A Week In the Life Day 2 - Tuesday

If I had to sum Tuesday up in one photo... the photo above would be the one I'd choose.
What is that?
THAT is the handle from my microwave.Jared would have you believe his brute strength was to blame.
I know better, and the handle was close to coming off...J just yanked too hard.
It gets better...
While I'm on the phone with Colin telling him about the microwave now being a huge selling point in our kitchen...
I finished mixing Jared and Jack's oatmeal...
Jared took the bowls to the table,
and inadvertently scooted the bowl to an already whiny Jack a bit too hard
causing some milk spill out on the table and on Jack's arm.
Jack, apparently offended by this, reached over and dumped Jared's oatmeal in his lap.
(I know, right?)
Jared outraged by this
picks his brother up...
and throws him on the floor.
This was not well received by Jack....That was the first 30minutes I was awake.
Some mornings are like that I guess....
In a less extreme way.

SO excited I'm documenting THIS week.
(said with oh so much sarcasm)

Took the hoodlums to school...
Came home to see that Jared had at least put the oatmeal soaked clothes on the washer
and not on the carpet in his room,
where I assumed I'd find them.
Small things make me smile.Day 2 of rain.
Dark. Gray. Days.
Makes my house feel like a cave. Kid you not.
(And for the record...Tara, I need you to come teach me to shoot in horribly dark indoor light...because clearly, I. do. not. know. how. Please excuse the crappy photos. Oh, and in RAW too...I mean while you're here and all. Ha.)From about 9am-2pm. I had a computer induced nervous breakdown.
(Yes. My hair is in fact a hot mess)

And I ate lots of these...Because I'd like to gain the 18lbs I've lost back.
In one day.
Cranberry Raisinets. OH. SO. GOOD.
(Although I'm not sure why they're called Raisinets. They aren't raisins, they're cranberries....they should be cranberrets)
And the rain rain rain came down down down....and made my house even darker.
Colten "Mom, one time today between one time and another time it was POURING!"
One time between one time and another time...?!?
Excellent.I love seeing Old Baby laying around...
I get a small glimpse of babyhood.

Picked my three up from school, took them home, made a grocery list and went to the store.
(Something I had intended on doing during the day...one of many things I intended on doing)I couldn't find paper. Yes. I used a Dwight notepad. I also used that pad to write a note to Colten's teacher today. Pretty impressive, huh?

Soccer cancelled.
Cincinnati chili for dinner....
perfect night for it.
Delicious.

By far my favorite quote from the day.
Jack "Mom! Did you shine my sheep yet?"
I looked at Colin...."Did I shine your sheep?!?"
"Nooooo.....SHIiiiiiNE my SHEeeeeeET"
"Oh, SIGN your SHEET? For school?"
"Yes."
Expanders = Sometimes amusing.

We are currently still reading The Lightning Thief.
The boys LOVE this book.
Ok, I won't lie...I'm enjoying it too.Top Chef on the dvr.
Son's of Anarchy.
and then Bedtime.
xoxox

Monday on Tuesday (A Week In the Life Day 1)

I apologize to my 3 readers for the ridiculously late post...
my computer thought photos were unnecessary this morning.
We fought,
I eventually won.
but it was quite the battle....

Weekdays I get up at 6:50am.
Monday, like every morning, started with my good friend Keurig...
I love him.
He makes me coffee.
(and yes. I really do use that Nestle cup...everyday...I wasn't advertising)
Then I wake the big... Then the littles...
Jack sleeps all cocooned like that in his quilt.Colten not so much. Jared normally grabs dry cereal, and heads to facebook...
he has to update his status to something witty like...
"going to school soon"Colten had a fever of 102.3 Sunday and while fever free and on antibiotics he earned a day home. He thought that day home should include sprite for breakfast.Jack is not a morning person.Really, not so much at all... Hot wheel races at breakfast...We leave at 7:30am for school.

