Jellybean

"BUT, I'M THE PRINCESS!"

(That's a cyber-yell. Can you hear her?) And doesn't that just about sum it up?

Houston, we have.....no problem....

We went to the Space Center Houston for our Sunday-funday outing. But not until after we attended another fantastic church - Gateway Community - there's somethin' about these Texas churches: all large, but surprisingly organized, welcoming, fun for kiddos, and Spirit-filled. Hmmm.....how do they do that?

We are in the thick of NASA country. I didn't realize that fact until I started to pass cross streets named Gemini, Moon Rock, and NASA Parkway (that was a big clue.) I discovered that we could spit and hit "Rocket Park" and the Space Museum, so today was the day to visit - Sweet Daddy didn't want to miss it.

A-mazing - really - I can't get my head around how these scientists did simple things, like how do radio signals reach to the shuttles in orbit? Not to mention, how do they get those big things through our atmosphere and out there? and back? Seeing footage of astronauts tethered to the shuttles, but basically floating free in space - yikes!

The exhibits were awe-inspiring. The knowledge and technology that God has allowed man to develop is stunning. As a frequent small-space dweller, the efficient use of space was particularly inspiring - if you've ever seen the footage of the astronaut who runs the inner walls of a pod: he's running on storage cases mounted to the inside of the pod - suitcases, really. We walked through a replica of that pod. And they even gave props to the Russians in the space race. I was puzzled that the Challenger and Columbia tragedies were not specifically honored, but is it possible that we missed some exhibits? (fighting cynicism, here)

Lots of the information was over my head. There was a certain concentration of space geeks, speaking all manner of languages - so for kids, some of the exhibits were not so engaging. But they have the coolest playspace for kids. We spent oodles of time there.

And I have 2 more words for any of you who may travel this way, someday: Lupe Tortilla: good Mexican food. The one here in Clear Lake/Webster has a big sand area for the young'uns to play - fun, fun! Sunday-funday!

Some news

We're heading home for a little while. The kids and I will start the drive home on the Feb. 16th and try to arrive in Mt. Vernon on the 18th. We didn't think Sweet Daddy would be joining us, but he will! He'll fly home on the 18th too. After a couple days with his parents, we'll head south and be in Granville/Newark. Saturday we have a birthday party for the kids. Then Monday, Sweet Man and I are off to Las Vegas for a conference. He'll fly back to Houston for a couple of weeks....okay, I can tell your eyes are glazing over, so cut to the chase; too many contingencies ~ Bug, Bean, and I will not be coming back "Hooston" as far as we know. Which is kinda sad, because I really like Houston and know my way around, sort of, and have really settled into this hotel room. After a little break from traveling, we will be ready to go wherever the storms hit in April ~ that's the name of the game.

Of course, all of this could change in a moment....

Tonight, we are going to Chuck E. Cheese (ugh - don't think I've been there since 6th grade!) for Bug's birthday. But we'll be able to see you Ohio folks soon!

Dear Lord, help me...

The day began with a plumbing malfunction in our hotel room: clogged toilet - we're not pointing any fingers here. I spent about 30 minutes of my day dealing with that. No school, just exploring new books found at 1/2 Price Books, yesterday. Fairly uneventful. Then I almost burned the hotel down.....

We started to get things together to head for the park = 70 degrees today, thank  you very much. I called Sweet Man to get his lunch order and settle on a time to meet. All good. Then I made 2 fatal mistakes. I put something in the microwave to cook and I left the room. The kids were safe in the car when I walked up to our 2nd floor room and heard a beeping. I got closer to the room and realized the beeping was inside. Aaaack - smoke, not so thick I couldn't see, but smoke had set off the smoke alarm. I went to the microwave - sure enough I had scorched 3 potatoes - I saw embers. The display didn't work, so I think I ruined the microwave. I threw the dish in the sink and doused it, then tried to wave a blanket to get the alarm to stop wailing. Bathroom fan on...crazy hotel windows propped open with Matchbox tracks. Still wailing...good alarm. Satisfied that the potatoes would not combust again, I threw them into a trash bag and tied it up to throw in the dumpster. Got kids out of the car and went to the front desk in tears. Very gracious people here in Houston. The manager met us back at the room and they got some big honkin' blowers a'blowin. They wanted to make sure the kids were safe so they let us sit in a bigger room (yeah, 2 separate bedrooms - the point was not lost on me even in my crisis, but I digress) down the hall but lunch was in the car. So we shuffled back to the car and I called Kevin to cry some more and explain that we would be late. I was so upset and embarrassed that I had caused all this trouble. I worried that other guests would be bothered by the smell. And the other guests are all State Farm employees - Sweet Man's co-workers. The manager has already been to our room 3 other times to look at our faulty fridge gasket and to fix a cupboard door. We have become "those people in Room #210." Anyway, the assistant manager encouraged me to keep my lunch plans - they would take care of the smoke - just check back with the desk before we head to the room.

