could follow through, my mind returned & I realized that he was safe at HOME! (with Lily) Needless to say, It took a while for my pulse to return to normal.
Today Isaac, Nate, Lily, and I left the house to drive in the rain to the bus stop to get Sam and Eli before we left to run errands. Lily said she would take the trash can around and then meet us at the bus stop. I retrieved Sam and Eli, and then drove off. Lily, now locked out of the house, went to the neighbors to call me on my cell. I didn't even know I was missing her until the call:
Ring, ring, ring (hmmm, I don't recognize that #)
Alright, "Hello?"
Lily- "Mom, why did you leave me?"

What happens when I really lose my mind?

Lost in facebook

I sat down at the computer with the intent to post about the latest DeLapp family adventures, but made a pit stop over at facebook. That was about 2 hours ago. Oops! No wonder I only get on facebook once in a blue moon. Now I'm too tired to post about anything else. I'll try again another day.

Mom's Halloween Fun!

Autumn is my favorite time of year. Halloween is one of my top two holidays. I don't dress up, just enjoy it through the kids. There isn't the pressure of a "picture perfect" Thanksgiving or Christmas, just lots of fun! Even though we are home sick this week, I thought we'd start the fun tonight. I told the kids to leave me alone for a few minutes in the kitchen and I would whip up a Halloween snack. I took out pretzel rods and a green colored cheese dip, then told the kids to come get some "boogers on a stick." Their responses were as follows:
Lily giggled.
Sam said, "Yuck, no way!"
Eli cried.
Isaac double dipped and chased crying Eli around the table until Eli was wearing boogers.
Nate said, "I want boogers." After being prompted to taste it, he said "yucky" and spit boogers all over.
Well, it was fun for me!
Just wait until I make worms! mmmmmmm

Come On Birthday!

Since when does a two-year-old take more effort than I have? I'm not old. I'm in better physical condition than I have been in years, so what's up? Did I just forget? Man alive, Nate is a heavy boat load of blood, sweat, and sometimes tears. I know that I'm strong enough, I survived Isaac and twin boys through the dark ages of two. When Nate is trying me in public, somebody gives me the "you've got your hands full" look and then makes the "somebody needs a nap" comment, I just force a smile and say through clenched teeth, "No, he needs a birthday"!

Nobody make a teenager comment, either. :-)

Another short post

I just wanted to mention that the first regular season NFL game is in 5 days! I can hardly wait! Fall is my favorite time of year and football is a big reason why. Yea!
BTW, my husband thinks I'm crazy.

WORTH ALL THE EFFORT

After much tribulation, Isaac can now pump himself on the swing. It's enough to make a PROUD momma cry. Now, we can work on tying shoes, brushing our own teeth, and bike riding!

Stuck

I can't seem to pull myself out of this slump. I hope it's just that the kids need to go back to school. We'll see in 10 days.

Isaac's Angel(s)

First let me say that boys will be boys. Let me add that Isaac will be Isaac.
Heaven frequently fills in the gaps in my parenting skills. Over the past two weeks, Isaac fell out of a non-climbing tree at a park (Saved from serious injury by Noah), was pulled by his mother (oops!) off a swing, and most recently fell again from the tree in front of our home. He had been banned from climbing too high, but apparently it doesn't take great distances to get hurt. He was flat on his back and I was calmly trying to talk him up. (First aid 101) Knowing that Isaac's pain tolerance is different that the rest of us, I was relying on what he would do to know how seriously he was hurt. I determined that he could move his extremities, however he would not get up. I was eventually forced to make the dreaded call. "911, what is your emergency?" The fire truck and ambulance arrived, the neighborhood emerged, and Heidi brought Lee home to be with the other kids. Isaac scared us, but all is well. Needless to say, Isaac is now tied to his bed until Tuesday. Come on summer school!

Novice Gardening

I'm not sure what I'm doing, but somehow my attempts at gardening are thriving. I have a number of happy squash plants, strawberries for the birds, and 3 hanging tomato plants that are heavy with produce.

Perfect Attendance Awards

If you've ever received one of these, STOP! Do not read this! What a Crock! My children have never and will most likely never get a perfect attendance award. I have had at least one child home sick from school for the last two weeks. Not normal, I know. Is it normal to not EVER have a sick kid? I don't think so. I would hate to think that parents are sending their kids to school sick, but come on!
I'm also sending out a big "Your Welcome" to the teacher that complained about my kid's absences!
I'm SO done with strep, stomatitis, stomach viruses, and whatever else we've had. Bring on the immunity!

