Mud and Hugs

Thoughts

2010-10-28T17:32:00.003-05:00

Quotes from a Presbyterian minister in 1916:

1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
3. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
4. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
5. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.
6. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
7. You cannot life the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
8. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
9. You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
10. You cannot help men permenantly by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.

All that being said, I still think that a lot of these election candidates are the lesser of two evils. I hate that the Governor choices in Texas are Perry and White. No and No in my book.

It is refreshing to see a few standouts cross country. I wish I lived in districts where I could vote for them!

Is this it?

2010-01-15T17:59:00.002-06:00

OK - so today was my first official day as an unemployed woman. I thought it would feel amazing, or at least different. It didn't. I'm hoping that I'll really "feel" it next Tue when I don't have to work. Please, please, please.

Maybe I'm still just emotionally and physically drained from getting everything wrapped up and traveling for the past two weeks. Please, please, please.

Otherwise - what's the point?

One more week

2010-01-10T12:54:00.003-06:00

One more week to go until I will have to update my profile to say mom - not working mom...at least not at a paying gig.

I'm excited/nervous, etc. This week is going to be so full. I have to go to Atlanta on Monday to train some people. I get back on Wed night and have a big meeting with an important client and their auditor on Thurs then I turn in my laptop. I've been doing this work for 9 years, and the end just doesn't seem real yet.

I'm looking forward to waking up the following Tue!

That being said, I have about a million personal goals for myself now that I'll have more time. I don't know who is going to be a more difficult boss - myself or the one I've had for the last 9 years. I'll probably try to take in some small consulting jobs as well, but nothing overwhelming. Just enough for some mad money!

No excuse

2010-01-04T19:36:00.003-06:00

OK - So I have officially fallen into the "sucks" category of keeping up with this mini-blog that I started.

I'm going to have a little more free time in the next month or so, and I'm going to try and creep my way out of the "sucks" category and into the "kinda sucks" category.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It wasn't me!!

2009-02-12T18:05:00.000-06:00

We went to McDonald's yesterday with my best friend Heather and her daughter Little A to celebrate her birthday. No - not Little A's, but Heather's birthday - because we know how to party baby!

Anyway - the kids had a good time playing, but we're rounding them up and I'm putting Luke's shoes on while I have him stationed in a high chair and I hear the alarm go off. I look up to find out the horror and humiliation portion of the outing was upon us. Travis decided to open the door - yes the emergency door - and hold it open so that we could go outside.

Sweet, right?

To make matters worse, when I did the walk of shame up to the counter to tell the kid who, by the way, should have been in school - I mean it is 1:00 on a Wed and she couldn't have been more that 16 -

Anyway, we (meaning I) tell her that we (meaning Austin) set off the alarm and ask if someone could turn it off. She just looked at me with her 16 year old not-in-school-self and said, "Well, you know that is the emergency door."

Thank you very much. I am now enlightened.

I've decided never to go grey

2009-02-08T17:56:00.004-06:00

So we started painting the exterior of the house this weekend. The dare devil in me decided to pick off white- called "Dove White" - by the ever so clever paint people who have 500 different shades for every color and a million names to match---most of them look the same to me.

Really, when do you finally say - hey these people have enough colors to choose from? No, no - the Divine Dove won't do. I really must have that Dove White???

I blame it all on HGTV. Which I must confess I am obsessed with. You know that commercial where they are talking about House Hunters and they say pick #1, or I'd pick #3, etc. I really do that. You can try and be cool and pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about, but you know that you do!!!

Anyway, I did the ceiling part above the front door and it dropped all over me...hair, face, you name it. When I went inside to take a shower and clean up, I made the mistake of looking in the mirror.

One of those floor to ceiling door mirrors that we really should have gotten rid of a long time ago for the obvious reason.....it's a floor to ceiling mirror and you really don't need that in the bathroom of all places if you plan on keeping any of your self esteem after 2 kids.

My dark hair was streaked a daring "Dove White" and I will proclaim here and now that I do NOT plan to be old. Okay, well maybe I'll be old one day, but I will never go grey. It was horrifying!

