You know, I've never seen the movie. I don't care to see the movie. I have no interest in anything Indiana Jones related. That makes it a top favorite in our house. I didn't watch Star Wars either, but think I did a pretty good job faking it last year. So, with love for my boys I'm throwing an Indiana Jones party.
Cole's request. If you're ever throwing a party, the first thing you do is google it. It's that simple. Because you know those who go WAY overboard and outdo everyone else are just as inclined to write whole articles about it.
So I read a few ideas for throwing an Indiana Jones party. I've narrowed down the list of games we could play and decided what was just too much time/money/effort/beyond the limits of sane.
We made invites by crumbling paper and soaking them in tea, baking them and burning the edges to look like a scroll. I've ordered a little swimming pool to do a treasure dig to find a clue. I'm making a beam for the kids to run across while being shot at by poisonous darts (q-tips through straws) for their next clue. I'm even tempted to make an obstacle course for clue three.
So the clues will lead them to their prize - an Indiana Jones activity book. Now, this is where I've decided I've gone a tad overboard. I want to make a paper mache rock to encase the book. The kids will have to tear into the rock to get their prize. Fun? Ah, it might be... if I can ever figure out how to get it in the dang rock! Attempt #1 failed. Back to the drawing boards.
ps. I've officially wrote an entire article about a birthday party. I'm joining the ranks!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Good Deed Day
Awhile back I had a "what if" discussion with Keith. I can't even remember how we got on the subject, but the jest of it was.... If you found a certain amount of money on the ground, where's the line between keeping it and turning it in?
Do you pick up a quarter? A dollar? Do you save a twenty? Anything over $50 do you call the cops? Where's your line?
Go figure, but Keith and I didn't see eye to eye. I thought anything over $20 you should turn in. Keith thinks that if it's unmarked with NO way of identifying it, finders keepers.
Today was a parenting test. Cole found $4 in the hallway at school. He told me he as he pulled it out of his backpack ready to buy something at the bookfair. I told him that someone lost that money. It could have been their lunch money, money they earned for a special book at the bookfair, or change their parents will be upset if they lost. We went to the office and turned it in. Here's where I'm wondering if it was the right thing to do..... The secretaries were so proud of him. They made a big deal of the good dead and said they will make a special announcement over the whole school tomorrow morning. He was so embarrassed!
I'll have to see how it goes tomorrow. I hope he understands what it means to do the right thing. And money is never ours till we've earned it. For a prize I bought him the dang $10 book he wanted at the Fair. Ugh... now I'm gonna have to read Bionicles. Why do they keep picking things that I have ZERO interest in?
Do you pick up a quarter? A dollar? Do you save a twenty? Anything over $50 do you call the cops? Where's your line?
Go figure, but Keith and I didn't see eye to eye. I thought anything over $20 you should turn in. Keith thinks that if it's unmarked with NO way of identifying it, finders keepers.
Today was a parenting test. Cole found $4 in the hallway at school. He told me he as he pulled it out of his backpack ready to buy something at the bookfair. I told him that someone lost that money. It could have been their lunch money, money they earned for a special book at the bookfair, or change their parents will be upset if they lost. We went to the office and turned it in. Here's where I'm wondering if it was the right thing to do..... The secretaries were so proud of him. They made a big deal of the good dead and said they will make a special announcement over the whole school tomorrow morning. He was so embarrassed!
I'll have to see how it goes tomorrow. I hope he understands what it means to do the right thing. And money is never ours till we've earned it. For a prize I bought him the dang $10 book he wanted at the Fair. Ugh... now I'm gonna have to read Bionicles. Why do they keep picking things that I have ZERO interest in?
Once a Tiatan, Always a Tiatan
I was a gymnast when I was a little girl. I made the team at Lewisville Gymnastics Center wearing my lucky number 12 (Cole's current soccer # - coincidence? I think not!)
We practiced everyday for hours. Then we had meets on Saturdays. I loved it. I quit after a couple of years. I couldn't get over my fear of doing backhand springs on the balance beam. I did them, then fell on my head, and decided, I didn't like to do them anymore.
Brad is taking gymnastics. It's just a little class to keep him active and feeling accomplished. I don't expect him to stay in it for life. Half the time he doesn't want to go anyway.
As I sit and watch Brad, the "team" practices all over the gym. I watch the coaches spot them, and I can instantly feel the hand on my lower back, the sense of them there for they gymnast even tough they weren't really needed. I watch these girls and see the equipment. I miss it all. But, I do have some realizations to discuss.
