Thursday Thirteen #14

I haven’t done one of these for a few weeks because I felt a bit overwhelmed with school.  But I am nearly celebrating now that this awful summer session is practically over. I figure I can do my TT on the 13 things I will do once my classes are over

1. BLOG!  I can blog again!!
2. READ Blogs again! YEA! I am way behind.
3. Journal - I’ve decided that I am going to keep a personal journal. I am really looking forward to this one.
4. Take a nap when the kids do
5. Go to bed early or late…..whichever I fancy!
6. Sit and read a magazine without feeling guilty that I should be reading something with school
7. Read my new Harry Potter
8. Go for a nice long walk with my Ipod and the book I am listening to on it
9. Sit and talk to my husband in the evenings instead of staring at the computer
10. Take the kids to the beach one morning next week (or sooner)
11. Start thinking about houses in Columbus (the big move is coming up!)
12. Buy birthday presents for all the people that I need to this month
13. RELAX…..at least till the Fall semester starts!

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Could you do it?

Could you go TVless?

 Jeff and I talk about doing this when we move.  Neither one of us are huge TV watchers (except for Gray’s ).   Would we miss it?  I have a friend here that doesn’t have a TV.  Her and her DH watch their favorite shows on the internet.  But  her kids play a lot of video games.  Is that any better?  Instead of turning on the tube when they are bored, they turn on the playstation (or whatever game system is popular these days). 

I think about our children - would they miss it?  Evan would in the beginning, I would imagine that since he is so young, he would adjust, right?

I think that living here, we’ve watched too much TV.  We turn the TV on because we are bored. 

I like the idea of getting rid of the  boobtube.  I just am not sure that I am ready for that step.

His dark side

My DH brought home a kitten a couple of weeks ago.  She is cute, playful, and great with the kids.  

Evan LOVES her.  He tells me all the time that he loves his kitty.  It is very sweet to see him holding her.  

That is until his dark side is comes out.  I feel like I gave birth to Chuckie.

Could this

turn into this? 

  He will pull her tail, squeeze her, pinch her, and chase her.    He is happy as a clam when she is in his arms on the couch, but he also does those things that annoy the hell out of her. 

Why doesn’t he understand that the hissing and growling is a sign that she is mad and that he should leave her alone?  We’ve told him over and over, but he isn’t getting it   listening. 

He must know I am writing this because I just had to correct him for pulling her tail.  If I were her, I would have bit his butt a long time ago.  I feel sorry for her.  We are trying time out for these actions, but it isn’t working. 

I am not terribly attached to her so part of me thinks we should find a new home for her while she is still little. 

Is this normal for a three year old?  When she plays with him, his laugh is contagious.  He really does adore her. 

Prayer

I’ve always prayed, but since becoming a mom the frequency has increased.  I have conversations with God quite often.  He listens to me moan and groan about my life (boohooo right?), he calms me when I am losing it and tells me to suck it up and move on. 

The prayer that most rings home to me these days is The Serenity Prayer.  I even have a copy of it on my refrigerator. 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. 

This prayer written by Reinhold Niebuhr has been adapted and expanded by groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and other 12-step programs  (The above version of the prayer is the AA adaptation).

Do you think that moms could form their own 12 step program so that it can be our official prayer?   

Some days I modify the prayer.  This is today’s version:

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change

But if I do break and strangle my children

Give me the wisdom to know how to not get caught.

 

What was she thinking?

We love them….our kids love them

 Snacks!

I might not always buy the most nutritious snacks in the world.  I mean, I slip occasionally and buy something that looks good to me that might not be so good for the body such as Dora the Explorer Crackers or Spongebob Cheeze Nips.  However, when we go to a public gathering of children…aka playgroup, and I am in charge of bringing snacks - I always am sure to bring nutritious snacks.   Just because I don’t care about my own kids’ teeth and nutrition doesn’ t mean I don’t care about Janie’s, Bobby’s, and Susie’s. 

Typically, most moms do as I do.  Bring good snacks and drinks for the kids.  Well, all until a couple of weeks ago.  A mom brought birthday cake (with delicious REAL icing ..you know the kind made with shortening, butter and LOTSA’ sugar) and M&M’s for snack.    I am not saying that I wouldn’t have enjoyed eating it all up myself, but I wasn’t very happy about my 3 and 1 year olds eating it. So Cooper was given crackers that another mom gave me and Evan was only allowed to eat a handful of M&M’s.  He was very upset that I wouldn’t let him get more. 

I understand that it was her daughter’s birthday, but why did she think it was ok to give all those sweets to this young group of kids?  Birthday cake….ok, I can handle.  But instead of M&M’s - throw in a stick of cheese or some fruit. 

I walked away from playgroup once again shaking my head - swearing that I would never go back. 

And of course, I was there the following week. 

Do you smell it? Love is in the air

Tis the season of weddings!

 Love is in the air…

Do you remember that feeling? The anticipation of the big day….the vows, the guests, the cake, the honeymoon, the church, and of course the glorious wedding gifts!  I remember how excited I would get when the UPS truck would drive up at our house.   He was like Santa Claus bringing a little girl presents.   I would just be giddy!

We have two friends that are getting married this summer, and of course, we won’t be able to attend. 

I looked at their bridal registries yesterday.  Yikes, I forget how expensive those goodies are.   Ok, so I didn’t really didn’t forget.  We just were poor college students with low expectations for gifts.    We registered at Dillards and good ole’ Target.   At Dillards, I wanted my china and Target, well, I just figured it was a good place to register. haha  NOW, if I were to go through all of that again, I wouldn’t be going to Target. 

Both couples are working professionals in their thirties - first time marriages - no children.   I think that they are used to a higher standard of living.  In all honesty, I was a little jealous when I looked at their registries.  I kept thinking, “Why didn’t I register for THAT?”  “What a cool gadget!” 

