Toys and Swimming

My kiddos love to swim and they love playing with toys, mix the two and you have a match made in heaven . . . most of the time!

Sometimes toys can take a turn and become something altogether not what was intended.  If your a mom, you totally know what I'm talking about, a matchbox car becomes a missile, bracelets become handcuffs, and goggles become x-ray glasses.  A child's imagination can be a whimsical place.

We were recently at a hotel pool and being the sweet, kind parents that we are, Peter and I bought the kids little toys while we were in Walgreens for toiletries.  Grace chose a little pony and DVD combo and Ben in his infinite wisdom says, " I am getting these motorboats (wind up) to race in the pool tomorrow!" I thought, great that will give him something to play with (thinking of the ultimate combination of swimming and toys) and me time to read my book!

So the next morning we trek down to the pool and Ben tries to play with his $5 motorboats.  After about 2 or 3 minutes I witness this:

Yes, that is my little man chucking his boats across the pool and yes his sister is doing the same.  I ask him what in the world he is doing and he explains very matter of factly, as if this is what the boats were made for, "We are having a contest to find out who can throw the boats the farthest!" And then he proceeds to chuck the boat and I watch as it sails 10 feet, hits the water, and the motor pops off.

I don't want to laugh, I want to look at him and ask him, Son, what in the world are you thinking, that is not how the boats are supposed to be used? Why did I spend $5 on boats for you to throw them? Then teach a lesson on respecting your toys and give him the lecture about not getting him any other toys if you can't use these properly along with a timeout! But before my righteous indignation can get the best of me, I see his tongue out, full body throw and huge smile as it sails across the pool and I can't do anything but chuckle.

Then it dawned on me, so what if that isn't how the boats are supposed to be used? They were having a blast, laughing up a storm and having a great time.  Isn't that what toys are supposed to be for? Last time I checked toys were for bringing happiness to the kiddos we bought them for and they seemed to be doing that in a . . . non-traditional way. Now don't get me wrong, if I saw them playing football with their Nintendos I would have to call a no-go on that one, I mean you have to draw a line somewhere right! But in this instance, talking about $5 boats, there wasn't any harm in what they were doing and it was highly entertaining to them and in all honesty, me too.  Plus, when I asked him why he was throwing them he made his case that this was completely the right activity by telling me, "Mom, they don't motor good in the pool and the motors go right back on! Plus this is way more fun!"  How can you argue with the logic of a 5 year old.  No one can morph a boat into a missile better than kids!

Needless to say, they had a blast and Ben won throwing it the farthest the most times, which he was very proud of and let me know that boat throwing was now one of his special talents. My little man and his "special talents" I will add that to the list which currently contains, a handstand, locking locks, and drawing people.

Now whether or not the man trying to swim laps appreciated the boat chucking, I can't really say?

Hours

Today has been an extremely unproductive day.  I am in the midst of making invitations for my parent's vow renewal and since Lawton does not have a scrapbook store I ventured into Wichita Falls (an hour away) to get some fabulous paper only to be told they can't get me anymore of the only paper I like.  Complete defeat.  During this waste of a time trip I was confronted with several things that really irk me.  And since I know you are just dying to know, I made a short list (the only thing I accomplished today):

1. Lack of yielding green lights (already addressed this one)
2. Going into a store that has a play area then getting the stare down from the store clerk when my kid actually chooses to use it.
3. People who are not helpful and don't know how to do their job.
4. People who talk over me.
5. People who ask RETARDED questions when there is a line behind them. (For example:Your done checking out and you begin to leave. Then turn around to ask the cashier, "How long have you been here?" Which then fosters a 10 minute conversation about the store. Who CARES!!!)
6. Only being able to find one shoe.
7. Going through the drive through and having your order screwed up.  I went through the drive through so I didn't have to come inside.
8. Drivers who won't turn right on red.  It's not against the law people and no one is coming - GO!!
9. People who say, "I'm just sayin" Your just sayin what??? What does that mean?
10. Shopping carts with broken wheels.
11. Having to repeat myself over and over and over.
12. When someone jiggles your locked bathroom stall and says anyone in there?  Uhh yep sure am hence the LOCKED door.
13. People who call and then don't leave a message.
14. People who write checks in the express lane.

