Toys in Las Vegas

Last week I traveled to Las Vegas to attend US Bank's annual Financial Institutions - Banking conference.  Jentry was extremely upset to find out that I was going to fly on an airplane without her.  She desperately wants to go to an airport and ride on an airplane.  I have promised her that someday I will take her with me.  I tried to convince her that she really didn't want to go to Las Vegas. 

Me: Mommy will be working the entire time and it would not be any fun for you. 
Jentry: Will there be any other people there?
Me: Yes, other people that work with me.
Jentry: Will there be any little people there?
Me: No, Las Vegas is really more for adults.
Jentry: Because there aren't any toys there?
Me: Well, there are toys...adult toys, I guess.  Not for little people.
Jentry: Why doesn't Nathan have any toys at his house?
Me: Because he doesn't have any children.
Jentry: Is Nathan a dad?
Me: No, you have to have kids to be a dad and Nathan doesn't have any kids yet.
Jentry: Well, what has he been doing?
Me: I don't know Jentry, I just don't know.

I usually try to honestly answer all of Jentry's questions, but sometimes I just have to give it up and laugh.

Jentry has decided that Disney World would be a better selection for a vacation destination than Las Vegas.   She has informed me that she is ready to go and will pay for her own ticket with the funds in her piggy bank.

A Working Weekend

For some crazy reason, several weeks ago, I volunteered to watch the three kiddos and let Grandma, Papa, Chad and Kelly go to the Blake Shelton concert on Saturday night.  I even offered to order the tickets for Papa and had them sent to his house.  This turned out to be a mistake because when Grandma and Papa arrived on Friday evening, they arrived without the tickets!  He said had left them sitting on the table by his "easy chair." (Does anyone even use that term anymore?) My father does not often make a mistake, so of course we had to give him a sufficient amount of harassment.  In hindsight, I should have purchased one ticket and enjoyed a nice adult, night all to myself.  Anyway, Papa quickly found a friend that was heading to Omaha on Saturday, so the ticket problem was solved.

Saturday morning, I made pecan scones with maple frosting from my amazing Pioneer Woman cookbook.  Papa, Grandma and Kelly took the kids to the Children's Museum after breakfast and I offered to stay home and make lunch for everyone.  I decided that an evening alone with all three kids would be plenty of quality, kid time.  Not often do I get free time to plan, shop and prepare a meal for more than two people.  I have to admit that I really enjoy cooking, when I have the time to prepare.  I even went the extra mile and put a ham bone and beans in the Crock-pot for supper!  I knew that not everyone would be excited about ham and bean soup, but I was cookin' so as Jentry would say, ya get what ya get!  The homemade cornbread muffins helped spark some interest. 

Immediately after an early supper, Papa, Grandma, Chad and Kelly left for the concert.  Jentry and Isaac played surprisingly well in the basement while Anna helped me do the dishes.  It certainly brought back memories of my little Jentry spending hours sitting on the kitchen counter.  She was practically raised in the kitchen sink! 

The rest of the evening went much more smoothly than I had anticipated. The movie Tangled helped quiet the chillens a bit.  When I sat down to rock Anna, Jentry was simply not having it.  She scooted her tiny bottom right next to me in the chair, as if to inform Anna that I was HER mommy.  I had set up Anna's pack-n-play in my closet, because I was simply out of rooms. She didn't seem to mind.  She went right to sleep without a peep.  Nathan said, "With her love for shoes, she was probably happy to go to sleep in a room full of them and dream the night away."  Isaac did not want to share Jentry's bed, so I made a him little bed on the floor in her room.  I don't how anyone could sleep on a hardwood floor without a considerable amount of alcohol, but he did it!  I could hear the two of them jabbering away for a while, but eventually they both fell asleep.  Ahhh! 

 By Sunday, I was tired of being in my kitchen and refused to feed any more people.  Grandma and Papa were nice enough to take us all out to eat at Red Lobster.  During lunch, my sister was thanking me for watching the kids and feeling a bit sorry for me.  I let her go on for a while, because that's just what little sisters do, but eventually I stopped her.  I told her not to feel sorry for me.  Unlike everyone else, I didn't have to go to work on Monday!  Sometimes it pays to be a banker.  I also reminded her that I get to go to Las Vegas on Wednesday.  Granted it is to attend a work conference, but I do get an entire king size bed all to myself with the choice of any channel I desire!  There will be no little voice requesting to watch "Gubble Buppies" (aka Bubble Guppies).  It is just sad how exciting this sounds to me.  After hearing my schedule, my sister was, well lets just say she wasn't feeling sorry for me anymore.

