Doggy Love

What did Mike bring me back from Japan?

The Humping Dog of course! This is what I call "Classy with a K" so Klassy. Just plug him into your USB port and watch him make sweet love to your computer. To his credit he also brought me back some really nice silk pajamas but of course I can't get my sorry a$$ in them. He kept saying, "Christie, those were really expensive" as if saying that to me was going to magically melt the fat of my body. It looks like he might get the chance to take them back though seeing is how they're talking about sending him again in about a month.

I must have pushed too much last time because he said I could get the kid's passports and we could hang out in Japan. Of course, it takes 6-8 weeks minimum to get their passports so it looks like we'll have to wait to the trip after (if there is one). My family in Japan has never met the kids and I like to get over there while their still cute and little. There's already too much sass starting to emerge from my oldest's mouth. Plus, I want them to see a different world than just "Dutch America".

Parent medieval torture device

This is what the kids wanted to do. Mike and I both can't do the "spinny" stuff anymore and try to talk the other into riding for the "kid's sake". It's a wonder what we won't do for our kids. I know if I get on the flying swings that I'm going to get a headache that's going to ruin me for the rest of the day. Once in a while a miracle happens and I get off unscathed but rarely. My wonderful husband had the great idea of asking 2 older boys further back in line if they would ride with our kids. They went for it, SUCKER! They were really nice kids too, go figure. Kid's that age usually annoy me but I could actually converse with these boys. Amazing! Of course, in the slide line I almost tore into some little girl (I think she was about 7) and her friends for totally being a b**** to Mia. I've been known to yell at little kids in the play area at the mall for being mean to my girl, just step off sista.
Why is it that when I tell anyone that I can't do the "spinny" stuff anymore or that I'm afraid of heights, they all have the same answer? "What, you're the pilot right?" You know I can't really say I enjoyed doing spins in the plane either. Now to address the fear of heights. It's all about control baby. When I'm in a plane and something happens for the most part (short of my wings falling off) I have control over the airplane and therefore have a say in my fate. Now, should I fall from the roof of a 10 story building..... no control. Get it now?

Spiderman

I'm pretty tired and can't really think of anything to say with this picture. What does Spiderman say anyway? Is there a catch phrase? Thought he looked really cool even when he'd been wiping his face already. Maybe I'll come back and edit this post later today.

Shinkansen in Holland



Mike came home all kinds of gifts for the kids. Thomas has been one-upped here with the arrival of the Shinkansen. Pretty much that is all the kids want to do all day. Mason also got a GI Joe (the 12 in. old-school kind). They don't sell them anymore here unless you buy on-line or Ebay. Mia has been in to her Barbies lately and since Mason likes to play with Mia this was Mike's way of preempting the arrival of Ken.

I did get to the Orchard and the Festival yesterday, two out of three is pretty good.

Stuff I want

I don't know how I come across this stuff but of course I want it. I think it is related to the fact that my mother is sucked into buying every "as-seen-on-TV" gadget, it must be genetic. I do realize these things are frivilous so I have to justify my wants. Such as.... Mia will not eat a banana that you've packed once it's been a little bruised or mushed. Enter the banana saver to save the day. Then of course, there's the cup-a-cake for the times I'll be packing a cupcake in a lunch. A necessity really. I've been eyeing them for a while and searching the internet to see if I can find them cheaper. You know as soon as I buy one it will be in the dollar store weeks later. Such is life.

There is so much I want to do today: farmer's market, , apple orchard, church festival, etc. Notice I did not say "watch football". Hmmmm! What expresses mourning more than black?

Little Miss Fancy Pants

Finished Mia's Jasmine costume (all except the headband). I had a little bit of a bad attitude doing it, I'd screw up and then just leave it since it's just Halloween/dress-up. So no, it's not perfect but it works.
She is not happy about the fact that the sleeves are sewn onto the top. The "real" Jasmine sports an off-the-shoulder top and she keep trying pull her top down to show some skin. Diva!

I wish boys Halloween costumes would be as easy to pick out. Let's face it shopping for boys totally sucks. The variety and "cuteness" just isn't there and they're so much more expensive then girl clothes. We're still trying to talk him into being a Jasmine's tiger for Halloween. He really likes The Genie but I have no idea how to pull that one off.

Public Enemy Dogg

Barley has been my arch nemesis the past two weeks. Actually, he's been really good but those moments when he's not..... He is starved for attention! I feel bad that I don't have the time to give just him but hey, I have 2 kids to take care of. When we sat down to watch a movie yesterday he was literally trying to knock the kids out of the way so he could snuggle up to me. Dude, I know you're needin' some lovin' but knocking my children down isn't exactly endearing.

