Few thoughts by Jennifer Hines....

Wow, it's Labor Day weekend -where does the time go? I have to tell you I have been DREADING the approach of winter - our first full winter in the cold tundra of the Midwest! After getting a little taste of it this past winter while house hunting and moving in around Easter (late March) with the gray skies day after day after day, I'm actually nervous about the bitter cold, blistering winds, and no sun for months (Robert will be buying me a medicinal sun lamp)! THEN I read about the Farmers Almanac reporting higher than usual precipitation for the Midwest in Jan. & Feb. - GREAT, just what I wanted to hear! On the bright side, Peyton LOVES the snow - making snow people, throwing snowballs, and sledding. We may even get to introduce her to cross-country skiing, something Robert did as a kid growing up in Michigan. Wish us (really just me) luck this winter!



A funny kid story - I have been having blood drawn lately (still trying for baby #2 you know) quite a bit. There is one tech that actually hurts when she does it. Normally having blood taken barely causes you to blink, as I told Peyton all brave and adult-like (she usually goes with me). Well, Tech A", we'll call her, put the needle in and I blurted out "Ouch!" and squeezed Peyton's hand too tight! It burned going in, continued to sting while in, and really stung when it came out! Apparently Peyton overheard the story as I told it to Robert but never said a word. Since then, I had my blood done several more times, 2 of them with "Tech B" (the good, pain-free one!). While there, Peyton did ask if she was the good lady or bad lady. I told Tech B my experience with Tech A and was glad she (B)was in again that day. Well, just this past week, we were back in and Tech A (bad one) was in. I didn't say a word, even make a face, just played brave and naive. Peyton immediately says, "Mommy, is that the bad lady that hurts you?" -right in front of her; I didn't know whether to laugh out loud or leave and try another day! I pretended not to hear, as the Tech was writing and asking me questions. Peyton asks again and I say No. Sure enough, even though I'm preparing for the entrance of the needle, I grimace and squeeze Peyton's hand too tight again. Peyton says, "She IS the bad lady, Mommy". I was sooooo embarrassed and praying that Tech A didn't have a clue what Peyton was referring to. Peyton told me to squeeze her hand really tight, if I want to and Tech A just laughed and told me how beautiful she was. OH MY! I cracked up laughing upon leaving and had to call Robert to tell him the story! Little Peyton didn't realize what she had said and was confused by our entertainment (and my embarrassment)!