Unproductive days do not bring out the best in me - Ugh!  However, my daughter is going to make me one of her "mug cakes" and I believe that will make it all better.

The Purse

So, you all know what this is right?!

That's right its a purse! But it is not just any purse this is my purse. Today I was out shopping for things for Ben's end of the year picnic party, and  I noticed I was becoming quite frustrated at every single store when I went to pay and when I went back to the van.  Then it dawned on me.  My frustration was a result of this treacherous place I have now fondly named "the bottomless pit."  My purse is literally busting at the seams.  Have you ever seen those shows for kids where one of the characters can pull ridiculously large things out of some sort of hat.  Well, that's my purse, crap comes out of there that I don't even know how it fits in there or where the hell it came from.  If Let's Make a Deal was still on I would totally rock that show because there are so many weird things in my purse. Oh yes, and ladies, I am a monster at home parties, you know the ones when you have to find items in your purse that begin with certain letters. That's right racking up the tickets, don't hate the player, hate the game! Holla!

So back to my "pit" my day went something like this:

Go to Big Lots, get items, go to pay, search for ten minutes looking for my wallet while my sunglasses are falling off my head, start freaking out that the wallet is actually lost or stolen.  Unload contents onto register (totally embarrassed), find wallet, pay, try to leave parking lot only to repeat above steps at van looking for keys. Curse under my breath at this stupid ass purse!!

Go to Dollar General, get items, go to pay, search for 10 minutes before I get to the register (so as not to be embarrassed again) for my wallet while sunglasses are falling off my head and trying to balance the purse with the items I'm holding while looking.  Get frustrated, unload items onto floor in empty aisle, find wallet (again), go pay, try to leave parking lot, repeat above steps to try to find keys, find keys, hear phone bing with message, search for 10 minutes for phone while getting sweaty cause the air hasn't cooled down yet.  Yell at purse and tell it to stop swallowing my stuff!  Promise myself to get a new purse because this one sucks.

Get smarter than the purse and put the keys, phone and wallet in the side pocket so it doesn't get lost in "the pit."

Go to Dollar Tree, get items, go to pay, search 10 minutes for wallet, can't find it, unload items at register, still can't find it, begin to rummage through all the stuff looking for it, sweat starts to bead on my forehead, begin to freak out, then remember I was smart and put it in the side pocket so it didn't get lost.  Finish loading all my crap back in my purse, pay, stop holding up the line, go to van, remember they are in the side pocket, get in van.  Return to homeostasis after the small freak out session in the Dollar Tree.

Traffic

We were down in Dallas this weekend before Peter left for Japan and I was reminded of something that I so miss having here in Lawton - yielding green lights and U-Turns.  As I sat at the Galleria Circle left turn light for two full lights before I realized that this light was, low and behold a yielding green (thanks to a honk that I might have thought was unneccessary and made a bit of a nasty comment about until I realized the yielding properties of the light - whoops) I realized how much I absolutely love the yielding green light. 

I miss the ability after the turn light has faded to still make a left turn on just a solid green light when the oncoming traffic allows it.  The pure freedom that comes when, as a driver to make the call and pull across all those lanes using my excellent driving abilities and know how as my guide (that might be ridiculously a bit dramatic??)

Now I am sure that there is a study somewhere that says most accidents are a result of driver's making poor choices at yielding green lights and U-Turns and out of safety concern, and being above reproach they decided to ban them all together here, but really come on! Should I have to pay for the faults of other bad drivers?  No I should not!  Therefore I may just institute my own yielding green when I sit at a left turn light with absolutely no oncoming traffic.  The lack of traffic, so quiet you can hear crickets as you wait for your turn to go at one of the most unpopulated intersection in Lawton, I mean really????

