Putting me in my place.

Last night my 11 year old got in trouble.  Let's just say it involved a can of "Insta-Poo" and the driveway.  Anyway, after he had been read the riot act, I told him to go spend some time in his room.  On his way up to his room, I said, "Come here and put out your arms."  I then filled them with freshly clean clothes for him to put away.

My daughter had watched the whole interaction and said, "Mom, if I was him, I would have expected a hug when you asked him to put out his arms."  That broke my heart on so many levels. First of all, she was exactly right.  I should have hugged him and it did sound like I was going to hug him.  Second of all, I was so proud of her for sticking up for her brother.   She put me in my place and  I am so glad she did.  A round of hugs all around!

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping, into the future...

I don't know what my deal is.  I used to be so on top of things.  Lately I have been so passive and I've let things slip away.  Take my kids' birthdays for instance.....they have yet to write thank you notes and my son's was six weeks ago.  I'm sure my parents check the mail daily for his thank you....but when the kid can hardly complete his homework on time, how are you supposed to have him write a letter?

I cleaned out a kitchen drawer today.  The dreaded tupperware drawer.  I bet it's been over a year since I tackled that one.  Before I started, I could hardly close it.  It was overflowing with lids. Guess what?  Out of all the tops and bottoms, I only found six matching pairs.  The rest went into the recycling.  It probably took me 10 minutes, at the most, to clean it out.  I haven't been able to find 10 minutes in the past year?

I never got around to putting away my summer shoes this winter.  I've just piled my winter ones on top of them.  Guess it doesn't make sense for me to switch them now in March.....  

Stuff like this drives me crazy, yet it's so overwhelming that I don't know where to begin.

Don't even get me started in our basement crawl space or garage.  Both spaces are very useable when they aren't filled to the sides.  I actually called the dump today to see how much it costs to rent a dumpster for a week.  I think that is where all of this crap is headed.  (That is if it can't be recycled or donated.)  UGGGHHHH!

A different type of rain.

On Saturday morning, both my son and Tupelo woke up at the same time.

Me:  "Hurry and take Tupelo out to go potty."

Son:  "I have to go to the bathroom too."

Me:  "You can hold it.  You're potty trained and he isn't."

About five minutes pass and then my son and Tupelo walk through the door.

Me:  "Why is Tupelo all wet?  Is it raining?"

Son:  "Well, I really had to go to the bathroom so I started peeing in the woods.  Tupelo walked under my pee.  I couldn't stop.  It must have felt warm to him because he kept standing there."

WHAT??  Do boys not have Kegel muscles?  

Tupelo received a very intensive bath that morning.

Why oh why did you bring that home?

The cats are not happy.  They sneak downstairs while Tupelo is asleep.  This is the closest that Obi will get to him.  Lili hasn't said hello at all.  I must remember to speak to her about her manners.

Puppy Love

With two cats, one dog, two guinea pigs, one hamster and two newts, our family still didn't seem complete.  We adopted a puppy today.  He's nine weeks old and is a mutt.  His mom was a golden retriever and his dad was a chocolate lab/dalmatian.  Our little guy is almost all black, with a little white patch on his chest.  He is so sweet and is sleeping by my feet right now.  He is making funny snorting sounds.  Lucy (our first dog) has been wonderful with him.  The pup follows her around and gives her kisses.

We don't have a name yet.  I really want to name him Cash because he's dressed all in black and he was a Cash 'n Carry pup.

Here's to more sleepless nights.  I'm hoping he's a better puppy than Lucy.  With her, it was worse than having a new born.

Sweet thought.

Daughter:  "Mom, do you know what I was just thinking?"

Me:  "No, what?"

Daughter:  "I was thinking that you were the first person to ever touch me and you were the first person I ever touched."

Come on down!

My Grandma Ruth would be so proud of me.  I have turned my kids into "The Price is Right" junkies. 

Because the show is on during school hours, they hadn't seen it much.  It dawned on me that I could record the show on the dvr.  Now, instead of watching "Sponge Bob" or "Drake and Josh", the show of choice is "The Price is Right".  

One of my favorite childhood places was my Grandma Ruth's condo.  There was always a supply of oatmeal cookies stashed in the freezer.  An indoor pool.   Naked pens that my brothers and I would  search for in the pen pot.  Quarters for the soda machine (although in Omaha it's called "Pop Machine").  

On my visits she taught me how to play gin rummy.  She'd take me to Marshall's and let me pick something out.  We'd go to the Baker's Grocery Store's Restaurant where we'd place our order using table top phones.   She'd buy me Circus Peanuts and Burnt Peanuts (two candies that I still enjoy).  She'd let me stay up and watch "The Love Boat", followed by "Fantasy Island".  She'd feed me chocolate cake for breakfast because "It has milk and eggs in it!"  And every weekday morning, we'd watch "The Price is Right".  Now when I hear the opening of the show, I feel a touch of sadness and it makes me miss my Grandma.

Usually, I watch the show with my kids.  I've explained to them why often the last bid on contestant row is $1.  They know my favorite games are the Cliffhanger (yodeler) and Plink-o.  They have yet to see a Showcase Showdown when the winner wins both showcases. 

When I'm not able to watch it with them, they often call me in to see the car or the juke box or the jet ski someone won.  They love to guess how much products are.  They laugh when someone's spin doesn't go all the way around.

Oh how I wish had exposed them to this when Bob Barker still hosted.  And oh how I wish they could have watched it with Grandma Ruth.

Our Gus Tree

Our cat, Gus, disappeared almost four years ago, around Valentine's Day.  We never found out what happened...maybe a car or coyote.  We planted a Cherry Tree in his honor and it always brings back sweet memories of Gus because it blooms this time of year.  The tree is scrawny but produces some beautiful flowers.  I think if we ever move, we might have to dig it up the tree  and take it with us.

Here's a picture of Gus eating cereal with the kids.  He loved Froot-Loops, yogurt and bagels. Of course, that was back when I didn't know any better and allowed my kids to eat Froot-Loops.  Now, he would have to eat Puffins or Go-Lean.

The no-dance dance.

Apparently there is a "pre-teen" dance next week, geared towards my son's age.  I asked him if he was interested in getting some friends together and going to the dance.

I was told the word "dance" made him feel funny.  I asked, "What should I call it?"   

He suggested:  "How about you say, 'Do you want to go have fun with your friends and hang out with a DJ?'  Then I may want to go."

Oh.  I see.  That sounds way cooler.

Clear as day.

When I was tucking my son in to bed tonight, he announced that tomorrow at at school he was planning on wearing his black athletic pants and his white soccer shirt.  "Okay," I said.  "That sounds like a plan."  "Do you know why, Mom?" he asked.  "I'm wearing it in honor of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.  Finally, black and white people are working together in the White House."  He said it so innocently and so proudly that it warmed my heart.  Of course, it also made me begin to hum "Ebony and Ivory".

What a historic day for our Nation.  There is energy and excitement in the air.  I feel proud and hopeful and so blessed to have seen this day.