Wassink Family
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Women driver
Today was the first day of school after a prolonged Christmas break. Allison also had preschool this morning. Sometimes I just wish my brain would work better and be more efficient. I got the Leanne and Clay off to school with no problems, I even remembered teachers gifts, lunches, and Clay's birthday treat. I got Alli and the twins ready to bring her to school. In my mind I thought I was supposed to leave at 9 AM, but in reality, school for her starts at 9 AM. Oy, she was a little late. I took the twins to the dead Westshore mall in Holland, and let them play in the indoor play area. That went fine, we went shopping, that went fine. Time to go get them in the car and leave to go pick up Allison, and that went fine. What wasn't so slick, is when I made the turn too sharp by the mall onto the road and got stuck in the snow bank there. I must add that I drive a Yukon XL (suburban) and I must also mention that the 4 wheel drive broke on it. Oh, and I should also mention that I am the worst person at charging a cell phone, so that was dead. I had it with me, but it didn't work. I got out the car to observe my shortcomings and realized there was no way I was getting this out by myself. People were passing and staring, but no one stopped right away. They were probably thinking woman driver. I was extremely embarrassed. A nice woman stopped and asked me if I needed help and let me borrow her cell phone. When I called Ross, it went straight to his voice mail. grrrrrr...... I thanked the lady and I decided to get the twins out and go across the street to the hotel to wait in the lobby there for Ross and I thought I could use their phone and stay warm. Just as I got Reed out, the mall security guys came and said they would give it a go to get me out. I put Reed back into his seat and prayed this would work. It was starting to get to the point that I needed to go get Allison. The 2 security men went to the front side of my car and told me to put it in reverse and give it some gas. So I did and they pushed, but to no avail. By this time my face had a stupid nervous grin on it and my face was burning with humiliation. They were probably thinking woman driver. So then they told me to really give it some gas when they pushed. I laid my foot down on the pedal and they pushed, the car moved but not enough. The men stopped pushing and grabbed a bag of sand and put it under the tires. "Give it gas" they said, so I did. It didn't help at all. The younger one of the men said to me "well, I'm sorry but your car is really stuck. The smoke was cool from the tire burning rubber." They asked if they could do anything else for me and I asked to borrow their phone. Finally, I got a hold of Ross and he said "what?! I'm coming". As I waited for him, several people stopped to see if they could help. One man trotted across the street and asked if this car had 4 wheel drive. "Nope, it's not working right now. My hubby is coming with a toe strap." woman driver. He trotted back to his car and took off. My face was so red by Ross got there. I was dying of embarrassment. He hooked it up to the toe strap and with him pulling the car with his truck, I was finally free. "Don't cut the corner to close, Erin," said Ross with a smirk. I went off to go get Allison, by this time I was half an hour late. I made it there and got her home safely, and I didn't cut anymore corners.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Chicken Run
Fore note: A couple of things you need to know before reading this post. 1. The twin's room is pretty high up. We do not have a second story, but the way the house is built, the height of their room is second story height. 2. The twins broke their shade awhile back. It was the roller kind of shade and it had a thin plastic stick insert that weighted it down on the end of the shade. They pulled it out the other day and it was conveniently laying were I needed it. Okay, enough details about the shade, now time for the incident of the day.