 I am protesting the lack of yielding greens and U-Turns because I feel like my rights as a driver are being infringed upon! When I see that no U-Turn sign and I know I have to drive 30 more blocks just to see another one and then finally another 20 blocks to be able to turn around, I can't help but feel like my capabilities to drive safely are being belittled by those signs.  My rights that is what I am worried about and the rights of other drivers!!! Or . . . maybe I am just a bit impatient and need to manage time better to not be running late . . . Nah! It's definitely about driver's rights - I am totally sticking with rights thing, it sounds way better!

Talent Show

I had a proud mom moment today.  Grace auditioned to be in her school talent show. 

Last week she brought home the paper to sign up for tryouts.  I didn't think much about it until she mentioned she was going to tryout for the talent show.  I was somewhat surprised when she said she was going to do one of her dance class dances . . . alone.  Just the thought of getting up in front of a group and dancing sends my heart into arrhythmia so when she said it so matter of factly I said, "Okay" just out of pure shock I think.  She wanted to dance and there wasn't a hiccup in her resolve so we sent in the paper and her music.  She practiced this week (sometimes under duress) in preparation for the audition.

So today was the day, I just couldn't stay away so I went to her school to watch her audition in front of two second grade classes and to show her moral support.  She was nervous and a little shaky before she went up, but once the music started she went right at it and did an amazing performance.  I was so proud of her because she did what most adults are afraid to do . . . how many adults sit idle in their chairs during karaoke because their fear gets the best of them?  She overcame her nervousness and went for it!  She didn't fold under the pressure of anxiety or embarassement.  She pressed on determined to give a great performance and have a good time doing it too.

My hope is that she never loses that drive, that fire to go for what she wants and overcome fears and doubts, to believe in herself, her talents, and her potential.  To seize the moment and be involved in her life and not just let it pass her by.  I spent many of my high school days with my nose in a book studying for classes that I really didn't want to take because I thought high school was all about academics.  What I know now is high school is a time to spread your wings and to be a part of something valuable and timeless.  To be involved in activities that will one day no longer be an option like student government, cheerleading, sports, and interest clubs.  I see her seeking out opportunities to try new things like track meets, talent shows, and school dances and I hope that she continues to do that all the years that she is in school.  I want her to walk with no regrets of missed school experiences, but to walk tall knowing she took advantage of every opportunity she wanted to and enjoyed her school years, because they are years that you can't do over or get back.  They are precious and are memories you will have for a lifetime.

AND . . . my little jellybean did such a fantastic job on her dance she was chosen to be in the talent show!! I am so proud of her, she harnesed all that nervous energy, believed in herself and her abilities and kicked some serious dance butt!

HHG

HHG - What is it you might ask?  If your military you know it stands for House Hold Goods, and you go there when it is time to PCS to another place.  Well, it was time to visit there today since we are off to Japan in just a couple very short months and orders have been processed through. 

So today I set my sights on getting a start on the taxing process of scheduling shipping and storing all of our household goods.  I knew that this one would be tough because Japan is a weight restricted shipment of goods meaning that we are allotted so many pounds for every move and on this one we are only able to take a portion of them.  So what does that look like?  We are allotted 14,500 pounds on any given move, and to Japan . . . ????? We are allotted only 25% of that!!! That's right folks that equates to 3,600 pounds and that's it.  I knew it was going to be low, but good gracious when she gave me the paperwork with the estimates (one room is on average 1000-1500 lbs.) and I started walking around my house I became a bit overwhelmed with the idea of what the heck am I supposed to bring and what do I store? 

As I walked around the house randomly picking up items wondering how much each of them weighed and wondering to myself do I really want to use up one of my precious pounds shipping the wok I have never used, I realized that most of the stuff in my house I will put away for 3 years not to be seen or accessed.  I then had a horrible thought, what if things get mixed up?  What if all the stuff I want to go to storage ends up on my doorstep and all the stuff I want to bring goes to storage? I had a visual of me sitting in Japan with 20 Disney dress up costumes strewn about, knick knacks, an old tv, and no clothes, beds, or linens! 

