40 Million Minutes (it's all we have)

Jack has never been a fan of things on his head,
or feet really, but that's not relevant to this story....
So Halloween always consisted of costumes, minus the headwear.....
BuzzLightyear, sans the purple "hat" (ok, and the wings)
Jack just really likes being comfortable... By age three however, being a creative soul, he had to throw comfortable aside, and concern himself with the details of his costume,
For instance....
JangoFett had to have "2 guns Momma, 2 guns"....
and a "jetpack"...
the costumes in the store were so thin and cheaply made (for being fairly spendy)
I don't sew, but figured I'd just fuse some metallic "fabric" to a sweatsuit....
yeah,
so that brilliant idea was really only going to work if I wanted a melted costume,
so it was hand sewn. (obviously, not very well)
The most important jetpack was a box, some funnels, and Styrofoam balls.
It stayed on his back for approximately 4 and a half minutes.
The helmet, even less time.
He was after that referred to by the treat-giver-outters as the "cute little tin girl".
(think wizard of oz)
Also, good to note that trick-or-treating in NC should never involve sweatsuits plastered with thick metallic material....it makes a nice rubber suit. (think varsity wrestler).
He was the cute little dripping with sweat tin girl...

I've left out the pirate, the spider, and the pumpkin. (all worn without the appropriate mask/hat/or headpiece)

Last year was Darth Vader. With voice changer.... It was really all about the voice changer...
That mask stayed on for maybe ten minutes... This year it's a clone trooper. (Star Wars is huge at my house)
And I'm thinking perhaps we've turned over a new leaf...
Jack was pretty excited when he got home from school and discovered his new clone trooper helmet.

I still give it about 15minutes trick-or-treat night.....

Now to make the clone trooper "sweatsuit" costume.
I love Halloween. (and my boys)

Need vs Want

So for the first time in our married life we are officially credit card free.
As in no more credit card debt.
None, nada.
and it's an amazing feeling.

I remember going into grocery stores when Jared was little and hoping that the card I was using wasn't denied. Holding my breath. Waiting for that stupid receipt to start printing.

It's an amazing thing. how little we had to start with.
Two college kids, and a baby.
Working, both of us, going to school, making no money, not seeing one another...
juggling everything.
Since then we've been trying to get our heads above water...
to rid ourselves of the burden of owing someone else money.
Making little steps forward, and then back. Like a somewhat scary dance.

It seems like a little thing. No credit cards.
But no credit cards for us,
it's somewhat of a little victory in the big picture....
but in our picture. it's a big victory.
To not even have a "little" credit card debt.

I'm trying to teach my boys,
to live carefully and mindfully
and within your means.
to try and always be aware of needs vs. wants
to be grateful and appreciative for all you have.
It's a tricky lesson.
but one in this age of excess that is so incredibly important to ingrain in their beautiful brains.
So that they never have to say they're credit card free.
because they'll have never been in debt.
I want them to be happy, not because they have things that make them happy, but because they are happy regardless of things.

3PhotoThursday

Don't call it a comeback....
but Bob is kind of coming back to life.

Happy dance for Bob please.

He just needed a little vacay, little R&R outside....little time away.

Things are looking up now.

I understand Bob. When you're ready I'll bring you back inside, and we will try this again.

*note to self, thank goodness I didn't throw Bob away

And,

good thing I haven't put the baby toys away yet either...

What would Jared play with while watching TV if I did?!?

2:50pm.
My favorite part of the day......

Sweet like Candy

So last night after soccer practice we went to get pizza.
it was Jack's PTA fundraiser night at the pizza place,
the place was packed with teachers and families of students.
We sat down,
and Colten's teacher from last year came over to talk....
when she left,
Cole noticed Jack's teacher from last year was behind us paying,
"OH, there's Mrs. H__ Mom"
as I start to turn around.
Jack announces...loudly.
"Don't turn around Mom, I HATE HER!"

oh yeah,
it was great.

the end.

Tuesday Ten...

Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Jake and Josh, the cast of High School Musical = VMAs?
I must be old because I was thinking Disney channel....

Honest Kids juice boxes and Jack.
"They'd be MUCH better if they weren't organic" (said "Oh-GAN-nic")
"They taste like nasty medicine"....
they aren't THAT bad...and why so opposed to organic Jack? been talking to your dad?!?

Colten being asked to join the "safety team" at his school.
Someone please inform my child that he doesn't get to dawn full on S.W.A.T attire....there will be no rappelling down the side of the building....he will not get to carry a weapon....and he doesn't get to miss class.

Happy = My friend Amy started a blog.
She lives in England now. Her girls grew up with my boys. and I miss her like CRAZY.
I'm hoping she'll let me link her here and then you too can get to know my jack-of-all-trades super-talented friend.

Jack Banana needs this. Coley should probably have this. and Jared is too big... He now has me shopping in dimly lit stores that reek of cologne and are overpriced.

Jared is going to be 14 in 2 weeks. fourteen.

Halloween. I'm so excited. SO excited. Thinking Dog (the bounty hunter) and Beth.

Pumpkin spice lattes are back. Gosh I love Fall.

I have to have surgery on my foot. Feet really. but you don't say feet surgery. right? it's foot surgery. So the doctor was telling me about the sawing and cutting of my bone. (yeah, ewwww...) and then asks if I have any questions.
(I'm assuming he meant regarding the cutting and sawing and pinning of my bone), so I said...
Yes, the nurse scheduled the surgery for October, and we have soccer tournaments all next month....can we make it November instead of October?
Soccer in our house, very important folks. WAY more important than pain.
God, Family, Soccer. in that order.

I love my husband. and our emails:
ordered jareds $100s in goodness. had to pay a butload in shipping to get it here by friday.rock on. xe

what was $100? Thot the package was $55. Oh well. Guess we will have to buy him work clothes someday anyway. Think he is excited about reffing.

extra shirt and shipping. shipping and shirt were about the same price actually ;)
yeah, i think he's excited. he'd be less excited if we made him pay for the ref stuff.

yeah, but we're such great parents. Even if I do swear too much. Everybody has to have one flaw right?

right ;) i love you.

i effin Love you too!

Listen you....

Dear Evansen-
We know you're in the car now, and won't be reading this for a few days....
but we were hoping you could just come back.
We had lots of fun with you.

We'd never really spent much time with a baby before, and you were pretty cool. We really liked watching you....you made us laugh.If you come back we promise we won't make you sit in the grass like our moms did.
Or lay on the grass....(they're so mean)
Or take 3 million photos of you, when clearly you'd rather play ball with us....
We won't growl at you.
or make animal movements in your face.....Ok, we might do that...

We will keep teaching you important things like how to walk and give high-fives.... We will feed you lots of dessert and make you even BIGGER and stronger than you already are....We will let you sit on the table every night at dinner......
and let you pull on our hair....(well, maybe not the hair part, that kind of hurts)
why is that so funny anyway?
we will pat your head....and tell you how cute you are......
and make funny noises with our mouths that make you laugh.
So please come back...
We think our mom may take us out and make us lay on a polka dot blanket for a photo shoot if you don't.
We love you.
Thank you for making the 13 hour car ride to come see us. Love-your cousins.

Sugar and spice

and everything nice.....little girls aren't the only ones.

I want a pet cow....

We live quite close to the university here. So, every time we drive into town.....we pass the ASU Farm Complex. This past spring they had three baby cows. Adorable, sweet, baby cows.
That for some reason I fell in love with....
so every time we passed the farm,
I'd "ahhh" and "oooh" and declare my love for the babies.
I stopped and took their pictures.
I admired their long lashes and their cute ears....
I declared that I could never eat beef again.
(ok, I may have had a filet shortly after this declaration)

About three weeks ago, I noticed I hadn't seen my baby cows for awhile.
I kept my eye out though...
trying to convince myself they were merely hiding in the barn.
Until we passed the other day and my middle son said very proudly
"Mom, I hate to tell you this, but I think the baby cows were slaughtered"

Now every time I drive by instead of "awww's" and "ohhh's" coming from me. I hear "Mooooom......the baby cows got slaughtered...." giggle giggle giggle....

