The Christmas Extravaganza

Wow well Santa made it to our home.....a few times. We celebrated the Eychner Family at Disney in early December and that was great. The on the 23rd Troy and Carolyn and Moma Sam came down bearing gifts. It is a good thing Carolyn is tiny b/c I think she had all of 1 sq foot of seat to sit in.....searioulsy! So many great gifts, but the family time was the best. My folks came down Saturday night and I actually cooked some stuff and we had HoneyBaked Ham, thanks Sam, cheese potatoes, stuffing, apple banana salad, green beans, rolls.....Oh it was yummy an eating frenzy. We then played a game of Scene It and Troy and Carolyn kicked our tails, and Dale played Taboo, he thought he was awesome at the game and he kinda was. The boys got a Basketball goal, video games, cars, trucks, guns, some awesome cookie cutters, and sooo much more. Macy got a doll buggy and babys and clothes, and a grill and food. So in short the Christmas quota had already been exceeded. So we have to say fare-the-well to the Troy Daniels and Moma Sam.

So on Sunday we made Reindeer food and used confetti this time and I hear the crew loved it. Made Santa some cookies and read a few books and put the crew to bed and then Santa came sometime that night and left.......a play room of toys. Guns, Cars, dolls, mixer, blender, toaster for Macy, Leapster L max, and games, leapster tv, plus Dale got his Heelies, shoes with a skate in the heel, Reid got his bb gun, pretend one, Macy got a pink retro kitchen, I got my uggs, scooba, and digital picture frame, and Duke got boots and a jacket and some misc stuff. Santa was very generous to us and also Duke bought the boys a 50 cc mini dirt bike that is soo cute. So we have to grab some training wheels for it and we will test it out then. Reid loves it and sat on it most of the day, as well as Macy. Dale was a mute and played the leapster all daylong.
That evening we went to a neighbors for a bit and then came home to rest up.
Now post Chirstmas 2 days and I need to take down stuff and need motivation, but it will come soon I am sure.

Ok well funny thing last night as I put Macy to bed and she resisted....while rocking she says "I cute" "I cute"......we have not gotten the tenses right, she says Hode you, for, hold me and, I turn, for ,My turn, and now I cute.....and yes she is just not at 930 when I want to be finishing up my stuff to get to bed!

Jingle bells Macy's diaper smells..

Jingle bells, Reid just fell, Macy's diaper smells like rotten eggs, her babies are nite nite and Dale is in a playstation fight, and Duke And I might run away YEA!

Christmas Break is here so that means Dale wants to play Playstation 24-7....the other day when I had maids come clean and they cleaned around him like he was a lamp....he never moved, and was oblivious that they were cleaning. Well because on a regular day I guess I let random people in to move my stuff...crazy. So I am limiting his Screen Time...that being Playstation, Computer, TV anything with a screen...but man it is hard b/c it is the best at occupying him.

I used up a portion of my genius brain and have the best kitchen tool now.....I had my secret Santa give me a UT door tag like the clean this room/ privacy please ones at hotels....well I cut the hook off and it is my counter scraper for all the crumbs, and food bits left behind by my 3 monkeys....ok and me too but it works great. Not totally my idea they do it in nice restaurants but I don't go to those so much now....wonder why? But I bet it would work good a pre-school too to clean up rice and mooshed beans...anyway I digress my brain is overworked today, I woke up and remembered where I was so that was my quota for the day the rest is steam and smoke.

I can not get Reid to eat here lately....this is the 3rd day and he has been sitting at the table for an hour now...not eating...and I made him what he wanted....maybe he is sick? Maybe he is just being 3 1/2.

We were sitting out front today and Erin, Todd and I were being mischievous...imagine that...and we did a little holiday decorating I will not divulge what was done but I must say it was beautiful...and the longer it lasts it gets even better. So I now will have to inspect my house daily to make sure I am safe...but all is in fun. I think Erin and I were ment to be friends b/c she so gets me...and that is so scary and viesa-versa.

I am cooking dinner on Saturday night and as of yet the delivery of cooked food is not here...SANTA get a move on PLEASE. I have no idea what to cook...Sam is bringing a HoneyBaked Ham..YUMMY, and I was going to make cheese potatoes alla Penny and Brenda...So good, and then maybe green beans and potatoes for Sam and Duke and rolls and what else....I can feel the smoke in my head so I have to stop there...

and I will say this once and that is all but I THINK Duke might have been right that I overdid christmas. I put all the gifts in one spot....and I started shopping months ago so I forgot a bunch of stuff and WOW I stood in shock for like 5 min's thinking that is a bunch of stuff...yikes do I give it all or return some? I have Reid covered for his Birthday already too...

