September 11th, 1977-in which Petey experiences his first, but certainly not last, case of stage fright.

Petey really has a phenomenal memory.  Last night he asked me to read him the book "about how the little boy had to go to the bathroom".  He remembered that it was a Dr. Seuss book and had Cat In The Hat on the spine.  I thought it might be one of his and looked, but it wasn't.  Finally chased down in my diary-it was (Did I Ever Tell You) How Lucky You Are  and we read it months ago.  Then we were talking about church this morning and Petey said the next time Pastor talked to the children, he was going to sit where Erik sat today.  He said "It'll be just like playing checkers, mom-I'll take Erik's place and Erik will move somewhere else".  To my knowledge, he's never seen anyone play checkers.  I asked him how he knew how the game was played and he said "In my book about Gus The Friendly Ghost, he plays checkers with mouse" (but it doesn't show them moving the pieces or talk about the gameso if that's where he got it, he extrapolated on almost no data).
I called Margaret this morning and told her Linda Warren was picking us up.  Only Julie came to church.  Mike's away on a camping trip.  Pat Devore led the opening exercises, then they took a picture of each class and its teacher.  then the children all ppracticed singing "Jesus Loves The Little Children" and "Zacheus") and marching into church in a procession.  We only had a few minutes left at the end of the service for Sunday School to meet.  We were to march into church during the first hymn and everyone got rather restless.  Then we all marched in and sat down.  I sat in the pew just behind Petey's class, and he came back to me in tears.  Said he "just wanted Mommy" and wouldn't go up and sing.  I think all those people in church scared him.  He did go up for Pastor's "children's sermon" but he sat in a corner and afterward said "Mommy, Pastor didn't talk to me!"  He talked to Jana, his Sunday School Teacher after church and she reassured him that not singing was ok.  Dad took us to Safeways after church ($19.00) and then for a ride to see the cows.  Pete and I were exhausted (2 hours of church is a lot for a little one) and took long naps.  Then Vicky came over about 5:00pm and was here for hours.  She finally had to leave to get ready for church.  She said she had a stomachache this morning and I begged her not to come see Petey when she felt sick.  Then I called her mother and begged her too.  Paul Cheek felt bad in Sunday School, too, and sat right next to Peter.  I asked his mother to call me if it turns out to be flu or something.  The whole world is one big germ waiting to fall on Petey!  Daniel raked tonight and Pete "hauled hay" in his wagon.  Then Daniel played hide and seek with Pete.  He's so good to Pete!  Had ried clams tonight.  Pete and I took baths and he "read" me Batman (he knows it by heart) and I read him The Dead Tree.  Lorraine's pick us up at 9:00am tomorrow (Connie is having surgery at 10:30am and she's babysitting)

Saturday, September 10th, 1977

Got up at 7:00am to turn the TV on for Pete and went back to bed.  Then I watched part of "Batman and Robin" with Pete and slept some more.  Vicky showed up before we had lunch and I finally had to send her home so I could feed Pete.  She came back before he'd finsihed eating and I told her he had to take a nap and sent her home again.  Margaret Bunce called and offered to take us to Sunday School.  I told her I didn't know what arrangements Linda Petrasek had made.  Then Linda called and said she had arranged for Linda Warren to pick us up since they live close to us.  I tried and tried to call Margaret back to tell her, but they were out.  I will call again in the morning.  Linda said she'd pick us up at about a quarter to 10.  Linda P said not to worry too much about the lesson for tomorrow since the children have to learn a song for the Fall Festival and practice marching in and out of the church.  And there are the opening excercises, so it will be pretty busy.  Vicky was outside when the mailman came and took my mail out of the box.  Petey had a fit (and I nearly did too)!  I tried to explain to her gently but firmly that you just don't get out other people's mail, but I don't know if I made any impression at all.  I was schocked.  Betty Phipps came over and gave me her house key, a list of phone numbers including her daughter's, and a written authorization to seek medical help if needed.  I hope Bill doesn't get into any trouble while she's gone.  Betty told me she'd given him orders not to let the Plaza boy in, because he's "tough" and a fighter (a bit of a bully, I gather), so I hope there's no trouble with him.  I spent the whole day (in spite of Vicky) unpacking winter clothes, sorting them into outfits that go together, and hanging them up-rummaging all over for clotheshangers.  Finally got most them taken care of (I still have some sweaters left over that no longer match any skirts or slacks I have since I gave away some of my winter clothes last year).  My period started tonight-it would just before I have to teach Sunday School for the first time.  At least I know why I felt so tired today.

I ate the leftover squash and Swiss chard today.  Couldn't get Pete to touch any vegetables.  He's going to get sick if he doesn't start eating something besides meat-I don't think a daily dose of vitamins is compensation enough.  He helped Daniel water the flowers tonight.  he and Daniel sat in lawn chairs and had a long conversation.  Pete was pretending to speak Basque.  Daniel gave us some lovely onions (I really like them even though they always give me a stomach ache).  Pete had a temper tantrum today about putting on his shoes to go outside, but apologized for it repeatedly afterwards.  I baked a cake (out of things to snack on) and promised Pete I'd bake one for his Sunday School class on his Birthday (it's on a Sunday this year).  He bathed and washed his hair (under protest)-even brushed his teeth!  I read him A Friend For Jenny and Dr. Seuss' ABC.  I read Alchemy and Acadame (sci fi anthology).

Friday, September 9th, 1977

Pete had his Methatrexate today, but there were only 3 tablets left instead of four.  Fortunately, he only had to take 3 because his white count was low, but that's the second time I've been one tablet short.  When they're only dispensing 3 at a time, it doesn't seem reasonable.  Pete had 2 nosebleeds today.  The first he didn't tell me about, but I found his kleenex in the playroom.  The second began tonight while he was doing puzzles and watching TV.  Thelma had mentioned taking Pete along to the mountanins this weekend, but Dr. Baskerville must have said no.  Thelma was going to ask her this morning and call me, but she didn't call-and when I called her I got no answer.  I called Marilyn Cates this morning to see if she and Nicole were coming over, but her car had broken down so they didn't come.  She invited me to an AAUW meeting in Payette Monday.  I'd like to go if we can share a babysitter.  Betty Phipps won't be here.   She and Bill are going to Portland for a few days and leaving young Bill here so he won't have to miss school.  Felt quite flattered when Betty said he'd asked them to tell me.  She's coming over tomorrow morning to talk about it-must remember to get written authorization  to take Bill to the doctor if he needs it.  Vicky was here for a couple of hours this afternoon.  She and Pete watched "Mr. Rogers" and "Electric Company",  She wanted Pete to go over to her house 'till 8:00pm, but I was cooking dinner and her sister came to get her because they were going to a football game.  I finally cooked Dad's acorn squash and dressed it with brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and orange marmalade...but it still tasted like squash and Pete wouldn't eat any.  I made Daniel's Swiss chard, but we didn't eat that either.  I had it on low, with plenty of water , which was a good thing because I forgot it and left it cooking while I took Pete for a "tricycle walk".  We went around the Daily Argus building to the new city hall (admiring the flagpole) and then back home.  Called Dad tonight.  He wanted to know about Pete's first music lesson.  Mom might need surgery, but they don't know if she's strong enough to stand it.  Pete held the flashlight for me tonight while I bolted the back door "so I wouldn't be scared in the dark".  We watched Judy Collins on Boston Pops and I read him The Ghost Said Boo and The Binky Detectives.  I read The Night Spiders and The Missing Grandfather (pretty bad-gives me hope).