Day After Day

I'm in a rut again as far as inspiration for my blog goes. I've spent the last few mornings at either the dentist or the eye doctor or storytime. It really doesn't make for exciting blogs. Hey everybody! I'm having a wisdom tooth pulled next week! Listen up! I got some kickass new glasses! See, not exciting at all, even with added exclamation marks.

I wonder how all those daily talk show hosts come up with enough material day in and day out. I guess that's probably why so much crap that isn't news turns into news. Maybe I should change the name of my blog to Crap That Shouldn't Be News but is on a Slow Day.

The good thing about a boring life is that it's enjoyable for what it lacks: drama, illness, jail time, etc.

Potty Mouth

I would like to start this entry with a short recap of our day: breakfast with Cody and Kim Meyer, trip to Sam's Club (kill me now), walk to the gas station for ice, farmer's market brats for supper, and a glass of wine on the deck. And I took a little nap. Good day.

Today was also a doozy for Evelyn. I don't know what's gotten into her today, but she has been swearing like this is a rated R movie. Colby swears a lot in front of the kids. I curse, as well, but I'm much more reserved with my choice of four letter words. Here are a few examples of today's quotes:

Colby: Stop fighting with your sister. Go ride your damn scooter.
Evie (to Colby): Go ride your damn bike.

Dade to Colby as Colby enjoys a cigar on the deck: Stop smoking newspaper.
Evie to Colby shortly thereafter: Stop smoking fucking newspaper.

No joke. . . She dropped the F Bomb. I almost choked on my white zin. I was laughing so hard I almost puked. Whenever the kids use inappropriate language, we always say, "That's a grown-up word. Please choose another word." Evelyn still lets one slip every now and then, obviously.

Finally, I must share one last little gem form Evie today. Colby and I sat on the deck this evening, he with his cigar and beer and I with my wine. Evie says, "Daddy, you won the beer and cigaring. Mommy, you won the wine." "And," Colby says, "what did you win Evelyn?" She thinks for a moment and says, "Um, I won crazy!" Yes, you did.

A Trip to the Farmer's Market

In an attempt to buy more locally grown food, we headed off to the downtown farmer's market this morning. It was bustling with people, strollers, vendors, and musicians. We danced to a polka band, sampled lots of goodies, and saw a few friends. I picked out some beautiful white radishes and a bundle of asparagus. Evelyn eyed cupcakes. Colby chose bratwurst. Dade got a huge bag of kettle popcorn. We also got a few loaves of bread and some goat cheese spread to go along.

The morning was sunny, hot, and humid, but no one at the farmer's market seemed to notice. Evelyn was enthralled with all the hustle and bustle, and we thought she might wander off chasing after another child or a pretty butterfly. I saw the most beautiful peonies ever, but I came home without them. I'd much rather see them growing in my yard on a bush than in a vase on the table. I guess that could be the inspiration for my next yard project: peonies.

So with my stomach full of Navajo taco and cupcake, I will retreat to the air-conditioned living room for a little rest. You know me. I hate the heat.

Free Speech Not for Sale at Wal-Mart

This morning I read in the newspaper (words printed onto carefully folded paper and dropped off at the front door), that the alternative rock band Green Day has a beef with Wal-Mart. Don't we all??? Green Day's problem is this: the world's largest retailer will not sell the band's latest c.d unless it is "cleaned" up for swearing and adult content. The retailer has for years only sold albums that have been edited in order to make them more "family friendly." Green Day has decided that the content of their songs is the expression of their art and emotions and will not edit said content. As such, Wal-Mart will not carry the album.

I'm not sure what exactly Wal-Mart chooses as explicit content. It may not be the same as what I would define as explicit. I think I should have the right to determine what is "family friendly" for my family. If Wal-Mart really wanted to protect families, they might consider paying a decent wage and providing reasonable health insurance.

Just one more reason why Wal-Mart can kiss my (edited for content).

Scentsy

About a month or so ago, I was invited to attend a Scentsy party at a friend's house. The consultant was an old friend from high school affectionately known to me as Oats and Buns. When I found out my order was in, I rushed over to Ashlee's to pick it up. Our kids had fun playing together, if you don't count Soren trying to pick Ashlee's baby girl up by the neck repeatedly. As soon as I was home, I opened up my package: a wax "burner" that heats using a light bulb, kind of like an Easybake Oven. I also got some yummy smelling wax. I bought this lovely burner to match the red, white, and blue Americana-themed kitchen that my husband will graciously be painting soon. I keep putting up all of the accessories in the hopes that this will make the matching paint magically appear.

