Christmas in July for the Home Team

Yes, I'm still here. Yes, I have a million excuses why no posting for a week. Sometimes the ol' creativity barrel just goes a little dry, plus a bunch of other stuff going on.

The fun news of the day for the Home Team? A slew of unexpected "gifts" to be unwrapped!

1. Rarely do I win anything, unless it is because of sheer comedic skill, like here. But the contest gods shined upon me this week, and a BOOK appeared on my doorstep. Compliments of Budget Travel, I'm now the proud owner of The Bad Girl's Guide to the Open Road.

I've only skimmed it and I've already laughed out loud. Unfortunately, I don't have any road trips planned with the girls. Yet.

2. My sister, in an effort to free space in her garage and take up space in mine, passed along a large four-wheel motorized vehicle that her son has outgrown. Sons 1 and 2 have not been injured yet, but just in case, I've memorized the hours of the after-hours clinic. And just for good measure, she also included a pedal-powered tractor. All three of my boys are in heaven...I'm in the wings with bandages.

3. Hubs broke his flip-flops and is getting some new ones by way of Austad's soon. This would not normally be news or Christmas-in-July worthy, EXCEPT when you consider that the broken pair is the ONLY pair of flip-flops hubs has owned since I've known him (going on six years). So, Christmas-in-July for him, too.

4. Sirius. Satellite. Radio. In the rental car while ours was being fixed after our fender bender. I nearly had several wrecks of my own as I blissfully flipped through 180 channels on the radio. Soooo sad to see the radio...er...rental van go last Friday. But we've got our own vehicle back, complete with a shiny new bumper.

So that's it...Santa July was very generous to us this year. Now if he could just make it stop raining...

Jimi Hendrix - Star Spangled Banner

Turn up your speakers and stand back.

Have a rockin' Fourth and GBA!

See? I wasn't just excessively whining. Although I'm capable of that.

From our local TV news station:

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Now that June is over, it's official, it was the wettest June in Oklahoma since the state began keeping records in 1895. The statewide average total of 9.15 inches for last month is almost double the usual average of 4.26 inches.

Central Oklahoma was the wettest part of the state, with 12.96 inches, while the Panhandle was the dryest, at 2.3 inches.

Among cities, Copan in northeastern Oklahoma was among the wettest, recording 18.45 inches. In southwestern Oklahoma, Walters received 12.13 inches.

Maybe now those in my family who just returned from the beach(es) will have a little sympathy...

It's official: I'm a Crazy Hip Blog Mama

Yay! I've convinced the folks over at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas that yes, indeed, I'm crazy, hip, a mama and a blogger. Finally some validation! Albeit from strangers. I really think it just means that with time and help from my friends I, too, can put buttons on the right-hand side of my blog.

If you're a CHBM or just want to gawk at those of us who are, check out Crazy Hip Blog Mamas now.

A Vacation in Our Town: Days 4 and Last. Thankfully.

I'm combining Days 4 and 5 of our vacation this week into one post. Everything seems to be running together, i.e., going downhill just in time to end our week of "rest."

Let's see, today is Saturday. Let me backtrack a little as I know you're hoping I will.

Thursday we had planned indoor vacation activities since rain was forecast. We took Son 1 to gymnastics class and then headed to Incredible Pizza, though we had a different name for it by the time we left. My boys are only almost-2 and 3 yrs. They needed about 1/100th of the things this place had to offer. But, they got to run around while it rained outside and eat 5-7 bites of pizza so we got our money's worth.

When we finished our "incredible" time, we headed back with the boys in tow down one of the busiest streets in our city.

Raining? Yes.

Boys exhausted and ready to get home? Yes.

Traction on the tires of the car behind me? No.

I think I wouldn't have been so shaken had I seen the guy coming. As it was, I was advancing through the green light and looking straight ahead and then CRASH. My first thought was of the boys, but neither of them seemed fazed by it. The questions didn't even start for a good five minutes.

I'll save you most of the boring details, but here are a few to get you through the day:

• My Toyota Highlander's bumper was damaged but it was still driveable. The other guy? Not so much. He was driving a 2000 Ford Focus which could be totaled. The important thing is no one was hurt.


• We spent Day 5 of our vacation dealing with the other driver's insurance company, the rental car company, and the collision repair shop. I think we deserve a refund on Day 5.


• We dropped off our Toyota to have it fixed and for our trouble we were awarded a luxurious Grand Caravan to drive in the interim. I'm pretty excited about that; husband is keeping a hat and dark glasses in the van at all times.


• Wouldn't you know, it didn't rain yesterday so we could have been vacationing at the waterpark. We did pack up and go to the horse track in the evening. Rained. But a big canopy protected us and the boys loved watching the ponies run and I gawked about how the jockies could possibly have enough strength in their 100-pound bodies to wrangle those muscular animals.

Okay, finally I'm finished with the vacation saga. I'm kind of glad we will be getting back to normalcy on Monday. Just in time for the July Fourth holiday which we will TRAVEL for. In our mini-van. Get out the sunglasses, husband!

A Vacation in Our Town: Day 3 of 5

(big sigh)

Our little city set a record today for rainfall on June 27: 2.59 inches. This sort of changed our plans for the zoo and the horse track. So we found ourselves loading up the boys and doing very un-vacation-like things such as going to the cleaners and dropping off the truck to have the oil changed.

In the middle of sloshing through town, Son 1 pipes up and says "I want to go get a donut." It's 11 a.m. And we said "...hmm...okay..." So the boys had donuts which promptly ruined their lunch but you know, they're on vacation, too. I think. Then we retreated to a McDonald's indoor playground with the rest of the city and returned home sufficiently worn out and ready for naps.

Tomorrow we have indoor plans, since the rain chances are something like 110%. At least then we won't be disappointed...

WFMW: Kids' socks in the car

I'm going to start keeping a pair of socks in the car for each of my boys for impromptu stops at indoor playgrounds.

Most indoor playgrounds require socks. I love this rule. But today I had to violate it because we stopped at McD's unexpectedly and the boys had sandals on. So off they went into the germ factory, shoeless and sockless. Ewwww! Yes, I know you seasoned moms out there are thinking I need to relax since boys' feet do come clean. But I have years to work on that. Just let me have my phobia, mmm-k?

So I'm going to start stashing an extra pair of socks in the car, even in the cooler months when they wear sneakers most of the time. Even if they're wearing socks, the socks take a beating and putting their shoes on over them is yucky.

I suppose this is a first: posting a Works for Me Wednesday tip that I haven't actually tried. But I know that extra socks in the car WILL Work for Me! (And so would playgrounds requiring gloves as well.)

For more great tips, visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

A Vacation in Our Town: Day 2 of 5

Oh, my. If it doesn't stop raining I'm going to scream. In our city it has rained every day since May (sic). Last year we were so dry here that people who threw cigarettes out their windows were viewed with as much disgust as child predators. Now, even the ducks are looking for higher ground...

Today's vacation definitely included events that do not happen often. I can't remember the last time I shopped at the gigantic mall in our city WITHOUT MY KIDS.

Husband very graciously and happily and with a skip in his step...OK, maybe I slightly exaggerate...He volunteered to take the boys to his mom's an hour away and keep them there for the afternoon while I did "me" things.

So I went to Gigantic Mall and shopped. I bought the shoes and dress below for a wedding husband and I are attending in July.

Then I wandered by the mall's play area which was crawling with toddlers since, yes, it was pouring rain outside. And I resisted the urge to laugh and point at the moms who, I swear, gave me dirty looks as I whizzed by them without a diaper bag, stroller, or kid on a leash.

