It takes a village

I was chatting with a dear friend of mine this morning on the way to work.  This friend is in a very similar "life place".  Married, multiple children around the same age as my "Things" are.  The discussion this morning was on child rearing.  More specifically, child rearing the oldest boy of the brood, and dealing with said child's attitude.  We both have the same hope...please let this be over before he is a teenager or one of us will not make it. 

In our conversation during, and texting after we have decided that it takes having good friends and lots of wine. The wine is for obvious reasons, the friends are to remind you that you are not the craptastic parent that you think you are. 

Not only does it take a village to raise the child, it takes a village to get the parents through raising a child.  I need my husband and of course our moms in the figuring this parenting thing out, but I really don't know that my kids could manage if I didn't have my little group of moms to talk to.  I think it important to have a certain dynamic to your group. 

 In your corner you need 1) the mom who has only kids of the opposite gender, this is to remind you that your gender children aren't nearly as confusing as you think they are. For me it is a mom of only girls, since the "Things" are obviously boys. 2) the mom who has older kids, they can give you an idea of what may possibly be ahead. 3) the mom who has kids the same age as yours, that way you will know your not alone and your kid really is normal. 4) the mom who has kids younger than you, so you can offer pearls of wisdom and scare the crap out of her with stories of what your kids have done. 5) the mom with more children than you, this is to remind you that in the us-vs-them battle it pays not to be out numbered.

You will find in the long run that while the parents make the child, the mom births the child, the village really does raise the child.  No matter if the village is all in the same town or if the village is several states away. 

Little glimpses of sweetness

I got to see the little glimpses of maybe we are doing this parenting thing right this weekend.  As we were making the drive up the mountain this weekend, the scene in my car was this...the back was loaded to the max with clothes, sleeping bags, and stuff in general.  The middle row was Hubs, Thing 1, and Thing 2.  The front, was me and granny (aka my mom).  We start out riding and its going well, we hit up a drive thru for supper and begin the 4 hour drive. 

A pretty good ways into the drive, I had Granny play DJ, and put some of her Cd's in that she brought.  She put in Chris Young's new CD, which has the sweetest song called "The Flashlight".  What makes this song so sweet is that it talks about a son spending time with his dad working on cars, and the learning about life.  The chorus simply says  "He'll never know how much he taught me out in that garage And I guess the stuff that stuck was more about life than fixin' cars 'Cause 'til this day I still can't make 'em run right But I sure did learn a lot just holdin' the flashlight".  Thing 1 says that "The Flashlight" is me and my Daddy, and "The Dashboard" is me and my brother.  Now a little background on "The Dashboard"  It is a song about two brothers, one of which is a Marine getting ready to be shipped out.  He hands his brother the keys to an old truck and tells him that the heart and soul of the truck is the dashboard, and then says the truck is his if the Marine doesn't come back.  Through out the song, it is reminding you that the soul of the truck is the dashboard.  The end of the song is the tear jerker for me EVERY TIME.  The Marine comes home and his brother hands him the keys, and says he fixed everything but the dashboard.  From the first time I heard this song, I tearfully said it reminded me of my boys.  The more I listen to it, the more it does. 

As you very well may imagine, I was a little teary when I looked in my rear view mirror and saw Thing 1 resting his head on a sleeping Thing 2 and is singing to him.  It was a very proud mama moment.

The next little glimpse came after 2 days of fussing, bossing, and general brotherly behavior.  We are heading down the mountain and Thing 2 asked to sing a song.  Of course we let him.  His song, was so sweet, it once again made me cry.  Yes I am a teary mom, I have boys, get used to it.  Thing 2 then starts to sing how he loves his family, and they love him and his family won't give him away.  That hits ya, really hard, right in the heart.  My kid knows I am never actually gonna follow through with the threat to stick a sign on his brother and him that says "FREE TO GOOD HOME".  That is security right there.

The other little glimpses happen more randomly, and aren't as tear jerking.  They maybe a little 5 year old walking up the stairs rubbing his eyes and before he even says good morning, he says, I get to ride a horse today.  It was also the same little boy laying on the floor rubbing the cat, not having a car in the world.  There was a glimpse when a scrawny little 7 year old and 8 year old tried to hoist a not so scrawny 5 year old up on hay bales just so they could jump back and forth.  This plan didn't work so well. 

My kids are often the source of busyness, chaos, and confusion.  I can however say without hesitation that the brief glimpses that they give me every now and then, make it totally worth it.  Gosh, I love those boys.

That's how we roll...

It once again that time of year when my family makes a trek up the mountain to celebrate Thanksgiving together.  This is a weekend full of time together, relaxing, and of course food... lots and lots of food. 

My particular family began the trek later yesterday evening.  This year it was my family of four and my mama all riding together.  This was a plus because she makes the drive up atleast once a month.  She had the pleasure of navigating.  My GPS enjoyed the break.  It took us right at 4 hours to get here.  Everyone was asleep when we arrived so my crowd settled in pretty much as soon as we got here.  However they were up ready and raring to go early this morning. 

The day has been filled with adventures into town, target shooting, playing on hay bales, eating, and hunting, and of course watching football.

It is just a good ole fashioned familg hanging out.   What a great way to spend the weekend.

Pneumonia

Let me just say to begin with, I am a true believer in the power of modern medicine.  The good Lord above gives doctors, nursers, and such the ability to learn the millions of things that can be used to treat an illness, or injury.  However, I am also a very independent head strong mom.  I blame this on my mother (so does my husband).  I try to handle stuff on my own first, then we will go from there.

It all started November 16...Thing 2's 5th birthday.  He was having a daddy day, and woke up with a cough.  It was just a typical dry hacky cough.  As the day progressed the cough got worse and was pretty consistent.  So I bought a vaporizer and some heavier duty cough medicine and tried to ride out the night.  The next day he was wheezy and out of breath, so we made a trip to the doctor.  The doctor was first saying bronchitis.  Then he ordered a chest x-ray.  Then he said yep it is pneumonia and ordered a breathing treatment.  Within minutes of the breathing treatment  he was doing better.  So we go home with an inhaler, cough medicine and an antibiotic, because he had a double ear infection to boot.

So we quarantined the little fella, which is harder than it sounds considering the kids share a room.  And it began.  Not only was Thing 2 stuck in his room, Thing 1 was locked out of his room.  I was basically the only one that went into the sick ward (what their room became known as) and when I did, or when Thing 2 came out, we wore a mask.  He did great with his medicine, except for the antibiotic, he said it tasted yucky.  So after the better part of Thursday, all day Friday, 90% of Saturday in his room, the child had had enough.  He came out of his room and said I'm busting out. 

He took a good long shower.  Let's face it when a little boy is excited about a bath, you know he is wanting out.  Thankfully it was a warmer fall day here, so windows were opened, Lysol was sprayed and he was sent outside.  The child was thrilled. 

Thankfully after all of the playing outside and good bath, he was perked up completely.  He is still a little hacky, and if he gets too busy he starts coughing, but the cough sounds loads better.  So far I think he is kicking pneumonia's tail. 

However I will be the first to admit, I don't want to go through that again...EVER!!!

How to break your mom's heart

1. Start out itty bitty...pretty safe bet tears will fall.
2. Roll Over, sit on your own, speak, grow teeth, walk
3. Begin to have your own ideas, opinions, ways of expressing your self
4. Start asking to go places on your own, spend the night somewhere else
5. Start school
6. Come home talking about all your friends
7. Come home talking about girls/boys...not just friends
8. Ask to borrow the car
9. Ask to borrow the car for a date
10. Aske to borrow the car for a date to the prom
11. Come home with college applications
12. Come home to a college acceptance letter/letters
13. Graduate from college
14. Find a good job
15. Find that certain someone
16. Make mom a grandmom

All that leads to one simple phrase....growing up. No mom wants to admit that their babies aren't babies anymore.  No matter how hard we try, we can't make the kids stay little forever, and for the most part mom's look forward to the kids getting older, but at the same time, when that last one hits that milestone of starting school, then there are no more babies.  It makes your heart ache to know that once upon a time this little itty bitty chubby cheeked little helpless person looked up at you with this endearing love and trust, and then one day they look down at their own children and experience the same feelings.  For now I will squeeze the boys extra tight tonight when they are tucked into bed and enjoy them being little.