Aren't they sweet? Charming really.

wait...it's Wednesday?!?

What is wrong with me that when I saw this...
all I could think of was Best in Show?!?

[discussing the calendar] "We're not gonna sell, just give it out to friends."
"I think we should try to sell it."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Well, if we could give the money to Shih Tzu rescue."
"They have plenty of money."
"Well so do we."
"What Shih Tzus need rescuing anyway? You don't see Shih Tzus straggling around the streets in an old coat "help, alms for the poor". "
"Like the little match girl. "

There is something seriously wrong with me.....

Also can someone tell me why Mythbusters disproves everything I say?!?
Come on now....
"Coley, scoot back away from the TV, you're sitting too close"....
Jared-"you know mom, Mythbusters disproved that myth. He won't hurt his eyes".
Thanks Mythbusters....very very helpful....

ok, off to my MRI....
LOVE my knee...it's awesome.

My Kid is HUGE.

that's all i have to add today....

No Jellyfish please

birthday wishes
Happy Birthday to Uncle Mike
aka Jack's best friend and Colin's brother-from-another-mother....
your fan club is anxiously awaiting your arrival on Friday.

(Mike please note your birthday mosaic would not have been complete without JerryBrown)

And as an aside, Seriously...how funny is it that Gabby and I are almost 7 years apart, and yet we married guys that are only a year apart?!?

Dorks-R-Us

So, Colin is at work now...
and I've been neglecting my blog... so how about some random thoughts.

Gabby posted this sweet photo on facebook the other day.
insert lots of ooooo's and ahhhhhh's...... aren't they adorable?!?
Yeah they are, I totally nabbed this photo from her. (Hi Gab)

So yesterday we were totally bored,
and being the dork that I am, I told Colin I was going to take some pics of us for our profile.
Trying to be cool and cute like Gab (the vortex) Fekete....

Yeah, let's just say, we are SO not cute and adorable.

we were WAY to lazy to like get on the floor, or pose....or anything mildly helpful like that...
and
soccer was on. I should have known better than to TRY
We amused ourselves tremendously though, and that should count for something.
(read that I amused myself tremendously)

Things I've learned this week:

The sight of blood can make Jack throw up. Good to know.
(I had a bloody nose, dealing with a bloody nose and a gagging child, not the best combo)

Jack wants to play golf. REAL golf with his dad.

Jack wants to try a grapefruit, and he likes peaches. (Jack HATES vegetables, and fruit, how I failed him in this regard....I have no idea....more on that in another post)

Colten has football practice tonight. This is the beginning of the end of free time in the evenings for us...but I like it.

We are having fajitas tonight...and I'm really kind of stoked about it.
Homemade guacamole, oooh I can not wait... good food makes me happy.

2 weeks of school done and over.
I still hate 6:30am.
and packing lunches.
Why is it when they go off to school do i feel like they need a 5 course meal?
in the summer they run in, grab a sandwich and run back outside.
Now I'm trying to make sure they have veggies, and fruit, and nothing processed.
why? I don't know...Madness.
School though, so far, has been great. Thankfully.

We've been REALLY lazy this weekend. Watched a ton of movies.
("It's not called Gym-NICE-tics")

Season 4 of the Office is out tomorrow. (YAY!)

...and....
we are really SUPER excited that one tiny small monkey is coming to visit us next weekend. And FINALLY the boys will get to meet that cousin of theirs....
(Stole that pic too Gabby)
We are also pretty darn excited to see Ev's folks too. No visitors all summer, and then family after family....LOVE it.

My kids are awed that some kids (like all the kids here) live near their grandparents and aunts and uncles...."isn't that CRAZY MOM?!?!"

