Oliver who would not sleep

Today, I got to go read to B's class.  B called me yesterday afternoon (he's at his dad's this week), and informed me of his choices.  He chose:

1. Oliver Who Would Not Sleep
2. But No Elephants
3. Bedtime for Frances

My sister got him the first book because he went through a phase where he refused (for as long as he possibly could) to fall asleep.  He just didn't want to, and he was terrified of going to sleep.  He loves that book...and it rhymes, so it gets stuck in your head for days.  Even though I haven't read it to him in 6 months or so, I mentioned the title and he went off, repeating the first few pages word for word.

But No Elephants is a favorite from when I was little, and the boys love it too.  N used to be able to recite it word for word too.  When I picked it up to read to the class this afternoon, they weren't sure...but by the time I finished it, they were all asking me to read it again!  It's a cute little story.

Bedtime for Frances was B's original pick so we read it last.  He thinks it's hilarious, and it talks about underwear in the dryer, so it got a lot of giggles.  B's teacher walked back in the room as I was reading about how Frances was going to get a spanking if she didn't go to bed, and Mrs. W. started cracking up, too! 

They all asked me to come read again...and to bring more Frances books.  I can think of at least two more that I have, so I'd definitely love to go back.  They sat so quietly, and really do love it when people come read to them!  It's so fun to see kids get excited about story time, especially when so many things are geared towards electronics, rather than good old-fashioned books.  That said, I'd be lost without my Kindle.

I'm a grown-up.  Don't judge me.

After N left for his weekend with his dad, I called my mom to see if she was up for an impromptu slumber party...and she was!  So, I ran home, tossed some stuff in a bag, and took off.  She's going dress shopping with me in the morning, so I figured it would be easier if we were in the same place to begin with.  I'm hoping we'll have some success.  I was so hopeful yesterday, but it just didn't work out.

I talked to my friend Stella, who will also be attending this party next weekend, and told her about the dry bar in Houston.  One of my friends told about a dry bar in the Dallas area, where they only do blowouts and styles, so I googled to see if there was one in Houston.  There is!  Stella text me back and said she would make us appointments tomorrow.  What.  A.  Relief. 

I don't do girl hair.  I don't do boy hair either, if we're being totally honest...  I can blow dry my hair and flat iron it, I can scrunch it and let it be fluffy, or I can put it in a ponytail.  Those are essentially my limitations. 

I know, I'm so ashamed.

To wrap things up, my boys brought home their fall pictures today.  I had them do retakes because they were awful.  B's mouth looked like it was eating itself, and N looked like the photographer smelled bad...and he might have.  Who knows?  These are way better...and they look so much older and more like real boys than littles than they did even a year ago.

They're pretty handsome, if I do say so myself.

(And I do)

Aubs

Laughing all the time: it's what I do.

Like I've mentioned before, my mom has Multiple Myeloma, and is currently undergoing treatment.  Her numbers are back within normal limits, and she's doing really well, but she still has several more months of treatment before she stops.

Once a week, my mom goes for chemo, and once a month, she has to go get a 2 hour(ish) long infusion of a drug to help with any bone loss.  She doesn't have any bone loss, never has, but it's mostly a preventative measure.  For whatever reason, maybe because of the holiday week last week, her appointments were in the morning instead of the afternoon. 

Read: She was going to be stuck at the hospital all day.  Super-Aubrey to the rescue!  She called me to see if I would go with her, to keep her company, but mostly to be her lackey if she was hungry or needed anything.  Sure!  Why not?

It probably would've been a good idea to have more than 2-3 hours of sleep last night, but I like to live on the edge.  I sent N on the bus, got ready, and headed to my mom's house so we could ride together and listen to Christmas music before it was actually December.  Christmas movies have been playing for 6 months, so I'm mostly okay with this decision.

My mom's been going to this hospital for treatment for 3 years, so several of the employees in the cancer center know her.  They all greet her by name and the sweet ladies to draw labs gave her grief this morning.  Usually, she has appointments in the afternoon, and goes in for lab draws around 3:00.  They get excited 'cause they know it's almost the end of the day (they leave at 4:00) when they see my mom walk in.

Except today.  Her lab appointment was at 9:50.  They gave her grief, and it was hilarious!  We went to see her doctor next, and he was happy with her progress.  In fact, she gets to put a little time between treatments now, even though she'll have to continue with the infusions once a month for another year or so. 

But, hey...it's progress! 

After visiting the doctor, we went downstairs for a Gingerbread Latte and then back upstairs for her infusion.  We sat in the waiting room For. Ev. ER. and when we finally got back to the back, I was a little stir crazy.  How do we fix that?  We look for dresses for the Christmas party I'm going to next weekend.

We had little to no luck, but we ended up at www.modcloth.com and were literally laughing out loud at some of the names of the dresses.  Super-cute stuff, by the way, just not what I was looking for. 

She had me run upstairs to see if her next set of appointments were ready yet, and while I was waiting to talk to the woman who schedules for her doctor, I came across this picture:

 

 

I was laughing so hard, I could hardly breathe.  So what do I do?  I rush back downstairs to read them to my mom...and I'm still laughing so hard that now I'm crying and trying my best not to snort while I read them.

I was unsuccessful on all counts.  They just caught me at a moment where I thought they were hysterical.  And I still think they're awesome.  3, 6, 7, and 8 especially.  I think like that sometimes.

 

I keep myself laughing.  Thank goodness I find myself amusing.

 

 

After the hospital, my mom and I went to go look at dresses in person.  I tried on a super-bright orange halter...mostly because I figured it would look horrible and be funny.

 

Score one for Aubrey!  I've literally been laughing all day long.  It kinda hurts my head!

 

 

I found one that might be a winner, but they didn't have my size...anywhere.  At any store.  Or online.  So it was either: try to squeeze into one and not breathe (not a fan) or wear one that is too big and hope it doesn't fall off...which would probably provide others with a bit of entertainment, but I'm not that self-loathing. 

So, back to the drawing board!  And it's too bad too...because the dress was kinda great.  And it even had pockets!  It just needed some color to liven it up a little.

 

My goal is to go look again tomorrow since I'm on a roll, go read to B's class, and then relax before going shopping again with my mom on Saturday.  I'm so glad she's here, but it would be PERFECT if my Seester could be here too.

 

 

And, since I literally slept for 2.75 hours last night, I'm going to bed at 9:15.  Thank you, and goodnight.

 

Aubs

 

 





It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

OR, in my case, chaos. 

I know.  Stop the presses!  Newsflash!

I bullied N into going to my mom's with me tonight to get Christmas decorations.  I brought home a huge tub of stuff, a huge box of wrapping paper, a Christmas tree stand, and a box of lights.  Oh, and puzzles...I probably need to share some of them with my mom.  There are oh so many puzzles.

I'm not old, and I don't have any cats, but I sure do love a puzzle.  Don't judge me.

As I was going through my boxes of holiday cheer, I noticed that B does not have a stocking, which is weird, because I'm pretty sure he had one last year.  I also can't find a box of my ornaments which means another trip to my mom's garage is in order.  Maybe looking in the daylight will help...

I put a garland on my mantle and hung two stockings by the chimney with care.  I intend to add a third one either tomorrow or the next day, so when B comes home, he will be even more excited than normal.

I can't wait to decorate the Christmas tree with my boys.  Tonight, after I bullied N into going to my mom's to get decorations, came home & unpacked them and realized there was stuff missing, I also bullied him into going to Garden Ridge.  He's so lucky to have me as his mom.  Just ask him...he'll tell you the truth.  So, N and I went to Garden Ridge and got a star for our tree.  For as long as I can remember (and probably before I was born), our Christmas tree has always been topped with a finial.  To me, it looks like the star shining above the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born...or at least it looks similar in the books I had (and still have) when I was a little girl.  It just says "Christmas" to me.

