Tom just went to turn off lights to go to bed and he came out saying OH MY GOD. YOU WON’T BELIEVE THE BATHROOM.
I knew Katie had been in there last and could only imagine. Her M.O. is toilet paper scraps on the floor, unflushed toilet, and band-aid wrappers. I told him he’d have to make her clean it in the morning.
He just told me I had to go look. This is what I found.
I probably should have redone her pink hair so it didn’t look super washed out…but she’s still cute!
Katie was invited to go apple picking with Sophia and her family. Look at the size of that apple!!
They all had a great time!
She hurt her ankle a year or so ago but it wasn’t bad and went away — though every so often it would hurt a little or get aggravated. And then at our summer party a friend slid into her on the waterslide and hurt it again. Enough so that we took her in to the doctor who said yes it was swollen but x-rays didn’t show anything serious. But she was prescribed physical therapy…so here we are! The therapist said it wasn’t too bad and should be a pretty easy fix/recovery — probably less than 10 visits.
The room is practically daylight and she’s hanging off the bed?!
Katie was still a little mad at us at bedtime and refused to sleep in her bed so she slept on the floor…and Maggie got the whole bed to herself! She also got her nightlight taken away so she is using the closet light instead.
Today Katie was invited to her friend Sophia’s and decided to paint her nails instead of cleaning her room like she’s been asked to do for a week plus multiple times today… while she was obviously supposed to be working on her room.
She has had multiple last-chance warnings about cleaning her room. She knew the consequences.
So Tom and I immediately went up with garbage bags and cleaned it out. Everything just got shoved into bags and Tom gathered all the big stuff (like her new rainbow carpet and cushy chair) and hauled it into the guestroom.
All the crap that was on the floor? Gone.
Clothes, towels, shoes? Gone.
Makeup, Legos, Pokémon cards, games, colored pencils/markers/crayons, books? If it was on the dresser in a mess or on the floor? All gone.
Anything that had been shoved in her closet? Gone.
Brand new clothes she just shoved somewhere instead of putting them away? Gone.
There was sooooo much screaming and pleading and crying. Owen was even crying about it and begging us not to do it because he loves her. But unfortunately she needed to learn we are serious. Eventually she even admitted she didn’t think we’d do it. Now she knows we’re serious.
But we heard it all from her: We are the worst parents ever. We don’t care about anyone. Everyone is going to hate her. She’s going to tell everyone at school about this. She wishes she lived somewhere else. She has the worst life ever. This is the worst day ever. She will hate us forever. We will regret this.
We did tell her she has the power to get everything back—she just has to keep her room clean and we’ll let her pick some stuff. To which she snotted back “Well there’s nothing left in here!” To which we replied “Then it should be easy!”
So this is what the guestroom looks like…again. (You might remember we did this once already. Plus did it once at the last house.) But she’s just not getting it.
Needless to say we are both mentally and physically exhausted after this 1.5 hour-long process.
Only one parent was allowed (thanks, Covid) so that means me. Which I’m fine with because then I get to check everything out! I sat at her desk and got to look inside to see if it was a mess (it wasn’t, but her teacher said she makes them all clean their desks because ALL PARENTS LOOK). They all got to design their own name for their desk.
I really love Katie’s teachers and I think she’s gonna have a great year. I especially liked being able to see all the artwork and projects they’ve been working on (hanging in the hallway).
While the boys are practicing baseball, the girls are out walking!
We went out to dinner for Tom’s birthday (early) and this chair was at the restaurant!
GRRRR!! KATIE! I needed a band-aid and pulled out the box from under the sink. Nope. Makeup. So this means she used ALL OF THEM and then not only didn’t tell us, but stored her own crap in there.
KIDS!!!
And this is what she gave me.
Katie’s getting a back to school cut…and I get to sit with her purse because she doesn’t need me standing next to her anymore. Cue motherly crying.
Her hair is FINALLY getting longer! It seriously didn’t grow forever—it was so strange! This is only her fourth cut in her life and every time was just a tiny trim. Needless to say she’s excited!
Tom and Katie biked to Dunkin Donuts this morning for a breakfast date.
We were having a dramatic issue with Katie (OMG she can be such a drama queen) and I found this pile outside our bedroom.
These were the hearts we wrote for her and put on her door leading up to Valentine’s Day this year.
She loves these hearts.
I asked why she did it… “I DONT NEED LOVE.” I told her to throw them away and she refused, saying she still likes them.
Kids. Sigh.
Lunch and kid exchange, goodbye hugs, and proving that Owen is officially taller than Grannie now!
Owen got to drive for the first time!
Katie got a chance, too!
Linda’s Aunt Carol’s house right across from Eagle Harbor. The kids have been there more than we have!
The little house for changing and showering.
Eagle Harbor Light House
Last time the kids went swimming at Mark’s!
Owen swimming under the dock.
Last time in Mark’s hot tub.
I know someone else who loved shoes…
From Linda:
North point outer shore on the Big Lake (Lake Superior). The day before Owen and Grannie kayaked from south shore, around middle point, through the channel between outer point and the island. On to two more islands and between those on the Big Lake. A little fish was jumping out of the water around the bow of Owen’s kayak. Also saw two loons. Great ride. Owen is stronger than Grannie.
