Something Serious that is Under Addressed

I have been thinking about this for a week now. At first I thought I might NOT discuss it............because a little bit this will affect how people look at BigGuy. He has this "illness" if you will. And he is a good person so I don't want people to walk away from this entry and think, "Gosh I never knew that about him......HalfPint really has her work cut out.....hope their marriage can survive that."

Clearly it is understood that this problem that I am about to name publicly is really no surprise to anyone..........most women are aware of it...........and most men are too - although they seldom confront it.....address it......or deal with it. Men just tend to carry it around with them....letting it rear its ugly head every so often and ignoring that it exists - even when it is right there sitting on the couch with them watching the baseball game.

What is the illness? Well..........please don't judge BigGuy........please take this knowledge and the story of example that follows and look around........help other men by confronting them............

It is PMS.

No, really, stop giggling.......nonononono....not THAT PMS.......PMS for guys.......

Proud Man Syndrome..........ah ha now you see.........but still don't understand completely? Well....it is something like this.....

Proud Man Syndrome can make a beautiful family fun day turn into a nightmare. Proud Man Syndrome can make a drive on vacation turn into a prolonged torture trip - heck, it can make a drive anywhere you don't know the directions to a torture trip. Proud Man Syndrome can make lawn work turn into costly and crabby.....well...this is what I mean....

When we purchased our home we got the Riding Lawn Mower (this is where you envision a riding lawn mower (dark green, don't picture red) and it is fuzzy with that pretty screen thing photographers can do and you hear angels in the background go "aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh"). BigGuy LOVED LOVED LOVED that we got the riding lawn mower in our house deal. I don't think this is because we were getting about an acre of land that he needed to mow..............I do believe this was directly related to PMS = Proud Man Syndrome.

That first summer I would hear him in the garage "showing our visiting guests around" his 3 Car Garage - heated with a ceiling fan (do you see the PMS oozing?) - and they would get to the riding lawn mower........"Wow you have a riding lawn mower" the guest would say.........."Yeah, we got that in the deal with the house. It's pretty nice." - which was code for "I am really cool when I am mowing the lawn now.........not like that tiny yard that I mowed in the city." And then he would offer them a beer from the fridge that was also in the garage....and they would (if it was a male guest) stand around and talk yard tools. (insert total yawn here).

As the summer went on - and I watched BigGuy as he relished mowing the lawn - although he SAID how tedious and hard it was - I decided I needed to try mowing...only he wouldn't let me..........ALL the GUYS around here mow the lawns (I mean in direct visual view of our yard - not the entire 'hood - as I see women all the time mowing). But I left the riding mower to the man with PMS - because I knew that my being seen mowing the lawn was somehow DIRECTLY linked to him (in his head) being viewed differently by the neighbor riding lawn mower men.

Proud Man Syndrome.

Side note to that - last fall BigGuy hurt his back doing something silly (wish I could remember, love the few silly stories I get on him) and I ended up having to mow the lawn because he couldn't sit in the seat - and he couldn't stand that our yard was getting so high and the neighbor lawn gods might view him as inept in the lawn length department = PMS. And it did happen - the guys (after I finished the lawn) made a comment to BigGuy about why I was mowing..............only somehow it turned out to be something like, "Hey, how did you GET your wife to mow the lawn?" as if I had to be tricked because women hate mowing so much. And I swear to goodness that there was some High Fiving going on between then as they discussed how smart BigGuy was to figure out how to get me on the riding lawn mower to do his work. Whatever -

You know what I did learn? That it isn't at all hard!!! That he is fibbing about the extreme difficulty tending our yard is. That he is actually successfully dodging having to deal with the kids..........sneaky guy.

But we are hear to talk about PMS.

Within the past 3 weeks we have had another illness in the family - sick riding lawn mower illness. Apparently there is some belt or something loose that needs fixing. BigGuy has worked on it, but not been able to fix it. BigGuy has owned a riding lawn mower for 2 years. He looks on the Internet to figure it out - and I must give him props - he has fixed a number of mechanical things doing this - he is good at fixing. However, when he can't fix something - he is not good at ASKING FOR HELP.

Proud Man Syndrome.

There are ooodles of men around here who have grown up on farms and fixed tractors, mowers, enginey things.........and BigGuy has access to all of them. But he refuses to ask them.........PMS..........I have discussed our mower problems with others and 3 wives and 2 men have said they could help....or their husbands could. I have passed this info to BigGuy.........who sits on it.....mumbles something about "yeah, I will have to call them." and never does. And our lawn grows. BigGuy spent 3 hours push mowing our lawn one night - in the dark by the end - and he continues to not ask for help.

Finally.........because there are a million things to do when he does have time.....I hired a company to mow Just The Outside Lawn (which is the bulk) so that this weekend he could have time to work on the mower and now worry about the mowing. This was a gift - because goodness knows there were more interesting things that could have been done with that money. He did not see this as a gift. He freaked at first - because of PMS - this was a direct shot at his Proud Man.

What is a family to do? I mean, he did get over it......he seems even to be enjoying the fact that he doesn't have to mow.......however, he is not fixing the mower yet......but I am sure he is thinking that it is only Saturday and he really does need to practice his Rock Band guitar skills.............

We need to band together and find a pill for Proud Man Syndrome.........don't let this illness continue to go under the radar.........Call It Out.....