Then I went to my salon and got a pedicure in OPI's Thrill in Brazil red. 'Cause that's an important detail you needed to know. I suppose I could post a photo, but I think one picture of my feet on my blog will do us all for a lifetime.

All in all, a relaxing day for me which deserved many hugs to husband when he got home. But don't cry for him Argentina...Friday's his day.

Tomorrow our agenda includes the local zoo and the horse track. And probably rain. I think I need a back-up plan.

A Vacation in Our Town: Day 1 of 5

Hubs and I had big plans for our summer vacation. "Had" is the important word here. We were going to visit a Caribbean beach with boys in tow. A really gorgeous all-inclusive family resort. We are the couple who, before kids, vowed to not let having children get in the way of our activities. We would simply make adjustments for time and of course pack more, but we still fill our every vacation whim like we'd always done.

(Insert sound of screeching vinyl record.)

Then we faced reality. Son 1 is almost three-and-a-half and Son 2 is 21 months. Together they are extremely busy, curious, active, boys who need more than 500 s.f. of hotel room and a long hallway in order to be boys. I think I'm seeing some nodding heads amongst you...

So instead of the trip to the Caribbean, we decided to be vacationers in our hometown.

Every day this week we have planned an activity we haven't done before or in a very long time. Our "hotel room" is our own house and we will be eating vacation food like grilled burgers and chicken fingers and french fries. And stop the presses: we are even going out to breakfast one day to a restaurant we've never visited before.

Today is the first installment of what is sure to become an epic tale of a Vacation in Our Town. So grab some popcorn and try to stay awake as you read...

Today we took the boys to our local water park. It's a pretty big operation, this park, or so the $19.95 admission price would have you believe. But the best part: it's only one mile from our house.

Despite being right up the street, we had to pack our car as if we were RVing cross country. Snacks, water, diapers, diapers, change of clothes, Little Swimmers, baby wipes. (Is it obvious? I was a little nervous since Son 2 did not accomplish his morning task before we left.)

Anyway, the day was thoroughly enjoyed by all of us. We saw several friends with their little ones and tried to have adult conversations but most of the time we were cutting each other off mid-sentence to chase a kid or grab hold of a slippery arm to pull him out of the water.

Okay, so being the former technical writer I am, wouldn't a bulleted list fit nicely here for some highlights of the day? You may notice a pattern...

• For a while after we got there, Son 2 was never out of the clutches of me or hubs. Upon departure, he was climbing the steps to the slides and I'd meet him as he splashed into the water with squeals of delight.

• Son 1 owned the large blue dinosaur slide. Pushed other kids aside to get up the steps only once. Lots of squealing with delight on the way down.

• Visited the big wave pool. Son 2 was not impressed and wanted us to hold him. Son 1 ventured out to the point where the waves broke and allowed them to knock him off his feet. Squeals of delight with every "knockdown."

After our lunch of chicken fingers and french fries, we loaded up our RV/stroller and headed the whole mile home, where the boys took a glorious 2.5 hour nap. Think they would have done that in a little hotel room?!

What a fun first day of vacation, and I didn't even have to unpack. Much.

Hand sanitizer can be dangerous for little ones

I have been hearing snippets here and there about hand sanitizer and finally went to my favorite source for things like this: www.snopes.com. Turns out the warnings are valid. I've been guilty of squirting my 21-month-old's hands with the stuff and saying "rub it in" which he happily does, but I had no idea it was so dangerous if ingested.

Read all the details here. And be stingy with hand sanitizer on your kids' hands.

Bon voyage everyone!

This week some of the families in my family are taking trips to the beach. One group is now on their way to here in the Florida Panhandle.

Saturday the other group heads a little further south to here.

Me? Looks like our family is headed here:

Move over boys...Maybe mom can still get a tan. Have fun everyone! And bring me some sand.

I'll nap when I want, where I want, and with whom I want

Son 1 was vehemently opposed to napping today...but I guess if he's the one making the bed, he doesn't mind it so much.

(And just FYI, I'm using today's naptime to order a bedskirt for his bed. Ewww!)

WFMW: Firecrackers recipe

Really awesome, easy, cheap recipe for spicy snack crackers called "Firecrackers."





When I started this "mommy blog" I didn't want to start posting recipes, after all, when you've got http://www.allrecipes.com/ and http://www.bettycrocker.com/ who really needs my tip for chicken breasts and barbecue sauce in the crockpot?

However, I've come across one of those rare finds that begs to be passed along (from a lady at our church). When I was in the work force, one of my bosses used to say that no project could be accomplished fast, cheap, and with good quality without at least one of those things being sacrificed. (Take a moment to ponder this wisdom; it really is true.)

But this recipe is a rarity that can be made with all three things in mind. It's fast to assemble, cheap to make, and quality? Oh, my...

Let me cut to the chase:

Firecrackers

1 1/2 c. canola oil
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix
1 T. Tony Chachere creole seasoning *
2 T. red pepper flakes **
1 lb. saltine crackers

Whisk together the oil and spices and let stand 30 minutes. Lay crackers on a cookie sheet with sides. Drizzle oil over crackers. Turn crackers every 15 min. two or three times to coat. Store crackers in an airtight container. The crackers are even better-tasting the next day!

* Go here to see what the package looks like. I found it at my local big grocery store for about $3.25. The directions say "...use it like salt." Yum!

** This makes it "grown up" spicy. Decreasing the red pepper flakes to 1 T. still makes it very flavorful but less intense.

Fast, cheap, good recipes Work For Me! For more great tips, visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

Shameless ad for Ebay item

Check this out if you're shopping for a lovely black formal gown...size 8. It's my first Ebay listing and I'm anxiously awaiting the bids to come in, but so far I just hear crickets (thanks Chili for that metaphor...it's my new fav.)

(Thanks to my sis for modeling "her" gown; someone should sign her!)

Be careful...she'll turn on ya.

I was all set. I was all set to spew out a kleenex-grabbing story about this:

The rocker belonged to Husband's grandmother and he'd gotten it before we were married. When we were setting up Son 1's room before he was born, we decided to have it refinished to what you see now, since it was in really poor condition. This was a tough decision, mind you, since the rocker I really wanted for Baby's Room was a plush $300 rocker from Babies R Us that glided you and your cherub to sleep on a giant cloud. But the sentimental value of Grandma's rocker was high and we wanted it to look nice so we had it refinished and dutifully placed it in the corner, inevitibly for decoration.

But to my pleasant surprise, this hard-surfaced rocker has become a wonderful addition to Son 1's bedroom and a regular stop for Son 2 and I on our way downstairs after naptime. I spend about ten minutes in it every afternoon with him snuggling with his blanket and me hoping the creaking of it wakes up Son 1 from his nap so everyone remains on the same sleep schedule (don't laugh, sleep schedules for these boys are penned on scrolled parchment and signed by Presidents). So anyway, I was all set in my little writer mind to illustrate these scenarios with enough flowery prose to have you reaching for each other for a group hug.

That is, until today.

It was post-nap for Son 2 and I settled into the chair for our daily snuggle, when Son 1 awakens in his sweet angel way (today, by asking me if he could pleeease now open his Happy Meal toy). Creak, creak, "yes, honey, in a minute..." Creak, creak, "I'm rocking your brother..." Creak, creak, "Come over here and give me a hug..." Creak, creak, "Okay, Mamma..."

So he comes over and stands next to me in Great Grandma's nearly-antique chair. Except he stood a little too close to me, and the very sturdy feet of the rocker rocked right over his toes.


Let's just say the creaking of the rocker and the angels playing violins were drowned out by Son 1's screaming.