Even though it was somewhat of a working weekend, I had a wonderful time with my family.  I truly enjoyed hosting everyone at my little house and spending some quality time in my cozy kitchen.  I am so thankful that my niece and nephew are excited about sleeping at Aunt JJ's house even if I do make them sleep in some unconventional places. 

Here is a list of the top 4 highlights of the weekend:

1.Watching my parents read Jentry a story from her new toddler Bible.

 

 

2.  Snuggling in bed with my adorable niece in the early hours of the morning.

 

3.  Hearing Isaac tell Papa, "If you have another birthday you might die."

 

4.  Hearing Jentry, as she was waiting to use the bathroom, ask, "Mom, when (name deleted to conceal his identity) is done pooping, can you put some spray in there, so it doesn't sink?"

What I Did Today

Every day, on the way home, I ask Jentry what she did at school that day.  Sometimes I get crazy answers that I am certain are not true.  For example:
"Nothing, we didn't do nothing all day, mom."
"We didn't eat lunch, mom."

Sometimes I get stories that have the potential to be true, but I am still uncertain about what really took place. 
"Gretchen got sick and threw-up in the closet."
"I went to the office but I wasn't bein' naughty, mom."

Sometimes she won't respond at all.  I try to convince her to speak by asking thought provoking questions, but she stubbornly sits in silence.  This is when I resort to the "What I did today" sheet that the teacher sends home with her each day.  Then I can ask her about things I am confident she did during the day.
Did you go to chapel today?
Did you learn about the letter T?
Did you read a book about a chicken?

Yesterday was one of Jentry's silent days.  I asked her what she had done that day and....crickets.  Just as I was settling in for the quiet trip home, I hear a little voice from the back seat say, "Why don't you just read the sheet, mom?"

Seriously?!?!

I am terrified to think about what the teenage years might bring.

Merry New Happy Christmas Year

I am not really sure how to begin recapping our Christmas/New Year celebration, so I am going to get extremely creative and use a ....drum roll please.....time line! 

December 24, 2011 - Jentry went with her dad to celebrate Stenger style and I enjoyed a relaxing, adult Christmas Eve in McKenzie mode.  This was much needed after a day of painting at Nathan's house!  Jan served amazing food, as usual.  I had the opportunity to try fresh oysters, which were Nathan's request.  I have to admit I liked them more than I thought I might. Next, we opened stocking stuffers and gifts for hours...literally.  By the time we sat down for the actual meal it was ten o'clock.  Jan served an amazing Italian dinner, per my request.  Her ability to cook simply amazes me!

December 25, 2011 - Jentry celebrated with her Stenger cousins (all TEN of them) in Columbus and I enjoyed eggs benedict and movies at John and Jan's. The weather was so beautiful that Jan and I decided to talk a walk, or "take for a walk," as Jentry would say.  We got about a mile down the gravel road when we realized a car was coming.  As we scooted toward the edge of the road Jan said, "Hey that is MY car!"  Sure enough, as the car came closer, we could see John and Nathan slowing cruising with the top down and the music up like a couple of thugs.  They thought they were so funny. What dorks!  They offered to give us a ride back, but we declined.  We were determined to finished out the cookie calorie burning hike.

December 26, 2011 - I picked up Jentry early in the morning so that her dad could go to work.  When we arrived home, Jentry was quick to see that Santa had left her presents at mommy's house too!  We spent the day in our jammies and "slippies" playing with our new toys.  We were both very good girls this year and received way too many presents.  Spoiled stinky for sure.  Santa even remembered Jentry's orange monkey.

When Jentry saw "Rusty" she said, "Yeah, that is what I'm talkin' bout!  See, I toed jew, Mom!"  I guess Santa did OK. 