5 Word & 2 Symbol Friday

Diarhea + Potty Training ='s No Fun.

Celebrate Juneteenth

It is the name for a holiday celebrating June 19, 1865, the day when Union soldiers arrived in Texas and spread the word that President Lincoln had delivered his Emancipation Procalamation. News traveled so slowly in those days that Texas did not hear of Lincoln's Proclamation, which he gave on January 1, 1863, until more than two years after it was issued!

The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." Thus, the Emancipation Proclamation was limited in many ways. It applied only to states that had seceded from the Union, leaving slavery untouched in the loyal border states. It also expressly exempted parts of the Confederacy that had already come under Northern control. Most important, the freedom it promised depended upon Union military victory.

Although Juneteenth has been informally celebrated each year since 1865, it wasn't until June 3, 1979, that Texas became the first state to proclaim Emancipation Day (Juneteenth) an official state holiday. But it is much more than a holiday. Juneteenth has become a day for African Americans to celebrate their freedom, culture, and achievements. It is a day for all Americans to celebrate African American history and rejoice in their freedom.

Cake - Cake - Cake

Someone asked recently why I haven't been putting any of my cakes up on the creative blog. No good reason other then no time. They aren't on facebook - so they hadn't seen my pics there. So I thought I would post my last three cakes here............























I love it when people trust me enough to just let me do "whatever". As they did here. I matched their sisters bridesmaid colors and then created a little Party with the Bride. Turned out cute - although my nerves were about friend since it was the first time I attempted anything kinda involved with fondant.























This cake was for my neices graduation from High School. It is all done in her future SEMO colors. Very cute. Different flavors. Fun to make - after I freaked out because there were 5 kids running around me asking for something to eat "or just a little icing, because that always fills me up" - whatever.














This last cake was easy after the prior ones. Just a little monkey hanging from a vine eating a banana. I even got to copy the design off of the baby crib set. Super Simple. As a little added fun - SuperStar helped out by molding all the corner bananas and the two big bananas. Nice craty time together.

Explanation Please.............

So everyday we work on Potty Training. Well.......okay not everyday. Wish I were a better parent and I could honestly say EVERYDAY. Unfortunately I am not a better parent and I work with my child on Potty Training when I think about it. Fortunately that tends to be More Times then Less Times. Maybe that makes me an Average Potty Training Parent. As we do this - and it is working really well for the most part - I am finding this weird disconnect that TheKing has with Potty Training. Different from the Child #1 for certain - A Bit Different from the Child #2. These are the ways how.

A) He teases me about potty training. Seriously. He will come around a corner and say, "Daummy (this is his name for me - it is a combo of Mommy & Daddy - Dave is Mauddy - which sounds a lot less like Dummy lucky him - anyway back to TheKing)..I need to go pee on the potty." And EVERY TIME I show the enthusiasm you are supposed to about the new pee on the potty experience - only he, as I am running excitedly to the bathroom, will say, "Jusssssst kiddin you." and begin cackling. I don't tease him like this.

Sheesh. The other two didn't do this.

B)The other two did NOT want to sit on the potty ALL DAY LONG like he does. This seems incredibly unfair to me. BigGuy should be the one potty training this kid because he DOES sit on the potty all day himself. Not me - bathroom time is a waste of my time. I want in and out. TheKing wants to have a party - everyone gather around - lets all sing songs and wait for the non-existent pee to arrive.

I hate this part of potty training. So I fake hear the pee - which apparently makes TheKing want to create it - and it appears - cheers - claps and a gummy bear for everyone - thank the heavens we can leave the bathroom finally!

C) This child's weird disconnect is underwear/pullups/diapers or anything that covers his butt. IF he has a pull up on - or underwear - he will not initiate going to the potty. IF he is completely butt naked on the lower half of his body - and Mother Nature calls...............he will ON HIS OWN go to the bathroom and use it. Then seek me (or someone) out and tell us all about it. Seriously!! And......he is always telling the truth!! The problem with this method - then when we put his underwear back on - he pees in them. Sheesh!!!

D) He has to be entertained while waiting for the delivery to arrive. The other two just kinda sat around, read a book - although Spidey did whine a bit - SuperStar was more like me, on the toilet off the toilet. Here is another example - made this morning - of what we do to entertain ourselves (FOREVER) while waiting for him to pee...........



Now........today.....since we had some down time.....and he had already pee'd through two pairs of undies & shorts.......we let him be butt naked awhile. I kid you not - within 15 minutes of being bare tushied he walked into the bathroom unattended and POOPED!! For the Love of Cupckakes!

My only dilemma now is how do we get the preschool to accept that our little boy needs to be naked in school, but that he is totally potty trained?

What are People Thinking?

Many of you know that I am on Facebook - havent' taken to Twittering and doubt that I will. It is all I can do right now to keep up with SuperStar, Spidey, TheKing, baseball, softball, swim lessons, exercising, eating healthy, BigGuys softball, camps, pets, dishes, laundry and summer reading programs (just to name a few). But I do keep up with Facebook. It has been a really fun way to keep up with what is going on with friends and family. Heck, I probably know more about my neices and nephews now then I ever did before. I can see who CuznZ is dating.......the pics for CuznM & CuznD's trip to Europe.....what my friends in STL are up to....and the unimportant things that they are thinking about (which is what friendship is all about - sharing those unimportant moments - I am serious). Plus it is easy and quick......just check in for a minute and then check out - no long drawn out phone call (not that I am one to shy away from a long phone call......just there isn't as much time to chat for extended periods when all the kids are home on break).

