Days with the Dorans

Tonight was a big night for Ali Jane... It was her first real 'date' where she got to get all dressed up and go to a 'Ball'. It was such fun watching her pick out what she wanted to wear and I loved that Jeff kept changing ties to match the many different choices of princess dresses before she settled on her final. If he was going to date a younger woman, at least he knew what he was getting into- like mother like daughter! I had to laugh when she told me that she wants to grow out her bangs because her friend, Olivia, told her that she looks so good with her bangs pushed back! I stayed with 'my three sons' but Ali Jane left us a little note, "At Daddy-Daughter dance. I will miss you." Though I don't think that she really did (miss us). I am happy that I handed Jeff my little camera I use in my classroom so he (and his friends) could snap a few pics and I could get a 'glimpse' into what the night was like... And though daddy is smiling...

I had mentioned on Wednesday that it was a rough one- that I'd get to writing about it and I am happy that it is finally officially the weekend- and here I am writing! A year or so after we were married, Jeff lost his job. They had eliminated the position entirely due to the economy. Thankfully I had bought our little house all by myself before we were married and we knew we could afford to live there without his salary. For 'fun' he tried subbing to see what my world was like, and it turned out he enjoyed it! He decided to go back to school to get a degree in education. He signed up for classes and about a month later, I found out I was pregnant... He was worried, but again I am the master at the budget and I calmed him down. A month or so after that, we found out there were two babies and though the thought of two babies was scary, there was no turning back. My pregnancy was quite uneventful. I worked up until the summer break and Jeff continued on with classes. ...

After a day like mine, it is sometimes fun to do something 'fun'. Bloggers - if you'd like to join in the fun, click on the picture above! (Oh- and a blog will be coming about my 'day' but my cameras are all at the other place I live- AKA my classroom) 1. Will you watch the Super Bowl? If so who will you root for? If you are outside the USA what is the 'big deal sporting event' in your own country? I will watch (though I'll admit mostly for the commercials). I will root for Green Bay (I can't tell you why- Maybe because... Uh... Wisconsin is close to Minnesota which is where my mom was originally from...) 2. Is ignorance bliss? Heck yes it is! Especially when you're pregnant! Also if someone isn't too fond of me, I am very happy not knowing! Ignorance is bliss!! 3. Which of the seven dwarfs are you? (and just in case your Disney is a little bit rusty, here they are-Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy ) After not leaving wo...

There was a mystery in our house... A few months ago, I thought I was going crazy. I realized that some of our dishes seemed to have disappeared- vanished! We were down to about 5 of our smaller spoons and we were even missing some of my smaller Wedgwood plates (all gifts from our wedding- that we now need to replace). I really did think I was going nuts. We don't bring spoons anywhere outside of our kitchen- never pack anything in the lunches that would require spoons... And then one day I noticed something- the Bigs had cleared their spots at the table, but at the sink (where they put their plates and such) we were one place setting short. When I asked them about it, Zach told me he had thrown out his old food. I looked in the garbage and sure enough, there was a plate and (in this case) a fork! Zach and I sat down and had a nice talk. I showed him how to clear his plate off into the garbage, and then to carry his silverware and plate to the sink. He practiced a few times and ...

To understand this post, there are a few things that you need to understand about this family. First: We are writers. I (obviously) keep journals and blog like there is no tomorrow ( ok - I'll admit it... perhaps a little too much...). Joe and Al are following in my footsteps- writing stories, notes, books, lists... One of the things we did to promote writing was put dry erase boards in their bedrooms. We often write notes back and forth- parents and kids- brother and sister- Ali Jane has become quite the writer for a little kindergartner- and apparently so has ILA!! I said there were two things that you need to understand and the second is that we sometimes have two girls living in this house (When I say "girls"- I'm not talking about myself). One is the adorable and very helpful Ali. The one who loves to read to her brothers, tickle them and get us all cracking up with the most hysterical jokes that really make no sense. She is the one that helps with small chores ...

