Catching Up with Stories

It has been a few days of adventure, including the beginning of Stories in Hand, so I have some recap to do, starting with Sunday.

So Sunday.

I was feeling really sick, so I stayed home from church, and slept quite a bit. Jared took the kids to church, then came home, we ate, and the kids went in for a nap. I came out to check email at some point along about 3 p.m. We could hear Ele banging around in his room, and he had come out a few times, so we figured he wasn’t going to sleep.

So I went in to tuck him back in to see if he’d sleep for even a little while, and I found this:

That’s a planet sticker on his shirt, by the way. And somehow he found a different pair of shorts than he was in when he went in his room for naptime. But the fact that he actually took time to SPREAD DIAPER CREAM (vestige of the pre-training days) all over his face, was pretty awesome.

Oh, and what is the pile if white powder? Why is there powder in his hair, you ask? And on his arms and hands and, of course, face?

Well, (he explained this to us while he was still looking a little smug before we washed him) you see, when you take a whole handful of baby powder (another pre-training vestige), and throw it in the air while the sun is shining through the window, it makes really cool dust, which floats gently down to the ground. And you can do it again and again!

I think his actual words were, “I made dust in the sun!” Which clearly tells the story better than I can.

We asked him, though, WHY the cream on the face? What mystique did this give to the dust-in-the-sun adventure? Was it a mask? Was it to help the dust stick? He didn’t know.

Then he began to figure out that diaper cream doesn’t like to come off.

And I can still, two days later, see traces of it at the base of his eyelashes.

We think that Ele has now outgrown the diaper cream. And the powder.And perhaps everything except a completely empty room from now on. Except he’ll probably smuggle something in there under his shirt without us knowing. Is this a phase? Is being a walking disaster-area a phase? The good news is that you can tell because there are pictures of this one, that we were smiling. Sternly.

Okay, that was Sunday.

Monday, I was speeding down the little road between the bookstore (where I caved and bought guess-who a guess-what - and if you say Elliott and planet book you’d be right on) and the Super Target, heading to get Rowen from preschool. And I say speeding. And then I was caught speeding. *sigh*

Totally went from being just barely on time to get Rowen to really late to get Rowen. And I have a pink ticket to teach me better lawkeeping.

Okay. That was Monday.

Tuesday (that’s today), Jared went on the little surprise vacation I got him, to the Smashing Pumpkins concert in Washington D.C. He left at about noon to drive up - it’s about 4 hours from here - and is staying the night in a hotel. I’m the spouse that’s always leaving, so this was fun to do. :)

So the kids and I go to iHop for dinner. Because heck no am I cooking, and pancakes sounded good at 5 p.m. Rowen decides that she would rather wear her tutu. And why not? IHop is great. So we bam over to Bath and Body Works to check out the candles. This time of year always makes me want to light a new candle. We find two (Leaves and Apple Cider, yum!), and head back out to the car (which is Jared’s car, because he has taken the new car to D.C. with him),

And it doesn’t start.

It makes this shuddering kind of thud sound and all the lights in the dash come on.

It was 6:30, so it’s dark. Kinda chilly. Kids are strapped in their carseats that were moved over from the other car, and I start to wonder, ok, is it in Park? Did I leave the lights on? Are we out of gas? I never drive this car, so I’m not used to reading all the signs it gives.

I call Jared.

I say, the car won’t start. I say this maybe a bit too accusingly, like he has planned all along to take the nice car and bug out of town just in time to leave us stranded with two candles in the car.

I say, did you put gas in the car? Tell me you put gas in the car.

Yes, he says. Two days ago.

Ok. What else.

He says, maybe a bit too accusingly, did you leave the lights on? The battery might be dead.

I say, we JUST drove it! Like 5 minutes ago! We looked for candles!

So we think.

Hm. They have not developed teleportation yet (still waiting for this, sign me up for the beta!), and it is dark. And cold. And we’re like 4 miles from home. No walking that with 2 kids. And there are no cabs in this small town.

