The Week In Review

Goodness…where do I start?  Well, Zeke turned eight last Friday…

On the eighth of January.  Around here they call that a Golden Birthday…something I had never heard of before moving here.   I’m not entirely sure what the point of a Golden Birthday is.  A special celebration perhaps?  We had nothing all that special planned, but Zeke’s Golden Birthday certainly turned out to be an unforgettable day.

It started at the Spelling Bee that Elijah had prepared for for over a month.  Which, truth be told, Zeke did not think was a very good way to spend his birthday, his Golden Birthday.  Bah Humbug.  Once we were there, though, he was fine and even enjoyed the event.  The 5th to 8th grade Bee was first.  This was the official one, the one of which the winner could potentially go on to the National Scripps Spelling Bee.  Exciting!  Seriously, it was some of the best entertainment I had seen in a long time.  I was rooting for every single kid and each time a new kid stepped nervously up to the little podium I held my breath till they were done.  Elijah loved it too, and turned and smiled at me each time a spelling word was called out…from the list that we had studied for the past month…words that he could rhyme off like a pro.

But, alas, the official spelling list was intended only for the official Bee and not for the one that Elijah was in.  Once Elijah’s Bee started I knew that we were…um, just a tad bit overprepared.   As the 3rd and 4th graders took their turns at the podium they spelled words like “watch”, “crowd” and “kitchen.”  No problem right?  Way too easy!  Until…Elijah stepped up and was asked to spell “neighbor.”  Oh dear.  Now what is that “i” before “e” rule?  He thought about the word for a long time, wrote it down, scribbled out a few letters and then read off the spelling, “N-I-E-G-H-B-O-R, neighbor.”   Once he was seated back with us in he audience, he whispered to me, “None of those words were on the list that we studied!”  “I know Honey, I know”  I said.

Poor little guy.  Needless to say, the car ride home was a tearful one.  In more ways than one…

We were cruising along at a pretty good clip when the car in front of us came to an abrupt stop.  Dave managed to stop with a good distance between our car and the one in front of us.  Just as I breathed a sigh of relief (now that word is “i” before “e”, right?) we were struck from behind.  HARD.  Immediately Zeke started screaming, and I turned to see pink saliva dripping from his mouth.  I freaked out, obviously, but the offending pink saliva was…uh, saliva mixed with pink Laffy Taffy.  Zeke did have a good reason for screaming though.  He had struck the back of his head really hard on one of the two little plastic pegs that were supposed to hold a headrest.  (Why the headrest was missing I do not know, but it has been replaced.)

We were all really shaken and were happy to get home.  “Well, Zeke,” I said, “you’ve certainly had a memorable Golden Birthday.”  But it wasn’t over yet.

The bright spots of the day were Zeke enjoying his birthday present (a sweet Lego City set) and the arrival of the Osbourne family (first cousins) from South Dakota.  How fun to have cousins for a birthday supper and sleep over!

The Osbornes had brought some yummy take’n'bake pizza for supper and while Dave and his sister Bethany went to the grocery store for a few items, I pre-heated the oven for the pizza.  Yummy.  I sat down in the living room and enjoyed the sounds of the cousins playing together.  Fifteen minutes later I heard the oven beep, indicating that it was pre-heated to 450 degrees.  I entered the kitchen to find smoke billowing from the oven.  “What?!  What’s this?!”  I thought.  And then I remembered…

I had stayed up late (and by late I mean 1o’oclock) to bake Zeke’s birthday cake, and then had woken up early to frost it.  “Now where should I hide this?” I wondered.  The oven seemed like the perfect hiding spot.  I was going to leave a note on the oven but…clearly I didn’t.  Once again…tears.  From Zeke.  Oh, and I was on the verge of tears too.  “My birthday is ruined!” wailed Zeke.  For once in my life I was thankful for Dave’s cell phone.  I called and got him to pick up a store-bought cake from the grocery store.

Ugh!  What a day!

But on to happier topics.  Ellie!  She’s four months old and our little sweetie…

She had her four month old check-up this week and the doctor said she was “perfect.”  I would have to agree.    She’s my most laidback baby ever and ,well, just loves life.  She sleeps a ton during the day, and is full of coos and smiles when she’s awake.  Crying is rare from her unless she’s hungry or tired and these two problems are easily solved.  Once she’s full, she drifts happily off to sleep in her bed.  I couldn’t have asked for an easier baby.  I’m very thankful.

Oh, and here are the ”numbers” from her check-up:  13 and 1/2 pounds – 50th %, and 25 inches long - 75th %.  Tiny!  Well…for a Horsman baby anyway.

Let’s see, what else has been happening?  Hmmm.  This past week was full of  semester assesments in Language Arts for Elijah and Zeke.  They both did really well too; they actually retained knowledge, if you can believe it.  They learned stuff…from me.

And how about this picture of our little “lady?” “Look Mummy, I’m a lady.”  Phoebe told me as as she ran around wearing nothing but this hat.  Funny.  I do dress my children…usually…but for some reason they often end up with very little on.

Of course I can’t forget Noah.  Here is a snapshot of him “getting his egerny (energy) up.” As if this crazy little dude needs more energy.  He never stops.  I wish I could channel his energy into doing my laundry.