Music, preschool, and hockey..oh my!!

So, Middle kid loves him some music. He already likes to play his guitar with his Dad.  He listens to music all the time.  He loves it!  So when the note came home last year to sign up for an instrument Middle Kid was all over that!  He had trouble deciding which instrument he wanted to torture us with play for us.  I helped him with the decision.  Trumpets, they are cheap and fairly small.  How bad can it be?  Well, lesson two is over with and there is a new rule in the house.  We MUST practice.  If he wants to get any better he MUST practice.  That goes with out saying.  Everynight there will be time set aside for practicing.  Coincidentally, that time seems to be also the schedule block when I am at work.  Surely it was a coincidence. 

Little Kid got into a preschool.  It appears to even be a decent one.  There were no kids climbing on the play kitchen *there were at our previous choice so now I look for that NOT to happen* there was no fighting and debating on toys.  It appears to be a perfect fit.  My favorite part?  Well, one of them anyways... he is not the bully of the class!! Appears there is another boy that is surely threatened by Little Kid and his newness and had to show him who is boss.  Pushed him down the stairs today.  Hit him in the face with a brick. (wood I am assuming) Now the report I got was onesided and told by a 3 year old so I am not sure what my little angel could have done to deserve the beating that he got, but he did report one thing... HE is his best friend.  I guess he needs someone who cannot only take a hit, but can give one too!  They are the new Bash Brothers.

This weekend my freedom ends.  No more leisurely Saturday and Sundays with the family.  Hockey officially starts.  This week I must pull out the equipment size the boys to see what fits and what doesn't.  Sign away my paycheck for the next 6 months Perhaps purchase a few reasonably priced items and then sit in the ice rink for the better part of the next 6 months.  Yeah!  Maybe this year the city will add video games to the warming room so not only do I have to pay $2. for a gatorade x4 (times at the rink)x2( kids that will be begging for said drink) but now they will want to play a video game everytime (that is 4x per child) we are at the rink.  Yeah! I hope they will still want to try and get the crap out of the gumball machines too!  I can not live without another $0.75 bouncy ball or felt moustache!!

Why you should really answer your phone...EVERY.TIME.

So Little Kid is on the waiting list at three preschools here.  He was enrolled in one, but due to the fact that it looked overwhelming (15  3 year olds and 2 70+year old teachers) We decided to just keep him on the wait list at the three other schools and see what shakes out.

I have kept in touch with 2 of the three schools waiting.  School is started, my vacation is over. It is the 'right' time to send him!  I hoped that he would be placed somewhere by Thursday as I want to attend my MOMSNext meeting and there is no childcare.  Well, last night I was leaving work and saw some strange numbers on my phone so I decided to listen to the 15!! Voicemails.  Apparently I don't answer my phone. 

Most of the voicemails were insignificant.  But there was one.  It was significant.  Little Kid was next on the list for their school.  Except, I couldn't hear which school it is.  And she wanted a call back by 3:00 today.  It was 10:00 when I got the message.  I am hoping she is holding that spot for him until Monday.  After all she did make a point to tell me that she was going to be there all day Monday. 

I wonder how weird it will be when I ask her what her address is again.  I have been to all of the schools more than a few times. 

This is for you

I promised you a blog post devoted just to the excitement I had that you read AND liked my blog.  Here you go...now be nice to me today, it is going to be a long day!!

Warning to Overprotective Parents:

You know who you are.  I am not saying it is good or bad.  In all honesty I slide on the spectrum of overprotectiveness.  Depends on the situation. 

Today while running our errands Little Kid was behaving not killing anyone so when he asked for grabbed a lollipop that those genuises at the car part store concealed under the counter I didn't fight him.  Too much.  I looked around.  It was a small store.  He screams loud.  I did a win/lose analysis and decided to win this one.  Buy the dang lollipop.  Little Kid was happy.  He was quiet.  I was happy.  A few stops down the road he is still sticky happy with his lolli and we stop in the paint store.  While waiting for the nice man with holes big enough to drive a car through in his earlobes (seriously those are gross!) to mix our paint the other associate decides he needs to judge me and my quiet well behaved not killing anyone lollipop sucking 3 year old. 

Apparently, his future Mensa member, does not eat candy.  He is 3 years old (well 45 months to be exact, he did not give me hours or days old...I guess you stop that at 36 months.  Who knew?) and has NEVER asked for candy, nor been given any.  Well, isn't he just a dentist's nightmare?  The associate didn't notice my touch of sarcasm (note to self, lay it on thicker or Iamgoingtopunchthisguy) and decided to continue.  Now, I am all for bragging about your kids.  Don 't get me wrong.  Your little Johnny pooped on his potty? Wonderful! Susie drank without a sippy? Awesome! Your mensa member is building a special machine that will eliminate cancer from our world?  Doubtful.