So we went to the park; a lovely one we discovered yesterday. Sweet Man came and talked me off the "proverbial ledge" of "I don't want to go back there. I'm so embarrassed. It's one thing to burn something in my own house (not going to pretend it hasn't happened,) but here all these others are affected." He was perfect, of course. Hugging me and softly chuckling. There was a moment that it occurred to us that we might be moved to a bigger room - yes, please - that's worth the cost of a microwave, right? 

Oh well, we're back and the smoke has cleared and they even sprayed some lovely smelling scent in here. My senses may be acclimated, but I can't really even smell it now. When I checked in at the desk, the night clerk mentioned, "Oh, yea, it usually only takes an hour to clear the room out." "So, it's happened before?" I said. Good. Someone explain to me why that makes it better....

Packing up

                 

I've been packing our trunks to move across town to Pasadena, TX. I thought it might be fun for the kids to make suitcases and pack the things they wanted - with a few suggestions from me. So, they dictated what they wanted and I attempted to draw - hah. Let's make it an I Spy - can you find birthday cakes? toothbrushes? allowance wallets? phone? princess shoe and story? underwears - one pair drawn by Bug himself? and Sammycito, our mechanical hamster, who creeps me out daily?

Oh, and I threw in a pic from the castle yesterday. I'm not good at formatting pictures - sorry.

On motherhood

I feel like I may be catching something and have been trying to head it off at the pass, 'cuz who has time to be sick? I mixed up a little immunity drink,took a gulp, and put it on the coffee table. About 20 minutes later, I saw the cherry red mustaches on my babes. We'll either all be sick or all just fine, I guess.

Follow the leader

Around the corner and wrapped behind our apartment complex is a big housing development. The other day I noticed it has a rec center with a pool and a playground. Today, our morning had moved along normally, but we made no plans to head to town. We needed to get out of this apartment after lunch, so taking a walk with the playground as our destination seemed like a great idea. Of course, there was the argument about who would be "line leader" - thank you, Thursday School - but once that was all settled we started. It certainly seemed closer when we were driving, but we arrived after about 20 minutes of racing, stopping, inspecting various sidewalk litter, getting mad at whoever had passed up the appointed line leader, crumpling and crying, etc. We talked about the creepy trees covered with Spanish moss - Bug says that if you eat it, you will be able to speak Spanish. I told him he will be greatly disappointed by Spanish moss.

We had the place to ourselves on this blue sky day. The kids played for about 10 minutes on their own as I stretched out on a bench and tried to soak up some sun. Soon they were calling for me. Okay, I thought, I know we've played "follow the leader" a few times in different settings - we should try that. However, the Johnson children were not on board with Momma Johnson. I asked Bug to be the leader, but some things he did, Bean didn't want to do on her own. I'd help her through the obstacle but then she wanted me to carry her the rest of the way. Nope - defeats the purpose of running them ragged. Bug would race off and be upset that we hadn't caught up. I appointed myself line leader - and had some good moves, I must say - zigzagging through the shrubbery, walking along the retaining wall and climbing over picnic tables. Good moves, but I looked back and Bean had wandered over to the swings and Bug was distracted by a drinking fountain - whhhaaaaatttt? "You're not following the leader? Come on!" I began to wonder - "Don't they know they are supposed to follow me? Aren't I fun with my moves? Who's dropped the ball here?"

