Deep breath, deep breath, deep breath

I just received word that DadOfAllTrades was chosen to go help restore power to those without because of hurricane Irene.  "Pack for two weeks" they told him.

Part of me wants to scream....You can't dessert me!!  We have two little ones who get squirrly when Daddy is gone so long!  You have to attend Parent Orientation at the boy's school with me because I cannot be in two places at once.

Part of me wants to hug him for being a great provider and sacrificing his family time to put food on the table and a roof over our head.

Part of me wants to grab a shot and a beer.

Part of me is making a list in my head of things he has to do before I will officially let him go.  Like tell me the password for the on-line bill pay.  (He told me once, and I kinda listened.  Mostly because it would be one more thing I had to handle rather than him handling it, so I blew it off.  Now I wished I was a good wife in that moment.)  Like carry the mattresses upstairs for the out of town guests we are supposed to have next weekend.   Like cut the grass.

Part of me wants to drop to my knees and pray for ...I don't know.  Just pray.

But I think I will smile and give him a big hug before he leaves.  I am grateful he has a great job that he really does like and that pays well enough that I can be a stay-at-home mom.  And I am grateful I have him.

School begins

After a false start yesterday (no power in the school building), we got the boys off to their first day of school.  I say we because DadOfAllTrades happened to be home.  See, there was this terrible thunderstorm the night before the first day of school.  And when one works for the power company, one can expect to have to do a little overtime after storms.  Read:  I will not see him until Sunday or Monday after a biggie like this.

I digress...The boys are off and running to their new building (for Buzz) and the second grade wing (for LegoMaster).  They were both sOOOO disappointed at school being cancelled yesterday.  So much so that Buzz had a six year old version of a meltdown around 5pm that lasted until he went to bed.  I have never been so happy to close his bedroom door.  He could not tolerate any-thing, really any little thing sent him to tears and whining fits.  It was quite frustrating.  Since our current lecture series with the boys revolves around "making choices", I kept finding myself saying "You can choose to be miserable or you can choose to take a deep breath and do ______."  I think I used that phrase a hundred times in the three+ hours he persisted.

But it is all good.  They went willingly and happily.  I cannot wait to hear the stories from today.  About friends he has not seen in a while, or what the bus ride was like, or how their desks are.  OH bliss...

That Time Of The Year Again

A FB friend posted that there was only three weeks loft of summer vacation.  In June three weeks seemed like an eternity.  Now, not so much.  It seems like a short time to do everything.

We certainly have not done "nothing" all summer.  We have gone on vacation.  We have gotten all the school supplies together.  We have not forgotten our karate classes.  We have taught a Safety Town class.  Well, I have while the kids attended.  We have swum in the neighbors pool.  We have gone grocery shopping together. And some other summer-like things.

I wonder if the boys will remember the times we played together rather than those times I rolled my eyes because I was up to my elbows in cleaning supplies and could not stop to take apart a Lego or find a stray NASCAR replica.  I fear that the boys will feel like summer was boring and that Mom didn't do stuff with them. But in my heart I hope that they will remember that I let them get away with some fun stuff and that I did play many a round of Monopoly and race cars.

I remember climbing trees and swinging on the set in our backyard.  Also playing with my cousins and the dog.   So, maybe it is human nature to remember the fun stuff and not the boring stuff.

Sigh, summer vacation is almost over.

Bear and Buddy

Other than being upset at the trail of lies we seem to be given, I am overjoyed at our two new additions.  Bear (white on chest) and Buddy (all black and hard to catch a photo of) are wonderful dogs.  They are walking on leashed held by 7 and 6 year-olds without a problem.  They are receptive to treats, which is wonderful when trying to get them into a crate.  Bear will sit on command, although he does not stay seated long.  They are housebroken.  They are not even batting an eyelash at the loud noises made by LegoMaster and Buzz.  they sleep at my feet wherever I am.  I could go on...

It is amazing to me how prayers are answered.  I have wanted another dog, so I have asked my Lord for words to ask DadOfAllTrades and not bring up the hurts of loosing his dog earlier in the year.  I asked for dogs that are good with the boys.  I have asked for guidance on which organization to use to find our next pets.  And all of these prayers are answered by these two lovable dogs.

3am once again and Seven Quick Takes

Tonight's insomnia I am blaming on DadOfAllTrades.  He worked late again (not complaining mind you, I am grateful he has a job that he enjoys) and got home an hour after I fell blissfully asleep diagonally across the bed.  Since he had to move my slumbering body to get himself into bed, I startled and I got into a "we did this..." and "we did that..." fast talking spree, I worked myself into a frenzy and could not fall back to sleep.  Then he started snoring.. um... breathing heavy in an I'm-asleep-and-you're-not kinda way that left me staring at the ceiling.

Since I have no well thought out rant post awaiting publishing I think Seven Quick Takes are in order.  Are you with me?  Read on.

1. So, I am lying in bed and I am trying to fall asleep and not being successful.  I decide to pray, like who doesn't at 2:30am?  But I figure God can hear me whenever.  At least that is what they tell me.  So, I begin like I have been taught "ThankyouGodfor..."  Next thing I know I am thinking about the relish I made this morning.  Do you think God sticks with us through the "commercial breaks" or does He just roll His eyes and wonder why He invented ADD?

2. This morning, or was it yesterday morning?? I awoke promptly at 6:13am.  Usually I can sleep until at least 7:13am, but I am wide awake.  So I get up and make the relish I started last night.  Isn't that what you do at 6:15am?

3. This relish is made with zucchini instead of cukes and onions with vinegar sugar and spices.  I salted the veggies last night so all I have to do is rinse them so as not to have high blood pressure with every bite, and bring some water to a boil in the canning jar pot.  By 8:00am I was d.o.n.e. with the relish and feeling a huge sense of accomplishment.  I even have enough to give away.

4. Putting "zucchini" and "give away" in the same thought reminds me:  I just read about the National Sneak A Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day.  It is coming up on August 8th so get your zucchini bread recipe handy.  You may get gifted.  But not by me because I will be sleeping.  I hope.

5. We dog-sat a couple of weeks ago and other than the fact that she is an escape artist (I almost died when I couldn't find her and then she came running out of the woods which are most definitely NOT inside the fence) we decided we miss having a canine companion.  After all, when I vacuum I do not have to empty the canister halfway though the first floor.  What fun is that?  So I went on Petfinder.com to do a little bit of looking.  Next thing I know DadOfAllTrades is sitting next to me while I search and we discuss the relative merits of the dogs we see.  Too small.  No Beagles (But why, DadOfAllTrades?  They are so cute.  They are too noisy.  Ohhhh.) How about a greyhound?  No, I looks like someone forgot to finish them.  <chuckle>  Ok, how about her?  So I find my fingers typing an "I'm interested in this particular dog" email.  The process has started.

6. And did I mention it has morphed into two black labs?  DadOfAllTrades comment?  I go from no poop patrol to poop patrol for two?  My comment?  Been there, done that, you will survive, I did.