Christmas 101

I am so excited for Christmas! My house is all filled with Santas and Snowmen and everything that screams Christmas. Duke keeps telling me I am doing too much....But really can you overdo spirit, and expression of Joy ....I think NOT.

I had my girls night party last night to celebrate the ending of the Daycare case and we had a great time...played some aggressive spoons, and good company mixed with a few apple martinis...good stuff. Plus my Fantastic husband took all the kids to Kerrville to spend the night so that we could let loose, and we DID! GOOD TIMES

SANTA Claus was watching us at Reids program last week, the school had Santa visit and Reid gave santa "5" to get a candy cane and told him what he would like...but no knee sit.....Dale pretty much ran up and jumped on his lap, gave him the rundown of requests and Macy did a monkey grip on Duke and hid her head....so no Santa for her this year. Dale asked is that Mr. Juan...and it was but we said No it is SANTA...he said No I think it is Mr Juan.

Well not too much else is new a the moment, all is well and healthy at present, but I have to share that Duke and Dale are Playstation JUNKIES...we ended up with 4 new games after disney and that is all they do....plus they argue with each other like they are the same age...Why did you kill me, come over here, why did you do that? But it is so great that they like to play together...did I say like I meant LOVE to. I am hoping that this will benefit us later on when Dale has killer hand eye coordination and can do laproscopic surgeries! hey we can all dream right!