They wear leotards with these little hot pants over them. GENIUS. Why in the world did we have to wear "trunks" with them hanging all out anyway? AND we use to wear this stupid band over our tummies to remind us to "suck in" - not these girls. The elastic bands are gone, and nasty trunks are gone. Perfect!
I might as well be paying team prices. $50 a month for Brad to run around. Listen, when I was little we had a class with one teacher. Brad only has 4 little kids in his class, but there are 8 different classes going on at once. They have all these stations set up with 2 instructors a station. Then the kids rotate to the next event. It's mass chaos. I'm paying for all these high school kids to play with Brad on the equipment. What if I did have a child who's serious about this.... oh... that's right - PRIVATE LESSONS ($$$$$)
THEN, Cole wanted to have his birthday party there. I went to sign him up and they promptly asked me for $175! WHAT?! For an hour and 1/2 they wanted that much money. I think I'll pass. Please stay tuned for the deep end I dove off for the Indiana Jones Party!!
We practiced everyday for hours. Then we had meets on Saturdays. I loved it. I quit after a couple of years. I couldn't get over my fear of doing backhand springs on the balance beam. I did them, then fell on my head, and decided, I didn't like to do them anymore.
Brad is taking gymnastics. It's just a little class to keep him active and feeling accomplished. I don't expect him to stay in it for life. Half the time he doesn't want to go anyway.
As I sit and watch Brad, the "team" practices all over the gym. I watch the coaches spot them, and I can instantly feel the hand on my lower back, the sense of them there for they gymnast even tough they weren't really needed. I watch these girls and see the equipment. I miss it all. But, I do have some realizations to discuss.
They wear leotards with these little hot pants over them. GENIUS. Why in the world did we have to wear "trunks" with them hanging all out anyway? AND we use to wear this stupid band over our tummies to remind us to "suck in" - not these girls. The elastic bands are gone, and nasty trunks are gone. Perfect!
I might as well be paying team prices. $50 a month for Brad to run around. Listen, when I was little we had a class with one teacher. Brad only has 4 little kids in his class, but there are 8 different classes going on at once. They have all these stations set up with 2 instructors a station. Then the kids rotate to the next event. It's mass chaos. I'm paying for all these high school kids to play with Brad on the equipment. What if I did have a child who's serious about this.... oh... that's right - PRIVATE LESSONS ($$$$$)
THEN, Cole wanted to have his birthday party there. I went to sign him up and they promptly asked me for $175! WHAT?! For an hour and 1/2 they wanted that much money. I think I'll pass. Please stay tuned for the deep end I dove off for the Indiana Jones Party!!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Shot Through The Heart
I was tucking Brad into bed this evening. I watched him play with his hair while he yawned so sleepy. Then in his little Brad voice "mommy, I always forget what I want to tell you". I ask "what do you want to tell me?".
He replies "I forget, but I'll tell you in my dreams."
Melted. I couldn't love him more.
He replies "I forget, but I'll tell you in my dreams."
Melted. I couldn't love him more.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tagged
Erin. She's my friend from Idaho, and from North Carolina, but mostly Idaho. She kinda kept to herself while we were in North Carolina. Little did nosy neighbors down the street know she was suffering from morning sickness for half the time we lived there. I forgive her :-) She is super funny and quick witted. She's incredibly smart, kind, and a loving mother. I also am in envy of her ability to budget and price compare. I feel like corrupting her from time to time with Coach purses, frequent pedicures, and other totally necessary items! She tagged me with these questions. Since I have nothing better to talk about than the amount of urine to which flows in my house, I thought this is slightly better material.
Your 8 questions are:
1) What has been the most surprising aspect of motherhood in your experience? If you're not a mom, what is it like to go to the bathroom in privacy?
I am still in shock with the amount of ... you know... urine. I promise I'm done saying it for now. The dirty job detail is a lot to take in. Were you expecting a sweet and heartfelt answer? Not today.
2) How often do you shave your legs in the winter?
I use to say daily, but since daily showers aren't always in the schedule of events... I shave them every time I shower. I can't sleep with prickly leg hairs.
3) What's your favorite thing to do online? If shopping, what site?
I read many many blogs. One time I listed how many tv shows I watch. I think you would be FLOORED with how many sites I visit daily. Now that I'm back to the land of excess, shopping online has slowed down drastically. My favorite was Amazon. They shipped to APO's in RECORD time!! Loved that.