It's coming...no matter how hard I try to stop it

We will be hitting a big milestone in my house this week.  My sweet little baby boy...

 will be turning 5.  Has turned into a not so little boy that can not only dress himself, but can now write his own name, and spell it out loud, knows all of his ABC's can count to 20 (with a little help) and knows all of his colors and shapes.  And let's not forget can name who knows how many dinos.  It is amazing.  His personality has emerged in the last few months, so much so that it is right comical.  He is caring, kind, hot tempered, stubborn, loving, generous (to most people, brothers are an exception) person.  I can't wait to see what he becomes when he gets older.  But for now I will enjoy the day to day things with him, and cherish the time that he is still small enough to curl up in my lap, and still want to snuggle up and read a book, or get out and pump gas in my car (of his own choosing and only at one particular gas station).

 





This mama

While pondering on things earlier today I realized I have let myself get lost in my family.  Who they are, and how they do has defined me for almost 8 years.  While I can almost say without hesitation that this won't change there are some things I am going to work on for me.

1.) Write a book.  I have actually started 3, and dang it I will finish at least one.
2.) Take a cake decorating class.  I figure, I love to bake, I will never well probably never own my own bakery, I might as well be able to decorate the cakes I make for those close to me look good.


These are the two main things that I want to do just for me.  Of course there is a laundry list of things I would love to do, that well let's face it, most likely will never happen.  But these two things, will happen somehow some way before I am to old to remember what I wanted to do and why.

A new outlook on life

I have often said that my life is far from perfect.  I am all too aware of it.  My house is never spotless, laundry always needs to be done, the kids fight...more often than I like.  My husband and I don't see eye to eye on everything.  It is far from fairy tale.  What it is not far from however is...normal. 

I, through all of my flaws; and there are many, do the very best I can to make sure that my family are taken care of.   Yes there are days that Thing 1 and Thing 2 leave home that socks don't match, or there are days breakfast is a pop tart eaten on the drive to school.  Do I worry that this is a sign of a mom who really needs to get it together.  Not so much.  Do I know it's the sign that I have 2 kids to get out of the door, dressed and ready to face the world and all its glory before 740 in the morning, while getting myself dressed and ready for work, and occasionally helping the husband get out the door.  You better believe it.

For all of the imperfection that is my life, there is a certain amount of grandness to it.  For all the chaos, and clutter there is contentment, and peace, and general gratefulness.

Working mom's guilt

One morning this week,  I left Thing 2 standing on the walk way at my mother in law's house crying.  He was upset because I was leaving him.  Ordinarily he pays no attention to me leaving.  This broke my heart.  Another evening this week, I was told by Thing 2, in a very teary eyed manner, that he doesn't want me to work, he wants me to stay home and take care of him everyday.  Needless to say I cried.

There are a lot of days that I have huge working mom's guilt.  I was explaining to my mom earlier that I see my kids roughly 3 hours a day.  The weekends are my time with them, and it is still divided by laundry, and other various chores.

What do you say to a kid who tells you he wants you home with him every day?  The common reply at my house is, someone has to work to buy groceries.  This time it was met with the response...I won't eat for a week.  The child has a plan.

The guilt comes in waves.  There are some days I thank the good Lord that my mother in law is the saint that she is and lets the little handful stay with her.  Then there are days, where even after 7 years of being a mom, I feel like I am letting someone else raise my kids. 

Does it ever get easier?  Does it just turn into working grandma guilt when that time comes?  How is it that, these two little fellas know how to break my heart faster than anyone on the planet, but can melt it, and enrage it faster to.

The joys of motherhood.

Proud to be Southern

Yesterday on my drive home, I saw something that warmed my heart and renewed my belief that there are good people left in the world. A gentleman had broken down in the middle turning lane.  Three random guys stopped to help him push his vehicle into a parking lot of a near by store.I also noticed that a lady in the lane that would have to be crossed had stopped, in order to hold up oncoming traffic. 

It was so nice to see someone helping out someone else, just simply because they needed it.  A lot of times we get so caught up in our own lives, and goings on that we forget to look around and see whats going on.  Growing up in the South, your raised to help your neighbor, just because he is your neighbor and it's the right thing to do.  You don't do it because you could possibly get something out of it or for recognition.  It is something you do just because it needs to be done.  Times have changed a lot since I was a kid, even though it hasn't been that long ago.  Helping others is not as common place as it once was, but boy was it nice to see.

So that is what tha feels like

We had a little moment of confusion Friday afternoon, and for what seemed like hours, but actually was maybe 15 minutes, I thought my child was missing.  Now let me explain that a little better,  Thing 1 was suppose to ride the bus the entire route, because his normal after school sitter, is the bus driver.  Well instead of going home with the driver, Granny was going to meet them at school at the end of the route, and take him to the "beauty shop".  I get a text message asking, I do have Thing 1 today right.  My reply was a simple sure do, why.  Well apparently this little fella managed to get on the bus without being seen.  This was a first.  So I call the school, and in the mean time find out he is where he is suppose to be.  I literally felt like I was going to be sick.

Minutes seemed like hours.  The relieve that I felt when I found out he was where he was suppose to be, was unlike anything else I had ever felt.  I could have cried.

But for that brief amount of time, I was afraid.  Now don't be mistaken, I have been scared before.  This was different.  This little snaggle toothed little boy had me feeling a kind of afraid I had never felt. It hit me just how much my little boys mean to me.  I have loved my children since the moment I knew they were coming.  I will do without to make sure they have.  I would give my life for them without thinking twice.  But the thought that one of them may not be where they were suppose to be and not having a clue where they were made me realize just how much of my life is impacted by them. 

I guess the statement is true, my life is not my own anymore.  My world really does revolve around these boys.  These two really do fill any holes I may have had in my heart.  I am so thankful that I was chosen to be their mom.  I think I am the lucky one as far as that goes.

Hello weekend

It has been a hectic week this week.  This strikes me as odd, because nothing was out of the ordinary.  We had no extra activities planned during the week, so other than a few trips to Wal-mart, we were home every night.

I think it is just simply because the hours of sunlight are shrinking.  I am not complaining, because that means daylight savings time is almost over.  I HATE daylight savings time.  I desperately need that extra hour of sleep.

The wild ones, better know as Thing 1 and Thing 2 are just that wild.  There are days I feel like I am living in my own episodes of Animal Atlas, between wild animal sounds, and just the general chaos associated with a 7 year old and 4 year old its basically a zoo.

It is fundraiser time at school again.  I don't really know how we are going to manage having two selling the exact same things at the exact same time.


Hubs has to work all weekend, so it will be just the boys and I.  Tomorrow will be filled with errands, groceries, and prep work for whatever I am fixing for a family reunion.

Hello glorious weekend.

Common courtesy isn't so common

Last night while doing my monthly shopping run, well the first part anyway, we are in Wal-mart, and as we are walking the aisles, I make my kids say excuse me, as do I, when we are passing people.  This gets a few, oh your fines, but it gets a few odd glances to.  While we were in the check out lane, Thing 1 and I are working on putting our stuff on the counter and I over hear the Cashier tell Thing 2, Well I am not really that old.  I am mortified.  I know what my child has just said.  He looks at her and says yes your old.  I of course swat his bottom, because he is being mean.  I apologize to the lady and tell her he has no censor button, and tell her the story of him calling my mother in law old.  Hopefully she wasn't offended after all he is only 4, and in his mind my 16 year old nephew is old.  

