Waiting.....

I brought Emilia into the doctor today.  First off, I would just like to note that my girls see Dr. Burn and Dr. Rash.  I find that rather amusing...or weird.  Anyway, I showed up 15 minutes early like a good girl to fill out all the new patient paper work.  While we were waiting, another lady showed up with her kid and told the receptionist she had an appointment with Dr. Burns at 1:00.  That was the same doctor and the same time as my appointment.  We were brought back to a room just a little after one and the nurse was prompt and kind and then she left and we waited.  We read every book in the room, and then all the magazines.  We took a potty break, came back and resorted to coloring a collage on the crinkly paper that lines the exam bed.  FINALLY the doctor sauntered in at 1:55 swallowing the remnants of his lunch and wiping crumbs off his tie.  Really? 

This is one of my biggest pet peeves.  Actually, it's more than that.  I have serious issues in situations like these.  I hate waiting in a small room where there is purposely NO clock on the wall, for an undisclosed amount of time while the doctor sees another patient that was double booked, eats his lunch, practices juggling, assembles a few quilt blocks and does the hokey pokey... just so he can come in whenever he gets around to it, and talk to me for five minutes.  Don't get me wrong, I really like this doctor and I value his knowledge.  It's just the whole hour of my life that I wasted waiting to ask him ONE question that I have a problem with. 

Although the girls were also anxious to get out of there, they were willing to forgive and forget the whole thing as soon as the doctor handed them each a handful of tongue depressors to play with.  I'm glad he had the wisdom not to try and buy my love with them as well.  He would have been pulling splinters out of his nose.  Told you I had issues.

Private Funding

Dear Newport Public Library,

I have been informed that you do not charge late fees on items check out from your facility.  I feel inclined to give you some personal information that may affect your establishment.  The only reason I have ever made any sort of attempt to return items in a timely manner in the past, was fear of having to take out a small loan in order to repay my delinquency.  Knowing that I have no chance of racking up embarrassing amounts of fines, my conscience has relaxed and put "returning books in a timely manner" much, MUCH farther down on my list. If the City of Newport ever decides to change this policy, I would most likely personally fund a new addition to the Public Library within a year as a result of my carelessness.  Until then, I will enjoy my books and movies, guilt free, for as many weeks as I want to...or for as long as it takes me to remember what I checked out and actually locate it, which could be months. 
Sincerely,
Shamelessly abusing the system in Newport

Quest

Last week we took advantage of the beautiful sunny day and went on a "Quest" with some of our friends here.  The county has several of these quests set up so kids can search around town based on clues to find a little prize.  It's really fun.  Anyway, the particular quest we followed was around city hall and the police station.  As we were walking through the parking lot, an officer arrived in his squad car and asked if the kids wanted to see inside of it.  They all did...with the exception of Emilia.  She ran and hid behind me.  I tried to take her picture by the police car...which she was clearly NOT thrilled about.  

After the police man left, she started asking me quesions.  "Do police take away bad people?"  "What about kids?  Do they take bad kids to jail?"  Finally it dawned on me....she was experiencing PTSD from our little incident a few weeks back.  ***Please reference blog entry from December 16th***  I may be paying for therapy sooner than anticipated.

Dinner out at Mo's

Heidi gave it 2 thumbs up.

Just because I don't think I mentioned it before...

Naomi lost her two front teeth just in time for Christmas.  And yes, we made her sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth," until she hated us.  What? 

Oregon things

Heidi (L) and Emilia (R)  

Hunting for Agates...

in the pouring rain...

in pajamas.

......we didn't find any

Out here on the coast, the last week of December is "Whale Watch Week."  The first half of the week was stormy, but by the end of the week, it was clear and beautiful.  So I asked my friend to show us where the "locals" go to look for whales.  She took us about 10 miles north of here to whale watch at Rocky Creek.  It was AWESOME!!!  We saw at least a dozen whales swim by.  Just standing there, we could very clearly see their spouts of water and with binoculars, I even saw a few backs and tails.  They are so beautiful and amazing.

Rocky Creek.  Word is, in the summer this is where the "resident whales" hang out to feed and play.  You'd better believe I'll be checking up on that :)

A diversion from my usual sarcasm

My beautiful Naomi girl

I've just been thinking a lot recently about the whole being a mom thing.  I feel like I'm in a strange place within myself.  I'm 31.  I have four kids.  And although this has been my reality for the past almost 9 years, it still seems surreal to me.  I remember being a kid and truthfully I don't feel too far removed from it.  I still feel very young and inexperienced.  I wonder how I'm supposed to raise these beautiful daughters when I am still learning how to figure out life and humanity myself!  I worry that they have suffered at times because I've been learning life lessons, things that I thought all mom's were already supposed to know.