4) If you already possessed the necessary education and experience level, what would you choose for your dream job?
Oh... I always wanted to be a back up dancer. Seeing how I would have to travel quite often and be away from my family, I will go with my #2 answer of Labor and Delivery Nurse.
5) Share a "last-minute" dinner recipe. No pancake balls, please.
Spaghetti, or I make "Cole's favorite" It's turkey sausage links cut and pan fried in garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce. Then mix it with a box of shells and cheese. Sometimes I throw in 1/2 cup pureed cauliflower Sorry, it's not Derek friendly... it's probably not friendly at all for any of us. And yes, I had to take the bottle out of the fridge to spell Worcestershire.
6) Do you speed or drive the speed limit?
One time in my life I got two speeding tickets in one day. Another time I was clocked 26 miles OVER the speed limit. Now I only go as fast as the law will allow. That's the rule in Mike Victor. I haven't had a speeding ticket in 10 years, I think.
7) If you could live anywhere, where would you choose?
With my stinky, smelly boys. That's the only kind of attitude to have in the Air Force. To pretend to have a choice in the matter is like catching stars - never gonna happen.
8) What kind of new vacuum should I buy?
ohh... I want to corrupt you to the Dyson! However, I miss my Hoover Windtunnel most of all. In 3 years I'm on my second Dyson. It's a good vacuum, but there's still things I wish I could change about it. If you buy one, get it from Bed Bath & Beyond with a coupon. They have such a great return/exchange policy. It's the only way to go with them!
Your 8 questions are:
1) What has been the most surprising aspect of motherhood in your experience? If you're not a mom, what is it like to go to the bathroom in privacy?
I am still in shock with the amount of ... you know... urine. I promise I'm done saying it for now. The dirty job detail is a lot to take in. Were you expecting a sweet and heartfelt answer? Not today.
2) How often do you shave your legs in the winter?
I use to say daily, but since daily showers aren't always in the schedule of events... I shave them every time I shower. I can't sleep with prickly leg hairs.
3) What's your favorite thing to do online? If shopping, what site?
I read many many blogs. One time I listed how many tv shows I watch. I think you would be FLOORED with how many sites I visit daily. Now that I'm back to the land of excess, shopping online has slowed down drastically. My favorite was Amazon. They shipped to APO's in RECORD time!! Loved that.
4) If you already possessed the necessary education and experience level, what would you choose for your dream job?
Oh... I always wanted to be a back up dancer. Seeing how I would have to travel quite often and be away from my family, I will go with my #2 answer of Labor and Delivery Nurse.
5) Share a "last-minute" dinner recipe. No pancake balls, please.
Spaghetti, or I make "Cole's favorite" It's turkey sausage links cut and pan fried in garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce. Then mix it with a box of shells and cheese. Sometimes I throw in 1/2 cup pureed cauliflower Sorry, it's not Derek friendly... it's probably not friendly at all for any of us. And yes, I had to take the bottle out of the fridge to spell Worcestershire.
6) Do you speed or drive the speed limit?
One time in my life I got two speeding tickets in one day. Another time I was clocked 26 miles OVER the speed limit. Now I only go as fast as the law will allow. That's the rule in Mike Victor. I haven't had a speeding ticket in 10 years, I think.
7) If you could live anywhere, where would you choose?
With my stinky, smelly boys. That's the only kind of attitude to have in the Air Force. To pretend to have a choice in the matter is like catching stars - never gonna happen.
8) What kind of new vacuum should I buy?
ohh... I want to corrupt you to the Dyson! However, I miss my Hoover Windtunnel most of all. In 3 years I'm on my second Dyson. It's a good vacuum, but there's still things I wish I could change about it. If you buy one, get it from Bed Bath & Beyond with a coupon. They have such a great return/exchange policy. It's the only way to go with them!
Urination
This morning at 6am it dawned on me that 90% of what I "do" is clean up fecal matter. I've been a dog owner for 13 years and mother for almost 7. I'm slow to pick up on things.
Let's see...
Friday Brad needed help in the bathroom. I walked in and immediately wanted to run away. Far far away, Forrest. There was a turd on the floor. There was smeared poop on the lid. Brad was covered in smeared poop, and the toilet was FULL of toilet paper.