Like in Back to the Future 2 or 3 - I can't remember which one - and you see Loraine (Marty's mother) in the future and she looks awful. Well, I had my ride in the Dolorian today, and it sucked.

my booty shake done broke me

2009-01-13T18:37:00.000-06:00

I went out with my sister and girlfriend last Sat night....and I'm still paying for it. I'm exhausted. I used to party like a rock star at least 2 time a week, but I think 2 times a year is pushing it now.

It was fun we danced, drank and talked ALL night but I still don't feel quite normal yet. So I'm debating with myself....was it worth it? On one hand, I don't want to be THAT old yet, but on the other maybe I am THAT old and denying it is just self delusion.

I had about 20+ goals for the new year, but I've decided to narrow it down to 2. Happy and healthy. Most of them fit into one of those 2 categories anyway. Much less to mess up on with such broad categories anyway and as a side note, I almost never keep the resolutions anyway.

We went to the lake for New Years and had a blast. It was quiet (for a few days until the rest of the boys came) and relaxing. I think we're going to be spending more time there this year now that Luke is old enough to handle it and actually have some fun.

Hush Your Mouth

2008-09-25T09:03:00.003-05:00

OK - after watching the press conference and news last night I might have been scared into changing my mind about moving. We have great credit, so I think we could still get a good loan. But now I'm not sure the idea of selling in a bad market and buying in a good market is smart given the volatility.

Never mind what I said earlier this week - I reserve the right to change my mind about all issues - from the mundane (should the toilet paper face in or out) to the life critical.

I guess we could just put it on the market and see what happens. We don't have a NEED to move so we could just take it if the right offer comes along and stay here if it doesn't. Not sure if that is going to be a sticking point on the bambino with Big B though!

Those of you who know me -

even if you're an acquaintance -

or someone next to me in the fruit isle in the grocery store -

You've heard me rant about lending practices for years now. I can't believe it has come to this. Over the years, this has been like watching yourself run out of gas, but refusing to stop at the station on the corner.

OK - maybe a gas analogy to the housing and lending crisis wasn't entirely appropriate given the current economy....hush your mouth.

She's alive.....

2008-09-23T20:08:00.000-05:00

OK - so I was in the hospital, then there was this little hurricane called Ike - maybe you've heard of it by now. Really - not much of an excuse - health and natural disasters......

Anyway - I have the baby bug BAD. I had nips of it a while ago, but now it is just eating at me. Luke walked for the first time on Sunday. I don't think that could possibly have anything to do with this baby bug increase....not one bit.

But Big B thinks we need more square footage before we venture into the world where the parents are out numbered. I hate to admit it, but I agree. Soooooooooo we're going to start staging the house and decluttering this weekend. I think that the process will take some time though. A month or two.

I know what you're thinking. Now isn't a good time to sell. Yup - you're right. BUT if the margin settle for on the sale of our house is enough to account for the SF price difference on another house - then I'd say that I could live with that.

Grand Prize and Groceries

2008-08-12T19:43:00.001-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen - we have a winner.

And that winner is me.

What's the prize, you ask? The grand prize winner will have her diaper duty cut in half.

That's right - through the use of pez as rewards (or bribery - depending on how you look at it) Austin is now potty trained! His current success rate is about 98% and that, my dear friends, is a miracle.

In other news, I was at the grocery store the other day and I almost had to take out a small loan from the bank to make it past check out. Good Lord! The prices are insane. I swear I buy pretty much the same stuff every week, but the bill keeps shocking me at the register.

I need a plan of action. I thinking about becoming the most obsessed bargain shopping, coupon clipping, mom in the universe.

Then I decided that was too much work. I'm all for less work.

So, I was thinking that I don't need to spend all of that time and effort for just my family. Why not share and be shared with??? (See the laziness principles at work here???)

I'm sure that other moms are thinking the same thing. I wonder if you guys think it is a good idea to take a week and plan the meals and groceries with the specials and coupons and then share......

Seriously?????

2008-07-10T08:09:00.002-05:00

I'm so tired. Austin was up late and Luke was up and down all night, then Austin woke up at 5:45 this morning. How very rude of those boys. You would think that they would have learned a few manners by now. Don't they know I'm tired?

And it's not a sane tired either.