So the summary is......Facebook is a fun way to stay connected and find friends you haven't seen in years - which bring me to this........

I have found HighSchool friends that I haven't seen for years.......and some that I saw in HighSchool, but didn't really know well. It has been very fun....informative....and sometimes hideously painful (just being honest). See my friend, RG (seen above in the cheerleading pic) and I are heading up our HS reunion for next summer. We began "collecting" highschool friends in emails and facebook. Honestly....most of the time spent was done by her - she is a real investigative bulldog when it comes to seeking people out and then bugging them until they join Facebook. As we did collect people we started catching up with them (duh - whole point right?) and I found out that some of them have some very different views from me. Which - in general I can accept. I can have friends that don't agree with my views. Not a problem. I can even talk with people about their different views without getting upset (for the most part).......but some views just don't make any sense at all.

A simple for example.........
Someone posts about how thier hubby ran out of the house shouting he needed to buy some ammo because there is a shortage....
Another person laughed and said their hubby is the same way.....
Original person said their hubby will run out if the popcorn is out because he needs to have his popcorn......
Another person laughed and said their hubby is the same way......
Then another person said something about the ammo shortage being made up by the media and that it is a way for the gun companies to get people to buy ammo now.......
Then another person said something about how they wished the government would spent more money on helping people in poverty then worrying about how much ammo is available.......
The next person went back on that person and said that guns are important....that we all have home owners insurance, health insurance, life insurance...all types of insurance and having a gun is the same thing....insurance.

What? Let's see - We have used our home owners insurance (a few times in our first house) - We have used our health insurance every doctors visit - We haven't used our life insurance yet (thank goodness)....but we have never needed a gun....not even during the 10 years we lived in a metropolis that had lots of crime.....not even during any of the few altercations I had with teens in the 'hood that I should have been worried when I confronted then......and we never felt we needed one.

So I made yet another mistake of saying that to this goof. And he began qouting statistics of how very imortant it is to own a weapon for our own protection (especially since the Democrats and Obama are ruling things - what???). When I suggested that for every stat "for need of guns" you can find a stat "against need of guns" he balked and said I couldn't and that his stats were basically holy because they were created by the company that the NRA uses.

Well....duh! Why would the NRA use a company that doesn't support what they are trying to sell. And that is when I realized I need to back out. People who rant like this really aren't interested in looking at any side. They are just looking to be right.

And that is when I began to clean Facebook House. Not deleting anyone - I mean some of the ranters also post fun things - but not often - so I have "hidden" them. This means I see less of what they have to say - and it seems to be working.

Happy Fathers Day BigGuy!!!!























Happy Fathers Day Dad!!!


















Happy Fathers Day Dad!!


We Love You ALL

How Does This Balance?

Let us begin with a few statements -

I love BigGuy

In fact, I really adore BigGuy

BigGuy is a great Dad

If I were to be faced with starting the choice for a husband and father for my kids - He would still be my All Time Favorite Choice.

Now........let me express my thoughts about Father's Day. See....when we first began having children (about 9 and 7/8th years ago) I got two years of very sweet Mother's Day gifs - and attention on that special day honoring me. While I wouldn't go so far as to say that I was treated like a Queen - I will say I was treated fairly well.

Then the kids started Preschool followed by Elementary school. I noticed that in May the teachers always helped our kiddos make something for me on Mothers Day. That first year this happened I thought it was super cute. I can even remember what it was because I continue to use it (Kudos to you my favorite preschool teacher Edna!) - it was/is a little canvas bag with SuperStars hand print on it. Still.......as sweet as my school created gifts were......the thought that the teachers helped our kids make something special for me - the MOM on Mothers Day - and BigGuy didn't get that kind of special treatment seemed unfair. I chalked it up to the kids aren't in school then so what can the teachers possibly do?

This is also about the time where my Mothers Day adoration from BigGuy started to wane........not that it disappeared, but honestly we were usually either hosting a Mothers Day BBQ or going from my moms house to his moms house on Mothers Day - so there wasn't a whole lot of time left to adore me - and - usually I was spent anyway trying to get all the things done to adore our moms from the Grandkids. So what are you going to do?

Then we moved away from our mothers. So they really weren't a factor in the TIME that was availble to adore me for the entire day of Mothers Day. Let us take this year for example -

This year my mom was here - until 9am. When she left at 9am I kinda sorta thought that was when all the adoration from my kids and hubby would begin. I mean this was the first time in years that we really had a chance for them to give me undiluted attention. And I waited. After my mom left they all kinda hugged me and went away to watch TV or play on the computer. I Waited for the card to jump out from a corner - from any kid - hubby - someone - they must have been messing with me because they figured I would be expecting some kind of attention? Then it started to seem like - isn't Anyone going to give me at least a card? A gift isn't generally necessary - though a nice plant for the yard would be nice.

Nope. Not a thing.

