Dentistry Elves

It's hard to get things completed around here at times, and plenty to distract me. 

There's a section of my kitchen countertop that regularly has a stack of papers and mail and notes that, well, just rotates papers and mail and notes. My computer desk is the same.

We had our Christmas decorations hauled out of the attic storage taunting the kids for a whole week before a tote got cracked open.  The main floor is pretty much done now, but the pint sized "kids' tree" has remained bare and lightless upstairs in our common room. 

Until last night.

Our little elves apparently made their FIRST act of mischief one of helpfulness too, covering that little tree with pretty colored lights, and.... toothbrushes??????  Perhaps the sheer quantity in this house was enough to inspire them. 

I'm just glad they didn't raid the underwear drawer.



Advent Lesson:  Who knows?  Maybe this is a reference to their friend Hermey of the Rudolf story who, despite ridicule, really really wanted to be a dentist...  "Embrace your gifts and talents." 

Or, maybe it was just for fun!

They're Baaaaaack!

We're big on traditions around here.  They help ground our family and give us shared experiences.

During the Christmas holidays, we traditionally make egg nog before we decorate the tree, read from a little Advent book each night at dinner, and share a blessing cup at prayer on Sundays when there is a new candle to light.

Some of these traditions, however, are thrust upon us, like the elves who arrive with St. Nicholas sometime in the wee hours of December 6th.

For years St. Nick has filled our shoes left under the tree with little trinkets and gold (chocolate filled) coins.  Legend says he tossed gold coins in a window to help a poor family offer marriage dowries for their three daughters, and these coins fell in stockings by the mantle.

We talk about how Nicholas, because of his love of Christ, worked tirelessly to help the needy, and how his story reminds us that we are called to follow his example of charity and generosity.

But a few years back, two little elves named Brownie and Charlie showed up with him, and they stay all season.  Supposedly their job is to report in to Santa about Krenz Kid Conduct in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  No one, after all, wants her name recorded on a Naughty List.

However, we've never really operated like this.  So, our little elves instead help us focus our attention on The Reason For The Season.  And, considering the crazy, stress-filled days of December, it's usually the parents who need the most reminding. 

Maybe that's why, on their arrival last night, the midnight guests also left us a copy of  Jim Carrey's The Grinch.  We all need the chance for a little redemption, and we need to work on a heart that has the potential to grow at least three times its original size. 

I'm expecting we are going to have a whole lot of fun along the way this Holiday season, and make some decent sized memories along with it.

Stay tuned.

God's Handiwork

I'm regularly given pause by watching the people my kids are becoming, and humbled by the clear fact that I have little to do with it.

Oh, I'll have to be accountable for their lack of manners, disrespect for others, and general selfishness, for what lazy parent should get a free pass for producing such societal menaces?

No, what I'm talking about is the stuff that makes them absolutely shine.  The stuff IN them that I didn't put there.  The stuff that makes me sit back and say, "Wow.  What a gift!"

Last night I left Maddie hard at work drawing an Indian Chief for a school bulletin board.  She checked out various images on the computer for inspiration, asked to borrow large white cardstock, sharpened some pencils, and consulted shading techniques with her sister.  This morning, I was overjoyed to find this drawing on the kitchen table.

I honestly didn't know she could do this.

And it is truly beautiful.

It's an answered prayer, really.  Like so many other conscientious parents with limited time and limited funds, we can't expose our kids to the myraid of lessons and workshops and camps and various kinds of enrichment that would help our children develop their God-given talents, let alone just explore what those talents might be.

Yes, they do get some exposure, but in a small rural town and as one of nine children, how do you know you're good at the cello?  Can perform an arabesque or stand en pointe at the barre?  Have a gift for comprehending aerodynamics?  Or be able to throw clay on a wheel and create beautiful pottery?  (We can't do any of this... but who knows?  Someone still might.).    Still, I could go crazy numbering all the ways I potentially fail my kids, and not helping them develop their gifts is one of them.  Even worse, I worry about a child who would question the value of his own God-given worth, created for a purpose, and here for a reason.

