Cole's Basket Game 4

We will be working on dribbling, but I think this is a great shot. It's not a clear video but did you see The Look? Ahhh... good day.

Dr. Fish

Life is pretty low key here in Korea. There's not as many rules and regulations about each and everything you come across. This is good when you're tired of waiting at a red light... just go if the path is clear. This is bad when you are eating at a restaurant and wonder about their health code standards. There isn't a PETA chapter considering they eat dogs (bad thing in my book), but good when it comes to Dr. Fish.

Have you heard of Dr. Fish? It's a large fish tank at spas where you can stick your feet into and the fish EAT the dead skin off of you. These little aquatic vertebrates will nibble at your body while taking away your corns and callouses. (every time I say callouses I want to finish with "bluestar ointment the one that's guaranteed, ask for it!" I watched way too much tv when I was younger.)

Walking the streets of downtown today we stopped into Escape Nail Salon for some Dr. Fish. I wanted to take my family here when they visit, so we went to check it out. You know it didn't take long for my children to have their hands in the tank allowing the fish to eat their fingers. Brad was a little more timid than Cole. Cole had his shoes off and in the water 30 seconds later, Brad was more of the watcher. The kid didn't even flinch. He just stuck his feet in and was laughing away. It took a while longer for me to join in the fun. I shouldn't say fun...

I almost couldn't stand it because it starts off as a tickle. Then it turns into an irritating pain. Do you know when your foot falls asleep and when it start waking up you have the pins and needles feeling? That's exactly what these fish felt like!!! You know when it tingles and you have to walk on it but don't want to walk... Dr. Fish!
It was different but really cool. Cole loved it, by the way, are those the cutest little man feet you've ever seen? Ignore the pasty white mama legs, they will be Thailand tan in 11 days. Cole said he wants to go back tomorrow. Finally - I have a legitimate reason to go to the spa everyday! Whatever you say baby!!

Madder Than Before

Madder? More mad? How about I'm just angrier than before I went in to talk to his teacher. So much so I'm considering pulling him out. I miss Mrs. Ray and Children's House. Erin, please tell her I think of her daily and wish I could have packed her in my suitcase. Wendy, picture Mrs. Owen for kindergarten. The Cole that ran out of the van and bounced into class is gone. She constantly would ask "he's ALWAYS in a good mood! Is he ever unhappy?" That is no longer the case and it's hard. I know if I'm hating it, poor Cole is even more miserable.

I don't want to talk about it yet. I'm going to reflect on what he said and chew on it over the 3 day weekend. I feel a migraine coming on. Poor Keith has no idea what he's coming home to. I even have a Pampered Chef party I was going to go to and now I just don't feel like it. Not even buying the trifle bowl will perk me up... and I really want that dang bowl. Isn't it a "need" vs a want?

I agree. I know it's been a lot about Cole lately. Brad is alive and doing well. Today he told me that he wanted to say the word stupid. I told him that others might use that word, but he may not. Choose another word. He stomped his foot down and declared "I'm growing up and not growing little." I guess that's his way of telling me he's not a baby anymore.

Oh - today was basketball practice and I sat with a lady who has twin 3 year old girls. They (the little girls) played with my hair and twisted my earrings so very delicately. She adjusted my necklace and just wanted to be girlie. I loved every second of it. It was As Good As It Gets.

Ahhh... and GRRRRRR

Yesterday I showered, fixed my hair, put on makeup, and wore dressy clothes for no reason. All of that effort was As Good As It Gets.

Today I had a busy day and ended it with CanCan practice. On the way home Matchbox 20 came on the AFN (the ONLY radio station we get in English). It's the Armed Forces Network. I don't mean to sound so mean, but the military DJ's are HORRIBLE. Really bad. Painful to listen to bad. Anyway... since the boys weren't in the car with me, I was able to turn it up really loud and sing with my Rob Thomas. I adore Matchbox 20. Ya, he's a little fruity in his beliefs, but man I dig their music. Tonight I drove home with just me and the AFN. It was a nice quiet part of the day and it was As Good As It Gets. AND I bought a new pair of shoes, pants, and a shirt today. They fit. AHHHHHH

(ps - our CanCan is AWESOME. My kicks are getting higher and higher each practice. I bet in 9 more days I'll be fully back to my 18 year old self... Did I mention that we do the dance 4 times and have 4 different endings. The ending of dance #3 is taking a shot from the bartender. Yea, I'll be feeling 18...errr 21 by the 4th dance)

Tomorrow I get to go talk to Dr. Stapleford again about his bathroom policy. Cole had another accident at school. This is the second one this year and the kid has been potty trained since he was 2 1/2. He raised his hand and was told to wait till after instructions were given. It couldn't wait. He had to change clothes and his friends were laughing at him when he came out of the restroom. MY new rule is that if he can't get the teacher's attention, then he should get up right then and there and go to the bathroom. There's a bathroom IN the classroom. The poor kid freaked out saying that he would get in so much trouble. I told Cole that mommy's rules OVERRULE whatever Dr. Stapleford says and if he gets in trouble to say "please call my mommy right now." Yep, I'm pulling that card. Mama Bear is chargin' into the classroom tomorrow with furry in her eyes. It will be As Good As It Gets.

