A Start of Summer Wrap Up

So far we haven't done anything spectacular this summer. I felt like I needed a recording of what we HAVE done though so that when The Boys later said that we didn't do anything at all this summer I could simply point them in the direction of this post.

So we have completed 2 weeks of "little people camp". The part-time MDO gig meets two days a week for a few hours just to break up the monotony of summer. My boys are supposed to be positive and help me in exchange for some spending cash of their own. Let's just say we're working on it.

We had the scout cub kart races and The Critter placed in his rank. The Negotiator did well too, but there was much more competition at his level. We also had our scout pool party. We ate and played and played and ate. I swear all of the cubs were growing gills by the time we fished them out of the pool.

Last Friday we participated in our annual Splash Bash with the good people at my work. At first it rained, but then the clouds parted and it was lovely. Darned if we didn't have the whole place to ourselves. My boys got to ride the slide unlimited times and we finally left after 4 hours of interactive pool fun.

Monday we got together with the PTA Officers and planned for the year. It was amazingly productive given that we had 9 children, mostly boys, corralled up in a playroom while we tried to get our work done. Still miles to go before we sleep, miles to go before we sleep.

Yesterday we hung out at Tinkerbell's pool and her hubby grilled for us. Again we were pool side for at least 3 hours. I think I see a theme emerging here...

We tried to mosey down to Six Flags Fiesta Texas today, but were met with torrential rain pour. Even the boys were willing to turn around and come back to try for a later time. Now we're just sitting around being vegetables. You know, lay like lettuce, be like broccoli.

I'm reading this book by Ann Rule. I like it because it's set up as short stories. I can read in between laundry and refereeing the kids. Speaking of books, the boys and I are going to the library once a week. They get to check out what they like and I get to assign a reading time. We're also been pretty good about completing at least one worksheet a day. I find they're more into it if they get to pick, but if they are assigned something they're not as likely to work without complaint.

-E

Happy Birthday, Critter!

-
Critter is 6 years old today.

Nothing like a sibling birthday serenade to start off the day. Papa made the Critter's favorite breakfast of eggs, bacon and pancakes. And then Mama sent him to school. No worries though I took lunch for him and The Negotiator and they each got to bring a friend to the guest table. It's the little things that thrill my kids.
-

-
Just a sampling of the gifts Boy 2 got for his birthday. We don't really do friend parties anymore. Just having the family over is a major event by most people's standards. You have to figure though that with Papa as one of SEVEN kids and counting step-sibs on my side we also number seven, the potential for just an immediate family gathering is pretty astounding. Besides if you're not used to a big family - particularly one of the Latino variety - it can be quite daunting. We tend to shelter our unexposed friends from the congregation of our family.
-

-
That there is an ice cream cake and it was delish! Of course we had dinner since our kind of parties aren't about snack food, ice cream & cake. Latinos make a meal when we make a party. There is no other standard by our way of thinking.

If you're so inclined you can take a walk down memory lane from the birthday five.

E
-

Mother's Day and Other Crazy Ideas

When is Mother's Day not Mother's Day? When you have a sick kid. Of course, having a sick wee one is what being a mom is all about. Poor Critter came home with a fever and a headache on Thursday and has been puny all weekend. Turns out many in his class are fighting this bug. I missed the family meal with Papa's side of the family so one of us could represent and one of us could serve as cootie master (that'd be me).

Sunday has been better all the way around. Critter seems to be fever-free and if he can stay that way he'll go to school tomorrow. He's definitely looking better and getting into trouble which is the real sign that he's on the mend.

We were able to go to my mom's house for lunch. GG - Grandpa Golf (that would be my mom's hubby and my step-dad) - made a fabulous lunch and drinks. I got to have a mango margarita, eat chips with salsa and talk to my mom. My mom asked that I make her cookies for Mom's Day.