There were a few years where I was outvoted and we had an angel on top of our tree that was wrapped in white lights and mostly boring ornaments, but after I became a single parent, I went back to my star.  The boys argue over who gets to put it on top of the tree every year, just like my sister and I used to when we were younger.  N picked it out, and said excitedly, "There, Mom!  Now we're starting our own traditions."  It made my heart happy.

Another tradition in our family:  Each year, my mom gives each of us a new ornament for our Christmas tree, with the year and our names on the back of each one.  It's so fun to see the collection grow! 

N announced that we should have colored lights on our tree this year instead of white lights.  I tend to agree.  To me, nothing says "This is a house where kids live" like colored lights and all of the homemade ornaments.  It's not for everyone, but it's definitely for me!  There's something about twinkling multi-colored lights that are magical...don't you think?

Don't get me wrong, the white lights are a classic statement, and I like them a whole lot too, but while my boys are still into the whole Christmas thing, I'm going to go with what they like the most.  You only have so many years like that, you know? 

B's teacher emailed me today, to see if I wanted to go on a field trip with them in a couple of weeks.  Where are we going?  Oh, we're just going to see the Dallas Children's Theater's version of "Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells."  Doesn't that sound like so much fun?  I'm super excited to be able to share that experience with my B and his 1st grade class.  Those kids crack me up each time I see them!

I JUST got B to stop singing "Deck the Halls" on a regular basis...and now it's time to start up again.  I stuck my cd of Trans Siberian Orchestra into my cd player in my car tonight and N and I rocked out the whole time we were in the car.  Next up will be Perry Como. 

Man, that man knows his Christmas carols!  My sister and I grew up listening to that record dubbed onto a cassette tape...and we still sing it with the skips and repeats and sudden stops as the record had to be flipped.  Ahhh, memories!

Aubs

My son wants socks for Christmas

Does anyone else find this weird?  My mom called to talk to N tonight, to ask him what he wanted for Christmas, and he told her he wanted socks.  Socks.  I was unable to hold in my laughter, although I think I disguised it a little by snorting into the blanket I was using as a pillow while we watched "Field of Dreams" after our delightful dinner of homemade chili.

Wow, that was a whole lot of information in one sentence.  I'll try to settle it down.

Each year, I claim I'm going to follow certain guidelines for Christmas, and every year, I get caught up in things and do the exact opposite.  My goal is to not go overboard this year.  I want to give my boys four gifts this year:

"Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read."

The problem that I'm having is that so many of the things that I could get them fall into multiple categories.  HOW DO I CHOOSE?!

I'm so excited about going to pick out a Christmas tree and setting it up.  It's been so long since I've had my own space to decorate.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I really loved decorating my mom's house for Christmas last year and the year before, but it's just different somehow. 

I've started decorating, and by decorating, I mean I switched the doormat from the red doormat with leaves to the blue one with a reindeer.

Have I really sunk to the level where I'm discussing doormats?  I think I've reached an all-time low.

My brain seems to be fried due to all of my creative genius (and I use that term loosely) being depleted by the reflective paper I had to write for my Mexican class.  Yep, you can read that as many times as you want, and it's not going to change.

On that note, I'm going to eat my frozen yogurt, spit out all of the raspberry seeds (because they didn't have strawberry or vanilla at my time of purchase), and go to bed.  Have you tried the Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt?  It's pretty tasty...and there are always entertaining messages on the lid, like this one:

                                       "If you are what you eat...then you must be delicious!"

Why does this make me laugh so so much?

Aubs

Magic Mondays

Most would hate the Monday following a long weekend or a vacation from work.  Not me.  Why?  Because my kids made me insane last week!

Also, today my B turned 7.  I woke him up singing the birthday song, and I received a sweet, sleepy "Thank you, Mommy" followed by, "Hey...wait a minute.  What time was I born?"  I told him he was born at 4:18 pm, and he made it clear that I shouldn't mention his birthday again until he was actually 7.

That is, until he said he wanted me to come eat lunch with him...and bring him Chicken Minis from Chick-Fil-A.  I made brownies for a special treat for his class, because his teacher said brownies or cookies would be the easiest.  I delivered the brownies and goodie bags and chicken minis, and had a delightful lunch with my B while the 4th graders practiced their Christmas musical for our entertainment.

And by entertainment, I mean I know all of the songs now.  In the past few weeks, I've been in the cafeteria during someone's rehearsal at least 4 times.  I walk around humming one of the songs, and both boys give me exasperated looks and roll their eyes.  I'm glad I'm turning into my dad.  I know I've done (and still do) the exact same thing to him.

Keep it in the family, friends.

After lunch/breakfast, I ran a few errands, got the rest of the stuff I didn't get at the store yesterday, and came home to clean up from our trip.  I did laundry and put things away, and then I got ambitious.  Oh no.

I decided I could totally complete one of my classes tonight.  It should be easy, right?  I picked Oceanography because everything was already posted for me to complete.  I had 4 tests and 5 labs, and finished the class with a solid high B at 6:15 tonight.  YAY!  I told N who wasn't interested until he asked me why I had gotten a "B."  I told him I hadn't read the book at all, and that he should NOT follow in his mom's footsteps.  Do you know what he said?  "Wow, Mom...that's pretty impressive, but imagine how well you would have done if you had actually READ the book."

I'm being admonished by a 10 year-old, and I'm torn between laughing and grounding him for being a smarty pants.

N started basketball tonight, so I took him to practice and hung out to see how the team was shaping up.  He did really well, and I'd say he's right on track for being one of the kids who gets a lot of playing time.  He doesn't take constructive criticism well, so that's a huge hurdle...but I know he's capable. 

When we got home, I decided to get some of my Mexican class out of the way.  It's on Mexican culture and customs, but I just simplify.  This is the class that started mid-semester, and I've totally put it off.  There aren't any due dates, aside from a paper that's due Tuesday (whoops!) and the rest is due at the end of the semester.  I sat down at 8:00, and by 11:00 I had completed everything but the reflective paper.  I'm so proud of me!

Now all I have to do is wait for my Criminology professor to post the discussion boards for next week, take the final, and I'm done!  There are so many things I'd rather be doing, but I promised myself that I would be responsible and get my work done first.

Man, it sucks being a grown-up sometimes...

To wrap things up, I had a great conversation with a friend of mine tonight.  She was asking about my love life (or lack thereof) and I was laughing as I explained why it was non-existent.  I'm glad I can laugh about it because it sure beats crying!!!

Aubs

My B & me, at 4:17, right before he became my 7 year-old B!  He's such a ham, & I (mostly) love it!

Bright ideas never end up working like you want them to...

When we left for Houston last week, I made sure not to grocery shop prior to our departure.  That meant, when we left, we were out of milk and juice and bread and deli meat and cereal and a variety of other things that we use on the regular.  Genius idea, right?

Wrong.

When you get home after 11:00 pm and you're super-tired, the last thing you want to do is think about any of that stuff...so you don't.  It isn't really a big deal at night, but when your kids wake up in the morning, to find that the only kind of juice we have is cranberry, this is a minor problem.  Luckily, we had poptarts, so breakfast wasn't a total disaster.

But then, before I knew it, it was lunch time.  I have one kid who refuses to eat any kind of sandwich except peanut butter and jelly, and I have another kid who is allergic to peanut butter and will only eat turkey sans bread.  Normally, this isn't an issue, but like I said, I made them eat all the food and didn't restock.

Lunch was a creative affair: N had an uncrustable (typically slated for school lunches only) chips, blueberry muffins, and an applesauce.  B had chicken nuggets that I found in the freezer, chips, peaches, and applesauce.  And I purposely ignored the fact that I had a paper due at midnight.