Check Out This Book

Today I also want to share with you the children's book called Uncle Bobby's Wedding. We checked it out from the library and read it today. It tells the story of a little girl whose uncle Bobby is getting married - to a man. I love non-traditional children's books, and this one fits the bill. What I like about it is that I can expose my kids to unconventional ideas of love and marriage so that by the time they grow up the ideas aren't unconventional anymore. Evelyn didn't even mention that it was two guys getting married, although I do think that Brody might when we read it together.

Cookie Starts With C

Brody and I went on an IGA (our neighborhood grocery store) run yesterday. We had a few requests: ice, candy, beer, and butterscotch pudding. I'll let you all decide who requested what. Anyway, while we were picking up the pudding, something caught my eyes: chocolate caramel coconut cookies. Could it be??? Could it be those Girl Scout Samoas in store-brand form?? I had to buy them, and I wondered how I had missed them before. After a scientific study (cookies purchased at 1pm and devoured by 6 pm), we decided that not only were these cookies of similar breed to the Girl Scout ones, these were actually tastier and much cheaper at only about $2 per box.

Leave it to me to write an entire blog entry about cookies.

Introducing Our New Backyard

We have a whole pallet of sod left, but I don't care because I have a yard now. Colby and my brother Alex worked in the yard while I was working at the garage sale with Soren. I wanted to share with you the before and after photos. Actually, the before photo I've posted was taken after the tilling under of the mess of weeds. Tomorrow we hope to patch some icky spots in the front yard with the sod.

I can't even remember what it's like to have a yard with grass after having two houses with crappy backyards. This backyard, however, has been renewed!!!

In garage sale news, I think we made about $70, and we only spent $15 at other people's sales. We actually came out on top this year. I picked up a lovely little picnic table for the kiddos. Colby got Soren a teeter totter. Gotta love garage sales!!

Paint Your Wagon

I can already smell the scent of drying paint. Hear the sound of painter's tape peeling off the trim. Imagine my newly painted rooms bringing me hours of enjoyment. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we officially purchased paint and supplies last night to finally personalize the house we've lived in for 19 months now. Weather permitting, sod will arrive on Saturday to complete our yard projects. The vegetable garden is actually growing. Perhaps if a few of you out there would volunteer to help paint and/or babysit my dream will be fulfilled. :-) I never really feel like a house is quite mine until I've painted, especially the kitchen/dining area. We spend so much family time there, so I'm hoping a little paint will make that time all the more enjoyable.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have fresh coffee and a Zola truffle waiting for me in the kitchen.

Oh, and why does it make me feel so good to see the words "no misspellings found" when I spell check my blogs?? I'm just silly.

Morning Storytime With Dadito

This morning as I struggled to wake up while drinking my first cup of coffee, the girls somehow convinced Dade to read them a story. Despite the fact that he was supposed to be eating his cereal, I started to hear the all-too-familiar lines of "Skippyjon Jones" coming from the living room. If you haven't already read Skippito's books, definitely check them out at your local library.

Moving on, the story has many Spanish words in it, and Dade's pronunciation was anything but flawless. My favorite was "free-joe-lees" instead of "free-ho-lays" for frijoles. Ha! He did a really good job though, and the girls were so happy. As Dade read the book the girls ate his cereal. No good deed goes unpunished.

Bowling Lake

The morning was partly sunny and calm. The girls were restless. It was the perfect combination for a jaunt to nearby Bowling Lake. The girls and I decided to have a little picnic and look for fish in the lake and wildlife on the banks. We packed up some low-fat bologna sandwiches and headed out.

The geese were honking, and the birds were chirping. We didn't see any fish, but we saw some ducks and the city worker mowing the meadow. The girls were happy to pick up feathers and sticks. We spent an hour with no fighting (unlike now. . . I hear the girls arguing in their room). Just mom and the girls running through the dandelions and listening to the geese. It was all very relaxing.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is a special day. It's special for the things moms don't do today: laundry (I did some loads anyway), dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc. It's also special for the things moms do every day: give love, get love, explain why we have to take a bath, tuck in at bedtime, heal ouchies, and much more. Moms come in many shapes and sizes. Moms sometimes fail but mostly triumph. Every now and then moms need time to act like kids again. Sometimes moms love dads, sometimes moms love mamas, and sometimes moms have to love themselves enough to go it alone. Whether our children grew inside us or inside another, the connection between mom and child is instant and powerful. To all the moms reading this, this day is especially for you, but everyday that you are with your child is special and amazing and stressful and complicated.