7. I laid out two black belts and one brown belt in karate tonight.  Oops, last night.  Ok, so maybe it was a drill and maybe it is choreographed and maybe they knew what I was about to do.  But they were on their backs and I was still standing and I heard "nice one" from two of their mouths.  Don't mess with me!!  Heh.

I am off to try to sleep again.  Happy zz'z to me.

Pappa Camp

Last week my FIL called with a request.  I think he said “I have a huge favor to ask you so call me back when you have a few minutes.”  I thought he was going to ask me to visit my grandmother-in-law, who is not a happy elder.  But he had a much different request.

His BFF was having his grandkids visit from out of town and FIL wanted to have all the grandkids get together to play.  (It seems funny to use text-speak when talking about my parent’s generation, but my mom is the one who taught me some of the abbreviations.  Heh!)  The two grand-pappas thought the kids would get along swimmingly.  So, now that they would all be within a few minutes of each other, rather than a plane ride away, we should all get together.  I think, no big deal, absolutely, it is summer.  Then he says he wants everyone to come over here because we have so much for boys to do.  Creek, zip-line, tree house, slides, room for baseball, pool next door.

To tell the truth I am ecstatic.  I kinda want to be the house that every kid wants to go to.  The one where you feel comfortable because the mom is kind and understands what it is like to be a kid.  Where the mom always has food and kool-aid ready at a moment’s notice.  Where a kid can be a kid (to use Disney’s phrase).  So this is the request I have been waiting for since I gave birth.

He is cracking me up, trying to be apologetic and questioning and polite at the same time.  He wants to have everyone stay outside with outside activities and do outside things.  They may need a bathroom on occasion, but he only needs the outside.  And did he mention that he wants the kids to play outside? Since he has a tendency to go on-and-on I cut him off and say it is no problem.  That would be great. 

So the day arrives and Pappa, his BFF, and his BFF’s brood arrive.  It is Pappa Camp time!!  There is a schedule to stick to and prizes to work for. 

He has generated a list of 20 things for a scavenger hunt.  I cannot believe how astute he is!   There are things on this list I forgot about owning.  Things like a boomerang, horseshoe, and a light house (well, maybe I didn’t forget about the numerous lighthouses in this house, but go with me here). Things they must find by the creek, like crayfish, red and black rocks, and creek sand.  Of course, the boomerang is MIA, so I must search the house for it.  Other than that, I just watch and enjoy.

Pappa has brought a lunch.  “You don’t have to lift a finger!”  He says.  Then it starts to rain.  He is devastated that they have to “impose” to eat inside.  I finally say “Enough already!  I like that you are doing this so knock off the apologies.”  And I love that lunch was fried chicken (Made by my MIL), rolls and butter, and pickles.  Such a guy lunch.  I offer watermelon just so it won't go bad.  At least that is my excuse.

They eat, finish the scavenger hunt, get wet and muddy in the creek, play baseball, and swim in the neighbor’s pool, all to the set schedule of Pappa.  They even win awards for finding ALL the 20 things on the scavenger hunt list.  Well, almost all of them.  They could not find a grasshopper.  Surprisingly enough, we don’t have a lot of those around here.  I told him that I rarely see them.  Soooo.. they called the committee to find out if one can substitute the toad and caterpillar they found while searching for the grasshopper.  The committee agreed and cheers rang out. 

It was fabulous to see my FIL so involved with the boys.  He wants to be a part of their lives and knows them pretty well.  I did not comprehend that he was taking in all our stories about them that we related over the phone.  He does remember some of the silly things my kids have done over the years.  I am so tickled that my boys have so many people that want to be a positive part of their lives.

We are truly blessed!

It is H.O.T.

The summer doldrums have begun in our neck of the woods.  Well, if one actually looks at a weather map of the U.S. of A. one would see that half the country is in the heat.   We have had days over 90 degrees for a week now and I am starting to melt.

Melt as in get soaking wet the moment I step out the door.  I have gone through two or more sets of clothes a day. 

Melt as in I am drinking way too much water and not peeing enough.   Well, maybe I am not drinking enough water then, but it sure seems like it.

Melt as in my brain is no longer functioning on all circuits.  I forgot to eat lunch today.  For those of you that don’t know me that well, I never miss a meal.  I mean never, at no time, ever ever.   When I am eating a meal I am thinking about what I am going to eat at the next meal.  So when I looked in the fridge at dinner making time and saw my packed lunch, I thought “Now that is why I can’t think right.”  Really, I totally forgot.  I am still reeling at this.

I am not complaining, mind you.  There was a time in my life that I would have not left the a/c once the temps rose above 80.  I used to leave work, start the car standing outside of it, turn on the a/c and wait until the car was more comfortable.  I hated to sweat.

Now that I have little ones that want to be outside, and I want them to be outside, I have no choice but to embrace the heat.  I have begun to almost want it.  And, quite frankly, I am liking the rockin’ tan that I end up with at the end of a summer well lived.

There.  Now I never thought I would say it.  But, here goes:  I love summer!

Am I a bad mom if I laugh?

This was written a couple of years ago in an April.  It was published in the local paper.  This is a true story, the names have not been changed.  <smile>

Sunday was here.  The first one in the spring that was warm enough to play outside.  Papa wanted to go fishing at a local park and the boys couldn’t wait.  DadOfAllTrades purchased his fishing license and Papa got the bamboo rods.  “Must learn on these first before you cast!!”  Says Papa.  I am grateful for this slice of wisdom because I do not want to imagine the result of a three year old trying to throw a fishing rod around with a barbed hook on the end.  At least I have a well-stocked first aid kit in the trunk.

We gather worms from LegoMaster's and Buzz’s worm farm (a whole other essay) and off to the lake we trek.  It is a balmy 50 degrees, but it feels really great to be out in the sun again after so many months of snow.  The boys are so excited that they can hardly wait to unwrap their poles and throw in a line.  Papa casually remarks that we should have brought the boys life jackets and DadOfAllTrades and I giggle.  We try a deck that is about six feet above the water and catch nothing.  Here is where I say that fishing can be boring, but can you imagine what it feels like being 5 and 3?  I however have a new appreciation for watching my boys with their father and grandfather.  Great mentoring moments and I am reminded again how much like his dad LegoMaster can be.  Big sappy smile on my face.  Then Buzz drops the rod in the water and we have to figure out how to get it.  No one brought hip waders.  “It happens.  We’ll get it.”  I say to Buzz, who is not so sure.  DadOfAllTrades saves the day by fishing (pun intended) it out and off we go. 

We decide to move to the other side of the pond when other park walkers tell us that the last fisherman said he too had no bites.  We trek over to the other side of the pond being careful not to step in the dog poo-why don’t people pick up after their animals?  Yuck.  This deck is about a foot and a half above the water with an extra board around the sides, no railings.  As a mom, I am feeling some worry, but what are the odds?  We are successful!!  DadOfAllTrades reels in a four incher and the boys gawk at the greatness of it.  Papa quickly fills the bucket with pond water, unhooks the fish and lets it recover from its shock while in the bucket.  LegoMaster and Buzz hover over the sides like proud parents looking in a bassinette.  The fish is fascinating for a couple of minutes, then back to putting the lines back in the water. 

