We have costumes!

First of all, I have a few pictures from the park on Tuesday that are unrelated to anything...
but I am going to post them anyway.

Now I have to share two funny stories that I will want to remember:

First.
I ordered some books that one of the doctors that I work for recommended for Maddox.
I looked at Half Price Books but ended up buying them off of Ebay.

I have been waiting for them to be delivered and noticed a box on the porch as we were pulling out today.
Maddox was excited to read them so I opened them up and handed one back.
I was gleaming with pride as he slowly and phonetically sounded out the words and read us a book about a cat...
And then he handed it back to me, and I realized that the word 'cat' wasn't in the book even once!

I laughed out loud at how believable he made it by taking it slow and steady.  When I asked him why he did that, he just said, "got her!" and he laughed as hard as Lance and I were!

He is so funny!

Second.
Beckham still refuses to poop in the potty.
Tonight Lance was set on fighting him out in the power struggle of the throne.
I sat outside the door giggling at all the persuasion that Lance was trying with Beckham and how certain he was that he would somehow win a battle that I lose daily.

Lance finally called me in as back up.
I tried rubbing his back, singing, reading and taking his mind off of it.
I offered candy, to which Beckham sternly replied, "I don't want candy."
I offered a toy, which I have stashed away for a gloomy day or trickery persuasion, but Beckham shouted, "I don't want a toy."

Desperate, I said "is there anything you do want Beckham?"
He popped his tiny head up and said, "a hot dog... with mushurd."

I laughed so hard!

I also hit up the interweb tonight and found some information that I found to be helpful-- and plan to use it:

I can not explain how irritating it is that he will not have accidents and sleeps in underwear and will wake during the night if he has to go-- and will straight up tell you that he has to poop and needs a diaper to do it in-- but will. not. go. in the potty!

The doctor on the site reiterated the idea that the you can't battle them on this- they will win.
Something I know-- but it hard to stick with.
She said to not fight them on the diaper but make them use their diaper only in the restroom.  Then after a few weeks, make them sit on the potty while wearing their diaper,  then finally try the diaperless potty again.
Gradually, over a month.

I am going to try it.
I have nothing to lose.
 
Finally.
We have costumes!

After realizing that I technically have only purchased one year's costume (the bear, that Beckham re-used as an infant)-- and trying all in my power to talk them into the cowboy/Indian garb that we took pictures in, the super hero mess that we dress up in for play, or their cammo duds (aka: Duck Dynasty) that we already own, with no luck-- I folded.

Today was our hunt!

We waited until the eve-of-Halloween but we found them each the character that they wanted, in the correct size!

And the best part:: my friend Rayanne told me about a 30% off coupon at Target, and though they were very picked over-- we found Mario in Maddox's size!  (and we got it $9 cheaper!)
And my pal Schelly texted me right as we were pulling into the mall, and a co-worker of her's had the Disney Store Mickey Mouse costume for sale, $20 cheaper than the store had it!! 

Hello!
Win column!

We visited Nana for a bit... and watched the Red Sox take the World Series.

Now tomorrow we will handle tomorrow's dilemma...
To trick-or-treat or not to trick-or-treat, while on call.

since Thursday...

Thursday morning Candace texted me and asked if we wanted to have lunch with her and Audrey at Chickfila?
I did, but we had been pumpkin-patching the day before and I had a lot to do at home and originally said no.
Beckham was still asleep (at 10:00am) and my hormones were about 7 times the level that God intends them to run.

Seriously, the night before, I literally pulled my shirt up over my bra into a scarf and hung my head out the window like a labrodoodle while driving home because I was so-- stinking-- hot... and it was the only sensible way to cool off.

But, she texted again around 11:00 and I decided to go.

My kids always think they have to bring a bag full of junk anywhere we go.
It is mostly annoying, as it all ends up in my car or one piece of something important is lost and we have to flip the world up-side-down to find it and make things right again...
but it is a stage that will probably end one day, and I want to remember it.

I wasn't the only bag of  PMS Thursday, as Beckham was testy and irrational!
We usually trade their toys for ice cream but they were giving out free cups so the kids opened their mini decks of playing cards.
Beckham was seven shades of pissed when he saw the Audrey mixed their cards together.
He was flipping through his stack and separating the orange from the purple.
Angrily slapping his on the table and carelessly throwing hers over his shoulder to the ground.
He bit Maddox,
and he stayed on Pam's bad list.

Candace and I eat at CFA about once a month.  Almost always, at the same location.
We don't know all of the staff members names... actually, we don't know any of the employees names, but we know Pam.
We have nick-named her to "Persistent Pam", and shortened that to "PP".

She is an elderly lady that, in all but the fact that she dang near sits in your lap to share your fries with you, is very good at her job.
Too good, at times.
Well, most times.
She is quick to refill our drinks, bring napkins, clear trash from our table-- right in the middle of our meal, and take ketchup packets out of our hands to open them for us...
She also likes to discipline our kids for opening the sani-wipes, climbing through the play center incorrectly, or sparring with other kids.
It has become a game between Candace and I and we love to see a new-to-Pam mom trying to make her way into the play center with her coke still in hand, and the wind beneath Pam's wings as she always makes it to the door, to halt the process before it even starts.
"No drinks in the play area", she'll say as she points to the sign.

