Tiny

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I am so proud of myself! I did it! After looking at Wendi's post from yesterday, I had to give it a try. Since I was stuck on what to do for "tiny," I thought I would create a "scrapbook" of my boys when they were tiny. I don't have any pictures of Alex scanned from his infancy, that's why he's in there as a big kid. This was so much fun. I may be addicted now!

Splish Splash I was takin' a bath...

You didn't really think it would be me in the tub, now, did you? Anyway, here are my two baby chicks taking their bath together. Now that Alex and Andy are independent shower takers (after I hound them repeatedly), I generally stick these two together to make my job of bathing them easier. Plus, they seem to enjoy tub time with a friend. Who wouldn't?

I had an experience today that lent itself perfectly to the "splish splash" theme of the day, by I missed the opportunity to photograph it. The boys and I were swimming this afternoon (which also would have lent itself to splish splash had I taken my camera outside) and I was washing clothes at the same time. (I am very good at multi-tasking). Anyway, we came inside for a brief moment when I heard a lovely waterfall sound. However, when that sound is coming from your laundry room, it can't be good. A wash cloth had fallen into the laundry tub and clogged it up. Needless to say, the laundry tub runneth over. Not good. It took every beach towel I have in the house, plus moving a large wardrobe full of clothes and cleaning supplies, moving the washer and dryer, to get the mess cleaned up. Later in the evening, I banished the boys to the basement and they came running up to tell me there were puddles on the floor. So, my hulk-like efforts of moving everything and cleaning up quickly did not happen fast enough. I think at this point, every thing is dry. I'll probably find something tomorrow that I missed.

Yet another fun "splish splash" photo opportunity missed, when, on my way to karate this evening I saw there was a watermain break right down the road. The road was flooded and as of 10 PM we still have no water.

Alaska Update:

Alex left for Alaska at 8:30 AM Sunday. He had a four hour scheduled layover in Newark, NJ which turned into 6 1/2 hours because of a weather delay, then off to Seattle, Washington. They had a short layover then a 4 hour flight to Anchorage. They got into Anchorage at 2 AM our time. Needless to say, Alex was more than a little tired when he called to tell us good night.

Yesterday they went to a Native American Village where they learned native dances, made a craft and shopped for souvenirs. Today they were scheduled to go to a sled dog kennel to see puppies that will become future sled dogs. CTP and I are more than a little bit jealous, but we'll live vicariously through our child.

My mixed up priorities...

When I woke up this morning (other than being extremely jubilant that it was my last morning of watching the kids from you know where), these piles of laundry were my top priority. There were a few items that Alex needed washed prior to his departure on Sunday (you can see his suitcase sitting off to the side). Upon further reflection upon this topic I realized how stupid a priority that was. Did it need done? Yes. Did I need to get those clothes cleaned before Sunday? Yes. Did it need done immediately and at the cost of doing something engaging with my children? Absolutely not. Now, it's not that I ignored my children. They had a ton of friends to play with today and they spent the entire day outside running around and having a great time. However, it did cause me to think that sometimes (probably more often than I would care to admit) I let the mundane, essentially unimportant things take up more of my time than I should. During the course of a day I get so caught up in what "needs" done that I don't take time to "smell the roses" or enjoy the kids. I know how quickly they grow up. When I look at Alex and realize that he's 11, and leaving for a two week trip, alone, I'm stunned by how time flies. It's when I'm laying in bed at night or early in the morning that I lament the lost time that I could have spent doing something with the boys. But then when daylight comes I get sidetracked again. Okay, enough self recrimination for this evening. Tomorrow I'll try harder...

Movement

Look real hard and you'll see my cutie pie Aidan playing soccer (orange shirt).

What better picture to showcase movement than a bunch of three and four year olds running around learning to play soccer? He had a rough first day and participated very little, but yesterday was great. He had a fun time and participated almost the whole time. Today was a little rough because he missed his nap due to a doctor's appointment where he received three shots. Tomorrow will be better...

It's only a one week soccer camp but they have done a really nice job with the kids. The guy working with Aidan's age group has some kind of accent (I can't quite decipher what country) and he sounds cool giving directions to the kids. Maybe the next time he goes to karate he won't be so scared now that he has done this activity. Probably not.