(Sigh) It's all OK, though, I managed to calm him and his toes survived unscathed. And Great Grandma's rocker passed the test of rocking two boys at the same time.

29 years and a wagon ride

(Story published with permission.)

My sister and her husband just celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. I heard about the way they celebrated through the family grapevine and decided this was one of those poignant stories you may be expecting on my blog.

Rose and Rob have lived in a rural town of 2,000 since they were married. Rob's family has lived and farmed and ranched in the area for generations. It's a rich history and they cherish it deeply.

However, that's not to say that Rose and Rob live in a cocoon. He is a respected small-business owner in our state and she's an elementary school teacher. They've vacationed out of state and country, their first two children are college-educated (and #3 is well on her way), and shut-my- mouth they even drive cars.

So on the day of their 29th wedding anniversary, you might expect a traditional dinner at a fancy restaurant or some other event away from home. Well, according to Rose, they've been out plenty lately. The dinners out have been frequent, albeit anything but fancy. Life has been hectic with school ending and other events. So dressing up and driving to Major City for a restaurant meal sounded more laborious than special.

So, at Rob's prodding, they hooked up their team of mules ("Ruby" and "Pearl" and I did not make that up) and prepared take a wagon ride. The kids were otherwise occupied so it was just the two of them. Rose was admittedly reluctant with many irons in the fire at home but thought it would be a nice break and after all, it was their anniversary.

They hooked up "the girls" and off they went, pulling the covered wagon behind them, on a mild June 10, 29 years after they were married. And for three hours they meandered the country roads of their town, talking to each other and whomever they met along the way.

And then they celebrated their 29 years together by having a beer.

Beer? Yep, a beer. See, in Smalltown, Oklahoma, there's a bar. It's not really even in town. Really it's not even a bar. More like a tavern. Like when someone they don't know walks in, everyone shifts their toothpicks to the other side of their mouths and tips back the bill of their John Deere hat and says "...you ain't from around here, are ya..."

But they knew Rob and his bride. And when the covered wagon with the oldy-weds pulled up in the parking lot (which didn't specify it was for cars only), they were warmly greeted. And Rose and Rob convinced the bar-owner to fix their order to go.

So this is the part where you think, noooo! Surely this story must be about someone's elderly parents. No, I'm telling you, their anniversary was six days ago.

They got their beer and they climbed back in their wagon, and they headed back home, click-clacking down the sometimes-paved, sometimes-not roads. And they talked some more. And Rose told me she would more than likely remember that anniversary celebration more than any other.

Hmmm, I believe I will, too.

I'm proud to say I scored a measly 40%!

Be prepared to think "now there's five minutes I'll never get back..." Yep, quiz time! Go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8985943/ to determine your "Entertainment IQ." It's not exactly the SAT but revealing nonetheless.

Leave a comment and let me know how much time you waste keeping up with the entertainment world, oh, I mean, let me know your score.

WFMW: New, easy storage!

Use a shoe organizer in your coat closet for storage.

I bought a shoe organizer (Target, $12.99) to use for storing much more than shoes in my downstairs closet. When I need to get out the door, even a minute to get up and down the stairs can be hard to come by. So this handy tool makes it so easy to grab shoes, hats, Little Swimmers, even sunglasses and sunscreen. I keep a couple of pairs of flip-flops in there for myself, and I've even allowed hubs a little real estate for his stuff.

Check it out:

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

The fruits of my labor

A few weeks ago I entered a caption contest on abcnews.com for the Nightline program. Lo and behold, I won the darn thing. So for all my sweating over just the right 20-words-or-less, I have finally been rewarded with this beauty:


You will notice it sits atop my jewelry box. Yes, I do consider it a treasure. Go ahead, leave me a comment about how jealous you are.

It's a Carnival! And the story of my blog.

My buddy Chilihead is hosting a carnival! That's right, she's a nosy-rosy and wants to know everyone's story about how they started blogging. For me? It's a good way to get some linkage on a highly-traveled site! Woo-hoo!

So for the other nosy-rosies out there, knock yourself out:


How did you start blogging?

Chilihead was at my house one afternoon and she sheepishly mentioned she had a blog thing out here. Whaaattt! And didn't tell me about it!? I was so impressed with what she had done with her blog that it didn't take much of her prodding to get me started as well. I'm a writer at heart and blogging seemed a great outlet for me to be creative and have a little project going as well.

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?

(Wow, if I didn't know better I think I'm sitting across from some HR rep at Big Company.)

Achieve? I have to achieve something? I haven't really thought about it much. I hope someday I will have visitors to my blog who look forward to reading a little humor, a little poignant story now and then, and get to know me a little. I like the idea of my family and friends visiting and staying caught up on things. As mundane as they seem sometimes, this is my life.

As for future plans, maybe I can figure out a way to make this blog earn me a little cash.

Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?

I didn't have a "focus" when I started so this really isn't relevant. I can say, though, I'm more comfortable writing now. My early posts were a little Niles-Cranish, now they're more Roz.

What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?

Hmmm, I'm still learning. I wish I was a little more technical.

Do you make money with your blog?

See above. Sadly, no.

Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?

My relatives are reading, I think. Most of them do not leave comments. If only they knew that comments are like manna from heaven. Or the "crack of life" as Chili says. Throw me a bone people!

Husband, on the other hand, is a big ol' skeptic about the whole thing. I don't think he reads it (do you hon?)

What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?

Write from the heart. And use humor. And brevity is beautiful. And you don't always have to play by the rules.

***************************
That's the whole story. Exciting huh. Well, you wanted to know!

For what are probably much more interesting blog histories, check out Chili's Carnival. And get me some cotton candy while you're there.

Sunday's a day for daydreaming...

http://www.imin.com/home

That's "I'm In." Have fun!

Words will never be enough

First, read my previous post about my last experience with a snake and get an idea of how little I ever want to see one again even in a picture. Even one as small as the one I wrestled...

Then, have a look at this picture and ask yourself how I was able to even look at it long enough to download.



Oh, my.

Thing is, this is not a picture I lifted from snopes.com or some other urban legend web site. This creature was sighted at the home of a lady my sister works with, who lives out in the country.

The picture was taken only a week or so ago, which means this little black snake is probably still slithering about somewhere. I do not know, nor do I care to know, how "Gail" freed up her door from the clutches of this creature. Good luck to you, Gail, and move to the freaking city, OK?

WFMW: Two from Mom of Five

Since I'm just getting started in the motherhood game (boys are 20 mo. and 3 years), I have not yet heard "mom, I'm bored." My boys still get a charge out of watching birds out the back window.

My sister, on the other hand, has five kids, the oldest now in college. She has homeschooled them all and I'm sure heard the dreaded phrase more than once. So I decided to ask her what to post for this week's WFMW:

(Edited for space, but pretty much verbatim. As if there's not enough space on the Internet for her entire answer...)

"First, when I read questions like that, I think what the person is really wanting to know is "What can I get my kid to do so that he will leave me alone?" 'Cause I can think of all kinds of things to do with my kids, but I didn't/don't always want to play along. Anyway, when one of my sweet cherubs would say they were bored, I'd tell them to stand in a corner until they thought of something to do. (And it could not be TV or computer.) It usually didn't take them too long to come up with something.

I did that because these kids I have should never, ever be bored! They have toys! They have books! They have a backyard! We gave them siblings! Enough to switch around even. Sheesh. The kid who comes to me and says he's bored better be prepared to pay the piper. Or clean something.

P.S. The disclaimer is that I know my kids and at what age I could expect this to work. I don't assume anything for anyone else. Also, the corners were always cobweb-free. Again, I don't assume anything for anyone else..."

