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.