Driving Pet Peeves & Carpool Realizations

I have hemmed and hawed, internally, about whether or not to post this, because it's more or less a rant, but if you know me, and you do, you know that rants come with the territory that is "Katie". So, buckle up people! :o)

Since I have been doing a lot of driving lately--what with two kids going to two different schools, in two different directions, and sitting in two different carpool lines--I have had quite a bit of time of reflection about this, and have made some realizations.

First, I hate carpool lines. With gas prices the way they are (astronomically high, into the realm of fiction), there is almost nothing more frustrating than sitting in a line that is inching its way closer and closer to the drop-off or pick-up spot. You are essentially idling for anywhere from 10-20 minutes. I've tried turning the car off if I know that I'm going to be in one spot for a while, but that doesn't always work. At this point I'm seriously pushing it (driving on the 'E' for an entire morning) to even be able to make it one week between fill-ups. I do like carpools in that I can pick-up each kid without getting everyone else out of the car, and I LOVE being able to have time with the kids when they are essentially a captive audience, where we can talk about things that they want to talk about. . .but the gas thing is awful.

Second, there's the people who won't turn left unless there is no one coming from either direction, as far as the eye can see. These nervous nellies are responsible for one of the favorite 'catch phrases' of our family. One day Jeff was getting more and more frustrated with the driver in front of us, until he simply bellowed, "You are cordially invited to turn left!!!!!!!!" Good times, good times. :o)

And what's with people who put on the brakes when there is NO ONE in front of them! For over 200 feet!! Just ease off the gas pedal, people! It's better for the environment anyway.

There's also a peculiarity that's unique to North Carolina--at least I've never seen anyone else do this in the other places that we've lived. Here, people stopped for a red light will leave an entire car length in front of them! For no reason!! I can sort of understand people 2 or 3 cars back doing it, because maybe they don't want to hit the car in front of them, in the remote possibiliy that the car behind hits them. But the person in the first car does it!!! All the time!!! There they are, waiting for a red light, 15 feet behind the white line!! FOR NO REASON!!!!!

Also, it drives me absolutely nuts when people don't go immediately when the light turns green. This is just plain selfishness, as far as I'm concerned. Because what you're really saying (by your actions) is that, I'll go whenever I feel like it, and I'll make it through the light, but I don't much care if the cars behind me make it through. ARRGGHH!!

Basically, all of these things add up to: I can't stand it when people drive slower than me, or make it harder for me to get through lights with the least amount of trouble. Sometimes I do much better about not letting it get to me, and just drive very zen, but other times (more often now that I'm pregnant, go figure) I get so frustrated, and call everyone an idiot for doing stupid things. The kids are so great about that, because they always remind me that "We're not supposed to call people stupid, Mommy." Which is totally correct, but what if someone really is being stupid? :o) I think I should start calling people "fathead" instead, like my dad does. It's not directly a 'bad word' (for our family at least), but it definitely conveys the problem, which is that they must have too much fat in their head for their brains to work effectively.

Anyway, that's enough ranting for now. I should end by saying how grateful I am that I have the resources to be able to drive my children to school so that (in Jarom's case, at least) he doesn't have to ride the bus, which is NOT a good environment here in Wake county, and that we can have a good time together listening to music and talking. If only people would drive how I want them to. . .

We're Pregnant!!!!!

I think we've sent out emails to everyone, but just in case you haven't heard, we're pregnant!! We're expecting our 4th, Benjamin, sometime around February 17th. Or so. Kelcey was a week late, so I'm not holding my breath. Anyway, I'm 18 weeks, plus a few days, and we had our ultra sound last week, where we found out that we are, indeed, having a boy. Hence the name "Benjamin." Boy, can you imagine the therapy if it was a girl? :o) So,here are some pictures that we were able to get that are even in "3-d." I'd never had this with any of my other kids, so I think it's pretty darn cool. It even looks like he's smiling in that last one, doesn't it?

Anyway, I'm feeling great, for the most part, especially compared to the first trimester. I've just started to show, which I enjoy, because I'd a zillion times rather that people think I'm pregnant than just fat. I've also been able to feel the baby move a little bit, which is fun, because it helps you realize that there's a reason for all of this. Anyway, here I am in all my pregnancy glory:

Yeah, not much to get real excited about, but I'm almost halfway, and this is as good as it gets. Unfortunately, once I start going, I really start going. Here's hoping I don't gain 60 lbs with this pregnancy like I did with Kelcey. Keep your fingers crossed, people! :o)

First Day of School

Well, it's actually been about a month since Jarom and Taran started school, but who's counting? Jarom is in 1st grade, and loves his class and both of his teachers, which is extremely wonderful to me, especially after the fiasco we experienced last year. He complained a little bit about how long the days were the first couple of weeks, but all I could do was agree with him (hey, being gone from 8:30 to 4:30 is long!!) and assure him that he'd get used to it soon. And he has, so that's good. He's fabulous at math, which I find nothing less than miraculous, considering that I still have to resort to counting on my fingers occasionally. He doesn't enjoy "free-writing," but is still a very cheerful, (generally) obedient and helpful student, according to his teachers, so I'm thrilled.

We have this little ritual that we do every morning right after I drop him off at carpool in the mornings: I drive around the circle until my window is facing him, while he waits, and then I wave, give him a "thumbs up", and blow him a kiss. He makes sure that I remember to do it, asking me as he gets out of the car, and it sure helps my sensitive boy have a great day. And his sensitive mom, too, if I'm honest. :o)

Taran has started pre-school, after begging to go to school with Jarom for the last two years, and she loves it so much that she "lurves" it. I walked her into class the first day, and when I came to pick her up she asked me to please just drop her off with all the other kids. She has definitely jumped into school with complete gusto, with nary a look behind her. Quite a change from Mr. Sensitive who cried every day the first two weeks of school, and had to be phyisically carried into the classroom. I understand Jarom's personality, being very similar myself, but I have to admit that Taran's confidence is a refreshing change. She comes home and tells us that her teacher says that they need to "keep our eyes on her, and our lips zipped." She says this with such enthusiasm that I wish I could have some of that carry over to our discipline at home.

Kelcey isn't going to school, of course (I don't believe in pre-school until a kid is 4), but she and I are having some fun experiences together. I keep telling myself that I need to start doing "school-box" with her now, and I will, now that things have settled into somewhat of a routine. She is so verbal, and already recognizing some letters, (ok, two, but still) that I know that I really have got to get going. My mom got me this really great phonics program, plus I bought this huge set of Scholastic books turned into videos, that I know she'd enjoy. Why do I always feel like there's never enough time to do what I want to do, as well as what I need to do? Sigh. :o)

Welcome to our Blog!

Well, ya'll, I finally have dipped a toe into the 21st century and started a blog. I can't promise that it will be a fabulous bog experience, or even that I will post constantly, but I did want a way that I could update all of our family and friends (that would be you) on how things are going for the North Carolina Christensens. We feel so far away from everyone a lot of the time, but I hope that this will really help close the gaps and get rid of some of the feeling of distance. So, I look forward to posting and hearing from any of you, as well. Here goes nothin'!