Snow Days

We had a double-dose of snow this past week. For months, we had planned to visit David's brother and his family in Maryland over Martin Luther King weekend. On Thursday (leaving day), Greenville got snow. School was cancelled and I freaked at the thought of driving at night through the snow covered mountains of Virginia. So, we left Friday instead. 10 hours in the car, two days at their house, 10 hours back led to one tired family. But, Maryland had just gotten six inches of snow so my kids were in heaven. They spent hours outside sledding. Inside, Macon got to play with his cousin who is only a few days older. It was a very nice time, just the getting there that was hard.

Hannah has her last short-course swim meet next weekend then we have to decide if she will continue once the pool switches over to long-course. I think she will stick with it. She has gotten much better and if she keeps going, the benefits of this exercise will stick with her for life.

Knox signs up for baseball on Saturday. He is excited about it, although I am not. I have never been a big fan of baseball anyway and he is not the greatest player. It makes for a long season. But, he really wants to and I think it is important for him to be involved on a team.

Katy is riding still after a haitus over Christmas break. She took her horse over the "jump" today for the first time by herself. Meaning, no lead from the instruction but keep in mind that the jump is just a 6-in pipe lying on the ground. Basically, as long as she steers towards it, the horse just steps over. Anyway, she was excited about being back but it was cold!!

Macon is still Macon. No sports for the spring but he wants to play tackle football this fall. I don't know if we can handle it but he needs a sport where he doesn't have to wait very long for his turn. He actually did the best in gymnastics so if I can get over the whole "this isn't really for boys" thing then maybe we will go back to that.

David and I are hosting a Wii party this weekend for our grownup friends. It ought to be interesting. My friend who conked her kid in the head asked if it was a BYOH party---Bring Your Own Helmet!

Prayers of Little Ones

Tonight, Macon asked God for money so that Macon could pay off his debt tomorrow. He said thank you for a dad who works hard and has to drive in the dark to get home. He hoped that God had made a lot of friends up there (maybe in case God was lonely??).

I guess we all have things to be thankful for....mine tonight is for an insightful, caring and empathetic child. My heart is filled up with love for this little boy!!

Happy New Year!!

It's 2008!! Lots of exciting things happen this year. Knox and Hannah start middle school in August, Hannah turns 12 (yikes!), Katy begins her last year of elementary school and David and I celebrate our seventh year of marriage. It will be neat to look back over this blog and see how life develops throughout the year.

We spent most of this morning playing around so right after lunch we kicked our cleaning into high gear. It's nice that the kids are old enough to really truly clean now. We take turns with who does what so no one can say "life's not fair" I still have to finish laundry and run a couple of errands but for the most part the house is clean!!

The big kids all have science fair projects due in March so we are beginning to work on those. Hannah is testing to see if girls or boys are more empathetic, Knox is testing to see if bigger wheels make a difference while skateboarding and Katy is testing to see if dogs or humans have more bacteria in their mouths. All exciting and all tailored to each kids interest. We'll have to post some pictures when we are all done.

Well, the momentary peace and quiet just ended when the kids came in from outside. I'll have to write more when they go to bed!

Oh yeah...

I meant to tell you that I set the Roomba loose in the toy room. It came back and told me that my kids are pigs.

Follow-up to our Sleepover

Remember how I mentioned that Macon had a friend spend the night and how he almost never gets to have kids over?? Well, it may be a long time for the next one, thanks to the Silverleaf gossip mill!! Macon woke us up the night Ryan stayed, throwing up. He threw up at least once an hour all night. Ryan woke up around 8:45 and David basically chucked him in the car and drove him home. Macon didn't eat anything but 5 small crackers yesterday. He took a loooong nap and then still went to bed around 8pm. He slept through the night and has tried to eat everything in the house today. In fact, he just called up here asking for a snack. He is still in his pj's (his choice) and we have played our new electronic Monopoly game. I am proud to say that I have not yet run out of money but Macon owns all the expensive properties so I am sure that will change.

The big kids are still gone. The girls were going to come home yesterday but with the sickness, I asked if they could stay one more night. Now, they ditched me and aren't coming until tomorrow (Today is Lee's birthday). David is running his drug/alcohol group tonight and won't be home until 9 so I asked Mom and Dad to come eat dinner. I have ham, black-eyed peas, collards and cornbread. Obviously, I was expecting a crowd, not just me and Macon!! We have been invited to a party in the neighborhood that includes kids but with the recent upchucking, I think just David is going to go. Clemson plays tonight at 7:30pm and I'll be watching it. Good thing Macon doesn't realize that it is New Year's Eve and I can go ahead and put him to bed like normal. He would be a bear the next day if he doesn't get enough sleep.