126

how did it get to be wednesday already? hmmm.....

nice visit this weekend with my parents.
they made the very un-scenic car trip out this way.
flat land
flat land
more flat land
billboard
billboard...
yeah, really beautiful.
the boys got spoiled, my mom tried out guitar hero and we all had fun checking out beale street in memphis. (apparently the police officers in memphis are really friendly.
no, jack doesn't normally wear socks with sandals, but we were trying on school shoes. yes, jared is dressed for p.diddy's white party....and yes, both colten and jared think they look really cool in sunglasses.)
I forgot my camera in typical e fashion.
thankfully my dad had his.

let's see, what else...
had a doctor's appointment yesterday for my whoops-i-haven't-had-a-physical-in-five-years checkup. just tons of fun.
i think i remember why i hate going to the doctor again.
some highlights (because clearly I have nothing exciting to talk about today):

he asked me one of my all time favorite questions....
"So, are you going to try for a girl?"
Et tu, Brute?
sigh....
such a tacky annoying question.
how about "Are you having anymore children?"...

he gave me a print out for the DASH diet (e's blood pressure a little on the high-ish side)
which said, and I quote....
"Eat 1/4 cup of dried apricots instead of a 2 ounce bag of pork rinds. You'll save 230 calories."
umm, last I checked I have never eaten a pork rind, but thank you for your helpful words of wisdom. consider that 230 calories saved....
very helpful...
not.
my blood pressure has been a bit high since we lived in Fayetteville, which was 3 moves or so ago....the doctor there said I should do "yoga breathing".
which when you are chasing small children around is extremely helpful advice.
so I'll just try to practice more yoga while refraining from pork rinds.
it's a wonder why I didn't get my medical degree... seems to me like it's kind of like being a weatherman....

also....
the blood test I want them to run will cost me $500+ out of pocket,
but i could have had a EKG for free (as part of my physical)....
and folks wonder what is wrong with our health care system?!?
nice.
no blood test for me,
and no EKG.
it's actually insurance I should be venting about.....
but I choose to vent about it as a whole.

"how was your day today Jack?"
"It was school Mom"
"well, what did you learn then? anything new?"
"Umm, pretty much just stuff I already know"

Wait....I can't sleep in anymore?!? Waaaa....

How many guys does it take to move a sofa?!?....
it actually just took 2,
one to stare at the very large sofa,
and the other to debate how to get it through the not so big door hole....
ok,
and one momma to yell
"Watch the woodwork!"
"Ahhh, that's not a good noise!"
"Wha...the?!? WELL, you got it in there, it HAS to come back through"
(in theory)
easier said then done.... that's the last photo I got before I got reprimanded for taking photos during such a serious situation...
yeah.
thankfully Jared was helping, so after a loooong time,
he figured it out.
THANK goodness.
please ignore the laundry basket,
i was attempting to put laundry away...but couldn't get through the doorway....
there was a big black sofa in the way.
it's in the garage now....hopefully I don't change my mind again....
(kidding Col, kidding)

and looky what found a home in the tv hole.....
a TV! brilliant, huh?!? happy anniversary to us.
the Olympics look even better now....so exciting.
(and of course Jake Ryan always looks good.....hi Jake)

my boys started school today.
I miss them already....
here is Coley at 7am.
he's not throwing gang signs, he's just showing me the grade he's going into....
what might you ask is my darling boy wearing? while some might pick out something new or nice the first day....my child picks out his wrestling t-shirt so "everyone knows not to mess with me". Lovely. and so Colten. In his defense the 5th and 6th graders at his new school are pretty big.

and look at this handsome guy....who was sweet enough to not ride to school with his buddys in order to accompany his little brother on the bus.....(thank you Jared)
5'11" according to the doctor. that is tall. wonder how tall he'll be at the end of 8th grade?!?!

this is "put your arms around each other and show me how much you love each other".....
or not...and my tiny little baby. (who was happy that he was only just waking up as the bigs were leaving)2nd grade?!?! oooh my.
hopefully his "froat" is doing ok. no recess or gym this week....doctors orders.
unfortunately i think those are his favorite "classes".