My husband is a blessing today and everyday. Although he didn't let me sleep in this morning (which was okay because then we could beat the breakfast rush at Cracker Barrel), he baked a cake and frosting from scratch. I cut the recipe out of the newspaper on Friday and dropped a huge hint that it was what I wanted for Mother's Day. The cake was delicious, and Colby even cleaned up the mess afterward. I also received wine glasses, but I'm not sure that I'll get a chance to sit down and enjoy a glass of wine tonight. The Shiraz is calling, but my line is busy right now.

Home Sweet Home

I'm not going on vacation again unless at least one of the following conditions is met:

1. All kids must be at least 6 years old
2. Must have another grown-up along besides me and hubby
3. Dade must be capable of watching after not only himself but at least one sibling
4. Must be legal to put tape over child's mouth and/or tie them into a stroller
5. Also must be legal for adults to smoke at least one joint per child per day

That's all I have to say. Oh, and thank god we're home. Cannot yet relive vacation moments. Photos and recap will soon post.

Vacation So Far

We are officially on vacation now. Our trip began with a morning stop at the Children's Museum in Lincoln in an attempt to tire out the girls. They both slept for about an hour of our 3 1/2 hour trip. We stopped in our old stomping grounds (St. Joe, MO) for shakes and coffee at Hazel's. I hated living in St. Joe, but it was still nice to drive through and think about all the good things that we had there. Um, well, nothing good except Hazel's.

When we arrived at Great Wolf Lodge yesterday afternoon, we had a few issues checking in, but once we got to our room the kids went into a state of mania. They have their own little cabin bedroom with a t.v. Farmland Foods not only paid for the hotel room but also a nice little gift basket with free pizza coupons, towels, water bottles, and arcade tokens.

With great haste we changed into our bathing suits and headed for the waterpark. Dade immediately went down every waterslide. Soren was scared but warmed up. Evelyn loves the kiddie pool, and Brody discovered waterslides and the lazy river. We went to the waterpark again this morning bright and early at 9 am. We had lunch at an overpriced chicken joint that I don't recommend. Over $60 to feed us, and I feel like I ate a brick. Ugh. The girls are asleep and the boys are all at the arcade. Mom is quietly blogging and sipping a Starbucks. We'll be back to the waterpark again after nap. Oh joy. I'm glad we're doing this now. . . while we're still young enough to chase children around on slippery waterpark floors.

Busy Day

With Colby home for vacation this week, a garden to plant, and a trip for which to pack, today was very busy.

Today, Colby planted our very first garden. I haven't had a garden of my own before, and lacking a green thumb, I am relying on Colby's knowledge of gardening. After careful consideration we decided on the following items to cultivate: cucumbers, tiny pumpkins, kohlrabi, radishes, cherry tomatoes, lemon tomatoes (they're yellow), two kinds of peppers, broccoli (which we thought was cauliflower), some herbs and some sunflowers. It's quite breezy, so our baby tomatoes and peppers are blowing in the wind. I can't wait to see how our little backyard farm progresses. We also put a few small bushes in the front yard.

In other exciting news, Evelyn decided today was the day to get her ears pierced. We were at Southpointe near a Claire's, and Evelyn proudly stated, "I'm ready to get my ears pierced now." I followed up with, "Are you sure? It's gonna hurt, but only a little. It's okay to cry, but you're a big girl." All these statements were really meant for me. Evelyn was great, but I was a wreck. Near tears, I held her hand and rubbed her back. She bravely accepted her sacrifice for beauty and went on with her day.

My B-Day Party

Last night was the night I've been waiting for for 30 years: the best birthday ever!! Colby did a great job making invitations and getting reservations and letting me be crazy on my day. Jim and Jessica came from Le Mars, IA. Jess looked beautiful and brought me two beautiful purses. Sara and Travis came even though they had to drive back to Norfolk at midnight when we girls returned from Barrymore's. Scott and Amber came and had great gifts for the white elephant exchange: Kool-Aid with a pitcher and sugar and also two mugs with a 6 pack of beer. Amanda came, too, and was nice enough to be the designated driver and take the rest of the girls out to the bar after supper. And don't even get me started on supper. . .

We ate at the Green Gateau, the sweetest little restaurant I've ever seen. It's kind of pricey, so it was a very special treat to have everyone there and enjoying bottles of wine, baked brie, bruschetta (with capers - YUM), steak, shrimp, and chocolate desserts. We had such a great time that words really can't describe it. All I really wanted was to sit down and eat a meal, warm and fresh and all mine. Instead, I got three great purses, great wine, warm food, and the best friends I could ever ask for.

Seriously, I wish we could do this all the time. I felt so free. I felt like ME and not like Mom. It was spectacular.

Unfortunately, we were unable to lay sod in the yard. Colby and Dean laid out a spot for a garden, so I'm excited for my first foray into farming.