Radio stations here are pretty horrid. Sometimes I listen to a Memphis station.
I guess they have a morning show...and they were talking about handwashing because of the flu. (which is in full effect here, like most of the US I think) Then the radio host says "I don't normally wash my hands a lot...I am now, but not normally....because first of all, I don't pee on my hands, and second I have a very clean penis."
Alrighty then. Lots of giggling in the car.
I told them to wash their hands and then put Kings of Leon on...which I should have done to start out with.

Colten and Jack get dropped off first.
(Just Jack today)
Then Jared...
we sometimes are lucky enough to catch the train...
which makes him late.So annoying...and yes, I xxxx'd the name of the district out.
Yeah, now I'm concerned about such things?!? Not sure why...but lets keep that secret.
Coley took that one of Jared getting out of the truck....hair flowing... lovely. Ha.
We got home and Colten milked "I'm sick" for about 25minutes and then...
Declared the need for chicken noodle soup.
In fact when he started singing
"Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
Wit A Soda On The Side"
I knew he was fine.
If you don't know that song...I envy you. I kept him company at the table while he ate...can you see how much he cared about that?
Hey Coley....how's it going? Hows that tv show you're watching?Pretty funny, eh?
And please note...
he used his sleeve as a napkin while I was sitting there watching him.
So awesome.

Then he stole my computer for the rest of the day.
Whatever dude.

3 things I always have in the center console...purell, my phone and water.
Colten's shot....
He said he wanted to show everyone "Arkansas"... There are a lot of farms here I guess.
(rainy rainy day!)

I also knew he was completely well when we got home and he needed a cookie...
and posed like this with it....and sang "C is for Colten"....
all better.
and amusing.

At 3pm the little boys get out of school. I leave around 2:30 to get in the pick-up line.
OH the joy of the pick-up line...I can't even put it into words. Good times people. Good times.
I am not too proud to show you what I do as I wait....Yes, I am a huge dork.
A huge dork that loves sudoku. Jack always saves something from his lunch for the car, because Jared doesn't get done until 3:20.
We head over to wait in pick-up line #2, and Jack eats. Here he is picking food out of his expander. Charming...
They usually have snacks when we get home. Jared's snack is usually....cold cereal.
I'm not sure if teenage boys could survive without cereal.

Jack went out to play with our neighbor. Colten declared it completely unfair I wouldn't let him go out.
Hello?!? Sick day?!?

Then Jack came in to get ready for soccer, and somehow everyone ended up with balloons...
I believe in some sort of conspiracy to make me insane.They are boys...they don't blow them up and tie them....
nooooo....
they blow them up and let them go....
or blow them up and make that horrible noise with them...
repeatedly. 5:30 soccer practice.
"Take a picture of the emergency ponchos" says my husband. harharhar...
FINE.It rained at the end of the RedBirds game a few weeks ago. REALLY rained.
However, by the time we left, apparently, it had stopped completely.
I did not know this small detail.
I also didn't realize we were parked within steps of the field.
When we got to Memphis we parked and then walked around...
and I'm slightly extremely directionally impaired.
So as we were leaving I whipped out the emergency ponchos I had stored in my bag...and made the boys put them on...I also donned the attractive poncho....and ignored my husband who kept asking what I was doing....and no he did not want a rain poncho.
ummm....
I still have the dry, slightly used ponchos in the truck.
In case it actually rains and we need them.
And yes, I've taken quite a bit of abuse from my husband over this.
Hence the "take a photo...."
blahblah...
Jerk.
I didn't want my camera to get wet...

anyway....
Here I am at Colten's practice...
Wait a minute....
Sick day?
No going outside?
What's going on e? You let him go to soccer practice?
Yes ...yes I did.
I am a huge contradiction to what I believe....
let's ignore this incident shall we?
and focus on my house shoes. I was trying to take a photo without actually looking through the viewfinder...
just sort of hold the camera out and snap.
why?
because I soooo didn't want to be that mom at the first practice
when I don't know anyone
taking photos of my feet.
I'd clearly rather be the one that sends their too-sick-to-go-to-school kid to soccer practice...
Note the lights. It's now 7:30, and it's getting dark. Still practicing.