A minivan slowly drives by and stops.  Uh-oh.  Cre8tiveMamma does not have a fishing license, but Papa quickly takes the pole out of my hands and assists Buzz.  After a couple tense seconds, we find out that it is the editor of the local paper out getting some spring photos and is wondering if he can take ours.  Absolutely!  I have not yet had all of my 15 minutes of fame.  Shoot away.  Photos snapped and we return once again to the watching of the bobbers.  Cre8tiveMamma, and Buzz if you count that it was his rod, catch another fish that swallows the worm and hook too far.  He does not make it, we think, because we put him back in the water so to not have to do some explaining about life and death.  We can always cover that topic later.   In total an hour has passed and even patient LegoMaster is getting restless.  We decide on fishing until the hooked worms are gone then heading home. 

Buzz thinks this is great because he can then play with the worms that have managed to escape being fish bait today.  He pulls one out and stretches it, asks it “How are you today?”, and in general tortures it like any three year old would do.  He asks if he can throw it in and Cre8iveMamma says OK.  After being the forever-teacher and asking for the prediction of sink-vs-float, the worm drops.  Wow, it sinks.  A whole 4 inches or so to the murk at the bottom of the water.  The water is just clear enough for us to make out the whitish form of the worm declaring its freedom.  Buzz goes to grab another worm while Cre8tiveMamma watches to see if a fish will eat it before her very eyes.

SPLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cre8iveMamma witnesses Buzz do a half gainer into the water, landing first on his back and then flopping his legs over summersault style.  I am sure the others saw it in slow motion as I did, but as I was already staring at the water, it was in my full view.  Lightningfast, I reach off the deck to rescue my son, grabbing Buzz by the back of his soggy coat.   I am of course praying that Buzz  does not drown, but a second, equally loud prayer is one that involves me not getting wet also.  Luckily, I do not fall in, but have the where-with-all to yell out “GRAB MY LEGS!!”  Someone does so-either Papa or DadOfAllTrades, I am not sure.  We drag Buzz out.  He is crying “I’m Cold!” so we strip him down to his skivvies while Papa removes his own hoodie so we can wrap that around Buzz.  He is covered with dirty pond water and the flakes of the black yuck of the bottom of an inland lake.  Because of the smell I am assuming that this “dirt” is decaying leaves, rotting fish and goose poo.  Papa is freaked and immediately begins taking apart the rods and gathering tack.  DadOfAllTrades and I try to calm Buzz down, and LegoMaster is just staring.  Buzzis the most upset about his boots.  “They’re wet!”  He chuffs out between sobs.

 Eventually we get Buzz in the car, naked with a towel wrapped around tender parts.  He asks for his sunglasses.  I assume that is so the paparazzi cannot get a look at his horrified face.

On the way home, I have to resist every urge to begin guffawing.  Now that everyone is safe and dry, so-to-speak, the adrenaline has worn off and I am beginning to see the situation as an outsider.  I am beginning to remember the immediate thoughts.  When Buzz began to thrash around (in 4 inches of water) a great black cloud rose to the surface.  It was probably some really organically rich pond sediments, but I thought “now how did an octopus get here?”  Really, I did.  LegoMaster is beginning to question what happened now and I cannot even turn my head or look at DadOfAllTrades for fear of bursting out in peals of laughter.  Thank goodness DadOfAllTrades had the head in the family and is handing everything well, but I can still see the side of his face and I know that he is also smiling.

After Buzz has been scrubbed, at dinner LegoMaster says something about Buzz falling in the water again.  Buzz seems to be taking it well so DadOfAllTrades takes this as a teaching moment and says to LegoMaster “Now you now what was in the water, down there.”

 And Sam, with a straight face, replies “Yeah, my brother.”

20 Questions: Part 11-20

Here are the last 10 questions in my 20 Questions series.  Enjoy-or wonder who the heck I think I am.

11. If you  could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Since I love food, the mere thought of having to limit it to one selection is like a form of torture.  But since you asked and I must pick, I would pick cheesecake.  I love desserts; the best ones are those with a huge amount of fat.  Cheesecake fits that bill nicely.  But I have to say I will miss some eggplant parm.

12. What last made you laugh?  Buzz and I were sitting together in the lobby of the dojo.  He started trying to kiss my face, then it  morphed into him trying to bite my cheek gently.   It tickled like the devil and I couldn't help but belly laugh.  He got this cheesy grin on his face and did it again.  I laughed again.  I think I laughed at the expression of pure joy on his face as much as the tickling he was doing.

13.  If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?  Physically, my thin hair.  I don't think I would like really thick and wavy locks, just something that held a curl once in a while.  Mentally, my ability to ruminate.  I need to practice meditation more often to calm my brain.

14.Scale of 1-5, how organized are you?   I would say a 3.  I cannot take the time to put things away where they belong asap, but I can find a piece of info within a short time when asked.  There are many piles of stuff in my house and I have had to call the credit card company once, but most of the time I "know where I can find it if you give me a day."

15. Are there any TV shows you watch often?  I am crazy for Survivor.  See this post where I tried to identify why as it really has not changed in 10 or so seasons.  I also like crime dramas like Criminal Minds.  The animation shows like Family Guy are a crack up.  And I am getting in to Phineas and Ferb lately-creative writing at it's best.

16. Ever wear pajamas anywhere except bed?  I am a freak about "getting ready for the day".  I would be so totally self conscious if I didn't get a  morning shower that the thought of leaving the house in my pj's gives me the hives.  I have nightmares about the house burning down and me having to run outside in front of my neighbors in my pj's.  This emotion is tough to swallow when camping, by the way.

17. What is your favorite holiday?  I used to be a huge Christmas fan, then I got married and had children and realized that it is the mom of the family that makes Christmas happen.  It is not that I don't like it anymore, there is just so much pressure involved.  And since I can't remember a darn thing unless it is listed on paper, I usually forget a gift for someone important, like my mother-in-law, and the stress is just too much to take. So I am going to choose Halloween.  Strange for a Christian, but I love to make costumes.

18.  What is your favorite song?  Another tough-ee.  When I was in high school I forked over $30 or so for a concert ticket to see BonJovi.  He is hot-hot-hot and I needed to see him sing.  The two friends I went with wanted to troll for pimply teenage boys and I was not into that.  I wanted to stare at Jon and his big hair.  So I sat in my seat (with two empty seats on either side of me) and watched the concert.  At one point the lights went down and Jon sang "Drift Away" nearly acapella.  I was captivated.  I still think back to that moment every time I hear that song.  Good stuff.