I was reading a message about crying in the closet on the phone after giving birth. I was amazed that some other mom had done that too.

I thought that I was the only one - and I would have never admit it if she hadn't brought it up first. Not one of my finer moments.

Anyway, so here I am TODAY. And I acutally considered crying in the closet "just for a few minutes."

I have officially lost my mind today. I blame it on the fact that I'm running on fumes. Granted, I had a baby, but it was 10 mo ago, so I think it would really be a stretch to blame it on the hormones anymore....and I can't come up with any other GOOD excuses.

Stay out of the closet - stay out of the closet - stay out of the closet. Don't go towards the light..........

I am Crazy, Hear me Frazzle

2008-07-03T18:05:00.001-05:00

So much is going on....

Big B started a new job. First he was out of town for training for 2 weeks.

Only 2 weeks, but I now hold GOOD single moms on such a pedestal.

He is working from home about 70% of the time. That sounds wonderful, right?

Well - it will be, but right now it is a bit of an adjustment. For both of us. He has to learn to stay in his office because I can't explain to a tearful almost 3 year old 500 times a day that daddy is home, but he can't play with you because he is working. And I have to learn to let him do his thing without trying to help all the time.

Regardless as to whether or not my help would make it more organized....which it so would, by the way!

In other news, my sister is bringing her new boyfriend over here for dinner tonight so that we can meet him.

It's one of two things with her. Either she doesn't make the right choices about men, or she has the worst luck ever. And it might be both.

I'm hoping that this one is a keeper - and that she keeps him.

Even if he's not a keeper, at least it is a good excuse to have a grown up evening with no kids and a little adult beverage.

Cheers!

There is so much going on now that I don't even have the energy to put it all down. Considering the time lapse between this post and the last one, I should be thankful that I wrote anything at all.

Greedy for Some Girl Time

2008-05-20T18:35:00.001-05:00

OK - so I was reading this in my favorite non-friend blog.

http://thebigmamablog.com/index.php/2008/05/19/and-now-i-am-spoiled-rotten/

And it made me think. (read - It made me jealous)

Yea - Big B and I are going on a great vacation in a few weeks, but I want more.

Greedy little mama that I am.

I'm going to make an effort and actually plan something concrete in the next few weeks with dates and hotels and everything. The works.

Cause it's high time for a little girl time.

What Thinking Mama

2008-05-16T13:53:00.002-05:00

Austin was in a mood one morning because I wouldn't let him cut with scissors right that second. I think my answer was something along the lines of, "Luke is hungry, but when I'm done feeding him, you and I can cut with the scissors together."

Given my obviously incorrect answer, he decided to throw the stack of paper on the floor.

"What are you thinking? Pick that paper up now."

He stood looking defiant for a minute. Obviously deciding whether or not he was going to pick up the paper. Thankfully he did. And I THOUGHT it was over.

Later that day, I dropped some of the laundry I was carrying to the basket. "What thinking, Mama!"

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

I must have heard "What thinking Mama" a million times that day.

Thankfully his output ratio per day has dwendled since then, but I'm scared.

You heard me - I'm scared.

I'm scared of what might come out of my mouth next.

TV Tangent

2008-05-15T18:03:00.002-05:00

First things first. I have no excuse for the time lapse here other than to say I was busy. But everybody is busy, right?

And nobody wants to hear about that.

So on to things we do want to hear about – like Grey’s Anatomy. The real important things in life.

I anticipate Thurs night. Sad, but true.

Despite the Meredith/Shepard tug of war that has been going on for….let me see…how long has the show been on the air?...let’s just say forever…..I still route for them to get back together and make it a fairy tale ending.

Why can’t shows have the perpetually happy couple? What has happened to TV?

Think about it.

Leave it to Beaver, The Brady Bunch, the Cosby’s…..each show had a moral issue that they resolved in the most positive of ways, but regardless of the moral issue you never doubted the strength of their families or the parent’s relationship.

Now to find that kind of programming, you have to watch Nick or another kid’s network and the shows are filled with kid issues like – don’t be a bully and don’t cheat on a test, etc.

I’ll bet they could make a lot of money on a program that was filled with adult issues, but the family structure was solid. I’d watch it.