A bit later - I guess after BigGuy had rested enough - he came and asked if I wanted to pack up a picnic and go to the park. Now that sounds like a nice day, but the work needed to pack a picnic and then the bickering about which park to go to didn't sound relaxing. So instead I suggested biking. We did have a nice time biking....we went from a park to an ice cream store and then back to the park where we messed around a bit. Then back home. Where they all just kinda watched TV the rest of the day. Not awful.........but not exactly the adoration I was looking for. And there was never a gift or even a card. Which made me feel crappy about myself because I was thinking how that wasn't fair - because honestly it should not be about the gift or the card - I should not focus on that and I found myself kinda getting mad at myself for whining (on the inside) about how there wasn't a gift. Obviously BigGuy loves me so much that he doesn't think a gift is necessary to express it or thank me for shoving those big headed kids of his out of my body (or he is foolish enough to think a gift isn't necessary). In a way that is like loving someone so much that you can be silent comfortably together (not)him. And also remembering that I should be thankful for the gifts the teachers helped my kids make me.

Plus too - as an added note - I don't see this so much as a reflection of his love for me. Because see - he does the same thing to his mom and he loves her a lot. This year I started on him about his Mothers Day gift to his mom weeks in advance. Even told him to invite her up. He never did. I finally made a card, got some pictures, addressed an envelope, put a stamp on it and left it on the counter for him to sign. He waited until the last day to do it for it to arrive on time - AND THEN STILL FORGOT TO DO IT!! So I did it and put it in the mail.

Now where is my problem with Father's Day? Well.....let us flash forward from Mothers Day to 3 weeks ago. We are at Menards (a hardware store kinda place). I am letting BigGuy walk around an area that I knew he had interest while entertaining the kids before going outside to the playset they have. BigGuy - out of the blue says, "Hey, see this organizer? It is the kinda thing I would really like to have." and then he pauses and I don't say anything and he adds...."If anyone is asking what they might want to get me."

My thought immediately goes to his birthday (late Oct.) or to Christmas. See each year his parents, my parents, me, the kids - we all wonder what to get BigGuy because generally he doesn't say. I am thinking.......how forward thinking of him. Mental note - tell his mom he wants this organizer thing.

Now........a week or so later we are at another store. Don't really even remember which one. Walking around. Looking at stuff. A week or so before he has spent days helping put a roof on a friends house - so he probably has a slew of tools he wants at this point that they had during that time. He mentions, "You know I would also really like to have a tool belt. Just in case anyone is wondering what I might want for a gift." This time I am more surprised then impressed - is he REALLY thinking about his birthday and Christmas that much? So this time I say something, "You know I am impressed that you are thinking ahead about gifts for your birthday and Christmas. It will be easier - I need to carry a notebook to start writing them down."

He looks at me funny and responds......."No, I was thinking these are ideas for the kids to give me for Father's Day."

WHAT???? Fathers Day???? Is he SERIOUS?

I can't leave this alone............"You want a Father's Day gift?" followed by a dramatic pause and an ever so sweet smile.."Wait, remind me again what I got for Mothers Day this year or last year?"

Sheepishly and not very quickly (because I am sure he was thinking of something) he says, "Oh, well your Mothers Day gift was going to be a subscription to People Magazine for a year. I just kinda forgot to tell you about it and ah...forgot to order it and stuff." and he smiles.

Whatever. So now I understand why teachers (who tend to be moms and might likely have experienced this) make certain that they create Mothers Day gifts for us in May. They are mothers too and probably want to make certain that we are given SOMETHING - Anything - even if it is made of paper and drug through a puddle before it arrives home. And I am going to quit thinking it is not fair that dads don't get anything. Because you know what.........we ordered BigGuys gift MONTHS ago....bought something else a few days ago.....and plan to pick up something else today - so no matter how lame he is about adoring me in a gift way........I am still going to make certain he has a gift......maybe not a card though.........can't go too overboard.

CB Says to Step It Up - so here is the Tale of the Walmart Checker

Last night at Bunco I was reminded that my blogging has slowed a bit. I can only blame this on my children - seriously, completely and without hesitation - it is their fault. They are sucking all my energy out and leaving me with nothing creative in my head. So I have even had to begin reading to feel creative in some sense and avoid watching tv. Do you do that? Watch tv because you can't use any energy doing anything that might result in an outcome you would be happy with? I am trying hard not to just sit and be a bad example, so we get up - eat a semi healthy breakfast - then go to the gym where I exercise - they have swim class or grudgingly enjoy the kids play programs - and then we do a few errands followed by something they enjoy. The evening is rounded out by ball fields and preparing for the next day - with a little Bunco sprinkled in. But I seem to seriously be with the kids - especially demanding King - almost 24/7 (to the point even BigGuy has said he feels kinda badly about it - and if your husband starts to feel badly that you are having to do more then he is - you know it must be time for you to get a break - or a life of some sort!!).

Anyway...........that is why I have not blogged. Although CB didn't seem to care - she just wanted me to blog again - and honestly - I do too. It is a release of sorts and there are things bugging me a bit that sometimes blogged out I can let go of. So here is one.............the tale of the Walmart Checker.

I really do not like Walmart. Most people who know me know that this is a simple fact. I don't BAN Walmart - I just choose to work very hard not to go there. In STL it was super simple not to go there because there were so many other stores to choose from. Shoot there were 4 Targets within 10 miles of our home. Here there is 1 Target and it is being shared by ALL the smart people who go there. We have a KMart (which I also avoid - not sure what my aversion to KMart is, but I have always had it). We have 2 Walmarts - super ones even. A Meijers. That would be it. There are some department stores too, but I don't generally hit them - Kohl's yes, but not usually for the kids much.

