WHAT? I can't hear you....my ears hurt....

I may just owe you a phone call or an email...
maybe a Christmas card even...
and it's coming...
but I've been sick all week.
I've barely had a voice.
Finally went to the doctor yesterday,
and I have a double ear infection.
Which makes me sound like a two year old.
No end of grief from the husband....
who thinks it's funny.
They hurt though...the ears.
It's no wonder babies scream all night when they have an ear infection....
they want to rip their freaking ears off....
(and they want some pain meds...
and a stiff drink)

So before becoming completely incapacitated,
and resigned to sleeping on the couch...
I spend Friday and Monday in the boy's classrooms
(please note this explains WHY I'm sick...
40 little germy people all hugging on me)
helping w/ Christmas parties and gingerbread house
building.
Colten made a 2 story gingerbread mansion.
The kids were so creative...I loved watching them,
and of course listening to a bazillion hysterically funny stories.
Kindergarteners and second graders, they still think moms are very cool.

Gabby, Mike, and the Max-dog came Saturday....bringing good cheer, and some styrofoam cones, buttons, and pins.
Gab and I made some button trees a la Tia....
we opened presents, and ate some food.
Good times...
And even though Jack remarked "OH, only clothes"...I think you can tell by the photo he actually really DID want the arsenal jersey... he really DOES like it....and he really didn't take it off for three days.

Speaking of clothes.
We went to the mall on Sunday to finish up some Christmas shopping.
Personally I try to avoid said mall at all costs, but it was necessary....
We get in American Eagle...and Jack
(who normally would rather hide in the clothes rack)
walks over to the hats,
picks one up, puts it on, and declares it "his" hat.
What the fascination was with that particular hat we have no idea....but he insisted. We didn't think it was necessary...but still he persisted..."it's the perfect hat, it's my hat, I'll wear it everyday"....So, we got the hat...he's worn it everyday.
And as Colin said....it does look like "his" hat.
Like it was made for the Jack.

Saturday before the Feks arrived,
Coley had his first ever wrestling tournament.
Let me rephrase that...his first ever meet/tournament rolled into one. He had been to all of 5 practices....
And they signed him up for a tournament. Whoa...
It sort of made me want to throw up....
He lost all four matches...
but he LOVED it.
And the coaches are the nicest (big, strong, tough guy wrestlers)
you'll ever meet. At the end of each match, they would lift Colten up on their shoulders, he was just beaming.
Beaming....
and
making me giggle in his singlet (unitard)
all 55 pounds of him.
Ahhh...what we do for our middle children....
so they feel they have their own niche.
heehee...

Ok, I'm going back to the couch now.
Thank God for Colin and Jared....my HUGE and wonderful helps.
I hope everyone has a VERY
Merry Merry Christmas.

xxe

On the roll of film I have yet to develop are the pictures of the red and green striped mohawk...
OMG...you'll love it...very festively rad.
Next post.

Ya Who?

a few weeks ago.

Jack: Knock knock
Aunt Gabby: Who's there?
Jack: Yohan...
Aunt Gabby: Yohan? Yohan who?
Jack: OH, no wait, that's wrong....it's suppose to be YA

last night.

Jack: Knock knock...
Me: Who's there?
Jack: Ya
Me: Ya who?
Jack: it's not that exciting mom, why you saying YAHOO?
Me: Knock knock
Jack: Who's there?
Me: Yohan...
Jack: Yohan...HEY...THAT is NOT funny!

Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian...

2 out of 3 moving estimates were finished this morning...
"HOW-A-YOU-YaH....
HOW-A-YOU-YaH....
HOW-A-YOU-YaH...." as Jack would say.
(Hallelujah....darn funny when he sings it after having something go his way)
The company has to have three done, and then they pick one for us.
I suppose since they're paying and all.....but it's still a freaking waste of my morning.

My weekend--->
Saturday Colin and I hired a babysitter (Jared) and went Christmas shopping alone...like big people and everything. We even had lunch. Very exciting.
The most exciting part really was that the house was completely intact when we arrived home, and the children were all happy. They actually listened to their brother. Will wonders never cease?!
Dinner was this, and it was really good. The fries....oooh yum. RR, annoys the begesus out of me, but you can't hear her speak on the website, and the girl CAN cook. We did grill the burgers though....
Sunday--->
On the way home from church I got a bloody nose.
Checked the glove box no tissues, no napkins....
My purse, similar story....with the exception of one pad.
Yes I used a maxi pad.
And aside from the hysterical laughter coming from my husband and Jared,
I thought it was a brilliant solution....
Colin just wanted me to "put my head down" (so no one saw me)
Frankly I think Always may want to consider a new product line because aside from the sticky side....it was very helpful and worked wonders.