Florida Pictures

here are a few
pictures from the trip

The BEST Vacation EVER

This is going to be a long post. So here goes, we fly to Orlando. Sitting at the airport the boys are running and playing burning off energy. Macy wants to run too in her mind she is 4...So she runs and MIS judges a marble post 2 feet wide and nails it with her head. Up comes a stewardess with ice, thanks we say and ice the boo boo, Dale does a cartwheel as we are talking....Reid does a face-wheel...yep mid sentence with the stewardess he fails to use his hands on the cartwheel and dives right on his face....Carpet burn and little scratch and Macys ice....At least we had witnesses that it was all self inflicted! On the flight there we hit a little bit of turbulence, and Reid got scared and said "why is it so bumpy? Can I sit with Daddy, is it bumpy on his side? And oddly enough it was not bumpy on Daddys side...good to know. We landed and Dale said I want to live in Disney, all I need is a Playstation....and Money, and a bed, and house....So we land and get the Mini Van and Reid was conserned that we sold the Hummer and was not too happy with that idea but once that was cleared up liked the van. Can't believe I will admit to this but it was a NICE van, Toyota Sienna with automatic doors...really very nice. I still want my Hummer but very nice. All the family arrived safely and we were off. Sam was our jet setter coning from India, and them leaving for Dublin afterwards and us taking her Disney bag with us.
Sunday
We hit Universal and Adventure Island, and ate at the NBA resteraunt. Brad offered to make Reid a hat on the way in......his logic was that this would save some of his energy for later in the day...Brad does not have kids yet, and ok in theory but not so much in reality .....so Reid was a hat all week. Scott and Brad used my kids to take a picture with 2 girls from the Fantastic Four, so they were not creepy old men, just willing uncles. We rode tons of rides, Men in Black was great as well as The Hulk, The Mummy, and Spiderman Rocked. when Dale rode Jaws he was screaming "We're gonn DIE....We're gonna die! and he ment it and was terrified, he was on the outside next to the water....HILARIOUS, also did Jimmy Neutron and Dale wanted to do it over and over. Reid loved Seuss's Landing and rode all the rides in there with Dale and the Sneeches ride was apparently "made for me" quoting Dale b/c he was tall enough to ride. Sams best ride of the day was with Macy in the stroller, since she insisted on being held and Moma Sam was worn out so she sat on her lap and was pushed....all was well. We all learned a new song....a marketing strategy so slick...The Pizza Hut...Kentucky fried chicken and Mc Donalds....I will try to attach a video here...CLASSIC and we sang it ALL WEEK
MONDAY
We went to Animal Kingdom, and ate Breakfast with Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. They sang Happy Birthday to Dale. Reid took pictures with the characters and Macy does NOT like them. Saw a tuft of the lions mane on the Jungle Trek, but the giraffe was awe inspiring...he walked next to the bus and was enormous and beautiful. Dale was in the Lion King Show and looked very concentrated while participating and then after said THAT WAS AWESOME! We rode Everest and Dale was a hair to small and took it very personally and was crushed but the ride ROCKED. We played football that afternoon infront of the condos with Brad, Scott, Bepaw, Me, Dale and Reid....very fun. That night we went to Downtown Disney and ate at the Rainforest Cafe...and the service SUCKED and food was sub-par but the company was FANTASTIC.
TUESDAY
Grandma, Bepaw, Scott, Brad, Jonelle, and Tanya went to Nasa and we stayed at the condo and went swimming. Swimming outside in December listening to christmas music was a first for me. The boys had to stay out of the Acid Water....water jets that sprayed Frigid water. We celebrated Dale's 6th Birthday with a cake from Publix, decorated with Disney Character Key chains... and also had The Eychner Christmas that night. My gifts were wrapped in a soap box, and inside had the gift written on toilet paper in red crayon....only the best baby! I actually took pictures of each gift since they were fragile and will ship them. Scott and Tanya Departed wed. a.m. sad to see them go.
WEDNESDAY
MGM....Dale rode the Tower Of Terror 3 times and LOVED it, he reasoned that he should wear his boots to make him taller so he could ride the rides and it worked....he really took the Everest turnaway hard and said several times I want to go back to ride it and that next time he will wear boots there to ride it. Reid got a certificate for his motionless 3d ride on Star Wars for his personal first class ride. He was too small for the actual ride and they did a special one for him.....very cool. We saw Lightning McQueen and Mater and took pictures which was super cool, and Macy licked a minnie Mouse cookie and made a HUGE mess....black icing not so pretty. Saw an awesome quartet 4 for a Dollar that performed before beauty and the beast. and 5 million Christmas lights and our first Florida Snow...TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH! Really cool light shows to music. To finish the day we went to Fantasmic that was Fantastic...worth the 45 min wait. WOW. We also ate at Hollywood and Vine and the food was yummy but the kids did not LOVE Jo Jo or the Little Einsteins too much.
THURSDAY
Liz and Jordan and Meghan joined us and we decided to go to Magic Kingdom 2 days. We rode Pirates of the Caribbean and Dale was picked to be a pirate with Capitan Jack Sparrow and had a sword fight. We rode The Haunted Mansion, and flying carpets and kept a close eye on the weather for the Shuttle take off. We decided to leave the park at 5 to go to NASA for the launch and then Liz lost her car and I ran around the parking lot and found it 40 mins later...MINNIE 38 commit that to memory. The trip to Nasa was a quick hour and 15 mins, and a SLOW 3.5 hours home. We went 8 miles in 2 hours...however still worth the trip, but clouds kept it grounded. Dale kept asking why does everything say NASA on it.
FRIDAY
We slept in a little bit for what will be a 14 hour day and went back to Magic Kingdom and it was COLD....like 40 and windy. So we funded Disney and bought Mickey Hats, Gloves, Sweat Suits, Blankets to keep warm. Were introduced to Trading Pins when we got pin necklaces for free on the train and traded all day, and bought several more. We had 2 double strollers and one had Dale, Reid, meghan, and Jordan crammed in and the other was Macy's chariot while she slept....other wise she rode her favorite ride....HODE JOU..(Hold you = Hold ME) ...she rode it all week, all day, and even asleep! Brad asked me "So whats' the secret, I am way stronger than you how do you hold her all the time for so long?'' Practice, my friend....biceps come with practice." We saw the Christmas Parade and great fireworks after our dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table in the castle. Macy worn her Minnie Mouse ears just long enough for a picture with Cinderella and then out they came. The Crab soup was killer and the lamb and sirlion was wonderful. Dale was sung to again for his birthday and got a little cake, the girls got wands and the boys got swords and pictures with Cinderella and The Fairy God Mother....we also saw who we thought were Cinderellas 2 ugly sisters, and Stepmother! We added a little more insurance to the boots for our height....my Mickey gloves in the socks....worked like a charm, and stocking hats! With that Reid joined us as we rode Thunder Mountain railroad and Splash Mountain. That little trick was used later for Stitches great escape, and for Dale to re-ride Space Mountain. He was turned away and CRUSHED does not even touch it...so we went and sat as Duke, Bepaw, Brad, Jonelle, and Jordan went to ride and I asked him if he wanted to try the gloves and he said they will know, I said who cares you wanna try...ok, and 3 mins later it worked so I called Brads cell phone and they waited for us in line. Dale said thanks Mom for helping me. That was worth it all right then. We stayed for Mickeys Merry Christmas Party that was the BEST. Free Co-co, and cookies and snacks, Tinkerbell flew from the castle all lit up, saw an AMAZING fireworks show, and parade and Christmas shows, and singers, rode rides, saw more characters all dressed for the holidays!
We stayed at the Orange County Country Club which was super nice ,and arrived home safe and sound and only had 2 casualties....Dales Leapster left in the minivan I hope they mail it and MY CHICKEN was thieved from the bumper of my Hummer! But we will be back December 2008!