I made dinner earlier in the day, and Jared stayed home so he put it in the oven and we had dinner waiting when we got home.
Ahhh... the joy of having a teenager.
After dinner...showers...jammies...dessert? yes I caved....flashcards....
Colten is hiding from me because he is only wearing boxers. Like 75% of the time he's at home.

Jack getting his hair dried. I made Colin do it because I was trying to get the stupid flash cards done....Colin HATES drying Jack's hair. Jack hates having him dry it...
Fun was had.We normally read before bed, but it was 9.
and the rule is if they're not in bed at 8, no story.
Sad, but they need their sleep....and I need some time with my non-poncho-wearing-man.

Last shot before lights out...
Jack wanted me to take one of Old Baby.
Old Baby (Jack's blanket) has seen better days and is full of holes....
Jack likes to sleep with him literally wrapped around his neck.
This causes his mother to hyperventilate....
and come back in after they're asleep to remove Old Baby from Jack's bed.
Jack is not a fan of this.
"Mom. I'll just put him on my belly....he can't strangle my belly. GOSH"
Colin and I watched some tv.
I went back in to remove Old Baby...and to catch Jared texting still at 10:30....
and then it was bedtime.

Sorry this was SO long...
The good news is tomorrows post will be approximately 3 photos
because I spent my WHOLE day posting this....
holy heck.
Happy Monday.
Which is really Tuesday.
and still rainy...

When I placed the tiny dinosaur on the shelf next to godzilla,
I had no idea the terror that was in store for the dino...
The scene I discovered this week.
Tiny dino being held over the shelf ledge.
Poor tiny dino.
Life with boys....

My friend Tara and I are planning to start Ali Edward's a-week-in-the-life project tomorrow.
I'm really sad we didn't start Friday so you could have followed my last few days...
Friday soccer practice for Coley 4:30-straight to- Soccer for Jack 6pm -straight to-Baseball tourney for Jack 7:15pm -which started late so- home at 10:30, dinner (sad, I know), showers, and laundry....bed 1am-ish.
Saturday alarm 7:20am -to Target at 8 for Gatorade and Starbucks- off to Jack's first soccer game be there at 8:30 -straight to- Colten's soccer practice at 10am- dropped him off and went home to change Jack from soccer uniform to baseball -then to pick up subs- picked up Coley at noon- straight to- Jack's baseball game at 12:15 -straight to- guitar lessons for the Js at 3 and 3:30 (Colten, Colin and I went to the movie store during lessons) -straight back to- the ballfield for Jack's 5 o'clock game (had to be there at 4:30 -straight to- drop Jared off for his movie date -the remaining four went straight to fill our tummys with BBQ....and then at 8:30....
HOME.
It was a whirlwind few days....
riveting I know...
or not so much.
If you want to see a lot of soccer and baseball photos....
This will be the place to be next week.

Basically you just photograph your day, and narrate it for 7days straight...
and then Tara has made me agree to scrap it.
(unlike last year)

It would be lovely if you want to join in.
It is actually kind of cool to look back at your week.
To see what's similar, and what has changed. I wish I'd started when my boys were tiny.

Maybe Mike could hijack Gabby's blog and do a week-in-the-life-of-Mike-and-Ev?!?
(genius idea e)

I'd love to know if you're doing it too...so be sure to let me know.
And please don't die from boredom if my week looks similar to my weekend...
xoxoxo

Miracle [mir-uh-kuhl] –noun

• an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.
• such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.
• a wonder; marvel.
• a wonderful or surpassing example of some quality.
• One that excites admiring awe.

