Summer!!

First day of summer vacation. Wow. Totally doesn't feel like it. This year absolutely flew by. I can't believe it.

I'm trying to get us off on the right foot this year. The last week or so I've been talking about how we are going to act this summer. Nicely. We are going to act nicely. We are going to speak nicely. We are going to touch nicely. We are going to be nice to each other, damn it!

We are also going to be cleaning the house. So when they started fighting I started handing out chores. I decided that today we would spend 15 minutes wiping down the baseboards. Which we did. And everyone (Maddy) who had a bad attitude about it got an extra chore, which turned out to be vacuuming. Yup! I love being the grown up and getting to just make up the rules as I go along.

She actually did a really great job. Her baseboards look brand new (maybe tears are a good cleaning agent) and the rug is perfect. I went on and on about how good her cleaning was and she seemed happy about it. Chores do that girl good.

After chores we went up to the pool. Oh the pool looked just perfect when we got there. I wish I had brought a camera. The water was so so blue and there were two perfect palm tree shadows in the pool. It felt like some tropical vacation. I just needed a frozen daiquiri brought to me on a tray.

They are finally old enough that I don't have to go in the pool too!! Awesome. I talked on the phone and the hung out in the shade while they swam. Love it. We will go up there way more if I don't have to swim. It was so nice.

So far summer vacation is off to a great start.

The Red Report

The impossible has happened. We got a dog named Red. He is my friend Tamera's dog but they are moving to Colorado and couldn't bring him. So he came to live out the rest of his days with us. The big red dog.

We first met him two years ago at the bus stop. He came every morning and Connor would give him a pat pat. He was only 2 back then! He called him "Puppy Red" rather than just "Red". I would go get Connor out of his crib and he would be cranky. So I would say "Do you think Puppy Red is going to be at the bus stop?" and that would get Connor moving and motivated to get up and dressed.

Then after the bus stop Tamera and I would walk around the neighborhood and Red would tag along. Sniffing and peeing. Peeing and sniffing. Limping along like the old man he is. If he was a person he would be in front of me at Walmart pushing a walker with tennis balls on the legs.

And now he's ours. And Connor still calls him Puppy Red, even though he hasn't been a puppy since "Memento" was in theaters.

I feel bad that we can't just tell him that he lives here now. Tamera and her girls came by last night to drop him off. It's weird that he doesn't understand that he isn't going back home. But what can you do?

You know I'm not a dog person. That hasn't changed. But I'm not a kid person either, and I have two of those. So I guess I'll adjust. I feel the same about him as I did the kids when I got them. Like "eh, I guess I'll take you home and keep you alive until your not my responsibility anymore." But the kids grew on me... and I'm sure Red will too. He kind of already has.

First last day of preschool

Today was Connor's last day of preschool. Well, you know, except for all of next year. So not technically the last day. Today was Connor's first last day of preschool. There was a little ceremony in his class that was very cute and I have it all on video. He's so cute! I just wanted to bounce out of my tiny plastic chair and rush up on stage to give him a big hug. They sang a couple of songs and we watched a video montage of the pictures throughout the year. It was cute. Then we had snacks and played.

All the other boys in his class are going to kindergarten next year. So I'm really hoping that some 4 year old boys sign up over the summer. Cause, I mean, girls are nice and all... but they aren't boys.

My birthday was on Monday. 33. Really not a big deal and it just seemed silly that anyone would even mention it. (But thank you to everyone who did!) My theory on getting older is that once you are past 25 it's only a big deal if you are not where you think you should be by your given age. But I'm pretty much where I pictured myself at the ripe old age of 33, so having my birthday wasn't a big deal. Which is nice.

I woke up to hearing that my sister in law was at the hospital giving birth to my newest niece. So I waited all day to hear some news. When I finally got the call it was to say that they sent her home. So we will wait and see what happens.

Numb

Surprise! I'm up at 6:00... in the morning! I'm not sure what's going on but I'm none to happy about it. I don't normally do this. Waking up early. It's weird. Usually my alarm goes off at just before 7:00 and I doze while listening to the news until 7:panic. Then I throw something on, maybe put on some make up if I think someone at the morning bus stop could actually confuse me for a raccoon, and then go downstairs to yell at the kids, slap together a pb&j, and head out to the bus stop.

But not today. Today I woke up at 6:00 and laid there til 6:11 and decided, what the heck... might as well just get up. Weird.

It might have something to do with the fact that my jaw and temple on the right side is killing me. I went to the dentist yesterday for what he himself said was the worlds smallest filling. He gave me a shot but nothing really happened. I didn't really get numb. He started to give me another one but I stopped him and just said go ahead and do it.

He did. I lived.

I kept getting more numb afterwards and then when it was fully worn off I felt my jaw. Kinda sore. At first I thought it was the actual tooth that was sore, but no... its my jaw. Fine whatever.

By bed I could barely open my mouth. Still can't really. So I'm not sure what is up with that. I'll see how it goes today I guess. Hopefully things loosen up.

Oh, and a cat had kittens in the planter box in the backyard. Ew. They are gone now. Maybe after being watered Momma cat decided that it's not the best place to nurse her young.

Karate

Connor started Karate last night. So cute! It's for ages 4 and up so he is one of the smallest kids. Adorable. He was wearing his little Karate uniform, all barefoot and buzz cut. UG... he was melting my heart.

They were lined up and would do the move they were working on one at a time and then go to the back of the line. When Connor was done with his turn he would skip (literally) to the back of the line, then give me a thumbs up and blow me a kiss. haha... so manly.

But he LOVES it. He had a total blast. When we got home he had to reenact the whole lesson. In fact, the words "Why don't you hit me with your light saber!" actually came out of my mouth... voluntarily.

He also added some other stuff like holding hands and spinning around.
"Are you sure you did this in Karate?"
"Yep!"
"I don't think you held hands and spun around like you're in a field of Daises on the first spring day."

But it's really cute and I think he's going to love it. Maddy was not pleased at all and was either crying or fighting back tears for the entire hour. It's simply so not fair that Connor gets to do Karate when all she gets to do is Girl Scouts and Art Class. But you know... can't have everything.

The Reset Button

Sorry I haven't written in a while but honestly, I've been doing NOTHING. I've just been caught up in my own head, and trust me, you don't want to know what's going on in there. Well, maybe you do, 'cause then you could confirm you suspicions about me.

I love quotes. Love 'em! I heard one forever ago that goes "Empty your cup so it may be filled." The filling of the cup is fun... the emptying of the cup, not so much. I'm currently in the emptying stage... and it sucks. I lost my job and several of my friends are moving away this summer. I seriously don't know what to do with myself. I know my cup won't ever be EMPTY since I will always have Larry and the kids, and they are awesome. I'm not complaining... I'm just saying. Someone somewhere has hit the reset button on my life, and I'm none too happy about it.

I'm trying to feel excited rather than scared. What is going to fill the giant vacuum that has appeared in my life? Just about anything could happen. See... it will be exciting... not scary. Nothing to be scared of.

While I'm waiting for my life to get some traction I have discovered a great new drink.
Rootbeer
Whiskey
Baily's Irish Cream
Butterscotch Schnapps

Not too much alcohol, maybe a shot and half total, in a 16oz glass. Not a shot of each... unless you're Larry. But if you are me you just want it to taste like the best damn rootbeer float you ever had.

Now excuse me... my drink is waiting.