And the littlest one saves the day!

We had a great Thanksgiving, We spent some time at my parents in Kerrville, and saw my brother and sister in law. And I just realized we did not call my other brother and sister in law, but we did think about them....anyway. I made my rolls and was very pleased with them.....before I tasted them...they had a bitter aftertaste.....so Carolyn my Chef, what do I do to fix that?
We also finished decorating for Christmas, and got some things taken to storage, so very productive. Then the game on Friday happened, ohhh bad news UT was upset by a&m. My home is usually happy and active. When the Horns do not play well, I contemplate a hotel stay. Duke is a man of very few vices. The largest WAS offroading and he has let that go A BUNCH, we do not own a Designated Offroad Truck, at the moment, his truck has NO LIFT, and tires you can purchase anywhere. If you know Duke, this is pretty big. He does not drink, smoke, or curse....any more than you and me. He is also a great Daddy, and UT Football is his thing. So when the game went south, the kids disappeared, and we give Duke his space and DO NOT BRING IT UP! He was so great though, and when the game ended he turned on the playstation and played with Dale for a long time, he also had a SUPER attitiude, not grumpy, but again not elated but I was impressed. The day went on without insident and that night he said what so you wanna do tomorrow, I said I do nto care and he replied well I was going to watch football all day but that will just make me miseable. So he missed the games for the most part, but did catch the Oklahoma game. Anyhow long story short he was at the computer and Macy crawled up on his lap and proudly exclaimed BEBO, DADDY BEBO as she pointed at his shirt with a longhorn in the center! It was a first for her to say Bevo, or recognize it....it melted his heart, and made him so proud and happy! Thank you God for little girls.
Oh a funny note Dale asked did the Longhorns get beat....
Yes Dale.
By Who? he asked.
a&m Dale.
Whew well at least the aggies did not beat us!
Dale a&m are the aggies.
OH THAT STINKS!

RANDOM JAZZ

Ok so my kiddos took pictures today and Macy was not in a posing mood is understating it. She insisted on sitting on my lap, and apparently only she was allowed. They tried to cover my jeans with white satin and then have all the kids sit on my legs, one at the thigh, one at the knee, and one on the shins. Well Dale was at the thigh and Macy was in the middle and she BIT Dale on the leg when he sat between me and her.....like almost drew BLOOD. So vampira was done and so was the picture session. All in all we got some good shots, so not a total loss.

In other news I have hit a new LOW. I took down Thanksgiving decorations and put up Christmas, before Thanksgiving! I know, I chastise stores every year for doing the very same. I really did not want to but it just happened. Also Duke was in the mood to help on Sunday, and that mood is not rain check guaranteed so I took it while I could. But it looks pretty good. I also have 90% of my shopping done too. Just need to buy for the inlaws.....any ideas Troy and CJ, and Duke. Who is IMPOSSIBLE! He has all he wants....well that is hard to wrap, and Santa has to bring him something! So if you have any ideas for that shoot them my way.