Mike says when I'm home I should tie him up out front (instead of putting him in his kennel) because he likes to see what's going on. This is what's going on.

NAUGHTY!

I think he might just die of excitement when Mike returns.

Public Urination

Pretty busy day today running around for me and the kids. After I picked them up from preschool we went to Walgreens to pick up my free printer cartridge refill (I love free). I decided today that since Mike was away I deserved some treats and went to the Halloween aisle to get some candy corn. I figured it wouldn't kill me for once to give in to whatever Holiday "spirit" is ongoing at the moment and just buy it. Yes, I'm the parent that usually deprives my did of candy. They never knew of the existence of 80% of the junk out there until they could "talk" to other kids. Anyway, back to Walgreens. They have the candy on one side and the Halloween costumes/decorations on the other. While I'm trying to decide between caramel candy corn, caramel apple candy corn, plain candy corn, the mix, etc" (I went for the caramel candy corn) I hear Mia whispering to Mason. I catch something about the scary man going to get you.... and then blood-curdling screaming and crying. Now I have to carry the boy all over the store and he will not let me walk anywhere near that aisle. Tough to avoid when it's in the middle of the store. I remember something that I wanted to check out and realize it's on the other side of the store past the SCARY aisle. Knowing I'm never going to get the boy past the aisle again, I put him down by the cart. I tell the kids it's their job to watch the cart and I'll be right back. I don't really get 10 steps away when I hear the crying again. Mason is literally shaking and I'm wondering what in the world Mia could have possibly have said to him until I see the yellow puddle on the floor. He was sooo upset, I just felt so bad for him.
Skip to tonight when he tells me he has to go potty and does. I do the whole get excited thing, dance around and sing "poo poo in the potty". The boy looked at me like I had just lost my flippin mind. Maybe it takes the embarrassment of public urination to make potty training more successful.

Oh yes, and today aside from the usual misbehavior that comes with any store outing was relatively a good day. I'm still loved at bedtime.

You are the best Mommy,
You are the meanest.

Every day I get to start anew. When I wake up my darling daughter in the morning I get to hear things like: "you are the best Mommy ever", "Mommy I love you so much", and "you are my most favorite Mommy". Somewhere between morning and afternoon though my status changes to: "YOU ARE SO MEAN" and "I don't like you anymore". Maybe I should start tracking this to see if I can pinpoint the exact "witching hour". After I have transformed into the witch I also get to hear things like, "I'm going to tell Daddy to unmarry you" and "I love Daddy so much and not you." I thought when I became a SAHM there would be more rewards such as bonding. After all I have special time with my children that working moms are deprived of and the princess will be starting Kindergarten next year. This is supposed to be cherished time...... and yet I feel so depriving and unappreciated. At least when I wake up tomorrow I'll be the best Mommy ever if only for a few hours.

Monsters, Inc.

Well, I thought tonight would be a relatively easy night since the kids had baths last night. Yeah right. After I went up to see why it was taking so long to get PJs on I found Mia applying marker around her lips like lipstick. Then I noticed Mason was kind of shiny. He had glitter lip gloss all over his face, neck and hair. That stuff is greasy and impossible to get off. I don't think it's even all gone, even after another bath. They are pretty wound-up and didn't cooperate with the video to well. Mike we miss you, especially me!

Good Night Daddy

Love from home!

Mean Streak

Since the hubby is on the world-wide business trip (Mexico-China-Japan) the in-laws stopped by yesterday afternoon to give me a little break from the kids. While I was out running errands (kid-free) Grandma took the kids outside and they were collecting acorns. Grandpa stayed inside to watch some sports on TV, Good Thing. I guess my lovely 4-year old daughter snuck back in the house and closed all the doors and locked them. A little attempt to lock Grandma out of the house. Soooo, at dinner later that evening my FIL says, "she's got a little mean streak doesn't she". He tells me the story as he catches her trying to lock little brother in the basement.

At any rate, at least school starts for them next week. If it wasn't for that I think I would need to get the "happy" drugs that my husband soooo thinks I need.

I'm wondering if I dare try to watch a little football today. Should I wear black?

Mia-cast

Just testing out the video option. I think Mia's curtsey at the end reminds me of Elaine dancing on Seinfeld.

Football is Dead

Mike thinks it's hilarious. All summer I was saying how I couldn't wait for football season to start. Collegiate football is my absolute favorite sport to watch. I actually forgot it kicked off last weekend and missed watching the game. We remembered at about 5ish and turned on the TV and started watching the scores, highlights, games in progress, etc. Then Mike said it. NOOOO! I told him to turn the TV off, "Football is Dead". He just cracks up but you didn't even get to watch one game.... you were so excited. It's Dead I tell you. I need time to mourn.