It was time to go get the older kids from the bus stop, so I got the twin's socks and shoes on and made sure Alli was ready to head out the door. It was cold out, so I opened the garage door so I could get the car started, as I was getting kids buckled into their seats. I left the door open to the house because I get one twin in at a time in the car, although the other one usually walks out to the car as I'm getting the other buckled. I got everyone buckled and went back to shut the door to the house and to my shock, I saw the back end of a chicken in my kitchen! A CHICKEN IN THE HOUSE!! So I called out the to chicken "here chicken, here chicken" and obviously it didn't listen to me. It wandered into the dining room and pecked a piece of crumb off my floor. I slid the slider door open in the dining room in hopes I could get her to go outside on the deck. Yeah, it did not work, it scared the chicken. The chicken made it's way down the hallway (on my carpeted floor). I'm calling after her "DON'T POOP! DON'T POOP" and I let out a few squeals "AWWAH,AWWWWWAH". That chicken went into the twin's room at the very end of the hallway (It was the only option. Thankfully, all the other doors were shut down the hallway). All I'm thinking is how am I going to get this chicken out of my house! The chicken walked around the room and I tried to slowly go towards it, but then the chicken would get a little spooked. I picked up the diaper box to see if I could trap it with that, but the box was too small and I knew it would make the chicken go crazy. The chicken went into the space between Reed's crib and the wall and it would have been the perfect spot to pick it up, but I don't touch chickens. So I did the only thing I could do, I called Ross in hopes he could come home to help me get the chicken out of the house. So this is how the call went. Me, somewhat hysterical, "Ross, there is a chicken in the house." Ross, "What!? How did happen?" Me, "she came in when I was getting kids in the car and now I can't catch her to get her out, AWWAHH(chicken was running around and I was squealing)" Ross, laughing hysterically, "Erin, grab her by the feet and drag her out." If you have ever looked at chicken feet, you know they are NOT pretty. No way was I going to do that. Thankfully, as he was saying that the chicken jumped up to perch on the windowsill. I went to open the window and the chicken flew off of it (more squealing from me) and it had a screen in it. She then ran to other window and perched on that one. I went to go open that one and the chicken flew up and off of it (more squealing from me, oh and Ross is on the phone yet laughing his head off at me). The chicken is back at the window with the screen in it. I yell out, "please, don't poop!" The chicken comes off that window and perches by the boys' dresser. I pick up that plastic curtain stick (from the fore note) to try to poke it in the right direction. Finally, the chicken perches on the window that doesn't have the screen in it. She looks down, she looks at me, and I poke her with that plastic stick and out she goes flapping her wings, clucking and bawking to her graceful flight down to the ground. I'm pretty sure that that is the highest she will ever "fly". Ross was still on the phone and still laughing at me. We hung up the phone laughing. I get into the car, thankful that for once I had everyone in the car early and I had more than enough time to get to the bus stop. I make sure the door and the garage door are shut. Oh and by the way, the chicken did not poop in my house!
It was time to go get the older kids from the bus stop, so I got the twin's socks and shoes on and made sure Alli was ready to head out the door. It was cold out, so I opened the garage door so I could get the car started, as I was getting kids buckled into their seats. I left the door open to the house because I get one twin in at a time in the car, although the other one usually walks out to the car as I'm getting the other buckled. I got everyone buckled and went back to shut the door to the house and to my shock, I saw the back end of a chicken in my kitchen! A CHICKEN IN THE HOUSE!! So I called out the to chicken "here chicken, here chicken" and obviously it didn't listen to me. It wandered into the dining room and pecked a piece of crumb off my floor. I slid the slider door open in the dining room in hopes I could get her to go outside on the deck. Yeah, it did not work, it scared the chicken. The chicken made it's way down the hallway (on my carpeted floor). I'm calling after her "DON'T POOP! DON'T POOP" and I let out a few squeals "AWWAH,AWWWWWAH". That chicken went into the twin's room at the very end of the hallway (It was the only option. Thankfully, all the other doors were shut down the hallway). All I'm thinking is how am I going to get this chicken out of my house! The chicken walked around the room and I tried to slowly go towards it, but then the chicken would get a little spooked. I picked up the diaper box to see if I could trap it with that, but the box was too small and I knew it would make the chicken go crazy. The chicken went into the space between Reed's crib and the wall and it would have been the perfect spot to pick it up, but I don't touch chickens. So I did the only thing I could do, I called Ross in hopes he could come home to help me get the chicken out of the house. So this is how the call went. Me, somewhat hysterical, "Ross, there is a chicken in the house." Ross, "What!? How did happen?" Me, "she came in when I was getting kids in the car and now I can't catch her to get her out, AWWAHH(chicken was running around and I was squealing)" Ross, laughing hysterically, "Erin, grab her by the feet and drag her out." If you have ever looked at chicken feet, you know they are NOT pretty. No way was I going to do that. Thankfully, as he was saying that the chicken jumped up to perch on the windowsill. I went to open the window and the chicken flew off of it (more squealing from me) and it had a screen in it. She then ran to other window and perched on that one. I went to go open that one and the chicken flew up and off of it (more squealing from me, oh and Ross is on the phone yet laughing his head off at me). The chicken is back at the window with the screen in it. I yell out, "please, don't poop!" The chicken comes off that window and perches by the boys' dresser. I pick up that plastic curtain stick (from the fore note) to try to poke it in the right direction. Finally, the chicken perches on the window that doesn't have the screen in it. She looks down, she looks at me, and I poke her with that plastic stick and out she goes flapping her wings, clucking and bawking to her graceful flight down to the ground. I'm pretty sure that that is the highest she will ever "fly". Ross was still on the phone and still laughing at me. We hung up the phone laughing. I get into the car, thankful that for once I had everyone in the car early and I had more than enough time to get to the bus stop. I make sure the door and the garage door are shut. Oh and by the way, the chicken did not poop in my house!