Instead, I went back into my room to lounge on my bed (I love my bed at my dad's but nothing compares to being in your own bed in your own home) and tried to catch up on my dvr...except for that it's having issues recording things.  I need to have Dish come replace it (they've already offered several times) but first I want to clear my dvr.  See the catch-22?  Life is so complicated.

Finally, I dragged us out of the house and off to Target to get "6" things, but on the way, I had this genius idea.  These ideas are typically never good, but I decided (on a whim) to make goodie bags for B's class.  See, he turns 7 tomorrow, and since his birthday actually falls on a school day, I wanted to make it special.

So first we went to Party City, where he wanted to get every single kind of candy and noisy toy imaginable.  I told him to pick one toy and stickers.  He looked completely depressed until I reminded him that we had candy at home I could put in the bags...then he perked right up.  After careful consideration, he chose a kazoo and sports/stars stickers.  I splurged and let him pick a pencil, too and he picked some pretty fantastic goodie bags, too.

Then there was Target.  They drove me crazy on every aisle: fighting, touching each other, goofing around.  I already knew I needed a vacation from their vacation, but I literally told them in the "lunch box/chip" aisle that if I heard one more word, they were both going to bed as soon as we got home.  The time at that moment was approximately 3:47. 

We finished getting our groceries and went to check the dollar spot...because you just never know what you'll find there.  What we found was Angela!  She's one of the moms from N's baseball team, and she and I will both swear that we're kindred spirits.  We just met a few months ago, but we totally click.  I wished, on more than one occasion, that we were home this last week so our kids could play and we could have grown-up talk.  She's a lot of fun, and always knows where I'm coming from when my kids are making me insane...mostly because she's right there with me.

I realized, while talking to Angela, that N needed an intermediate basketball for practice that starts tomorrow, so after we finished at Target, I threw caution to the wind and left my freezer stuff in the trunk while we ran into Sports Authority to grab a ball and return a Longhorns shirt N decided he didn't want.  Twenty minutes later, I was reminded why I try my best to avoid Sports Authority...not because of their lack of selection, but because their employees are not the fastest cars on the racetrack.

When we were almost home, N mentioned that we forgot to get milk, so we stopped at Market Street and ran into 3 people we knew.  Joy.  We got home, ate dinner, and I started on my literary review of the death penalty.  I originally chose the topic because I've already done a research paper or two on the subject, and I figured that would help.  It didn't. 

Now I have more deadlines in my immediate future, but the good news is that one of them is a reflective paper.  I can knock that one out pretty quickly, but here's what I don't understand...  Why must all college professors make their papers due on the exact same day?  Wouldn't life be so much easier (for everyone, not just the girl who has 3 papers due on the same day on vastly different subjects) if each subject was required to stagger the major papers?  History papers are due mid-October, government the first week of November, and so on and so forth?  No?  Well, I think it would be way easier and would streamline my life...

And, as we all know...this is obviously all about me...

Aubs

P.S. I have to go "special occasion dress" shopping this week to find a dress for a fairly fancy Christmas party.  I don't want the dress to be long, but I also don't want it to be super-form fitting.  Any thoughts?

Picture Recap

Today was just a lowkey day at Pampaw's house.  We lazed around the house for most of the day, and my dad took a nap while I did laundry and homework and the boys played outside.  I went back and forth on whether or not we should go home today or tomorrow several times.  SO...  We just got home from a week in Houston...  I purposely left in the evening, in hopes that the boys would be tired and fall asleep so I could get some peace & quiet because, let's face it.  This mom is completely frazzled.  I need a vacation from our vacation, and I'm so glad that school starts again on Monday.  Surprise, surprise: they didn't sleep, nor were they quiet.  At all.

Since I'm far away from the "radiant bear" aka the insulation in my dad's attic (I know it's a radiant barrier, but the first time my dad mentioned it, my Seester and I swore he said "radiant bear" so now we talk about the dazzling dancing bear hiding in the attic.  Yeah, we're weird...like you didn't know that already.) my phone will work.  I can text and talk and email pictures to myself and check Facebook, and anything else I wanted to do.  I've gotta say, I did enjoy the peace & quiet this week, as far as my phone usage is concerned.  It was pleasant to just be without all of the beeping and binging and flashing lights, notifiying me that something entirely too important was happening.

And now: Pictures!  I didn't take my camera to Houston, mostly because it was broken a long time ago.  I mostly rely on my phone or other people to take pictures, so thank goodness for my Seester.  She showed up, camera in hand, and sent me some wonderful memories!

My dad and I started our morning around 6 a.m., and as soon as we got the turkey in the oven, we enjoyed some delicious Thanksgiving coffee and a few minutes of relaxation before we went into Thanksgiving prep mode.

                                                      Our turkey right before the foil tent.

                                                            My dad, the turkey carver.

Appetizers minus the "Oklahoma Dip" and the Spinach Artichoke Dip, which I accidentally forgot to take out of the microwave after I reheated it.  Whoops!

                         After we ate, N needed some quiet time to contemplate life...on top of the fence.

                                  Meanwhile, my mom, Seester, and I were just being ourselves...

                    Then our photographer (Mike) said we needed to behave ourselves, so we tried...

We changed into our Thanksgiving pants to watch some baseball.  Here, my Seester is demonstrating how to safely watch a backyard baseball game while wearing B's batting helmet, although it is less than convenient when trying to sip a nice glass of wine.  I volunteered to get her a straw, but she just lifted the helmet each time she needed a drink.  She's so resourceful, that Seester of mine...

The boys & Uncle David.  They like him a whole lot.

 

 

                         B doesn't like to wear clothes.  This is what I get when I tell him to put on a shirt.

                                                            Wishbone Battle of 2012

B the triumphant!  His wish?  A skateboard.

 

  And then it was time for football...  Here we have J.D. and David staring intently, and Mike's leg as he discusses Tech's chance for a bowl bid.

David is a pacer when things are tense.

 

During halftime, the boys played a very intense round of Hulk Smash, a game where you smash the crap out of your opponents playdough game pieces, and sometimes you get stuck smashing your own.  It was quite the event.

                                          Seester and I watched from the chair, until...

                                          B came over & we posed for a pig nose picture.

He thought it was so funny...so he started sneak attacking others for pig nose pictures. Here's Mike, who's actually conscious, but undeterred by the 6 year-old squishing his nose rather uncomfortably.

 

 

Last, but certainly not least, here is a picture of J.D. and myself with our Turkey Trophy.  I was nervous for a few minutes, but with a partner who knows just as much random stuff as you do, you can't go wrong!

Every year, we add to our "Blessings Book" and look at what we were thankful for last year.  Every year is different, and yet it's the same.  It's fun to look at what we were thankful for last year and the year before, and to see the pictures documenting our fun-filled family time.  I can't wait to see what pictures make the cut this year, because I know when I get to see it, it will be time to make even more memories.

What are you thankful for?

Aubs

Ice Skating & a Sombrero

B has been asking me for months if we can go ice skating.  I kept putting it off, thinking it would be a great activity to do for his birthday in Houston with Aunt Katie & Uncle David.  It never failed; each time I asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday, the answer was the same...so I looked into rinks near my dad's that were NOT a part of a mall.

Sugar Land Ice Rink it is.  I warned both boys, prior to our adventure, that it would be cold, they would fall, and they would get wet.  Neither of them believed me, and griped when I told them they needed to wear jeans and bring a long sleeved shirt.  When we walked into the rink, B started shivering and said, "Hey, thanks mom!"

Skating was so fun!  I hadn't skated in years and years, but it was a lot of fun.  The boys had a rough start, but B picked up on it pretty quickly even though he was dripping wet from falling down so frequently.  N had a much harder time getting going, but did really well as long as nobody went near him.  He seemed to sustain a lot more injuries than his brother, but he didn't give up.