Colten was on facebook the other night.
I happened to walk by and notice he had a friend named Mbeezy Fosheezy.
This concerned me, obviously...
For starters the rule is he can't add anyone on facebook without my permission.
And Mbeezy Fosheezy?!?
What the heck is my child thinking?!?....

"Um...you have a friend name Mbeezy Fosheezy?"

"OH ...yeah...that's just Miracle"
(Yes, he has a good friend named Miracle...go with it)
"For some reason facebook wouldn't let him use his real name?! I'm not sure why."

I think I might know.
The good folks at facebook might not realize his real name is actually
Miracle Bush.
Fosheezy.

Slippers Mayhaps?

Yesterday:
I put my moccasins on and got ready to take the boys to school.
Cole "umm....Nice shoes mom"
"Thanks Cole"
"What are those house shoes?" (because apparently he's become my grandmother)
"No, just moccasins...they're shoes."
"You're wearing them out of the house?"
"Yes"
"Hmm...I think they're much better as house shoes."

Sigh...I love that child.

Check ups went well yesterday.
Except the nurse told Jared he's 6'3" (he's not)
and now he's convinced he's about 3" taller than he really is...
and I can not convince him otherwise.
Also the doctor wasn't really thrilled with my view on vaccinations,
not that I was expecting anything less...
But that's always fun.

Ok. I'm off to clean, and make some apple crisp.
yummmm....
I'm pretending it's fall.
In the air conditioning...I'm pretending.

9

9 things on 9/9/09

1. I'm taking the boys for their well-check ups today.
Please place your bets now on how many of us will become sick after the WELL check-up.

2. This morning as we were getting shoes on to leave for school, out of the blue, Cole says
"So, have you decided what you're naming your next baby yet?"
"Who said I'm having another baby?"
"I did. You better pick a name."
Excellent.

3. Colten learning math facts is going to be a whole lotta frustration in the coming months I sense. Multiplication seems to be going ok....division....not so much.
We do flashcards every night for "homework"...and when I ask him a division question...
he just guesses....
"5?"...
"7?"....
"9?"....
eventually from the other room you hear
"ITS 8...I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" from Jared.
Brotherly love is not so much in full effect when it comes to math facts.

4. Jared's birthday is coming up. (15, holy cow...but we won't dwell on that right now)
He has kindly asked for a few items.
A laptop.
and an IPOD touch.
Yeah, no.
I keep asking if he'd actually like anything for his birthday....and he repeats those two items.
Finally I told him I was getting him water.
I explained when he says "laptop" I hear "water"..."IPOD" = "water"
I am actually going to wrap up water bottles at this point, because it's gone on for a few weeks now...
and I will at least laugh.
I'm still not sure what I'm getting for his "real" present.

5. Jack is getting much better at speaking and eating. We are all so happy.
There was also not a lot of brotherly love shown over the expander situation.
Colten "Jack try to talk normal please...you sound retarded, and you're embarrassing me"
Jared "What? What are you saying Jack? Mom, I can't understand him, can someone please teach the kid sign language or something?!"
We've come a long way...
Thank goodness.

6. Soccer is starting.
Which means my blood pressure is on it's way up....
err...no I mean, we are all terribly excited.
The way it's organized here is absurd.
The little boys have to play on rec teams, and travel teams, they can't just play club.
Which means my three kids are on five teams.
And because soccer is such a joke here,
Colten is actually practicing with a U-12 club team from a different city.
So technically is 6 teams.
If you're counting.
and a partridge in a pear tree.
Oh. And Jack is playing fallball. (baseball)
Rock on.

7. There was a shooting across the street from Jared's school on Friday.
Scary, huh. Literally a few steps away. Please note I drive down those questionably safe side roads with the littles in the truck to pick up number one son.
30 minutes prior to me driving down said roads 2 people were shot.
Drugs.
Not cool people.
Not cool.