So - my choice is Target - followed by Meijers for mainly fruit and some clothing for the kids - and then begrudgingly Walmart if all else fails or there really is no other choice due to time or teacher lists.

A week into summer break it was realized that the kids were in need of some summer clothes. Have I ever mentioned how much I really do not like shopping? No? Surely I have..........sometimes I like browsing for things by myself, but in general shopping is a pain. Shopping with a child is a bigger pain. Shopping with all three of my kids at the same time is a Jumbo Impossible Ultra Pain (usually - I admit there are those remote times when it isn't a pain - and on those days I wonder what BigGuy slipped into the kids cereal before he left for work - why he won't share the magic and dream of the money we could make marketing if the substance is legal). But sometimes it just can't be avoided. This particular day it could not be avoided.

We went to Target looking for clothes - there were some, but not many because all the Smart People had been there already. We went to Kohl's - nothing on sale so too expensive in my mind (I mean seriously - two of the kids are boys under 8 - how long are their clothes going to last if they aren't made of steal? I can't waste money on expensive clothes that will last 1 summer). We went to Meijers - not much left there either. Apparently people here think about summer clothes before it gets warm - unlike me (note to me - buy summer clothes when they come out in February next year). That left.............yes..........Walmart (because I avoid KMart just that much). And I have to admit - they did have clothes - cheap clothes (made by 3rd world country children being enslaved in child labor)- but I had run out of stores so we did buy some.

First SuperStar picked some stuff out - now really.......we didn't find much for her. A few tank tops and a dress that turned out to be a woman's pj (yikes - it was too tiny for comfy pj's) that we did not buy because we did figure it out. Still....she was happy. Later we found more clothes for her when Target restocked. Spidey we were able to stock up. TheKing found a few outfits too. And amazingly - THEY WERE ALL PRETTY GOOD!! I was impressed!! I was also mindful to be Thankful they were so okay in the stores. I was even mindful to be Thankful Walmart had clothes and thought that perhaps I should reconsider my bile flavored distate for the store.

And we made our way to the checkout......duh duh duh dunnnnn......

We had been shopping so long that it really was time to be done. The kids were hungry. It was just past lunch time. Just before TheKing's nap time. TheKing had been in the cart for about an hour at this store alone. The olders were flipping through all the impulse purchase foods they set out there by the checkout lanes - "Can we have this?", "How about some of this?", "If I give you some of my allowance can I have this?", "How much allowance money do I have saved up?", "You can't not let me spend my own money Mom.", "Why can't we just get this?", "Can we stop at McDonalds?" and then Spidey picked up a bag of chippies (potato chips to the rest of you) and TheKing lost it. He couldn't touch any of this stuff because he was restrained in the cart (his least favorite thing in a store to be). He wanted the chippies. He voiced his need for the chippies. I explained we had chippies at home and we would get some with lunch........and that we were going STRAIGHT home for the chippies.

Not good enough - chippies now.......those chippies.......now......now.......and the loud skwaking about chippies began........and then a mild slap - followed by a kick (this was a new technique he was using) when I held his hands and explained calmly that I understood how he felt - that I had a cereal bar in the car he could have (and I really did - we had pushed him past his limit and it was kinda my fault).

Then I looked to the checker - who was an older woman - and she said, "I bet I know what you want to give him." and I thought........"well that is sweet she wants me to buy him some chippies." only she didn't want me to because then she said............"but you can't give it to him until you get home." which kinda confused me so I said, "Chippies?" and she said, "No, something that because of the laws now a days your kid doesn't get enough of."
Huh?

Sensing I didn't want to go further I just said, "Oh." and she - not getting I was trying to avoid further conversation said, "A good spanking is what he needs." Now....yes on occassion he could use a good swat on the butt.........who couldn't?, but he is not a kid that this works for because we have tried that technique briefly and found he now hits people. So we stopped spanking. I mentioned this to the checker and she said, "God says that if you spare the rod you spoil the child. You are spoiling that child and should spank him." Again, I just kinda avoided saying what I truly thought.......successfully......even though TheKing understood her and said, "No spank Mommy I sorry".

How awful is that? I mean she didn't know what had occured prior to our being there in her check out line - or if he was sick - or if he had just had shots - or that he had been to 3 stores and actually was really good most of the day - and that he was hungry - and that I failed to pack enough snack to get him through to the moment we were - and that if you wanted to blame someone it would be me because it was nap time, no lunch had been eaten yet and we were all sick of shopping. It was my fault really - but she stood there continuing to advocate I spank my kid.

I will give her that when she noticed I was not happy she tried to get him to say "Hi" and even told him he had beautiful eyes (which he does) - but he isn't a dope he knew she was telling me to spank him because he said, "No spank Mommy please" when he heard her spell out her thoughts.

Thank You Walmart Checker. Thank you for ending my almost good Walmart experience with the feeling of inadequate parenting - unwanted advice - and overall crappy customer service. Next season - if Target is low on clothing, Miejers is without and I am still too cheap to buy unsale clothes at Kohl's - my kids will be naked. So neighbors - prepare...........

Don't You Wish You Hit Like a Girl?

Here is our other ball field kid. This is her first year playing too - although she would swear it wasn't - and technically she would be right. She did play t-ball when she was five years old. That was almost 5 years ago though (Ohmigod! 5 years ago!) and as much as I love her..........I don't think she has been carrying over the skills they taught her then.