So I called my friend Aubrey, whose cell number I just happen to have programmed into my phone. And it happens that her family is on the way back to their house. Without any hesitation at all, asking only where we were, they turned around and came to find us. They even drive up on the sidewalk, and courageously jump-start my car.

I say, do you want a candle?

And then I say, you guys saved us. Thank you.

And I am so grateful tonight, that we have friends who will come and get us in the dark when we are stranded. Rescue is a wonderful, but humbling feeling. :) And it’s one of those things that you can never pay back, but must always look for the chance to pay forward.

So we limp on home and what? Oh you better believe I lit that candle. And made popcorn. And we watched Diego. And Rowen is sleeping in her tutu.

So how’s that for the beginning of this week, huh? LOL.

Comments

[Lorie]

Wow, girl! That is quite the beginning of the week! Hope it just gets better and better for you! :o)

[Lindsay S]

Sounds just lovely! Wow, what a week! I love the powder and cream story.

[claudia]

These are exactly the kind of stories that you're talking about isn't it? Life stories, those little bits that make up the gray hairs I've been collecting since I got married and had kids! Just think now, when you light that candle it'll all come rushing back...aaackkk!

Hope the rest of the week goes smoother :)

[tammycirceo]

Jessica! I have an ever-so-similar story to tell about my son and baby powder! Only it happened at my girl-friend's house. Thankfully, she still talks to me!

AND this is another story to put on the 'checklist' for his book, huh?

[Terebene]

I completely love that you remembered the camera for this incident! I never take those pictures. I can't believe you have had time to do ANYTHING as busy as the SIH start has been. You are amazing (and I am building my notebook as we speak!!)

[Suzanne]

Awww I think some {{{HUGS}}} are in order. We can all relate can't we? My granddaughter did the same thing with baby cream recently AND my daughter's car wouldn't start so I was the one doing the rescueing. Tomorrow's Wednesday, it has to get better right?

[Janet]

Great Diaper Creme story. I sooo do NOT miss those days. Loving the class so far, even though I'm intimidated and behind already. :P

[Nina]

Hi, Jessica! Just dropping by to say THANK YOU so very, very much for the wonderful and *incredibly* free class you'e offering. I am just relishing all the inspiring quotes you've shared and the wonderful artistry and love you've poured into the materials for the class. So thank you, thank you again. =)

Someone mentioned in the forum that you were having a rough week and I sneaked a peek to make sure you were doing okay. Oh my, what an adorable little fella, making "dust in the sun"! Wonderful and interesting times always with little ones. =)

Hope you're doing okay now and with a little more sanity, as much as you can have with a little one and handling the kids, and looking forward to the rest of the Stories class!

*hugs*
Nina

[Christy]

Well, at least you got good pictures! So sorry for the stinky beginning to your week. I had one, too. Deployed husband, three kids and lots of throw up in the car with no one to help me clean it OR the kids! Hope the rest of the week is better!

[Kylie]

Wow! What a busy start to the week!

What a little cutie {Elliott}, okay so the reason I am commenting is because my partner asked me too. Yip, I was sitting there reading your blog and noticed your son is named Elliott, with TWO L's and TWO T's. So I told my partner, who is an Elliott. With 2 T's and 2 L's. He was very excited and said I had to comment and tell you. lol. Nobody can spell his name correctly and he gets very frustrated, but now he is excited that someone else out there has the same spelling as he does (besides Elliott Gould. Who incidently he is named after hehe.)

Enjoy your day,

Kylie :)

[Michelle]

How did I ever NOT know you before this class of yours? I've got some reading to do. I mean now that I'm done hole punching :)

[Arya]

Well, after reading your story - or stories - my life seems pretty dull *LOL*. Good luck with the rest of the week! *hugs*

[LivE]

Oh what a week, what a glorious week, huh? :D Let's celebrate the chaos and make merry, my friend! Bless Ele and his post-halloween mask adventure, bless Rowen and her tutu, bless Smashing Pumpkin Jared, bless Aubrey for being awesome in coming to get you, and bless you, because you are who you are, and that is totally awesome! (((hugs)))

[Cathy]

Oh I'm sitting here with a quiet giggle... I can just imagine the chaos going on in your house... hehehehe. Good luck for the rest of the week.. just think... it can only get better from here!!!