It is hard to believe Sean is 15 months old! I am not one to normally keep track of how old my children are in months (I think I stopped that with Ali), but 15 months is one that stands out in my mind... Not only does 15 months mean that I need to make another doctor's appointment for little Sean, 15 months is how old Joe was when he became a big brother! Looking at Sean now I can't imagine bringing home another baby (Jeff will be so happy to hear this)! Not just because my desire to have more babes has fully left me (and it is impossible), but because Sean seems still like a baby himself! He is doing a lot though! He loves to clap and run and squeal while running to keep up with the Bigs . He is climbing up on things now and has mastered going up and down the stairs (this also means we can get rid of the baby-gate... FOREVER)! As I write this, Sean has JUST cut his first two teeth. You can ha rdly see them (the top two), but you can feel them. He HATES when I stick my fi...

Joe's first grade class has been learning all about insects and to wrap up their unit of study, they were asked to make a model of a bug of their choosing and do a report. Joe was very clear that he wanted to make a firefly and that it HAD to light up! Now let's face it, as much as I would like it to be completely driven by him, if it was going to light up, I was going to have to step in with some creative thinking. We made some paper mache ' (fun but didn't quite work) and Joe ultimately went with Jeff's suggestion of using Styrofoam balls. I stuck the skewers in them to hold the head, thorax and abdomen together and I carved out the hole for the 'light' but other than that, I am proud to say it was all Joe! He loved making his model and found out some interesting facts about fireflies- but he was also really excited to sing and dance at the "Going Buggy" show at his school. He was one of a handful of students chosen to introduce a song prio...

On Sunday Z had a bit of a runny nose, but nothing serious. He went to Sunday School, Children's Church and eventually spent the day with all of us out on the lake. I didn't think to much of his snotty nose. After all the kids were tucked in bed, Jeff and I were off to do our 'normal' nighttime things... I lay out clothes and double check the backpacks to make sure everything is ready and pack things up for the Littles ... He gets all the lunches ready to go and it was so nice to finally settle into bed, chat about the day and read a bit before we went to bed. But it seemed as I clicked out the light, I heard a croupy cough. Sure enough it was Z- the child who seemed to be sick all last year- the child about whom I had just said, "Wow- he sure has been healthy for a long time." I could hear him whimpering and so I went in to check on my little Goose. I gave him some Vicks , fluffed up his pillows, prayed with him and gave him a little extra TLC. He was very ha...

After church we bundled up the kids and headed over to my folks'. We haven't spent a lot of time over there (not nearly like we do in the summer), but they may be happy (or unhappy) to hear that we may be over there a bit more after the fun that we had today! I don't think I realized the gem I grew up in! My childhood home sits upon a large yard, a hill (perfect for sledding) and of course a lake! We strapped on our winter gear and took a sled down to the lake. At first it was me, three bigs , my brother and his family and my dad (My mom, Jeff and Sean stayed in the warmth of the house). Surprisingly, this was Joe's first 'go' on skates! And boy was he was eager to go! Watching him shuffle around the ice reminded me of my brother when he was little! He would shuffle around the rink in his snow suit, fall down, get back up again, repeat... That was what Joe looked like (at least at first). In the beginning, I helped Joe by holding his hands and even ska...

Well, I would say it is always good to start the New Year off with a BANG... though not the kind of 'bang' I had tonight! After our wonderful company left, I was off to pick up my Nan. Though her memory is fading, January 1st is a day that she never forgets and one I do not like her to be alone on. On January 1, 1943 she married my Grandpa Jonasen . Always the romantic, he wanted to start a new year, and a new life together and what an amazing life they had... but I digress... I picked her up in our little cruiser to go to my folks', while Jeff took the kids in the van. We had a nice evening. It was full of laughs and hugs and even some mentions of her beloved Artie- and of course many references to how 'old' she is and how she gets 'so confused' and (with a smile) how none of us (besides my dad and Jeff of course) would be here if it hadn't been for her... At about 8:00pm, I got her into the car and we were on our way home. Though she was complaining a...