Aunt Katie, Uncle David, and Nana joined us for skating, while Pampaw, J.D., and Stella watched from the sidelines.  Katie & I would skate by our spectators, striking a pose in perfect sync.  We always got a good response...and to top it all off, neither of us fell the entire time we were out there, even though there were a few close calls.

My mom had never ice skated, and she did pretty well.  David hadn't skated in forever, but he seemed to enjoy himself too.  I guess those roller blades our parents bought us years ago were really a good idea after all.  I swear, if I went ice skating 3 times a week, I'd be in shape in no time.  I asked my dad if I could be a figure skater when I grew up, but he just looked at me like I was crazy and shook his head.

We went to dinner afterwards, and when we finished, the staff brought out a sombrero and sang B a Spanish birthday song.  He grinned from ear to ear the whole time...and then it was time for PRESENTS!  He got a Captain America shield that shoots darts and a Captain America mask from Aunt Katie & Uncle David, a Trac-Ball set from Pampaw, an updated Simon memory game and dominoes from Nana, $20 from Stella, a football & DS game from N, Stompeez from mom, and Headbanz and a Ninjago lego from mom & N.

Pretty good haul for a few days before his actual birthday, don't you think?  Those boys are so worn out...they both started to crash in the car on the way home from dinner.  Thank goodness for that 'cause this mom is ready to go to bed and it isn't even 8:00.

My dad's probably ready to have his house back...and the next item on my agenda (aside from making birthday treats for school on Monday, getting N ready for basketball that starts on Monday, and getting N's costume ready for the holiday program) is to find a dress for my dad's Christmas party.  I need something fancy and cocktailish...and I'm out of ideas.  Anyone?

Aubs

The Common Denominator

Oh, I don't even know if I have the words to describe today's festivities.  I laughed until I got teary so many times, I lost count.  We stuffed ourselves, stared at the food left over (hoping it would put itself away), watched football, played football, took pictures, played Bocce ball, played baseball, watched more football, did Jello shots, and battled for the turkey trophy.

I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but those were definitely some of the highlights.

This is truly my favorite time of year, and by far my favorite holiday.  I enjoy having my boys together and with my family and some of our friends.  I so appreciate their willingness to entertain my boys, who literally count down the days until they get to see them.  The great thing about the boys that I have...they are almost always entertaining.

Whether it's B on the pitcher's mound, mouthing "One more, one more, one more..." over and over to himself while I'm up to bat (causing me to step out of the batter's box 'cause I was laughing so hard), or N in a rousing rendition of "Paul Revere" with his aunt, uncle, and friends, we do a lot of laughing.

A. Lot.

Sadly, the Longhorns lost.  At first, we were just going to take Jello shots when they scored points...that quickly changed to, "Okay, so anytime the cannons go off..." to "Okay, this sucks.  Take a shot!"  So, what do you do after a painful Longhorn loss?

Battle for the turkey trophy, of course.  This year, we opted to put numbers in a bowl and draw.  I ended up with J.D. (my brother-in-law's roommate from college who's a ton of fun), and we played a brand new (5 years ago) trivia game for my dad's PS3.  It requires buzzers, so it's already super fun.

The teams:
Team 1: Katie & Stella
Team 2: David & Mom
Team 3: Mike & Dad
Team 4: Aubs & J.D.

N & B just wanted to push the buttons, so they bounced from team to team.  B got the buttons confiscated during a particularly heated round, when my sister yelled, "B, stop going rogue!"  Ahhh, I love my family.

We were triumphant the first round, but lost the next two.  We came back and won the fourth round and it all came down to round five: Mike & Dad vs. Aubs & J.D.

I am proud to announce that J.D. knew Vera Wang was famous for designing wedding dresses on his own (among other things), and we were victorious!  That's right...my turkey trophy is coming home, and my record remains perfect.

My sister said that I'm obviously the common denominator since I always win, and I'll take it.  Man, I love this holiday.

Also, we were already discussing next year.  Topics included: Turkey deli meat, tailgating, and going to the Texas Tech/Texas game on Thanksgiving next year.  Could you imagine?  That would be the most fun ever!

Tomorrow, we're going ice skating for B's birthday...which should be wildly entertaining.

I'll sum up today's festivities with one simple phrase: (picture Maury Povich voice...NOW!)

F'Shawn (Fish On! (Rivermonsters)) you are NOT the father of Vo-Dee-qua (Vodka)!

Aubs

How many times can YOU go to a grocery store in one day?

Let's recap this one, shall we?

I woke up this morning when my alarm went off, instead of an hour or so before.  Is it wrong that I was more than a little excited about this?  Not only that, but the boys were still asleep.  Could it be?!  I dragged them out of bed, and then started tackling the list I had made myself.

This is when being an over-achiever is a seemingly bad life choice.  In the first hour, I made my Aunt Patty's veggie dip (quite possibly the best veggie dip around, not biased; total truth), spinach artichoke dip (always a crowd pleaser), and pumpkin pie with a cheesecake layer underneath.  While I was at it, I made the crust for the coconut cream pie...why not?

Then, while the boys did whatever it was they were doing that did not involve being in my face, I decided to clean the bathrooms...and proceeded to get light headed from the fumes in the process.  That may explain my ever-present headache, or perhaps that's just due to a lack of caffeine. 

I finished the dusting I started on Monday, and mumbled under my breath (possibly over and over again) that my dad needs a maid.  Because he does.  A single man with a large home needs someone to clean it sometimes.  Maybe every 2 weeks...Christmas present, perhaps?  Hmmmm...  Anyway, my dad called to say he was headed home from work, but was planning to make a stop or two, so I decided to extend his table to make a square instead of a rectangle.  Probably, I should've had help with this, but I was determined to mark something else off the list before he got home, so I went balls to the wall and did it. 

When he came in, lugging new barstools (one of which was broken when we opened the box), I was just finishing wiping down the kitchen.  Seriously.  I made him go wash his hands in the bathroom, but warned him to not make a mess because I just cleaned that too.  Stay out of my cleaning path, if you know what's good for you...I always say. 

I did a little detective work and discovered that a Sam's near my dad had the same barstools in stock, so off we went.  When we got there, we had to wait at customer service, and this man who might've been channeling Hitler barked at everyone to go stand by the black rope thingy.  Perhaps a sign would suffice?  What do I know?  We returned the broken one, then went to find a replacement...but there weren't any.  I had called specifically to make sure they had them, so we walked up and down the few furniture aisles, heads tilted to the sky, looking for this damn barstool.

When I went off to visit the Nazi again to request assistance, my dad found it...at the very top.  Twenty minutes later, we've added a serving platter that swivels and apple cinnamon spice air freshener to our shopping cart, but we're still waiting on the forklift to come get this blasted barstool down.  I hear the beeping of (what I can only hope is) the forklift getting closer, and as the little parade draws nearer, I actually hear them yelling, "Forklift!  Forklift!" as if the beeping and honking of the horn isn't sufficient.  I'm in awe.  We check the stool before purchasing to make sure it isn't broken, and then we head off to check out.

I suggest the self-checkout because it's the smallest line, and we pay...only the wildly intelligent (please imagine dripping sarcasm) cashier next to us bumped the kiosk thing.  My dad didn't notice the receipt had printed, so he checked out again.  Guess what that means!  Yep, one more trip to see the Nazi customer service rep.  After I explained the situation, he looked puzzled...then refunded one of the tickets.  I made my dad cut in the ridiculously long line of people waiting to leave the store, all waiting for one person to make sure their purchases matched their receipt.

It.  Took.  For.  Ev.  Er.

After that, it was off to Chipotle, partially because the boys were starving, and partially to shut B up.  See, he either doesn't understand what it means to pester the crap out of somebody, or he's really good a manipulative behavior.  Any which way you slice it, visiting Chipotle is often followed with a conversation that goes something like, "Okay, we ate at Chipotle.  Don't ask me again for at least two weeks."  And he doesn't...but on that 2 week mark, he's all over it.  I swear he counts down.