Flushed Away

Last night we are all getting ready to head upstairs to bed. I am cleaning the kitchen for the last time of the night. Reid, and Macy are in the family room, Duke is turning off lights. He reaches his hand in the bathroom flicks off the light and closes the door. Next you hear a blood curlding scream and a flush simultaneously occur. Duke who has headed upstairs turns back and says "WHAT?" Dale appears and is crying and is unconsolable he screams my guy was in the toilet and he is flushed. Duke says why was your guy in the toilet, I dropped him replied Dale, Why did you flush him? Dales reply is "You turned off the light and I got scared and jumped up, dropped him, and did not know the flusher was there and flushed him. You were in the bathroom? Now Reid is crying in the kitchen, I ask "why" and he says "It was my guy," Dale then tells Duke, "Daddy I did not know you could be so mean." Reid says "Mommy Beat Daddy up." Duke is laughing b/c well you would be too. Dale then pleads get it out of the back, we then have to open the tank to prove that he is not in there and is really gone. The tears are now flowing! "He was my favorite".....which they all are of course. So Duke has to now take him this weekend and go get a new guy, and Reid wants one too b/c he still claims it to be his. Many lessons to take from this.
1 Action Figures should not be apart of bathroom actions
2 when in doubt do not flush
3 Look before you turn out the light
4 if you share your toys maybe get an iteniary
5Dale's recomendation is that there should be something in the toilet to let poop and pee through but throw guys back out!

HAPPT WHAT?

Ok I have this uber cute idea to make a Thanksgiving rug, using my kids footprints for a turkey. My rose colored thoughts were that years down the road I would look at the rug and say "Remember when." The part that happens after those words can be interchanged with happiness or regret!

So we begin, we are all excited, they see the brushes and can hardly wait to touch paint. I began with Dale to do the largest rump feathers, and try crayola washable paint. Well it kinda shows up and then I realize once it gets wet it will run. Thats no good, so I decide to use acrylic paint. By now Macy is climbing all over the rug b/c she wants to be involved and sees that I used Dales foot, so clearly I need her foot, and she is showing me she can pick up and put down her foot too. Reid is asking" Is it my turn, I want to paint" over and over and over. So I go inside get some watercolors to occupy the waiting crew, and grab my acrylic paints. So I do Dales feet and it looks pretty good, the watercolors held off the masses, and I have told the boys probally 10 times this is staining paint. It will NOT come off clothes, or the ground, tables, chairs..... Anyone see where this is headed! I keep going and do Reids feet, and we get them done, minus one slip. Wet paint is really slippery! Ok I am feeling pretty confident so I need a reality check apparetnly and Macy gives me one by spilling the water color water all over the watercolor book and is back to walk on the rug....the freshly painted WET rug. I am not fast enough and now there are little specs all over from her feet. I grab her up, move her and turn to see that Reid and Dale have now sat in chairs and tucked their feet underneath them....and there is paint all over their pants, and the chairs....AHHH Reid! Dale! look at your PANTS! Reid says sorry I won't do it again, and I have a BAD MOMMY retort of well that stain is there forever their ruined. Dale is in horror b/c this is one of his favorite pairs of pants and now Macy has returned to the rug and sat in the paint. I pick her up again and Reid has run inside, with painted feet...across the kitchen, up the carpeted stairs to get clean pants. I lost it. I get Reid back outside. I picked up the rug and paints said FORGET IT, and went inside leaving all 3 kids outside on the deck upset. I walked to the front window to take my 10 seconds, say a quick prayer for the right perspective, and then think. Right now if this project continues as it has ,I will hate this rug, b/c I will forever remember it as when I flipped out. I regain myself, borrow a little sanity from an angel, and open the door and say lets start over. So we did and Macy was in a diaper, reid a clean pair of shorts and dale his satined pants. But we all participated the specks became corn and pumpkins and it ended up happy and here is a picture of the finished rug!
3 pants $15 each $45
2 shirts $7 each $14
Rug $15
That is one expensive seasonal rug $74.00 I better keep it for a while!

Baby Love

How is it that my two boys really had NO interest in baby dolls, they were exposed to them at pre-school, and my daughter is IN LOVE with all babies....and even makes things into babies just to feed and put them to sleep.

Today she took the scarecrow off the table and covered it with an old bib for a blanket and patted it nite nite. She did it to a ghost durring Halloween, and also has de- maned or at least stripped special powers from many of Dales action figures when she puts them to bed. Really I can only imagine the wrath they must incur when they get to the toy box that night. "A power ranger huh?....looked more like a baby ranger today" and "So GI-JOE how is that diaper rash these days?" It really must be demeaning. But seariously how wierd is that? I always herd that girls and boys are wired differently, but we REALLY are...the human brain is amazing.