I think I'm going to be watching this tonight, which is going to be extremely painful. Although every time Jack says "Garfield A Tail of Two Kitties" because he refuses to just say Garfield....Colin says "It was the best of kitties and the worst of kitties" and EVERY time it makes me laugh. Lucky this movie is a week long rental....because I put it off all weekend.
I think Jack may call me on it tonight though.....
I am however super excited to go see THIS. I love Martin Short..... Ed Grimley. Does anyone else remember SNL back then?!? Good stuff...I must say.

And Rachel sent me this last week, because she is THAT sweet...and I am loving it. Grant it, I think I'm making a mockery of the stitches, and I still have no clue how I'm suppose to end things....but I'm doing my own thing...and having the best time. Felt ornaments, scrap-pages....
big fun I tell you.

More Nisa photos.
We never have any of the two of us.
I really like the one I'm making an "ewwwww" face when Col kissed me...that's so us.
After looking at the photos two things are clear though, I need to figure out where the nearest Jenny Craig is after we move....and I may have to pick up some Rogaine for Colin. Schweet....

More Christmas journal pages coming soon..............
really..............xxxe

Falalalala...lalalala.....

So....we "Christmased our house"...
(last year or maybe the year before Jack announced that we needed to "Christmas our house!" which I guess was small boy speak for "put some lights up outside peeps!" So that's what we all say now...time to "Christmas the house"...)
And I'm in love with my tree.
It's a mess....but every ornament reminds me of something special...and I love that.

That's really all...but I wanted to mention---
The crocheted flowers on my day one page below are from Poppy Ink (also known as the best kit club around).
Heather's mom actually made them all.....holy cow, eh?
Yes, I'd been hoarding them....

And the Christmas photo that is on my 3rd page is by Nisa ...it's also my banner...and will soon be made huge and will grace a wall in my living room...looove that shot of my boys.
If you ever have a chance to have Nisa take your photo...DO IT!
She's amazing. (and funny, and darn cute)
But I wanted to add that.....

I'll post some more Christmas journal shots this weekend...
xe

Angles and Angels

Story of the day:
Gabby got me a shirt that says "ANGEL" across the front.
The first time I wore it Colten asked "Why are you wearing a shirt that says angle?"
No buddy it says "angel" "ohhhhhhhhh..."
So yesterday I had on an AE hoodie that says "Eagle" across the front.
Coley said "Ahh, angel, because you are an ANGEL!" (Obviously he wanted something at that moment) "No buddy, this one says eagle" "ohhhhhh...well you're no eagle, so don't go getting any ideas and start spitting food in my mouth ok"
Ok....

So I'm working at my own pace on my Christmas journal, but loving it....
Christmas journal of the day (errr....a few days ago really):
Here is Day one (the manifesto....let's just say that word a few times....do you say it w/ an accent? me too)
- Day two (my feelings on snow, aka the weather in NC)
and Day three (Christmas cards, or lack there of, see previous post) ...
All done and scanned....
When Gabby is here I'll have her take some photos
of the lot of it....
because I am not a scanner fan (ner?)...
and the scanner is not a fan of me.
enuf said.
See if I were digital, you'd see that day 2 is 2 different size pages, but the back of day three is snowflake stamps...so it works out....
I could scan that...yes, that's true. but I didn't.
And page 2 of Day 3 is to clip the cards we receive, hence the lack of much going there.
(the little ribbon tree was going to be our card this year...cough cough....but now at least it's on something!)

I thought this journal would encourage me to blog more
...but clearly that's not going to happen. xxxe

Aunt Bethany, does your cat eat jello?

I can not believe tomorrow is December.
The last few weeks have flown.
It's been sort of like I've been on a
neverending episode of the surreal life,
but that's ok....
The weekend before Thanksgiving we left for Jared's weekend tournament and within the first 20minutes of the car trip, Colten had thrown up, and we blew a tire.
Not to be outdone by his brother Jack followed up Coley's w/ his own puke festival on thanksgiving night.
Nice.
Sort of ended the evening for all....
pumpkin pie for breakfast anyone?!
Jared decided to hold off until we started decorating the Christmas tree.

Where do you think you're going?
Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no.
We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here.
We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.

Ok, I'll stop making everyone gag....no more strepthroat speak.

I am NOT making Christmas cards this year.
There...I said it.
I know that whole bit about making myself accountable...
yeah, well...it didn't happen, I don't feel guilty,
and Martha Stewart cards were 50% off at KMart.
(definitely, definitely KMart...could she not have gone with Target?!?.....sheeesh)

Jack has taken to singing "Smack THAT"....
which while comical hopefully isn't taking place at school.
I so do not need to try to act like an adult while being reprimanded by the principal. (she kind of scares me)

My favorite thing from the boys Christmas lists (so far):
Jack after listing various toys, games and a slushy maker...."$20,000, infinity money, and beer that I can have"...HUH?!?!? Later that was edited to add "root" in front of the beer....in an effort to not upset Santa I believe.