So, one of my frequent prayers (usually out of desperation, or when I'm particularly overwhelmed) is that God please show these children what their gifts and talents are and to provide the people and means along the way to teach them how to use these gifts well... be it drawing, or singing, or hurdling, or loving.

Afterall, they are His handiwork, not mine.  And I just marvel at what He has made.

We are the clay, and you the potter; we are the work of your hands. (Isaiah 64:8)

Tumbling Treasures

We live in an old home, so I'm accustomed to stuff not being perfect.  There are cracks in the plaster walls, gouges in the oak floors, and BB gun pellet dings on the living room ceiling.  (Teenage sons of the previous owners... NOT OURS). 

We also live in an old community.  Our current library building was actually an old Congregational church, donated to the city for this public purpose in 1912.  The charm of our turn-of-the-century pharmacy includes its worn wood floors, painted tin ceiling, custom cabinetry and medicinal labeled porcelain knobs (not to mention the charm of friendly pharmacists who work there!).  The building that houses our current grade school was built in 1877.  There's some history in those halls.

I'm surrounded by old, worn stuff, and it's not uncomfortable.

But things got a little exciting a few months ago when the back of one of the downtown buildings literally slid off.

Thankfully, no one was injured.  However, the site was quite impressive, and the kids and I would regularly drive by to see what else was hanging out of the exposed end. 

To our joy, the city has finally contracted the details of demolishing this property and work started on it this week. 

From the safety of our big white van, we got to gawk at two brave men (one is shown in this picture) who withstood the windy heights to knock out sections, brick by brick.  When larger chunks tumbled out of the air and crashed to the protected sidewalk below, you could hear the whoops and cheers eminating from my van.  The dust didn't settle, and neither did the Five-and-Under crowd.

The children were excited, but I was also a little sad.  This building is much older than three of me, and now it will be gone forever. 

The arches above the windows, the detailed stone carvings, the cornice at the very top.... all this "character", gone.  And I couldn't help but wonder about the personal history of the people who utilized this building over the years, those who worked in it, those who lived in it, and the generations since who have ridden their bikes in front of it. 

In a few short weeks, the resulting big empty lot will look awkward.  Rosie, Finan, even Andy and Merryn may never remember what the downtown looked like before the gaping hole, but I will. 

And, I realize I've just joined the ranks of those who "Remember when..."

Jumping In

Yooohoo.  Anybody home?

Yes.  We're here... even since the end of July.  But I can't remember last week, let alone last July, so, I'm jumping in where we are.

And that happens to be up to our ears with school.

And a certain 4th grader needing help with her science homework... "single cell orgasms" (Her father, who is also helping to correct her pronunciation, adds "If only it were that easy.").

And a first grader who drew a picture full of people, and who STILL didn't have enough classtime to complete the assignment of  drawing "My Family".  I wonder how many times he had to ask permission to sharpen his pencil.  (He is the 7th Krenz for this wonderful teacher... she could accurately draw the family portrait for us).

And two giddy high schoolers scavaging archaic clothing.  It's Homecoming week, and they needed to dress in the '80s.  Torn, off the shoulder sweatshirt, fingerless leather glove, pearls, white tennies with hot pink laces, shoulder pads, tunic length sweaters, leg warmers, Big Hair...  RELAX; this was not from MY closet!  (They would not have thought this was so funny if it were from my closet).  Thank you, dear youthful Charlotte, for opening yours.

When I was wearing shoulder pads back in the day, I couldn't fathom a future with nine children, all of them ours.  I bopped along between classes listening to my cassette player.  I was as clueless as a single cell orgasm.

Still am.  Sometimes.

Getting There

Note: Text by Kelly. Parenthetical notations by Kel.


Saturday’s eight hours in a car were chopped up by a few potty breaks and a whirlwind run through Walmart where we spent forty bucks on lunch fixin’s and a frisbee too. (We almost lost Finan. That’s why we don’t stop very much… it increases our risk of loss). We had plenty of food for snacks and another lunch today. I think the Food Network should run a Challenge show for deli chefs who can assemble meals for eleven in vans driving through department store parking lots. I’d be a contender for the $10,000 oversized check. Even if I won I think we would still assemble lunch from a grocery store. (No, we would go through a Wendy’s drive thru.)

