Tales of the Nipple Biter and Other Happenings

Madi: Nipple Biter Extraordinaire
Madi has discovered a new skill-- biting. At first, she'd bite her shirt or the couch. Yesterday, she and Doug were wrestling on the couch. She fell into his chest and chomped down right on his nipple. He flew up, writhing in pain. She, apparently, has some sort of homing device programmed in her, because this is the second time she has done this to him. Coincidence? I think not.

Braelyn Update
We do not want Braelyn to feel left out. She is growing like a weed, pardon the cliche. She is starting to play with toys and is developing quite the personality. Besides drooling like a monster, she has a dang cute laugh. Doug wants to brag that she is the chillest baby in the world. (And we thought Madi couldn't be beat.)

Madi's First Sentences
This morning I asked Madi to bring me Braelyn's toy keys. She obediently brought them to me but was distraught by a teething ring attached to it that was "guck." In Madi's world, that means stuck. I "un-gucked" it and gave it back to her. I thought she was going to run off, forgetting about giving Braelyn the keys. However, she paused and said, "Here you go." Then handed me the keys. It was the cutest thing!!

Then tonight, as Doug (aka: Sandman) was tucking Madi into her new "big girl" bed with Dora sheets, here's how it went down: (Don't you know, I'm thug Angie? Just a small shout out for my peeps E-dizzle.)
Doug: Ni-Night, Madi.
Madi: Ni-Night.
Doug: I love you.
Madi: Uh, huh.
Doug: Love you.
Madi: Love you too.
Doug, running out to Angie: My heart just melted.

Lobster

This is Doug's two day old sunburn. I made him smile for the picture. He really isn't this joyous dealing with his sunburn.

Making Jelly

So today was the day when I made my first batch of jelly. I was quite excited. My friend Sheryl came over to show me how to do it. She also, by the way, supplied the canner. Once we got started, Doug noticed that our old propane tank was leaking propane in the garage. He moved it outside and called the fire department. They told us to let the propane out. Well, the smell of the propane went into the house, so we had to shut the windows. This made the kitchen extremely hot. So here I was stirring my berries with Sheryl measuring sugar and Doug watching the big clouds of propane in the backyard when the doorbell rang.

Kristin, who was in the living room, answered the door for us. Next thing I knew, she came into the kitchen and said, "A realtor is here wanting to show your house." I, of course, was convinced she was joking. That is just the sort of thing that Kristin would do. But, no. She was telling the truth. Our realtor was supposed to call us and tell us people were coming. He, obviously, didn't.

So Doug went and told him that I was in the middle of canning. (He neglected to tell him that he was releasing explosive gases into the atmosphere.) They are going to come back tomorrow to look at the house. After that excitement, we went on our merry way canning up a storm. I've decided that next week I am going to pick blackberries and raspberries to make jelly. Then in August, when peaches are in season, I am going to make peach jelly for Doug. That should definitely boost our food storage.

Next on my list: tackling the cannery.

Mi Padre y Mi Esposo

Mi Padre

My dad is the absolutely hardest person in the world to shop for. He will never tell you what he wants because he never wants anything. A common phrase from him is "Make me something." That is not always the easiest thing in the world. Good grief, he was an art major and a perfectionist! Well, this year, I made him a book-- a thank you book. It listed all of the things that I am thankful for. Because of him, I know how to work. In order to play on tournament teams, I had to work for him to pay my debt. As a result, I took pride in the things that I had. I learned the value of an education. (I believe that I am the first person on his side of the family to graduate from college.) He taught me how to sing hymns and encouraged me to play my violin perfectly. He is a terrific listener and always has insight and makes me think. Whenever things don't go my way, he has some sort of advice. Because of him, I know the value of a dollar. He had me read One for the Money at the age of eight. It used to completely irritate Doug but that is the way I am. Now, Doug appreciates it. We have gotten through our "tough time" financially because of the lessons my dad taught me. I am also thankful that my dad convinced me not to "Dear John" Doug. (That one was Doug's favorite.) There are so many more things... I made a whole book. I am thankful for him. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!


Mi Esposo

I wanted to do something really big for Father's Day this year. Holidays and birthdays haven't been too great this year as far as gifts and spending money is concerned. We have had to use all of the money we got to pay bills because of my maternity leave. However, I have been saving all year long for a BBQ for Doug. He has wanted one so bad. In fact, he has been talking about it all week. He even said that his manhood is judged by his BBQ.

Earlier this week, I sent Doug on an errand to get canning jars. Then my dad and I picked up the BBQ at Lowes and hid it in the garage. I was so worried that he would see it. Thank goodness that a lot of our stuff is packed up in boxes. I just piled more empty boxes on it. He didn't even notice! I got him several things... a book called Father to Daughter, a BBQ utensil set (which I said that he could use to pretend he had a nice grill), and an OSU grill cover (so he could pretend he could have a nice grill and no one would see our old one.)

For the last present, I took a picture of the BBQ and put it in a CD case. He thought it was a CD and was so shocked when everything finally clicked.