Our tree is up (I said that already)....
I wanted to make sure we got it up before Colin had the chance to say "Merry Christmas, we're moving Monday"....
Now we have to stay until at least December 26th....right?!!?

Signed up for the christmasjournal... Can not wait for tomorrow....totally needed a little creative fun just for me. Here I'm suppose to make my intentions known....
and err...this will NOT be like the Christmas cards...nope.

Manifesto: Noun. A declaration of one's intentions.

Starting December first, I will keep a Christmas journal. In it, I will write something every day to reflect on the holidays of my past, enjoy the holidays of the present and dream about the holidays of my future. To some, this will be a stack of papers and trivial scribbles, but not to me. I am taking back my Christmas, I am letting it be something I relish and, most importantly, I am giving at least fifteen minutes every day to myself no matter how crazy this season becomes. I hope you will share, encourage and understand as I make something with my own hands, my own words and my own memories.

I may post some or all of my entries here. Other artists are doing this with me, and you can see their work here. Or you may join us.

Above all: enjoy the season. I will.

and with THAT, I leave you w/some random Christmas photos and outtakes to go w/ my random post...because you HAVE to have photos...and looking back, some of these are just funny...(look at baby jack w/ NO hair!) xxxe

Poptart nightmares

Whew....my husband is back from Chicago.
How in the world do single moms do it?!? I mean I'm fine with the boys....I can do it all, except I canNOT be two places at once. And that was my dilemma last night. Gabby got to hear about it live and in stereo. Colten had his big end of season tournament game (soccer), and Jack had his last football game and was getting a trophy. At the SAME time. Thankfully I have a 12 year old, who, when he needs to be, is quite responsible...so we worked it out...but really, I have the upmost respect for moms who juggle this daily.

I have a new best friend, I met her at Panera...it was a brief moment, but I know we'll be friends forever....
Ok, not really, but when she said "Are these kids all yours? because you look all of 15"...
Yes, my heart fluttered....and she became my new favorite person ever.

Of course, this morning, when the boys have no school, and sleeping in was so in the cards for me...
Jack wakes up crying.....
So, I fly out of bed....run into his room, and say what's wrong?!?!?
He's half asleep...
muttering....
through tears.....
"Mommy, mommmy......
Can you get me some poptarts for my snack at school?
Maybe chocolate?!"
SERIOUSLY?!?
Ok, whatever kid brought a poptart in for snack yesterday, causing my child to have some sort of inferior snack nightmare....
Well, I'm not ok with that.

I will be at a soccer tournament ALL weekend.
And all next weekend.
And the next.
November is apparently the best time for soccer tourneys.
This one and the next are for Jared (who is number one in his division...Go J!)
and the last is for Colten....
(I will clearly be taking pictures of Jace...because I have no recent ones...geez...badmomma....)

As far as what is on the job front...aka where are we moving...we don't know yet.
But Colin did suggest we live in a hotel for 2 months....I am totally there on the reasoning and get why it's a clever idea....but i had to laugh....
what the heck am I going to do in a new town in a hotel...
for 2 months?!?!?!
crazy.

Happy Weekend.

***GO BRIT!***

Inspired....

The high school art class nearby totally inspired me this weekend.
I was blown away by their needlepoint planets....VERY cool.
They combined fabrics and colors...they were ridiculously cool.
I never did needlepoint in high school....or ever for that matter.
Completely inspired me to want to do something....ideas have been flying around my mind.
I want this for Christmas.
I want to learn to sew.
I want to make the boys something like this, or this, this or even this.
Some sort of collage...something textural, and funky.
I want to learn to oil paint.
I'm not sure what exactly I want to do...but i'm toying with ideas...
and lately for me, that's HUGE.
I also want to do something collabortive with the boys....ideasideasideas....

I've also decided to make Christmas cards this year....coughcough...I figure if I say it outloud it will make me somewhat accountable.
I sometimes end up with "Sorry this is a little past the New Year and almost just in time for Easter"cards...but damn it, it's the thought!

Jack had a dentist appointment this morning.
I went to pick him up from school just as they were starting to have a practice lock down.
Police and all.
Errr....NOT a good idea to be the stranger in the hall during a lock down.
Nono, it's not.
I HATE that lock downs are a reality for kids today.
I HATE that I have to explain to my son when he asks,
"...But WHY would someone come to my school and shoot kids?"
Now why would they, really?

Lastly,
when shooting photos of children, an important tip...
don't just look at their charming little faces...
because sometimes you'll discover they were making rude gestures at you without your knowledge.
(ok, I really have no idea what jack is doing, but it sure looks rude, eh?!?)