So then I guess she started thinking about how a "kinder, gentler" idea might sound better to post for the masses, and she suggested getting the kids involved in the local library's Summer Reading Program.

Uh-huh, I bet there was a lot of worn corners in their house...

The beach in our front yard

Ahhhh, you're gonna get tired of reading this on my blog, but I LOVE SUMMER!

This evening we had a party in the front yard. We live in a nice-enough neighborhood, but until recently the boys were pretty much the lone kiddos on our street. But now they have a victim, uh, playmate, other than each other!

"Jason" is a little over two years old and lives two houses down. After dinner we invited him and his mom and dad to come over...the pool was coming out again!

So pretty soon here came Jason walking across yards with great purpose and clutching his beach towel. Cutest thing ever.

Then up filled the pool. And down splashed three boys (many, many times). And the water from the hose flew everywhere. And the moms and dads lifeguarded from lawn chairs a safe distance away. And I sat there and thought, what a perfect evening. Good friends, good kids, and a good deal of hope that we'd do this many times this summer...

Is my 3-year-old a brooding teenager already?

We've always pulled out all the "sleep aids" possible for Son 1: nightlight, lamp on, music CDs playing, books to look at after we leave, stories prior to leaving, etc. It's really a wonder he gets any sleep at all, now that I think about it. Nonetheless, we've always used some or all of these things to help the process.

Then two nights ago, he says in his tiny voice: "I don't need any books." Then, as I was leaving his room, "could you close the door? And turn off the lamp?"

Whaaaaaaa?!

"...and shut the door all the way."

Um, OK, I say. It pained me to leave him in a room with the only light coming from his little sailboat nightlight. With the door completely shut. What if he wimpered? Or breathed loudly? Or turned over? Or worse, called out for me and I couldn't hear him in my room a whole 10 feet away?

But I obliged, and hubs and I spent the next 30 minutes scratching our heads. Our son had grown up overnight. Or, in not so many words, told us he's learned to live without all the crutches for sleeping.

One of my sisters who is a veteran mom and I mean that in the nicest way, told me once that when one of my children is crying, the reason is not as important as helping him not cry. So stop analyzing, she would say, and start comforting.

So I suppose I should stop analyzing my son's sudden desire to be alone with his thoughts, and add this to my list of the mysteries of parenting. Which is growing by the minute.

Overheard: Lesson Learned

This morning over breakfast:

Son 1: "What is this cereal called?"

Me: "Cap'n Crunch"

Son 1: "Craptin' Crunch?"

Me: "Yes."

I'm back, but just to say I'm not posting.

We just returned from a rather spur-of-the-moment trip to the Dallas area for my niece's high school graduation. I'm tired.

We had a wonderful but busy Memorial Day. The $5.99 pool made its first appearance in our (shadeless!) front yard. I'm tired.

Mother's Day Out came to an end last week with a sweet school program during which I probably bruised a few other parents trying to position my camera to capture Son 1 onstage staring into space. I'm tired.

I tried really hard to reshape the poor cowboy hat in the pic below that has been residing at the bottom of the toybox since March. I'm tired.

So this post is all about not posting until I can get un-tired. Um, or until I can fake it really well. Until then, go here and realize that amazingly some people manage to walk the earth without a brain.

Wow, that was quick!

So apparently instead of posting a comment out here, all you very quiet readers went out and voted for me. Check it out!

I also got an email that said I was being sent a very "small" prize. Methinks I should make room in my cabinet for a Nightline coffee mug. And no, the email was not sent from Ted Koppel or whoever is the host these days. Rather, my theory is that "Eric" is a college intern who got the assignment back in September and it is just now getting through all the red tape that must surely be required to get a page on abcnews.com. I can hear it now:

ABC Bigwig: "We need more hits on our website."

ABC Sorta Bigwig: "I know, sir, we're having brainstorming sessions as we speak to figure out what we can do..."

ABC Bigwig: "How about a contest. People love contests. Contests are good. Look at that Idol show. Now that's a contest..."

ABC Sorta Bigwig: "Sir, that's a television show. Ours is a website."

ABC Bigwig: "Whatever. Jordin, wow, she's really good. Explain to me what beat-boxing is anyway."

ABC Sorta Bigwig: "Not-a-Bigwig just got a new intern: Eric Somebody. Maybe he can get him working on it."

ABC Bigwig: "Good, make it happen. And set me up with Paula Abdul...I hear she's single and looking."

ABC Sorta Bigwig: "Right, sir, I'm on it."


And thus, the Nightline Caption Contest is born... Thank you, fans!

Go to abcnews.com and vote for me!

The other day I posted about my friend who was a finalist in the abcnews.com photo caption contest (too bad he did not win). Well, yours truly has carved out a "bigtime" niche of her own. That's right, peoples, I'm a finalist.

So please, both of you Home Team fans go there now and vote for mine! Even if you don't think it's the funniest. Pretty please?! And if you do, leave a comment here, mmmmmm-kay?!

P.S. The caption entry has my entire true name and hometown out there, so if you know me only anonymously, vote for me and then forget you saw that and don't steal my identity or my children.

WFMW: 20 cent STYLISH greeting cards

1. Go to Michael's. Bring $9.99 plus tax.

2. Buy this.

3. Never be without a greeting card again. Need a closeup?

Here are the details:

-- There are 50 cards in the box. Those who know me know my extremely limited math skills, but I believe at $9.99 for the box, that's a mere 20 cents per card.

-- Envelopes are included.

-- The cards are textured with a matte finish. I think this makes them look "richer." Since they are from the crafty-craft store, I'm sure they can be embellished, stamped, punched, and whatever other craft wizardry you people do who have more time (and desire) on your hands than me.

-- The cards are blank inside so get thee some creativity and write your sentiment from the heart. No one ever reads the preprinted notes anyway!

-- I've not had an occasion yet that one of these cards didn't fit: birthday, graduations, new baby, etc. And there are designs that are masculine, as well.

-- If you are reading this and you receive one of these cards from me, you now know how excited I am to be sending you a card AND saving money.

For more very useful Works for Me tips, visit the WFMW queen herself at Rocks in My Dryer.

Flower Pics as Promised

This may not look like much but it is quite an accomplishment for the Home Team since we are not very landscape-inclined. I think I should have swept the sidewalk before taking this picture, but wait, what's that just in front of my husband's truck bumper?? That would be the broom, being swiped by Son 1.

These are what I'm calling my Iron Impatiens. They withstood several very unseasonable freezes when their siblings in the ground died and were thus replaced with the begonias in the picture above. Rock on II's! (And thank you Son 2 for your diligent watering!)

The Home Team's Week in Review

Guess I've been a bit of a slug this week as far as posting goes, so here's what's been going on at Home Team's house:

1. I got what I think is possibly the best haircut of my life. I won it at a silent auction at our church and "Damon" doesn't know it but I was the only bidder. I sat down in his chair and as he took the scrunchy out and my hair just sort of stayed up, he says "...oh, honey, the Lord sent you to me..." He proceeded to whack away ala Edward Scissorhands and I came away with a new hip 'do that I love. Despite the fact that he wondered aloud why all his clients have "problem hair," I will be going back to him in a few months.

2. Son 1 and Son 2 got through the week with no major injuries, but Son 2's head met with my brow which caused tears. From me.

3. My newly-planted hydrangea is still alive. This is news. I will post pics soon.

4. The scale says I lost 10 pounds! And, no, it is not broken.

5. I can't believe Melinda Doolittle isn't on AI anymore. And I got to watch about seven minutes of "The Office."

Yep, that's all the excitement here lately. Be sure to visit again for another riveting installment...