Last on our list (or so I thought) was H.E.B.  We split up, like we did last night at Target, and did pretty well.  The line wasn't terrible, but the aisles were crazy congested.  I looked at the baking aisle and thought (out loud), "Holy crap, I'm so glad I don't have to go down that aisle."

Stupid.  Stupid.  Stupid.

We got home and I put together the other barstool before assisting my dad with more turkey prep.  After he did that, I realized I needed cornstarch...so I went back to H.E.B. and made a trip down the dreaded baking aisle.  When I got back, I started making my dad's coconut cream pie while he was out on the patio, setting up the satellite on the television out there.  I stirred and stirred and stirred...and used up all the vanilla, which would've been fine except I still had B's cake to make.

SO, N and I went to Target where they already had "Bonus Buys!" out...which made me think.  Who has an almost 7 year old and hasn't bought them a single birthday present yet?  Mom of the year, right here.  N and I snagged a few things we knew he wanted, grabbed some wrapping paper and gift bags, and (at the last minute) remembered to grab the vanilla and Velveeta.  Seriously almost walked out without it.

We were almost home, when I thought to look in the DS game box that N had picked for B at Gamestop...only to discover that it was, in fact, still empty.  SUPER!  I love being out and about when I have a crazy list of prep still left to do for my favorite holiday.  We went back, got the stupid game, and headed home. 

Again.  My dad only called once to see where the heck we were.  I was impressed.

I started assembling the ingredients, mixing them as I went, and then tore my dad's pantry apart looking for baking soda.  Who doesn't have baking soda?  My dad, apparently.  Super.  Since I'd already mixed all the ingredients together, I grabbed my keys and wallet, and said, "Okay I'll be right back."  The look on my dad's face was priceless..."AGAIN!?"

Uh, yeah.  Because if I don't go and I have to throw this stuff out, I'm going to be super pissed and if B doesn't have this kgjaosijgioejgoaiej Captain America cake, I'm going to lose mom points.  I dragged him with me this time, and we sang the song that never ends the whole way there.  Do you know that one?

"This is the song that never ends.  Yes, it goes on and on my friend.  Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue singing it forever just because this is the song that never ends..."

We're everbody's favorite. 

Back to the baking aisle we went.  I definitely got my H.E.B. time in this week.  We met someone in a similar predicament, on their second or third trip to the store, but we were old pros by this time.  I even told them where the lemon juice was...just because I was feeling friendly.

I made a dozen cupcakes and a small layer cake and my dad is outfitted with baking soda AND baking powder, just in case.  He also has a sifter.  I feel this is necessary in life, PLUS it entertains children for hours...or at least minutes.

Now, I'm trying to figure out what to do with the cake(s) while they wait for the frosting that I haven't created yet.  I still have to make whipped cream tomorrow too, not to mention "lawnmower casserole" and mashed potatoes.  I was going to be smart and make them the night before, but I'm getting up at 6:00 to prep the turkey with my dad, so that's a no-go.

Can I just say how much I love the early mornings with my dad on Thanksgiving?  It's just the two of us, drinking coffee and hanging out.  It's one of the many reasons that I love this holiday the most.  He made my job so much easier by chopping up all of the ingredients for the stuffing tonight.  He just bought super-sharp knives, and the last thing I need to do is to try to chop something when I'm not fully awake and have to go through Thanksgiving missing a digit.

Sadly, I could totally see this happening.  Grace AND beauty, right here...

Aubs

For those of you who were counting...five trips to the store.  Five.  I'm counting the one where we were literally turning into the neighborhood and had to turn around.  Five...

The day before the day before Thanksgiving

Typically, this is the day that I would begin preparing some of my dishes for Thanksgiving, however I did not. 

"Why," you ask?  Well, I'll tell you.

My dad just moved into his newly built home towards the end of August, and has been taking his time trying to figure out what he wants to do with it.  He decided on surround sound for the living room and his bedroom, but wanted to add speakers to the game room, the front bedroom (my room) and the patio as well.  SO, the guys from the surround sound company (I'd give them props, but I have no clue what their company name is, however, they are named Stephen and Chris and their boss is named John.) came to hang out with us today.  All day.

They got here at 10:00 this morning, and when they left around 6:30 this evening they still hadn't finished.  It was obviously a big job.  They did mount a few televisions (including a 42" on the patio in the backyard) and installed 8 speakers.  THEN they hooked everything up to my dad's tablet.  Great.  More electronics to get tested on before I'm "checked off" as a qualified user. 

The boys picked up leaves from the front flower beds, played Trac-Ball, played Wii, and drove each other crazy for the majority of the day.  I supervised the boys doing their yard work, did some schoolwork, and then supervised the speaker guys while reading my Kindle and cursing the damn Japanese beetle thingies.

You may call them orange ladybugs, but I googled those suckers yesterday when there were literally eleventy of them all over the back patio.  I learned that they are Japanese beetles, they come out in droves when crops are being harvested, and something I don't really remember about wooded areas.  Since my dad's house backs up to a nature preserve, I'm pretty sure the last one applies.  They're stinkin' fast, and they're everywhere.  I've been instructed to suck them up with the long hose of the vacuum cleaner tomorrow if they haven't miraculously disappeared.

I love my life.

After the sound guys left, we went to Five Guys for dinner, and then to buy booze.  Some would say we should've started with that, but I think I would have felt more compelled to drink every bottle in the store.  (Side note: On the way home, B was reading the box between N & himself in the backseat: "What is Voh-Di-kuh?  Would I like it?"  Oh, honey...you have no idea).  We ended up going to two different places to secure our items from my Thanksgiving list.  I might've text my friend Stella saying, "So...a guy, his daughter, and two little boys walk into a liquor store.  No, really.  It just happened."

Keeping it classy, one day at a time.

After that, we went to Target to finish our shopping for my day(s) of food prep.  We'll continue that "finish our shopping" thought tomorrow.  I get to go to H.E.B. and my dad "gets" to go to Sam's.  I'm pretty sure he's less than thrilled.  Anyway, as we pulled into Target, I saw a semi-familiar face and truck.  Whether it was who I thought it was or not, my heart jumped up to my throat, and I felt a wave of panic.

And then I realized I didn't really want it to be that person.  I was so proud of myself.  Trust me, I've come a long way.  We split up into teams, and I gave my dad and whichever kid he got stuck with a list of three things.  They took off, then had to find us when they were done.  It worked pretty well...and then they both wanted to go with Pampaw.  Darn, time by myself?  Sad.

We got home, unloaded the groceries, and I sent N to take a shower.  Cue: Panic and subdued "ow ow ow."  When I went in the bathroom, I find N...and part of the towel bar ripped out of the wall.  Super.  Because there isn't enough on my "to do" list for the next day or two.  Let's just add "Repair drywall and replace towel bar" for funsies.  Luckily, B showered without incident.

They're in bed, watching "UP," and I'm wondering if I should poison check the adult goodies we purchased tonight.  I mean, someone's gotta do it, right?

Aubs

Lacey Lou Wigglebutt

If y'all have known me for any extended length of time, you know about this precious girl.  When I was a junior in high school, my family adopted the sweetest golden retriever/cocker spaniel and, after much deliberation, we named her Lacey.  At the time, the SPCA estimated she was roughly 3, already house-trained, and incredibly sweet.

Sweet, she was...but she was also a stinker!  In the first few years of our time together, she got herself into all sorts of minor trouble, but the incidents that come to mind most readily are digging in the trash/spreading it out all over the house, and eating dirty underwear.  That cracks me up now, and totally disgusts my boys, but she did.  She's a weird one, that Lacey.  Anytime anyone talks to her, whether she's getting in trouble or getting loving attention, her butt is always wiggling.  She can't help it.  She has the little stub tail, so half her body wiggles with it.  It's so precious!