So we proceed to Subway to grab Hubs and I supper, of as the kids call it Subway Eat Fresh.  While standing in line ordering our food the man in front of me is paying for his supper, and drops money out of his pocket.  I see he has done so.  I pick it up and hand it to him and say Sir you dropped this.  It after all is what you are suppose to do.  Well it is in my world anyway.

The gentleman says several thank yous which I of course say your welcome to.  A couple of seconds later I hear the man say, let me get 3 cookies.  When asked what kind, he tells the cashier to let my kids pick them out.  I am a little stunned, and politely say, no thank you because of Thing 1's food allergy he can't have them.  He then offers to buy them chips, which I tell him we are actually headed to get them Happy Meals.  He then says he will put in a tip for me in the jar.  I say thank you, and finish paying and am headed out the door.  He then meets me in the parking lot and hands me business cards.  He is an electrician, and says if I ever need electrical work to call and he will cut me a good deal.  

I didn't think much about it last night, but did look at his cards this morning.  He lives right down the street from me.  I ride by his house one the way to school every morning.  

I was a little shocked at how he was amazed that I gave him his money.  I am not bragging by any means.  I would hope that anyone would act in the same way.  It simply is the right thing to do.

However after having a chat with Hubs last night, apparently common decency is not as common as it should be now.  I maybe naive, but I was raised that you do the right thing simply because it's the right thing to do.  It's not done because you may gain something from it, or get recognition, but just because.  I am a firm believer in the Golden Rule.  It is practiced at home, I am trying to instill it in my children.  We are not a do as I say not as I do family.  If I expect my children to behave a certain way, I have to first show them how to do it.  I am the mom it's my job.  
 I will admit it made me feel really good, especially after what can be defined simply as a day from Hades.   

Since when did sleeping in mean 645?

Apparently the ability to sleep in ended sometime around May 15, 2004.  Why exactly would I say that date?  Well, this was around the time that sleep became impossible in my pregnancy with Thing 1, and has yet to return.  While I will be the first one to tell you that I love my life, I do yurn for a Saturday morning when everyone in the house sleeps till at least 745.  I realize this is a long time away, as the boys are only 7 and 4. 

Hubs is working this weekend, day shift thankfully.  The weekends that he works days are very simple.  He is up between 430 and 515 for his shift to start at 530.  I may or may not get up when he does.  This is all determined by him needing to find either socks, underwear, or he needs a new uniform put together.  However if I do, then once he leaves, I will turn on The Country Network, which plays country music videos obviously, and snuggle back in my comfy bed and drift off to dream.  For all of an hour if I am lucky. 

Then my little alarm clock goes off.  Well it's not really little.  It's a roughly 4 feet tall, 60 pound, blond haired blue eyed boy that calls me mom.  Yes that is correct, Thing 2 arises shortly after the sun.  All to ask one simple question...Will you fix me some breakfast?  Now we go back and forth on this for a bit, me trying to get him to snuggle in with me, him trying to get me out of bed. 

I finally get up, and go through my little routine, and manage to feed the starving child all fairly quickly. 

Thankfully the weekends that Hubs works are normally early bedtime nights, for him and us.  We were all tucked in and half of the house was asleep well before 930 last night.  The other half of the house...Thing 2 and yours truly...had a nice little round of jump the bed.  He was up till almost midnight.  Finally I had to tell him, I am going to sleep, which means you need to also.  So not only is the child an early bird, he is a night owl.

So for now I will continue to be tired, as it is a chosen condition, ya know since I wanted kids and all.  At least I have most of the day to be productive.

Time Goes By

I have often said the older I get the faster time goes.  It seems like not that long ago I was graduating high school figuring out what I wanted to be when I grew up.  That was 12 years ago.  It also seems like I was just meeting the man I would eventually marry and make a family with.  That was 10 and a half years ago.  What's even harder to believe, is that it seems like yesterday I was sitting on my parents bed with my mama, at 3 in the morning,  watching Madea movies and all the Golden Girls episodes she had DVR'd while sitting beside my Dad waiting for him to take his last breath.  That was two years ago today.

Ironically I was doing the same thing at 7:55 this morning as I was that morning.  I had to leave their house just long enough to take Thing 1 to school. He was in kindergarten then.  I walked in with him that morning to tell the teacher that in the next few days he would be missing school because my Dad wouldn't be with us much longer. I came back out to my vehicle, to see a missed call from my mom telling me he was gone.  I walked in with him this morning just to see how he was doing in school so far.  Now he is in second grade. 

While it seems like those 2 years have flew by, it still seems like just yesterday.  Time doesn't heal all wounds, it heals some, and makes the rest a little easier to deal with.   It does however march on no matter what we do to try and stop it. 

Even though it has been 2 years since we lost my Daddy, he lives on in memories, and thoughts, and even in actions.  The grand kids show a lot of his characteristics.  We will continue to miss Daddy, and think about him everyday; but we will be able to deal with it a little easier. So for now I will squeeze my kids a little tighter tonight because time goes by and I won't have babies much longer.

Count your blessings

I am not sure if it is because I am getting older, or just life experience, but I am a lot more thankful for what I have.  I will be the first person to admit, I do not lead a glamorous life.  I life simply, and as peacefully as you can with small kids.  I don't have a new fancy house, or drive brand new cars.  That is perfectly fine with me.  What I do have more than makes up for that.  What I have is 1) a home that is more than a house.  It is paid for, so I don't have to worry about losing it if heaven forbid my husband or I lose a job. 2) reliable transportation.  All of our vehicles are paid for, and are in good running order.  I may not have the most fuel efficient mode of transportation but it is ours, and it serves it's purpose well. 3) I have food in the cabinets, and thankfully food in a freezer. 4) I have a job...that I enjoy.  Those two things now a days are rare.  5) My family has clothes on their back.

These are the little things I am thankful for.  Now for the really big stuff.

1) I have a husband that I is there for me and for our children.  While there are times he gets on my nervous, and does things I don't exactly like;  I love him just as he is.  We have been together through so many things in the 10 years we have been together.  Some amazing, and wonderful while other things have been times that have tested us as a couple but we have survived together.  We have been through the death of parents far earlier than we would have ever dreamed.   But all of these things have made our marriage stronger.

2) Thing 1 and Thing 2.  I have heard it before and believe it to be true...I honestly don't remember life before kids.  What did I do with my time?  These two little boys make me happy, proud, sad, mad, and every emotion between.  I am truly blessed to have been picked to be their mom and can not wait to see the men they will become.  Well I can wait, they are growing fast enough as is.

3) My family.  This is a group of people that are so diverse but at the same time have a bond that no matter what can't be broken.  We may not always like each other but no matter what, we love each other and that is all that matters. My family has been referred to as the "Cavalry".  Any one of them is just a phone call away, and they will ride in and help with whatever is needed.

4) My in laws.  When my husband and I married, I gained a wonderful new family.  Not everyone is that lucky.

5) My friends.  While this group is a lot smaller than most, it is the core group of people I need in my life.  These people are the ones that no matter what will stand by me and my family and support us.  These are also the ones that I know are there for me and my family anytime day or night, and they know the same goes for them.  The number of true friends I have is not large by any means but they more than fill the role of a friend.

6) My health.  I maybe a little to short for my height, but myself and my family are all healthy.

7) My childhood.  I grew up in a home that I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt I was loved.  I still know that at 30 years old.  I had a mom and dad that were there for me no matter what.  They made sure I had everything I needed and even some stuff I wanted.  I never had to go without food or clothes or a home.