Paint Store man tells me his Einstein is sheltered.  And he says it like it is a GOOD THING.  He watches Noggin only.  And only for 20 minutes a day. Seriously?  How is this good?  When does paint store man's wife get a shower?  cook a meal? talk on the phone endlessly to complete daily tasks?  I reply that we don't monitor tv in our home.  (ok that is a slight lie.  We don't allow porn) I feel that tv only enhances our lives and it makes it so I don't have to talk to Little Kid.  I am seriously joking here. But Paint Store man doesn't get it.  He looks at me with disgust and shakes his head.  Little Kid yells, I like Zombies! (I wish I could say I encouraged this outburst but this is just how he is!) and we start to walk away.  As we go to walk out of the store, Paint Store man yells, 'Good Luck'.  I am assuming he means on the whole painting thing, but I think he really meant with the parenting.

See here is the thing with super sheltering your kids.  1-you think everyone else is doing it wrong and 2-you will have the only perfect kids.  A few facts... however it works for you is right, however it works for someone else is right for them.  There is no wrong if it works, it is right.  There are no perfect kids. 

By sheltering your kid however, let me give you a glimpse into your child's future.  My Little Kid who has not been sheltered is going to eat your kid up and spit him out!  Seriously, he is being raised in a house with 2 brothers, they are 12 and 6 years older than him.  He therefore is surrounded by teens and tweens all boys, all who think it is funny to teach him 'naughty' things.  We are getting to the root of that problem, but some things they just 'learn'.  My kid is going to be the one to teach your kid these things.  When Mensa Boy comes home from Pre-K in his cute smocked longall and boy maryjane shoes and sailor hat and throws a ball (or car or block) at your head and yells "HEAD SHOT YOU DEAD" you can call me and complain.  I will be on the floor laughing.

Casino--oh look at the pretty lights...

I am on a girls weekend in Wisconsin... And it is AWESOME!!! 

Here are the highlights:

An amazing walk with my amazing friend.  She gave her beautiful daughter to the Heaven's last year and we walked in the Light the Night walk in memory and honor of that beautiful little girl.  I have never been as moved as I was last night.  I shall no longer complain of my aching feet or hurt toenails.  What that little girl endured and my friend went through as her mother... is... well there are no words... I am blessed to know such a strong wonderful woman.  She truly is amazing. 

Now onto less emotional highlights....

I ate lunch at the restaurant that inspired Happy Days.  And by far they had THE best burgers I have ever had.   I could have eaten two of them, but I didn't want my friend to think I was a pig within the first day of vacation...

I went to the mall and bought...NOTHING....now this is more of a highlight for my hubby but it deserves mentioning~

I went to and am staying at a resort with an indoor waterpark.  It has an amazing wave pool that gave me a decent workout.  Tomorrow I will be testing out the waterslides and lazy river. 

I got a tan sunburn in the indoor waterpark...I won't know the full damage until morning, but right now I am feeling a little red.

I went to the casino and didn't spend nearly as much money as I planned to.  I actually won a little and was able to cash in and walk away with money still available to gamble.

And the absolute topper to the trip was waking up this am to find out middle kid had called.  I returned his phone call...it was answered BY HIS TEACHER!!!! I am staying in a different time zone so while I thought he should be on his bus on his way to school, he was in class writing in his journal.  Oops...good thing his teacher is wonderful and understood the mistake. 

So this so far is the highlights of Girls weekend... I am sure there will be more fun to be had tomorrow!!

Park after all day rain=bad idea

Sometimes I just do not think.  Clearly the early 90's can attest to that.  My latest round of non-thinking came just today. Yesterday it rained.  ALL.DAY.  I knew that today should be an indoor day.  But here is the thing.  Well two things.  I am going away in 3 days.  I have a lot to do before I go, one being pack.  In order to pack, I need to do laundry.  In order to do laundry I need little kid napping.  I do the best work when he is asleep.  I am not sure why, but I do.  The other thing is, I like for little kid to get out and get fresh air.  When little kid gets fresh air he usually naps.  Then I can do laundry and pack and go away. 

So we called little kid's BFF from down the street and we decided on a fun and sure to be a great place to play park.  I would like to note that we did pick a park that was sand free as of course that would be STUPID to take two 3 year old boys to a park with sand the day after Noah's Ark went through town.  Luckily BFF's mom was smart enough to bring a towel to dry the equipment.  Well, she dried the slides and I tried to dispute middle kid's $380 cell phone bill *to no avail BTW*.  Great we had dry slides.

