Vander Linden Musings

Well Santa came last night. The kids were excited despite Santa’s issues.
Santa brought Jakob a Lightning McQueen RADIO CONTROL car. We opened the box and there was NO radio control. We get to go to Costco in the mad rush of people returning things- I’m so excited. Santa brought Gerritt a HUGE Pirates of the Caribbean ship that had pictures of action figures ALL over the box… guess Santa should have read the little letters on the bottom… Action figures sold separately. I don’t think Santa would have gotten it if he would have known there were no action figures!!!  Santa also brought a hotwheels race track for Gerritt.  I just opened it checking to see which batteries it needs.  D batteries!  D batteries!  You think I have D batteries???  Again Santa should have read the small lettering!  What’s wrong with her I mean him???  At least Josh likes his bike that Santa brought!  So far he hasn’t complained that it doesn’t have a kick stand!
With these issues… I have decided that stores should be open on Christmas!!!

Anyway- Merry Christmas!!!

So I’m watching the Buffalo Bills play the Tenessee Titans today and reminiscing…

There was one year (can’t remember which but it was during our 4 Super Bowl years) that my Dad took us to Rich Stadium (as it was called) to buy tickets for the home Miami game. We went the day before the tickets went on sale to be first in line! My great friend from high school, Jennifer Ulrich was there with us.

We got there pretty early and the security guard(let’s call him BOB) that was assigned for the night was already drunk and willing to do anything! He took us onto the field which was covered in new astro turf. We stood and I think jumped on the 50 yard line. We also got to go into the locker room. We checked out everyones locker… to name a few… Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, Don Beebe, Steve Tasker, Thurman Thomas, Darryl Talley, James Lofton. There was a picture (my memory has faded on this) that we LOVED and so badly wanted to take… BOB may have been drunk, but at least he stopped us from doing this! In the picture was Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, and I believe James Lofton.

BOB told us to get a drink from the machine. I looked at it and said,”Where do we put the change?” Mr. Security guard said to me, “What do you think they put change in their jock straps?” Everyone got a good laugh out of that. It really was kind of blonde of me!

I love that memory…so thanks to Dad for taking us and staying out all night at the stadium and thanks to drunk BOB for allowing us to rummage and create a pretty cool memory! GO BILLS!

Today is his 6th birthday. I can’t believe he’s blessed our lives for 6 years already! That’s gone fast!!!

We were walking to the school today to pick Gerritt up… Jakob started saying how there is one thing that he doesn’t like about his birthday. I said- what’s that? He said, “The birthday spankings and the pinch to grow an inch!” I let him know that that is my FAVORITE part of his birthday!

Last night he came into our room crying inconsolably. After a bit he cried-”I have to go to the bathroom” So he went and did that but didn’t flush the toilet. We told him a bunch of times to do it and all he would do was flip the light on then flip it off. Finally BJ started sounding frustrated with him so Jakob cried, “I don’t know what you’re asking!” I asked him today on our walk if he remembered that- he told me I must have been dreaming. So I told him to ask Dad about it. He said- “If he tells me it happened- then you both must have been dreaming because I don’t remember it!” I’m still laughing about that!
I made a cake tonight for my six year old. This one actually took a little artistic talent- so it doesn’t look very good! I tried to talk BJ into doing it for me but he had to go do the manly stuff and put the bike together! Anyway- please don’t judge! I figure Jake will like it even though it kind of resembles a red and blue blob!!!

I have absolutely NO idea how people live without an air conditioner! Because of the flood in our basement- we’re having to keep the temp in the house at 83 degrees! Yesterday the clean up crew brought in a dehumidifier and told me to turn up the heater and bake my children.

Last night was our first night with that temperature. I told the boys they could sleep in their underwear so the heat would be a little more bearable. Well I walked in to the room they are all bunking in to make sure they were all sleeping- and there was a bare bum staring right up at me. I guess Jakob thought the underwear was keeping him a little too warm.

But really- how in the world do people do it without the air conditioner???? I grew up without one- so I know I did it somehow. Kudos to all of you that can manage that! Ugh… I need some water.

…our basement flooded yesterday. It was SO fun to be dragged out of bed by the kids with a- “Mom, there’s a lot of water in the family room!” Some pipe broke outside and water poured into the family room then into Jake and Josh’s bedroom. It was great!  Oh and our lovesacs (chairs in the family room) are most likely ruined!
Anyway- we didn’t let it get us down- BJ and I went ahead with our plans to construct a home!

One of our neighbors invited us over to do this. About three times a week during Christmas season they have people over to make gingerbread houses…something they’ve done for about 40 years now. What a fun tradition!!!

BJ left today for Indiana on business. He’s gone until Thursday. Bummer. Much more fun when he is home!!! Here’s a picture Josh took before BJ left…

SO CUTE!!!

Josh and I were walking home from dropping Gerritt and Jakob off at school. He was looking up in the sky and said, “Mom, why does the sky seem so close.” I told him I don’t know why but it isn’t and asked him if he knew that the sky never ends? He didn’t understand that so I said, “If you were to take off in a rocket you would keep going- you would never hit a wall.” He said, “Are you sure about this?” I said, “Yup.” He said, “I don’t think so.” So my youngest thinks his Mom is totally wacko! Maybe he’s right!

So Jakob had hives all over his arms and legs yesterday. No big deal- just hives. Today however, the hives were gone, replaced by swollen hands and feet and a bright red face. Well he DESPERATELY wanted to go to school today. I took him, and asked his teacher if it would be ok if he was in her class. She felt it might be contagious and I should take him to the doctor.

The swelling in his hands started going down. His joints were left swollen. The doctor saw that and right away started talking about getting him tested for Lupus. I was nervous, BJ was freaked, and Jake was calm.

He went in and got his blood drawn with no tears at all. He was VERY brave!!! After he got his blood drawn, like his mother, he went pale. No one has yet to be able to explain why that happens. We went to the hospital lunch room and spent FOUR DOLLARS and FIFTY CENTS on two ice cream bars to make him feel better. It did- for 4.50 it better have!!!

Anyway- half of his tests already came back and they’re all negative. So- it felt major- but it was just a minor scare. Jakob was awesome!!!