I am a lucky girl.  I am a happy girl.   No my life isn't perfect, it never has been, and never will be.  I am however, grateful for what I have.

Another sign that I might be getting older

With Labor Day weekend comes last minute end of summer trips.  We made a weekend trip to the beach.  It has been great.  A day of surf, sand, and sun.  The best part...not getting sun burnt.  It helps that we are still tanned from a week at the beach less than a month ago.

However with being on a mini vacation comes sleeping away from home.  I have never been one to notice the difference in sleeping in my bed, and in a different bed.  Until I hit 30.  Now, if I am sleeping away from home, I can feel it.  Almost the minute I lay down.  Hubs and I both prefer an ice cold room.  What's the point in having nice thick bed covers if it is too hot to use them?  Also our mattress is, well molded to us I suppose.  It is firm without being hard, but still somewhat soft without being lumpy.  Overall it is just a comfy place to snuggle into and relax.  I don't usually wake up stiff and sore from it. 

I remember when I was a kid my parents had a bed in the spare bedroom, this particular bed is still talked about even though Mom doesn't have it anymore.  This really and truly was the best sleeping bed in the world.    Whenever my siblings would come to visit after growing up and moving away from home, they would try to be the first ones there to claim this bed.  While this bed was nothing special it just slept great.  I found myself sleeping in there a lot once I got older.  There are times even now, after being in my own home for almost 9 years, I still long for a nap in that bed.

However vacation season is ending this weekend, this weekend.  And we are going home today, so I can enjoy my day off tomorrow at home, doing wifely/momish things, such as laundry and cleaning.  I am looking forward to it.  Mostly I am looking forward to snuggling into my nice comfy bed, in my nice cold room, and sleeping in as late as I can, which translates into about 730...if I am lucky.

The stuffies

It is that time of year again. Fall is slowly making it's way to my house.  THANK THE GOOD LORD!!  While being Southern by birth, I am accustom to certain things.  We have the most beautiful flowers growing  in the spring, and everything is a bright green and yellow.  The yellow is the pollen.  Summers are easy to forecast...Hot, Hazy, and Humid, with a chance of afternoon or evening thundershowers, some possibly sever (I may have said that before).  Fall is a little different.  Of course you have the leaves changing colors, but that really doesn't start for about another month.  The first sign of Fall is the cooler nights.   Most of the summer we were happy to have nights in the 70's.  Well now we are having nights in the 60's.  Oh the happiness this gives me.  The days are a little cooler to.  While this overjoys me, it does sadden me just a touch.  Simply because, beach and flip flop weather is almost over. 


However for a brief time, it will be shorts and long sleeve t-shirts, and of course flip flops.  This helps heal the heart a bit. 

I must admit to praying for snow again this winter.  It was really nice playing in the snow with the family, then enjoying big bowls of snow cream.  And of course homemade soup and chilli.  NOM NOM NOM.

While I hate to see summer ending, I do look forward to all the fun and festivities and oh yeah food that come with cooler weather.  Now to get rid of these blasted sniffles that have hit my nose, and well all of the boys in my house to.  Oh well, this to shall pass.

Maybe I am figuring this parenting stuff out.

As you are well aware school has started back.  I am looking forward to a fantastic year, especially after Friday.  I pick up Thing 1 from the dear friend that takes care of him after school the days that hubs works, and she tells me she was told to give me a message.  This of course makes me nervous.  She then informs me that the teacher said to let me know that a little boy got upset in class and Thing 1 comforted him.  This of course made me proud as punch.  I then ask him what happened.  He tells me that a little boy spilled his drink today in class and most of the kids laughed at the poor fella.  Thing 1 then says that he got the little boy napkins to wipe it up, and he didn't laugh at him. 

I really think I could have cried.  As i matter of fact I think I did just a smidge.  I explained to Thing 1 that this is how I expected him to treat his classmates and that I was over the moon proud of him.  All I got was a thank you.  He is a child of few words apparently.

It made me feel rather proud to know that maybe JUST MAYBE he actually pays attention to the things I tell him.  As a mom I stress over pretty much anything kid related.  One of my biggest social fears for them (yes my fears are broken down categorically) is that one of my kids will be "the bully".  Thankfully it seems that one of the boys is on the track not to be that way.  Thank goodness.


Maybe after 7 years I am starting to figure this being a mama stuff out.  7 Down umpteen more to go. 

First day of school

The day has finally arrived.  The day parents dream about, and children dread.  It is the first day of the new school year.  After a short lived summer spending every waking moment together, my boys finally get to spend their days apart. 

This is a bittersweet day for most of us moms.  I am sure some dads to but especially moms, ya know with carrying them for 9 glorious months and all.

This morning Thing 1 and I were the only ones that had to leave the house.  Thing 2 is having a daddy day.  So I wake up at 4:30-seriously, 4:30.  This is simply because I got the grand idea to let Thing 2 sleep in my bed last night.  So I was woken up at 4:30 to the sound of "STOP IT BUBBA".  Apparently Justin was dreaming, maybe now people will believe when I say they fight in their sleep.  So I drift back to sleep and arise at 615.  This is before the alarm went off, go me.  I get ready, and while this is taking place Thing 2 decided he needed to eat, so he stumbles into the kitchen, and greets me with "Mama I need food".  I reply, "Good morning sunshine".  He then wakes up his brother.  Tristan springs out of bed, then jumps in the shower just to wake up a bit.  He then sits down to eat his requested breakfast, a soy butter and honey sandwich on toast.  He eats maybe half of it.  The kid is not a breakfast eater.  So he proceeds to finish getting ready, while complaining about his neck.  Bless his heart, he slept wrong the night before last and has a bit of a crick in his neck.  Nothing time won't heal. 

So we are ready to walk out the door.  The required first day of school pictures were taken, and kisses were given to hubs and Thing 2.  As we are walking out the front door he stops, looks at me and says, Mama, you are going to walk in with me aren't you.  Without skipping a beat, I said you bet your buns I am.  And we were on our merry little way. 

Upon arriving at the school, ya know the whole 2 mile drive, we walk into total chaos.  Finally we manage to make it to his room, and he puts his stuff down, and gets right to work.  It's hard to believe my little bitty baby boy, is now a little bitty second grader.  Ya know he is a little bit of a runt, compared to some of the others.

He will continue to grow and grow and learn more as the year goes on.  I will continue to be amazed at how much he has changed in the last 7 years.  Thus is life I suppose.

Thing 1

We had open house last night at Thing 1's school.  I have been very nervous about this year, not sure why but I have been.  Last year was a wonderful year and I don't think things could have gone any better.  We get to the school and we see one of his friend's mom who is a teacher at the school, first thing, and she walks with us to the Yellow hall.  The school color codes their halls, Second grade is Yellow.  I think she and I both had the same thought, please let Tristan and Sarah be in the same class; well they aren't.  However he does have a super nice teacher this year that is very excited to have him as a student.  There are several of his little friends in the class with him.  After we left I felt a lot better about the school year.

We arrive home and I had already made the executive decision that I was not cooking supper last night.  So we load up in the jeep for a trip to a local pizza place.  On the way both boys are asking to stop back by Granny's house on the way home.  I inform them that Granny is not at home tonight.  Well of course that leads to, Where is she?  This is asked by both kids and the hubs.  I then explain that she had gone to South Carolina.  This results in a Why from the peanut gallery.  So I explain that a friend lost his brother in a 4 wheeler accident, and she had gone to the funeral home.  Nothing else was said.  I look in the back seat to see what the boys were doing and I notice Thing 1 is sitting with his hands folded, eyes closed and his mouth is moving.  Thing 2 was trying to copy him.  I watched for just a minute then I asked him what he was doing.  He opens his eyes and looks at me and says, I was praying Mama, praying that the boy that died has a good life with Jesus, and praying that his family will be ok without him.  Let's not forget that the kid is 7.  I am a firm believer in prayer, I also believe that the prayers of kids are sometimes heard a little more clearly because they are often the most sincere.  I text Granny and let her know what he had done.  Of course that kind of text warrants a phone call.  Mostly to which I say, I guess he does pay attention in church more than I realized.