He has been beaming all day long, wanting to BBQ anything and everything. He finally got to. We had steak, homemade mashed potatoes, green beans, and brownies.

Overall, I think he had a good day. After all, he got his BBQ and is a terrific father and husband. I am lucky to have a husband who does the laundry, helps me cook, helps with the dishes, and gets the girls ready in the morning. He is a great listener and has been my best friend for almost ten years now. And of course, we always joke that I wouldn't put up with anything less. Happy Father's Day, Dougie!

Oaks Park

Yesterday, we went to Oaks Park for the Riverside Ward Reunion. I'll admit that there weren't a ton of people there. Both Doug and I definitely were expecting more of a turnout. With that being said, we both had a spectacular time. Since we had such bad luck with Madi being too short to go on rides at the Iris Festival, we did not have high hopes for going on any rides at Oaks Park. Well, we were wrong. Madi had so much fun riding in the cars with her cousin Cleo. The man running that particular ride wasn't too kid friendly. Even though there wasn't even close to a line and Madi had a ride bracelet, he made her get out and go through the line again. Then she'd burst into tears because she wanted to go again. On the rocket ship, shown in the second picture, Madi could stay seated, ready to ride again. The first time she rode it, it came to a screeching halt; Madi jerked forward, and the butt of the gun hit her in the cheek. Still, she was more upset that the ride stopped. The frog hopper scared Madi the most. (It was, by the way, the most painful for Doug too. He barely fit in the seat.) It was a kid version of the Maliboomer at Disneyland. She was fine while it was going up, but then did not like it dropping and going back up. She was a trooper though and didn't cry. After the frog hopper, she was too scared to sit on any of the animals on the carousel so she just sat on my lap. She ended her day with that old familiar feeling-- her first love-- the cars. Overall, it was another fabulous day at the park.

Unanswered Prayers

Today I discovered that I am so happy that one of our prayers wasn't answered two years ago. It was right after Doug graduated and was looking for a job. I was pregnant, the summer was coming to a close, and Doug still hadn't had a job interview. Two weeks before school began, he finally got one at Roberts, an alternative school. Well, he felt really good about the interview and we even had an "in" at the school; he didn't get the job. The job was given to another McNary teacher's husband. We were so disappointed. A week later, he was interviewed at Stephens. He had a grueling interview process because he wasn't endorsed to teach middle school. They ended up hiring him as a long term sub to see if it would work out. Three months later, they hired him permanently. To make a long story short, I found out today that the guy who was hired instead of Doug was laid off on Friday. I feel so bad for the other man who lost his job. We are, in return, so thankful that things didn't work out the way we wanted them to. It really was a blessing in disguise. Now, hopefully, they won't make more cuts so Doug can keep his job.

Breaking News

Last week when our house and car was broken into, one of Doug's students wrote a made up breaking news article. It is pretty good for a 6th grader. Here it is below: (I typed it as is.)

15 6th graders from Stephens Middle School and their social studies teacher brutely beat up a burgaler. Joseph one of the 6th graders used a semi-sword to cut the hand off the criminal. Brad and Thomas also 6th graders used their be-be guns to shoot him down. Mr. Gunter their social studies teacher had a shot gun and shot the man in the leg. Samantha and Alexis used their scrupidonian fighting skills to bruise him and knock him out. All other 6th graders used bats, baseballs, plates, radios, lawn gnomes and platipuses. That man was skilled that night and it all started when the burgaler broke into and stole stuff out of Mr. Gunter's car.

Not bad for a 12 year old. Many adults don't write this well. Doug really enjoyed it.

Teaching

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?" (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube, or movie rental...
You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, because we live in the United States of America.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.) "Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?"

A staff member sent out the above email. Although Doug and I sometimes complain about all of the crap teachers have to do and all of the students who are a pain in the butt, we love teaching. We both love hanging out with pre-teens and teenagers and teaching them. Yes, we will never earn the big bucks, drive the best cars, have the biggest house, or go on lavish vacations, but we love what we do and both feel as if we actually make a difference. It is this time of year when we get thank you notes for the impact we've had on students and former students come and visit us. We love seeing how students have grown into young adults, many making more money than us. Haha! For example, one of my former students who visited me will be making six figures next year. (I, on the other hand, will never make that much.) The amazing thing about our jobs is that we will never comprehend how many people and generations we will influence. This is why teaching is amazing.

Madi's Love Life

Well, it has begun. Tonight, Madi was holding hands with a boy. We were at the state semi-final baseball game. Several McNary teachers had a tailgater on the tennis courts, which is back to back to the baseball field. There were quite a few kids there, with Madi and Braelyn being the youngest. It was perfect because it was like a huge cage for everyone to run around and play while the adults socialized and watched the game. In the seventh inning, Jacob Gehley, who is around three, grabbed Madi's hand. There, they were walking hand in hand up and down the tennis courts. It was absolutely hilarious! All of the adults got a huge kick out of it. This would make for one good gene pool!

To top it off, the boys won and are playing for the state championships!

Go Celts!