ABC News and a friend from high school

Please go here and vote for my high school friend, Russell Reid. He's a finalist in the ABC News caption contest. It's about time his wit made the bigtime (shush! Fictional captions are bigtime!).

Thanks!

Could I ask for a more devoted husband?

Last night as we walked through our neighborhood past our church, I noticed lots of cars in the parking lot. A lot for a Thursday evening, anyway:

Me: "What do you think's going on at the church?"
Hubs: "Don't know, funeral??
Me: "Either that or a wedding..."
Hubs: "Harrumph. Either way your life is over..."

The Interview Meme

My wonderful friend Chilihead has included me in the Interview Meme that I hear is going around, but since I've been rather extinct out here lately I wouldn't know. I'm taking her word for it. So here's my contribution:

1. What was your favorite outfit in 1987? The one you wore every time you could and made sure was washed for those nights out on the town?

I had an unlimited supply of shaker-knit sweaters in the mid- to late 80s so I could always fall back on one of those with my jeans and Huaraches. And I had a lavender long-sleeve shirt that had puffy sleeves, a la, Seinfeld but not as cute. Yeah, I thought I was original in that shirt, when really the reason I felt that way was because NO ONE ELSE HAD ONE. Didn’t get clued in on that mistake until about 1989.

2. Have you achieved three of your life goals?

Yes: graduated from college, married the man of my dreams, became a mom. I’m starting to let go of “...become an Olympic figure skater…” and I haven't given up on "...make money as a photographer..."

3. Do you ever fly in your dreams? If so, how do you take off ( e.g., jump, run & jump, lift up off the ground, etc.)?

I do fly in my dreams! It’s been a while; I wish I knew what life events triggered that dream because I always wake up invigorated. I tend to run and jump. Like a gazelle. A gazelle on steroids. A gazelle on steroids with the wind at his back. Oh…it’s a fun dream!

4. You have five minutes to pack up and leave. What stays and what goes?

What goes: contact case and solution, eye-makeup remover, eye glasses. Sight is an important thing to me. Son 1 and Son 2. One diaper. One sippy cup. Husband. If it is a permanent exit, husband gets to take a bottle of water and my 30-odd photo albums. Purse. ALWAYS my purse. And a cell phone charger. And my computer. And my calendar!!

What stays: who cares? As long as I have my calendar.

5. Your family is being transferred. You get to pick where you'd like to live, but it can't be in the United States. Where do you choose?

A tough one. I do not want to learn a new language. So I’m going to Mexico; when I get there they will change all their literature, signs, forms, and grocery items in the whole country to English.

Supermom sssstrikes again

I can't take much in the way of varmints. It was part of Husband's vows at our wedding "to love, honor, and remove all outside creatures to the outdoors or the trashcan, the latter of which can only occur if said creature is dead." Translation: I do NOT kill bugs or anything else. Ever.

Unless of course Husband is at work and unavailable to live up to his vow, like today. I can barely even type it since I get the willies every time I think about it. We...had...a...ss...uhhhh...sss....snake. In our garage. I say "we" but really it was me and the boys, and they were still strapped in their carseats when I noticed the intruder. Otherwise, the s. (I can't seem to type it again) would probably be running for its life from a stick.

Let me just say, I would have taken a pic of the s. but I was too horrified. All I could think about was the possibility of the s. chasing me as I leapt over it to the door to get a broom. Then I realized, I'm NOT using the same broom as I use to sweep our kitchen floor, so I had to leap over it again to get to the garage broom. Luckily we have about five garage brooms (somehow they seem to be multiplying) so I grabbed the biggest one I could find. Straw bristles, curved on the end from so much use...oh, yeah, this baby would work.

So I went back to the s. amid "what you doing, Mommy"s from the car and prepared to sweep it out of the garage. The s. curled up immediately (ewwwwww!!) and with one amazing swoop I launched him to the end of the driveway like a hockey puck on an icerink. Then another swoop into the street, then across the street to the office building's parking lot, then for good measure to the grassy area next to it.

Ahhhh, my work was done and now I'm happy to report I have not seen the s. again. I couldn't, however, bring myself to let the broom back into the garage so it is currently propped up outside. Where it will remain forever.

So after my heroics I walked back up to the car and Son 1 was all questions:

"What did you do Mommy?"

"I just showed a snake his new home."

"Whyyyy?"

"Because I don't like snakes."

"Oh. I like snakes."

You'll learn, my boy, you'll learn.

P.S. The size of the snake, I'm sure you want to know, wasn't much bigger than a large earthworm. But it was ferocious.

WFMW: Cheap, better giftwrap

Use discount fabric for wrapping gifts.

I wrapped this birthday gift (a puzzle in a box) for under $3. The three-year-old gets the gift and the mom gets a yard of fabric with a fun "boy print" to do with as she pleases: pajama pants for her son, placemats, blanket, etc. The fabric was $2 a yard and the ribbon was also from the clearance rack, for 50 cents. I didn't even use tape to wrap it.

For the mother of Works for Me Wednesday, visit Shannon.

Weightloss Inspiration

We all need it at one time or another: a little ditty about losing weight to make us feel not so miserable about having to deprive ourselves. Well, OK, maybe I'm the one that needs it right now. I've been struggling to lose my baby weight for, uh, let's see, my youngest son is saying words now. (How long, by the way, is it okay to call it "baby weight?")

And while I'm on my soapbox (what, you didn't see me climb up?) let me just say that if "breastfeeding makes post-baby weight loss happen faster" actually came true for me, I'd be borrowing clothes from Calista Flockhart. (Oh, how '90s of me: I meant Nicole Richey). I nursed both my boys every bit of 13 months each and yet I still struggle.

Anyway, I've been doing Weight Watchers lately, and our meeting leader bestowed this gem on us last week. Even if you don't do WW, you may find it inspiring enough to put down that Snickers...


SEVEN DAYS TO GO!
author unknown

Tuesday evening after Weight Watchers
That piece of cake I saved is near.
One big slice, I have no fear.
Besides, no pounds will even show.
I've got seven days to go.

Wednesday
Time for shopping, to the mall we go.
Have a pizza special, it’s cheaper you know.
I’ll walk it off, I’ll get in gear.
Six days to go, no weigh-in near.

Thursday
I think I’ll skip my tuna lunch.
A hamburger and fries is what I’ll munch.
Tuna’s getting expensive you know.
Besides, I’ve got five days to go.

Friday
For breakfast, one egg, toast and juice.
But the kids left their pancakes, what’s the use?
With inflation, to waste is a sin.
Besides, it’s four days until I weigh in.

Saturday
This weekend will be really rough.
Those restaurant menus are really tough.
I’ll work the steak off when I go to the gym.
I have three days until I weigh in.

Sunday
For breakfast, I’ll just have coffee today.
Maybe I’ll lose a little more that way.
At supper, a little bit I will eat.
In just two days that scale I meet.

Monday
Now my nerves are really a wreck.
I’m stressed, so I eat, what the heck.
I need to lose a pound tonight.
One day to go, will it be all right?

Tuesday
I don’t want to face that scale today.
Will a trip to the john save the day?
I gained two pounds, wouldn’t you know?
Guess I didn’t have seven days to go!

The greatest thing you have is the 24 hours directly in front of you. Today you can succeed.

Overheard: So that's how it's going to be...

Mommy: Do you love your mommy?

Son 1: Yes, but I don't like you.

Mommy: You don't?

Son 1: No, I like Daddy.