Everyone loves Lacey.  Anyone who meets her absolutely adores her.  She is patient and gentle and has been known to be a little frisky from time to time.  As she got older, she seemed to grow even more patient, and when N was born, she let him crawl and climb all over her without any issue.  By the time B came around, she was a little more "old ladyish" and not so into being a jungle gym, but she still stayed still and just looked at him warily.

At some point, her hearing started to go.  In my dad's old house, you could get her attention by stomping on the wood floor.  No matter where she was in the house, she would feel the vibrations and come trotting down the hall.  When he moved to Houston, she stayed with us for a few days, and then rode down to Houston with the boys and me.  The boys absolutely love her too.

Now that my dad has a house and a yard, she is loving the fact that she is able to go outside without a leash and just wander around.  She drives my dad crazy sometimes, wanting to go in and out all the time, but he and Lacey are buddies.  She's old though, so sometimes she just doesn't make it outside.  My heart hurts for her.

In addition to being deaf, Lacey has these growths that have popped up all over her body.  They're kind of like skin tags, only their a lot bigger and they bleed when she messes with them.  I know, it's kinda gross, but she's my girl.  I love her to pieces, even though I'm mostly afraid to touch her. 

Each time I come down to visit my dad and Lacey, I notice how she's changed.  Yes, she's an old lady, she has a lot more trouble getting up and laying down, but she still runs (as best she can) to greet my dad (or anyone else) when they come in the door...assuming she can hear them, of course.  The last few months, she has really deteriorated.  She's losing weight and some of her hair.  The ridges of her spine are palpable, and yet, she still follows people (namely my dad, my sister, or myself) around when she sees us.

B and I found her a sweater, and we brought it down for her this time.  I put it on her yesterday, and she looks adorable, if I do say so myself.  It hides some of the larger issues she has, and keeps the old girl warm too!  Like most cockers, she has developed a habit of having seizures as she's gotten older.  I've only been around for a few; I realize now that my dad has shielded my sister and myself from some of the harder issues dealing with Lacey, but today I was standing right next to her when she lost control.

She kept trying to get up, but she just couldn't...so I got down on the floor next to her and loved on her until she could move.  I was so grateful that the boys were in the other room when it happened, but B was standing right next to me when she started sneezing a little later.  With each sneeze, blood spattered the floor in the kitchen.  I sat down and held her, and carefully wiped her mouth.  A growth I had never noticed before, next to her mouth, was bleeding. 

A little later, I was dusting the furniture in my dad's room, when I looked over and saw another growth bleeding...right above her eye, making it hard for her to see.  I sat down next to her again, and called for N to bring me a towel.  He came in, saw me crying, and was immediately concerned.  B came running in, and I sent him for a box of tissues.  We all just sat there with my sweet Lacey Lou Wigglebutt, and I cried while they asked me if she was going to die.

The truth is, I know she's going to...I just don't know when.  I'm scared that each time I leave will be the last time I see her.   Everytime I see her struggle to stand, I wonder how much she's actually hurting.  I wish she could just tell us.  I wish we could avoid her being in pain.  I know she's had a long, well-loved life, but I selfishly wish she were still a little girl instead of an old lady.

I know my sister and I have both told my dad that we're okay with putting her to sleep if it's her time, and that we trust him to make that decision.  I know he's hesitant to do so because they're best friends.  They've been together for the entire time that we've had her, and his life will be so empty without her.

Lacey is, without a doubt, the best dog I've ever known.  I know everyone says that about their pet, but it's true.  She's just a big sweetheart, such a caring little pup.  I love her to pieces, and I know it will be hard losing her.  I hope she's loved being around us as much as we've loved her...

Aubs

(Last Thanksgiving.  I'm hesitant to post a picture from this year, but she is sooo different.)

Why didn't I think of this before?!

This morning, before we left for Houston, I held a powwow with the boys in the kitchen.  I asked them what the rules should be for our trip, and they gave me a bunch of really bizarre ones.  After the customary "No fighting, no bothering mom, no touching each other, inside voices..." I got the following:
1. Make sure you put your headphones on both ears, not just one.
2. Only mom gets to pick the music on the iPod. (I actually like this one)
3. The windows can be down for half the trip.
4. It's a law that we have to stop at the beaver place to pee.

What. Ever.  They're weird.  They actually did really well, linking up on their DSi's and playing some of the games they both have for the majority of the trip.  When we got to Huntsville, they were hungry, so we stopped to get lunch.  B, being the difficult child that he is, did NOT want Chicken Express which is what N chose.  It was N's turn, but B pitched a huge fit.  What did B want?  Chicken nuggets...from Jack-In-The-Box.  Vomit.  But, they had been good, so I did it.

And then I had the greatest idea ever, in the history of ideas.

After they finished eating, I gave each of them a $1 bill...and then I told them that if they could find the spider that was hidden on the bill, they could keep it.  There was silence for the rest of the trip to Missouri City, with the exception of a few discouraged, "Nevermind, Mom.  I quit.  This is too hard....okay, fine.  At least give us a hint."  They know which side of the bill it's on, and that it's on the right side, but they still haven't been able to find it.  I haven't told them either.  I'm going to ride this one for all it's worth.  Genius!

After we got here and surprised my dad (who didn't know when we were coming because he never calls me back, but figured it was going to be tomorrow), we watched the Cowboys pull off a (miraculous) win, and (surprisingly enough) the Texans won too.  Um, yay?  Anyway, we went out in the backyard to play Trac-Ball.  B played last time he was here with my dad, but N hadn't been to Houston since my dad had moved into his house.  He picked up on the gist of it pretty quickly, and before long, all three of them were sailing those plastic balls over the back fence.

This is when Aubrey, in all her genius glory, decided to climb the fence in skinny jeans and flats...and then realized the following:
1. The fence is really flimsy.
2. It's a lot further down than it looks.
3. If you go over the fence, there's no way to get back over.

So, my dad got a ladder and pushed it over to the other side.  His fence backs up to a greenbelt of sorts, and beyond that is a nature preserve.  I climbed back over after I rescued the balls, and went to change into yoga pants and running shoes...then back over the fence I went.  I hung out on the greenbelt for the better part of an hour.  I'm pretty sure they were trying to throw them over the fence, and maybe even at me, but I'm lacking proof at this point.

Our fun outside ended when B got hit in the arm at close range and flipped out.  I thought he rolled in dog poop, but after I made him smell it to check, he decided it was just mud.  The boys are on poop patrol all week.  I told them this is the only way a mini-gymnastics meet between my sister and myself might even be remotely possible.  B witnessed this a few weeks ago, and told N it was not to be missed.

After that, my dad and I went through the liquor in his liquor cabinet and decided what else needed to be purchased for Drunk Day 2012, I mean Thanksgiving.  I made a grocery list, and we started one (of many) planning sessions.  Tomorrow, I'm tackling his house while he's at work.  The boys don't know it yet, but they're going to be the best child labor there is...and they're going to do it without complaining.

Uh, I had to try...

Aubs

I'm glad I was hesitant...

After I posted yesterday, I had a serious stroke of genius and found the other motionplus sensor thingy.  It was in a drawer in the desk in the kitchen, you know...'cause that's where it belongs.  When I called N at his dad's, rather triumphant, he was not impressed.  He called me back 15 minutes later because I told him he should ask his stepbrother if we could borrow his copies of Wii Sports/Sports Resort, and yelled "I FOUND MY COPIES!"  Last night ended up being a pretty dang good night.

