Friday, November 2, 2007

Day 65: Coulda used some Wheaties

What a morning! After getting up late (again) and accepting the fact that I wasn't going to get a shower until much later in the day, I hurried downstairs, my head swimming with food choices for Jacob's lunchbox, and arrived at the kitchen door just in time to hear a crash followed by the clear tinkling of many shards of glass hopping about my kitchen counter and floor. What should my eyes behold but the sight of one Jacob Mckinnis and one Joshua McKinnis both frozen in place, eyes wide at the horror surrounding them, clearly terrified to move a muscle. Apparently, the two of them had been getting out their breakfast stuff, when a brief tussle over the cupboard door resulted in glass bowl Armageddon. I think it was only two bowls that shattered, but by the amount of glass everywhere, you would have thought the entire cupboard had come crashing down. Well, to make a long story short, after shooing them both to safety, I spent the next half hour or so discovering bits and pieces in every corner of my kitchen, from inside the cupboard ( do not ask me how they managed to jump back in) to inside the microwave (which had sadly been left open) to under every single appliance, the table, the chairs, the carpet, etc. Lovely. Jeremy ended up having to take Jacob to school, since he clearly missed the bus, with orders to buy breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria, since neither of these meals were successfully prepared in my nuthouse today. I used to wonder why anyone would possibly need to buy breakfast in the school cafeterias in the mornings. Now I know oh so well.

Well, that mild emergency finally overcome, I moved on with my morning, getting Julia up, feeding Josh, etc. It was upon my rinsing of my dishes that I realized that the water was not going peacefully down the drain as it should be. In fact it was backed up to about mid-sink before this realization hit me. Great. Well, I had drain cleaner, so I poured some down. Nothing. Just really bleachy smelling water sitting in my sink. So it wasn't an organic mass. hmmm...Yes, you guessed it, glass had actually slipped down my drain and was now stuck, causing an immovable blockage. Well, after calling Jeremy and receiving the welcome news that I would have to deal with having no working kitchen sink until he was able to get home and "rip it all apart" (joy), I was struck with a bit of inspiration. Retrieving our wetdry vacuum from his garbage dump, I mean "workshop", I sucked all of the offending water and the glass pieces out of the sink and drain, successfully unblocking the blockage. Oh yeah. I am the woman.

So, all's well that ends well. Actually, the original event, the tussle between brothers over the stupid cupboard door (one of way too many arguments over stupid things lately) afforded me a priceless opportunity to discuss rather deeply with Joshua how he's been feeling towards Jacob lately and why those feeling have resulted in bratty brother behavior. It's pretty hard to go from being Jacob's best, and only, buddy to, well, a younger brother stuck at home who just wants Jacob's attention when he finally is home for a little while. I really think we had some breakthroughs, and I am hoping that he will be a lot more aware of what he is feeling and how to better address those feelings in the future. Joshua was particularly surprised to hear that I really do understand exactly what he's going through, since I was the youngest and definitely lost my playmates when they started growing up and getting friends of their own. "I guess kids don't really think their parents ever felt the same way," he said. Too true. I find that he is most open to my advice when I insert a little personal transparency.

Anyway, I have discovered via my sister's bog that this is national blog month, when all of us bloggers are supposed to post every single day. Can't...take...the pressure. I can pretty much assure all of you that, while my intentions will be good, I will most likely fail miserably. But now I can nag her about it if she misses even one day! Hear that, sis? Big brother, I mean, Little Sister is watching you!

Let's see, what else. Oh, I never really told about Halloween. Well, my pictures and comments really speak for themselves, so I don't know how much I really need to elaborate on any of it. I do want to say a huge "Thank you!" to mom and dad for coming to both Jacob's parade and trick or treating that night. It definitely would not have been the same without you guys! I also want to note that there has never been a sweeter angel than Julia was in that costume. Oh My Gosh. I wish you all could have seen her in person. I really didn't think she would keep those wings or the halo on, but after seeing our reactions, she got the idea that she looked pretty darn special, and she decided a little discomfort was worth it. Yeah, we women put up with a lot to look fabulous, don't we? And she totally acted the part, too. She was even walking around on her tiptoes like a beautiful little ballerina! It was priceless. If she keeps these looks and personality, we are so in trouble in the future. Her brothers will have to follow her around with billy clubs to keep all the boys away!

Well, that's about all I have to talk about right now. I hope that all of your adventures this day end well!


P.S. Aaaaahhh! Only 25 days left! Aaaaaahhhhh!

P.P.S. I have too many pictures. Should I get rid of the sports ones, apple picking, or Critz farms??