We were happy to arrive at our little Ramada last night. (It was a dump.) It wasn’t bad, except for the lack of adequate air conditioning. Considering that we have NONE at home, we kept complaints to a minimum and put the big kids in the “cooler room”. (Don’t forget to mention the lack of windows, lack of towels, lack of ice machines, lack of hotel personnel, lack of wi-fi, lack of omelets and pancakes and bacon and sausage and waffles and good coffee. Shoot! Even lack of Twinkies.) It was just for one night, and the pool was nice and cool. Unfortunately, I did step on a “not quite so dead yet” wasp who managed to stick his stinger in the bottom of my foot. (That would not have happened at a Marriot).

I would also like to add how difficult it is to settle children for the night in an unfamiliar place. (Add to the hotel list: PARENTAL LACK OF SLEEP). They are fascinated by every switch, button, cord… and the close proximity of two bouncy double beds. We spent several hours attempting the impossible, and I finally suggested turning on the National Weather Service broadcast on the tv. Think emergency weather radio with radar maps. Both have the same sonorous voice that warns you of clear skies and flash floods in emotionless monotone. (Hey! I like the weather channel!)

Kel, exhausted from the day’s drive and relaying the incessant countdown to “When are we gonna be there???”, was clearly getting frustrated (This was Hell), but eventually the children fell asleep. And then he was compelled to take this picture of them. “Aren’t they so cute?”, he said. (I did.)

I’ll skip the breakfast selections (Yes, we should have) and add that we actually made it to Mass on time! (The truth is we had help… we gained an hour in Ohio’s eastern time zone, and who wants to linger over wheat bread?). The children were so interested in this centuries old German parish called St. Nicholas Catholic Church. The Italian Renaissance architecture supported a beautiful Florentine dome and stunning stained glass windows. (That’s what the pamphlet said). Merryn pointed out that one of the largest windows was of The Visitation, depicting Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. “That’s your name!” I told her.

So here is Merryn Elizabeth in front of her stained glass window.

The next blog will number the times Finan has exclaimed “Awesome!” and “WOOOOO-HOOOOO” during mountain tunnels, steep grades, runaway truck ramps, and bridge overlooks. (As well as Andy’s “I gotta go pee!!! breaks).

Vacation Adventures

So who was I kidding when I thought I would write something “cheerful” everyday?

(Not that I couldn’t…there has been plenty of cheerfulness around here, as well as a few great stories. But with baseball and softball and play practice, leadership camps, tumbling nationals, and, For Pete’s Sake, NINE kids, who has the time?)

I’ll just jump in, instead, where I am…. which is at mile marker 138 on Interstate 70 heading into Zanesville, Ohio. This is not a final destination but the interim spot. And Finan is, (and I quote), “so so SO excited Dad!!” (The kid can’t wait to get out of a seat belted booster and into a swim suit!)

We are on a family vacation, short one child but long on a girlfriend… and we hope she still likes us after this adventure. After all, this is a lot of “togetherness” going on, with our overstuffed duffel bags and economized eating plans.

But there are plenty of laughs to go around, and I’m glad we’re sharing it.

In fact, we were sharing what we have to look forward to when Finan made his interjection about swimming soon. Merryn is keeping track of the state capitols we see. Andy is itching to spend the $10 he received from kindergarten graduation. And Ally can’t WAIT for …. Mountains? Museums? Metropolitan sites? No, Ally can’t wait for the hotel breakfast tomorrow morning.  “I love hotel breakfasts!” she says, with her salivary glands visibly overworking.

“Well,” I say, “I sure hope it’s nothing like your continental breakfast at that Daytona Beach hotel!”

Kel can’t contain his laugh. “Who would ever think to serve coffee and Twinkies and call it breakfast?”

I wasn't surprised to hear there were no complaints from the Krenz girls who had joined him. Their only concern was making sure they weren’t stealing Twinkies on display for hotel guests.

Personally, I’m hoping for omelets tomorrow. It may be my last warm meal for a week!

(Stay tuned for more Vacation Adventures… permitting Wi-Fi access).  Oh, this little bitty notebook computer could be a lot of fun!