What we didn't have was dry steps, or tunnels.  Guess what, wet painted playground equipment mixed with wet plastic shoes and 30 mph running boys equals a sheer diaster.  BFF had on  a new outfit.  I am pretty sure when we left it wasn't suitable for the homeless man we use to see at Carl's Junior that Big kid use to ask "why doesn't he just go to Carl's and ask them for food, why do we have to give him our food?".  The boys were filthy at best.  Wood chips were stuck to their clothes, faces were dirty.  And the topper... a few bumps and bruises.  BFF was twisting the swing only to have it twist back and smack him in the side of the head.  Do you know how heavy those swings are?  Ask BFF, they are pretty heavy.  He will remeber that for a while.

While BFF was getting consoled for his near fatal accident, little kid ran over to me.  I was sitting on a swing.  He ran right past me.  And into the pole.  It was funny, even if it wasn't, but it was.  He has a nice bruise mid-forehead to remember the fun day at the park.  Or not remember depending on what grade concussion he got. 

So the lesson was learned today.  If it has rained at anytime in the last 24 hours we will be forced to play indoors for the safety of the child.  I do not need a CPS visit because I was trying to let my kid enjoy the park on a not a safe park day.

Side note...he did not nap, but considering the lump on his head it is proably for the best, I would have had to wake him up every 30 minutes to insure he was still breathing and stuff.

It's a good thing my brother is a trooper...

and I hope he has pull with CPS (child protective services).  I am expecting a visit from them any minute.  Them or the local police.  Maybe I will get both.  THAT would be exciting!!! Really though, I have done no wrong...

Mostly....

I am donating a gift basket to a co-worker's son-in-laws golf benefit.  (need a map to follow that one?)  You see, he has been stricken with Cancer only 28 years old and his baby turned a year old this July.  Kinda pulls at your heartstrings right?  So, me, the kind, caring person I am decided to donate a gift basket.  I purchased one of my products that I sell, which happens to be a cooler.  Hubby decided the best thing for the target group there... 28, men, golf, beer. Of course it just flows!!

So I head down to our local market.  Not my usual market.  This store is sketchy at best.  There are more food benefit cards than cash being handed out.  I had little kid in the cart and I picked out three different fall beer choices.  As I run to the checkout little kid is looking sad, he has been running all day with me and got nada...now he doesn't HAVE to have something at everystore, but today was a long day so I throw in a bag of M&M's.

The lady in front of me looks in my cart and surveys my purchase.  3 six packs of various beers, a toddler (mind you he is fully clothed in CLEAN clothes ~a rarity in this store~) and a pack of candy.  She looks at the cart, looks at little kid, and sighs.  Loudly.  Directly. At. Me.  I said 'I know, I just hope this lasts me the rest of the night, or at least until I pass out.  I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE AGAIN TODAY!!!'  Make note, that one, I hate beer, two, I don't drink and drive (little brother would not be able to help with that and I wouldn't deserve help) three, it is none of her business.  I am a good mom and a good (most of the time) person.  I am donating this gift to a family that is having a rough time.  Don't Judge Me!!! 

But the funny part is, as I am walking out, I notice the nosy lady still in her car.  I unpacked the cart, sat little kid in his seat, and went and put the cart away (again a good person).  I notice her still sitting in her car.  I get a little nervous (not sure why, I surely haven't had a drink) and get in the car and start it.  Little kid yells from the back seat... apparently I was too busy being a good mom that I forgot to buckle him into his carseat!! Score one for the nosy lady! 

I think it is important to mention that the nosy lady must live nearby as she followed me mostly home.  I am expecting the police and/or cps any moment.  I have brownies baking and coffee on!

Kind words...

Sometimes a rough night or a so-so night can really be lifted by the kind words of someone, out of the blue.  Tonight I received the kindest words from an unexpected source and it lifted my spirits to a new high.  In the words of a wise man I know, 'that is all'.

Paparazzi Mom

I have 3 boys.  I like to dress them.  I like to see their faces as they play, work, smile.  I take their pictures.  Often.  I know that one day they will not be this size.  Tonight when they come home from school, they will have a little more knowledge in their brain (let's hope) and a little more wear on their skin.  I want them to remember every second of their lives.  I want to look back at graduation and say Remember when we took Big Kid to Universal Studios 15 times in one season a few times that one year?  Remember when he played hockey with that team in Canada?  I love memories.  I love having the chance to do things and then record them.  Occassionally I miss out on a memory.  Occassionally.