Today, B and I ran errands, looking for basketball shorts and a sweater for Lacey (our family dog from when I was a teenager) who is getting pretty old and having some skin issues.  I think we found a winner, and she's pretty laid back, so she'll probably be cool with it.  I'll take pictures, but this poor, precious dog looks her 16+ years.  Poor sweet girl.  I always get choked up each time I leave my dad's house, because I'm not sure she'll be there when I come back down there.  My sister and I have both had "the talk" on different occasions with my dad about putting her to sleep when it becomes necessary, and I'm pretty sure we both cried when we did it.

Tonight, B and I went to church, and while he ran off his sugar high from an ice cream float 30 minutes before church (Mom of the year, right here...) in "kid church," I hung out in "grown-up" church.  I like the pastor of the church we attend (Fellowship Church in Grapevine), but I like it more when Ed Young is actually preaching the sermon in person instead of on video, like he was tonight.  Still, the message was interesting; about how Jesus fed thousands with seven loaves, and when everyone was full, there were seven big baskets of bread left.  The church is doing a massive expansion, and because of that, there's this series called "Seven" that has been going on for a few weeks.  It's so amazing to see God working in the lives of people young and old, and to see how He provides what we need, even before we realize we need it.

After church, B and I came home to start packing for Houston.  My goal is to be ready to go in the morning, but to have the house be relatively clean, so we won't come home to shambles.  Thankfully, we'll come home with clean laundry, because I'll do that at my dad's before we head back, so that's one worry off my mind.  SO, tomorrow morning, I'll clean out the fridge, wipe down the counters, take out the trash, and do a "quick" clean of the bathrooms...and hope that nothing smells weird when we come home.

I think my dad is pretty excited about having us all come to his new house.  N hasn't been there since his house has been completed, so that's going to be fun.  My dad bought baseballs and several sets of Trac-Ball, and I know the boys will love playing that.  B played last time he was down there, but N has never heard of it, and it's really hard to describe.  It's fun.  The End.  I'm excited about scooter rides to the park and just relaxing with the boys in a place where they don't have to tiptoe or talk quietly so they won't disturb the neighbors.  And on that note, I wonder how many days my dad is working this week...

Man, I can't wait to help my dad cook that 22.5 lb turkey.  It's right around the corner, y'all...and I'm so thankful it's Thanksgiving week!

Aubs

Sometimes you feel like a nut...

Sometimes you don't.  Today, I definitely did.  I started getting things ready for our upcoming trip to Houston.  Since N was heading to his dad's for a couple of days before we leave, I had him pick his clothes today.  B decided to do the same thing, so there is an explosion of clothing on each of their beds.  I guess B's sleeping on the couch tonight...

As I'm sitting here, watching "Dennis the Menace" with B, I'm thinking that B and Dennis could, quite possibly, be the same child...although Dennis seems to be fearless, and B is freaked out by the vibrations of the movie night that is apparently going on in the apartment below us.  Seriously, the walls are rattling.  If it goes much longer, I might get cranky.  OR we might just have a dance party in heavy shoes.  It's a toss-up.

I gave in and purchased a video game for both boys for our trip, one neither of them had but one that they could link up and play together on their DSi's.  I hope they play and get along...but I know better.  Usually, it starts off all fun and friendly, but once one of them "accidentally" kills the other, they start yelling and I confiscate.  It's a cute little cycle.  That (randomly) reminds me that I should pick out some movies to take.  My dad doesn't have a whole lot of kid-friendly choices.

I'm currently on a Wii game hunt...I know we have Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, but I can't find either one of them, nor can I find one of the stupid motionplus sensors.  To most, this wouldn't be that big of a deal, but it is.  Trust me.  The boys can play those two games for the longest time without fighting or arguing.  Yes, I'd let them play for hours if it meant they weren't arguing.  Mom of the Year, right here. 

Unfortunately, they seem to have dropped off the face of the Earth.  I was just looking at purchasing them online instead, knowing that once I order them, they will miraculously appear...but I'm hesitant.  Even if I order them, they won't be here (or in Houston) in time to make my life less crazy.  Grrrr.

Also, I have to figure out what to get B for his birthday.  The more I look at the list he gave me, the less I want to buy him any of that.  I'm in need of inspiration here, and I'd love for inspiration to hit PRIOR to black Friday.  Yeah, that would be super.  Ugh.  I do my best to avoid any kind of shopping experience at all for the 4 days after Thanksgiving.

Does anyone have any bright ideas on what to get for a 7 year-old?  I got nothin...  I'm hoping that I'll wake up tomorrow and have a more productive day.  Today, I felt like I was running in circles, going nowhere.  On the upside, I found out who N's basketball coach will be, and where he's practicing.  I'm excited that he'll have that to keep him occupied for the next couple of months.

I'm going to a super-fancy Christmas party December 8 in Houston, and I have to find a dress.  I'd really like to get something in the eggplant/purple family...  Does anyone have any ideas on where to look?  I'm not really a "fancy" kind of person, so I'm super-excited but also totally not looking forward to the dress shopping part.  Maybe I should start with shoes and go from there...sounds like a plan!

Aubs

Coconut cream pie, take 2

So, the first round went over pretty well, but I didn't feel it was coconut-y enough, so I opted for a few changes.  It wasn't the full version to begin with because I didn't bother making whipped cream and toasted coconut for the top since it was just a trial run, so that may have had something to do with it.  Who knows?  I actually just finished putting it in the fridge to chill, so we'll see how it works out for us tomorrow.

After a day that just started off all hectic and only got crappier, I was not the mom my boys should have messed with tonight.  I wish they would have figured it out before they ignored my request four times.  This mama blew up, and it was rather spectacular.  I believe the highlight (and sadly the part that made me laugh...almost on the outside) was when N said, "I want a new family...or at least a mom who loves me."  Most of you would think that was sad, but seriously?  I'd been getting onto them all night to do their normal routines, only instead of saying "Hey it's time to _________," I was saying it at least three or four times.  I'm glad they were getting along and having fun together, but  really?  Blatant disrespect.  That outburst came after I told him to brush his teeth.  Four times.

I stomped (quietly, since we live on the second floor) into their room and said, "Get your butt into the bathroom now, or I'm gonna spank it!"  And he totally overreacted.  After that, B got a turn for bringing a cup (sans lid) into his room so he could eat ice.  Totally not okay in this house, the cup in the room OR the eating of ice.  Like I said, a bunch of little things, but overall, just blatant disobedience and an obvious disrespect for their mom.

That's when we had a powwow.  That's when N rolled his eyes at me and I lost it.  That's when I said it wasn't working and we all needed a time out.  SO, after counting to 10 and then hugging and kissing both of them, reminding them how much I loved them and what their best qualities were, I went into the living room to fume.  Silently.

And then I decided to make pie...and then I decided that we needed some quality time, so I got them out of bed and installed them as helpers.  I think this will be the best pie ever.  They helped measure and stir and rolled around in the kitchen in their roll-y chairs, giggling and pretending to be borders of the United States and Mexico, refusing each other entry.  Yeah, I have no idea where that came from either, but B couldn't guess the password that "starts with a B and ends with an N and you hear it everyday at least 76 times..." so he was denied entry to the United States.  He snuck across the border, but was caught rather quickly by the border patrol by means of rolling over his toes.

As they sat there, eating Clementines and giggling like goofballs, I wondered where these two had been earlier when they were being pains in my rear and making me rethink the whole parenting thing.  Because, seriously, there are days (and today was definitely one of them) where I wonder if I was really cut out for this.  I say it all the time, but patience is not a virtue I possess in great quantity.  I'd say it missed me all together, but I have huge amounts of patience with kids that are not my own.  Perhaps I have my expectations set a little too high, but I don't think they're unattainable.  They go above and beyond my expectations all the time...if it benefits them.