Moody

I was going to take a picture of myself for this post, but CTP beat me to it. I fully recognize that I have the tendency to be moody, but in my defense, let anyone spend all day, every day with seven boys between the ages of 10 months and 11 years, and moodiness becomes a way of life. I don't think that sentence makes complete sense, but I'm too tired to fix it. Speaking of moody, one of the weird little sh*ts, I mean brats, oops, kids, that I babysit was sitting in my family room watching TV today. Out of the blue, he says, "I smell dust." Really? REALLY! #@&*! So I calmly said, "Would you like to help me clean?" This is after yesterday when he said, "I have the best parents in the world. They never yell." Seriously? SERIOUSLY! Are you all surprise I wasn't arrested for hurling a child out the window? I am.

Okay, so I'm off task but sometimes one just needs to vent. For today, I chose a picture of my most moody child, Andy. He can be a sweetie when he wants to, but most days he's downright mean. But his moods switch off and on like a switch (not sure if it's an up switch or down switch Princess :) - kidding). He could be so mad at me that he runs away (walks around the yard then back inside) and in two minutes he's asking me to play a game. His behavior confuses and confounds me.

I'm going to have a glass of wine. NOW!

Wendi's questions

1. Do you like blue cheese? no.
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No.
3. Do you own a gun? Do plastic water guns count?
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? never been to a sonic
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? nope.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I try not to think about what they are made of.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? The Santa Clause
8. What do you prefer to ????? I think this question is missing......
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My engagement ring
11. Favorite hobby? taekwondo and softball
12. Do you have A.D.D.? CTP says I do
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I can never seem to sit and relax...
14. Middle name? Anne
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: can I go to bed yet? What's the girl on House Hunters wearing? (doesn't she know she's on TV?), Will Aidan participate in soccer tomorrow?
16. Name 3 things you bought yesterday...a picture, chairs, m&m's
17. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? iced tea, vitamin water, water
18. Current worry? Will Andy ever be nice?
19. Current hate right now? ironing
20. Favorite place to be? karate
21. How did you bring in the New Year? I hate New Year's Eve with a passion!
22. Where would you like to go? on a cruise
23. Name three people who will complete this? Princess, LL, maybe CTP
24. Do you own slippers? yes, multiple pairs
26. What year would you go back in time to? I'd love to be pioneer during Westward Expansion (I actually tell CTP this all the time - he laughs at me)
27. Can you whistle? yes
28. Favorite color? red
29. Would you be a pirate? Absolutely!
30. What songs do you sing in the shower? ???
31. Favorite girl's name? I had a bunch picked out - never needed them :(
32. Favorite boy's name? Alexander
33. What's in your pocket right now? I'm in my jammies - no pockets.
34. Last thing that made you laugh? reading the answers to some of SB questions
36. Worst injury you've ever had? Broke my thumb playing softball my junior year of highschool
37. Do you love where you live? No-Western PA sucks
38. How many TVs do you have in your house? 4
39. Who is your loudest friend? I plead the 5th
40. How many dogs do you have? Two - a Beagle, Molly, and a Samoyed, Tundra
41. Does someone have a crush on you? Too many to list them all here.
42. What is your favorite book(s) Anything by Patricia Cornwell, JD Robb (Nora Roberts)
43. What is your favorite candy? M&Ms
44. Favorite Sports Team? The Steelers and Penguins.
45. Your favorite meal? Snow Crab legs
46. What were you doing 12 AM last night? sleeping
47. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? How many kids will be in the 5:30 TKD class tonight (there were A LOT!)
48. Do you have any odd habits? CTP assures me I have none.

Metalic

This is a picture of my two metalic jahng bongs. The one on the right is my original competition weapon and the blue one on the left is my new one that CTP bought for me at Worlds - isn't it pretty? My plan was to have someone take a picture of me showcasing my wicked skills with each of these jahng bongs, however the weather did not cooperate with my plans. What makes these competition jahng bongs as opposed to the regular ones we use in class, you ask? (Even if you didn't, I'm going to tell you anyway!) The one on the right is actually the same length as the one I use in class (about 5'6") but is a fraction of the weight. I believe it weighs about 5 ounces, compared to 14 oz. My new one is only 5' and weighs about 3 oz. In a tournament, you are allowed to use a jahng bong that is between 6" shorter or taller than you. The shorter ones just make some of the "tricks" easier.