No way in H-E- double hockey sticks this Mom is missing the first day of school.  I may have missed Third Grade with Big Kid.  I will not sleep now until I confirm this or put him in some shorts and stand him on his knees and take a pic in front of our third grade house. (yes, many of our homes have only lasted one school year.  I am not proud of that fact, we were renters, some worked out, some did not...happily we are now in OUR home and plan to take every picture for the next 15 years in front of the same porch railing...but I digress).  Yesterday was the first day of school.  I took a few pictures.  Big Kid was disgusted with me.  How could I?  I was forced to take 2 pictures (only allowed the second one because I told him that the first one he looked fat....not a great Mommy moment, but I am honest and the kid is 6' tall and 175lbs. he knows he isn't fat)  I did unknowing to him post them on facebook.  I was careful not to tag him, lest he find out.  Middle kid loves his picture taken as does the little one.  I am their personal paparazzi, I follow them daily and chronical as much of their day as I can. 

I don't have a super fancy camera.  Not like what I would like, but it seems to take some pretty decent pics and people are always impressed by it.  I just wish it were 'bigger' and more 'paparazzi-like'.  You know 4 foot long zoom lens with a tripod...that would be SOOO cool.... but for now...the kodak easyshare works.  Any camera and kids is a winner!!!

Mrs. Fix-it

A few months ago we had a 'small' issue with the washer and the water draining.  Turns out, the pipes were backed up and the kitchen sink was draining through my open washer, onto the floor, into the clothes I had 'strategically' left on the floor of the laundry room.  My Dad came out and cleaned out the pipes, and all was working good.  Well last night I was trying to do more laundry and the washer came up with an error code.  It was the one that says it was taking too long to drain.  I told the hubs I was going to fix it.  So He took the pipe cover off and Big kid and I sat there and ran things through the pipe.  Things like a hair catcher, a section of pipe, a hockey stick.  You know all the regular plumber tools.  Finally, I had a brillant idea!! I will tape a small sock to the end of a broomstick and that will clean out the pipe.  As I shoved the stick in the pipe I faintly heard the Hubs say, 'you may want to check the tape and make sure it is on there tight!'.  No, why do I need to do that?

You see where this is going right?  Pulled the broomstick out and no sock.  Good, I planned for it to stay in there...it will be a filter!  I am so brillant!! So at 7:30 on Labor day Monday I am off to Lowe's to buy a snake.  Back home with our new snake we cleaned the pipe and cleaned it good.  Closed it up and KNEW that the washer would drain properly.  We are good you know.  Washer started and made it quite a while and then it flashed a new code.  CRAP!!! Looked up that error code.  It appears there is a trap on the front of the washer under the drum.  We removed the front panel and Hubs had to get in to remove the cover.  It was full of water.  And other stuff.  I think we could have made $100 in change if w cleaned it out of the lint, paper, hair, and lord knows what else that was shoved in that trap.  So I slowly but optomistically forged ahead.  Maybe we fixed it this time? 

Well, 3 loads later and it is all running in working order.  I am so GLAD that I was here to fix that!!!

Dear Mr. Garbage-Man,

An open letter to my garbage man, an apology of sorts!

Dear Mr. Garbage-Man,
     I apologize for the long stop here at Chez-me today.  A funny thing happens when the happiness of Back to school, mixes with the sadness of back to school.  Shopping has been accomplished, but now, where in the world are we keeping all of these new treasures?  The kids closets are bursting at the seams as it is.  And now, I just went and bought them each no less than 10 new outfits, shoes, socks, unders, well you get the picture.  *and we will get back to the backpack debacle soon enough*  So to make room for all of the new treasures, I ventured into middle ones room.  Now when I say ventured, I alerted the authorities, left my next of kin with all of the necessary paperwork.  I worked fast in that trench, I was in and out in 35 minutes.  I left there with 3 bags of garbage and 3 bags of clothes to donate/giveaway/burn.  The closet is now semi-organized, the drawers in BOTH dressers are now so organized Helen Keller could find an appropriate outfit.  *no offense to Helen or any other blind people, just saying I made outfit matching so easy a gecko can do it*  Middle Kid needs it THAT easy!!
    I am going to continue through the house for as many hours as I can stand it and try to remove 50% of the clutter that we are drowning in.  The next stop is the Big Ones diaster.  We have already removed the backpack from last year.  It is the same backpack he told me he was going to carry this year.  I had not purchased a new backpack for him since his, as told by him, was still in fine working order.  I had to disagree...it was removed from his custody with long tongs and a man wearing a hazmat suit.  It is the same backpack that your partner just touched with his bare hands.  I would rush him to the ER for shots and testing.  But first please collect the rest of the garbage from out here. 