Friday, November 15, 2013
itemized twin list
1. Mornings start with a bang.
2. Crying starts at breakfast.
3. "Go downstairs and play," is said at least 5 times before lunch occurs.
4. Items, such as brown sugar, salt, flour, canned goods, are found lying all over the basement because it's fun to do.
5. They know when they see you coming they were naughty and say "uh oh" with a completely innocent face and begin to pick up whatever they took out.
6. Pajamas are a cool thing to haul around in the back of a toy dump truck. I guess it's also great fun to empty out laundry out of drawers. And again they say "uh oh".
7. Taking clothes off during nap time is a great activity. Lets surprise mom and sleep naked!
8. Picking up poo times 2 is not fun to do after nap time.
9. Taking dirty sheets off cribs after nap time is also not fun.
10. An occasional bath after nap time, if it's really gross, is even more not fun.
11. Make sure to take care of all folded laundry before letting the twins go downstairs to play. It's not worth it to leave it out, even if I'm not done with it.
12. Inhalers and neb treatment machines are more fun than toys to play with. NEVER leave them out (I think I tell Ross that all the time)
13. Shut all doors of every room. Bummer that they are starting to open doors.
14. Toilet lids must remain closed.
15. Check on the twins frequently, I never know when they will empty the next container of tilex on the floor.
16. Toothpaste is also a great toy, said no one ever.
17. Desitin is sticky stuff. Good for the bum but not really anything else.
18. Haircuts suck.
19. Supper time is much easier when daddy is home.
20. Older siblings are a blessing.
21. Be extra cute to make up for naughtiness.
22. Bedtime is the BEST!
2. Crying starts at breakfast.
3. "Go downstairs and play," is said at least 5 times before lunch occurs.
4. Items, such as brown sugar, salt, flour, canned goods, are found lying all over the basement because it's fun to do.
5. They know when they see you coming they were naughty and say "uh oh" with a completely innocent face and begin to pick up whatever they took out.
6. Pajamas are a cool thing to haul around in the back of a toy dump truck. I guess it's also great fun to empty out laundry out of drawers. And again they say "uh oh".
7. Taking clothes off during nap time is a great activity. Lets surprise mom and sleep naked!
8. Picking up poo times 2 is not fun to do after nap time.
9. Taking dirty sheets off cribs after nap time is also not fun.
10. An occasional bath after nap time, if it's really gross, is even more not fun.
11. Make sure to take care of all folded laundry before letting the twins go downstairs to play. It's not worth it to leave it out, even if I'm not done with it.
12. Inhalers and neb treatment machines are more fun than toys to play with. NEVER leave them out (I think I tell Ross that all the time)
13. Shut all doors of every room. Bummer that they are starting to open doors.
14. Toilet lids must remain closed.
15. Check on the twins frequently, I never know when they will empty the next container of tilex on the floor.
16. Toothpaste is also a great toy, said no one ever.
17. Desitin is sticky stuff. Good for the bum but not really anything else.
18. Haircuts suck.
19. Supper time is much easier when daddy is home.
20. Older siblings are a blessing.
21. Be extra cute to make up for naughtiness.
22. Bedtime is the BEST!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Need a new bike
Bike rides have been the in thing for me lately while Alli is at preschool. Put my twinners in the cart that attaches to the bike and off we go. It keeps them occupied and quiet and gives me a good workout. We go about 6 miles when I take them. There's a few hills so I'm adjusting those gears like a mad woman just to get up that hill. The bike I use was Ross' old mountain bike, it's about 15 years old. That bike got some really good use for it's lifetime until it bit the dust today.