December 27, 2011 - I took a vacation day but decided to take Jentry to daycare and get a few things done around the house.  When I dropped her off, there was only one other child there to eat breakfast with Jentry.  This made me feel slightly guilty, but I quickly got over that as soon as I walked out the door.  Just kidding... no not really kidding, does that make me a horrible mother?  Actually, she had a very fun day doing things that she doesn't normally get to do with her large class.

December 28, 2011 - I took another vacation day and took Jentry to daycare again.  By now she was beginning to catch on.  As we were walking out the door Jentry asked, "When are you going to get dressed mom?" 

December 29, 2011 - Another vacation day of Jentry at daycare and mommy cleaning, organizing, cooking and shopping.  I could get used to that!

December 30, 2011 - Jentry was extremely excited to have a "stay home day".  She picked her favorite breakfast of "hot chocolate and Cheerios with not milk in them." Our breakfast conversation went like this:
Jentry:  Mom, who took care of me when you were little?
Me:  No one, you weren't born yet.
Jentry: I was died?!?!

That afternoon, Jentry noticed that my nativity did not have an angel, so being the sweet, little girl that she is...she allowed me to borrow her angel from her Fisher Price nativity.  I just love that kid!

December 31, 2011 -  Grandma, Papa and the Hamiltons came over for lunch. After lunch, Anna needed a nap so Chad took her home and Mom, Dad and Kelly went shopping.  I offered to stay home and watch Isaac and Jentry.  However, I also had to make two kinds of potatoes for supper and lunch the next day.  After an hour of the kids driving me crazy, I suggested that they go outside to play.  I gave them strict instructions to stay out of the street, put their coats on them and sent them out the door.  A few seconds later, Nathan decided that maybe they needed some adult supervision.  Oh yes, that is probably a good idea, thanks Nathan!  I don't know what I would have done without him.  He even helped me peel potatoes and basically put together the entire second dish and it was finger lickin' fabulous. I think he even surprised himself. 

That afternoon we opened presents at the Hamilton's and the men grilled up some amazing steaks.  Mom and Dad offered, well it was really more like agreed, to watch the kiddos so that the "young" adults could go ring in the new year with a few alcoholic beverages.  Nathan's cousin and his wife Becky joined the four of us at Brewsky's.

 

I have to say it may have been the best New Year's celebration I have had.  There was no cover, it wasn't too loud or crowded, and we even got some free hats and a bottle of champagne.  2012 here we come!

January 1, 2012 - The Chamberlains drove down and we had lunch and opened presents at the Hamilton's. My cousin, Marissa, suggested that we have an ugly sweater competition and it was absolutely hilarious.  When dad walked in wearing a turtle neck sweater, my sister nearly peed her pants!

The girls had so much fun showing Granny their new baby dolls.  Jentry has decided to name hers Anna Baby.  Love it!  Grandma Bose sewed her a doll size baby blanket that is too cute. 

Isaac enjoyed watching movies on Papa's new Ipad.  Papa even took to it fairly quickly.  Shocking for an old farmer, I know!

 

That evening I settled in on the couch to flip through my new Pioneer Woman cookbook.  I ended up reading the whole thing cover to cover!  Who does that right?  Well, I'll tell you who, my sister does.  She admitted to buying it for me and then staying up way too late one night reading the entire book.  I think it is fairly obvious that we both feel it is an awesome cookbook.  Thanks sista!

January 2, 2012 - Nathan, Jentry and I went to a Husker party at the Unterseher's beautiful new home.  Nathan impressed himself even more by making ranch oyster crackers for snacking.  He let Jentry do a QC and she definitely approved.  I thought she might eat the entire bag before we even got to the party.  Unfortunately, the Huskers lost, but Jentry and I still had a fun time socializing.  I'm not sure if Nathan would say the same.  He takes the game fairly quite seriously.

That evening Barbie got to take her first dip in her brand new pool from Grandma and Papa.  Did you know that Barbie's pool comes complete with umbrella drinks and a designer dog floating on a raft? Me either.

 

January 3, 2012 - Back to reality.   Sigh.  Our conversation, Tuesday morning, on the way to daycare and work:
Jentry: Why do I have to go to school?
Me:  So that you can learn things.
Jentry: You could just teach me at home.
Me: Yes, I could, but then how would we pay for things like food and clothing?
Jentry: Well..... we could just be naked and live trees.

Oh, Jentry.  Where does she come up with these ideas?