I realized last night that this little person, who loves to fight with his brother, not eat his veggies, and definitely not clean his room has become such an amazingly kind hearted person, who really does care about others.  It is amazing to see the transformation in him as he goes from little baby, to wide open toddler, to this little man.  I am very lucky to be his mom and am so thankful that the good Lord trusted me with him.

I am "THAT MOM"

After a few chats with various other moms, and my own mom I have settled into the fact that I am "that mom".  This is not a bad thing, I don't think.  As Thing 1 and I were buying school supplies I bought extra, like enough extra for about 3-5 other kids.  Kleenex were on the list, we simply could have gotten the 1 box and been done of it, but noooooooo we buy the 6 pack. All of the extra supplies and abundance of tissues are packed into a bag to take to open house tonight.  Thing 1's stash is sitting on my bed at home.

I have never been a person to do things to excess until my kid started school.  Now it's extra school supplies, extra stuff for parties, making sure someone is always on a field trip (the saint that does this is usually Granny, or as she is known at school Tristan's Grandma), paying ahead for school lunches in the cafeteria (at one point the child had a $50 credit in pre-k) I buy Valentine's cards in December, each teacher gets a gift at Christmas and at the end of the year, along with a thank you note.  Need I continue?

We are off to open house tonight for Thing 1 to find out who his teacher is, and see who all is in his class.  It's also my time to scare the mess out of his teacher with the whole peanut allergy talk.  Let's cross our fingers for another good year.

Ahhhh

Well it's finally the weekend.  It has been a long week.  I suppose this is simply because it's the last full week of summer vacation. (Insert Hallelujah Chorus here).

My husband made the comment last night that the boys have been fighting a lot more here lately.  My response (well the one out loud anyway) was simply that they need a break from each other.  In my head however it was snarkishly where have you been the last 3 years.  These two have been together basically nonstop since June 11.  There is only so much brotherly love to go around.  I figure once school gets started back, I will have about a week of semi serenity.  The boys may actually miss each other a little bit, maybe just a smidge if I am lucky.  Then normalcy returns and I am once again a referee.

My boys share a bed room.  There is no neutral territory in my house for them.  I am however taking it upon myself to fix this.  These two have way too much stuff to contain in one room.  Thing 2 fusses because Thing 1 messes the room up after Thing 2 cleaned it...which is really just something else to fuss about.  So I will once cooler weather arrives, begin cleaning out the spare bedroom and moving Thing 2 in it.  Thing 1 can stay where he is currently, he likes the bunk beds, Thing 2 wants his race car bed back.  So I have found myself a project.  Let's see how long it takes to finish this one.

Status on Facebook

There is a status currently going around Facebook speaking about Law Enforcement officers, it says

Somewhere a cop is being yelled at for taking too long to get there; trying to save the life of a total stranger; holding their bladder because his Radio just went off; starving because they missed a meal; having to keep a stone face at an accident scene where there's 2 dead kids; and now its 4 am, and they're missing THEIR family while taking care of YOURS. Re-post if you are a cop, love a cop, or appreciate a cop. You all know who you are.... ~Godspeed~

I have re posted this comment one time before, or something very similar so I won't again, but decided to give my little take on it.

I have been a part of this life style for the last 8 years.  That's right I said life style.  Where as my job is generally, with a few exceptions, left at work at the end of the day; law enforcement is a way of life.  It is literally a 24 hour a day 7 day a week, 365 days of the year job.  Now my husband does not eat, sleep, and breath his badge...THANK GOODNESS.  There are times however, he will have to go back to work, or we will be out somewhere and he will see something and he has to act on it.  That is part of the oath, to protect and serve, even when you aren't technically on duty.

It is a highly over worked, under paid and extremely under appreciated life.  Many people don't realize while he is out protecting his town he is missing out on many things.  Thankfully he works for a small town, and crime is not as bad as it is in larger cities. 

When he looked into going to rookie school we were dating.  We sat and had a long heart to heart discussion about what this would mean to us, and to future children.  He reminded me that he would miss out on tons of things because of a work schedule.  My reply, the kids won't know any different, and I will adapt.  Many moms do it, so I can to.  We will learn it is more about quality time, not quantity.

So over the last 7 years (since Thing 1 got here) I have been the equivalent of a married single parent.  Now I am by no means complaining.  It is the life I willingly entered into.  Part of our lifestyle includes...nights of it just being me and the kids.  Weekends, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries all spent without my husband.  That is the life I chose.  We manage to adjust ourselves around the schedule fairly well.  If there is something going on, the kids and I go.  If it is a birthday we celebrate either before or after, depending on the schedule.  Holidays, well that is where it is just cut and dry.  If Hubs has to work, the kids and I go to family functions without him.  If it is Thanksgiving, I bring him food, if it's Christmas I bring his stuff home. 

It is what it is.  It is our life.  It is not for everyone by any means.  Just like being married to a solider is not for everyone, or a fireman, paramedic, truck driver, doctor, or nurse.  Not that any of these professions are equal to each other, they are all completely different, with the exception of family sacrifice.

If you happen to see an officer, or fireman, or paramedic, or a soldier, or well any of the others, thank them for the things they give up.  It really means a lot to them.

Errands in the rain

Thing 1, Thing 2 and I were flying solo most of the weekend.  Hubs had to work day shift.  I usually try to take advantage of these weekends and get my errands taken care of.  Ya know the stuff that has to be done, but the husband doesn't want to go along with.  This weekend's plans were, breakfast out, then walmart, the local wireless store, the post office, the dollar store, and then finally the grocery store. 

I had fully prepared myself for the events of the day, the night before.  Simply because we were in the midst of a mini monsoon, a welcomed sight might I add.  I had everyone tucked in bed and asleep before 930 Friday night.  Yes 930 on a Friday night, no I am not a 95 year old grandma, I am a tired working mom.  So I wake up at around 530 when I hear my husband's voice on the phone with someone.  I realize he is chatting with the person that worked night shift, finding out about the night's happenings.  So, hubs is handling that, I in the mean time become wide awake.  Did I mention it is 530 in the morning, the flippin sun isn't even up yet.  As to not waste production time, I get out of bed, and begin washing a load of clothes.  Then realizing that the sun is still not up, and literally neither are my chickens (the rooster has not crowed at this point), the bright idea hits me, to crawl back into bed and READ!!!  I had started Rereading a book while on vacation and wanted to finish it.  So I lay in bed reading and sniffling, and reading and sniffling.  I think I left out the part where the book is a tear jerker. 

I manage to finish my book, feeling accomplished because it is now day light.  The wild ones finally begin stirring.  I can't wait any longer, I am hungry.  I awake the sleeping dragons, get them ready and we head out.  It is now 730 in the morning.  We head out to meet hubs for breakfast at a local diner.  It was a nice family time. 

Then it was off to run, run run.  I think I may have also left out the part that it had rained about 2 inches overnight, and was still drizzling at this point.  We make the first stop at walmart.  I have my plans mapped out for the day, as to be more eco friendly because I drive a gas hog.  Some groceries were bought, ya know the canned stuff, cause lets face it some of the stuff is cheaper there.  The things and I manage to make it out of there, with neither of them getting their tails tore up (big accomplishment let me tell ya) and with out me feeling like I needed a nerve pill.

After a quick stop at the post office, which for some reason had my kids in awe, to the point that Thing 2 asked if he could stay.  We literally were there less than 5 minutes, nothing interesting happened to provoke his interest.