In all reality I don't think that will happen, but really what do you bring and what do you leave behind, how do you decide? The items we ship will take 2 1/2 months to arrive, I mean if I can live that long without it do I really need it?

So if you see me around fervently writing out lists and asking random people how much they think a twin bed weighs or if you could only bring three things from your house what would it be?  Know that I am not completely off my rocker, just dealing with HHG.

Saying Goodbye

Goodbye. Such a simple word that people use so often. It comes in lots of forms, bye, have a nice day, see you later, touch base with you soon, but no matter the words, they all mean the same thing, someone is leaving.

As an Army spouse I am no stranger to these words and neither is my family. Between deployments, trainings, and just regular duty requirements, we tell each other good bye more times than the average family does. Today is one of those days.

We have had a fantastic four days with Peter here in San Antonio, and as much as I want to stay and be right here when he gets out of class, go to dinner with him each night and sleep cuddled up right next to him, schedules just won’t allow it and we are on the road this evening headed back to Oklahoma. Even though we are still together for the rest of the day, there is a heaviness, an air of sadness that clouds these final activities before we head out.

I have often wondered if goodbyes get easier, if enough times it becomes old hat and doesn’t cause the same feelings. I look around at other Army spouses and they seem to handle each deployment, training, and TDY with such grace. But I have come to a realization, the answer is no. It will not and does not get easier, goodbyes will always be clouded with sadness, heartache, and heaviness. No matter how many times you say goodbye and for how long the goodbye is for they hurt.

Why?

Because my family is designed to work with the four of us together functioning as a unit. To rely on each other for needs, wants, and desires. When one of us is absent whether it be for a day, a month, a year, the family has to adjust to something it isn’t designed to be. It is no longer performing at its optimum, sure we still function, but not with all cylinders firing.

I realize there should always be a longing to be reunited as one family and if that longing is lost, then there is a bigger problem, somewhere my family is broken and needs some adjustment. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t walk around with a frowny face, tears always in my eyes, and unable to function in society. Part of what it means to be an army spouse is to continue to live life, to move about doing things that make you happy and sharing the joys and heartache together with your spouse whether they are 900 or 9,000 miles away.

There was a time when I lost sight of this, I thought that enough time away the longing would and should go away, and that was normal. What I know today is that when separation occurs in our family, no matter the length or distance, I don’t want that longing to go away, I hold onto it with great fervor and know that it is a sign of love and connectedness between our family. It is that feeling of longing and the promise of a reuniting that makes it possible to walk each day apart, yet together.

And on a personal note (cause I know you check this love):

Honey, I love you and my heart longs for you. I will miss you every minute that you are gone and await your return. That feeling of longing for you is one that I cherish, and know exactly what it means and that you feel the same thing for me. I promise you to hold onto that feeling and never let it go – ever. You, and only you are my knight in shining armor, my hero, the love of my life, and the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. Thank you for loving me completely and sticking with me through the good and the bad.

Motherhood 101

Grace, my little jellybean, got a cut right below her eye, that she gave herself with a very sharp pencil while playing around at the table with Ben during homework time. Why that is important information will become quickly apparent as my babies decide to share with Daddy the real deal with how things went down when this little incident occured.

So, we are currently in San Antonio visiting Peter (who is at a training), and we were having a nice lunch all together at Jason's Deli (totally delicious salad bar).  While sitting there with the kids, Peter mentions how dangerous it could have been because the cut is VERY CLOSE to her eye.  Grace says, "Please, when I showed mom she didn't do anything, I was pointing to it and everything! She just shooed me away!" Now the best part of this whole interaction is that she shows the "shooing" motion I use, which I would call an upside down/backwards wave. In my mind it kind of resembles what you would see a queen do while saying "off with you now." It is definitely NOT my kid's favorite, they HATE being dismissed without telling me what they came for.  They know when they get the shoo it means go away, not right now, and with Grace and Ben EVERYTHING is of crucial importantance and always needs my full immediate attention.