I stopped at the park with the boys today, I normally don't. I thought it would be a good way for them to burn off some of that toddler never ending energy. They had fun at that little park. I bribed them with fruit snacks to get them back into their little bike caddy and we started to go.
We were attempting to go up a steep hill and it felt like out of no where the bike came to a halt. I hopped off the bike to take a look and saw that the wheel was all screwed up. The wheel was stuck at the back of the bike frame. There was no room for it to turn. The apparatus that holds the chain was broke. I couldn't ride it so I walked it. That was no easy task. The back wheel wouldn't budge, but the front would. I attempted to take off the caddy the boys were sitting in, but I couldn't get it off. And of course, I didn't bring a cell phone with me. We were about half a mile away from home. So I started to walk with my hands on the handle bars and dragged the rest of the bike with the caddy behind it home. It was no easy task. I had to go up a steep but small hill with it too. Thankfully, the boys were well behaved. I had to switch sides every few minutes because my back was killing me. I finally got to a place where I could drop the bike down on the blueberry farm. (We live on the other side of the blueberry farm.) I unstrapped both boys and walked a little less than half mile home on the dirt two track through the farm. Reed had shoes on so he walked part of the way, Luke only had socks on (my bad) so I carried him. Part way home, Reed got tired so I carried them both.
We made it though. I was tired, but I figured I had a really good work out. We made it home just in time to go get Alli from preschool too. The lesson I learned, never go anywhere with out shoes for both twins and never leave with out the cell phone.
I stopped at the park with the boys today, I normally don't. I thought it would be a good way for them to burn off some of that toddler never ending energy. They had fun at that little park. I bribed them with fruit snacks to get them back into their little bike caddy and we started to go.
We were attempting to go up a steep hill and it felt like out of no where the bike came to a halt. I hopped off the bike to take a look and saw that the wheel was all screwed up. The wheel was stuck at the back of the bike frame. There was no room for it to turn. The apparatus that holds the chain was broke. I couldn't ride it so I walked it. That was no easy task. The back wheel wouldn't budge, but the front would. I attempted to take off the caddy the boys were sitting in, but I couldn't get it off. And of course, I didn't bring a cell phone with me. We were about half a mile away from home. So I started to walk with my hands on the handle bars and dragged the rest of the bike with the caddy behind it home. It was no easy task. I had to go up a steep but small hill with it too. Thankfully, the boys were well behaved. I had to switch sides every few minutes because my back was killing me. I finally got to a place where I could drop the bike down on the blueberry farm. (We live on the other side of the blueberry farm.) I unstrapped both boys and walked a little less than half mile home on the dirt two track through the farm. Reed had shoes on so he walked part of the way, Luke only had socks on (my bad) so I carried him. Part way home, Reed got tired so I carried them both.
We made it though. I was tired, but I figured I had a really good work out. We made it home just in time to go get Alli from preschool too. The lesson I learned, never go anywhere with out shoes for both twins and never leave with out the cell phone.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
The mice will play while the cat is away
This week was quite busy in spite of my calender having minimal plans on it. The twins both had croup pretty bad. Luke woke up Monday with difficulty breathing and a good croupy sounding cough, Reed caught it on Friday. He wasn't as bad as Luke but he still was having difficulty breathing. Both boys needed some medicine to help them breathe better until they could get over the hump of their colds/croup.