ABC Tag

Are you sick of tags yet? Me too, but I can't sleep. Here's more than you wanted to know about me.

A-Age? 36 and loving it!

B-Bed size? King to accommodate all the underage nighttime visitors

C- Chore you hate? Unfinished ones...especially windows

D- Dog's name? Thankfully, none

E- Egg preference? Over medium

F- Favorite color? I've always like navy, but yellow is a close second

G- Gold or Silver? Silver

H- Height? 5'7" I would have taken 5'10"

I- Instruments you play? Piano and Clarinet as a kid

J- Job Title? Super Woman

K- Kids? 5 (girl, boy, twins, baby)

L- Living arrangements? Often, with hubby and the kids above. Sometimes, I like to quietly hide and hope they don't notice.

M- Mom's name? Joellen (none) Louderback

N- Nickname? NeeNee or Neener by Lee, Fartblossom by my mother

O- Overnight hospital stay other than birth? Gall Bladder removal and with sick kids

P- Pet Peeve? People acting as if TV is important

Q- Quote from a movie? What does that have to do with the price of eggs in Detroit? While you were sleeping

R- Right or Left? Right

S- Siblings? 2 brothers, 3 sisters (#5 of 6)

T- Time you wake up? 7am unless it's Saturday

U- Underwear? Uh...clean?

V- Vegetable you dislike? Okra

W- Workout style? With a friend

X- X-rays you've had? Ankle, knee, hip after bike/car accidents...no broken bones!

Y- Yesterday's best moment? Quiet moment with baby Nate

Z- Zoo favorite? Baby Orangutans/Elephants

Spring Break Fun

We actually survived Spring Break! The kids had perfect check-ups at the dentist. We went to see "Monsters vs. Aliens" with Grandma and Aunt Shirlene. We also went to the Natural History Museum (a.k.a. the "Dinosaur Museum") with our friends Heidi, Whitney and Mason. To top it all off, we all went camping with Uncle Mike and Aunt Joan's family.

I've got nothing

Life has been pretty much normal around here lately...no great stories...funny or sad...kinda boring...and I think I like it!

He WILL be the death of me...

Isaac, who else? I'm not sure that I can relive every detail, but I'll give you the condensed version. The kids and I met Heidi at a park in the Harbour on Thursday afternoon. Some of the kids, including Isaac, went up a walking trail on the side of a hill. All, but Isaac came down the hill. I wasn't concerned initially, because Isaac is very familiar with the park and trail. I know he likes to hang back from the crowd...I just patiently waited for him to come down. Eventually, I started hollering for him and started walking the trail to physically retrieve him. NO ISAAC! Anywhere!!! Heidi came up to help look and I soon realized I had to make the call. "911, what is your emergency"?
Isaac's version of the story is that he climbed up the hill, went in a tunnel and over a bridge, got "very lost", found a "little girl" on a scooter and she told him the way to get back.
Heidi spotted him just as the police were arriving and we were reunited with teary eyes, a pounding heart, and peed pants.

Spread the Love

Here is what you do...the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, type up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. Then come back and let me know you are going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift! Please leave your e-mail address in your post to me. Thanks and be quick!

What's for dinner?

Most days, I have nothing more than disdain for this question. Tonight is easy...TV dinners! I have some stockpiled in the freezer. We popped them in the oven (yeah, it's quicker than the microwave when you're making 7) and voila, dinner!

Happenings while I haven't blogged...

1. Eli got stitches in the top of his head after falling into a bookcase at school.
2. Isaac "accidentally" broke the side view mirror off his teacher's car.
3. Eli got a 2nd degree burn from Ramen Noodles...would have been okay except no one home at the time followed through with proper first aid.
4. Our van decided it needed a day off...$754.35 at the repair shop.
5. Microwave is dead.

Despite it all, we are still standing, barely.

Random Facts

My sister coerced me into divulging more than I intended, but here goes...

1. When I hear the trash truck, I run to the window, hide, and watch...It's weird, but fun.
2. From the age of 17 until 22, I swore I would have zero children. Humph!
3. I have a reoccurring dream about driving a city bus. ???
4. Sandals are my favorite!
5. My legal name has an accent over the second "e". No, I'm not french.
6. I took 6 1/2 years to get a 4 year degree (ASU...Go Devils!)