There are so many things I want to teach my little ladies, experiences I want to have with them, places I want to take them.  I wonder if I'm treating each day as the gift it truly is.  Am I treating my girls with as much love and respect that I can give them?  Do they know that I think they are the most wonderful, beautiful girls on the earth? I know all I can do is my best, but to be completely honest...some days my best is just plain lousy!

I don't know.  I mostly turned out all right...I guess they will too :) 
It's just a GREAT responsibility.  Just sayin'.

Swedish Traditions

Traditionally there are supposed to be saffron rolls...but I couldn't find saffron anywhere so I made sweet potato rolls instead.

     L to R: Eli, Lydia, Emilia, Naomi, Heidi, Leina, Leah

                                                     Leina, Emilia, Leah, Lydia, Naomi

                                             Leina, Emilia, Leah, Lydia, Naomi, Heidi and Eli

                                                                Leah being St. Lucia

Heidi!

Each year we celebrate the Swedish tradition of  St. Lucia on the 13th of December. This year, Lars's mom and sister's family came out to our house for the festivities. I made the rolls and it was Leah's year to be "St. Lucia". This means she gets to be in the front of the line, carry the basket of goodies and SLOWLY lead the others around.  Leah thinks EVERYTHING is embarrassing. This was no exception. She was practically running around the house while all the other kids were trying to keep up with her. It was funny...but not authentic :)

Guess I should blog about Christmas

I think I avoided any pre-Christmas posts this year because I was having Santa Anxiety. (It's a real disorder...just ask me.) I confiscated my girl's letters to Santa to get an accurate idea of what they wanted. After reading them I nearly suffered heart failure. Guess that should teach me not to lie to my children or steal other people's mail. Here's what they said.

Dear Santa,
I wold like a laptop, a camera, 15 pet shops, 10 packs of sily bands, a litil stocking, a D.S., a radeo, and a sell phone.
P.S. Heidi wonts a doll.
(Leah didn't even bother signing her name.)

Dear Santa,
Thank you for the bead set, and the dress and the baby doll. Can you get me ten webkins, and an art set, and two pillowpets; a unicorn and a dog. And a gate for my office.
Love Naomi

Dear Santa,
I've been extra good this year. I would like a doll, a puppy, a rocking horse, a fairy wand, a webkinz, an i-pod and a Wii.
Love Emilia

Let's see...that would only exceed our Christmas budget by $2249.73

I was confident this would be the worst Christmas ever...since no one would get anything they wanted. Except for the little stocking, I could afford one of those.

Well, Christmas morning came and the girls were very gracious and loved their gifts. Emilia even reassured me that, "This was the BEST Christmas EVER." (Irregardless of that fact that at some point of every day it's the best AND the worst day EVER...it was still nice to hear.)

immunity and insanity

This afternoon Lars and I decided to take the girls to the outlet mall in Lincoln City. Before we could even get IN the car we had to chase Heidi down and force her into some clothing. Then Emilia had a rat's nest in her hair so big I was almost a little reluctant to brush it out...just because she was probably setting some sort of record with it's sheer mass of matted goodness. After a half hour drive in the car, circling the parking lot with no empty spaces to be found, a melt down screaming fit from Emilia, and running through the pouring rain we finally got into the store. Two minutes later, Emilia started doing the potty dance. Because I'm so nice and compassionate, I refused to take her on sheer principle. (How many times did I tell the girls to use the bathroom before we left?!)

Finally I took Emilia, Heidi and Naomi into the bathroom. Naomi went into one stall and I brought Heidi and Emilia into the next stall over. I put Heidi down, wiped off the toilet seat, lined it with toilet paper and tried to help E up onto the potty. By this time her potty dance had escalated into nothing short of theatrical, yet she refused to get onto the toilet. I finally figured out she has a deathly fear of the auto-flusher and she wanted me to cover it with my hand the entire time she was sitting on the toilet. So I grabbed a wad of toilet paper and covered the sensor with one hand and lifted her onto the toilet with the other.

Heidi didn't find too much entertainment standing in the corner of a bathroom stall getting reprimanded any time she tried to move or touch something. It didn't take long until she'd had enough and flopped face first onto the bathroom floor. Horrified, I tried to control my dry heaving, pick up Heidi's flailing body off the disgusting floor and keep the auto sensor covered so it didn't freak Emilia out, causing her to jump off the toilet "mid-stream". (I speak from experience.) Of course at that same moment, Naomi called for help from the other stall.

I somehow got Heidi back on her feet and she immediately stuck both her hands in her mouth. (Dry heave) E finished and I let the toilet flush. E heard it and commented, "Oh, that's a quiet flush. That wasn't scary at all!" Really?! Then I decided since we were all there, I may as well use the facilities myself. As I sat with my pants around my ankles Emilia decided she didn't want to be in there one second longer and opened the door. Wide open. To the line of waiting shoppers.

I thought I had lost my dignity long ago. But I guess it's REALLY gone now. :)