Thank you for your faithful service,
Your job really stinks!
CEO of Chez-ME!

Back to school....

Such a happy phrase, such a sad phrase...I love back to school, because I, well, love to shop.  I love to get outfits, and pick out shoes.  I adore the sales on supplies...who doesn't need nickel folders?  And of course I need to buy $6 worth!  We will never have a shortage of spiral notebooks either...of course they were a PENNY!!! I found a dollar's worth of change in the van and went to town!!! I thought I was thinking ahead...surely the kids will need 'some' and why not buy them now at such a huge discount.  And then it happened...in the mail came the school supply list...not one spiral notebook on the whole dang thing!!! Foiled again!  Thankfully, middle did need 12 pocket folders and I have roughly 120 of them...foiled again...he needs specific colors and I didn't pick up purple for my boys... back to the drawing board!!

This year back to school has a new meaning...little will be going to school... it is only 2 days a week, and it is only 2 and a half hours, but it is school!  He has will be learning and not playing, and meeting new friends.  He will be doing this without me.  The other days of course he will be home with me 'unlearning' what the school is so hard trying to teach him.  He will still get to see the big ones afterschool and on weekends.  He will miss his xbox time with his big brother and beating the crap out of the middle kid.  So let this serve as a warning to the kids in his preschool class, he will be looking for someone new to beat the crap out of!!!

WWDD?--What would (the) Duggar's Do?

You know who they are, the Duggar's, right?  They are that crazy, fertile, extremely religious family that continue to procreate freely believing God will not give the more than they can handle.  They are at 19 kids right now.  One is already married and has one of his own. 

So as I sit here with my 3 boys calling them the wrong names, I wonder.  How often does Jim-Bob (his real name) call the kids by the wrong name.  There are days when I can't get 3 names right.  Imagine 19!! All starting with 'J'.  Honestly I wonder how often do they get it right on the first try??  I go through all three kids names and add in a few extra before I get the right name.  I have trouble remebering 20 friends names, how the heck do they remeber each kids name?  I bet when the TV cameras aren't there filming thier ultra-conservative lifestyle the make those kids wear name tags. 

I believe everyone I meet will be greeted with a handshake and a name tag.  Kids in my home will ALWAYS wear them (well until my tv career takes off!).

Social Gathering....

So they say it is important to socialize your toddler/preschooler.  Little gets PLENTY of that.  I mean he hangs with 15 year olds and 10 year olds.  What could a preschooler teach him?  I mean who needs the ABC's when they can play COD?  What is more precious than a little blondie telling people HEAD SHOT! As they throw random objects at other's heads?  We did learn body parts as they were flying off the man on the video screen. 

As preschool fast approaches, we have decided to 'socialize' little with a fun activity.  Water Fun Day with his little boy buddies and the MOPS kiddos.  We.Are.Hosting.  We have made a fun game of 'PICK UP ALL THESE DAMN INCONVIENTLY PLACED TOYS' It is a race and I think they are really making headway!  I just hope they don't expect a prize!  The dog has been bathed.  He.Needed.It.  It has been months since he has gone to the groomer.  That is on the list of to-do when school starts.  The little is in his swimsuit.  He can not wait for his friends to come over. 

We are supplying a snack and the water fun...everything else, well you are on your own... and please don't judge if you need to use the restroom...the house is 'semi clean messy'

House Arrest

You will find my 9 year old (middle) in his room for the next 2 weeks at least.  He has shown his immaturity and blantant disregard from right and wrong this week.  In my home house arrest includes, but is not limited to, no phone, no ipod, no video games, no bike, no outside, no friends, no food, (ok we will feed him, but he may not like it and we won't make a special dish for him!)  He will this week be cleaning his room Mommy clean, not kid clean, helping with yard work, cleaning out his closet, and any other yucky non kid friendly chores. 

What did middle do to deserve this treatment?  He used his phone as a downloading machine.  As we handed the phone over to him the exact words we used were...'this is NOT for the internet and games, this is for VERIZON phone calls and texts'.  63!!! downloads later the phone bill has arrived!! He has learned a valuable lesson right away!! NOTHING is free and NOTHING goes unpunished. 

After two weeks we may put him on probation and see how he behaves.  MAY being the key.  We shall see how the behavior in general has changed.

Now we will see how good I can get at the xbox that I now own for at least the next 2 weeks.