19.  Favorite movie?  I don't have one.  I rarely can stay awake long enough to see a plot thicken.  But I really liked all the Harry Potter films.  And I do remember liking "A Time To Kill" with Matthew McConaughey.

20.  No quiz would be complete with out this iconic question, so here goes:  What would you do with a million dollars?  Oh geez...  Pay off the house so DadOfAllTrades has less pressure on him.  Have my bedroom painted.  Take a trip to see the great U. S. of A.  Start a fund for those good people that are trying their damndest to make ends meet, but can't.  But one thing is for sure, I would do it anonymously.  People are strange, and I don't want them asking me for a handout.  I am stingy.

Hope you enjoyed all 20 of them.

When the going gets tough

Seven and an half years ago... NO wait, seven and a half years ago plus ten months, I signed on to be a mom.  I had dreams.  I saw myself strolling around with a well behaved child. Going to playgrounds and sliding down slides.  Hosting sleepovers with all-night talk fests.   Being the house that all the kids wanted to go to because we always had Popsicles or ice cream.  Having the kind of relationship with my kids that allowed us to communicate openly and honestly, then truly understand and respect each other.

Well, not really.  DadOfAllTrades and I wanted to reproduce.  We both wanted children, we got married after 30, and...well... time was running out on my reproductive years.

It is not that we didn't put a huge amount of thought into it.  We were just old enough to know that is what we wanted and we were going to do it, for good or for bad.

This  may sound like I am not happy with the decision to have children.   Quite the contrary.  I am LOVING having kids.  It has been, and will be, the most energy I have ever spent on one project.  It has changed my outlook on the world.  It has made me emotionally stronger, less selfish (I think), and more likely to walk around with stains on my clothes.

We have been having a hard time at it lately.  The boys are in full blown summer mode.  That is, not wanting to do anything except complain about the toys they don't have and fighting over the toys they do have.  Usually the fights are over something they have not seen or even thought of in over six months.  They are verbally mean to each other, doing a huge amount of whining, and LegoMaster has been talking to me like I am his slave.

"Mom, the TV is too loud!"  Yeah, well what would you like me to do, master?  Really, I don't say that because it would perpetuate the verbal non-politeness and they have yet to be old enough to understand sarcasm. What I do say is: "Then get off the couch and turn it down."  You lazy stinker.

There have been a couple of days that, once I get my boys to bed, I hole myself up in the bathroom and take an hour long shower.  Just so I do not have to think for a little bit.  The day has been so emotionally draining that I cannot even converse with DadOfAllTrades until I have had my alone time.

No one ever told me about these times of motherhood.  I do not think I entered into it  believing it would be all tea and cupcakes.  I was too old for that nonsense.    However, I never realized the "race" to be a good mom was not a mile long leisurely paced jog.  It is a marathon of Iron Man proportions.  One that goes on for a lifetime.  It is hard and time consuming and emotionally draining and sometimes humiliating.  It takes a person of strength to raise a child the "right" way.

There are times when all one can do is fall to their knees and ask the Lord for help.  Be it strength to get through the day, or patience, or kind lips, or whatever one feels is the right thing at the time.  I have fallen to the advice I should follow: Philippians 4:6.  "...in everything...present your requests to God..."   I have found that just by asking, my Savior provides me with all I need.  For example, in these last trying days I have been praying A LOT for help with the boys (so I don't strangle them).  And, low an' behold, I was messaged this blog entry.  Couldn't of happened at a better, more appropriate time.

I have been reminded that I am under a higher power while raising my kids.  My prayers have been answered and I can make it through today.  My earth body and mind may need some time alone at the end of today, but I now know why I have been called to be a parent.

And, for good or for bad, I know that I will make it through with His help.

It's three AM here

I officially have a case of insomnia tonight.

I woke at 1:30.

It is now 3:30 and I am still awake.

Tomorrow is going to be tough.

I sometimes wonder what it is that wakes me up enough to not fall back asleep.  I don't think I had a bad dream.  I am not ruminating about anything in particular.  The weather has been darn hot so I am sufficiently tired upon arrival to bed.  I have attended my fair share of karate classes so I have been keeping up with the physical activity.

But here I sit.

I folded clothes.  I have done two loads of laundry (so I now have more clothes to fold).  I browsed on the net for a while.  I talked to my brother via FB.  Apparently he has the same problem tonight.  And, FYI, he is a doc so I hope he has no delicate procedures tomorrow.  I have pinned a few fun things and read about someone's Alaska honeymoon.  (No, I do not know them other than what I read on their blog.  But they have a sense of humor and I cannot resist reading about them.)  I have wondered why we don't do more for our anniversary and also wondered why neither of us even felt bad about not even getting a special dessert or anything for it. (Next year is the big "T-E-N" so we better get our thinking caps on.  We gotta do better then a phone call next year.)  And, now I am writing a post.

So, overall a busy couple of hours.  Maybe I will try sleep again.

Selena bread and a bender

This weekend I had an impromptu party at my house with DadOfAllTrades siblings and some of their friends.  It was hot as blazes in the backyard and they wanted to make this Hungarian tradition of selena (spelled right?  I don't know.) bread.  This is made by topping a rye bread slice with chopped peppers, onions and tomatoes.  Then one melts selena fat over an open fire and drips it on the bread. Then one salts and peppers the heck out of it and eats the slice in two bites.

Yup, it is gross.  But since I am part of the family, I must participate on occasion.  I was able to refuse when I was pregnant-both times-because of heartburn that was brutalized by peppers.

But, an otherwise related topic...  Well, maybe related in that it happened in the same night...

Because of the heat, there were many adult beverages around.  My BIL started making this fruity martini and started just refilling my glass without being asked.  And I forgot to get up from talking to drink extra water.

I am sure you see where this is going.

I have not experienced the spins like that since college.  And now I remember why I stopped drinking to excess a long time ago.  Whoosh, the morning was hard.  New vow-do not drink a drink unless I have specifically requested it.  Not because I think they were spiked, but because then I can keep better track of how many I had.  And, do not drink a martini out of a plastic cup.  I think I had doubles, but who knows?

Never again for this old body.

Vacation Memories #2

More thoughts from our vacation to the "Yooper" (or the Upper Peninsula of Michigan).  For some reason the locals have been calling it the yooper, like a lazy-day way to say U-P.  Interesting.

1. LegoMaster and DadOfAllTrades decide to try to take some photos of the family with the stop timer on the camera.  It is quite entertaining to me to watch my son teach my husband how to work an electronic device.  Not because DadOfAllTrades cannot do it, He is more than capable.  But because it amazes me how kiddos pick up on how to work gadgets on their own while the parents are still fumbling with the written directions.  We take some slapstick shots of ourselves while others are looking on wondering what we are doing.  One lady even offers to take the photo for us.  I just tell her that we are having fun, so no, but thanks for the offer.

2. I am going to start today with last night.  It rained.  A lot of rain.  Raining ALL night.  And this prompted little boys to empty their bladders more than once, sometimes in their sleep.  Believe folks when they tell you that the sound of running water can make one have to pee.