But between all Luke and Reed catching croup, they were still up to their regular shenanigans. Getting into stuff and just being plain naughty. Thursday, I decided to go through my bins of clothes I keep from the other kids in the basement. Both boys were downstairs with me having fun taking clothes out of the bins and tossing them in the air (that was fine with me, it kept them occupied). I was being very diligent and got caught up going through them all and I lost track of the boys. This is what they were up to
But between all Luke and Reed catching croup, they were still up to their regular shenanigans. Getting into stuff and just being plain naughty. Thursday, I decided to go through my bins of clothes I keep from the other kids in the basement. Both boys were downstairs with me having fun taking clothes out of the bins and tossing them in the air (that was fine with me, it kept them occupied). I was being very diligent and got caught up going through them all and I lost track of the boys. This is what they were up to
Yup, 2 boxes of cereal and vegetable straws down my hallway. I just got the upstairs cleaned up and vacuumed prior to their first big mess. They were having FUN! I came upstairs and looked at that mess and just kept gasping with my mouth hanging wide open and they thought I was laughing, so they kept grinning and giggling like "see mom, we are having fun". I was not amused, although I couldn't resist taking a few photos. So I tried to pick all that cereal up and I was going to just put it back in the bag and let the kids eat it because I'm dutch and I can't stand to see things go to waste. As I was trying to save it all, I noticed that the little carpet fuzz were sticking to the cereal and I couldnt' make my kids eat it. I decided to throw it out. Since it was going to be time consuming to pick all that up, I got my vacuum out and started to go to town. However, half way through the vacuum got clogged with all that cereal. I fixed the vacuum and went to town again. And wouldn't you know it, as I was finishing up vacuuming, I looked over and Reed was standing on a chair at the table pouring salt all over it.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
2 little boys are 2!
Two years ago I had two adorable baby boys. We've come along ways since the first moment I held you both.
We've come through sleepless nights, exhausting days, bottles, baby food, crying (sometimes all 3 of us), learning how to walk, first teeth.
Now you two are busy, very busy. Playing outside, throwing toys over the deck, being places you're not supposed to be, playing together, feeding each other, being in cahoots and pulling off schemes behind mommy's back, laughing and giggling, garbling in your own special twin language, running all over the yard, picking blueberries, giving kisses and hugs, and trying to be like the older kids.
We've come through sleepless nights, exhausting days, bottles, baby food, crying (sometimes all 3 of us), learning how to walk, first teeth.
Now you two are busy, very busy. Playing outside, throwing toys over the deck, being places you're not supposed to be, playing together, feeding each other, being in cahoots and pulling off schemes behind mommy's back, laughing and giggling, garbling in your own special twin language, running all over the yard, picking blueberries, giving kisses and hugs, and trying to be like the older kids.
I can't believe both of you are already two! I hope that two is a fun age for the two of you!
Thursday, July 25, 2013
The Harvester's wife
It has been so busy around here as of late. I got the privilege to stand up in a good friend's wedding this past weekend. The bridesmaids and the bride stayed overnight in a cabin at Wabasis Campground the night of the rehearsal. It was a lot of fun to have one more girls night before Tara got married. Her wedding was on a Saturday at a church out in Rockford and the reception took place at the Wabasis campground activities building. I'm so happy for Tara and Jeff! I hope the Lord blesses them with many happy years of marriage.
Blueberry harvest has also begun this past Monday. Ross has been working very long hours. The beginning of harvest seems to always be the hardest. They run what they call the fresh line. They harvest some fresh berries and bring them to the shed to be cleaned and be sorted through on a conveyor belt. A few workers stand on either side of the belt and take all the bad berries off the line and the berries continue on the belt and they get put in clear plastic boxes. Our brand is Natureripe. That's right, I'm advertising. Best berries you'll ever taste. When they run fresh line, Ross will start around 6am and come home between 7-10pm.
As I mentioned, Ross is working..............A LOT! And as I said previously it's been a busy week. The twins started out the week with a bang. They both caught a good cold. A cold for us means respiratory treatments. The boys have asthma and Reed has it the worst. I took them both in on Monday to the doctor. Luke checked out fine, just continue to do the respiratory treatments. Reed, not so much. He ended up with an ear infection and needed to be placed on oral steroids to help him breathe better. So that was Monday.
Also this week, Reed is starting to phase out of taking naps. Of all weeks, I wish it wasn't this week, but it is. At first I thought it was because of all the albuterol treatments. Albuterol treatments make kids hyper, but I didn't give him one today and he still insisted on not taking a nap. I've had a very stressful and rough week.