....and here's where I take the metaphorical liberties to attempt to justify this blog account   :p : "Am I a leader worth following? Don't they appreciate where I'm going and that I'm taking them with me (codependency, anyone?) Have I taught them the 'right way' to follow?" Hmmmm....we all need to work on following, I'd say.

Today

Disclaimer: The following post is not witty nor cohesive; rather it's a look at this day with challenges and victories. And please do not be alarmed - the changes of the last 17 days are catching up with me, but all in all we are doing very well -to God be the glory. Just pray, as we do for you.

1. Hurried morning as we try to get to MOPS - lose my temper as we got ready to get out the door - that's when it always creeps up on me and before I know it we alternately frazzled/crying and far from fresh and sweet - in the midst of it, I say to Bean, "This is the one thing I've wanted to do all week and you're going to make me late for it." Poor momma - wah! Stellar moment....

2. MOPS meeting - big meeting; great speaker on Kids and Money, some sweet ladies - grow tired explaining my life situation (wah-wah), so I kind of stopped talking, but made some good connections

3. Change lunch plans - Sweet Man was busy for lunch, but his plans changed and he takes us to Subway! Veggie sub with pepper jack - yum!

4. Grocery shopping - I'll try to spend less than $100 today - I've fallen into a rhythm of shopping every 3 or 4 days. We think we might be moving to the other side of Houston soon, so I want to live like Old Mother Hubbard. Kids help with coupons - can't find tortillas - 42% Hispanic/Latino population here...where. are. the. tortillas? I give up - we're all sweating and tired. I did find 1/2 fat girl scout cookie ice cream - yes, please.

5. No park/playground today. We try to spend a couple hours each day doing outside fun stuff. But we (I) need nap.

6. Give up finding an open and accessible recycling center in a 15 mile radius - throw out the bags I've carried for a week in the back of the van.   :(  Apparently, it's not one of Houston's priorities.

7. Good naps.

8. As productive as our mornings usually are, once we get home from lunch things fall apart a little. Inevitably, the TV is comes on.  

9. Take frozen pizza out of the freezer. Fail to read the package (normal) so I don't know that I should not place it directly on the rack, but leave it in the little tray dealio. Minutes later, I hear hissing - open oven and find that the middle of the pizza is now on the bottom of the oven. Scrape what I can onto box. Discover that this oven does not have a self-clean feature (wah.) Call Kevin and ask him to bring home a pizza. At least I bought it with a coupon.

Are you seeing a theme? all my yay! moments have to do with food - which brings up the perennial problem - my weight. I haven't found a way to consistently exercise -I kick the soccer ball with the kids, or walk a bit at lunchtime - 2 or 3 times a week I get to the complex's  exercise room - but with indulging over Christmas and eating out as much as we are - ugh! I feel gross. I should go to the exercise room, now.....

10. Watch "Wall-E" with the snuggly family - cute movie. 

11. Find our house's listing on the web. Good picture - now a little homesick; email a few friends, now more homesick (wah.) (Mimi is coming next week - bringing a little bit of home with her.)

12. Off to bed - after this. No exercise, no ice cream.

It's a good morning, so far

Ideally, our mornings look like this:

1. Snuggle with my babes while watching Martha Speaks on PBS (Martha Peaks and Peaks and Peaks in Bean-ese)

2. Roust myself to go mash the "brew" button on the coffee maker - decaf, but I still have to have it

3. Start breakfast and feed rascals - fight the urge to open laptop - first things first

4. Take coffee and self into bathroom for Hot!!! longish shower - longish, partly because I am indulgent and partly because I add extra minutes for each time I am interrupted with a shriek, a child bursting in, or a toilet flush

5. Dress in whatever and encourage kids to do the same

6. Couch time - ideally 9ish - read Bible and assorted other books - Bug wants to read the whole Harcourt Phonics book (10 controlled reading stories) and Bean wants to hear the Max Lucado Collection (Christmas gift from Aunt Bethy) with the princess story

7. Free time - I get on laptop: check weather, email, and Facebook - maybe I clean up kitchen or fold laundry; kids play

8. Table time - Bug does letters, Bean draws - we do math under the guise of eating "ants on a log" - more laptop time for me

Incidentally - my "tennis elbow" has been killing me. What a misnomer, because the only tennis I've been playing is of the Wii variety and Bug beats me soundly. Sweet Man wisely suggested that my tennis elbow has flared because of all the Word Twist I play on this blasted computer - but I can't resist.