WFMW: Snack Trap

If ya'll have toddlers, you really need to check out the Snack Trap at One Step Ahead. I am not a baby-gadget person; I shun useless things like this with a vengeance. But the Snack Trap is well worth its five bucks: fill it with Cheerios and hand it to your little one and they can carry it around the living room without spilling. And it's great for traveling, too.

The Snack Trap works for me! For more great tips, visit Shannon.

"Judge not," etc., but at least writing isn't my JOB

Friday's edition of my local paper. Scary I paid for it.

YouTube Moment: Michael Jordan - I Believe I Can Fly

One of my very intuitive sisters sent this to me. Somehow she knows my passion for Michael Jordan's basketball talent AND this R. Kelly song. Hmmm, maybe she knows me a little better than I thought...

Patron Saint of Sweepstakes, Pray for Me

OK, I doubt there is such a saint, but if there were I would be a' praying right now. See, over at 5 Minutes for Mom they are GIVING away a shiny new Dyson SLIM. Now even if I could afford ~$400 for a vacuum cleaner, the other Dyson models are much to large for the designated vacuum cleaner spot in our home. But the Slim, oh, the Slim would fit mighty nicely.

So please, St. Sweepstakes, if you're out there, have a heart and make this happen. One time your buddy St. Anthony helped my mom find her car keys when they were lost, but that was around 30 years ago. Don't you think we're due for a little Saint help??

And the rest of you, head on over and enter the contest yourself. It's easy and you don't have to blog to win. And if you win the Slim maybe I can arrange visitation.

WFMW: Tide is worth $7.99

As you've seen in previous posts, my sons are recovering from a bout with a stomach bug (hubs and I were spared!). We had so many, uh, episodes, that for a few days it seemed our washer never stopped!

I usually buy the darn-near cheapest laundry detergent and it has served our family well. But before all this started (obviously in a fit of unbelieveable weakness) I bought Tide with Febreze for $7.99. Yes, I know, it is a crime to spend that much on detergent, but dang it, Febreze smells so good I couldn't resist. Well, kiddos, this time my momentary lapse of reason paid off.

You see, Son 2 had a bit of a relapse the other day. Without warning, lasagna and garlic bread (and yogurt, I think) were revisited all over the front of my brand-new Adidas t-shirt. A SOLID WHITE t-shirt. I figured, the shirt's ruined, what's the use in pre-treating? So I threw it in the washer with all the other assaulted clothes and figured it would make a very expensive dust-rag.

Would you believe the shirt came completely clean? Not a trace of anything anywhere. It could have come straight off the hanger at JC Penney. Unbelieveable. Hubs pretended to be impressed but I was so thrilled I sent Tide my testimonial. I'm fantasizing that a case of it will appear on my doorstep...

Splurging on Tide with Febreze...Works for me!

For more really cool Works for Me Wednesday tips, check out Shannon.

All better now

A lot has happened since my last post: Son 1 did end up getting sick, even more violently than Son 2 but I will spare you the details on that. He hasn't had any accidents in a day, so just maybe getting sick was somehow affecting his psyche.

I got nauseous for about 12 hours but thankfully it didn't materialize into a stomach bug like the boys'. I did lose two pounds from not eating; who can complain about that?!

The carseat that Son 1 christened when he began his stomach bug is still very dismantled, hindering our ability to go anywhere but outdoors. The weather has been nice so that's not been a problem. (...the weathermen in town predicted rain every day this spring break week, but they were WRO-ONG!)

Hubs and I have an evening out planned for Saturday night; here's praying that everyone's well or that I can talk their favorite aunt into wearing goggles for the night.

Smooth sailing, then iceberg, iceberg, and another iceberg...

So I didn't really update the progress of Son 1 and his efforts to shed diapers forever. He let them go bigtime, for like three weeks now. I never thought "Mommy I have to pee-pee" would sound like sweet music to my ears, but it did. And no accidents, even at night, and even at Mother's Day Out.

But that's where the sweet music comes to a screeching halt. For some reason he's had several accidents in the last few days, for no apparent reason. No major changes in our lives have occurred: we've not moved to a new house, brought home a newborn (!!), or gone on vacation. We do have a sick Son 2, throwing up here and there and everywhere. Could that type of event mess up Son 1's progress? He seemed so rock-solid with it. And really when Son 2 is sick, it's not like he's throwing up on Son 1, which would traumatize him (but not his mother, mind you).

If anyone has any insight to this please, please post a comment so I can understand what's happening. Spiderman, Diego, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Hanes can't take much more...

Macy's Thanksgiving

Thank you Macy's! Thank you for pricing your Ralph Lauren boys' shirts so high* that even Britney Spears wouldn't buy them, assuming she remembers how to shop after all that Coke. So since you priced them so high and no one bought them, you had to mark them down 75% so normal people could afford them. We po' folks shorely do 'preciate ya!

* $65.00 EACH. Polo horse not included.

Son 1: "MAMMA, I'M GOING TO READ [SON 2] A BOOK..."

"...but it's up to you to open them up, interpret the words, and turn the pages..."

Spring is here! And it's cheap!

That's right folks, the first pedicure of the season. So toes are ready for viewing! What better way to send you people who hate feet running from your computers screaming than to post a pic of mine?

The beauty of these beauties, however, isn't the "Clary Girl Pink" shade of polish. No, no, the beauty is that I got this look for a mere $18. That's right, instead of paying the usual $40 or more at my salon or a "day spa," I tried the new beauty school in town. The very nice woman who worked over my feet was very thorough and their facility had candles and music and everything. I couldn't think of one thing that was missing that I'd have gotten elsewhere. (License, schmicense!)

So check out the beauty school before you say you can't afford to dress up your feet for summer!

WFMW: Reading WFMW posts and keeping sane

Hi. My name is Christine and I'm a WFMW-a-holic. There, I said it. I'm an addict to Shannon's weekly collection of woman wisdom.

The bigger problem, however, is getting them all read before, say, the next week's installment. I was keeping the site up in a separate window to visit when I had a minute online, but then my eye would wander all over the page like a shopper without a list.

Then I discovered that the key to getting through them without missing something is simple: FOCUS.

So now, instead of hopping all over the page, I read and click them in order. Numerical order. It was the skipping around so much that was driving me crazy because I'd re-read them accidentally or miss one at the beginning. So now I go up and down all the aisles and I don't miss any bargains, and life is good. Try it, maybe your WFMW will be just that much sweeter.

So there you go: a tip you can try right NOW.

Welcome to my new home!

Christmas morning is here! Isn't it awesome!? Not really a new home, but newly decorated, and a blog home I hope to visit more often (maybe you will, too, since it's pretty now). I only hope my posts are worthy of the awesome new graphic graciously accomplished by Chilihead and Shannon. They are so kind to rescue me from template boredom.

Now if only they can throw some of their witty and interesting posts my way so I can use them for my own...

Back to normal, glorious normal

The husband returned yesterday from an nine-day business trip. Well, part of the "business" was to have fun on a guys' golf vacation, the rest he actually got paid for. It all added up to nine days and eight nights of single parenthood for me, which is something I would never sign up for in a bazillion years and I cannot understand the celebs or other getting-older women who choose to do it. But I digress...

Yes, it was a long week. Yes, I missed him desperately. And when we got to the airport to pick him up, my heart melted into a big ol' puddle when I saw him coming down the very wide hallway with several other passengers.

But, melted not at the sight of his very cute face, not at the thought of help with bathtime, but at the sight of Son 1's face when he spotted him. I don't think I could have contained those three-year-old legs for an instant from running down the hall toward him. They were like some freakish real-life Road Runner legs. They didn't stop spinning until he was scooped up by my husband and like a kid in a Kodak commercial he wrapped his arms around Daddy's neck and squeezed.