When practice and games first started a few weeks back she spent a good deal of her time bent over scratching in the dirt. The big problem being that she couldn't hit a ball all that well and the feeling of dread at the plate carried over into her fielding. She wasn't too far behind Spidey's example of doing rain dances in hopes the games would be cancelled.........only she never fake vomited her dinner to get out of a game. Then - gosh I think it was about 4 games ago - SuperStar was asked to play the catchers position. She didn't hesitate. Stood up and I helped her get the gear on. She wanted to do it herself so I kinda stood back and watched her attach one leg pad to the other - then when she couldn't walk because her left leg was attached to her right leg she allowed me to help. I fully expected her to cover a bit as she played the position...........but she surprised me.....she even took one to the head without flinching. Said it didn't hurt because of the gear (which I know made a dif, but I have been catcher and I know there is a sting to that).

Since that game she is all in. There are other girls - who have played for years - that strike out and have a hissy fit right there. Throw the bat down, cry even (which kinda surprised me a bit) - not SuperStar. The other day at pre-practice she wasn't watching and a girl hit a ball that hit her right in the head. Both coaches kinda rushed out to her, but she shook them off - said it only stung. Now she is being played around the bases and loving it. I think catcher will be her spot though. She balances without falling and it is the only spot that she seems completely engaged at. Her batting is even getting stronger - last night she was excited that she didn't just "strike out" - she hit two foul balls first. When someone can be exited to hit foul balls - realizing that it means they are starting to make contact better..............well it just shows how great they are!

Summer Cuts

The Boys - before the haircut - and then with their Summer Cut.......I was personally kinda resistant to TheKing having his hair all cut off, but I have to admit - he looks awfully cute. Spidey.........well, I knew it would be a nice cut and it is very funny to watch him primp now.




Story about Spidey and his cut will come soon............

So How Exactly Mr. Baseball does this little man look? Perfect right? With his blond hair peeking out from under his ball cap and his somewhat fake smile because the pic is posed. He was so excited to pick baseball as his summer sport - 3 other kids from his school on his team (one is CH - a bestest friend!) - and a few boys who were on his basketball team. Perfect fit for a first time player.

Apparently.............NOT.

This boy dreads going to games. Dreads it. Prays for rain. Will go so far to not have to play that one day..........as we drove to the game and because he hadn't eaten yet I stopped to buy him a hamburger from the Irish Clown Place. He is eating it.....teasing his little bro............drinking his juice........and all of a sudden I hear a vague (not real, but fake sounding) retching noise in the back seat. Then when I am at a stop sign he says, "Mom I just threw up." in a kind of pathetic sounding voice. So I look back not sure what to expect since I didn't hear a watery splash or anything...............and he is holding his burger wrapper with a chewed up piece of burger spit back out onto it. "Are you sure you threw up?" I asked in an obviously not believing you kind of a voice. "Yeah, I totally threw up" he says in an upbeat kind of trying to convince me he needs that second piece of candy for his health type kid voice.....and then slows down to an I don't feel good voice and says, "I really don't feel good. Oh........I guess I won't be able to play on the team tonight." and does his best pathetic face.

Course I knew what was going on, but your heart kinda goes out for him. How many adults do I know that start exercising because it really is the best thing.....or take a class that will give them some stress relief......and then quit a few weeks in when it isn't exactly what they thought they wanted to do - or it is too hard. Adults quit all the time. Spidey doesn't get to quit though. He keeps playing because we want him to grow up and follow through on what he commits to - and because we paid for it. Poor guy. So we are working on ways to get him to love the sport (when playing it).

Got any suggestions? We are totally trying everything.

My Flowers

When we moved here there was 1 plant that flowered in the yard. As many know - I dug up most of the backyard from our home in STL. This year it is starting to pay off. The tulips came up all over (although BigGuy wants me to consolidate where they are and get them into the specified flower beds) - my clamatis is blooming (that was my very 1st Mothers Day gift 9 years ago!) - my peonies are up (although they need 1 more year) - lilacs (new) are surviving - hostas are all returning (but I had to do some digging up and switching about - so next year they will finally be happy) - lillies are coming in - Japanese iris are coming in - and all the other Iris are up and so happy. Yeah for the colors and the beauty!!

My Life - 2 Steps Forward

There are numerous entries on this here blog describing my need to unclutter the activities I get myself involved in. Not that I would really want to STOP doing any of them - but that for my own Sanity and the Safety of those around me on a day to day basis - it is just a good idea for me to scale back on my extracurricular committments.

However, I don't post as much about my sucess at doing this. So it probably sounds more like I am just piling more and more things on top of the things I am already doing - instead of really looking at the things that I do say "not right now" to. A lot of times I don't even remember saying "not right now" to things...........because I am so focused on keeping the things I have said "sure I can do that too" to that I don't have time to pay attention to the Forward Steps I am making.

The other day I was reminded of my over committing at the Girl Scout office. As SuperStar was making her purchases (using her Cookie Dough from cookies you all helped her sell) and I was re-registering our troop for next year- CF (our former GS CRC - figure that acronym out for yourself) came into the room. She looked up and said, "You know HalfPint I had to laugh the other day."

I smiled and looked like I had no clue what she was talking about - so I said, "What were you laughing about?"