-

-
Since I got a margarita from them I returned the favor. I cookies are rimmed in sugar crystals to look like salt. Next time I think I'll add a little bit of fresh lime to the icing just to give it a kick.

As for me I got my off the hook new iron/steam generator. One of the Hancock Fabric Stores is going out of business. Their loss is my gain. This is a $150 iron and it was marked for 70% off and the cashier gave me an extra 10%.
-


-
The box was crushed, the machine was dusty and it had been in the back of the store for quite awhile (it was an older model). Still I plugged her in and she fired right up. I walked out the door for about $40, happier than a pig in shit. Papa cleaned her up for me and she is a honey. So that was my Mother's Day gift along with the potted begonia that is really nice. It sits outside my home office and makes me smile.
-

-
Happy Mother's Day everyone!!

E

The Good, The Bad and The Ooogly

First I’m back from Progresso. I had a blast and managed to stay out of any Mexican jails. The house was a mess when I got home, but it’s not like I left it clean so no harm, no foul. I found the boys all healthy, happy and it one piece. We’ll call it good.

Bummer is I lost my cell phone on the Mexico side. I discovered the phone was gone pretty quickly, but you’d be surprised to know there isn’t a general “lost & found” at the boarder. Okay, maybe not. The last I saw my phone I was in a bathroom in a bar and then the phone was gone. My mom thinks someone pick pocketed it. Heck after 2 margaritas and a pina colada I might have traded it for a shirt?

I bummed a phone and called to suspend my service. Thankfully no one had made any phone calls (you might remember that unfortunate incident a few years back when Papa left his phone at the Marie Callendar’s and whoever took it racked up $100+ in international calls toot sweet). Bottom line I don’t have a phone and it’ll take a day or two for me to make my way to Sprint and end my pity party.

I’m doggie-butt tired and the Critter has a field trip out tomorrow that I’m supposed to chaperon. Is it awful that I’m PRAYING for rain?! I just found out that the Negotiator has a field trip to a butterfly farm on Friday and this is the absolute first I’ve heard of it. Why don’t boys communicate these things?!

So there you have it. Love, kisses and all that crap.

Oooh, Look What The Crap Bunny Left Us

My mom is cleaning out her house. Sort of a very long, drawn out flylady process. She's going through this purging phase and so guess who is the benefit of her discards. Right-o!

What am I gonna do with all this stuff? Really do I, a mom of two small boys, need delicate little etched wine glasses? My mom gets these baubles at thrift stores because she thinks they look pretty, and they do, but it causes her to take leave of her practical senses. So alleviates her guilt of purchase by passing them on to me. On my door step without telling me.

Sneaky.

So I leave the house on my way to meeting last night and found a basket of these "treasures" sitting there waiting for my attention. They're still there because it's easier to carry them to the back of my car to take them to the GW.

E

---

Spring Break In Pictures

I meant to post these earlier, but well, you know...




The Negotiator earned his archery belt loop at Cub World. All the cubs and dads went to a District sponsored event. I can rest easy knowing Boy 1 can bag a water buffalo in a famine.




Spring Break isn't a break without a carnival. We opted out of the official rodeo carnival for the rag-tag outfit about a mile from the house. We didn't have to pay for parking and the wrist bands were only a $1 more than at the Texas Star event. Neither boy noticed the difference so who are we tell them?




I love that they are each other's best buddies. They fight, but they do have a great time with one another. Makes my job much easier - and much harder.




We planted spring flowers. Our yard looks like doo doo. Papa and the boys spent some time getting the weeds out and adding a little color. I'm hoping to add more, but they were worn out with just the clearing stages.

E

Dr. Who?

I'm constantly amazed how Papa can manage a staff of many, the business and administration of a medical office and the politics of government yet be so forgetful at home. It cracks me up the things he forgets. For example, the other day he was making a doctor appointment for himself. I hear him talking on phone and then I hear the shuffle of feet coming into the dining room where I'm reading the paper.