And then out of nowhere came tears in my eyes and I had to get contained, lest husband would think I didn't have everything under complete control while he was gone.

Then husband and Son 1 made it over to me and Son 2, who was sitting in his stroller. His efforts to leap out of his seat nearly turned the stroller over, and the squealing began. I don't think it has stopped yet...

His priorities will change, won't they?

Tonight Son 2 was in all his almost-18-month-old glory as he tried to slide a finger behind my genius obstacle to the TV buttons. He did not succeed, but thankfully Son 1 was hot on his trail to keep him from jacking with it:

Son 1: "Don't touch the buttons! The TV might fall down and...and...we won't have a TV to watch."

...let alone the fact that his brother will be under it.

Stay tuned for a design!!

I'm so excited I can't stand it. It's like Christmas in March for me. My two buddies, one old and one new, have offered to snazz up my blog, as in...drum roll, please: I'm getting an actual design! Not a canned-ham template anymore! I think New Buddy decided she could no longer sit back and see a poor beginning blogger like me suffer with the template any longer, and she has offered to perk it up a little (which will be a lot). She's wrangled the talent of Old Buddy and together they will breath new life into my blog.

So check back over the next few days. I don't know when Christmas morning is but I know the Santa Blogs are gonna be good to me!

WFMW: Easy-Traveling Cupcakes

Bringing cupcakes to a kids' party is a great idea, but if you're super particular about messes like me, you need to read on. Fully-frosted cupcakes are a mess to get in and out of a box and they can get crowded and the frosting mushed up and it's just messy all around. (OK, I know I need therapy about that but whatever...)

I got a large cake-decorating tip and swirled store-bought icing right in the center of a cake-mix cupcake, and topped it with a "Kissables" candy piece. So easy! I have NO experience with cake decorating and yet this was so easy to do. The kids love the big bite of icing and they are so much neater to get in and out of the box.

If you don't want the hassle of buying cake-decorating tips or bags, just use a quart-size Ziploc bag and fill it with frosting. Snip a large piece off a corner and go to town!

For more WFMW tips, go see Shannon.

WFMW: Protect TV Buttons from Toddlers

UPDATED to include a picture:

(Shush! Someone has to post the last tip!)

My tip tonight is something I read in a parenting magazine or maybe it was a blog, the point is it was a tip I actually read and used AND it WORKED.

To keep little fingers, the just-over-a-year-old kind, from punching the buttons on your TV, go to Walgreen's and buy a plexi-glass picture frame. One of the smaller ones will do. You know the kind I'm talking about: it's frameless and it props up by itself on a tabletop. OK, so you get one of those and...

...turn it on its back so the large part of it is face down flat. Slide this part under your TV as your husband is lifting it a millimeter or so high but acting like he is Hercules with The World on his back. Have Herc set it down so that the only thing showing is the short part of the frame, which is beautifully positioned in front of the buttons on your TV.

Yuck, I am thinking this WFMW is going to require a picture, which I don't have. And which would take me too long to accomplish at this late hour and I still need to waste some more time online and get this tip on Shannon's site before Thursday.

So visualize, people, and try it if your little ones like to turn off American Idol in the middle of Simon's latest barb or Ryan Seacrest's "out."

For more, and better and probably more useful tips, go to Shannon's and knock yourself out.

And Birthday Season Continues

You might think that title means there are several birthdays we are celebrating. Nope. Just one. Three times: at a restaurant on Saturday since that was his actual birthday, yesterday here at home with family, and tomorrow with his Mother's Day Out classmates. Ahhh, I love my son but he's starting to sing "Happy Birthday" in his sleep.

Yesterday, however, was the big shindig with the cake and candles. Lots of fun for him and since he's already gone through this twice, his third birthday was smooth sailing. It was nice, I have to say, to sit back and watch him open his presents instead of coaxing him, uh, more like screaming in his ear, to tear a sheet. Of course, his ever-doting Aunt R. was right there to do it for him lest he be in the least big perplexed about how to get through the paper to the bounty beneath.

So now the real, selfish reason for the post: the cake! Made by me! Without a plan or even a vision, I set about to make his cake and I think it was not too bad an effort:



(I know, I know, I have now divulged Son 1's real name. Just forget you read that and move on about your blogs...)



All in all, a great time for the birthday boy and his little bro, who really thought all the presents were for him. Hmmm, that could have something to do with the fact that BOTH sides' grandparents showed up with a gift for him, too.

Must be something one learns at Grandparents' School...

Son 1 the Birthday Boy!

Today is Son 1's third birthday. This little man has brought more joy to our lives than we could ever imagine, and daily he amazes me in some way.

We are having a small family party tomorrow and today we're taking him bowling for the first time. We don't really know what to expect: he could throw two balls and say he wants to go home. Or he'll throw Son 2 down the lane and say "let's do it again!"

Happy, happy birthday, Son 1, with many smothering mommy and daddy hugs.

Flying Without a Net

Son 1 is going to be THREE YEARS OLD tomorrow. (I will save my sappy birthday post for the actual day.) I have been wondering, hoping, listening with utter envy to my other mom friends who have 2-year-olds who have been trained for months, and waiting for my son to "get it" and lose the diapers. Today may have been the turning point.

We left the house with UNDERWEAR on, not a diaper. (Okay, you know what I mean when I say "we," it's the "we" that means "he." You know...right? Okay, I just needed to clarify that.)

Yep, we actually got in the car, backed out of the driveway, and went places. Public places. Now, I have backup supplies my diaper bag has not seen since the newborn days: extra clothes, plastic bags, extra diapers in case I, uh, he needs to revert, and of course a fresh pair of underwear. None of these things were needed today! I must have driven the poor kid cah-razy with my "do you need to pee-pee" every 15 minutes. He actually did in the potty at our playgroup place and when we got home all was dry. Ahhhhh, what a victory for me, uh, him!!

I figure I will be cleaning up a few accidents along the way for sure. But I think we are one step closer to a one-kid-in-a-diaper family. Woo-hoo!!

UPDATE: Well, we didn't quite make it the whole day without a little accident. But Mommy has new strategies up her sleeve so not to worry!

Dead. Winter.

It is winter. I understand that. But puh-leeze, Lord, can you throw in an unseasonably warm day for me and the boys? We in the south are known for such anomolies and we appreciate them.

Until He says yes to my request, there's this to keep us going, 'cause even the beach in winter is still the beach.

Hope it's warm today wherever you readers are. But if it is I don't want to hear about it...

WFMW: Kleenex Trash

If you have little kids, you have little kids with colds. And if you have more than one with a cold, the Kleenex trash can get a little overwhelming, not mention all those trips to the kitchen trash can (which I have to get to by undoing the child-proof lock...a real pain when you have to do it 57 times a day).

My WFMW tip is to use the old Kleenex box for used Kleenexes. I keep it on the counter with the new Kleenexes, CLEARLY labeled "trash" on each side of the box. When the new box of Kleenexes gets used up, it becomes the trash box and the old trash gets thrown away.

For more great Works for Me tips, visit Shannon.

It's Almost Valentine's Day! The Two for Togetherness Meme.

(If you are unfamiliar with what "meme" means, check this out.)

2 things you compliment your husband on while in his presence.

His ability to get Son 1 to go to bed on a night when Son 1 forgets who is mother is.
His generosity.


2 compliments you make about your spouse to your friends.

The way he is so protective of me and the boys.
When, at our wedding, his best man told me "nobody doesn't like your husband..."


2 traits you married him/her for.

He was so fun on dates. And he still is!
The way he talks to people: sincerely and with passion.


