Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
A Person's A Person, No Matter How Small
Today was Nathan's birthday. My baby is 8 years old. He is so much fun to have in our family. He is sweet and kind, and very charismatic. I enjoy listening to what he has to say. A day does not go by that he does not spend some time with me snuggle bugging. He is also full of energy and life.
We had a full, but fun day. We had our regular Saturday craziness. Plus, Ashley is now seeing her physical therapist on Saturdays too. Then add to that, today was the pinewood derby. We had some major problems because no one knew how to run the computer program. When it was finally figured out, the boys had fun. The boys and I went to Burger King after the derby. This was Nathan's request. It was fun to spend some time with my boys, and they looked really cute in their cub scout uniforms. After Ashley got home from MYSO we had cake and ice cream. Nathan got his present early so he could have it in Florida, so there were no presents. Then, we went to see Horton Hears a Who. I just loved it. In the end when they were singing together, I about fell out of my seat laughing. I love Jim Carey and also the actor that plays Michael from the office. I can't remember his name, Steve something. They were both great. Nathan's last request of the day was pizza hut. I needed to get some food from BJ's, so that worked out well, because they have pan pizza's in their food court.
On the way home from BJ's Nathan called his grandmothers on the phone. He is so funny. Here's some of the conversations that I remember.
Phone ringing up Grandma Davis:
Nathan: Hi Grandma. Today's my birthday. I had cake, and I got the whole basketball, but I didn't eat it all, cause it was huge.
(Amanda chimes in and says, you did not eat it all)
Nathan: That is what I said, I didn't eat it all.
Then this little argument continues for too long, and Nathan decides he's had enough of talking, and says: bye grandma, and hangs up.
I am trying very hard not to laugh at this point, as I am sure there was great confusion on my mom's side as to what he was actually talking about with the basketball. Let me explain a little. There was a huge basketball in the middle of his cake. It is tradition at our house for the birthday child to pick which piece of cake he gets. Nathan picked the entire basketball, which must have been 1/4 of the cake.
Me: Nathan, you forgot to tell grandma you loved her.
Nathan: opps. (calls her back and says) I forgot to say I love you. Bye.
Then all the kids in the car start yelling: bye grandma, we love you.
Nathan: Grandma says she loves all of you too.
Kerrie: Aw shucks.
Nathan: Kerrie said aw shucks.
Next call to Grandma Gartside.
Nathan: Hi, it's me Nathan Gartside. Thank you for my card and money.
I am sure at this point, grandma has asked him about his day because he starts telling her about the movie we went to, and the cake and ice cream. Then this.
Nathan: I raced my car today in the .... I'm in cub scouts.
Me: The pinewood derby.
Nathan: oh ya, the pinewood derby.
Amanda: Nicolaas came in second and Nathan came in third.
Nathan: No I didn't. I didn't come in third.
Amanda: What did you come in then?
Nathan: I don't know, but it wasn't third.
Notice all the side arguing going on. Only one side of which Grandma can actually hear.
I am driving along shaking my head.
Nathan: I love you, bye.
All in all it was a very successful birthday. I will post pictures tomorrow. I am too tired tonight, and I wanted to get this down before I forget half of it. So I will end this with two quotes from Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
"Elephants are loyal, 100 percent." (I just like this line)
"A person's a person, no matter how small."
We had a full, but fun day. We had our regular Saturday craziness. Plus, Ashley is now seeing her physical therapist on Saturdays too. Then add to that, today was the pinewood derby. We had some major problems because no one knew how to run the computer program. When it was finally figured out, the boys had fun. The boys and I went to Burger King after the derby. This was Nathan's request. It was fun to spend some time with my boys, and they looked really cute in their cub scout uniforms. After Ashley got home from MYSO we had cake and ice cream. Nathan got his present early so he could have it in Florida, so there were no presents. Then, we went to see Horton Hears a Who. I just loved it. In the end when they were singing together, I about fell out of my seat laughing. I love Jim Carey and also the actor that plays Michael from the office. I can't remember his name, Steve something. They were both great. Nathan's last request of the day was pizza hut. I needed to get some food from BJ's, so that worked out well, because they have pan pizza's in their food court.
On the way home from BJ's Nathan called his grandmothers on the phone. He is so funny. Here's some of the conversations that I remember.
Phone ringing up Grandma Davis:
Nathan: Hi Grandma. Today's my birthday. I had cake, and I got the whole basketball, but I didn't eat it all, cause it was huge.
(Amanda chimes in and says, you did not eat it all)
Nathan: That is what I said, I didn't eat it all.
Then this little argument continues for too long, and Nathan decides he's had enough of talking, and says: bye grandma, and hangs up.
I am trying very hard not to laugh at this point, as I am sure there was great confusion on my mom's side as to what he was actually talking about with the basketball. Let me explain a little. There was a huge basketball in the middle of his cake. It is tradition at our house for the birthday child to pick which piece of cake he gets. Nathan picked the entire basketball, which must have been 1/4 of the cake.
Me: Nathan, you forgot to tell grandma you loved her.
Nathan: opps. (calls her back and says) I forgot to say I love you. Bye.
Then all the kids in the car start yelling: bye grandma, we love you.
Nathan: Grandma says she loves all of you too.
Kerrie: Aw shucks.
Nathan: Kerrie said aw shucks.
Next call to Grandma Gartside.
Nathan: Hi, it's me Nathan Gartside. Thank you for my card and money.
I am sure at this point, grandma has asked him about his day because he starts telling her about the movie we went to, and the cake and ice cream. Then this.
Nathan: I raced my car today in the .... I'm in cub scouts.
Me: The pinewood derby.
Nathan: oh ya, the pinewood derby.
Amanda: Nicolaas came in second and Nathan came in third.