And check out Jared's new bike (the new bike that is stored INSIDE)

Banner love

Check out my NEW banner made just for me by the amazing Nisa!
I LOVE it. Thankyou Nisa.

Sunday we went through our storage unit.
When we moved, we went from a four bedroom house w/ a garage,
to a three bedroom house w/ a carport. (no basements, it's the south)
SO we now rent our house, AND a 10' x 20' storage unit.
PACKED full....from floor to ceiling.
Now, I won't lie, I didn't do a good job of organizing the garage when we moved, so I knew a lot of the storage stuff could go to goodwill, or to the trash.
However it was a monsterous undertaking, and Colin and I found just a couple of excuses why this weekend wouldn't work, or that weekend was no good...
finally, on Sunday we said...let's just DO IT.
So, after church and linner (because jack pointed out, it was WAY past lunch, and could no longer be considered brunch) we headed to the unit.
We worked our butts off....and now...it's DONE. (Just in time to move again!)
The ironic part was the boys had a blast...
everything we pulled out was "new".
tiny trikes, and old toys....jumpropes, and kites....old cars, and trucks.
Colin and I were blown away by how well they played together. They seriously had the best time, it was so much fun to watch.
We've since decided to keep a box of broken and old toys hidden, and we will just pull it out periodically for fun.

So, as we repacked, and organized, some things lost their "homes" and I decided to bring the homeless stuff back to the house, so the movers will pack it all correctly.
So, we now have a few baby toys hanging around...and the thomas the tank trains, and tracks.
Monday was a teacher workday, no school.
Jack comes over to me and whispers....
"Do you think...if I got my hotwheels, and the thomas trains, and tracks, and set them up and played....Do you think my brothers will make fun of me?"

umm...I'm going to say no...

Hallooooooooooween

last night was BIG fun.
the pirates pillaged the neighborhood...

They ate worms for dinner,
and dessert.
(after a near miss on the dessert dirt)

A funny-
I screwed up making a box mix of brownies a few weeks ago.
I put in too much water, and not enough oil, or something along those lines....it was a Jessica moment....
Suffice it to say I read it wrong...and made it wrong.
Colin had to go buy more brownie mix. Bad e.
So Colin found this incredibly funny, and isn’t one to let something that dumb die a slow and painless death, so I’ve heard about it frequently.
Fast forward to last night,
I was making dinner,
and said to my dear sweet husband--
“you better make the pudding...
you know how well I do w/ box mixes.”
(Ba-dum-dum)
Yeah,
well,
guess who made the
BOX MIX of pudding WRONG?!?!?
Luckily
his brilliant wife had some extra pudding on hand, and dessert was saved.

The End.

PS. Hey, can anyone help me make a new banner for my blog?! I LOVE the one Hanni made, but I figure it's been a year, I should switch it up. Only, I have NO idea how to do that.

OH, AND...one more thing.
HUGE congrats to Jen on the safe arrival of baby Ayla! Happy Baby!!! She is sure cute!

"LOOK MOM....I have eyes in the back of my head!"

hmmm....
I wonder where he's heard THAT before?

Well, I was hoping to fill you in on what's been on my mind for the past couple weeks...
but alas...
I'm no where near knowing what I thought I'd know at this point.

Here is what I can say.
My husband's plant is closing.
In other words, in 60 days, he doesn't have a job here.
Yeah, pretty big stuff going on, huh?

Today was suppose to be THE day...
the day we'd know where we were moving,
when we were moving,
how we were moving...
if we were moving...

He's had meetings all day....
We have some things figured out,
and some new things to figure out....
We'll get it worked out.
Even if it means a few more months of uncertainty.

I keep telling Coley it's an "adventure"....
to which my son, who wants to stay right here replies..."well, this adventure SUCKS!"
Yeah, some adventures sort of do suck...
but there is always something good to look forward to.

It's like the movie Parenthood....
when the Grandma says "You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster."
The son says "Oh?"
Grandma "Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride!"
Son "What a great story."
Grandma "I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together!
Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round.
That just goes around.
Nothing.
I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it."

I love that movie. xe

21

I can't say any better what Gabby wrote...
raise your glasses today....and say a little toast for Al if you would....

Today is October 14, 2006.
It would've been Alex's 21 birthday.
21.
Wow.
I remember feeling like life was just beginning at 21.
How much was left to do, left to find, left to become.
And it hurts so much to know that she won't ever know those feelings.
Her life stopped
At 20.
20. When there should be so much left ahead.

Today we would've celebrated.
She would've gone shopping
(her favorite thing)
And eaten a ridiculously fabulous dessert somewhere.
Today we should have done those things.
And we can't.
Her life was more fleeting than I ever would've guessed.
And because of that... we are never going to give up the fight.
We love you, Alex.

ee cummings, i carry your heart with me:

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

what we've been up to.....