8. I think I want to document a week-in-the-life again.
Although I never scrapped the one I did last year....sooooooo.....hmmmm......

9. My husband is coaching Jack's 2 soccer teams.
This is a total win/win for me, because all summer he said he was going to go in early
(which he did) and come home early (which he SO did NOT)...
so instead of 6am-6:30pm. My husband got home at 5pm yesterday!
Whoa.
There might be something redeeming to be found in soccer here after all.....
Always look for the bright side I say....

That's all for today because it's not 10 on 9/9/09,
or 11 on 9/9/09 because that wouldn't be nearly as cool.

My computer is working sporadically again....so hopefully I'll be back tomorrow.

the BIG game

All week long Jack talked about "the big game"...
he could hardly wait.

Saturday was that game.
We had known about it since May, and it was finally here.

The RedBirds in Memphis.
Not just any RedBirds game mind you...
the game that his team was going to get to go out on the field with the players
for the National Anthem.

He brought his baseball for autographs...
his glove for foul balls...
and his HUGE excited smile...
....

"Did you get lots of money for snacks and a foam finger?!?"

He wanted to get to go out on the field with the first baseman.
and that's just who he got to go out with...
excited. he said "I just HAD to touch the base mom, I just HAD to" as he ran back from the field.
excited.He wanted cotton candy, a hotdog and coke.
excited.

Of course his excitement was contagious...
and
we had the best day.

this morning:

Cole "MOM! Jack has something in his hair! It's gross...I don't know what it is, but it's GROSS!"
Me "It's fine. You'll have that with long hair."
Cole "Not with a BOY haircut like mine."
Jack "So are you calling me a girl?"
Cole "I'm saying you have girl hair"
Jack "Ummm...Beckham had THIS haircut. Are you calling Beckham a girl? We both have haircuts that Beckham had."
Cole "Well, maybe Beckham cut his hair because he didn't want to look like a girl anymore."...

jack benjamin blaise

blurry early morning snap of the jack.

all week he has been making this face.
and I have asked
"what's in your mouth banana?"
"nofing"
"hey...what are you chewing on?"
"nofing"
come to find out
he has just been puffing his cheeks up
so the metal in his mouth doesn't rub on his cheeks.

jack banana?
or is it jack blowfish?
we are really not sure...

Fretty Funny to Me.

and probably only hysterically funny to me:

I'm notorious for using the wrong words,
or mixing words up,
or saying words wrong...
or even phrases...
where I get the key word mixed up.
I do.
Constantly.
My husband always finds humor in this.
And he corrects me.
(after he makes me repeat it the wrong way of course)
Verbatim would be a recent one.
I'm not sure how it came out...but it definitely wasn't right.
(It's mildly endearing though, right babe?!?)

Colin however has an extensive vocabulary...
and doesn't get hung up on silly things,
like speaking correctly.

sooo.
last night.
We're watching Design Star and they were in the process of buying
the world's ugliest and most expensive pergola.
Colin says "I don't understand why they don't just build a fergola?!"
My ears perk.
Of course I think he's just messing around
until a minute later...
when...
"Why aren't they just building a fergola?"
ummm.....
So I say "It's pergola NOT fergola."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely"...
Colin gets up
and goes to the computer...
(because please note that he still doesn't believe me)
and searches pergola/fergola.

but I already know...
that in 16 years...
THIS moment is probably the one time in my life...
that I will ever get a word right over him.
It is a proud moment for me folks.

From the computer I hear
"Well, I guess you'll blog about this tomorrow"

Heck yes I will....

Fergola?
Seriously?!?

ok.
Maybe I'm still laughing.
Maybe I told the boys this story in the truck on the way to school this morning,
and maybe they didn't quite see the humor in it.
Maybe I'm blogging about so that years from now,
I can laugh about it all over again.

You can just completely ignore this post...
but I must say...
It's so much funnier when it's not me.
And it's SO funny when it's Colin.
Oh fergola I love you.