He frantically asks me, "who's my primary care physician?"

I reply, "you don't know?"

"I can see his face in my mind, but I don't remember his name" Papa answered.

Mmkay.

I tell him and he walks happily away to complete his appointment.

-E

Family Pride

My cousin was just deployed to Iraq. He arrived safely and so far is just fine. J is the one in the first row, third from the right.

Y'all keep him in your prayers and I'll keep you up to date on his progress.

E

From The Spin Cycle

When will I learn that little boys with pockets and laundry do NOT mix?

I got out to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer and what to my eyes appear? Why little tubes of balloon goop. You know the kind that comes with straws and you blow up big plastic-like bubbles? I found yellow, blue, green and red at the bottom of the washer, thank God, still in tact.

Can you imagine what all of clothes would have looked like with the psychedelic goop on them? It's bad enough that I've already had to have the washer serviced because of those damned little playground rocks. Yeah, I know they're safer for kids, but they play hell on my floors and appliances.

E

Bah Lovebug!

I finally finished knitting Papa that scraf he asked for in the fall. Ooops. Well, mas tarde que nunca. I got it to him just in time for Spring.

Since I think Valentine's day is a crock of you-know-what I gave it to him the day after. I refuse to give in to the whole commercialization of the day. I get cards for my boys and try to do something a little extra to show them I love them, but I ain't buying JACK.

I'll celebrate that the day is about love and not just about the romantic kind of love. I love all my boys, I love my family, I love my friends and I love the Lord. So here I am basking in the glow of all kinds of love.

I hope the same for you!

-E

A Flower When I Grow Up

When I was kid someone once asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said either a lawyer or flower. I never became the lawyer, but I think I still have a good shot at the flower position.

Both my kids have been in school since fall. During this time I have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to decide what I will do next. It doesn't help that some people keep asking when I'll go back to work. I know it's expected, but if I'm honest I'm not ready to do it yet. I sort of feel like I deserve a little "rest" time.

Then I wonder what I could do to put my education and experience to work and I feel guilty that I'm not doing whatever that is. The thing is I don't know that I want to do that anymore. I'm slowly coming to the realization that I may have a different calling. One that I would have never predicted so I'm having a hard time accepting it. I actually like working with kids. I feel that I'm doing something worthwhile even in the few hours a week I spend with them. I just never saw myself in that capacity, especially after my own kids were no longer able to benefit from my program. Still I'm here and I'm happy to be here.

Once again, God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called.

E

Party...Scout Style

Tonight we went to a Den Meeting/Birthday Party. OMG it was so much fun. I mean we did the usual Scout thing - Pledge of Allegiance, Cub Scout Promise - and then we were served an authentic Philipino meal. It was YUMMY!

I think we should do that more often, you know have people over to experience different foods and cultures. We have a very diverse little den. We could do it.

The cake was as chocolate as chocolate could be so no complaints on that front. The boys got to do a treasure hunt for their goodie bags. One of the best parts of the evening was the adults (okay, me and Papa - some of the parents could stand to loosen up a bit) sang karaoke. We rocked.

E

Brrrr

Holy. Crap. It's. Cold.

I'm a Texan and I'm not used to this weather. I don't know how you people in the North and Midwest deal with this shitty weather for months at a time. I would be on mega doses of Prozac if I had to deal with this more than a few days.

I'm tired of being in the house. I'm tired of being cold. I'm tired of the break in my routine. This cozy cold weather was fun, but now that I'm made all my cold weather food, I'm pretty much done.

The kids like that they've had two snow days. They'll be plenty ticked in May when they realize that just means school goes a little longer in Spring. I'll wait for the school to deliver that piece of bad news.

-E

The boys are catching snowflakes on their tounges. Que cute!

That's me and my good sense getting the hell out of the cold. The only good thing about this weather is that I finally get to wear my pink Uggs.