Now, once Grace was done throwing me under the bus, I know I have an ace in the hole regarding this little scenario. I rebut her statement with this very important (left out) fact . . . I tell her, "I was on the phone when you came in and you weren't bleeding."  BAM! That's right, take that Grace, I was on a very important phone call, what are you going to say about that! Holla! Nothing like besting your 7 year old, right!? Wrong, before I even get a chance to bask in my "win," my daughter says, "Yeah I know - with Dad, who you will be married to for the rest of your life!" At this point, between seeing my shoo live and in color courtesy or my daughter, and her calling me out on who I was actually talking to on the phone, Peter and I are dying laughing. 

Nothing like being confronted with your own stellar mothering skills. It used to be easier to get things by them, but my not so little ones are getting too smart for their own good.  I will clearly need to add possibly losing an eye to my reasons to attend to my child right away. 

Hey, anyone know when my mother of the year trophy will be arriving??

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is upon me.  I love this week cause it is an excuse for me to be crafty and really love on the teachers that pour so much into my little ones everyday.  I taught so I know how much time and effort they put into lessons and activities all the time. 

Soooo . . . I came across this completely adorable idea on Pinterest (Mrs. Sanchez do not click on that link, it might be a surprise for you if I can ever find one of these carriers!), but it requires a two slot Sonic drink carrier.  Seeing that I have two kids and two teachers I needed two.  Now most people would probably just go and ask them for a couple of drink carriers, but no, I figure hey we're here let's get some drinks.  So I order one for each of us and ask for it to be put into drink carriers.  While I wait I am tickled pink so excited to get my carriers and my strawberry limeade. 

Then the lady comes out with my drinks . . . and my drink carrier or should I say huge cardboard monstrosity.  I look at it and ask her about a two cup drink carrier and she informs me this is all they have and to "check the other Sonic" if I need a double drink carrier because this is all they carry.  Now why the other Sonic would have different paper products I have no idea, but I shall check tomorrow for this elusive drink carrier at the other Sonic. At this point in my quest I am feeling a bit deflated and I am no longer feeling pink or liking my strawberry limeade so much.

Now this drink carrier project is supposed to be low budget because the drink carrier is free and is just adorable, but is it really?  Do people really get drink carriers at Sonic when everyone has cup holders?  And if they do get the drink carrier, who saves it? I think people are just like me, they see the cute craft done by some one who does hoard drink carriers, mason jars, cans, and empty toilet paper rolls and then go to Sonic to get drinks and hope for the best.  My hope for the best cost me $6.38 today. So I am not currently feeling the "so cute, yet affordable vibe" right now.  If I am able to proffer these drink carriers THEN I will tought them as so cute and affordable but if I go tomorrow to the "other Sonic" and come face to face with the same cardboard monster I am going to have to cut my losses and find something else! Cause after tomorrow those drink carriers will have cost me $12.76.  Yeah yeah I know I paid for the drinks not the carrier, but let's get real here for a minute I only took the kids for drinks because I wanted those stinkin' carriers. Oh, the lengths I will go for craftiness.

Portal Potties and Porta Potties

So today on the way home from picking up Grace, Ben decides to let us know that if he could he would have a "portal potty" right in the house and it would be like his own private little room.  Now your first thought is probably we must have been talking about bathrooms! Porta potties? Or he see a porta potty somewhere?  The answer to all of these is no.  Ben's mind is a wonder.  How he decides what he is going to say and where it comes from is a mystery to me.  None the less, he declares it would be a blue "portal potty" and it would be so cool.  Now Grace is completely disgusted by porta potties - she WILL NOT use one (and I don't blame her they are totally gross).  Before she will even respond to his suggestion, she informs Ben that its a Porta spelled p-o-r-t-a potty not portal potty and she would not ever want one of those disgusting things near her house or room. 

