Sonic Happy Hour and gas, compliments of my son

Yep, you read that correctly.  Today, my son treated his brother and me to Sonic Happy Hour and then he put some gas in my car.  Was he thrilled about this?  No.  Did he WANT to do it?  No, he did not, however, he didn't have a choice.  Yesterday, it was discovered that N left his baseball glove a good 45 minutes away, and since he had practice this evening, we had to retrieve it this afternoon.  Since we spent 90 minutes in the car, I told him he would be providing us refreshments as well as replacing the gas used to go get his glove.

He. Was. Furious.  The good news is, I think he might've learned something from this experience, and that was the whole point.  Score one for Mom!

The boys went out to catch after we got home, and when I called them in to get ready for baseball, everything fell apart.  They dragged their feet and argued with me over whether wearing baseball pants to baseball practice was absolutely necessary.  Um, yes.  It is.  Nevermind the fact that the fields are muddy...who wants to slide and dive for fly balls in shorts?  No, thank you.  B had batting practice, so he technically didn't need to wear all of his gear, but he likes being like his brother, so he did.  And it took forever for him to get ready.  He's (apparently) forgotten how to tie his shoes.

He claims nobody ever taught him.  I claim bs.

We started to leave, and I realized I forgot the "Team Mom" envelope to collect money for N's team.  SO, I ran back upstairs.  When we got on the "one way" street where I couldn't turn right because of the lane I was in, I realized I didn't have my phone.  So we had to turn around.  Why didn't I have my phone?  Because, at one point, I was helping B with his belt while N was tying his shoes and B was filling his water jug.  Because the child doesn't understand the meaning of the word "hustle." 

I did a whole lot of yelling about how much I hate being late tonight.  And I was angry.  SO angry.  It didn't help, and I know it didn't...but oh MAN, I abhor being late.  I turned around as soon as I could, ran up the stairs to grab my phone, and we made it to practice exactly 4 minutes late.  That's four minutes too many, if you ask me.  I kept yelling about how we should've left 21 minutes ago to give us plenty of time.  They were not impressed.

See, N has state testing tomorrow, so we were having a late night anyway, in addition to being late.  On the upside, the two B's had a blast playing together while waiting for their turns in the cages.  At one point, my B was riding on the other B's bat, yelling, "Ride 'em Cowboy!"  When the other B reminded him they were on the Rangers, he stopped, then started up again, yelling, "Ride 'em Rangers!"  He also screamed at me, with a crazed look in his eye, "Mom!  We need sunflower seeds...NOW!"  It was hysterically tinged at the end, and I calmly explained it wouldn't be happening tonight.

My head hurts just thinking about it.  N had a great practice.  He was called out on some things that he did really well, so I always like to see that happen.  The team really seems to be coming together, and I think that's awesome.  I'm very proud of the work most of the boys have been putting in so far.

B's practice is being moved all over creation due to potential weather on Wednesday, so we'll see how that pans out...just like we'll see how waking up tomorrow morning goes.

Outlook: Not good.

Aubs

B-squared.  I told both of them they looked like they had to go to the bathroom, but it only made them laugh harder.  Potty humor is always a crowd pleaser.  Apparently.  See my B riding the other B's bat?  I don't know how their teacher survives them on a daily basis...

Nightmares of the small and B-like

Oh man.  B woke up with the most bloodcurdling scream I've heard in a while.  He has no clue what his dream was about, but it was bad enough to where he was shaking and crying for almost an hour at 4:03 this morning.

So, what did I do?  I let him get in bed with me, and slept fitfully for the next three hours while he kicked me, repeatedly, in the kidneys.  Poor kid...but poor mama, too!

N was supposed to go out to his great-grandparents' farm in Roanoke, so he left with his dad around 8:15.  B was still snoozing away, so I crawled back into bed, and we snoozed straight through church.  It was not part of the plan.  We were both pretty bummed about missing it.  B was easily consoled when he realized there were Easter eggs hidden throughout the apartment, so he raced off to find them all.

He felt bad after finding them all and leaving none for N, so he went back and hid half for N to find once he got home.  How sweet is that?  We got dressed and went over to my mom's for Easter dinner with my mom, grandma, and one of my uncles.  It was pretty quiet, so B decided to entertain us.  He climbed trees, yelled at the dogs next door (I'm sure they missed him), and he and I teamed up against the others to play Phase 10.  It's kind of like our unofficial family game...and my mom can't stand it.  It's too long, and it drives her crazy because it never seems to end.