I've laid down the law - no more pull ups in this house. I refuse to buy them anymore. I've always hated them, nothing more than expensive diapers, but I thought they served a purpose. In turn to this brilliant plan, the boys pee the bed an average of 3 times a week - each.... that's lots of sheet cleaning.
Last night I changed the liter box. I scoop it daily, but I thought I should give it a good cleaning. As I went to pick up the box, it was "glued" to the floor. Yes, it was crystallized to the tile with cat urine she peed outside the box! Do you know how much elbow grease it takes to get the crystallized urine off the floor? I pray you never have to know.
Did I mention I live in a house with 3 boys? Have you had to clean the bathroom floors of boys? 'Nough said.
My dogs pee and poop in my floor an average of 3 times a week. This morning at 6:00am, Brad was crying because he stepped in dog pee. As I'm scrubbing it up, Cole wakes up because he's peed in the bed.
I promise my house is clean. Please come over to visit. Please tell me that one day I'll be done cleaning up the waste of others. I just talked myself OUT of nursing school. And possibly more children.
Let's see...
Friday Brad needed help in the bathroom. I walked in and immediately wanted to run away. Far far away, Forrest. There was a turd on the floor. There was smeared poop on the lid. Brad was covered in smeared poop, and the toilet was FULL of toilet paper.
I've laid down the law - no more pull ups in this house. I refuse to buy them anymore. I've always hated them, nothing more than expensive diapers, but I thought they served a purpose. In turn to this brilliant plan, the boys pee the bed an average of 3 times a week - each.... that's lots of sheet cleaning.
Last night I changed the liter box. I scoop it daily, but I thought I should give it a good cleaning. As I went to pick up the box, it was "glued" to the floor. Yes, it was crystallized to the tile with cat urine she peed outside the box! Do you know how much elbow grease it takes to get the crystallized urine off the floor? I pray you never have to know.
Did I mention I live in a house with 3 boys? Have you had to clean the bathroom floors of boys? 'Nough said.
My dogs pee and poop in my floor an average of 3 times a week. This morning at 6:00am, Brad was crying because he stepped in dog pee. As I'm scrubbing it up, Cole wakes up because he's peed in the bed.
I promise my house is clean. Please come over to visit. Please tell me that one day I'll be done cleaning up the waste of others. I just talked myself OUT of nursing school. And possibly more children.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Poor Me and my iPad
Keith bought me an ipad. Well, he kinda bought it for himself, but it's officially mine. I use it ALL.THE.TIME. I charge it next to the bed and sleep with it under my pillow. It goes to soccer practices so Brad can play games, dr appointments, all around the house, I use it in the kitchen as a recipe book, and we watch all kinds of netflicks shows on it. By the way, have you seen Shawn the Sheep? Adore!
However, I don't think I like it. I use to keep all my favorite blogs and sites bookmarked on my little netbook. I could check them with the greatest of ease. Now, I forget them. I think there's a way to bookmark, but it's beyond my computer knowledge.
AND when I go to leave a comment on, let's say, Erin's blog, I have to sign in twice. Problem since I don't like the keyboardish thing.
I can't bear to part with it, yet we don't always get along. If you ask my husband, that's a match made in Heaven.
However, I don't think I like it. I use to keep all my favorite blogs and sites bookmarked on my little netbook. I could check them with the greatest of ease. Now, I forget them. I think there's a way to bookmark, but it's beyond my computer knowledge.
AND when I go to leave a comment on, let's say, Erin's blog, I have to sign in twice. Problem since I don't like the keyboardish thing.
I can't bear to part with it, yet we don't always get along. If you ask my husband, that's a match made in Heaven.
Friday, October 1, 2010
We were going to the Mattresses
Once upon a time I thought it would be a good idea to get bunk beds for the boys. They were still sleeping together and I thought this would be a step in the right direction to slowly separate them. Cole is getting old enough for sleep-overs (GULP!) and Brad might not always be a welcome addition.
So, we owned
2 King sized beds
1 queen sized bed
1 full sized bed
Don't ask, they multiplied in the move. Here I go approaching Keith to purchase not one, but TWO more beds for our home. He searched on Craigslist and found a listing he couldn't pass up. This family was selling an entire room to include:
bunk bed system with desk
shelving system with plastic bins
large floor rug
decorative pillow
curtains
sheets
including two twin sized mattresses
It wasn't a bad deal and he went to check it out. The thought of used mattresses creeped me out a bit, but he said he looked them over and they "looked good" as they were only a year old. We arrange pick up and the first time I saw them I gagged a little in my mouth. I knew immediately they would not be entering my house, but how do I tell Keith in my sweet, sweet, loving, demeanor? I think my face might have said it all, because The Fight of 2010 started right then and there.