more love....
We had a great weekend, went to Austin and saw a friend get married and listened to a kooky 80's band the Spazmatics at the reception. Then on Sunday Dale got to meet up with his little cutie, Ashtyn at the park and they had a great time with some pizza, juice boxes, and collecting accorns. She landed a few good kisses on him and he would say EWWW but he had a huge smile on his face. I would love to see them on a date in 12 years.

and unrequited love....
In other Daniel news I figured I would share the floor plan that Duke and I want to build. Want being the operative word at the moment. Pricing is being set so I am trying HARD not to fall in love only to have to debate....Mortgage on dream home....or food, and then rationalize that it could be a great opportunity to diet. We should know w/in a few weeks. http://www.newmarkhomes.com/tousa/ShowPlan.do?hspCommunityId=922&hspPlanId=327 . It is actually the home shown here at http://www.newmarkhomes.com/tousa/ShowCommunity.do?communityId=298.

Enjoy

pictures

HALLOWEEN FUN

Halloween was fun! My parents came and handed out candy and brought my Aunt and Uncle who were visiting from Nebraska. Reid was terrified that his candy was going to be taken, so it was Bepaws job to protect it....and he did put up a chair maze to protect the bucket as well. I did dress up like Beth the DOGS wife, but Duke came home and said...I like the football blayer one better, (which was what I was at pre-school) and after seeing the pics I have to agree..but I will share the pic to prove I did it. Dale was bobofet, Reid a UT player and Macy was Minnie Mouse. I did not do too great on pictures but here are a few.

Crazy legs Double D

Well you know him as Dale, but Crazy legs Double D is his new name in football. He had a few carries, some great tackles (de-flagging) in the game today, but the BEST was his final touchdown. 20 yard line, the cowboys line up, cleats caked in mud, jerseys dirty. Hike the ball is snapped and the QB does a pitch to the right, Dale grabs and tucks the ball and runs right only to find a sea of raiders ready to de-flag him, he spins, he stumbles....looks as if all is lost and he takes off reverses the field of play and had like a 17 yd TD! He was SO excited and is still on cloud 9. From that play on he was a lightning bolt everywhere he went. Duke said it was very much like the 2nd to last touchdown play in the Rosebowl last year when Vince Young did very much the same thing. Or like any Jamall Charles play. It was a great play and he felt like a star. I wish I could say I have a picture to share but I actually was so excited and busy hollering I missed the picture but here is another one from today. Actually, the one where everyone is looking at something....they are looking at Dale running in his TD. So we celebrated by getting a Star Wars BombPop! Not to seal a line from my Brother in Law Troy...but "SO GOOD!"

It was a good day for Reid as well, he played pitcher and 2nd base and had a few good stops, in his T-Ball game. So a great beginning to the weekend!

Today is one of those days I am so glad I live in San Antonio, beautiful day, sunny, 75 and windy. I love windy days not real sure why but they invogorate me maybe it is because I can open the window and see the curtians billow and feel the fresh air. Also is a awsome opportunity to air out the house.

No huge plans for the weekend but some fun stuff. Today I promised Dale we would go to Chick Fil A and get his meal from Red Ribbon Week after school, then football practice, and then the Fall Festival at Reid and Macys Pre-School. Petting zoo, pony rides, carnival games, moon bounce, food and silent auctions....good times. Saturday we have Reids game at 9 and Dale has a double header one at 9 and 10, and then some pumpkin carving that afternoon, and then Dale and Duke are going to watch MONSTER HOUSE. This is Dales first scary movie so we will see how that goes....it is rated PG but to a 5 yr old that means nothing. My thought is that at home we can have on the lights and stop it if needed, and have the important special blanket for security...but he would NEVER admit that he is "just cold." Sunday I will sleep in and Macy and I will enjoy a quiet house while the boys go on a Hummer Offroad trip in Bandera....hopefully Duke will be on the cautious side.....I figure sending the boys is the best insurance b/c he would be reckless alone but would never do anything to hurt or scare the boys. Thats about it for us. All is well here everyone is healthy now and over all the crud we had....YEA. HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Ahh Little League Sports the DRAMA

Ok I really should not be allowed to vent any frustrations today seeing as I have a fever from who knows what and feel like utter CRAP. Seariously Debby Downer could be my motivational speaker today. But I am gonna throw caution to the wind and vent. My sons are playing tball and flag football this year and today, I am less than thrilled, partially due to the organization and now due to some other factors.