I got out the cards, and my grandma made me put them back.  She'd brought her own deck, where each person completes phases in a different order.  She likes it.  I think it's a huge pain in the rear.  Either way, I won.  I don't typically lose; in fact, I've been known to start several rounds into it, and still win.  B hung in for the first few rounds, then got bored and entertained himself with a wide variety of things.

After I won and the company left, I shopped in my mom's closet for my interview at Baylor this week, and then pretended to sleep on the couch while B and my mom played a quick game and B tried (successfully) to locate and eat the majority of my grandma's homemade beef jerky.  That stuff is crazy addicting.

We got home and showered for bed, but then I got a call to come pick N up...so I grumbled the whole way there, still cranky from not getting any sleep last night, only to find that N has lost his baseball glove.  And he has practice tomorrow.  And games on Saturday.

The evening didn't have the greatest ending...especially since they were both hyped up and awake an hour after I put them to bed.

N has stupid STAAR testing this week, so I'm really hoping we can have some restful evenings...you know, aside from the fact that we have late practice two nights this week. 

Super.

Aubs

Crazy tongue tricks

Catchy title, huh?  Stick around...first I have to get through the craptastic part of my day.

I'd say we got up on a better side of the bed this morning.  Was it the right side?  Not necessarily...BUT, it was progress.  And I'll take progress.  B came and snuggled with me, saying, "You're always so warm and cozy, and I just love you."  Well, I just love him, too.  N was in his room, on his iPod.  Shocking.

Breakfast happened, and then the fun began.  There was a lot of smart mouthing and disrespecting and not keeping hands to selves.  When I told the boys that they needed to step up and pitch in to help with household chores, N lost it.  He blew up.  And I took his iPod.  For a month.  Because it wasn't the first time this happened.  He'd been given a lot of chances over the past few months, and his attitude has just gotten worse.  SO, I sent him to his room to make a list of ways he can be more positive and change his attitude.  He came up with several good ones, and as we went over them, I explained that these were all things he needed to do all the time...even as an adult.

He looked horrified. 

A little later, he was being super disrespectful again (read: sullen pre-teen, I guess) and I said, "Forget it.  No video games either."  Cue explosion!  And in that moment, the television privileges went away, too. 

"What am I allowed to do, then?  There's NOTHING to do!"  His options?  He was allowed to play outside...with his brother.  He was allowed to play inside...with his brother.  He was allowed to read or draw or write or color.  He started yelling about how he was a horrible kid and he hated himself, and he wanted to die.

And then it got real.  I reminded him that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and that was exactly what we were celebrating this weekend.  He died for sins we hadn't even committed yet, and God has planned each and every single one of our sins for us to learn from them.  I told him he needed to use this as an opportunity to wipe his own slate clean, just as Jesus did for us when He died on the cross.  He thought about that for a few minutes, and then went to go read. 

I went in there a little later, and we discussed the fruits of the spirit that hang on their wall.  We talked about the ones he does really well, and the ones he should look at a little more carefully.  And just as I thought he was getting it, he mentioned that he was really hoping to have his iPod  back by Easter so he could play with his cousins.

I declined his request, and reminded him that it would be April 30 before he received his iPod.  He will carry out his entire punishment.  There is no possibility of parole.  The video games/television privileges were not given a time frame, so he's forever hopeful.

We ran to get a couple of things for lunch tomorrow with the family, plus drinks/chips for school lunches, and when we got back, I turned on March Madness.  Of the three sports I will watch, basketball is my least favorite.  I enjoy it, but give me college football or baseball.  Yes, please!  Anyway, I lived in Kansas as a middle schooler (and my first year of high school), specifically, Wichita, so I know about the Shockers.  And SHOCK & AWE, they did.  It was the most excruciating and exciting game I've seen in a while.  In fact, I'd probably watch college basketball more regularly because they play for pride and honor...not a paycheck.  And I appreciate that.

Anyway, the last 5 minutes had me screeching at the television at decibels I'm not even sure dogs could hear, but in the end, the Shockers defeated the Buckeyes, and they're in the Final Four for the first time in 50 years?  I think.  After the Kansas upset last night, it was awesome to see the Shockers win against the number 2 ranked team.  I can't wait to see who they face next.