I am actually shocked at all of the places that do a bridal registry now.  Back when Marshall Fields started the bridal registry in 1924 (see I know how to surf the net am smart! ) , I bet they had no idea that it would go this far.  You not only can register at Target, Wallyworld, Macy’s, Dillards, Tiffany and Co., Saks, Bed Bath and Beyond,etc  - you can register for your honeymoon or even make charitable donations to organizations like the World Wildlife Fund.  I wonder what the future will bring. 

Did you register?  Where?  Do you buy off of the registry or are you one of those people who detests the registry and buys what YOU want to buy them?_______________________________________________________________________

Life here is still quite busy.  My classes are keeping me extremely busy.  Only a few more weeks till I get a break. Wahoo! 

Blogity friends - I am trying to read your blogs when I can.  I am just sooooo far behind!  I am trying to read and respond to a few a day during naptime. 

Call me a fortune teller, of sorts

The boys were playing - playing chase, cars, crawling through their tunnel - just having fun being boys.  And then I heard it…

 Evan told Cooper to bang the car in his hand on the TV.  This is a big no-no in our house.  If you saw our coffee table, you would know why.  (It was bought new a few years ago and it looks like it has been beaten with a sledgehammer.)   I walked in the living room and corrected the little guys and then went back into the kitchen.  As soon as I turned the corner, I heard Evan, again, tell Cooper to bang the car on the TV.  Cooper wants to please his big brother so he did. 

I marched into the room and took away all of the cars that they were playing with and repeated what I told them about banging cars.  Way to go, Lene.  That will show them!

Evan ran over to the bucket of cars and grabbed a handful and went back into the living room.  He proceeded to hand Cooper another car and the lil’ big brother pleaser went and banged them on the TV.  I took those away and corrected them again.

This isn’t the first time this has happened.  Evan seems to like to put Cooper up to things that he knows aren’t acceptable in our house.    I can just hear his evil laugh when Cooper gets corrected. 

When I peeked at my crystal ball, I was able to catch a glimpse of what the future holds.  I saw several scenes of this continuing trend throughout their childhood and into their teen years. 

“Here Cooper, throw this ball through the window.”
“Here Cooper, take Dad’s keys to  his prized 1950 Chevy.  He won’t mind if we go for a drive.”
“Here Cooper, go get that tequila out of the liquor cabinet.  Mom and Dad won’t notice.”

 Ahhh, whatever the future holds for me being the mother of two boys, I know that it will not be boring. 

Wordless Wednesday

These pictures are from the fourth of July.  It was DS1’s first time on a go-cart, and of course, HE LOVED IT!

When they sat down, the attendant handed them goggles to wear (to keep bugs out of the eyes he said).  I almost peed in my pants because I was laughing so hard at my DH’s reaction.  He looked at the man like he was nuts.  In the end, they did take the goggles off, as you will see.

 

They do like quite funny, don’t they?  That smile on DH’s face is because he is laughing at the goggles too. 

 

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Tuesday Random Thoughts

***I am taking 3 courses this summer session.   OMG, what was I thinking?  Today was the first dayof the session, and I am already stressed out.  I think I can I think I can!  If you don’t see me for a few days, I am busy studying.  If I don’t go see my bloggy friends, I will as soon as I can!    In one of my courses…just one…I have 33 assignments due before August 6.  33! yikes    

Wish me luck!  Only 2 more courses after this summer till I have my masters in Educational Technology!  woohoo!

***My BIL and SIL just got back on Sunday morning from Russia.  They finally were able to pick of their precious little girl!  Jeff and I couldn’t be happier for them.  They have waited over 30 months for this day to finally come.  Now, they have their sweet Emma home with them.    (I am hoping she posts pictures of Emma soon )

***Crabby Patties strike again!      

 DH and Evan were reading tonight, and Evan kept pointing at something in the book and calling it a crabby patty.  DH had no idea what he was talking about.  So he called me into the room and asked me about it.  As soon as I saw the hamburger, I knew what Evan was going to say….CRABBY PATTIE!  I had to explain that on Spongebob Squarepants, they eat crabby patties.  Nothing like my own guilt kicking my hiney for letting him watch that show ONCE IN A LONG WHILE!  Ok, maybe he watches it a few times a week….it just depends on what is going on in the house.    I am not proud.

What do you all think of the show?  Do you let your kids watch it?  I try not to, but if I    need him to be occupied aka babysat for a little while - I always turn on SBSP.  It works like a charm.

“Insanity is hereditary: You can get it from your children.” - Sam Levinson

Why is it that the simple things in life become so complicated when you add children into the mix?

What is it about this recipe that leads to disaster? 

Ingredients:

1 ever loving, patient mother (shut up! )

1 fun dad

1 3 year old boy

1 16 month old boy

1 grocery strore

Directions:
Arrive at grocery store to shop for a few necessities for the week.  Mother pushes 16 month old in shopping cart and Dad walk with three year old.  Pick up milk, bandaides, bananas, chicken, fruit and a few other misc. items.  Pay for items and get home.

That doesn’t seem hard, does it?  Is that too much to ask?  Are my expectations set too high?  Where in the recipe is the added screaming and tantrum? Maybe DS1 just trying to add some zest and excitement to this boring concoction.

Just when I start to think that Evan is improving, he slaps the reality right into me.  Why oh why do we torture ourselves by going out in public with my little gremlin?  Hasn’t experience taught us that when we go out to eat - there will be a huge scene?  Hasn’t experience taught us that going to the grocery store will be a miserable event?   Why oh why do we inflict this pain upon ourselves?

God is challenging us….that is what DH and I are trying to convince ourselves of.

He really is…..