Tball for 3 yr olds is a loss to begin with, they don’t get it….but I knew that going in. My beef is that there are 12 players on our team. 12 little guys attacking the ball- great eager players, dog piling the person who gets the ball not so great. This also greatly effects the amount they get to touch the ball, bat, and participate which I think is really the goal here….give a positive experience so that they DO want to do it again and again and really life gets competitive soon enough, not that I want Barney running the games but just not a gaggle of kids. Our team is very willing to split the team 6 and 6 play at the same times, just multiple games which is what the organizations suggestion, it is the other 2 teams of the 4 in our league who do not want to split up for what reason I cannot ascertain, and it must be a joint decision. So I have followed through on this vent and called the organization and voiced my concern.

Vent number 2…..Flag Football. Ok Dale loves the thought of playing a BIG guys game, and he can do it. He is lighting fast, but the league do not allow hand offs……for 5, 6, and 7 yr olds. They have to catch a pass every time. OK even in JR. High pretty much every play is a hand off b/c the hand, eye, foot, coordination is just not there but apparently it is for kinder, 1st, and 2nd graders. Who thought of this anyway….really I guess the logic is that they will be de- flagged too quickly….who cares at least every kid could get to touch the ball once. Dale is not the biggest on the team, but possibly one of the fastest and really with 6 and 7 yr olds there is no chance to out size them. But he NEVER gets the ball we have 2 kids who get the ball, both 7 and both big. He is one of the other 8 kids who block. It is like a 3 man game the QB, and these other 2 kids. He is at every practice and trys hard and can catch and run and even throw….do I say something. Again my thought is MAKE IT FUN, let every kid get the ball…..even if you get stomped, your kid got to play and try. If you never allow them to try a new position then they will never learn a new position…..not ever holding the ball does not allow you to do it better. I know he is not Vince Young but right now he thinks he is and who am I to say he’s not.

Any Advice?????

Poo Pooie Do

Reid was diagnosed with Strep and so we started antibiotics.....and imodium, and bleaching the bathroom floors, washing soiled clothes and trashed some too. YUCK , Reid who has been potty trained since 2.5 years old now can't contain the poo. So I tried give the meds more times a day with a lesser amount that has helped marginally. He cries when it happens and bless his heart that he tries to clean it up and "fix it." So I am waiting for my other kids to get it....and nothing, mild sigh of relief but then Macy starts with the poo thing too. I am a huge advocate of Huggies Diapers...my feeling are Huggies hold, and do not leak. I have had probally 3 leaky diapers for her thus far in her life until this week. We head to the pumpkin patch and she blows out 3 diapers in 1.5 hours, so we head home in a borrowed diaper and only a borrowed diaper as I have used all the extra clothes in the car. Only to blow out more. So lets just say I have a Full Box of Wipes, bag of diapers to diaper a community but hey I am prepared for next time.

Totally unrelated but I am gonna try and post a picture ....ohh it worked this is my Sister in Law Carolyn and Brother in Law Troy and my kids. Would LOVE to say I look that amazing but no such luck. But at least she is related to me. Kinda like 6 degrees of seperation to beauty. Have a good one all!

Chistmas came early, 2.5 years late

Not to open a HUGE can of worms I will simply say that I was unjustly accused in a child care center liscencing case of negligence and I can say with pride now......VINDICATION IS MINE! The Judge overturned the finding, and 2.5 years and too much money to admit later I am done! I had a great attorney and the truth prevailed. I can only hope that the invetigator learns from this to do proper investigations to reveal the truth and protect the children that need it and not waste time and money on ones that are unsubstantiated. I am trying to find forgivness for him and pray that this ordeal was not in vain but somehow will positively affect someone involved.

What is that?

A couple of days ago I was doing laundry.....and I heard a noise. Who put a shoe in the dryer? I thought to myself. I actually went and looked 2 times in the load drying and saw nothing and the third time I pulled every piece of laundry out. Man those jeans were heavy I thought....wait what is that....OH CRAP, my cell phone that had been MIA for a day was in the pocket freshly laundered and all shiny and foggy! Dukes reply was " well that is one way to get a blackberry." Which is the phone I would love to have but can't justify the need. What now? Ok Duke continues, "take out the battery, rinse it in clean water and let it dry." I have a puzzled look on my face....."Add more water?" "Ok then don't, what do you have to loose." So under the faucet it goes, and then under a fan. Next day....I have one fried, wet, now dried phone. I got insurance on the phone because it was Dukes initially, and he has in the past had a phone throwing contest to see who paied for lunch, so insurance seemed smart. Well it paid off for me too. I went to the dealer, and the tech says looks like it has water damage. Oh I say, thinking he will say you are screwed. But he says call this number and they will overnight you a new phone. Done and done...$50 deductable later and my phone should be here today. And I have to wait 2 months to upgrade to a different phone as per our contract, so I guess that is God's way of saying, "Susan, you may not have a blackberry!"