Pass the tylenol with codeine please

My morning started off like this....

a worrisome email from someone I love...
followed by Jack throwing up blood...
quite a bit of it....
an emergency trip to the surgeon's office....
then walgreens...
and now home.
i have not had nearly enough coffee to deal with any of this....
(blood is not my thing)
so i'm going to go retreat to my couch now
to drink possibly the entire pot of coffee while finishing up breaking dawn....
while i wait for the roofer to come,
so i can give him 5 of my hundred dollars
to fix my shingles that are happily sliding off my roof.
(what is that about really?!?)

oh dear.

(jack is ok. i just have to keep an eye on him. scared the momma though something fierce)

"See ya mom, we've gotta bounce"....

my rockstar life is almost over...
school starts next week.
boo-hiss-boo....

it's almost noon.
i'm still in my pjs drinking coffee and eating monkey munch.
the big boys are outside playing...
they'll be in soon i'm sure for a quick lunch and then i'll probably not see them until dinner.
they spend their days playing kickball, capture the flag, basketball, football, soccer, baseball...
you get the idea...
really just the way summer days should be.
totally unstructured...

jack is doing ok.
he is in a lot of pain, and doesn't want to really eat much.
which if you know jack is unheard of.
so i'm pushing drinks...
vitamin water seems to be ok.
i can't wait until he's back to his old self... and he cannot wait to get back outside.
poor guy.

And because my mind has been lazy this week...
more lazy than even normal, if one can believe it....
a bit of fun from my friend Christy's blog.
(I've finally been catching up on the blog world....)

LIFE QUESTIONS

Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the 'X' from the ones you have not. This is for your entire life!

1. Gone on a blind date X2. Skipped school X
3. Watched someone die X
4. Been to Mexico X
5. Been to Canada X6. Been to Florida X7. Been on a plane X
8. Been lost X9. Been on the opposite side of the country X10. Gone to Washington , DC X11. Taken a long drive with the one you love X12. Swam in the ocean X
13. Cried yourself to sleep X
14. Played cops and robber
15. Recently colored with crayons X
16. Sang Karaoke
17. Paid for a meal with coins only
18. Own a GPS (I need this though, see #8)19. Done something you told yourself you wouldn't X
20. Made prank phone calls (before caller ID) X21. Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose X22. Caught a snowflake on your tongue X
23. Danced in the rain
24. Written a letter to Santa Claus X25. Been kissed under the mistletoe
26. Watched the sunrise with someone you care about X27. Been on vacation with your bf/gf/spouse X
28. Blown bubbles X29. Gone ice-skating X
30. Been skinny dipping outdoors X
1. Any nicknames? E....not much else you can do w/ erika. colin calls me girlfriend. My boys on the other hand each have dozens of nicknames, i think it's a sign of love...
2. Mother's Name: Lana, technically Lana Dee....
3. Favorite drink? Good ol' H2o - ditto Christy. water makes me happy.
4. Tattoos? not yet...
5. Body Piercings? ears as of now....
6. How much do you love your job? A LOT! I'm a SAHM - ditto Christy again. BEST job in the world...
7. Birthplace? Saratoga Springs, NY
8. Favorite vacation spot? that would imply vacationing, and we rarely do this. i'd vote someplace beachy though...
9. Ever been to Africa? no
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? no
11. Ever been on TV? yes, for prom. (i'm not in the movie, but the movie is about Racine's prom) 12. Ever steal any traffic sign? no
13. Ever been in a car accident? multiple times before turning 20.
14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door big gas guzzling truck (that sadly i love)
15. Favorite salad dressing? ranch or balsamic
16. Favorite pie? any
17. Favorite number? 3
18. Favorite movie? which ever one made me laugh last....
19. Favorite holiday? halloween
20. Favorite dessert? yes. i mean all of them. currently chocolate chip ice cream w/ strawberries....naughty.
21. Favorite food? mexican, any of it.
22. Favorite day of the week? saturday
23. Favorite brand of body wash? soap...dove.
24. Favorite smell? lots. Spring air, vanilla, lilacs, coffee, bookstores...
25. What do you do to relax? i read, or watch mindless tv.

