"Big Church" and kids

So Chloe is officially too old for Children's Church. Actually, she has been for a year, but since no one stopped her from going, she just kept the status quo. Well, the children's programming director sent word that any child over 2nd grade should stay upstairs. Totally understandable and totally ok by me.

Here's the predicament. She learns more in Children's Church than she does in "big church". We have a new minister who has lengthened our service a half hour. There is a lot of "high church" pomp now that is difficult for even the adults to sit through for an hour and a half. And his sermons, while beautiful and very educational, are very grown up. Not much for an 8 year old to be interested in. And everyone knows what happens when you get an 8 year old bored.... T-R-O-U-B-L-E!! She ends up squirming, whining, begging to go to the bathroom 3 times, wanting to lay down in the pew, wanting to sit with her friends....which ends in many, many confiscated Webkinz.

So, what to do?? It has been suggested that we allow books to be brought in to read. But I really would rather her pay attention to the service. At the same time, I'm not sure if she's capable of "getting it" yet. I remember playing tic tac toe as a child in church. So I suppose if the preacher's kid was allowed to goof off some during the service, it's not all bad.

I'll take any and all suggestions, friends and family.

Mommy Time

So, because of my parents' love and kindness, I had only one of the three children to care for all weekend. Chloe and Cooper spent their time with Grandmama and Poppa, being properly spoiled and exhausted.
Yesterday, I found myself with a quiet afternoon. Older kids were still out of town, Brody was down for his nap, and Michael Jon was planning on taking a nap himself. I decided instead of using that time productively, I would waste it by being a "lady of leisure". I went to the pool. By myself. With a book. A cheap, tawdry novel, to be exact.
I can't explain what a thrill it was to get into the vehicle without first having to strap it a car seat and two boosters. My heart was pounding! The windows were down...my hair was flapping in my face. (OK that's not true. My windows stay up! It's July in the South, people. Unless it's after midnight, the AC is required). My iPod was blasting all the music that I can't listen to with the kids in the car...that's right....I was listening to Prince! (Or is it still "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince"??? And is all that supposed to be capitalized?)
So I arrived at the pool and found that there was only one family there. Nice and quiet. Heaven! I settled in to a lounge chair and started arranging the iPod, the book, my towel, my beverage, my cell phone (in case the kids need me) and start relaxing. But my earbuds weren't right. So I adjust and readjust them for about 5 minutes. Then I start to read the book, and just as I'm getting to a good part, my phone rings. Kids are checking in. Everyone's good. Going fishing. Eating out. Went to Chucky Cheese. Yikes. 30 minutes later, I have lost almost an hour of my two hour reprieve.
About the time I hung the phone up, I hear the sound of laughter and joy. Ah, yes. Kids. One of my best friends and her family, three kids and husband in tow, to be exact. "Miss Rachel! Miss Rachel!! I got $174 for my birthday!" "Miss Rachel! Will you swim with me?" Miss Rachel! Can I have a drink?"
And so my afternoon of quiet bliss was done. But I have to admit, I had much more fun talking on the phone with my babies. I miss them when they're not around, little heathens that they are. And playing with our friends was much more enjoyable than the plans that I originally had.
All's well that ends well.

A Name Change...

So, after much nagging, complaining, and general unpleasantness from friends that have NO IDEA how difficult it is to keep a blog up (because they won't step up to the plate and do one themselves...hint hint hint), I have decided to not only add a post tonight (although a fast and boring one), but also to rename my lil' Blog to something more appropriate. Since daily blogs are really too much to ask of any one human being, much less a stay at home mom with a busy summer schedule, Semi-annual Rachel seems much more achievable.

Therefor, I present a new blog with new, much lower expectations. Ta Da!