3 yr olds and Lysol = BAD COMBO

Greetings to all…..this morning began as most in our house. Reid wakes up, goes to the bathroom, and then slams the toilet seat down, runs back to his room and yells “it’s wake up time DALE ….GET UP!” Turns on the lights and gets dressed, Dale drags out of bed and soon we all end up in the kitchen. School is out today for Columbus Day so Dale gets to stay home, no big plans. Put away the mountains of laundry that I have been washing, tidy a bit, SCRUB my knuckles raw extracting Lysol spray from all four sides of a finished pool table…...and contemplate how to get my 3 yr old to understand YOU CAN”T SPRAY THAT THERE!!!!!

Picture it, my kitchen, sink full of bubbles, water running, I am washing up sippy cups, cleaning up breakfast remains, water is shut off and I hear an aersol spray can….. “Reid what are you doing?” “I’m cleaning Mommy.” “Reid you don’t get spray cans.” I say as I walk to the game room…..THE HORROR is seen….I scream “REID NO” “ I’m sorry Mommy, I’m sorry” “Go to your room, and do not MOVE!” Reid is gone and crying, I am left with a pool table that was a beautiful Mahogany color that now looks like it has been spray painted WHITE! Apparently Lysol is not good for finished wood. So I sit, stare, cry a bit, and think what do I do? All 4 sides are sprayed…..I figured I have nothing to loose, so I break out the Mr. clean Majic erase sponges and start to scrub and to my amazement 99% of it came up. If you look closely you can see a little fog of spray, but compared to the prior sight looks like new.

So Reid has been spared for the day, has realized that the next time he touches a spray can will be too soon, and said “I will not do that ever again.” On one hand I do not want to dampen his spirit b/c he really thought he was doing a good thing, and has in the past seen me spray pledge on wood and wipe it up, and I can only assume that was his intention here, but knows that spray cans are only for me and Daddy. So now all the air fresheners in our home are under lock and key! And thank goodness for MR Clean Magic Erasers!

Heres to a better afternoon!

My Science Project

Apparently, I have been picked for a science project and I just realized it today. So I feel compelled to share this data with my friends. My project that I can only assume has been divinely assigned to me is HOW MUCH LAUNDRY CAN MY LAUNDRY ROOM HOLD BEFORE PHYSICALLY EJECTING ME?……my hypothesis is A LOT of STANKY laundry. Obviously I cannot DO any laundry because that would be catastrophic to my data results…..injecting downy filled lavender air and bounty softness would clearly influence the penicillin that I can only imagine is growing. I could have on my hands a cure for Cancer….or I could also just have so stained clothes. My husband is not as enthusiastic as you might hope with the call of….Do I have ANY clean socks…..and can YOU find them Please……I mean really how selfish can he be! He very well could be solely to blame that the universe might NEVER know the finding of my experiment. My only dilemma is that the room might just very well hold more that we currently own leaving me with a few choices, toss the experiment that I am now COMMITTED to, borrow from friends and neighbors, which is somewhat rude since I have no idea how long this could go on, or clearly number 3 purchase new items for my family to dirty and submit that data to the room. I mean really this is for humanity here and maybe I could even get a grant to cover the costs? HMMMMM So it is off to the store I go!

I WISH….does Medina Childrens Home take dirty donations?…..is that really bad Karma? Wow how can one family get so much junk dirty…..and I can’t even blame Duke b/c all of his stuff is drycleaned. Well I am off to scrap the experiment and burry myself in the stink and hope I can come out clean in the end…..and then comes the hard part the putting away b/c weird as it is I like to fold. Ok well hope all is well with all of you and heres to a great weekend that does not involve LAUNDRY!

Here Goes

Ok at the urging of many friends and family I have set up my blog. This way I can vent my feelings and experiences and not really bug anyone, but if you are bored you can come see for yourself!

Here are a few of my latest Mommy happenings in my life Enjoy!