Little Colby Lee

Most children start to lose their teeth around 5 or 6. Not my kids. They were late getting them and I'm sure they'll be late losing them. (however, I do wish that extra tooth in Brad's grin will fall out sooner rather than later. Just sayin. He's the ONLY kid I know that can pull it off with his cuteness though) I think I was 7 when a dentist yanked my first teeth that were NOT ready to come out.

I'm pretty sure the tooth fairy won't be visiting us for a long long time. I've convinced myself of this and went about my life. I'm not even sure the boys know that one day they will be parting ways with their baby teeth. Keith makes the occasional comments of "too much sugar will make your teeth fall out" "you can't have taffy because your teeth will fall out" Nine times out of ten he's talking to me, but I'm sure the kids hear it.

For some reason the other day Cole became insistent that I brush his teeth for him. He's been doing a great job on his own for a while now. I'm always in the bathroom with Cole while bushing Brad's teeth, but I monitor what he's doing and he's completely capable. So for him to freak out about me doing this struck me as odd.

It wasn't until we went and had lunch with him that I put two and two together. A little girl he sits across from has lost all 4 of her front teeth. Cole leaned over and said "see, all her teeth fell out of her head and that's why I want you to brush my teeth." Oh, sweet Colby Lee. Now I have to explain that it's natural while somehow backing up the sugar-story. I love the literal side of kids.

Fast Learner

Cole frightens me with his intelligence. At the tender age of 6 he's been able to read and understand his parents. He knows our buttons to push and he remembers things near and dear to our hearts. In the words of a great songwriter... you've got to have an Ace in the hole. This is the conversation we had the other night:

Keith: Cole, you know that green car Daddy's driving right now? That's gonna be all yours when you turn 16.

Cole: (pretty confident) No it's not

Keith: (equally confident said with a smirk) Ha, YES it is

Cole: No it's not. I want a Jeep.

Keith: Done.

The Differences

The other day we did a quick trip to get some groceries. The commissary here has little carts for kids to push around. They have cute little flags that say "customer in training". What a cute idea, but not for my boys. The first time we tried this it became bumper carts for everyone in the building. It was a mad dash hitting people and knocking items off the shelves. Yes, we were totally "that" family.

Cole and Brad ask every visit if they can get their own carts. Several factors go into play: (1) How busy is the store, it must be almost dead (2) how long I think we'll be there, the quicker the better. They tend to get unruly after about 4 minutes (3) Is there anyone I know in there - I don't want to further enhance their belief that I only have 5 % control of the boys at any given time. I like to give the appearance I do.

It just so happened that this particular day that the stars aligned and YES, it is ok for Cole and Brad to get a little cart and help mommy out. This turned into a learning experience for ME. (oh, and Keith was there to help which was another factor in the YES answer.)

We always start with fruit. Cole can eat himself some fruit. I wish I had a garden for that kid. I would save $ big bucks $ every month if we grew our own produce. He starts the cart-filling with his request for apples and bananas. Simultaneously Brad is across the other sections screaming loudly "We don't got no KIWI, Daddy". We around the lunch meat section where the boys start fit #1 for lunchables. Good Gravy, I hate me some lunchables. Their favorite is the little pizzas you make on a pita with nasty cold sauce and old pepperoni - then the cheese... because it doesn't melt it becomes confetti on the table, chair, and floor. What a bargain for 89 cents. I cave and they each get the small pizza pack.

Brad takes off and heads directly for the honey. I don't know why, but he thinks syrup is honey and he has a need for it all the time. I have to convince him that we have 2 jars of honey at home. He turns the corner to see the Cheese Nips display. His eyes turn big and he starts grabbing several boxes for his cart. As I'm taking those out, Cole is yelling for cashews. He is telling me his love of this nut although I don't ever recall him eating them before.

We round the corner to the baking aisle. Brad sees the marshmallows and Houston we have a problem. We have marshmallows, I'm not buying more. They see the jello and before I know it there's a 4 pack in each of their carts. At this point I let them have it. I've said no about 7 times in the past 2 minutes. Next aisle snacks. Cole picks up his cashews and Brad picks up fruit snacks, another box of Cheese Nips, peanut butter crackers, and frosted animal cookies. We head to the cereal... out of all the choices of sugary crap my sweet Cole desperately wants plain Cheerios. He even tells me it's only two and three nine dollars ($2.39). Brad picks frosted flakes only because Cookie Crunch is too high for him to reach.

This continues during my race to gather dinner ingredients. The differences between sweet tooth Brad and healthy Cole are obvious. I'm positive that it's because Cole never had any of that crap when he was a baby. Brad did because I wasn't as strict. Keith joked when they are teenagers this is what it will be like filling a cart each. I did not find it funny because I know it's more reality than a joke. We made it almost all the way through the store before the bumper cart crashing began... I say it was a successful trip!