Tonsils are for Suckers

Jack spend most of the afternoon trying to sleep off the morning....
with a little ice pack on his neck. poor guy.
He did great. he burst into tears when he saw me in recovery..."I wanna to go home"...
Home is good.
it's the place to be really....
mommy's comfy bed...
lots of pillows...
old baby...
pudding pops, jello, sprite, bomb pops, and ice cream....
much better than that hospital that gives you "goofy juice",
that makes you roar at your mom and dad....
and talk about "ambushes"...
yeah, much better.
(although, I'll admit that was pretty funny)
Colin ended up getting to go.
and only laughed at me a few times.
and only fell asleep in the waiting room a few more times.
Thanks for your sweet words...sorry I am such a dork.
but man, am I glad this day is over!
Whew.

Thankfully Minor...

So my baby....who I do realize isn't a baby anymore....
is having surgery tomorrow.
Just having his tonsils out.
Which I realize is no big deal....
I know it's done all the time.
It's completely routine.
It's incredibly minor.
BUT it's my baby.
and he's going under anesthesia,
and none of my babies have had to do that...
so, I'm a little nervous.
(Ok, I'm a lot nervous)
Colin has this huge audit at work this week, so he probably won't be there.
and he's my calm, reassurance to my very hypochondriac prone mind.
So if you don't mind,
a little prayer that everything will go smoothly...
would be so greatly appreciated from this silly momma.
thank you.

Boring Monday

Jack's date night was this weekend.
he decided on bowling and icecream.
actually Jack will probably always pick bowling.
he really loves bowling.
horrible photos in a dark bowling alley, but proof that sometimes it is just important to record the event and the emotion. technical photography out the window.
and personally i love the jack mid-air.... makes me laugh.proof that date-nights pretty much rock. this smile...
Good weekend.
with the exception of my husband having to work both days.
not for long, but still....
and an annoying email received on friday.
that made me want to write an angry blog post,
but "luckily" sitemeter killed my blog,
and made posting impossible.
so no angry post.
which may have been in the form of a haiku just for kicks.
angry haiku.
hmm.
probably for the better.
the haiku, not the sitemeter. i liked the sitemeter. i was sad to see it go.

and just because
why children should not have cell phones part 2.

"Mom, do you know where my cell phone is?"
"No Colten"
"Mom, really... do you know where my cell phone is?"
"No Colten"
"UGH! JACK do you know where my cell phone is?"
"No"
"JARED! do you know where my cell phone is?"
"Why would i know where your cell phone was?"
"UGH! I'm going BACK outside to look for my cell phone!"
...
repeat a few times a day.
...
repeat several times a week.
...

why does he have a cell phone if it's so annoying you might ask?
you might remember me venting about children and cell phones in previous posts, and then actually getting number one a cell phone.
so the most obvious answer to that question is that i'm a hypocrite.
i do have some valid reasons however.
one being that jared frequently gets left at practice usually so i can get someone else to a practice,
sometimes he gets left with a younger sibling. i feel like if something happened to one of them, the cell is the quickest way for them to let me know.
colten would not have a cell phone, but when we moved here colin got a new cell phone at work, and didn't need two...colten jumped at the opportunity.
I rationalized it with the fact he will be riding the bus this year.
AND because we move so much i don't have "emergency contacts" none. nada. no friends.
so we are it.
and if i need to get a hold of my children, well, a cell phone seems to work best.
it still doesn't make me not think it's an excess that kids don't really need....
and it really doesn't take away from the fact that my kid can not use the darn thing.
but, at the current given moment, it's a necessary evil.
someday when i'm back living in a quaint little town like oskaloosa iowa again.
where everyone knows everyone, and things are simple maybe i'll take them away?!?
nah, that would probably be cruel....