Next stop, the local Dollar General.  This was a fairly quick trip, for the stuff that is cheaper there than Walmart, and it shares the parking lot with the grocery store.  We breeze through this stop, after the boys have to make their bathroom inspection of course. I was pleased I made it to stop 3 before that happened.

Then comes the grocery store.  I only needed meats by this point.  Everything else was handled already.  The kids and I are scouring the meat section, then the dairy section, and we are done.  I managed to make it less than a 30 minute stop.  I think I set a record for myself.  I also managed to save a little over $50 in the process. So we head home.  The bottom falls out about 5 minutes after I get everything in the house.  Talk about timing.

I realize once everything is up that I forgot produce.  Can't make the kids eat them if I don't have them.  So after waiting out the mini monsoon, we venture back out to the produce stand, and finally out to lunch.  Just the 3 of us.  This is a rarity.  Generally if I have both of them I will not attempt to sit down and enjoy a meal. I will be honest, there is no enjoying to it.

After all was said and done, we made it back home, the boys asked if  they were done riding.  They were happy to pile up and rest while I piddled around the house.  We managed after the events of the day to be in bed by 9 that night.  Maybe I am turning into a 90 year old grandma.

Home Sweet Home

The family made it back from vacation.  If I didn't believe it before I do now.  Life is not about the desitination it is about the journey.  What may have sparked this sudden belief, you may be curious to know.  Well, let's just say that we, as in the caravan I was traveling with, turned a 6 hour drive home into a 16 hour tour of the North Carolina coastline, and several counties that I honestly had never heard of.  We had a good trip, made some memories, had some laughs, a little wine, and a lot of sun.

One of the things about our vacations that have become a very popular tradition is our annual oysterfest.  We bring back tons of fresh seafood from the beach.  Sunday ater we get back on Saturday, we have a group of friends over to the house, and we steam oysters, boil shrimp and pan sear scallops.  We also either have chicken nuggets or hot dogs for the kids.  I think I may have the only kid that actually eats oysters.  Well, Thing 2 will eat one, and then he is happy.

This tradition continued Sunday night.   I filled up the swimming pool, and the 6 little boys running around laughing, splashing, and screaming.  The adults were all gathered around, broken off into little groups, talking, and laughing.  A good time was had by all.  By and large we had everything washed up when we got home, thanks to the house having a washer and dryer.  So all the settleing left to do is finish washing up sheets and such.

I do believe that we have started a family tradition, we have already started planning next year's trip.  My mother in law said yesterday maybe one year, Maw and Granny both can go with us.  Thing 2 informed her she would have to drive her car, cause ours is full.  Gotta love that silly little boy.

Chunky little legs and sand do not mix

While we are on one of our many memory making adventures, I have discovered that little boys with chunky legs ( that would be Thing 2) and sand do not mix.  He is having a serious battle with sand rash.  This particular battle required a trip to a surf shop and make a purchase of rash guards.  The poor kid had to walk up the beach in nothing but a towel, and water shoes and nothing even close to a smile. 

The kiddos spent the day sunnin it up on the beach, boogie boarding, floating in the rafts that the older boys bought.  This mama actually got to sit on the beach and soak up some sun.  That was a first for me, and also the big advantage of having 4 teenage boys with you, that love playing with their younger cousins.  The main reason is that they know that my kiddos are as they described it, chick magnets.

While sitting back watching the wild ones playing on the beach I noticed just how much those two little heart stealers have grown.  Thing 1 has always been a self described surf rat so his love of the water is not surprising.  However Thing 2 has up until this year been an avid disliker of the ocean.  The very first time we brought him to the beach he crawled back in our jeep--here you can drive out on the sand-- and sat literally all day while we played.  The second trip he actually played a little bit but still was not fond of the crashing waves and the fish touching his feet.  This year, he has spent every minute available in the water. Watching this change makes me realize my baby is in fact not a baby anymore. 

More memories will be made tomorrow and I feel sure more water splashing and sand digging will occur.  But for now, the kiddos are snuggled in on the couches sleeping peacefully with bellies full and tired limbs.  That makes this woman very happy.

House full of boys

As the mom in my family I am used to living in the testosterone tide pool knows as my house. However currently even I am overwhelmed at the amount of this particular hormone surrounding me.  Myself, along with one of my sisters in law, are currently in a house with 9 members of the male species.  Four of these are teenagers, they ooze extra amounts of it.

I am getting glimpses to what it will be like to have two teenage boys.  I have wonderful nephews and they are good kids.  With that said, when Thing 1 and Thing 2 hit that particular milestone, I may very well end up in a loony bin.  Teenage boys can smell a teenage girl coming in their territory at 450 paces.  It's a talent. 

We are making lots of memories so far.  More will be made within the next few days.  That is the advantage to having family you like.  Taking trips and doing things together that the kids will remember for a life time.

It really is the little things

After a long day at work yesterday, I pick up Thing 1 and Thing 2 and head home to continue the attack on the house.  When I get home I find that Hubs had washed a couple loads of laundry, and he had cleaned the shower, including the rack that holds the shower stuff, such as soap, razors etc.  This was one less thing to do on my list.  It was awesome.  Then he proceeds to ask what I had planned for supper.  Well the plan was frozen pizza...much to his disliking.  He says we will go get something, and we will drive the jeep (which means an evening of riding with the top down and doors off, which is better than any AC could ever be).  So he wants me to decide what to eat, of course I could care less.  So we let Thing 1 and Thing 2 make the choice.  We end up at a local pizza place.  I, I of cours, call my mom and see if she wants to meet us there.  So we all sit down to supper together, the kids are talking non stop about dinosaurs (they are boys, its their thing) and other non extinct animals to the waitress, and anyone that will listen.  Hubs and my mom are playing with their cell phones and talking about downloading ringtones.  I was just sitting back watching.

It really is kind of awesome that my family sits down to a meal together almost every night.  It is even more awesome that my husband doesn't fuss when I say I am inviting his mother in law to join us for a lot of the stuff we do...they get along, and have a good relationship, which is a modern day miracle according to some people.

We finish eating, and head out to some of my in-laws house.  However we enjoy a nice ride through the country to get there.  The kids were looking for deer, and actually saw some.  It was just a good night.  We were out way to late, but the kids were playing with their youngest cousin, and the hubs and his middle brother were doing something maleish.  My sister in law and I enjoyed just hanging out in the living room watching the kids.

I am just in awe of how content you can be with nothing going on.  My Facebook status last night said "My heart is happy".  It is.  The little things that are often over looked are really what its all about.  My family enjoys spending time together, when we do, we are making memories.  It is the little things the kiddos will remember when they get older.  They will remember how mom and dad would take them on road trips and not tell them where we were going but surprise them.  The will remember how we used to make bondfires in the back yard just to roast hot dogs for supper.  They will remember the times that we just loaded up in the Jeep to ride with the top down and doors off, just because we could.  They will remember Sunday afternoons packingup and going fishing.  The things that seem minor now will be the big things down the road.

I love the little things that make my life what it is. 

Light at the end of the tunnel

I am currently in the process of getting my house in order.  Ya know the whole cleaning top to bottom thing.  In the great scheme of things, a clean house is not top on my priority list, but with time off of work coming up, it is an evil that must be defeated.

I think I have finally gotten the "Things" into the habit of cleaning their room.  They reminded me last night I needed to vaccum.  It amazes me how, most of the people that live at my house are gone during the day, yet my house can get so messy so quickly.  Shoes, hats, and at times pants and shirts lay where they are removed.  I have learned that instead of fussing about it constantly, just pick it up and move on.  One of those pick your battles things.

I think I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in the process of getting it all done.  I just hope its not an oncoming train of things I forgot.

