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.

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.

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.

Owner, Operator, Chief in Charge

Well, it seems as if I stalled so long in finding a job, that my husband created one for me. Isn't he sweet? Actually he is from time to time, but this is about me.

Long story short, there is a need for solar screens in Wichita Falls. There was only one dude in town who sold them, and now there's two. Him, and me (a dudette)

According to the newspaper, I am listed as the DBA of Texoma Sunscreens. You can read all about our business here: http://www.texomasunscreens.com/

Yea, I built that site by myself.



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! If you have a need for sunscreens, I'm your lady. I run a tight ship around here and make a great boss - just ask my husband and kids... if you can find them under the laundry, dishes, and cat hair.


OH - I also would like to announce my more exciting job. I have been selected to be the room mother for Cole's 1st grade class! It might sound so corny, but this thrills me to no end! I'M IN! The president of the PTA and the Volunteer Coordinator both have sons in Cole's class. I thought for sure they would grant the task for themselves, but no, I passed the criminal background check and have been awarded the duty. Now I'm having second thoughts that it might not be that great of a gig if they didn't want it. What did I get myself into?

I'm in charge of parties and the like... I think. I have a meeting on Monday night where I am to bring questions and ideas. I think I've got to go google that ____. The fun starts and ends with me kids! (Just kidding Ms Hitt!) Cole is excited. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a clue as to what that means (just like me), but I hope I don't let him down!

I wear my sunglasses at night

Because I'm a little neurotic, I was having yet another talk to the boys about their private parts. Who can touch them? Who can see them? Can you touch other peoples? What do you do if someone touches you? And about 1,000 other questions from the back of my crazy-lady file.

Brad's nodding along and it dons on me to ask the simplest of all the questions, "Brad, where are your private parts?"

He then tells me "Right here (pointing to his front), and right here (pointing to his behind), and my laser eyes right here (pointing to his eyes)"

Yes son, laser eyes.

INCREDIBLY gifted

Cole is playing soccer for the rec league here in Wichita Falls. We went to a practice or two and Cole was complaining how boring it was. He didn't want to go anymore. His Coach also coaches a 10 year group for his older son, and invited Cole to join them for practice. I sent a couple emails off to the Greater Wichita Falls Soccer Association President and Vice President. Here's how it all played out:




Mr. Whaley and Mr. Hood,

Hello! My name is Jennifer McDaniel and I have a son playing for GWFSA. We just moved to the area and I have a question about the rules and regulations of this league. It concerns "playing up" on an older team level and the issues surrounding it. My son is currently playing in his age bracket and we will continue to do so for the remainder of this season. I'm wondering what we need to do for him to move up for next spring? He already is developmentally ready. Do we need a coach recommendation or skills placement test?

Any and all helpful information would be appreciated! Thank you for your time,

Jennifer McDaniel
469=583-7837






Jennifer,

Playing up one year, age-wise, is typically an "event-free" process for you.

For the Spring season, you will need to register your son at the new player/transfer registration dates. They will be held around the last two Saturdays of January, at the GWFSA Main Building.

You will be able to request up to 3 possible teams for your son, but there will not be any team placement guarantees.

Any other questions, let us know.

Thanks,
Mark Hood






Thank you for the quick response. I do have a follow up question. How many years/levels can one move up? Is there only a one year move up allowance? I just want to make sure we have all the information needed before we make a decision for the spring registration. We are looking forward to a great season! Thanks again,

Jennifer McDaniel






Jennifer,

Unless a child is an incredibly gifted national-level player, one year up is plenty.

On the boys side especially, two physical years is a huge obstacle to overcome. From a safety/liability standpoint, we are pretty set against a two year jump.

Thanks,
Mark
Sent from my iPhone





Incredibly gifted national-level player! It does run in the blood!! I never even mentioned he was already practicing 3-4 years up! That's my boy.

Cole did get to scrimmage with the older kids. I was so nervous! They towered over my baby on the field. The only thing slowing Cole down was the dynamics in which they older kids understood the rules (like off sides) and positions better. Too big of a jump to play, but he did so well! I guess we'll see how this plays out next Spring!

I'm BACK!

It's been a big break in the blogging world for me, but I would like to think that I'm going to pick it right back up again. The boys are getting cuter, crazier, and funnier. If I don't start writing it down, I'll forget.... because I forgot everything important. It's a gift.

So we left Korea and lived with my parents for a month, bought a house, got Keith home, and then the unpacking began. Hands down, the most difficult move done to date. Moving is ranked pretty high up on the "stress list", but typically, the Air Force makes it easy if you use the services of moving companies. Not so much this time around. We had: a DITY move, a small shipment from Korea, a large shipment from Korea, and the largest shipment from storage in Idaho. It honestly was 4 moves in one.

Where did we get all this junk? Nothing was where I needed it, when I needed it, or even clean. In fact, I think I have 2 boxes hidden in the house still yet to unpack. Not all the pictures are hung, and I ran out of steam long long ago.

So, instead of finishing the job, I'll just sit and write. Cole started first grade at Fowler Elementary School. He got "THE" teacher to get, and I really like her. He's doing great. He is honestly the easiest child. He just does what's expected and usually without any problems. Cole picks things up quickly and easily, he makes friends and seems to enjoy life all the way around. He's a great big brother to Brad and sometimes he says he loves his mom. I think I'm going to keep him. He's the star player on The Green Dragons (if you ask me!), and expected to play up a year or two next season. More on that to follow!

Being the (non)expert parent I am, I might have struck a deal a little bigger than I wanted. I mean, I honestly didn't think we would get to this point. This is why I don't gamble. Ever. I hate to lose money, and then I just hate to lose. I told Cole that if he read a book a day till his birthday, I would buy him a dirt bike. I know. I've lost the last marble in my head. The dang kid is ruthless about reading. He's improved so much, but October is right around the corner and I don't see him "forgetting". Dang. How does he know about the adrenalin a little motorcycle can bring?? Well, let me introduce you to our new neighbors!

I call him "Fun Brian" and his wife Alyssa. They are great-great-great, and one of my favorite features about the new house. Brain is a fun guy. He's smart and funny, kind and generous. His charm sucks you in and the next thing you know your child is on his dirt bike. That's about how the story goes.

Speaking of charm, Brad.... oh my Brad. He is difficult, whiny, demanding, requires much work, love, and patience and I'm totally under his spell. He's so dang cute. Just when I think I couldn't love him more, he does something off the wall that wraps me tighter around that little finger. His future wife might not like me so much with all the conforming we do for him, but I can't help it. He's slowly adapting to a new town/life/routine. As expected. His dr. here wants him tested for all kinds of things, but I still don't think that will give us an instruction book to Brad. We're still waiting on all the referrals and still debating on carrying through with it. He does need to start speech. This only makes me sad when I think of not hearing "lauder, zee zee, or bisquito" He's started a pre-K program with a church and gymnastic classes. We're still testing the waters - I'm sure those will be posts all their own.

Well, it's the middle of the day and my husband just got home! I'm off to head to the store with him before I pick up the boys from school. Life in Wichita Falls is good. Very good.