2 days you cherished the most with your husband being together. (Skip the obvious--wedding/birth of kids--and come up with something else.)

Aruba. And Aruba. Oh, and Aruba.
San Diego when I was pregnant with Son 1. I think of that trip every day.


2 material things you could give your husband if you just inherited a fortune.

Tickets to all major sporting events. And a golf game on the day before. And a spa day for his wife during the major sporting events.

Running boards for his truck. (He's been asking for them for four years.)


2 things you would miss the most if she/he left for two weeks.

His smile. His arms around me. His arms around our boys. His arms changing diapers.


2 thoughts that crossed your mind when you first met/saw your spouse.

"Is he always this happy?"
"I can't believe how easy this is."


2 favorite dates

Dancing at my friends' weddings!
Kansas City Chiefs game; we were so cold but we had hot chocolate.


2 funny or odd things you love about your spouse.

I can only think of one but it's a good one: He makes concoctions out of leftovers in the fridge. Bless him, he will eat leftovers that are a week old. He'll mix them up in a pan, Chinese, Mexican, whatever's in there, and happily grab a spoon. I've told him, that's fine but you're not feeding it to our sons.


2 places you have lived with your spouse.

Upstairs and downstairs.


2 favorite vacations

Mentioned above, also Panama City Beach with my family before we were married. Atlantis, California, all so much fun.

How to Ruin a Stranger's Day

(I should just title each blog entry "Sorry for the delay in posting..." and go from there.)

Today is one of two days every week when I don't have an activity planned for me and the boys. I decided to take them to one of those big gyms where they have huge inflatable toys. My little guys are 3 (next week, can you believe!) and 17 months: perfect ages for this kind of thing. But really, with the cold snap that doesn't seem to be ending, anyplace indoors they can get up speed enough to run would suffice!

Anyway, so Son 1 has a cold, the coughing kind of cold. I guess his running and hard breathing were what prompted a coughing fit in the middle of the (carpeted) gym, a fit so violent that it caused him to throw up. Twice. Or three times. They kind of ran together.

The place was kind of crowded with benches lining the walls, and we were, uh, lucky enough to be near one where there were three or four other moms happily chirping away. So I'm trying my best to keep a grip on Son 2 before he runs out the door or to the water fountain while trying to clean up after Son 1 and comfort him at the same time and struggling to decide which of the three tasks is most important.

I managed to flag down a staff member who brought some towels and a trash can and offered to take care of Son 2 while I worked on Son 1, who was really okay and had stopped coughing and wasn't crying, but did utter "you hold me" no less than three times.

Now here's where my hackles raise: the three moms on the bench??? They watched this all take place and continued to chirp the whole time. Three feet away. Not one of them offered any assistance to me whatsoever. Nothing. NO THING. One of them was pregnant but hey I've been pregnant twice and I was still darned agile and could have scooped up a toddler, if needed. Maybe these women were practicing their multi-tasking skills by exchanging babysitters' names and recipes while thinking to themselves "wow, glad that's not my kid..." I don't know, but I have never sat by and watched a stranger in need without helping. And absolutely not when there are kids involved. I gathered our stuff and headed to the restroom to wash the boys' hands, thoroughly disappointed in the behavior of my colleagues and vowing I would never make any other mom feel like I felt at that moment.

I've let the incident go, to be sure, I mean what else is there to do? People don't always have the same take on things as I do, I guess.

But I'm just sayin', those moms better hope they don't meet me in a dark alley without my kids.

Merry Christmas and all that stuff

Do any of you regular bloggers find that when you haven't posted anything for a long time, you tend to not read others' blogs? It is blogger guilt. You feel bad for not posting so you don't want to read anyone else's because you feel guilty for not posting something eloquent and witty and thought-provoking like theirs.

Well let's just say I haven't read ANY blogs in about two weeks. It is sad.

I am busy with the holidays and once again I am vowing to not "let this happen again next year." You know, waiting till the last minute to bake, wrap, pack, lose 10 pounds (three out of four ain't bad!).

So anyway, to show for my grogginess I've got a lots of wrapped gifts and baked goodies to share with all our loved ones. My tree is decorated with exactly six, non-breakable, ornaments. (You think I'm a scrooge for making ours a lights-only tree? I thought so, too, until the little guy in the pic below toppled it over on himself.) I'm giddy with excitement to see the looks on the boys' faces during all our Christmas celebrations, and once again I'm celebrating our happy home and families at Christmas time. It really just doesn't get any better...

I see, said the blind man...

...and one wonders why my Christmas decorations haven't made it out of the box.

A list I hope you'll never need

A wife can learn a lot when her DH is suddenly awarded a six-night, seven-day trip to a hospital. (And NOT an all-expenses paid trip, I might add.) It was a little different than, say, when I went in to have my babies: we weren't prepared at home with the kids, DH wasn't prepared to be absent from work for that long, and the obvious difference is that it was a very tense situation, not a happy occasion. So I feel compelled to post a list of things I learned when DH recently went on his little trip, and I hope you will never need to remember them:

1. Before you leave for the hospital or as soon as you get there, get a pad of paper and a pen and keep them with you all the time. I didn't do this, and I had six pieces of information written on a ragged 3x3 Post-It. Phone numbers, medical terms, room numbers, etc. You'll get all of this spewed at you in rapid succession and you'll want to remember it.

2. Have someone bring you a sack full of snacks and bottled water to keep in the hospital room, for you and/or the patient. Hospital food gets old very quickly and you won't want to leave his bedside for food anyway. Someone did this for me without my asking and it came in so handy.

3. Grab your cell phone charger.

4. Back to the pad of paper: jot down questions for the docs as you think of them. They talk fast and they spend limited time in your room so you need to make the most of it. It's also good to record any medications they are administering so you can Google them later or ask someone else to. And Google-ing doctors' names is interesting, too.

5. The more machines and/or cords involved in the patient's stay, the more important it is to be there with him all the time. The nurses, as compassionate as they might seem, will not hang around to help the patient get situated after getting up to use the restroom or if he needs to turn over. It's especially hard for them to get comfortable if they've had blood drawn or needle pokes in both arms.

6. You need to make sure you are there when the doctors visit. DH will think he is lucid, but ask him to repeat something the doctor said and you could get a blank stare.

7. Ask questions. The medical staff seemed a little robotic at times with all their procedures and such and soon you will find yourself wondering, "just what was that blood-draw for..."

8. Listen to the people who tell you: "you need to worry about DH and not your kids..." If you know the homefront is covered, allow yourself to focus on being at the hospital. It is hard to do but people really do want to help so you have to let them. It's really the only choice.

9. Speaking of the homefront: ask the people there to keep a phone log of calls so you and the patient can look at it later. Again, this was done without my asking but I so appreciated it.

10. I was wishing for one of those mini voice recorders for remembering what floor of the parking garage I had left my car. There were a few trips winding up and down on foot with my keys trying to follow the sound of my "beeper."

11. Pray with your DH, not just for him.

That's about it. I have been working on this post for awhile and now I'm ready to move on to funner things (shut-up, sometimes non-words work).

Overheard

DH, after ten inches of snow fell on our city: "We need to go get Son One some galoshes..."

Son One: "...what's good-goshes??"

Snowcology

Apparently my DH uses a psychological technique on himself. See, he believes if he hopes for snow based on the TV weather forecasts, he will be sorely disappointed. This happens a lot where we are in our state, since we seem to be on the deciding line between getting snow and rain or ice.

So anyway, yesterday he nay-sayed and nay-sayed ad nauseum, and apparently this time it worked. He opened the front door this morning and his face just spread into a big grin when he saw this:














I think he needs to write a book now!