David is off tomorrow so hopefully it doesn't rain and he can get the lights off the house. I love the way it looks but come January I am ready for it to come down. We have a lot going on between Market for Mom's stores, David's test, and our trip to Maryland (is it snowing there??). The last weekend in January, our school has its annual Family Clay night. You purchase clay, make it into something (we have lots of bowls at our house), paint it, then the art department fires it and returns it to you. It's a lot of fun and because it isn't PTA sponsored, I get to relax and enjoy it. So busy, busy January but mostly fun stuff.

Oh yeah, I forgot, Camp Willow Run applications come out Jan. 26th. We will be first in line this year, I hope. The kids have loved it immensely and I enjoy going back to visit. Brings back fond memories!!

The Calm after the Storm

Christmas is over, even thought the decorations are still up!! It has been raining here so David has not taken down the outside stuff and I have been too busy/lazy to do the inside. I think tomorrow will be a good day since we have played with all the toys!!

The big kids are gone for the weekend so Macon had a friend come play today and then sleep over. David went upstairs a little bit ago and found the two of them in the same bed, Ryan on his stomach and Macon on his back, arms flung out. Very cute when you are six, not so cute when you are 38 (David sleeps sprawled out). Poor Macon gets left out of the friends' thing a lot. The big kids can just go from house to house to house but Macon, we have to call and set it up. Plus, all of his friends are the youngest in the family and I think we Moms are tired a lot. Anyway, I am trying to do better because he really likes having boys his age around.

The big news is that we got a Wii from Santa. It's sad to say but David and I have played it more than the kids. We have never had any type of game system so this is super exciting for us. Except we have now realized that our family room is not big enough for four people to play tennis. Our friends were over tonight after a dinner at Fuddrucker's. Terese conked Ryan in the head with the controller while swinging at the tennis ball. He now sports a knot on his forehead. Otherwise, she is a good mother.

The other big news is I got a Roomba for Christmas. Yes, it was actually on my list. Our friends, Andy and Miriam have one in Florida and when we visitied, I was very impressed with how well it cleaned. So far, it has found a book under the sofa in the family room, hangers under the one in the living room and a whole bunch of dust and dog hair hiding under the chairs. Next, I am going to let it loose in the kids rooms and see if we can find some missing socks.

David will be taking his Praxis (a professional exam for teachers) in January and, if he passes, will then become hireable (is that a word?) in South Carolina as a teacher of emotionally handicapped students. I questioned his ability to teach but then he has reminded me that he has been counseling kids with these problems for 10 years. Sometimes it is hard for me to realize that he has a whole nother life out there that I am not a part of. He leaves in the morning and comes home at night without me helping at all. Well, other than making his lunch occassionally. I guess because I have never had a "real" job I don't relate to that part of his day. But, he is a real professional who currently supervises almost 60 people serving over 1500 clients. I guess that means he can do his job well!! Too bad he is bogged down in boring paperwork and not getting paid what we would like. You know it must be bad if he is considering teaching as a better-paying job.

School starts back next Thursday and while I have really enjoyed having this break, it will be nice to get back to our routine. I think David and I are going to have a grown-up night with the Wii. Kick the kids out, move the furniture around and try not to whack each other in the heads!!

"'Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

The Rushton's excitement, one could not douse

The church clothes were hung by the bed with care

In hopes that all would soon be dressed without snare

The children were wrestled all snug in their seats

And we were off to the church to sing with a beat

And Perry and family lead a wonderful prayer

For all of us to remember the Son Mary did bear...

When, out of the church, our tummies like beasts

Off to Grammy and Papa's for a delicious feast!

Long ago, when young, Papa's mother did cook

Yummy seafood casserole, and so, by the book

Grammy will fix it for her family

The same great dish derived from the sea

Then home again, home again, home again quick

For it is time to get ready for jolly St. Nick

More rapid than computers the children they came

And Mom whistled and shouted and called them by name

"Now, Hannah! now Knox! now Katy and Macon!

On David, let's hurry, you think this's vacation?

To your rooms in the house! to your warm, comfy beds!

Now dash away, dash away, lay down your sweet heads!"

As the cookies were placed on a plate by the fire

and carrots and celery, for that's what reindeers desire

New jammies for all 'cause last year's they outgrew

And little voices insist, "Mom and Dad, go to bed too!"

And then, in a twinkling, they heard on the street

The jingling and jangling of bells on his feet

Down the road St. Nicholas came with a bound

With cars driving past and honking their sounds

He was smaller than last year, with no loot to boot

And his clothes were quite shabby, like a second-hand suit

But the children believed and Mom and Dad sighed

"Not too many more years" as a tear fell from their eye

Then, into the darkness, he disappeared

and our children screeched out "Will he come back here?"

As we got them tucked in their soft warm beds

And thanked God for the Present, my little ones said

"This year's the best, Mom, keep on the night-light"

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!!!