3. I am very impressed with the display in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and the boys are very interested in learning about what they are seeing.  I am glad we read the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald because they knew what they were going to see and it made it that much more exciting for them.  The only bummer is that one must be 8 years old or older to climb the lighthouse, so Buzz was bummed.  We did hear the fog siren go off many times.  And we did get to walk along Lake Superior, DadOfAllTrades and my first time to touch that lake, and we collected some really great rocks that wash up from the lake.  Cool.  DadOfAllTrades has now touched all five Great Lakes.  Whoot!

4. On the way back, DadOfAllTrades and I spy a small sign for a lighthouse and decide spur of the moment to venture to see it.  The boys are busy watching movies, so they don’t even realize we turned.  The road is the sandy dirt they have around here, and DadOfAllTrades gets a little twinkle in his eye.  He switches to 4-wheel-drive and starts bajaing.  The boys finally catch on and turn off the movies in favor of telling DadOfAllTrades where to slide around next.  It is really fun to listen to them wonder how high the splash of the water will be.  Remember how it has been raining very hard for over 24 hours?  There are plenty of large puddles to ride through.  It turns out this lighthouse is 18 miles from the turn and at mile 15 we start to wonder if it is a hoax.  The sandy road is getting narrower and the trees are getting lusher.  Every once in a while we see a driveway to somewhere.  This would be a great spot to grab someone and make them disappear forever.  Just sayin’.   


5. After days of rain, DadOfAllTrades decides to just let the boys play.  They busy themselves with the matchbox cars and a race track of their own making while they pretend they are NASCAR drivers.  Buzz is covered from ankle to hip with black, sandy mud.  DadOfAllTrades is getting the tackle together.  This is vacation!

Vacation Memories

Sorry about the hiatus, folks.  I was in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  They have no cell phone service and even less WiFi up there.  It was truly a blessing to not be able to check my electronic life.  But I did miss reading The Pioneer Woman. 

Oh, and we attended a NASCAR race.  What a sight. And that was just the cars.  The other attendees could have been a whole blog post, but I will let you use your imagination.

Here are a few highlights of my trip from my personal journal:

1. Of course, because of the timing of leaving, we have to stop for lunch of Einstein Bagels (me) and Burger King (the boys) at the rest stop.  I am feeling pretty virtuous about my lunch choice until I realize I am still hungry.  Hmm. I guess I will have some fries to finish that off.  Oh, wait, they have onion rings at BK.  Yum.  LegoMaster wants more fries, so I buy both.  Then finish them off when LegoMaster eats only half of his fries.  Oh well, at least I tried to eat better.  I had more veggies than the boys did.

My  food choice catches up with me as I fall asleep in a food coma then miss the “Welcome to Michican!”  sign.   Bummer.  Call me weird, but the state line signs are a highlight.  

2. We go on a monster truck ride.  Really, we do-kinda gimmick-y, but the boys loved it.  LegoMaster gets a Jimmie replica matchbox car and Jimmie baseball hat.  Buzz gets a Kasey replica matchbox car, then does a whole lotta complaining that he cannot get the $65 bigger replica car.  ‘Ain’t no way we are spending that amount of money on a car that will be broken in a week.  Buzz does not want a shirt or hat, so we do a whole lotta ignoring and head on our way.

3. GENTLEMEN…START YOUR ENGINES!!  That is how we woke up the boys today-by jumping on their bed and saying the most famous words in all of racing.  They are unimpressed as they were still sleeping at 6:15 (very late for them) and groggily sit up.  DadOfAllTrades had read the fan brochure last night, so we have our plan and we are sticking to it.  Parking lots open at 6am, gates open at 8am.  DadOfAllTrades  wants to be there early to get a pit pass.  Once we leave I discover I have left the tickets in the hotel and we must turn back.  At least it was only two minutes into the trip.

4. DadOfAllTrades suggests we call a friend who also has gone to races before.  So we dial her number and hold the phone up as the cars go by for the first lap.  DadOfAllTrades tells me just to do that and hang up, but I can’t stop giggling so I try to talk to her.

 

5. When we climb the Old Mackinac Light, we can see two great lakes-Michigan to our left and Huron to our right- and the Mackinac (mack-in-aw) Bridge.  The sight is very cool and I could stay up here for hours just watching the goings on.  But we must move on, and down the stairs, and up north.

6. We arrive at campsite to the greetings of huge horse flies and a kid from two sites over.  Frankly, I am not sure which is more annoying.  I would like the boys to help set up camp, but Nathan is not getting out of the way.  I dump the sand toys away from where we are setting up the camper and DadOfAllTrades and I try to bust a move getting things going.  I am so hungry that my hands are shaking, but I refrain from being grumpy as much as possible because there is nothing I can do but try to find what I packed.  The boys are officially gone down the ravine behind the campsite.  I want to freak because of the poison ivy factor and the fact that I cannot see my children in a strange place.  But I put my trust in God and hope He keeps a watch over them while they innocently explore like boys should do.

7. Morning number one in the camper and I attempt to make pancakes and sausage for breakfast.  With a flick of the switch, the propane lights and we are in business.  Again, no rustic camping for me.  Our neighbor called it “girlie camping” and I totally agree.  This girl loves it.  And then it starts to rain.

More tomorrow...

20 Questions: Part 1-10

I saw this idea to ask yourself twenty random questions.  I liked that idea, so here goes...

1. What is your least favorite household chore?  Dusting. It just gets dusty a few minutes after one does the chore, so why bother.  Dusting to me usually involves water and a pail.  I do it once a year, weather it needs it or not.  Or at least when guests come, and not the playgroup kinda guests.  The other mothers of youngin's must learn to ignore dust.

2. Where would you go to visit if money was no object?  Mediterranean cruise for a year.  I don't think I could adequately explore with just a week or two.  And one must guarantee I will get safely back to the states.  I have this fear of travel outside the continental US.

3. What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?  I was chosen to speak at a national convention when I was running a fitness center for the elderly.  When I received the phone call that I would be speaking, I literally froze on the phone.  I could not even write down the pertinent info, so I had to ask her to repeat herself.  Then, flying out to L.A., looking at the room in which I was to speak, knowing that there would be over 300 in attendance.  Wow, wow, wow.   I hyperventilated in the hotel the morning of, and spilled my water on my lap as I was being introduced.  If I remember correctly, I did well, but it truthfully is one of those moments one feels like they are outside themselves.

4. What is the way you handle stress?  Eating, ignoring, eating, or going into hyper-drive.  And did I mention eating?

5. If you could own any car, what would it be?  One that is paid for and gets 30 miles per gallon or more.  I really do not care what I drive as long as it is not making a huge dent in our pocketbook.

6.  Least likely to be voted...?  Best singer.  I am tone deaf, a fact I discovered in college when I asked a dorm friend to teach me to sing "I will survive" by Gloria Gaynor ( "At first I was amazed...I was petrified...Thinking I could never live without you by my side..."  Now try getting that song out of your head). He was in musical theater and said "Sure."  Then he heard me sing, and told me to never do that again.  I have taken his advice and now know there IS something I am not good at.