And that's when B brought me a cherry stem from his drink to see if I could tie it in a knot with my tongue. After I did, he ran into the living room to show N, "LOOK! Look what Mom did!" Just as I was taking a drink of water, N says, "Yeah, Mom is known for doing crazy things with her tongue."

Hahahahahahaha, needless to say, water went everywhere as I burst out laughing. N, realizing what he'd just said, burst into laughter, and B was left yelling, "What's so dang funny? You guys never tell me ANYTHING!" Oh man.

Every. Day. Life.

I really can't make this stuff up.

Aubs

Every side of the bed is the "wrong side of the bed" sometimes

All three of us seemed to find the wrong side of the bed this morning.  Because of that, the boys were grounded from video games/iPods by 10:45 this morning.

I just knew it was going to be a great day.  I sent them outside after that...and I didn't see them again until 2:20, when they came in to eat lunch and cool off.

Apparently, playing soccer on a hill really takes a lot out of a person. 

They watched a couple of episodes of The Regular Show (which I canNOT STAND, by the way), and then started arguing again, so I sent them back outside.  Were they arguing at the playground or while riding scooters?  I don't know.  I couldn't hear them, so it doesn't count.

I did laundry.  I washed dishes.  I thought about finishing cleaning the apartment (my side is left), and quickly opted out of that one. 

I called them inside to get ready for B's make-up baseball practice, and N made plans to go to his friend's house instead of coming along.  Smart kid.

Baseball practice was quite entertaining.  They were having so much fun...between one kid watching the airplanes fly overhead, some at insane angles (practice fields are just barely north of DFW), and B doing cartwheels, I'm surprised they didn't get annoyed.  They're way more patient than I am.  I made a friend...so that's always fun.

After practice, B comes running over with his right pant leg covered in mud.  He said, "Hey Mom!  I just had the best idea...can we..." and I finished his sentence, because I already knew, "...go to Chipotle?"

"Hey!  How did you know?"

Oh, B.  I'm a genius.  The sooner you learn that, the better.  So we did.  Because he was muddy, and I didn't want to take him upstairs until he dried a little.  I made him lose his pants outside the front door, as the mud rained down off his pants.

Awesome.

Add horrible Disney channel programming: Dog with a Blog, Austin & Ally, and Jessie, and you have my worst nightmare.

I hope I find the right side of the bed tomorrow.

Aubs

How much can one possibly fit into an afternoon?

Today was a "Saved by the Bell" morning.  We overslept, and had to rush around to get everything ready to go.  The boys still made it to school in plenty of time, but a rushed morning plus a whiny B did NOT make for the most pleasant experience.  Obviously, the day had to get better...right?

Right.  After they went to school, I took a little while to just "be," and then mustered up the _____________ to go grocery shopping.  Why?  Because my boys have eaten pretty much everything in an incredibly short period of time.  And they're not even teenagers yet.  Oh, yay!  I did some quick damage, then got home with about 20 minutes to spare.  My day?  Well, it wasn't quite done being a pain in the rear.  Literally every single bag split open in some capacity between the trunk of my car and the front door.  I got really annoyed at first, but after the sixth or seventh bag, I just started laughing.

And then my phone rang...just as I had finished reorganizing the freezer.  It was 3:03, and the caller i.d. said, "Denton Creek Elementary School."

N: Hi, Mom.
Me: Really?
N: It's not like I meant to miss the bus.
Me: Really?
N: The door was locked so I couldn't get inside to get my backpack.
Me: Really?
N: I'm sorry, Mom.
Me: Really?
N: Would you STOP just saying 'Really?'  Are you going to come and get me or not.
Me: (silence) I can't come get you until your brother gets home.  On the bus.  You know, the bus you were supposed to be riding?  Where will you be?
N: Really?  At school, Mom.
Me: Now would NOT be the time to be a smartass.  Really.

And I hung up, grabbed my keys, and went outside to wait for B.  I yelled for him when he was headed to the door, and he looked confused.  He asked where his brother was, and I explained we had to go get him, and then, in true Craig Williams fashion, I busted out with the Kris Kross classic, "I Missed the Bus."  I wish N had been there to be mortified.  B just laughed.  So, I'm already annoyed because school traffic is not my favorite, and I'm trying to figure out which circle it is I'm supposed to be in, because it's apparently divided by age group, when my phone starts beeping.  I give it to B to read, and it's N.  Texting.  From his iPod.  "Where are you?  Did you forget about me?"