2 so far...

and I'm head over heels in love....
go here...
check it...
sigh...
and the banner....
man...serious love.

Say what?

Sooo, that's the birthday boy....from last weekend.
I seriously can NOT believe he's 12.
He got his IPOD....
which now never seems to leave the ears of my pre-tween boy....
I don't have one yet, by the way...an IPOD that is....
as Jack would say...."I'm just saying"...
That's my new favorite southern expression my five year old uses constantly....
Like at his soccer game Saturday...
"Our goalie is not very good."...
"JACK! shhh-hh...That's not nice"
"I'm just saying"....
Yeah, manners we have none...
SO...I had the BEST weekend.
("I'm just saying")
I met Nisa!!!!! and....
She TOOK PHOTOS OF MY BOYS!!!!
Yes, I'm a teeny, tiny.....WHOLE lotta excited about that....
Even though, Jack was a bit whiney...(ok, sooo I didn't know he was sick)....and Jared was a bit serious. (but that's completely normal)
The report from Gabby is that "I'm going to die....they're SO GOOD"....
So I can hardly stand it.

I also got to spend the ENTIRE day shopping on Friday w/ Gabby, Jessica, and Nisa....
good stuff....I needed some girl time...
TONS of laughs...some money spent....sigh....I loved it.
Just the coolest chicks EVER. I'm so jealous Gabby gets to hang out w/ Jess whenever she wants.....and Nisa....well, Minneapolis is just TOO far away....
Stokepoo...("I'm just saying").
Hopefully Gab will send me some photos of the day soon. (subtle hints never hurt, eh? heehee)

Today has been a Monday...that's for sure.
Jack is home sick, bit of a fever, but nothing else really.
He's keeping up his strength w/ some cheetos, sprite and tv.
That's some good parenting for those of you taking notes.
Ok, off to pick up the Coley guy. xe

NOT happy.....

WELL...
between my computer which is only working sporadically....
and blogger...which will not allow me to post photos...
THIS update will officially be lame.
What you should be viewing is Jared blowing out his candles...
and a lovely list a la ash about all my favorite Jaredisms...
but that is clearly not going to happen today...
(maybe tomorrow)
In the meantime...

Colten came home Thursday quite excited because he won a tie breaking vote and got elected to the student council....
He'd talked about wanting to be on the student council all week....
so this was BIG time.
"I'm the student counselor! I didn't have to be an alternative(aka the alternate)!"
I tell him how awesome this is...how proud I am of him....
A few minutes later...
He asks...
"Mom...what is the student council?"

just 2things 2day...completely unrelated....

THIS is the sweetest.
She's just so brave speaking in front of that many people.
I'm very sad for her family.....

and
Rachelle tagged me....
she's the cutest...
so here goes...

The rules are :
List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets.
Tag 5 friends and list them.
Then, those people need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people. Dont forget to let the people you tag know by posting a comment on their blog!

if I REALLY must tag...
then it's gab, es, mara, ash, and jen....
(sorry girls)

ok, 5 weird things about me....
hmm...
1. I drive barefoot....always, or in the winter, I guess w/ socks on...
2. I have issues with raw meat.....it's just gross....but i deal.
3. I almost always wear a black shirt....of some kind. (I like colors, just not on my clothing)
4. Halloween is my favorite...and I LOVE fall....(ok, that's not really weird, huh?)
5. My toe nails are always painted, but my finger nails NEVER are...

Ok,
That wasn't very good... those kinda suck....
I'll think of some better ones, because all in all I'm pretty weird,
but for now, I must go pick up my boylies...
xe

ETA:
Colin informed me that yes, in fact...those suck....or 2 out of 5 did....
so he's added...

3. I don't like my kids to stick their hands/arms out the windows in the truck....
because I fear they may lose a limb.
(In my defense....my parents TOLD me not to stick my hand out the window....I believed them...I don't find this that weird....maybe more irrational?!) ;)
and....
4. I don't/won't eat leftover pizza.
Apparently this is weird or so say my hub....
who will eat leftover anything no matter how old it may be....

ok, halloween and fall are still my favorites....
even though that's not at all weird...
I'm still darn excited because it was chilly today...
and I wore jeans.
happy. happy. happy.

And besides, I can't compete w/ cindy....I mean essie, who reminded me she has webbed toes ;)
(Yes, I totally owe you a pumpkin spice...)

BFF....

Jack's new best friend from school is named Dallas.
Last night at dinner Jack announces
"I want Dallas to come play at my house!"
"Ok" I reply....
Jack then explains...
"I think his middle name is Cowboys, but I haven't asked him yet."