7. Make the bed or not make the bed?  I tend to throw the quilt over the bed.  However it lands, it stays that way.  Unless DadOfAllTrades is home.  Then he adjusts it perfectly as if he had a ruler in his hip pocket.   If he is at work in the morning when I toss, he just adjusts it later upon his arrival home.  See how different we are and how we have had to learn to adjust to each other's weaknesses?  Ahh, marital bliss.

8. You are in the checkout line.  What do you do to pass the time?  Depends.  If I am with my boys, I usually am removing things from little hands and saying "no, we do not need another chap stick."  If I am by my lonesome, then I scan the tabloid covers and wonder why anyone would want to be a celebrity.  Then I stare at what the person in front of me is buying; wondering what they are making for dinner.  Then I shift weight.  Then I zone out and usually forget to give the cashier the store card for discounts until halfway through.  It is around this point that I remember that I forgot something like milk or bread.

9. A spare hour in the afternoon. What do you do?  Sleep.  I love me some naps.  No other choice here.

10. If you could dine with any famous person, who would it be?  This is one of those questions that makes my heart go pitter patter.  I have this irrational fear of authority.  I once ran into the local weatherman, the guy on the TV nightly, at my church.  I mean, RAN INTO him and almost knocked him down.  I spent the next ten seconds staring at him wide eyed and open mouthed like a kid.  Couldn't even say "I'm sorry for hurting you."  So, if I could have a meal of not being tongue tied, I guess it would have to be Jesus or Steven King or maybe John Travolta.  I know, wide range of personalities there, but they all seem so interesting to me.

Stay tuned for questions 11-20.

The search for..

I have begun the process of packing for the upcoming camping trip.  Guess what?  I am taking a break because I have to do a  few deep breaths.  Not that I am freaked out, but...

Although the camper I am borrowing is fully stocked by experts.  Although said experts have given me a printed out, neatly spaced and columned list.  Although DadOfAllTrades had gone camping before on every family vacation of his youth.  ...I feel like a moron.

I even called him and asked:  "What does one bring to the shower?"  The silence on the other end of the phone was almost deafening.

What I meant to say was "What do you want to use to carry your grooming supplies to the shower?  What one thing will not get too wet and gross?"  He is starting to wonder about my sanity.  And that is not good since I am the one with all the addresses, all the confirmation numbers and printed tickets.

I guess I have to begin to laugh.  I hope it is a sane kinda laugh, not one that makes him wonder any more.

Today

Guess what I am doing today.....

Seven Quick Takes

1. The end of school has officially kicked my sweet behind once again.  I look at the calendar at the beginning of May and say to myself :  "Self, You only have four weeks left without the boys.  You want them back to spend more leisurely time with them , but you want to GET STUFF DONE.  So, go, get to it, move, up-and-at-'em."  Then, next thing I know, it is the last week of school and I am at somebody's classroom every day and nothing, I mean NOTHING, is finished.  And I am exhausted as if everything got done.  So...on to the next point.

2. I was able to get a HUGE amount of stuff out of my house in our garage sale. (Remember this 40-bag challenge photo?  I had more than double that.)  My goal was to make enough money to pay for karate camp for the boys.  And we did!  Plus some!  Paid for one payment on our CSA also.  Cool.  Also made roughly 472 trips to goodwill-type drop-offs.  Well, maybe not that many, but I was going every day for a week so it felt like that many.  So in truth, I did get a lot done.  I was not being grumpy in #1 above.  Maybe not.

3. I have 15 tomato plants..Yes FIFTEEN tomato plants:  beefsteak, roma and cherry.  I decided to try to start tomatoes from seeds this year.  The boys and I planted one egg carton each of the three types.  Since I have nothing next to a green thumb, I figured I would get two, maybe three, plants from each egg carton.  Well, the seed gods smiled on me and I have a wonderful amount of green viney-like plants.  I better stock up on canning jars.  <huge smile>  Just a couple in this photo, not sure why I did not take the whole shebang.

4. The main part of my flowerbeds are mulched.  Clap-clap-clap.  Whoosh, that was a lot of work.  I think I have put down six yards, roughly.  There are still the around the tree type mulching jobs that need to be done.  But to do those, I need 10 gallons of Round-Up.  Or maybe more with all the weeds that are there.  But I am proud that what is near the house is looking good.  I can't believe I did all that, and liked it.  I couldn't do it for a career, but it was very rewarding.

5.  I only Pinned two or three things today.  How's that for a confession?  Forgive me Father, for I have.....Pinned.  Chuckle!

6. LegoMaster sent me over the edge today by grabbing Buzz's lovey and ripping it.  We have a house rule that favorite items are not touched unless one has been lost and you are the recovery crew.  LegoMaster has been walking the fine line of kindness (good-v-bad) with his brother as of late and I am at my tolerance limit.  When I heard the wailing from the next room, I knew something was terribly wrong.  I find LM running out the door and Buzz crying like.... well, like his best, most precious thing was ripped.  Once I got LegoMaster back inside, I held up one of his favorite Legos and told him to "kiss it goodbye" because I was about to put it on eBay.  I hate when I go wild, but this kid must learn.  And if it is learned in the price of selling one Lego set, then I guess that is a price I will have to pay.

Drum Roll Please, because #7 is really cool.....

7.  I believe I have lost 15 pounds!!!  I say it this way because I had forgotten to weigh myself before my sugar fast during lent, so I am just estimating from what I had weighed last.  Some of my clothes no longer fit because they are TOO BIG, not the other way around.  I would still like to loose 15 more, maybe 25.  If I loose 25 then I would be at the weight I left college which is totally obtainable.  But I would be happy with 15.  If I keep up with the healthy eating and exercising by way of karate (I got my next belt, purple, last night BTW) and moving mulch.  

I guess I felt like a lot of capital letters today.  Ta ta for now.

PIN IT!

Well, it has happened.  I have found a new addiction.  I swear every New Year’s that I will no longer take on new hobbies.  Like a new year’s resolution.  You know: lose weight, spend more time with my kids, eat less red meat, clean the toilets more, and take on no new hobbies.

I do this because I have this tendency to become obsessed.  When I learned how to knit, my BIL (One of the many) laughed that he never saw my face anymore, just the top of my head and a pair of metal needles flying around.  I gasped; then realized he was right.  I had been knitting at every available moment-including when family got together.  I did not think the conversation was boring, but my hands were idle.  And I didn’t know yet that others don’t realize one can listen and knit at the same time.  We can you know.

I am talking with Buzz’s best friend’s mom, who is UU-ber creative.  One should peruse her blog-happiness.  She has written two books about crafting and knitting and needle/thread/fabric fun.  Can you hear me talking fast now??  But I degress-

She told me about this site where one can “pin” ideas and great stuff they find on the web.  It is called pinterest.com.