Seriously?  Let's just say it was not pleasant when he got in the car.  We had to go to Market Street because I forgot frozen vegetables, and we need a little veggie in our lives.  When we got home, I sent the boys outside to play, while I did laundry.  They came in, they went out.  On repeat.  A kid was fighting B for the football at the park, so N stepped in to defend his brother...by way of trying to choke the kid to death.  Awesome.  How did I find out?  My kids sure didn't tell me.  The kid and his mom came over to let me know.

I was upset with N, but also impressed that he actually defended his brother.  I never thought I'd see the day...  I made dinner, we ate, and then B started hinting around at dyeing eggs.  'Tis the season and all.  I pointedly ignored him, which I think made him mad, but I'd already warned him not to pester me.  I made the Kool-Aid mixtures (WAY better than the stinky dye, I think...we'll probably do it again), and called them into the kitchen.  For an hour, they made eggs in various shades of the rainbow...and B made a few brown eggs.  He thought they were awesome.  In fact, he wants to keep two of them.  Forever.

After that, I sent them to the showers, made paper bag popcorn, and we settled in to watch whatever Diary of  a Wimpy Kid movie is the newest.  I swear, that movie had to have been 4 hours long...and it had entirely too many actors from the cast of "Jessie" on the Disney channel, which I'm forced to watch on occasion because B deems it "quality television."

On the upside, I had Pineapple Coconut ice cream tonight, and it was fantastic.  Haagen Dazs, I salute you.

Aubs

Pod people and hide & seek with a baseball glove

Thankfully, this morning was extremely smooth, which is something that hasn't happened in a long time...especially when both boys are home.  They were kind, courteous, and helpful to each other.  I might've checked under their beds for evidence that pod people had been there.  I'm not kidding.  About halfway through breakfast, Justin called to see if he could come get N for breakfast.  All of a sudden, N was "full" and ready to go to school.  Imagine that.

B and I finished getting him ready for school, and then we took off.  He even took the trash out for me.  I checked the hall closet on the way out the door.  Pod people keep their pods in the most obvious places sometimes.  B kind of took his sweet time this morning, so when I dropped him off, he had about 10 minutes to get to class.  N had been gone for half an hour, so I was sure he beat his brother to school.

I was totally wrong.  As I was headed home, I saw Justin and N pulling out of our friendly, neighborhood Market Street, where they had been eating breakfast.  Again.  Two breakfasts.  Growing boy, I guess.  Anyway, at this point, he had roughly 5 minutes to get to his class, which is exactly why I don't like these breakfast dates.  They need to begin earlier so they can end earlier.  Or not at all.  I know, I know...at least he wants to see him.  True.  I'm not complaining, but I dislike being late or being rushed, and I now N does as well.

I went home, ready to crawl back into bed, but I decided to be a grown-up instead, and started deep cleaning certain areas of the house.  It can be overwhelming, so today was the kitchen/dining room, hallway, laundry/entry, and the boys' bathroom.  Tomorrow, I'll tackle some more.  It's good to have goals.  So, I cleaned for several hours...THEN I decided to rest my eyelids.  It was warranted, right?  Right.

When the boys got home, I asked N if he was rushed this morning, and he lied.  When I told him I saw him, he said, "We would've had no trouble, but then Courtney was at Market Street, so it took forever."  His stepmom came to be a part of the little one-on-one time they get.  And he was not happy about it...it's not that he wants to completely pretend she doesn't exist, he just wants a little time with just his dad.  And I don't blame him one bit.

Meanwhile, B had decided to play catch with the 8 year-old who lives in the next building, and then came in to see if N wanted to go to the playground to play.  So, off they went.  When they came home a little later, they played Xbox for a minute while I made dinner, and  then, since we had dinner pretty early, I sent them outside again.  At 6:20, B comes in, with a terrified look on his face.  Where's his baseball glove?  He has no idea.  It's not anywhere in the house, and someone took it.  Who?  He has no idea.

He retraced his steps, and I told him he was grounded for a month if he couldn't find it.  Nothing like fear to motivate a kid...I have to hand it to him.  He asked the boy he'd been playing catch with, and he directed him to the other boy who'd joined their game.  He said the fourth boy had it, but he didn't know which building he lived in, but another boy did.  I told B to handle it, and then I didn't see him for a while.  He'd met up with N at the playground,  and when I tracked them down, B had the glove in hand.  He was elated, but he's still grounded from video games for a few days.