I see a glimpse

I have noticed in the last few weeks that maybe *just maybe*  my kids are a little like me.  Well, at least my oldest.  Thing 2 is his Daddy's child, there is no denying that one.  Thing 1 is my only ray of hope to being anything like me. 

We have recently made some changes to our television that has given us more channels.  Now we have a channel that plays nothing but country music videos 24/7.  This is the channel it is kept on most often.  We also have hooked the kid's TV up to this.  So now they can actually watch television, not just movies.  They mostly just like the noise.

As the wild ones and I are headed up the road this morning, Thing 1 is sitting in the back seat in his booster, wearing my sunglasses, and is singing along to every song that is playing.  Literally, he knew the words to 10 of the 12 songs played.  Certain ones come on, and it looked briefly like I was having my own personal concert with Tristan as the main attraction.  He was singing loudly, playing air guitar and just generally enjoying it.  Justin (thing 2) is screaming TURN IT DOWN!!! Again he is his father's child. 

I am seeing little glimpses of an older personality coming out in Thing 1, ya know now that he is the ripe old age of 7.  It is kind of cool.  He has very defined taste.  For example, his music, he wants up beat, toe tapping, air guitar playing rhythms.  His clothes, he wants flip flops, shorts that sit right at his knees, and sit slightly saggy on his backside.  He wants his shirts nice and loose, but they have to look "cool". He already has the true appreciation of a hoodie. His hair, well when he had hair, had to be just so.  The kid has more hair products than I do.  His friends, well that is where it gets interesting.  He has a very diverse group that he considers his friends.  I am possibly most proud of this.  He can fit in with most any crowd.  He has never met a stranger, and makes friends easily.  It's little stuff starting to show.  I must admit while it pains me to see my sweet baby boy growing up, I am thrilled with the person he is becoming, and can't wait to see where he goes in life.  He is an awesome little man, both my kids are.  They are just awesome. 

One of those days

Today is one of those days when I should have just stayed in bed.  I am very much looking forward to going home, and closing the door on work.  I love my job.  I am lucky to 1) Have a job when unemployment is 98756354%, 2) Have a job I enjoy coming to every day and 3) a job I am dang good at.

Customers of my office have learned if they have a problem bring them to me, and I will work my back side off solving them.  Today however has been one of the days that I feel more like a fireman than an Insurance Agent.  I have put out fires here there and everywhere today.

Thankfully I am one day closer to the weekend and 8 hours closer to bedtime. 

I finally did it

As you can imagine, in a house of 4, with 3 of them being boys, laundry is never ending.  It is a given that I will wash roughly 15 loads of laundry a week.  Until last night.  Let me set the scene for you:

I load the washer to get some things washed for the next day.  I go into the kitchen and begin cleaning it up.  I sit down at the kitchen table to cut cabbage to make slaw for the next nights meal.  I hear this loud crash followed by a crunch so nasty that it literally had me shaking.  I run to the washer only to realize that it has died.  My poor washer kicked the bucket.

I have been waiting on this to happen for almost a year now.  It lasted a lot longer than I expected and it had actually become a running joke that I was going to continue to abuse the washer in hopes of getting a new one.  Now that it has finally happened, I must admit I am a little nervous.  I don't like change.  I have been using this washer for the last almost 8 years, and it was in the house well before I moved in.  I like it, I know how to work it.  Now I have to learn how to use one all over again.  The advantage though is that it will be new, and the hubs likes using new appliances.  That means help with the laundry for a few days.  =)

Stop and smell the roses

While out and about this week with the boys, we had to make a stop at the local Wally World.  While heading to the check out line Thing 1 stops and starts smelling the flowers that are setting out.  I asked him if he was stopping to smell the roses.  He looks up at me with his goofy little grin and says "Of course".

Why is it that my 7 year old knows you have to stop and smell the roses and I in my 30 year old mommy wisdom forget it on a regular basis?

I have decided to step back and look at the big picture of my life.  Basically just re-evaluate everything and make sure that anything and anyone in it are the ones that need to be there.  I like my life and want it to stay that way. 

So I shall stop and smell the roses a little more often, just because I can.

Southern Summers

I have lived in the south my entire life.  I am proud of my southern roots.  They run deep, real deep.  However, I must say that Southern Summers are getting a little rough.  Regardless of global warming, the greenhouse effect, El Nino, La Nina, or just the fact that I am getting older, and am a little on the fluffy side; its hot.  I can be a meteorologist from about mid May til October...Hot Hazy and Humid with a chance of afternoon and evening thundershowers, some possibly sever.

Southern Summers make you appreciate Southern falls, and winters, well when we have winters, some years that particular season is a figment of the imagination.  As I am sitting at my desk praying that one the the boys did not inadvertently leave a crayon on the car seat to melt in the sun; I am mentally on the beach, watching the sunset, cool breeze (and no bugs) blowing by me.  All this is occurring in my head while I wear a hoodie, and my tried and true flip flops and shorts, happily listening to the sound of the tide roll in.  Or better yet clad in blue jeans and boots, a comfy shirt and hat, while riding through the woods on a cool crisp autumn day.   AHHHHH cool thoughts.  Now to walk out in the 100+ degree heat to go home.

Am I the only one?

I have come to a conclusion that is possibly long overdue.  I am the odd ball of my friends.  This however is not always a bad thing.  I am most likely the only "old fashioned" one of us.  I am content being the "doer" of the house.  Granted I do my share of fussing about it being all on me.  Truth be known though, I wouldn't know how to act if things were split down the middle.  In my house I do the following: laundry, cleaning, cooking (although hubs will help with this) all things school related for the kids, actually anything related to the kids except for the one day of the week they have a "Daddy day". grocery shopping, and the prep work for the next day.  Also when the mower isn't messed up I do the yard work.  The last one is by choice, I don't like the way Hubs does it so instead of complaining I just handle that myself.

It works in my house, although not perfectly, but then again what does when your in a family.  We sit down to supper every night as a family.  The kids are sent to bed each night with hugs, kisses and I love yous.  Hubs and I are content.  We work well together.  I am happy with my life.  Others may see it at less than appealing; but in my little world it works.

I have often compared our family life to being a married single mom, given hubs profession.  Of the two of us, I am the only one that works "normal hours", meaning, I am home every night, weekend, and holiday.  I work your typical 9 to 5.  As much as it pains me to admit it, I am a creature of habit and do not do well when my nice little routine is altered.  I like knowing that when I get home from work, and picking up the kids I will start fixing supper, the kids will be entertaining themselves or in the kitchen with me.  Once supper is finished, it is bath time while I clean the kitchen.  After this then teeth are brushed, snuggles are given and kiddos are sent off to dream, while I prepare things for the day ahead. 

I am old fashioned, and I like it that way.

Night and Day

I have often said that Thing 1 and Thing 2 are as different as night and day.  These two are so opposite, one is right handed the other left; one is a night owl/early bird the other crashes fairly early and likes to sleep in.  One is a shrimpy little fella, the other is a chunk...really that is his nickname.

What my two polar opposites do have in common is 1) the need to constantly fuss and argue with the other and 2) the ability to search me out in the house.  The first is a given, they are siblings, they are boys, they are less than 3 years apart.  They are going to fight.  The second one is the one that drives me bananas at times.

I love my children and am so grateful to be their mom.  With that being said, it irks the sh!t out of me that they will literally go ask Hubs, "Where's mama", and the following conversation is normally what takes place:

Hubs--"not sure why, what do you need"
Kid--"I need mama"
Hubs--"why"
Kid--"just because"
Hubs "well go find her"
      ****I am usually in 1 of 3 places  the kitchen, back porch or obviously the bathroom****
Kid--"MAMA, MAMA, MAMA, MA, MA, WHERE ARE YOU?" **my house is nowhere big enough to need to go on any exstenive search, because again I am 1 of 3 places**

Me--"Here I am"
Kid--"what are you doing"
Me-- "I am (insert motherly activity here)
Kid--"OK" and takes off in the other direction

This happens no less than 4 times a day at my house.  My boys keep tabs on me.  They are mama's boys for sure.