Wow, that was a tangent. See what happens when you just write and don’t plan it out in your pretty little head first…

Moving on.

I’m ready for our vacation! And by ready, I mean that I want to be there. Not that I am packed or organized in any way, shape or form. Two weeks to go!!!

Firsts

2008-05-04T09:47:00.001-05:00

I would like to take you on a journey of two of this weeks "Firsts." Life changes so fast with little kids.

1) Luke played in the ball pit for the first time. We were there with some friends and Little A was so cute with him. We all had a great time.

And those balls he kept sticking in his mouth were not germy - not one little bit.

2) We TRY to be quiet at the library - but really, we're not.

Austin noticed a mentally challenged boy at the library this week. When he said "What that Mama" I knew I was in for it. Usually I try and anticipate these questions and come up with good answers before the question is asked, but I was working on the fly with this one.

I explained that he was a special boy.

And that everybody including himself was different.

And that everyone needed friends and he could go over and say hi. Both of the boys seemed so excited about saying hi to eachother. It went well. And the boy's mother seemed to appreciate my explaination. 2 points for me.

It was good. Disaster averted....especially since we were in the library and I KNOW everyone could hear us.

Quick Reflexes

2008-05-03T10:32:00.006-05:00

Austin was playing with the water hose at Gran's yesterday. Minding his own business and having a great time as any 2 1/2 year old should, but doesn't actually do very often.

Then Big B decides to go through the garage door and jump out and scare him.

I know - I have 3 kids.

Austin's reaction time was only about a second. He jumped because he was scared and then he got the most mischievous look on his face. Without hesitation - Ready, Aim, Fire the water hose at Daddy.

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Bet you didn't think of that Big B!

Tears, seriously tears.

I wish I would have had a video camera. We would be in the running for $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Videos. Don't laugh - I love that show. Really, I do.

And I now have comfort in the fact that Austin's reaction time is incredible. And that he is now an actual player in Daddy's games instead of a pawn.

You go, Austin. I'm routing for you!

Checking In

2008-05-01T07:49:00.003-05:00

Busy. Sucks. Sorry.

I'm spending every free second I have right now on a project for work. I'm exhausted. I will be better about writing soon.

For now, I thought that this was fun. I got to level 5.

http://www.minijuegosgratis.com/juegos/hwdykyworld/hwdykyworld.html?5d5b=0a90

All Aboard

2008-04-25T21:07:00.007-05:00

Check this out.

Luke made a remarkable effort to bypass thousands of toys on his rolling/slithering journey all the way across the playroom to the prized choo choos. While I'm thrilled about his new found mobility, not to mention his single-minded sense of determination, I'm a little worried about the aftermath.

Thankfully Austin was napping and didn't witness this new development first hand.

Clearly the choo choos have a special place in Austin's heart, and while little brothers are cool, I'm not sure how he will stack up when weighed against the almighty choo choo.

For the sake of documentation, this is just one of the 1,684,865 photos I have of Austin with his choo choos.

Note the choo choo pj's. I am ashamed to admit that I have actually done laundry before it actually needed to be done just so I wouldn't have to go through the whole choo choo pj's are dirty routine at bedtime.

Anybody have any wise thoughts on how to make this choo choo sharing experience go as smoothly as possible. It's not like there aren't plenty to go around....

Potty Talk

2008-04-24T21:58:00.000-05:00

Big B is out of town for work and the pressure is on. I don't know how many times I answered the "Where did Daddy go" question tonight.

Here are some of Austin's Bedtime Highlights tonight:

1) Potty. He's been doing really good with pee pee, but "Mama, no want to" comes out every time we even mention poo poo during the day. BUT every night he will tell you that he needs to poo poo so he can sit on the potty and stay up a little later.

Because sitting on the potty is SO much more fun than going to sleep. Clearly he is missing a vital piece of my DNA with that one.

But I digress.

It's a Catch 22. What do you do? Tell him - No you can't potty I know you're just running out the clock? If I had the audacity to do that he would promptly sh*& himself and I would have the mother load of mommy guilt. So I let him sit on the potty night after night and the Browns NEVER make it to the Superbowl.