I have spent way too many hours creating my pin board.  I am actively searching out things I like, even though I think the whole premise is to have a spot to put ideas one finds.  Not spend hours looking for everything you have ever liked since you were 9 year old.

For example, I sit on the couch thinking: What are my favorite books?  Then I find a couple of covers to pin from Amazon and go peacefully on my way.  Until…………..I am driving in the car and realize I like another book.  Once I get home I rush to my handy laptop to find it and pin it.  Later, I realize while cooking dinner that I forgot about that book I read when I was about so old….   Off to find the laptop while the greens are simmering.  I can get on more pin in before the food burns, I think.

You should try it.  It is kinda like have a place to bookmark things.  Then spend some time looking at random other’s pin boards.  You may find someone who shares your interests. 

Have fun pinning!

First CSA offering

Yesterday was the first pick up day for our new CSA.  I chose this one this year because it is less than a mile from our house and is organic.  I have bought produce from her at the local farmers market for a few years and the quality is great.  She has garlic that is to die for!  I could bottle the smell and sniff it for hours.  Weird I know, but the smells of garlic and basil really make my skirt fly up (quick-name that blog).

This bag brought us a few goodies: red leaf lettuce, fresh oregano, baby garlic, asparagus, homemade jarred BBQ sauce, and a dozen free-range eggs.  I think she felt bad about not giving us more but his spring as sucked as far as garden goings-on, so I totally understand.

The asparagus is already history.  If you have never had fresh picked asparagus, you must at some point in your life.  Put it on your bucket list.  You will forever thank me and will refuse to buy the tasteless asparagus that most grocery stores offer.

There are two recipes for the baby garlic.  One being a pesto.  I am already salivating thinking about it and it is on my list of things to do today.

I am so looking forward to each week's basket.  Since we get our share of the ripe produce, it could contain anything!!

Fears

Buzz has begun this insane fear of storms.  I say insane because I cannot recollect a recent traumatic event in which he would have grown such a fear.  I say insane also because storms have become a major obsession with him. 

When I am checking the important events of my day, I mean reading my favorite blogs, he interrupts every 3.2 seconds to ask to see the Doppler radar for the area.  He is well versed in the red color boxes (tornado warnings) and yellow boxes (severe thunderstorm warnings).  He has asked about the different colors in the Doppler so often that he can explain it better to my parents than I can. 

He also has issues with wind.  If he sees so much as one leaf flutter he is in full panic mode, with wide eyes, and is asking when the wind will end and if there is a tornado nearby.  He frequently asks about floods.

There are nights in which he refuses to go to sleep even though he was droopy eyed over his mashed potatoes one hour prior to bedtime.  He has been up with us until 10pm, which in my mommy eyes is way too late especially since it is cutting in to my DadOfAllTrades time.

 

I am truthfully not sure how to handle this.  DadOfAllTrades and I have tried a few things: 

1. Humor him and fire up the Doppler radar sites. 

2. Borrow books regarding weather and it’s causes from the library.  

3. Ignore and blow off. 

4. Explain calmly that we have never seen a tornado in all our combined 84 years even though we have seen many a storm.  

Frankly we are running out of resources and the fear has not subsided in any way.  While it has not gotten worse in the midst of this tornado season, it has not subsided and it appears he has not learned the science we are trying to teach him (like it must be a hot day for a severe thunderstorm, not a day where one must wear a sweatshirt because they are shivering.)

So, I know that tonight I will be glancing googly-eyed at the computer screen while Buzz is up late once again to wait for the storm to pass.  Sigh…another season of motherhood to learn to enjoy.

Buying a new car, er…truck

DadOfAllTrades has never owned a new vehicle.  He has happened upon many a car from an uncle, friend or acquaintance without so much as a whisper of car-based inquiry.  And he likes it that way.

Since he can work on everything engine related, used cars don’t scare him.  The only thing he does not like is having to fix gas line problems, so he farms those out.  But all in all, he has maintained our fleet superbly.  It is a relief to know that once I hear a funny noise, the problem will be fixed asap.  I may have to drive his car for a day or two while he works on mine, but we do not have to hand over the keys for an expensive repair.  This fabulous skill is why we have not had a car payment in over 7 years.

This winter we had a random conversation regarding our fleet and I mentioned that the next vehicle he buys, or happens upon as it may, needs to be able to tow.  We want to take the aluminum rowboat to the local reservoir to fish and one cannot do that with a Honda Accord.  We had also discussed using this year as a camping year- borrowing SIL’s pop-up camper and making a cheap week out of vacation time.  This being agreed, he began a hunt for the perfect truck.

He is the type that will mention something and then appear to have forgotten.  I don’t think I heard the word “truck” from his lips again until April, and I was afraid that June would roll around and we would have to tow the camper to Michigan with our own legs. 

But he tells me that he was busy asking his work buddies about the trucks they were driving and the trucks they had owned.  He was perusing the AutoTrader website while I was at karate.  So he begins looking for a used truck, one of the small to mid-size variety.  Like a Toyota Tacoma.  He felt we needed an extended cab with a decent amount of legroom as the boys cannot ride legally in the bed of the truck, and they are not getting any smaller.  He searches the dealership websites diligently behind my back.

So he asks friends for car salesmen names and heads out one Tuesday after work.   In the course of four hours he has driven three trucks and received three quotes.  Brave man.  After putting foot to pedal, he claims he likes the bigger truck better.  Hmm.  We discuss the options that night after the boys are in bed.  How would life be with only two vehicles?  What in the world? you ask?  DadOfAllTrades likes to have a contingency plan by having an extra vehicle to drive if one of the fleet goes down.  Buying a new truck would mean trade-ins and not having a back-up-plan.  It may mean having to rent a car if mine breaks.  I am ok with that.

DadOfAllTrades heads back out the next night with the other possibility of trade-in and stuns the salesmen.  If, with the trade-ins and whatever rebates, they can get the price down to a specific dollar amount, then they have sold a truck.  He says they stared at him for a long 5 seconds then got to their feet and started running.   It was fun for him to watch them make the deal happen.   Two hours and many texts later he signed on the dotted line! 

We now own this masculine baby:

I want to name him Tito, or maybe Vincent,  like a mafia name, but DadOfAllTrades says “No names”. 

Darn buzz kill.

The Coast is NOT Clear

I live in an area I have started calling “Couburbs”.  Not quite country, not quite suburbs.   A decade ago, it was all farms.  Now it is more houses, albeit they are further apart than the McMansions in some other newer cities.  Most folks around here own 3-plus acres so we DO have neighbors; we are just not close enough to smell what they are cooking for dinner.

 

There are a few farms left, though.  In several different plots surrounding us are the corn fields of a dairy farm, which is roughly 2 miles away from us.  The boys call it the “stinky cow farm” because one can tell we are driving past it just by the stench.  It is commonly used as a landmark between them: “Are we home yet?”  “Yeah-we are by the stinky cow farm.”