At this point I can't stop snickering as they discuss the validity of having a portal/porta potty in the house.  I finally gain my composure to ask Ben if his "portal potty" portals him anywhere and that is why it's called a "portal potty." He looks at me as if I have two heads and the "you can't be serious furrowed eyebrow" look (that he gets from his father) and tells me, "No mom, that's ridiculous, a portal potty doesn't even have a flusher! That's just its name." I am holding back snorting laughter at this point.  Then Grace in her quest for correctness, with BIG hand guestures whips around and reiterates her previous point more slowly since he clearly didn't catch it the first time. "Ben I already told you its PORTA P-O-R-T-A potty NOT portal." I then (through tears) ask Grace, "What is a porta?" She shrugs and in the most matter of fact way tells me it's the brand name of the potty because porta isn't really a word.

Before I could respond they were back at their debate about the pros and cons of a porta potty in the house as if they were discussing serious life altering world issues.  The both have their hands a flying, their voices raised at times, shaking their heads, and interupting each other.  It really was so funny and if you have seen either of my little bugs in action during one of these discussions you will be able to picture their vigorous defense of their stance on the issue. 

In the end there was no winner because both remained staunchly on their side of the porta potty issue.  The debate ended when Sonic slushies hit their lips.  Only tomorrow holds what the next debate will be . . . maybe whether or not we should put a gas station in our front yard so we don't have to drive so far? Whether a jungle gym would actually fit in the play room?  Who knows, but I look forward to it!

Cooking in the kitchen

Today we baked one of my favorite cakes . . . ever, and it was delicious.  What might you wonder is this delectable dessert?  It is . . . wait for it . . .Peanut Butter Sheet Cake!  It is so peanut buttery and delicious and sweet and just damn tasty.  Now I found this recipe on Pinterest.  If you are not a part of this wonderful website then you are not living!!!! If you have even one crafty cell in your body, like to cook, try new recipes, fashion, or literally just about anything else you can imagine, Pinterest is a MUST! Now that I am done selling this fabulous mecca of creativity and ingenious ideas, back to THE CAKE. You can find the recipe on this blog. It is just so fantastic I can't sing its praises enough. Now if you don't like peanut butter, you're just wrong and something isn't right with you on so many levels!! You probably are not going to find this recipe to your liking. But if you are peanut butter fan like me and really that is the only way to be, this one is a winner.  I thought the kiddos might like helping me make this one since it has a ton of steps and one can be on the stove while one is mixing the dry ingredients and as you can see by their little faces they had a blast being little bakers.

They pretended they were on a cooking show and went to town mixing and sifting  and tasting of course. (Sometimes I wonder if the only reason they want to help is so that they can taste all the batter.) In the end it was decided they were both "sweet geniuses" and got to eat a spoonful of frosting as their reward seeing as mom does not have $20,000 to hand out.

Here is the cooling cake . . . yes that is my turkey roasting pan it is in. The recipe calls for a jelly rolled cookie sheet (which I don't have) so this is the only pan I have that is big enough to accomodate the cake.  Hey it works and without this picture you would never know!

This cake does have a bunch of steps, but it is soooooo good, and so it is worth it.  Word to the wise, I have made this cake with buttermilk substitute (milk with a bit of vinegar), because who in world has buttermilk just lying around in the refrigerator. Not me! I did find it to be moister with the buttermilk, but the difference is not huge.  Oh, did I mention how completely delicious this cake is.  It is like cake and peanut butter balls mixed together in complete deliciousness.  Normally I am a die hard chocolate fan, but this cake is chocolate free and is so terrifically yummy. If you do rally your troops and put on a little cooking show be prepared to make it again and again.  And dare you take it out of the house to someone's house, you will be hounded for the recipe even by people you don't even know . . . this I promise!

As for me and the babies, we had a blast tasting and making decisions on is it really sweet enough??? I mean can you really have too much sugar??? They are so funny when they try to be like food network tv.  Now whether the peanut butter cake will last til tomorrow? That I cannot promise!  Yeah, its that good.