She's persistent.  I can guarantee you that her house is immaculate...
and I have a feeling that her grand kids put up a fight to go visit.

She literally moved the chairs from our table and swept over Candace's feet on Thursday because Audrey had dropped fries on the floor.
We were still eating.  
She also brought Beckham to me and told me that I needed to change his diaper.
He doesn't wear a diaper.
He was clean and dry but she smelled something funky in the play-thing, and picked the smallest guy and pinned him.
It has become our thing... to see how far PP takes her duties-- and we are always polite and thank her for her troubles, but secretly want to hide her in a closet so that we can eat in peace.
I broke out in hives Thursday.
Pam won.

That evening Lance decided to mow...
and he had a lot of help from our littles.
(although the smallest prefers to be called "Tiny", just FYI)

Friday something blew in and my allergies were out of control.
I had planned on going to Lance's games but I looked like a meth addict, red, swollen, itchy, and miserable--
So I took him his ball stuff, whipped it in for cupcakes, and made my way home to cuddle my cuties.

My step-mom sent the boys a box full of Halloween goodies and they spent most of night on a sugar high, examining their treasures!

Saturday, we had a surprise visit from our cousins who made a last minute- 4 hour trip into town.
They came with a sweet sign and cheered Maddox on!

We went to Babe's after the game and to Hey Sugar for dessert.
The boys were so excited to see their cousins!
And pretty amused by the quarter-car that kept going, and going, and going!

My sister came over that afternoon to watch the kids so that we could go to the TCU vs Texas game.
Lance loves Texas.
He also loves TCU.
Lance actually likes a lot of teams, and college sports have a huge piece of his heart.

Part of the deal for us to get these tickets was that we had to wear purple!
I changed multiple times and Lance and Al finally talked me into the "sensible outfit" since it was going to rain...

and because Allison assured me that I am no competition to these girls that were over a decade younger than me anyway, I went with the yoga outfit.
Touche' little sister.
Touche'.

The weather started out perfect. Around 70 with slight wind.
I had come prepared with an umbrella but they took it from me at the gate and since we parked over a mile away, I left it with them.

6 minutes before half time, lightening threatened the game and they put us on a rain delay.
We headed down to the covered part and the rain came in.
Lance was determined to wait out the down-pour,
I wanted to go have our date else-where.

After walking aimlessly around the stadium for 3 hours-- which wasn't necessarily wasted time, since it was time alone with my husband, and we talked and laughed and truly enjoyed each other's company--  I finally talked him into leaving.  I was tired of standing, and hungry, and not really that die-hard to see the rest of the game... rumor has it, however, that the game restarted just about 20 minutes after we left.

Since it was 10:30 before Lance decided to go, and since we walked about a mile out of the way to the car-- it ended up too late to have dinner, so we came on home.
I had fun.
But I bet Lance chooses a different date next time he get tickets...
a fan who's a little less fair-weather; literally.

Yesterday my allergies were back to bonkers.
So we hung out at home and got caught up on laundry and cleaned the house.

The boys made "lunch".

And secretly switched pajamas and thought it was the funniest thing ever!

Today the house was still looking swell, so against my normal routine and better judgement, we made a grocery trip.
I was mad with myself to see that the Halloween costumes were completely picked over-- so we left with no Mario, no Mickey, a few groceries, and lots of smiles.
The boys were so good.
And a sweet guy asked if he could take my buggy back for me as I was loading my groceries...
Another win.

Back home we played outside and made a big fort inside.
The bigs went to soccer practice and the tiny and myself made dinner.

I have two days left to figure out Halloween costumes...
(and a plan for the night since I will be on call)
But I am thinking I am doomed on both accounts...
Yay for procrastination!

Pumpkin Patch 2013

I can not believe that this is our 6th season at the same patch!
Unfortunately, I did not start blogging until 2009...
but look how much we have changed!
2009   2010   2011   2012

a lovely weekend, and a piece of my mind

This weekend was one of my favorites.

I am hormonal and cranky so I am going to write unfiltered,
so before I overpower the thought::
I loved this weekend.

Lance's rash is 80% better.
Thank goodness.
Although the culture still isn't back.

Saturday Maddox had soccer.
It was cold but we came prepared with long pants, toboggans, and blankets.
Last season Maddox busted a front roll after he scored--
a couple of weeks ago, he upgraded to a new celebratory handstand.

Who knew he could even do a handstand?
He is so hilarious.

Beckham had me eat my words on the field after the game.
There is a little girl on Maddox's team who is "hard", for lack of another term.
She was actually in his class last year, and he use to pray for her that she would have a good day.
We didn't come into this season blindly, but it doesn't make my desire to hand out some discipline, any different.
Other moms were texting me during the game, because if anyone scores she goes and kicks them or hits them or screams and looses her koolaid on them...
Unfortunately my child scores a lot.
Thankfully, he hasn't returned the beat down.

I was telling my Dad and step-mom a few stories about her and her brother during the game, and then guess who threw down a Grade A fit right in the middle of the field after the game?