This is a no pressure tag...If you accept, I'd love to know more about my blogging friends.

Super Hero Handy Man!

Man! I am thrilled to be married to one today! Specifically, Lee. Late last week our furnace decided to stop heating the house. Did he panic? Not like his wife. He logically thought through the problem, did some internet research, and ordered a part that he thought was faulty. The part came yesterday and Lee had our heat up and running in a matter of minutes after he came home from work. He's my hero!

New and Improved Dragons!

I am so grateful for the boys' change in placement. Over at Anthony Burns, Sam and Eli are liked and wanted. It makes such a difference. I am extremely pleased with their case manager and teachers and paras. Sam's teacher said that she wanted to "frame him" the other day. Sam also has a new friend that goes into the mainstream and resource classrooms with him. Eli's anxiety has disappeared in the new setting. He's excited to go to school and even eats in the cafeteria. (that's huge!) Happy boys= Happy Momma.

Tag!

Alright Rhonda...here goes.

5 things in your purse...

I don't own a purse unless you count my van where I keep all my daily use items like...
1. Chapstick and lotion to survive Winter.
2. Bank card (yes, I use it daily)
3. Medical insurance and flex benefit card (yes, almost daily)
4. Trash bag so that my entire van doesn't become one.
5. Bikes and scooters for spontaneous park stops.


5 things in your workroom...

What's a workroom? Oh, you mean laundry room...
1. dirty laundry, of course
2. Different detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets depending on the load. The smell I like for my towels is very different than the scent for my clothes.
3. Folding table that is currently too full to fold on.
4. Numerous stacks of "rag" towels for kid spills and messes.
5. The ball and chain that never lets me leave.

5 things you always wanted to do...

1. Get a decent night's sleep.
2. Become an exercise fanatic. No, really.
3. Go on a kid-free vacation with my husband.
4. Have zero "to be filed" files.
5. Drive a 18-wheeler Pepsi truck.


5 things I'm into...

1. Pedicures
2. Socializing
3. Shopping
4. NFL
5. Goofing off with the family


5 people I want to tag...

1. Colleen
2. Brigette
3. Cara
4. Heidi
5. Lara when she gets a blog.

Eli's a dragon

Starting Monday, Eli will be attending Anthony Burns Elementary. He'll be a dragon just like his brother, Sam. Hooray, we are all very excited! The IEP process has changed so much since Isaac first started. It has been hard, but not exactly painful this time around. Yea for progress!

Back To School

The kids, more specifically, Isaac need to go back to school. Tonight Lily ran downstairs yelling, "Isaac's in the attic"! We ALL ran upstairs and the attic door was closed with an empty bookshelf underneath. She told us that she heard scratching and climbed the bookshelf to see what was up there (brave girl). She pushed on the door and the door pushed back. That's when she hollered for help. Lee retrieved an insulation covered Isaac from the attic. I bathed him and found out that he emptied and moved the bookshelf, stacked a tote on top, and finally used the bunk bed ladder to get into the attic. Very, very, very naughty and dangerous. Does anybody know how to lock an attic?


P.S. Eli just requested help for an orange m & m stuck up his left nostril. It's out, and it's bedtime.

STABILIZE

Sam came downstairs the other day singing this. I endeavored to keep my giggle inside, grabbed the camera, and asked for a repeat performance. Enjoy Sam's version of "Stayin' Alive."

Somebody Loves Me

One of my hubby's thoughtful gifts for Christmas was a new kitchen faucet. I didn't take a picture of the old one, because it was embarrassing. Pathetic really. I've been wanting a new one since we've moved. Lee suggested that I hire someone because his first experience changing out a kitchen faucet wasn't one he was hoping to repeat. He's worked hard developing his handy man talents. I was so excited, but the only help I could offer was cheerleading. He's amazing and he must love me a bunch! I almost enjoy doing dishes now. Thanks Babe!

New Year Family Fun

At Aunt Joan's suggestion we took our families to the bowling alley on New Years' Day. Jeannine and her boys came too. Thankfully, Nate took a nap for the majority of our outing. Isaac wasn't interested in bowling or even leaving the house, but he came around when he saw the arcade games. He spent his time and money collecting tickets to trade for toys. Sam, Eli, and Lily had a blast! Some had mad skills, others had beginner's luck, all had fun.