9. Whatever.....

10. Make lunch and gather to meet Sweet Man for lunch

What's missing? My Bible time - yes, my struggle with daily discipline continues here 

Today is going pretty much as planned...any minute now something will blow it to bits, I'm sure.

God's Half Acre

Whew - we have had a day! Faced with a whole day without Sweet Man and no chance to go outside, I had an agenda of  pudding painting and a movie planned in my head. And I was worried about "Josephine Jumping Bean" thudding our way right out of this apartment - we are on the 3rd floor and all my scolding does not keep her feet on the ground. It was supposed to storm all day, but when it was 10:30 and there was not a cloud in the sky, I decided to chance it. 

My friend (see prior post) and I set out to explore - first destination - the Farmer's Market in Katy - about 30 minutes away. It takes me by surprise that I am even motivated to venture into the unknown surroundings with my kids. If I were here without kids, it might be different. When I lived North Carolina, I was fairly timid - so much so that I only made a few friends in the year that I lived there. But with these young ones, I don't want them to sit in a suburban apartment day after day. We need to get out and run and explore and spare our poor downstairs neighbor trying to enjoy a Saturday at home.

So, the Farmer's Market was small - and sort of posh, not like most Farmer's Markets I've seen. But it was in the plaza of an affluent outdoor shopping center - think Easton, but smaller. We found some bargains - oranges grown mere miles from our apartment and fresh eggs. We strolled through a few stores and spent a little money in Eddie Bauer, boring and sensible. I even bought the kids ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery - ugh - passing on the bad habits - but I am happy to report that I didn't eat any.

I wanted to find a park for them to use their new scooters and wasn't sure where the closest one was so I headed toward home. My friend had told me about Brazos Bend State Park (there is a Rio de los Brazos de Dios = River of the Arms of God.) Yay - I started seeing signs for it!!! And I followed them!!! And 20 min. later we pulled in to this lovely place. Lots of hiking, horseback riding, fishing, camping to be had - and a playground. Perfect!!!

My Newest Friend

Well, maybe not a friend, but at least an acquaintance. I think she is a woman, although, I've never seen my friend in bodily form. She has a pleasant enough voice as she speaks through my phone and gets me to my destinations. I have blind faith in her as I obey her commands, which surprises me. I have quite a rebellious spark - not in an overt way, but in a more subtle, seething,"don't tell me what to do" kinda way. But I'm fairly dependent on her to navigate my new surroundings, and so far, so good - she has directed me to the nearest YMCA, several Cracker Barrels (did you know they let you borrow audiobooks?,) and a fine church to attend this morning. And most essentially, she brought me safely to my love.

Conversations in the Car

We’re in the car a lot these days . And we have some memorable conversations. Today, Bean asked about birthdays which caused me to sigh because I anticipated some of the following conversation. God’s funny – He timed it all just right – Christmas/Jesus’ birthday, then 3 weeks later, Bean’s day, then 3 weeks later, Bug’s birthday. Those last three weeks become a bit unbearable with all the focus on presents and parties. Bug gets up each morning alert and looking for the sure sign that it is someone’s birthday – balloons. And he describes ad nauseum which cake and balloons he expects – ugh. Is God teaching Bug or me to be patient?

So the consummate big brother explains it to Bean often this time of year. “Now first (insert tongue cluck)....it’s Jesus’ birthday and then it’s your birthday and then….it’s my birthday.”

Well, she asked one god to “do” her birthday and a different god to "do" his birthday. And an explanation of the Trinity ensued – there is one God. He is so big and so great that we can call Him many different names. But yes, Jesus is Lord and he was the God who was a baby and grew up and died on the cross and now He’s everywhere, in believers’ hearts, and in heaven. Clear, right? To any preschool or fully-developed mind? To that she insisted, “God wants Ariel balloons for my birthday.”