Random day before Friday....

So,
Jared informed me that his name
and the word
undies
should NEVER again be mentioned together in the same sentence..
particularly never again on my blog...

slightly mortified that one....
(SORRY J! my bad...)

Colten and Jack started playing flag football this week.
Jack didn't really want to play flag....he wanted to play tackle....
and only tackle....
but you have to be seven.... so he's playing flag....and loving it...
Colten on the other hand is just playing because I thought he might like it...
So, we have no real flag football experience.
Jared played tackle for a season...
hated it....
we moved on.
Colin is out of town this week,
so it's just me....
I obviously didn't do the best job explaining the sport....
We're watching Jack play,
and Coley looks at me...
and says "Huh...well....I didn't know you threw the ball in flag"...
"What?!?" I say..
"I didn't realize there WAS a ball in flag football....I thought there was only a flag." he says....
OH Yeah....my kid only yesterday realized that there was a FOOTBALL involved in flag FOOTBALL....
uh-huh....
should be a memorable season.
Yeah, he thought you just carried a flag like the ball...
That one is funny.
I did also hear "Mom...I forgot my glove!" from Jack, as we were walking to the field....
because it's the same place they had baseball..
and for a moment I think he completely forgot what sport he was playing....
nice...
My boys will be out there w/ baseball gloves trying to catch flags that are being thrown...
or something along those lines...

I have to work on some circle journals this weekend...
and some VERY belated birthday love.
I hate missing birthdays on peas...but sometimes I just can't get it done...even when I REALLY want to....
best of intentions....
really.

SO...

Some asshat decided to steal Jared's bike last night....
what is this world coming to?
an eleven year olds bike?!?!?!
the kid that took it...
(Let me assume it was a kid....because if was an adult....sigh)
better not let me catch him/her riding it....
the wrath of a pissed off momma....
is not good.
I hate seeing my babies sad.

in other baby news....
I'm anxiously awaiting the name of Britney's new baby boy....
(I love that crap...I'm all about celeb baby names...I know, I know...I can't help it......and I LOVE me some Brit ;))

that's all for now.
xe

all better...and bringing sexy back...yeah...right ;)

I started feeling much better friday....
(with the help of a couple pumpkin spice lattes from the bucks)
thank
goodness...
we had a
VERY
important
surprise party
to attend on saturday....
my brother-in-law MIKE
turned 30!
whew....he's joined us on the dark side of twenty....
and managed to celebrate his 9th anniversary of his 21st birthday....
anyway,
we had a great time....
gabby made WAY toooo much YUMdelish food.... and aside from the midnight drive home...
it was mad fun.
(and I think he was even surprised)

So,
Jack the kindergartener has become even more independent than he originally was
(which seems almost impossible)
as I passed his door the other day...
he was changing clothes...
and exclaimed loudly...
"CANT A MAN GET A LITTLE PRIVACY AROUND HERE?!?"
excuse me sir....

Jared has informed me that his underwear is no longer "cool"...
and boxers are a must have ASAP....
clearly changing in gym class makes one realize that even undies can be cool and uncool....
who knew?!?
(i think this is null and void for chicks....because I'm pretty sure my drawers were always just fine)
but he made me laugh big time....

So today
my day will consist of getting boxers...and mouth guards
(for flag football...which I was unaware you needed mouth guards for....hello?!? FLAG football...whatever)...
VERY manly of me.
if only I could throw in a jockstrap or two....
hmmm......

I also took a look at his birthday list yesterday,
and informed him that it looked great,
but perhaps he should try to make one w/ things on it he might actually get.
(I know I'm alone here, but a 6th grader does NOT need a cell phone...I'm sorry)

And...on the soccer front....
(which for those of you that know us...is in FULL force right now
....times 3.....& Jared plays travel)
his team won Saturday 4-2.
Jared scored...
which is TERRIFIC...
except...
he's not usually forward.
hmmmmm?!?
I think....
what is he
doing playing forward?!?
this season his coach (aka my husband) has decided he will only play forward.
well....great...
now I TOTALLY agree w/ the positioning....
however I JUST ordered a new shirt from here
that says "JARED....DEFENSE....21".....
COOL.
THAT just shows you the communication that goes on when you've been together 13 years...
HA!
SO, my cute little mommy shirt (not a word about my dorky-ness level)....is a complete lie...
and sham...

darn....I guess I'll just have to order more shirts ;)
(if you haven't made your own shirt...do it...they're fabulous...just ignore the dumb shit....like "Mrs...so-and-so" and do your own thing)

Colten finished his last book of the Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot series (yeah, they're classics)
and informed me
"I finished my book. It was the last of this series. SO, I guess I'm not reading anymore."
Like ever again.
and he's serious.
SO, I REALLY need to find that kid another series he's in to
...and quick.