I hope we can get back to the basics and really enjoy our time together next week.  I'm really looking forward to it, although I feel (by the end of it) my dad's liquor cabinet will be in dire need of restocking.  I also have a feeling that there will be a lot of ups and downs, but hopefully the ups will outnumber the downs.  And that phrase reminds me of Robin Hood, and the song that's playing when the movie is showing all the poor people that the Sheriff of Nottingham has put in prison, and the song says, "Sometimes the ups outnumber the downs...but not in Nottingham."  Some would call this a gift, while others would call me crazy.  But I'm right.

Also, today was B's Thanksgiving feast at school.  After a desperate email from his teacher last night, I agreed to go help this morning with the festivities.  Apparently, my filter was working today because holy cow...some people are just ridiculously unfriendly, rude, and catty.  I'm not, nor have I ever claimed to be, the most artistic person, and I'm far from a perfectionist (I just play one on tv), but I do think I can tape butcher paper to a table with a relative amount of success. 

Or not.  Because another woman followed me around, redoing my job right after me and griping when I quit.  I stopped doing it because she was just going to redo it anyway, so why should I waste my time?  She noticed and complained very loudly.  Kiss it, sister.  Also, this same woman was the one who would not "allow" us to make one row of tables yellow, one row orange, one row brown, and one row green.  Oh, no.  Each small table needed to be covered with a different color, but they needed to overlap a little, so it looked like Indian corn.

Seriously, y'all.  I can't make this stuff up.  I just stared.  There were so many ridiculous things that people came up with today, and I just kept my mouth shut.  Why?  To argue with them would belittle my intelligence, and they'd just do it anyway.  The kids loved it and had a great time, and that's all that matters.  Here's my little pilgrim, munching on his celery:

 

My bigger turkey is doing the school television show tomorrow, Friday Live, and he's really nervous.  He's responsible for birthdays, but can't announce his brother's because it's one day after his cut-off.  I told him to do it anyway, but he asked and they said he couldn't.  I think it's dumb, but hey...I don't make the rules.  At least not there.

 

 

I'd really like a "redo" on today, but each time I get frustrated or irritated, I always find someone, somewhere who has it worse than I do.  This afternoon in Midland, a train and a parade float carrying wounded veterans collided.  How horrible is that?  It hurts my heart to know that some of these people who have fought so valiantly for our country were killed during a parade in their honor, and several more of their brothers and sisters were wounded.  Accidents happen everyday, but this is just a tragedy.  My heart goes out to those who are injured, the loved ones of those who died, and to their brothers and sisters around the world, fighting to protect us while we go about our business as usual.

 

Like I tell my kids, sometimes life just isn't fair...but this is just heartbreaking.  I keep reminding myself that God is in control, and He has a hand on this.  It doesn't make it any less sad, but it does bring an element of peace that only He can provide.  Hold your loved ones close...and make tomorrow count for all it's worth.

 

Aubs

Running on a super-fast treadmill

...that's how I felt today. With such a hectic night last night, I was not prepared for this morning. At all.

As I was attempting to make lunches this morning, I realized WHY I really needed to go to the store yesterday. I was totally out of B food. He's such a picky eater when it comes to his lunch, and I had just tossed the remainder of his turkey because it smelled weird. And it was sticky. I don't think it's supposed to do that. It made me gag a little bit. Did he want beef jerky? No. That was my ace in the hole. He asked me to bring him lunch instead, so I reluctantly agreed. "What do you want for lunch, B?" His reply? "Chicken minis." Since the kid eats lunch at 10:30 in the morning, I took my kid breakfast. He was thrilled!

I got there early, so I got to watch a class of 4th graders working on their pieces for the holiday musical. I was so amused, mostly because they were so overly excited about the songs they were singing. I was openly cracking up and shaking my head at the same time. These poor kids...one day, when they grow up, they're going to see a dvd of their performance and wonder what the hell they were so jazzed about. Seriously, the music teacher kept yelling, "JAZZ HANDS! AAAAAAND Hold...wiggle wiggle wiggle." I held in my snorts of laughter, but it was really hard. After they filed out, B and his class filed in and we sat together and had a delightful lunch until he was like, "Hey, you have your wallet! Let's get ice cream!" Um, let's not. I don't want to go down that road on a Wednesday. Okay, thanks.

After I left him to run off his energy at recess, I went over to my mom's (scaring the handyman in the process: he's doing her kitchen remodel) to look for the Wii Resort Sports sensor thingy (right now I can only find one of them) AND the actual disc so we can take it to Houston with us on Sunday. I was unsuccessful. I don't know where those things are, but it's my goal in life to find them. After I searched high and low, finding a bunch of other interesting things, I looked at the clock and decided to make it even and show up for N's lunch too. See, their lunches are 2 hours apart. I think that's just silly.

Back to Chick-Fil-A I went...when he walked in with his class, he looked confused. He looked down at his lunch box and then at me, and said, "Thanks, Mom!" I asked if I could stay, and he reluctantly agreed. It was at lunch that I was informed that he was bringing someone home with him after school to work on a project. It was then that I realized I needed to go grocery shopping because I wouldn't have any free time this afternoon.

I did, and I made it home 15 minutes before they got there. B got up the stairs first and then promptly went back down the stairs to ride scooters/bikes with the kids who live below us. N and his friend finally showed up, and looked at the kitchen explosion with amazement as I attempted to put away the groceries/organize at the same time. I had all the doors and windows open, so the next thing I know, there are 3 fifth graders in my house...then there were 4. Then B came back inside. Then they were all hungry. ARGH! My mind is still reeling and I'm attempting to speak at a normal volume.

THEN, (you just thought my day was coming to an end) came the best part of the day. Last week, we made a play date with two of the boys from N's baseball team. N's been looking forward to it ever since I told him about it, so we headed to Kid Kountry. Usually N puts up a fight about going until we get there and he finds older kids to play with. B never has any trouble. He plays by himself or annoys other people until they just include him so he'll be quiet. There were 6 boys (ranging from 5-10) and one of the cutest little girls I've ever seen, and three moms. Having girl talk with these ladies was really the highlight of my day!

I am so grateful that these ladies and their sons were put in our life path. N really likes hanging out with the boys, B likes hanging out with their siblings, and we all just have a great time. I'm so sad baseball is over, but I'm so glad we can still have play dates. I suggested a slumber party in a couple of weeks, so we'll see how that goes! I haven't told N yet, but he will be so excited if it works out! Can I just say that I don't know how these other ladies do it? I am in awe of the choices they have made and the obstacles they face each day. I know everyone has stuff they deal with, but these two deal with the "stuff" and still laugh about it. It's so awesome and refreshing to meet such great, down-to-earth women.

THEN we came home. I threw a load of laundry in the washer, sorted a load out of the dryer, and made a quick dinner of chicken nuggets, peas, and red smashed potatoes. Thank you Target, for making little bags of new potatoes that steam in their own little bag. It makes just enough mashed potatoes for my little trio. The boys showered while I made dinner, and now they're giggling like crazy in their room playing Tron on Nintendo DS. It's one of the games they both have, so they link together and either work together (tense) or fight each other and crack up as they annihilate each other. So fun.

I got an email from B's teacher today, asking for volunteers for the Thanksgiving feast tomorrow because nobody has volunteered...so I'll be at school with a bunch of 1st graders for 2-3 hours tomorrow. Apparently, we're making a map of the pilgrims' voyage and how they went to the wrong place, but met Squanto so they could wear feathers on their heads and war paint. Oh, and he taught them about how to eat cactus. How, you ask? "Very carefully 'cause those spikes are tricky." Oh, the joy of 6 year-old brainpower...

Now it's 7:40 (OU still sucks), I've finished the homework I had slated for today, I'm about to toss the clothes in the dryer, and then I'm not sure what I'm going to do... How in the world did that happen?!

Aubs