My Portrait

I changed my profile picture today. It is a picture Landen drew of me. He actually made two copies of it. So, just in case I ever get lost, the police have some direction in what I look like.
It is so much fun to see Landen starting to draw, write, and read. I also found out at preschool screening that Nathan knows more than we thought--he just couldn't tell us over his brother's incessant talking. He has been writing "L"s and "H"s lately.
Every little step my children take in learning is such a joy to watch.
If only Nathan would step out of the agressive stage he seems to be stuck in, that would be a WONDERFUL step to see!

Things a mom never wants to hear . . .

I really made a mess in there! (Landen--probably 3 1/2 yrs. coming out of the bathroom)
The cocoa exploded! (Landen--making grandma's birthday cake today)
I have a bat! (Nathan with a baseball bat this morning)
I'm going to pray for 2 girl babies to go in your tummy, but they'll go in in different months. (Landen planning our family's future yesterday)
And, finally, a classic that is not even from my own children. My sister in law's sister once asked her mom, "Does lime green fingernail polish stain?"

I am sure this will be continued!

Blessings

This morning Landen was standing in our bedroom doorway and sneezed. Then he said, "Oh, I just blessed you!"
Which reminds me, blessings to you on this Ash Wednesday!

Service Calls

I absolutely detest making service calls.
Take last evening, for instance. I had just brought my computer home from the Dr., tried to connect to my wireless router and . . . nothing. So, I called our internet provider (during an especially bad "worst hour" no less) just to get on their list to have someone come out. I had been living without wireless and my laptop for over a week and even though I know people have faced greater adversity, I was getting pretty cranky. It turned out I called a number with someone willing to help me over the phone. Even though I had not expected to work on the computer right then, I followed his instructions. In the end, we still could not get the wireless to work. At least I still had three children. I didn't know how it would turn out with me locked in the office!
I called someone else this morning and she had me unplug the router and then plug it in again. Guess what--it then found the network and connected. So, that helped my mood considerably. My internet is back, but mostly it is one more service call off my list!
I just hate making those calls so much because I know either I will have to lock myself in the office and risk my children's lives as they fend for themselves (as I unwittingly got myself into last night) or I will have to spend valuable time during their naps to solve problems that I know nothing about.
David has wanted me to switch his Tracfone over to a new model for a few weeks now. It will probably take just a few minutes to do over the phone. Or, it may take longer. I just haven't wanted to take that chance.

God Bless the Tax Preparers

I really wish when God was making me he would have put at least one mathematical cell in my body. Seriously, I hope NW school has some good math tutors by the time my kids reach the 6th grade--maybe sooner--because this mom is no good when it comes to numbers!
Mr. Hermansen always asked if we had questions in Algebra. I usually was so lost I didn't even know what to ask. I at least had a prayer in Geometry because there were shapes involved! When I was forced to take Algebra I in college, I immediately found a graphing calculator and a math tutor. Never did I work so hard for a B!
A few years back I considered taking our church's secretary job. I was obviously desperate for a change of pace because when I got home David reminded me that I didn't even balance my own checkbook. Yes--I had to agree that could be a hurdle in completing my job. I could have produced a very pretty and well-written bulletin every week, but my secretarial skills probably would have ended there. Thankfully someone much more qualified than I filled the position and I ended up coaching high school drama instead--a much better fit for my right brain!
Most farm operations have the wife in charge of the bookkeeping. My husband is smarter than that. Although, I do think he was disappointed when he found out not only could I not drive a tractor but I was also completely inept at math.
So why do I have numbers on my brain today? I had to pick up our taxes at H&R Block this morning and immediately wanted to leave when the lady started asking about
1099s, 1096s, etc. I don't know a 1099 from a WD40! Perhaps if they color-coded them or gave them pretty names I could remember which went where, but I really have no clue!
So, thank you all you tax preparers, business managers, secretary/treasurers, and math tutors. Without you I would be lost . . . or maybe even incarcerated for tax fraud!