My kid.

I matched it with a Grade A spanking... or two...
But Beckham didn't care.
He's a honey-badger.
And you know what they say about honey badgers...

Hats off to you karma....
and to all of our spectators to the episode.

***
We loaded up from the game and made a little camp out across the field from the Alliance Airshow.
Lance's expectations were low since the Blue Angels and some-other-flying-crew similar the the Blue Angels weren't flying this year...
but there were pretend bombs, explosions, and a mock war--
(to which Lance did his best radio-reenactment)
so we were pretty impressed.

I was on call Saturday, and it was relatively slow--
so we cuddled in blankets, took turns with the binocular and devoured our snacks that Lance packed us.

I  had planned on staying the night at mom's on Saturday since I worked Sunday morning but she told me that I could go home and she would just keep them,
which was nice.

I have complained in the past that there are no people in our lives who just call and 'ask' for our kids--
but just a few hours away from them reminds me of two things...

1. I am so glad that I have my mom who loves them, cares for them, and doesn't mind "parenting them" like we do.  Who will show up to help any time I have a need and allows me to go to work or (like last week) a doctor's appointment, without paying for childcare.  It is nice to be able to sleep knowing they are cozy and comfortable, even though they aren't home...  And if they get scared or homesick; they have comfort in her.

2.  We like our kids.
Like, we honestly enjoy their company.
Yes, they are annoying, and rambunctious, and loud, and press buttons that we didn't even know that we had... and they fight and they cry and they exhaust us down to our last whimper of life--
but they are ours, and we wanted each one of them individually, and we are our best and most comfortable when we are a group-package, together.
We have friends (not many, but a few) who ditch their kids every weekend and sometimes during the week too because they think they are owed time.  "Adult time".  Similarly, we have family who constantly complain about the lack of family support and spout off nasty emails monthly because no one is there for them to watch their kids, or assume that others (with children of their own) should take on the responsibility to lighten their load.
I should probably keep these things to myself but it honestly bothers me and this is my space to say what I want!
Anywho, I realize that it is none of my business... and I am not entirely sure if it rubs me so much because I am jealous that they have the ability, resources, and lack of anxiety that we do, to be so part-time?  ...or that they are so entitled to think that this parenting gig revolves around them as adults, so much? ...or that I feel like I bust my butt to barely pass this test in life, and they show up with a test they stole right off the internet and yet claim to be in my same study group?

Either way, I have two more thoughts that no one asked for:

1. Parenting ain't easy.  It's a full time job.  It is also completely okay to take a breather and time alone with your husband.  That's healthy.  It is necessary.  But I believe that if you feel the need to cover up how often you don't have your kids-- then the issue might be one worth working on.

Let it be known, Lance and I love time together... we might even like it a bit more than the 3-4 times a year that we get to do it... but overall, we both enjoy the company of our kids.  It is one of the things that I adore about my husband... we are family people.  We do family things.
I don't think that Lance and I do everything right, or we have this all figured out, but I hope that when our children grow up, that they truly feel like Lance and I each enjoyed them... as people... and are glad that we have been with them so much and experienced so much of their every being.  Together.

2.  Spending energy wishing someone was different is exhausting.  I spent a lot of years, on different topics consumed with the idea that I could.  That I could make things even or fair or make someone love me or my kids the way it should be done in my head.
And that's not healthy.  And beyond that, it isn't even possible.
Through many years of struggling, I have realized that it is much easier to live my own life-- and enjoy the beauty of what is in front of my face... and let the other stuff work itself out.
Crazy enough, I have found that 99% of all the things I cried many tears about, have.

My kids know they have parents who adore them.  They also know who comes to their games... they know who sends them mail... or calls them... or stops by for visits... or tells them that they love them... or want to be a part of their lives.  But the beauty is that they don't have a clue who chooses the latter.  They only know love.
I, personally, have no care to point out to them the people who don't-- nor do I have any care to punish those who don't, if they ever decide to come around.
That's useless, negative energy to me that will corrode my spirit the way that Lance is sure looking up pictures of the Russian drug Crocodile online, corroded his skin!
My friend Krisha told me some advice a few years ago that honestly changed me...
she said, "why would you deny love to your kids from anyone?"
And after years of practice, I have learned to "let go."
And though I am human, and will still sometimes find myself sliding into a pity party, I will never let my kids feel any part of that.



***
Stepping down from my box of soap; back to Saturday:
My kids painted, we made a camp fire, roasted marshmallows, fed the cows, and bathed the boys...
and Lance and I left around 10:00 that night, and I slept like a rock, with not a foot one in my back!

Work was unbelievably slow on Sunday morning and we spent four hours mostly chatting.

Back to mom's to pick up my ducks, we watched the Cowboys win and then came home in time to change and go to Lance's games.

My super heroes were exhausted.
And slept until 9:00.

Cleaning today...
Laundry...
Tortilla Soup...
And call.

Pumpkin Patch Wednesday...

And speaking of "time alone"...
Lance and I have big date plans for Saturday...
That includes hiring a sitter...
tickets TCU vs Texas...
and fine dining.