I know that one day they will not care where I am, and what I am doing, so even though it bothers me at times I know that I will miss it in the future.  After all they will always be my babies.  Even when I am having to look up at them.

My mind is drifting

I am having a major cases of the blah's today.  Not the kind where I am down in the dumps, yucky feeling, but more the kind of I need sand, sun, and crashing waves instead of the desk I am stuck at. 

Our annual family vacation is coming up and I am beyond ready, mentally that is.  Physically, not so much.  Tons of things need to be finished in order for my little family of 4 to venture away from home for more than one night.  The house must be cleaned, the laundry must be caught up (although that is more of an unrealistic dream), and the list of what not to forget must be written, lost, rewritten, lost again, and finally written for a third time and stuck to the fridge.

Getting a family of four packed for a vacation is about like herding cats.  Did I mention that Thing 1 and Thing 2 are clueless to our plans.  That is a rule of vacation in my house...don't tell the kids.  Thankfully Thing 1 and Thing 2 share a wardrobe, so packing is easier than when they were not even close to the same size.  But alas, everything will be done, and if not, oh well life goes on. 

The secret to a restful nights sleep

Well atleast the secret in my house...WEAR THE LITTLE ONES OUT!!!  We have had a fairly busy weekend.  Lots of running here and there and spending time with family, oh yeah and eating.  So my little fellas have done a lot of walking and running and playing.  This equates to falling asleep in the car on the drives home and sleeping through being carried in.  This also equates to wanting to sleep in.  Thing 1 did not arise Sunday morning till almost 930. 

I will not complain about the boys being tired, or even this mommy being tired.  Lots of time was spent making memories this weekend, and that is what it is all about. 

As I am getting older, I have figured out that it is not having tons of people that are so called friends, that matters.  It is having a closely netted circle.  This circle is made up of family and friends. And thanks to my circle the past few days have been ones that will be cherised for years to come.

Days gone by

Little things trigger memories.  This is common knowledge.  There are certain songs that I hear that remind me of when my husband and I were dating.  There are certain movies I can remember watching as a kid with my parents.  There are certain places that I can recall taking family trips to and think about all the things that happened while we were there.  Then there are the events that make you think about the people that are missing.

I had one of these moments this past weekend. Thing 1 had an early birthday party with some of his friends at a local baseball stadium.  This also happened to be both of my little Things very first baseball game.  There were several of his friends there, along with his closest family.  One person was greatly missed at this event.  My Dad. 

I have struggled with this all week.  Not in the weeping, sorrowful struggle, but more the little nudges at your heart strings struggle.  Seeing my little boys enjoying his favorite sport, along with some of the other grandkids would have been a wonderful event for my Dad. 

I was lucky enough to have one of those dad's growing up.  He wanted nothing more out of life than to see his kids happy and successful...whatever their term of success may be...and to watch his grandkids grow into the wonderful people they are destined to be. 

This time of the year also makes me thing about is my Granddad.  When I was a kid, I would always go spend the week of the 4th with him in Georgia.  Just us.  It was the epitome of my summer growing up. 

Little things make you remember.  They also make you realize how lucky you are to have memories  that you cherish to remember.  These memories and people that shape our lives no matter how long we have them in it, are what gets us through the rough times.  They are the stiching that hold the seams together when all else seems to unravel.  For these memories, I am grateful.  I just hope that my kids have as many memory triggers as I do.  If they do, then I will count myself a success as a parent.

Men and Power tools

I am one of those women that got lucky in the Handy Husband dept.  By and large he is a fairly handy man to have around.  He can fix most things that need to be repaired, his only exception is anything to do with electricity.  I am more than happy to call an electrician if need be.

Well yesterday was a DIY day for dear sweet hubster.  He has purchased carshed to be put up at our home.  This is great.  The down side was we had to move it and put it up.  This is where it got tricky.  Thankfully we had extra hands in this task, in the form of my two oldest nephews, hubs brother and his wife.  This little project was started before I got home from work, with Thing 1 and Thing 2...thankfully.  My involvement came in when I received the phone call to come to their location and bring the power tools.

After about an hour and a half and several rounds of cussing, and swatting at wasp, and nephews climbing on top of car sheds, and the wifes being told to come move this but watch out for your toes, the project was disassembled.  Now onto the fun part...MOVING this 18x18 monster.  Thankfully the move was less than a quarter of a mile.

Hubs sends me to the next driveway up to watch for traffic.  By this point I am feeling like either the one that watches out for Police during a drag race, or the wheelman in a heist.  Either way it was rather comical.  So Hubs calls to get the all clear, and as he pulls out of the drive to go to our house, I notice 2 heads bobbing up and down behind the trailer.  The image gets clearer, and I realize it is my oldest two nephews, running being the truck to make sure nothing falls off.  So I get a good hearty laugh out of this.

The project is pulled into its new home---my house.  Then the reconstruction starts.  This was suprisingly easy.  It did however take 2 hours to complete, simply because it was pitch dark.

I am please to report that not one toe was smashed, not one finger pinched, and not one husband/wife spat took place.  This in itself was a major accomplishment.  Now to enjoy having a shed set up, mostly for cookouts and get togethers.  First big to do is already being planned. =)

Oh how I miss my routine

With school out for the summer, it took my school age child exactly 1 weekend to get out of his routine.  His routine was very simple, homework done, eat, shower, bed by 830.  Last night he finally managed to stay in the bed at 1045 pm.  Also, while in school Thing 1 was out of bed at 715.  He was pulled out of bed at 745 this morning. 

This may not seem like a big difference in time, but as I remind my children almost daily..."Just because your out of school does not mean I don't have to go to work". 

While it took no time to get out of his routine, I could start now working on getting it established again now, and roughly this time 8 years from now it maybe in place. 

Sadly, I have gotten out of my routine as well.  While my sleep routine is the same, which translates into never enough; getting up is an entirely different battle.  August to June I am out of bed no later than 630.  This morning I woke up early, and was fumbling through my house at 710.  That translates into, this mama has her hair pulled back because it was not fixed otherwise due to lack of time.  I could start now getting my routine back in place and it may finally stick 2 weeks after I retire.

The joys of summer. 

If Mama Ain't Happy

My little boys learned an important life lesson last night.  Their daddy clued them in on this pearl of wisdom, as I was barking orders to clean their room.  He calls the kids into the kitchen, and gets them in really close and says..."I don't know what you did to make your mama mad, but you need to learn right now, If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".  There was a little bit of conversation between them, and then the boys scurried off into their room to attempt to get it clean.  It is still disasterous and shall be finished tonight.

This morning the lesson was continued.  After nothing but fighting after being left with their Grandma for the day, I get a phone call roughly 2 hours into them being their.  It was my mother in law.  I had her put Thing 1 on the phone (he was almost in hysterics) and in a very stern voice I reminded him that he knew how to behave and if he and his brother could not get along playing board games then they didn't need to play them, and I had better not get another call.  This was all followed by several Yes Ma'ams.  He was then instructed to put Thing 2 on the phone.  He was also in tears.  I in an even sterner voice informed him if I get another call I will be coming to the house and handeling it.  Again Yes Ma'ams followed.  After checking with my mother in law a little later, I was assured that the boys were in fact behaving better.  The fear of Mama worked. 

I do not want my children to be afraid of me, and they by no means are, however I do want a healthy dose of "Oh Sh!t I screwed up and mama is gonna be p!ssed".  Every child needs that, even at almost 7 and 4.  It builds character.  After all, if mama ain't happy, ain't no body happy" and we end up having to eat our beans at supper.