Nathan: No I didn't. I didn't come in third.
Amanda: What did you come in then?
Nathan: I don't know, but it wasn't third.
Notice all the side arguing going on. Only one side of which Grandma can actually hear.
I am driving along shaking my head.
Nathan: I love you, bye.
All in all it was a very successful birthday. I will post pictures tomorrow. I am too tired tonight, and I wanted to get this down before I forget half of it. So I will end this with two quotes from Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
"Elephants are loyal, 100 percent." (I just like this line)
"A person's a person, no matter how small."
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Oral Surgery & Swimmers Ear
My Amanda is going through quite the ordeal. Yesterday she had oral surgery to expose one of her eye teeth that will not come in. It is stuck above some other teeth. Her orthodontist tried really hard to make enough room for it to turn and come down, but it just wouldn't cooperate. They gave it a little help, by putting a bracket on it with a chain that will attach to her other braces and get turned a little at a time until the tooth turns and comes down. Right before the surgery, she was complaining that her ear hurt. I figured she had an infection, but would be on antibiotics for the oral surgery, that would take care of everything. Well, apparently not. She is in so much pain from the ear that I took her into the pediatrician. He said she has swimmers ear from swimming in Florida. It is so full of fluid, that she is in horrible pain. I feel so bad for her. She now has ear drops on top of the antibiotic, and hopefully that will do the trick. I guess on the upside, she gets another day off school.
My life would be so dull without children.
My life would be so dull without children.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Sunny Florida
It seems like we just got here, and yet we will be heading home in two days. It has been a wonderful trip. The home we are renting is a dream. It is just lovely with a pool and hot tub that we have spent most of our time in. The beach is just a short walk away.
On Monday we spent the day at Sea World. This was fun, but a little too crowded for my taste. I guess that is what you get when you go on spring break. The rest of the week we spent in the pool, on the beach, and seeing the eye doctor.
Our doctor is just amazing. She will have examined all eight of us, by tomorrow. Along with that, she has done extra. When she found out I was in a car accident, and suffering from headaches, she wanted to try acupuncture on me. I have never actually had acupuncture and the idea of it kind of creeped me out, but to tell the truth, it really works. My headaches are improving, and it is something I will likely try when I get home. She also did a little on James' hand. He has never fully recovered from the Lyme disease. He has arthritis is his knuckles now. Anyway, it is typical of her to go the extra mile with us, and we really appreciate all she does. I know this is difficult on her to do this many exams in the same week.
It will be difficult to head home, as we have enjoyed spending this time together as a family. It really has been a recharge, and my favorite kind of vacation.
Of course there are always some bumps. The sun screen I bought (store brand) did not work, and as a result several of my children are very sunburned. It is painful to even look at them. I call them my little lobsters. I bought some name brand stuff, and will never make that mistake again.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
To The Ball
This week I started working in the mornings in a preschool class. This has added two hours each day to my work schedule. I did not think it would be that big a deal, but it has kind of thrown me for a loop. I miss those two hours, and frankly, I am NOT a morning person. That said, I am enjoying my new friends. They are very sweet. I am also enjoying the activities. I am more involved in the actually instruction, than I am in kindergarten, and I enjoy that as well. It is good to have both.
Today was really fun. There is one little boy in my preschool class, that I have taken a real shine to. He likes to hold my hand. During centers, (which is play time) he went into the house area. Got out the ironing board, plugged in the iron, and then started ironing princess dresses. He said, "Mrs. Gartside, I'm ironing your dress for you." I asked him what the dress was for, and he said it was for the ball. He then ironed a dress for the dance, and my tutu for my upcoming ballet recital. He then started twirling around. We were having a lot of make believe fun. When it came time for me to leave I told him I was going to the ball, and I would tell him all about it tomorrow. I am very much a kid at heart and I loved pretending to be a princess heading out to find my prince charming. That's much better to imagine, then the fact that I was going to an IEP meeting. Love it!
Today was really fun. There is one little boy in my preschool class, that I have taken a real shine to. He likes to hold my hand. During centers, (which is play time) he went into the house area. Got out the ironing board, plugged in the iron, and then started ironing princess dresses. He said, "Mrs. Gartside, I'm ironing your dress for you." I asked him what the dress was for, and he said it was for the ball. He then ironed a dress for the dance, and my tutu for my upcoming ballet recital. He then started twirling around. We were having a lot of make believe fun. When it came time for me to leave I told him I was going to the ball, and I would tell him all about it tomorrow. I am very much a kid at heart and I loved pretending to be a princess heading out to find my prince charming. That's much better to imagine, then the fact that I was going to an IEP meeting. Love it!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Department of the Navy
James had reserves this weekend. He came home today, and handed me this award. He received it this morning. It was a complete shock to him. He had no idea it was coming.
Here is what is says:
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS AWARDED THE
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL
TO
LIEUTENANT JAMES N. GARTSIDE
UNITED STATES NAVY
FOR
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS AN OPERATIONS WATCH OFFICER AT NAVY RESERVE NAVY INFORMATION OPERATIONS COMMAND WASHINGTON FROM OCTOBER 2003 THROUGH JANUARY 2008. LIEUTENANT GARTSIDE PROVIDED SUPERIOR LEADERSHIP AS THE FIRST QUALIFIED CRYPTOLOGIC RESERVIST TO ATTAIN THE POSITIONS OF HOMELAND SECURITY DESK OFFICER AND CRISIS ACTION CELL OPERATIONS OFFICER. HIS EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS GREATLY ENHANCED ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENT INTEGRATION AND DEMONSTRATED THE SIGNIFICAN IMPACT OF RESERVE FORCES ON NATIONAL OPERATIONS. LIEUTENANT GARTSIDE'S OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALISM AND TOTAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
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