Random Thoughts by Jennifer Vos

I'm tired of Sarah Palin. Please stay home and take care of your little special needs baby.

Spencer calls his kindergarten teacher by his Primary teacher's name, Sis. Barfuss. I'm wondering what the kindergarten teacher thinks of this.

Christopher is having trouble with kids at school. For some reason he has a really hard time making friends. I can't figure it out because, as his mother, I view him as practically perfect in every way. I don't know if it's because he talks a lot or if it's because he isn't friendly or what. He cried last night about being lonely at school. Even at church, he doesn't really connect with anyone. My heart aches for him. I don't know how to help him, so I am praying for a friend for him.

If the Governor of Michigan doesn't throw Kwame out, I'm moving to Ohio.

Baby Lizzie has decided to go head first. I'm thankful for her turn.

I know it's silly, but sometimes I wish I had no trials.

Pregnancy is 4 weeks too long.

Please take your seats. Where should we take 'em?

Today was the kids' first day of school.

Emily started 7th grade and was excited but still very cool about the whole thing. She looked great in her 7th grader outfit. She said all of her teachers were really nice but she didn't have many friends in any of her classes. She also was disappointed that the band this year has only 20 kids in it but (according to her) about 80 saxophones. I'm not sure about how that works.


Christopher started 5th grade and was more nervous than Emily but he was still trying to be cool. He was glad to find that some of the boys he doesn't like weren't in his class. He tried to give his teacher a Book of Mormon today. I had a few misgivings about giving the teacher a BOM on the first day of school but he really wanted to. The teacher wouldn't take it. How do you like that? Chris, Sr. hates him already and it's only the first day.


Calvin started 3rd grade and he was his usually silly self til he got in line and saw a friend and was happy to be social again. Calvin is a very social boy and loves his friends. He said he liked his teacher too.

Spencer was the most excited to be starting Kindergarten. He is the 4th Vos to be taught by Mrs. Visser and he is lucky that the preceeding Vos' were good and obedient students. He heard a story today and sang a song and played blocks. That's all I could get out of him.



They are all excited to be headed back tomorrow.

Well, like that, only that instead of a chair it's a pile of garbage. And instead of a jacket it's a pile of garbage.

We cleaned the basement. I no longer have the world's messiest basement. I can't tell you what a relief that is. I didn't take any before pictures because it would be too embarrassing to post. I did take some after shots and a shot of the trash we took out to the curb today. I'll just leave what the mess looked like to your imagination, however I will tell you that it did involve using the snow shovel and Chris had to take 5 Valium total to survive it. This was his first time in the basement in over a year. It stressed him out to even go down and see it. It was RRREEEEAAAAAALLLLLLYYYY bad. The kids are so happy! They have a place to play and toys again. There were toys down there that Cameron hasn't even seen before. It's been like Christmas for him! I have vowed to stay on top of it, to teach my kids to be more responsible and to never let it get even close to that again.

I really have the best husband in the world to endure the mess and then to help clean it. He is wonderful.

Weekly Top Five 9/1/08

Top Five Favorite Years of School

1. Senior Year. It was awesome! I had friends, I was confident in who I was, I was class president, I did well in school, I loved my teachers and classes. I loved Senior year.

2. Second Grade. My teacher was a little scary but she liked me. Also was the year Anna was born.

3. Fourth Grade. My teacher was so nice and sweet. Met my lifelong friend, Marybeth, during this year.

4. Seventh Grade. My teacher was my friend, Marybeth's mom, so she liked me. I had great friends this year and I really liked what I was learning.

5. Freshman Year. It started a little rocky...I didn't wear enough deodorant the first day of school. I highly recommend wearing a lot of deodorant on the first day. All in all, it was a good school year.

You hang onto a car this cherry

Chris has a new *borrowed* car from work. It is a Chrysler Crossfire and it is small. I always thought I would want to own a sports car but I'm rethinking that decision. First of all, it's a stick shift car. I don't know how to drive a stick. Chris hasn't driven a stick in a long time and so we've stalled out a few times which is a little embarrassing. Second of all, I am a large woman and Chris is a large man. We look ridiculous wedged in this tiny car. Third of all, I can hardly get in and out of it. The seat only has one position, way back and uncomfortable. Fourth of all, there is no trunk and no back seat. We were discussing how we can't bring the baby home in it because it has no place for anyone to sit. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking a gift car in the hood; I'm grateful that I don't have to share my van with Chris. However, we are definitely not sports car people.

Thankful Thursday 8/28/2008

1. Stupid Francie imposter is finally dead.

2. Basement paths.

3. Sparkling water.

4. Brownies.

5. Teletubbies.

Congratulations, Reg. It's a... squid.

I had another ultrasound today to determine approximate size. Baby Lizzie looks good in there however she has not turned head down yet. I'm hoping that will still happen.

The words the tech used to describe her were a little unsettling. Big head, small belly, long legs. This might be a weird looking kid.

The tech puts her weight at about 7 lbs. With 4 and a half weeks to go, I think I'm looking at another Calvin-sized baby. Hopefully, I'll make it through delivery. I'm feeling a little nervous.