Fly Girl!

Yesterday, Mike was told after lunch that they (his work) needs him to go to Mexico, then China and finally Japan. He leaves Tuesday and comes back in about 2 weeks. OK, it sucks that he'll be working his a$$ off and that he'll have about 48 hours in airtime alone but I'm still a little envious. I'm remembering when it was me flying off (literally). OK, so the pic is just a distant memory. I'm writing this as the boy is crying and hanging on me. He just woke up grumpy and nothing that me or the girl does seems to work to make him stop. I don't think he even knows why he's crying. It's just gonna be one of those days.

Potty Power Please

Thought for the day...."Please don't pee your pants!". This morning I'm trying to round up the royal heirs to go to their preschool open house. Mason has flat out told me when I ask, "Why? Why? Don't you use the potty?"..... "Because I want you to do it". Great! You get a kick out of me wiping your butt. He did pick out his underwear this morning, we shall see. Maybe the soiling of the underwear is a treat reserved for mom and he'll be fine at school.
Last night, we took our last trip to Sam's Club (as my membership expires at the end of the month and I've already bought a Costco one now) and bought Mia the el-cheapo Sleeping Beauty costume. I was going to buy from mydressuptrunk.com but just couldn't justify buying 5 dresses (of course, I'd HAVE to buy the package). Mia has said she wants to be Jasmine so I've bought the patterns and will attempt to make it. The Sleeping Beauty is my back-up in case I screw it up which is highly likely. Anyway, off to start the day.

Mike's Kayak

My favorite thing about Mike getting a Kayak?...... I get some alone time:) I say there's no room for me. He says, "there's room for everyone"....hmmmmm......maybe next time.
There's about 2 weeks left until school (OK preschool) starts and Mason will be starting this year. Of course, that's contingent on him using the potty but I think when he realizes his alternative is to stay home with me the potty will be "sweet freedom". I've been feeling really stressed lately. Just overwhelmed really, so much to do-no time. I was even contemplating getting a prescription for the "happy" drugs but I think once I have a little break maybe I'll return to normal.
Here was my big freak out of late. Well, internal freak-out. Those who know me know I'm not exactly the church lady type. I was a military pilot in my past life and frankly a little uncomfortable around other women and children. Now as a SAHM I try to get involved, I mean I can't continue on with no friends and live like a hermit in my house right? So now that we finally attend church on a regular basis (we weren't good about that before the kids came) I've become the "moms and tots" leader/coordinator and my neighborhood network coordinator. The moms group thing doesn't really seem like a lot of work since I've finally met some friends. It's become less about the kids and more about ME. Well, I recently volunteered to be an aide for the Faith Formation classes. At the meeting I realized I'm not an aide, I'm the teacher! FREAK OUT! Me a church teacher? I envision my phone ringing of the hook with angry parents wondering just what did I teach their little one. I do have the 4 year olds and Mia will be in the class. Mia is doing pretty well so maybe a few hours with me won't damage other children too much.
Anyway, I've been lurking on other sites/blogs for awhile. Some of them I just love but alas it's no good for me to just make virtual friends. I spend way to much time on the computer as is. It has inspired me to update my own blog though. So if you come by, read the blog, leave a comment to inspire me to update more often.

Wow! Haven't updated since New Years. Too much has happened to write a catch-up so I thought I'd just post a few pics. Top left is obviously the Magic Kingdom in WDW, top right is the four of us at Sarah's (Mike's youngest sister) wedding and the last pic is the kids on the stairs of the Capon House during Tulip Time. May was a whirlwind of activities and just flew by. Of course, I have a ton of projects in the works and really have finished nothing too! I'll post again soon but have to run.... sooo busy.

A day at the beach. We decided to go for a family stroll on the beach yesterday. Mason made a beeline for the water and was not too happy that I wouldn't let him get close. I think he actually thought he was going for a swim. Barley had fun chasing all the birds, he sure seemed like he had a good time. I personally prefer the beach in the summer. This is the closest we've got to taking a family photo with the lighthouse, "Big Red", in the background.

All the kids have been to the doctor for checkups this week. Mia is now 35 lbs. Mason is 25 and Barley is 27. Barley has already passed Mason in weight. I think we have a few years before Mason passes him back:)

Mason's 2-year birthday!

Since it's Christmas Eve it was just us as everyone we know is pretty much gone out of town celebrating the holidays. We still had lots of fun.