[latz]

Here's were you just have to appreciated that Elliott get his inventive imagination from you! Now all you have to do is figure out how to channel that creativity. Sorry about the speeding ticket and the car. So glad you have friends that can come to your rescue--I would have picked up and the kids up if I was in the neighborhood!

[Karen]

What a way to start a week that you are giving soooooo much to us. Stories In Hand Rocks and so do you!!!! ....But on a brighter note, you have some great pictures and stories to tell. And Thank God for Friends. I don't know what I would do without mine......Another page for my binder. :>)

[Sandi Keene]

Great story about everyday life. Now if only there was a way to capture all this - a place to write it down. Maybe someday someone will invent a system for that very thing so you could have it, like, in your hand.

[Julee]

I always hate weeks like that ... but you seem to handle it all so well. That speaks volumes about you and your patience level. It's moments like that when I grab a Diet Dr. Pepper and chocolate and head to the nearest quiet spot. With three boys, it maybe a little farther than my room.

[Tiffany Inc]

Ohhhhhhh my.... that is quite the chain of events for three days! First off, I hope you are feeling better. I love that you stopped in the middle of all the action Sunday to get those awesome pictures. And well, like a previous poster said, it can only get better from here. We hope ;o)

[Aubrey]

Ha ha! You know it was no big deal to come last night. You guys would do it for us, and that's the way it goes.

I love that you took pictures of Ele after the diaper cream and powder. Those pictures are priceless! Especially if they are in a book on the coffee table when he has a date come over to the house. Ha ha!

[Cheri]

Jessica - these are GREAT stories! Sorry your week has been rough, but it sounds like you are handling it well. My story for this week was the Mouse in the House - but I didn't think to get pictures - never do when I'm in the midst of "crisis" mode. I'll have to get better about that.

[Sarah]

Oh my goodness, that was so fun to read! The pictures are fabulous, I'm glad you were smiling though. that would've been hard for us!!!

And I'm glad you have good friends to rescue you. :) I hope your week gets better!

[Heather S]

I can so identify with your week! I do hope it goes smoother from here. Thank-you for sharing because it is nice to be reminded that we all go through these things.

[Melinda]

Well, thank you for sharing all of that- it makes me feel better about how my week has started out! and gave me a few giggles too :) Given the crazy start to my week, I've not had time to do anything more than glance at the Stories in Hand instructions and it looks incredible! I am looking forward to a less crazy time when I can actually sit down and absorb it all and then actually DO it. Thank you for sharing the class with us, I think you can put that on your PIF list with a big check mark in the 'done' box ;)

[Felecia]

I LOVE the dust in the air...FABULOUS story and pictures...Mine is two and is into every possible thing that isn't nailed down or locked up...its such an amazing challenge...but seriously hysterical...The bonus is that I can enter a room and have a happy little reminder of my little boy running amuck in my house - like all the utensils out and lined up in a row on the kitchen floor, or all the books out of the basked and piled on the coffee table by size or color or whatever the organization method is at the moment...

Besides, did you not think - "now WHY didn't I think of "sun dust"? Its really cool!"

[Laurie]

Uggh! I hate car trouble!! Sounds like you have had quite the adventurous week so far. Love the pictures of Elliott and the diaper cream/baby powder. So funny! Brogan has the same shirt. :) Good luck with the rest of your week! Hope it goes more smoothly!

[Emilyt]

Love reading your rendition of the week. Priceless normality, I say. :)

[Abbey]

Wow, that is incredible. Amazing to think you were going through all that chaos and starting the class too! Love the little guys, but they always find a way towards chaos, at least at my house!

[Carrie H.]

So funny my car battery died Monday!!! Left me stranded for about an hour....thank goodness my brother could jump us!!! I so sympathize with the saving part...and can't wait to pay it forward. I hope you week gets better

[Tara]

LOL!!!! I'm sorry i'm laughing, but i can! I've been in your shoes FAR TOO MANY TIMES!! LOL! Diaper cream!! anything but that!!!