One morning this week was so rough that I couldn't take it anymore. I took all of the kids out for a walk. Leanne and Clay rode bikes and I pushed Alli and the twins in the double jogger stroller. Ross came home during this for lunch to find breakfast still out and the floor littered with pretzels and animal cookies. He doesn't get upset about it either. He just says to me "that bad, huh?"
Ross hasn't been able to come home for dinner because he has been so busy at work. I made salad last night with chicken strips on it along with beans fresh from the garden (we have beans coming our of our ears here). The kids LOVED it. Even my picky eater Clay had two helpings of it. It's been hard to eat dinner and manage all the kids myself. We ate outside last night and I was having trouble keeping the twins in line. My fist mistake was having them sit across from each other and not on either side of me. It was going well at first until Reed started to chuck his beans at Luke. Luke, of course, was egging him on because he was laughing and so were the rest of the kids. By the time I got over to Reed to put a stop to it, Luke started chucking his beans. The boys were basically having their own food fight and the older 3 thought it was hilarious. I did not think it was funny at all. It was an exhausting dinner hour. It's so much harder when Ross isn't here to help me. I didn't realize how hard I lean on him until he wasn't here.
We're only the first week into harvest with at least 5 more to go. I'm hoping that once the boys feel better we'll be able to get into a better groove. This has been the hardest start to harvest I have ever had. It can only get better, right? I'm so thankful that Ross has a good job and he loves what he does. In the grand scheme of things, harvest is only a few weeks out the entire year. Happy harvesting!
Blueberry harvest has also begun this past Monday. Ross has been working very long hours. The beginning of harvest seems to always be the hardest. They run what they call the fresh line. They harvest some fresh berries and bring them to the shed to be cleaned and be sorted through on a conveyor belt. A few workers stand on either side of the belt and take all the bad berries off the line and the berries continue on the belt and they get put in clear plastic boxes. Our brand is Natureripe. That's right, I'm advertising. Best berries you'll ever taste. When they run fresh line, Ross will start around 6am and come home between 7-10pm.
As I mentioned, Ross is working..............A LOT! And as I said previously it's been a busy week. The twins started out the week with a bang. They both caught a good cold. A cold for us means respiratory treatments. The boys have asthma and Reed has it the worst. I took them both in on Monday to the doctor. Luke checked out fine, just continue to do the respiratory treatments. Reed, not so much. He ended up with an ear infection and needed to be placed on oral steroids to help him breathe better. So that was Monday.
Also this week, Reed is starting to phase out of taking naps. Of all weeks, I wish it wasn't this week, but it is. At first I thought it was because of all the albuterol treatments. Albuterol treatments make kids hyper, but I didn't give him one today and he still insisted on not taking a nap. I've had a very stressful and rough week.
One morning this week was so rough that I couldn't take it anymore. I took all of the kids out for a walk. Leanne and Clay rode bikes and I pushed Alli and the twins in the double jogger stroller. Ross came home during this for lunch to find breakfast still out and the floor littered with pretzels and animal cookies. He doesn't get upset about it either. He just says to me "that bad, huh?"
Ross hasn't been able to come home for dinner because he has been so busy at work. I made salad last night with chicken strips on it along with beans fresh from the garden (we have beans coming our of our ears here). The kids LOVED it. Even my picky eater Clay had two helpings of it. It's been hard to eat dinner and manage all the kids myself. We ate outside last night and I was having trouble keeping the twins in line. My fist mistake was having them sit across from each other and not on either side of me. It was going well at first until Reed started to chuck his beans at Luke. Luke, of course, was egging him on because he was laughing and so were the rest of the kids. By the time I got over to Reed to put a stop to it, Luke started chucking his beans. The boys were basically having their own food fight and the older 3 thought it was hilarious. I did not think it was funny at all. It was an exhausting dinner hour. It's so much harder when Ross isn't here to help me. I didn't realize how hard I lean on him until he wasn't here.
We're only the first week into harvest with at least 5 more to go. I'm hoping that once the boys feel better we'll be able to get into a better groove. This has been the hardest start to harvest I have ever had. It can only get better, right? I'm so thankful that Ross has a good job and he loves what he does. In the grand scheme of things, harvest is only a few weeks out the entire year. Happy harvesting!
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