I don't think I ever remember seeing Keith as mad as he was (actually I do, but that includes a night at the Gigglin Grizzly in downtown Denver - another time) Furious, Angry, Steaming. Please keep in mind this was right after we moved in and money just flows out of our hands like water. It's a fact of life, moving is expensive. Nothing ever fits the same. Once you bring all your old junk in your new place, you must purchase MORE junk to arrange your old junk differently. Military peeps know what I'm talking bout'
I digress. He just PAID for the set to include the mattresses, and here I am telling him we're going to be buying two NEW mattresses. These things were disgusting. One of them was left in the seller's garage uncovered. It was brown and dusty. He tried to prove to me a little clean up was all it needed by steam cleaning it in my livingroom floor. I swear as I was telling him "no way" a SPIDER crawled out of it! I kid you not! This was the "cleaner" of the two. The second one had a HUGE yellow pee stain on it!
Now, there's lots of times I'm thankful for my father in law, but he earned high rankings when he arrived and helped me talk Keith into getting rid of them. Not only getting it out of my livingroom immediately, but throwing them in the truck and taking them out of town. He was superman that day and saved a family from breaking up... over mattresses.
We set their room up. I threw out the rug, sheets, pillow, and um... mattresses. We basically have the bunk beds. I painted a bookshelf and dresser to finish the room followed by new mattre$ses, new $heets, new mattre$s protectors, and new pillow$. We painted a mural and arranged the rooms. Then I decided we should switch the boys bedroom with the toyroom and we had to move it all over again.
Wow - recalling this story, I'm slightly amazed at Keith's patience with me!
The boys loved their room for about 2 months. Cole just told me he wants his own bedroom. Figures.
So, we owned
2 King sized beds
1 queen sized bed
1 full sized bed
Don't ask, they multiplied in the move. Here I go approaching Keith to purchase not one, but TWO more beds for our home. He searched on Craigslist and found a listing he couldn't pass up. This family was selling an entire room to include:
bunk bed system with desk
shelving system with plastic bins
large floor rug
decorative pillow
curtains
sheets
including two twin sized mattresses
It wasn't a bad deal and he went to check it out. The thought of used mattresses creeped me out a bit, but he said he looked them over and they "looked good" as they were only a year old. We arrange pick up and the first time I saw them I gagged a little in my mouth. I knew immediately they would not be entering my house, but how do I tell Keith in my sweet, sweet, loving, demeanor? I think my face might have said it all, because The Fight of 2010 started right then and there.
I don't think I ever remember seeing Keith as mad as he was (actually I do, but that includes a night at the Gigglin Grizzly in downtown Denver - another time) Furious, Angry, Steaming. Please keep in mind this was right after we moved in and money just flows out of our hands like water. It's a fact of life, moving is expensive. Nothing ever fits the same. Once you bring all your old junk in your new place, you must purchase MORE junk to arrange your old junk differently. Military peeps know what I'm talking bout'
I digress. He just PAID for the set to include the mattresses, and here I am telling him we're going to be buying two NEW mattresses. These things were disgusting. One of them was left in the seller's garage uncovered. It was brown and dusty. He tried to prove to me a little clean up was all it needed by steam cleaning it in my livingroom floor. I swear as I was telling him "no way" a SPIDER crawled out of it! I kid you not! This was the "cleaner" of the two. The second one had a HUGE yellow pee stain on it!
Now, there's lots of times I'm thankful for my father in law, but he earned high rankings when he arrived and helped me talk Keith into getting rid of them. Not only getting it out of my livingroom immediately, but throwing them in the truck and taking them out of town. He was superman that day and saved a family from breaking up... over mattresses.
We set their room up. I threw out the rug, sheets, pillow, and um... mattresses. We basically have the bunk beds. I painted a bookshelf and dresser to finish the room followed by new mattre$ses, new $heets, new mattre$s protectors, and new pillow$. We painted a mural and arranged the rooms. Then I decided we should switch the boys bedroom with the toyroom and we had to move it all over again.
Wow - recalling this story, I'm slightly amazed at Keith's patience with me!
The boys loved their room for about 2 months. Cole just told me he wants his own bedroom. Figures.
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