Why?  Because we must learn to keep up with our belongings.  We must take care of our baseball gear.  And because all they do when they play video games together is fight...dirty.  So, by eliminating privileges, my life is easier.  Plus, tomorrow's the last day of school for the week.

On the agenda: tacos, dyeing eggs with Kool-Aid, and movie night.

B's been begging to dye eggs for a week...and he doesn't even like eggs.

Period.

Aubs

Baseball movie night strikes again...haha, get it? STRIKES?!

I need a vacation.  Or a nap.  Or less caffeine in a 24 hour period.  This morning was horrendous.  I love that word.  Horrendous.  It just sounds terrible.  Or even...worse than terrible.  Please see sentence #3.  I cannot be held accountable for my words this evening.  Even I have no idea what's coming.

Both boys woke up, utterly exhausted, and were so pleasant and fun to deal with during the time we spent together before school.  That whole sentence, minus the "utterly exhausted" part?  Total lie.  They were nightmares.  Late baseball practice on Mondays will ruin our lives for the rest of the school year.  You heard it here first, folks!  N was cranky, B was a straight up beast to even look at, and they were both just picking at each other.  Separation?  Didn't work.  They would "accidentally" brush by each other in the hall, and when I say "brush by," what I really mean is they clotheslined each other.  Did I ever mention we live on the second floor?

It's delightful.

Justin was supposed to come take N to breakfast so they could have a little face time since they don't see each other as much anymore.  This has been a real struggle for me, especially on school mornings because I don't know if he's coming until well after the time N should've already eaten breakfast.  In fact, this morning, it was 7:30 (school starts at 7:50), and he was just on his way.  I told him to forget it, that I was taking both boys to school because I wasn't going to leave N at home so he could see him for 30 seconds.  Where's the quality in that?  It got heated...on his end.  I was doing my best to keep my cool, but when I hung up the phone, N jumped to his dad's defense, without knowing what had been said.

And that?  Well, that made me a little angry.  I told him he could be mad at me all he wanted, but it's my job to get him to school on time.  He didn't seem to think it was a big deal to be late to school.  This is an issue for me since I hate to be late.  I'm always early, or at least I do my best to be early.  Sometimes traffic around here does NOT get my memo.  Anyway, I took both of them to school, and he was mad, and I let him, and we went on about our business.  When he came home with a chip on his shoulder, I called him out on it, and told him we needed to talk about it.  And that's when it all came pouring out.

Long story, short...he acknowledges that I do everything in my power (and even some outside of my power) to give him what he needs and a lot of what he wants.  It's the same way my parents were with me...and let me tell you.  I appreciate them so much for not giving me everything I wanted all the time.  I didn't get it at the time (who does?), but I totally get it now.  And N understands it at its most basic level.  He burst into tears, talking about how he has a home here, but he doesn't feel like he has one at his dad's.  He still doesn't like his stepmom, and he's feeling jealous of the attention that his baby brother gets (and all the money they spend on him)...which is all of it.  I explained that babies take up a lot of time because they can't do anything for themselves, and they are expensive, but he said, flat out, "Mom, I feel like an afterthought.  All the time.  Even in my own family, and definitely in her family.  My papaw was the only one who really wanted to be there with me, and he's gone.  Why did he have to die?"

My boy.  My sweet, precious boy.  There's not anything you can say to that...just hold him, and let him cry it out.  Let him know that having a mom who takes you to practice and watches what you do so she knows what you need to work on does NOT make you a "Mama's boy."  It makes you a boy whose mom cares enough about you to show up...who's ABLE to show up...who WANTS to show up.  I'm not saying his dad doesn't care or doesn't want to, but life happens sometimes.  I plan my life around my boys when it comes to something that's so important to them.  And baseball is important to N.

After a rough afternoon, I made an early dinner, sent them to shower at 6:15, and by 6:45, we were in their room, watching "Little Big League," which neither of them have ever seen.  N's at the age where he's determined not to like anything I tell him he'll like...but I know him better than that.  The belly laughs that movie got from him?  Totally made all day today worth it.  B had a few, too, but there was too much "down time" in the movie for him, and not enough funny.  Still...with "Little Giants" and "Little Big League," this mom is two for two.

A winning record is all that matters, right?

Aubs

P.S. I'm so excited about the pictures the parents from B's class have been sending!  It's going to be such a great surprise for a really wonderful teacher!  More to come on that soon!