In the fall we can hear the combines harvesting the corn.  In the spring we can hear the tractors plowing and seeding.  It is kinda like a huge circle of feed for life that we get to see/hear every year.

The part that is not so cool is the fact that they spread the muck on the corn fields when they can.  If you have never been in the middle of a rotten egg, you cannot appreciate the truly world-claiming odor that comes from a cow.  As much as I like flinging open the windows in the spring to let in the fresh air, I first open the back door to see if "the coast is clear" on an olfactory level.  Our first year here I made the mistake of wanting to air out the house and got a face full of the odor.  The house smelled for days.

Guess what I woke up to this morning?  The coast is not clear…

Master of the Funny

My Buzz is a curious, talkative kinda guy.  He has kept me on my toes with his endless questions of topics like volcanoes and tornadoes. But the one thing he does that I like the most is his mixing up of words.  I sincerely hope it never ends.  Ever, ever.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Mick-cold:  He has known my 22 year old niece all his life.  Three of those years she has lived with us.  He cannot say her name, Nicole, correctly.  Cracks me up every time.

Bonk Bed:  DadOfAllTrades chose a loft bed set for Legomaster.  It is very cool, very boy.  Buzz calls it a Bonk Bed instead of a bunk bed (even though it is not really a bunk bed).  It is even funnier that now that the set is in Buzz's room -a whole other discussion-he keeps forgetting that he is close to the ceiling.  So close, in fact, that he keeps sitting up too quickly and "bonking" his head on the ceiling.  Hehe.

Tweezer:  He really means "tongs".  Like the kind one uses on the grill to flip the chicken.  Once I made oven fries and he asked for he tweezers to grab himself some fries and I busted with laughter.  I didn't correct him though.  If you are a mom, you know why.  Haha.

Grass Dogs:  He means ground hog, but again, why correct him?  The new name is pretty accurate.

Stinker-outer:  The fan in the bathroom that one turns on when they don't want to offend with odor.  As in "DadOfAllTrades!!  Come here and turn on the stinker-outer, quick!  I NEED it!"  Hawhaw.

So is me:  He started saying this when he could first talk.  What he really means is "Me too" and this one I have corrected over and over.  But I still like it.  Still makes me smile.

And I almost forgot: CHEST:  Know the game that one plays with a king, queen, rooks, knights, and pawns?

I hope this has brought a smile to your face as it does mine!  Cheers!

Thumbs up!

LegoMaster sucks his thumb.  He has done so since six months of age.  I can remember the very moment that he discovered he could act on his arm and hand in such a way to bring the thumb to the mouth for sucking pleasure.  If it was a cartoon, there would have been lights, an inspirational high note and cymbals crashing.  He has never looked back to a binky or to a blanket corner.

He has comforted himself with said thumb for seven years now.  I have been asked by more than a few folks why I allow such behavior and what am I going to do about it.  I am sure those folks are well-meaning mind you, but it always makes me pause.  Do I attack in an “it’s none of your business” way?  Do I humor them and discuss my parenting style?  Do I stare dumbly and pretend I have no idea that LegoMaster is doing it?

There is a part of me that wants to do all of those things.  

But I usually do the second, that is discuss why I feel it is no big deal and how I cope with it as a mom of a too-old-thumb-sucker.  I cannot drop that people pleasing bug that I have.

DadOfAllTrades and I have discussed this topic more than I care to share.  We have both come to the conclusion that we cannot make him stop.  He must decide for himself when to stop.  That being said, we both want him to stop and we want him to stop yesterday. 

He sucks constantly when at home.  When we are playing games, he frequently touches playing pieces with his saliva covered thumb and we gag.  (I have been known to lay out entire decks of cards just to spray them with Lysol.  So if you play with us, have no fear.  I know what grossness this may be bringing up in you.  Just know that I clean the toys, a lot.)  We are afraid that this behavior is extending to school and that other children who are not so nice will make fun of him. 

And, there is also the concern of germs.  LegoMaster has had strep three times this school year.  That is way too many for me as I am the one trying to adjust our schedule for a sick child.  Not to mention the fact that I usually get it as they give me goodnight kisses.  I am NO fun when I have strep. 

So, DadOfAllTrades and I have put a bargain in front of the master of all that is Lego.  If he can stop sucking his thumb in all places except the privacy of his own room then he can have the Lego of his choice.  This was not an easy decision to make as there are some Lego sets that cost as much as a car payment.  But DadOfAllTrades is willing to pay the price.  So I guess I am with him on this one.

I was a thumb sucker.  Mom tells me I sucked until I was around 10 years old.  She thinks I gave up the public stuff somewhere around first grade, but she does not remember the exact time.  She does remember the futile attempts to stop me as a baby.  By putting yucky tasting stuff on my thumb.  By not putting my arm in my pj’s (Dad says he checked on me that night only to find my little hand sticking out the head hole with my neck, both at an awkward angle, thumb securely in mouth).  I have been told it is genetic.  This I can see because he is following in my footsteps almost exactly. 

Some have commented on the amount we will have to eventually pay for braces.  The dentist is not concerned.  So I guess I should say that I am not concerned.  The frugal side of me cringes.  I know that paying for braces is something that goes along with having kids just like paying to have the car carpet cleaned every year.  She (the funny dentist) can tell he sucks because his palate is different on one side.  Again, she does not express concern although she has warned of the problems it could cause with permanent teeth.  DadOfAllTrades thinks she is not concerned because of the dollar signs she sees attached to LegoMaster’s thumb-teeth combination.  As a fellow mom, though, I think she is just saying in a tactful way “good luck with that” when she answers in a vague way.

As a mom I am betwixt and between.  I want it to end.  But I know how strong a habit it is.  I understand his need for comfort.  His thumb is like a love object for him just as much as his actually lovey (this washcloth sized, totally beat up and stinky taggy square that has been repaired umpteenth times).  I want him to have a place to go that is secure and comfortable, on his terms.  We all need comfort and a soft place to land.   How could I possibly take that away from him or beg him to not do it?  It would be like taking away his lovey and there is nothing on this earth that would cause me to do that intentionally.

However, there is a big part of my mom-hood that wants it done.  I want to stop asking him to wash his hands every five minutes.  I want to stop the mommy-worrying about him being made fun of and a brunt of jokes about being a baby.  I want to move into school age with no part of me back in toddlerhood.  I have, after all, not had to purchase any type of diaper-regular or nighttime-in over a month and I do not wish to relive that slice of time.  I want to stop hearing “SLUUUUPRP!” from the back seat when he answers a question in the car.

Biting the bullet is what I am going to have to do, I think.  I cannot make him or he will be resentful.  I feel like I cannot let it go on without saying anything.  And I most definitely will not take away his security.  

**I wrote this almost a month ago now, and I am happy to report that great strides are being made.  Thumb sucking has all but ceased in the regular family time part of our day.  If LegoMaster is idle (car, bed) thent he thumb is still in place and he is happy as a clam.  updates will continue.