Our Grossest Parenting Moment Yet...

The toilets in this house are less than to be desired. I've heard from other neighbors who complain of the lack of drainage from the showers and pull in the toilets.

Evidently, Grady went poo-poo this morning in the offending, no-suction potty. He flushed, but it just didn't drag it down the drain. At some point, the door to the bathroom was closed.

Tonight, when we opened the door, Alice complained of it being stinky. I flushed it down, and went to talk to Grady about it. While he was telling me of his original flush, Alice screamed. She said Pryor put his pacifier in the toilet!! Which was still turning from my flush with bits still not flushed down!

When I came in the door, there was Pryor with the pacifier in his mouth!!! ARUGH!!! He seemed proud of himself. His PJ's didn't seem wet, but I changed them anyway after a thorough hand wash. I contemplated washing his mouth out with soap but didn't.

Alice, while we were looking at Pryor having just discovered what he had done, asked if she could swallow what was in her mouth. I felt like telling her - I feel the same way!

Pryor's Goal

I will post Christmas pictures at some point - I just haven't downloaded them yet.

In the mean time, here's a quick bit: Pryor was riding on his little sit and push fire engine. I asked him, "Are you Lightning McQueen?" (The good guy from the animated Disney movie "Cars.")

He said, "No, I'm the bad car." (Meaning the bad guy in the movie.) Yikes!!

A Crazy Way to Start the Year

We got back from our 15 day tour of Tennessee and Ohio this past Sunday. Monday morning, we were all up and getting ready for school and work (although not all of us willingly.)

Surprisingly, we did manage to get ready in time for Grady and Alice to catch the bus. Since it was cold and rainy, I drove to the stop. When Pryor and I got back, I had about 15 minutes before I would need to leave to take him to school. Sometimes I'll let him play in the car, but I decided to get him out.

He was super cranky and crying about everything. I told him I would help him once I got the laundry swapped. Our laundry room is just off of our garage, and down the steps from the kitchen. I was tired of hearing him scream at me, so I walked up the steps, put him in the kitchen, closed the door and finished swapping out the laundry.

When I came back up, I realized the door to the kitchen was locked!!! I thought, no big deal, I have my keys and cell phone with me since I still had my coat on. I tried the key - it fit!! But - it didn't turn or unlock the door! The only other door into the house, the front door, has a chain on it. Pryor was crying (still) and said, "I need you." I told him I needed him too! I suggested he go get his uh-oh (pacifier) and lovies (blankets) which were up in his room. That stopped his crying!
Trying not to freak out, I called Stephen who informed me he was getting ready to go into a meeting. Thanks for the support! He did suggest I call 911 - which I did. While I'm dialing, I hear the familiar beeping of my cell phone - "low battery." GOOD GRIEF!! Fortunately, I was quickly connected through to the police station, who was able to get my address.

A little more than 5 minutes later, an officer came. I asked if he could pick a lock - he said he couldn't and that a lock smith might take more than 30 minutes! He tried unsuccessfully to kick down the door. After three or four shoves with his shoulder - SUCCESS!! Besides the scuff marks from his shoe, the door is apparently just fine.

I had told Pryor to go play in the play room - he was having a ball with his uh-oh and lovies. None the worse for wear! He was completely unfazed by the incident. I wished I could have said the same!

Caroling at a Nursing Home

Tonight, Grady, Alice and I went to a local nursing home with our Tiger Cub pack and other children. We met last week and made some crafts and practiced carols.
When we got there, they had already started rehearsing the carols. There were probably 25 children there. We went down to the memory impaired unit and sang 4 carols. I think the moms were louder than the children!
The mom organizers had pre-made milk-carton/graham cracker ginger bread houses. After singing, the children went and decorated the houses. Grady ended up sitting at a table with two other residents. The man didn't talk or move very much at all, although he looked young - maybe late sixties. The woman at his table had about a five minute memory. She kept asking Grady where he lived and he answered nicely every time.
The mom organizers had brought cookies and the facility had punch. Grady handed out some drinks and spoke clearly to each resident. He had such nice manners - I was so proud! The residents seemed to really appreciate our being there. We handed out the crafts the children had made. It seemed to brighten their day. The woman said they normally didn't have such a fun evening.
As we were leaving, I had Grady say thank you and goodbye to our table mates. The man shook his hand and seemed to make eye contact. I was really glad we went.

More Christmas-y things

Grady, Alice and I decorated a gingerbread house last weekend. We had a great time - now we're just trying to keep Alice from eating it!

It was Grady's idea to write "Hello" on the back of the house. He was so proud of himself for this idea. He made sure anyone who saw it knew that it was his idea!
We have been watching a Christmas movie or show just about every day (more on the weekends!) We introduced them to the Bing Crosby classic, "White Christmas," this year and I think they've seen it 4 or 5 times already. Grady has started quoting lines from the movie - which is better than when he was quoting lines from the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie!

We went out looking at Christmas lights the other night. Stephen and I have decided that more people decorate for Christmas here than in Tennessee. In our neighborhood alone we saw all kinds of figures, lights, inflatables and a few nativities. Even Pryor gets into it: "Oh look there!" We are all experts now on Christmas light decorations!

School Christmas Program

Monday afternoon, Stephen and I joined about 500 other parents and family for Newlonsburg Elementary's Holiday of Lights Celebration. We were not able to enter the school earlier than thirty minutes before the show. I got there 25 minutes early and got one of the last parking places along the road! Crazy! Stephen parked at a church across the way.

Alice was in the back row! Although I was only in the second row of the gym, I still had a hard time zooming in enough. She has the red bow in the back. She got to raise the sign for, "R for reindeer." Of course, her favorite song was the Hanukkah song they sang - but I didn't record that!

Grady loved this song, "Mary Had A Baby", and sang it at home. He, too, is in the back row almost in the same place as Alice, wearing a red sweatshirt. They are "signing" the song as well as singing it. We were at a Tiger Cub event and singing Christmas carols last week. The boys started singing this song. Even though none of them go to our school, they all knew the words! It was precious!

Rip Roarin' Roller Coaster

Stephen went out sledding with the children on Saturday. He decided to sled down the hill in a completely different way. When I filmed this I was watching them for the first time. I was surprised myself.

I had a hard time holding the camera steady since I was laughing!

I also got a shot of Alice and Daddy sledding down the same hill. It's hard to get a feel for how far they actually go down the hill.

If you can believe it, it was 61 degrees this morning and Suzy is no more! Everything is gone. It's not supposed to snow a lot for the rest of this week, so the next sledding will have to be in the new year. The children are already looking forward to it!