Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Perseids Meteor Shower

I have warm memories of watching a meteor shower in the middle of the night with my family when I was somewhere around 8 years old. We laid in blankets and sleeping bags on the front lawn. My mother has always been so sweet - waiting on us, trying to make sure everyone has everything she can help them with. That night was no exception. She was running around making sure everyone (all 9 kids and dad = 10) had a sufficient amount of homemade cookies to keep us awake and cups full of hot chocolate. I wonder if she even got to see a shooting star that night. Hmm. I'll have to ask her.

Twenty-something years later, I wanted to allow my children that fond memory. I am sure it will be remembered. It will be interesting to hear my children's view of it when they are grown.

The kids were already in bed, when I saw on the internet that there was to be a meteor shower tonight. I went back and forth as to whether or not it was worth getting them out of bed - that is such an accomplishment it takes A LOT to even consider GETTING them out of bed. They come out by themselves way too often as it is. Fun Mom won and I called them down.

We got our sleeping bags and pillows and layed out on the grass in the backyard. I got out some cheapo sandwich cookies from our camping trip over the weekend and made them each hot chocoate in a spillproof cup. (Quincey thinks it is the ultimate labor or love for me to let her have a sippy cup! "A tippy tup? For me? *squeal*!"

I went back out and layed with them - it wasn't quite dark, dark, yet. Emma saw Venus above the mountains and said, "Mom, that one is sooo much brighter than the rest of the stars. I think it is a wormhole." :)

We had a great time laughing and talking about different stars we saw. Okay, mostly we were laughing because Emma was a stinky skunk and kept tooting. Quincey had no clue what we were looking for and kept asking to see more airplanes. I guess those were the only ones slow enough for her to get her eyes on.

After a cookie or two, I got thirsty and asked who had hot chocolate left to share with me. After tasting both Emma's and Quincey's I said, "I asked for HOT chocolate!" It was cold and yucky and those cookies left something to be desired - okay a lot to be desired. However, after a while we saw a few nice bright meteors that were big enough that Quincey even saw them. Then, there was a lull and we didn't see any for a while. I looked over and Emma and Tyler were asleep.

I guess the fun was over.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Apparently Relief!!

So, this one was too good to pass up putting on here quickly. I really shouldn't even be on here because I have soooo much to accomplish before I become the one armed bandit. So, here is the quick version.

Preface: Our master bathroom has the toilet separated from the rest of the bathroom by a door. So, it is it's own little toilet room.

Quincey ran in yesterday as I was getting ready for church. The door to the toilet room was closed. She was dancing faster than anything I have ever seen - stamping her feet so hard and furiously that she could not manage to get the door open. I opened it for her. She gasped, "TANKS" (not a spelling error) and runs in the bathroom.

She pulled down her pants. Then, pulled them back up and turned on the light.

Then, she pulled down her pants again. Oops.

Pulled them back up and shut the door.

Then, I assume she pulled them off again and got on the toilet, because I could hear her going to the bathroom.

I heard silence for a second.

Then, she sighed - very emphatically! Silence again.

Then, I heard her say, "Phew! Dat was Tlose!"

As she finished up, she was so impressed with how close it had been, she said "Dat was tlose" a few more times.

All the while not knowing I could hear her.

It made me giggle several times. :)