In Memoriam

Zoe

April 1, 1995 - January 13, 2006

The dog died. This was the last picture taken of her before we took her in to the vet. We knew she had been struggling with The Big C, but she'd been content. This morning she couldn't walk, couldn't eat and couldn't drink. We knew it was time to let her pass.

Excitement

Today is my anniversary.

It's been 15 years of marital bliss, but it feels like 5 minutes.

Under water.

-e

Happy Birthday, J-Boy

He turns 8 years old today.

It's just not possible! He was just born, wasn't he?

Time is passing so quickly. I love the independence that having a growing child brings, but I am missing that baby boy! -E

The Mystery of Boys

My little boys are showing their genetics.

Oh my goodness these kids cannot sit still. That is of course unless they are in front of a video game. Otherwise they are perpetual movement. They can't sit still to eat, to do homework, not even to sleep judging by the way they toss and turn to get comfortable.

Yesterday we were at the dentist and they talked her ear off. Apparently they had been saving questions up for her since their last visit. She rocks. She patiently listened and answered all of their questions. She even chatted them up about spit and other good boy stuff. I was horrified. She looked and me and reassured me she understood. You see, she too has boy offspring. We looked at each other knowingly.

They've really gotten to the age where they prefer to hang out with Papa. They love me and want me to take care of them, but the other stuff is all about Dad. They go walking through the parks and creeks looking for bugs and reptiles. They climb trees. They build forts. They have burping contests. All activities of great fun, I'm sure, but I'm going to pass all the same.

I'm reading two books right now that I'm hoping we'll help me understand these male creatures that have invaded my home. So far I'm really caught up in Kids, Parents and Power Struggles. I'm also starting Bring Up Boys. Papa just finished that one and said he got a lot out of it. Any other suggestions?

-e

It Ain't A Holiday Until Something Gets Broke

You know when you combine family all in the same house for extended period of time no good can come of it, right? I honestly thought this would be event that sent someone to the ER, but it wasn't. One of Papa's brothers broke the corkscrew while trying to remove the cork from a bottle of Pinot Grigio. Hmm, how do we get the cork out now? Oooh, this seems like a fine family project! NOT. So two minutes later, pliers in hand, the boys (let their ages in the categories of 20 to 40 make no never mind here, they are behaving like boys) set out to rescue this bottle.

Surprisingly they did get the cork out with nary a broken bone or dish. Honestly I so could have lived without that bottle of wine. I'm a White Zinfandel gal myself.

Not to let this holiday go without incident my 3-year-old niece is the one that ended up with the tribal markings. She was running out the door as The Negotiator was opening the door and when door meets forehead, well I think you know the rest of the sad, sad tale. She ended up with quite a gash on her right eyebrow and I got to relay the story of the scar on my forehead given to me by my cousin when I was her age.

Everything comes full circle.

-e

Family!

Yep, it’s getting to be that time of year again when I get to grump about my family. Mostly I love having so many relatives around, but holidays are when the rubber meets the road. Everyone seems to be sideways with one another.

What is everyone doing for Thanksgiving? We aren’t completely sure yet. My mom is having dinner at her house and all my in-laws are supposed to come here for lunch. All this hullabaloo for one day?

I think next year we’re having pizza. Or did I say that last year?

-e

The Big Game

Oh, not the game all of Texas is talking about today (though it IS very important). I'm talking about the one going on in MY house.

Testosterone vs. Estrogen

The boys are taking over and then inching in my space. We specifically set up the guest room in our house to be Mommy's Space. It's got all my crafts, my laptop, a small tv and just last week I bought a small comfy chair for reading and knitting at Goodwill.



Today I walked into my happy place and found a boy in my comfy chair watching a BOY show. Excuse me? If it ain't Lifetime it shouldn't be in Mommy's Space. Get out.

Now they're all excited because people are coming over to watch the game with us tonight. We'll have food and the game? They are well on their way to becoming little men.

-E