Jared is SUPER excited for October 13th.....
when the last Unfortunate Events book comes out....
In the meantime I got him The Beatrice Letters....
which is REALLY quite cool...

Ok,
so this is turning into a children's book review.
I'll stop....

I didn't write anything yesterday,
because I didn't have any words to express the day.
I'm going to take Ashley up and make a page for the boys...
I think everyone one should....

I think that Essie said it best.

"New York. A terrible loss then, a terrible loss still.
We can't forget even though it hurts to remember.
We can't behave like a society without civility.
We can't tell children that the world is without pain.
But, we can hope, for happiness and for peace."

I do hope for happiness and for peace.
I do.
xe

***ETA:
back from the shopping....after much deliberation I decided the boy needed to pick out his own boxers, because I’ll go for cute...and that could be very BAD (and really put a MAJOR damper on the whole cool thing he's got going on ;) wink)
On a brighter note...at the sporting good store, I not only found mouth guards...but the billabong, hurley and quiksilver rash guard the boys wanted awhile back on sale for practically NOTHING. (ok, $5.99)....they will be stoked when they get home....I’m so excited!
I think I'm becoming one of those moms that gets the clearance clothes for next year....
how about that?! hmmm....
look babe...I'm SAVING you money by shopping...$$$
yeah....THATS what I'm doing. HA!
and,
that is not the shirt I got for soccer....
just a random one from their site...
mine has a soccer ball on it....duh e....
but I'm sort of digging the one I posted.....the site is customglamgirl....

Yeah....

so I'm sick.
I'm consuming mass amounts of Naked juice and tylenol cold...
I hate being sick...which really is probably the dumbest thing ever to say...
because who really likes being sick?!
hmm..
so in my absence....
check out these videos,
by the maker of the courage video I posted earlier....




and...
if you want a funny read...
because I haven't the energy to be funny today....
check out my friend essie's brand new blog...xe

The Ants go MARCHING 2 by 2....

noooo hurrah.....

is it wrong for me to believe that terminix comes....
in their little orange bug-mobile....
with their little ghost buster inspired backpack squirt guns....
to save the day?!?
because that's what I thought....
but...
now i really think...
that
maybe...
they just spray water
around my doorways...
and windows...
because honestly.
I think I have MORE ants now...then before they came.
bastards.

I understand....it's hot.
I understand WHY the ants come in....
and I would be fine if they just wanted to come in briefly to enjoy a little AC...
BUT....when they start messing w/ my food.
yeah,
they're out.
and frankly terminix...
noooot really helping my cause.....

so in an effort to be bug-free...
I am going w/ a terminix/RAID combo.*
we shall see.
after the tiny moth episode this weekend....
(it wasn't a tiny episode, but rather tiny moths)
which I can not discuss in detail, because it makes me itchy and COMPLETELY grossed out....
(picture IN MY CUPBOARDS....IN MY FOOD)
I'm in what you might call...
an OCD-esque cleaning and organizing frenzy....
which may last another 24-48hours...it's hard to say.
many things were lost in the war against the bugs....
much of my baking goods surrendered....
all other food has been tightly secured in tupperware.

the bugs have been quiet....
a little too quiet....
i think they are planning their next attack.
the RAID and I are standing by.

*please note....before moving south...the thought of pesticides and harmful chemicals near my babies would have NEVER been allowed......but.....it's amazing what almost five years here will do to you.....

Ok,
on an unbug related note....
--------------------------------------------------------->
this game is a must have if you have kiddos.
OMG.
I laughed so hard last night I was crying.

I did realize that i am a horrible mom though....
because while my five year old knows Beastie Boys and Jet,
we struggle w/ the songs that perhaps he should know the title of....
wheels on the bus anyone????
OOOhhhh well.....
I never could get into listening to Barney in the car....
Bad momma.

Yesterday, Today....and Tomorrow

Jessie challenged everyone to
"make a list of what you did and will do...
thoughts you had
literal or not
funny or serious
a written snippet of your life
...then make a scrapbook page out of it eventually"

LOVED this idea....