She said she remembered my original application form to be a leader. See often times - since leaving the full time accredited world of careers - when I am filling out forms and it asks what your job is I put one of the following -
Family Agent - my job duties include managing the careers of children and spouse to be successful in the world around them.
or
FEO - Family Executive Officer
or
Volunteer-Extraodinaire - you name it and I can accomplish it.
or
Volunteer-a-holic - seeking support group to help turn my life around.

My thought is - might as well have fun with the form. What will be the expense if they think it is inappropriate? They won't let me volunteer. Would that be a terrible thing in my case? Nope. And you know...........no one has ever not mentioned what I wrote and said they appreciated it.

Anyway..........CF is telling me that she was entering in payments for various items the GS have received them for (she has moved on to bigger money related community things - I don't even know her acronym anymore). As she did she noticed the payment from our elementary school after use of the GS Camp nearby for a 5th grade event. It was - of course - signed by me, the elementary school PTO Treasurer. For the GS Office I am a Leader, a School Coordinator, one of the ppl they call to sit in on forums they need opinions for - and the leader that calls to ask Question after Question after Question because she is planning something else for the girls to get involved in. She remembered my original claim on my form of Volunteer-a-holic after it only took 2 days for my background check to come back clean (fastest they ever received apparently - due to the fact that the ppl at the background check office probably know my name by heart - I can see how it goes there - one lady is rifling through the forms for approval that day and says to the lady sitting next to her, "Hey, here is another background check form for that crazy woman HalfPint. Doesn't she have a personal life? Someone ought to get her into a volunteer-a-holics 12 step program. Save her ass.").

hehehehehe

However.............all should know that in just the last 2 weeks I was asked to -
* Head up a committee in TheKings future preschool - and I told them "not now thanks."
* I was considering starting a big campaign dealie thing to help fight our districts current re-districting choices - and I told myself "not now thanks." - although I will be helping, just not heading the steamer.
* I was asked to be the Lead Coordinator for the GS office to line up community volunteer projects for the troops to do jointly - and I said, "flattered, but not now thanks."

And guess what happened!? The world didn't implode like I thought it might. I have been shocked. The people that I said "no" to didn't stop talking to me. The events continue to move forward - just not with me stressing about them.

I am so proud of me. 2 Steps Forward - without a step back - yet (I mean let's be realistic - proud for this accomplishment, but still........we all know I will say "yes" to something eventually - just hopefully this will help me say "yes" to a more realistic amount of somethings).

Yea Me!

12 Years!!

How amazing is that - 12 years ago to this day we were married. Plus.....2 years ago to this day we were unloading the truck to our most recent home. So 12 years together on a marriage adventure - and 2 years together on a moving adventure. Very exciting..............Enjoy our Day. We will be!

SuperStar has become very very smooth about her delivery. See.....although the dwindling of my waist line has ended, the exericising has not - neither has the TALK of eating smart (however, the practice of eating smart was sidelined by a little depression and self pity). One of the things that I like to have around when I exercise are magazines. I do believe that I professed my love for magazines in an earlier blog. So you know that we have lots of them lying around. An exercise love I have (besides biking) are elipticals. ARC trainers and this other one that I have no idea what the name is - are my two favorites. However, I get totally bored just standing there and working. Music helps me with the tempo of my motions - just like the stats show upbeat music will.......but still I get bored. The machines all have mini TV's on them - but I can't watch TV - slows me down and you have to listen to the TV and then I can't hear the music and I start to slow down................and there is where the magazine is helpful.

I can't read a book while bopping up and down on an eliptical machine. Some incredible people can - I can not. However, I can look at magazines. The simpler the article the better - Self, Women's Health, Parenting and People are my top 4.

One day I was laying in bed reading a book. The above magazine cover was laying in my bedroom near my workout stuff. SuperStar has begun to leaf through the People and Time magazines laying about. She picked up the People magazine and laid down next to me and began reading. Not but a second later SuperStar says......

"Look at this lady Mom."

I book marked the book and looked at Valerie Bertinelli in her bikini (she worked hard - good job!). "Yeah, impressive isn't it? She worked hard to be healthy again."

SuperStar says, "Yes, and she is old. I bet you could do this too since you are so much younger and have more time before you die."

Now..........I am pretty certain that was a compliment at this point. I am younger then Ms.B.....and SuperStar knows I like to work out...but just to make sure I say, "What do you mean?"

SuperStar looks at me and says, "Well, you could make your body look like this and wear a little swimsuit. I believe in you."

So it was a compliment. I thanked her. Then she said that she wanted to work with me to eat healthier. Seemed like a nice offer. And then she hugged me and said, "I love you."

Not being able to forget about the compliment and the conversation - I decided it was time to start being serious about setting a good example. We aren't doing any fad kinda diet thing or anything........but we are being more serious about what we are eating. We are eliminating things that are silly to have on a daily basis - including things we see as a sacrifice not to have (ice cream for me - soda for BigGuy) and preplanning things and portions better. So far so good.

All because SuperStar believes in me. And Valerie was in a picture in a tiny bikini (which even if I become that small I will NEVER be wearing - at least not in public).

Funny "I am Bored" Story

Where are my pictures? Well......the batteries on my camera are dead and my recharger is dirty and won't charge things. I am cheap and won't buy a new one until BigGuy looks at it - and for 2 weeks he has been promising me he will.

I think I will just go buy one this weekend. I am going nuts without my camera.