Yesterday:
Was a "rain" day for the boys, so no school (flooded roads)
Colin came home early from work
We checked out a gym
(I remembered when working out a gym was a daily thing, and I
didn't feel as uncomfortable there as I do now...YIKES!)
Hung out a Barnes and Noble
Was convinced by Colin to go to "ladies night out" with the women from church
(got past my initial hesitation about large groups of women, and actually had fun)

Today:
Stayed up until 2:30 am
Woke up to Jehovah Witnesses ringing the doorbell, telling us that God create
the world.....and I thought he gave me Saturday to sleep in....silly me....
Decided to update my blog in an effort to avoid picking up sticks in the yard with Colin from the storm that de-branched my trees....
Planning to go to the music store to look in to guitar lessons again for Jared, so
he'll quit asking...
Excited about movie night w/ the boys

Tomorrow:
We'll go to church
We'll have lunch at Panera
Jared and his team will be ball-boys for the ECU women's soccer game.
(the littles and I will watch the game)
Colin and I will examine the finances to see if there is enough money each month for
that gym membership I really want (perhaps we should give up the Panera after church...hmmm)
I'll work on a card for my friend that moved to Washington state...(she's sad)

Page to follow....thanks Jess. xe

Ok...(aka 4,000 photos of my kid as a baby)

Well.
Today is Jack's first day of kindergarten.
They stagger the start days for the kindergarteners, so half went yesterday,
half today, and then they'll all go tomorrow.
Odd i say, but whatever works.
Making Jack believe this was a good plan was difficult,
he wanted so badly to join the brothers yesterday when they started school....
This morning he woke up singing...
"I'm going to school today...I'm going to school today...I'm going to school today..."
sigh.
So now...
I'm officially a stay at home mom....with NO kids at home.
(?!?!?!?!?)
the up side is,
perhaps my house will be clean now?....
or...
maybe I'll workout...?
or....
scrap?
who knows.
I'm just going to vote for having another baby...
is that wrong?!?
I didn't cry.
I fully expected I might today....
but I didn't.
How could I? He was so THRILLED...and excited....

Jack was my most "difficult" baby...of the three... VERY determined...VERY headstrong...but also this giant ray of light....the HAPPIEST baby...with such a sweet spirit....
he's still that same baby...
in bigger form...
still independent, and shiny....
what seems the most unreal to me,
is that he's five.
Trust me,
people say "enjoy it, time flies"...
and it is one of those things that people often say...and it's actually true.

I just REALLY love my boys!

Yesterday went well...
Colten likes his new teacher.
In Coley style everything was "fine".
"How was school?" "fine"
"Do you like your teacher?" "She's fine."
"How was lunch?" "fine"
"Do you like the kids in your class" "not weally"
"Do you learn anything?" "not weally"
Excellent O....
Jared on the other hand was a bundle of stories....
non-stop stories actually...
that is,
after he made it home.
Jared is walking to middle school this year.
Something to do w/ me not being cool, or him being too cool...
there was some cool-ness factor that I couldn't disrupt...
So he walked to school...
and at 4pm...
he wasn't home,
and i was panicking...
because that's what i do best....
so the littles and i drive around looking for him....
we're not THAT far from the school...
so i go around the block....
i call colin...
i drive to the school finally...
near tears at this point.
and there is my son....
sitting in front of the school.
he "didn't know he was suppose to walk home"
HE DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS SUPPOSE TO WALK HOME?!?!?!?
please....
please...
help me deal w/ this pre-teen boy of mine.
the male mind is sooooo far removed from the way mine thinks...
and at this age...
whoa.
he knew to walk there...but not home.
yeah.
so...
he knows to walk home today :)
we can only hope for the best.
duh.

the best Jared story yesterday by far was the one about the girl in his class named...
Shitoria....
the teacher called her SHI-toria...
and the girl corrected her every time w/ it's "SHIT-oria"....
yeah...
that was my favorite.

(as an aside....at what point did the gym uniforms become stylish? Because frankly....I think it's a right of passage...and ALL middle schoolers should HAVE to wear polyester shorts and dorky gym shirts....Jared's gym uniform....basketball shorts, and a white t-shirt w/ the school mascot on it.....sheeesh.....)

and...
Just to really drive home the fact I have nothing exciting to talk about other than my boys....
Colten was doing homework yesterday...
and was disgusted,
because it involved writing the numbers 1-25 in a grid...
and he thought he was way above writing #1-25...
(which is true...)
so he finishes and I tell him to write his name at the top of his paper...
and w/o blinking he writes the entire thing mirrored.
Now,
we are fairly certain he's dyslexic...
and he's being tested for it...
but that blew me away.
he's always just done a couple letters....
or numbers....
but the entire name.
and he wrote it just as quick as you or i would write our name the "right" way.
I said ...son, that's backwards...
"oh" he says...
erases it, and rewrites it the other way...
as though,
it really didn't matter to him at all one way or another...
because I truly think he can read it either way.....
his mind is soooo unique...
and just incredibly cool to me....
i know that it can be frustrating to him...
so it makes me sad at times....that things will be more difficult then they need to be for him....

Ok, I'm going to work on this today I think.
LOVE those girls...
even though,
I'm fairly certain they hate me...and are completely trying to kick my ass through cyberspace....(they're doing a pretty good job at it actually).....
10 pieces of patterned paper...hmmmm......xe