Funny story - sorry.....got side tracked.

So this past Tuesday was the Last Hour of School. As many of you know - it truly was the Last Hour of School. Our Last FULL Day of school was Friday the 29th. Then we were off Monday for teacher planning and then on Tuesday they went in from 8:15am - 9:15am. One hour.

Why? Funding. Simple enough. The Monday the district could then charge for teacher planning - and if the kids show up for at least 1 hour on Tuesday they can charge for an entire day. And so they do. Pain in the tuckus honestly.

Funny story.........this is where it comes in. SuperStar stayed home on the last day with a tummy ache (stomach flu bug going around). Spidey went and asked me to take him (lots of parents go in this day to avoid the bus time) - so I did (it gave me a chance to check to see if there were any PTO checks being requested at the last minute too). All was well.

After leaving school we went to a local Mission to drop off some summer clothes that everyone here has grown out of. Spidey was very sweet - jumped out and helped to load all the bags into the truck they had. Then we went home.

BigGuy left to go to work (he had worked at home to watch SuperStar and TheKing). The kids settled into the excitement of school out. Watched a movie. Tidied their rooms. And then Spidey found me and said, "I am bored."

Really? It has only been 2 hours and already you are bored? Really? Thought the novelty of summer vaca would last longer then 2 hours!!

I offered up lots of thoughts - take out trash, read a book, tidy the bathroom, put away your clean laundry, play in the yard, and then some............to no interest. I had an appointment with my anesthetition at 1pm and told him he could come along if he was that bored. SuperStar was planning to stay home while TheKing napped (it isn't far from the house and she is getting old enough to keep an eye on a sleeping bro - can you believe that???).

Spidey was happy enough to come along...........until we got there and he saw what was happening. He was standing next to me as Jackie put the wax on my face - he had tons of questions - "is it hot", "why are there two colors", "does it burn you" - he was going on and on with questions - and then she placed the fabric over the wax and ripped it off. He squeaked - ran across the room to the chair, sat down and - from what Jackie could see, seemed a bit faint. Took a second to himself and came back beside me. Took my hand - interlacing his fingers in with mine - and began stroking my arm with his other hand - asking new questions like, "why would you do that?".

Jackie and I kinda laughed a bit to ourselves and explained that some women don't care to have the hair on their lip - and like their eyebrows smaller. Ben said we were both beautiful the way we were (of course we were also both nicely plucked) and that we didn't need to torture our faces. Of course - then he said, "Can I see you do that again?"

As we were leaving he said the next time he said he was bored he didn't want me to think of something fun to do. And swear to goodness - a few hours later he came to me and said, "I am bored Mom." so I started to make a suggestion of something we coudl do and before I could finish my sentence he got a panicked look in his face and walked away. I caught him reading a book a minute or so later.

Where did it go?

Where did it go? What am I looking for? My interest in writing funny things that the kids have been doing - and let me assure you...........they are doing some dog gone funny things - and sweet things too. Maybe this is just summer time adjustment. End of the school year craziness and beginning of baseball and softball readjustment............or maybe I am blog burnt.....

Nah.........still love the blog....guess it is just that I am finding it hard to sit still....

See - prior to the kids being home TheKing and I had a nice set up. It went something like -
- Wake Up (me)
- Throw in a load of laundry
- Check the Email
- Get breakfast started - lunches ready for everyone leaving the house
- Wake olders up to make sure they are ready for school in time
- Get olders on the school bus
- Kiss Cute Sweetie as he leaves for work and remind him of the million things he should be remembering
- Wake TheKing up if he isn't already - and only if he has to leave house for preschool or other activities - otherwise let him sleep
- Phone Shannon
- Let TheKing watch some cartoons while I tidy the house up quick
- Check email
- Head out to whatever (preschool, volunteering, exercise - whatever)

Now it looks something like this -
- Wake Up (me)
- Throw in a load of laundry
- Check email and notice that NOW kids are getting up early enough to disturb my flow - they can now sleep late and not worry about a bus - what is up with that? Put off checking email.
- Start pushing feeding of pets because the summer rule is no tv until pets are fed
- Put out breakfast fixings for everyone
- Get TheKing up and started - olders are watching their favs so he can't watch his morning cartoons - interceed as he tries hitting them to get his way.....wish I were checking my email......
- Tidy house up a bit.....
- Go to finally check email and realize that the house is ALREADY a mess........
- Call olders up and explain the summer rules again - pick up after yourselves - when you leave an activity put it away b4 starting the next
- Listen to the olders complain about boredom
- Make suggestions as to how they entertain themselves with chores - watch as they run away
- Think about phoning Shannon and realize that is unrealistic as the kids will interrupt us
- Go to check email and hear screaming as TheKing vies for attention of the olders.....

and it is only 8am...................

We will figure it out - the new routine - and camps will start up giving us a focus - we will sign up for the reading program and it will eventually get warm enough to go swimming..........until then I will get creative.

Report Card Time

Schools Out - Last Hour Was Completed this morning.....and the Report Cards are in.

Both kids got straight A's. In fact, SuperStar had straight A's (minus 1 B in Math last quarter) All Year Long!!! Great Job my dearest! Spidey recieves 1,2&3's - 3's equal an A. Spidey received all 3's all year long. Fabulous job Spidey!!!!!

We are very happy to have them doing so well. And it is even nicer that they are very proud of themselves!