2) Bedtime Talk. With Daddy, it's Shrek and Donkey impersonations. With me it's usually what we did today or whatever. Tonight however he insisted that I fill in for Daddy since he isn't in town and try my hat at Shrek and Donkey.

Apparently my Shrek and Donkey impersonations just aren't up to par. I have to admit that it's rough, yet slightly amusing, to be heckled by a two year old.

Fab 80's Vocab

2008-04-22T21:22:00.000-05:00

Fair warning. I'm going to date myself here. Not like dinner and a movie, but like "hey lady, you're old."

Let me start by saying that Austin automatically assumes that every time the phone rings - it's his daddy. Every time we see a black truck (and you know how many black trucks there are in Texas!) - it's his daddy.

Daddy Sightings occur at least 500 times a day all over the city.

No that's not your daddy. Your daddy is at work. Earning money. To pay for the house, buy food, clothes..

"To buy choo choos!!!"

Yes - to buy choo choos too. Gotta have priorities.

Anyway, the phone rings on the way home from Mother's Day Out, and Austin says "Daddy!" Thankfully this time he was right and we didn't have to go down the whole work/money/house/choo choo road yet again. Chugga chugga.

So I put it on speakerphone so they can reconnect after all of this time apart. And Austin starts yelling Goober at the top of his lungs. To be quite honest, I didn't quite make out that the gooble coming out of his mouth was the word Goober until Big B clued me in. Goober!

Goober! Goober! Austin used to call people silly. It was really cute. Anytime you laughed or made his toys act goofy he would tell you that you were silly. "Mama you silly"

Apparently Austin had the audacity to tell Big B that he was silly last night. Clinging to his status as an adult, Big B rose to the occasion and called him a Goober back.

And it stuck.

I don't remember where the word goober came from. Do you guys? I only remember that I had permed hair and a massive can of Aqua Net when I retired the word from my ever expanding vocabulary.

Gotta leave brain cells for those really important words like, Not! and Like Totally!

I think we might be breaking some laws here by reintroducing the word Goober into the 21st century. Like Totally!

Shopping for Manners

2008-04-21T23:28:00.001-05:00

Sorry to keep the masses in suspense. And by masses, I mean all 5 of you!

Anyway, Friday night was fun. Big B and I went out to dinner first. He decided to surprise me and take me to a really nice restaurant.

While I love surprises, I think the spit up stained shirt I happened to be wearing might have been a tad inappropriate. And by tad, I mean obviously a little more than a tad, but lets not quibble with the details. My shirt would have been just fine for Los Cucos, Los Tios, or any other Los we flock to for the margaritas when mom has the boys, but I would have put forth some fashion effort with this joint.

The food was great and it was fancy, but there was a family at the table next to us who clearly failed to teach their kids (about 4 and 2) table manners. Not your run of the mill chew-with-your-mouth-closed stuff either....I'm talking about a 4 year old dressed in his spiderman pj's complete with a mask running up and around the three or four closest tables.

Did I mention that this was a really nice restaurant? If not, let me say it again. This was a really nice (read expensive) restaurant. Shame, shame.

Then we went to R and D's for post dinner drinks and gossip. Much fun. Let me tell you how much fun. My spit up wearing, no sleep having butt stayed up till 2 am. Case and point.

Sunday I went shopping with mom and got dresses. Yes, that is plural. I didn't own a single dress - well not one that fits right now anyway.

Big B is not what you would call a fashionista. Those of you who know him are undoubtably floored by this revelation. And if we're being completely honest, I wouldn't presume to stick myself in that category either. Again, big shocker.

But, he asked me to wear a dress to our fancy dinner while we're on vacation next month. And since he NEVER mentions anything about clothing you actually wear OVER your underwear, I felt obliged to comply.

I didn't think it would be so much fun though. I got, not one, not two, but three new dresses. Now I just need to come up with some more places to wear them!

And how often do you get a chance to show off the not one, not two, but three new dresses? Well if you're me - then it is a first. So we decided, with a little prodding from my mom, that there should be a fashion show.

Austin said "pretty dress mama" and was clearly disappointed when I went back to sporting my shorts and a t-shirt. In fact, he was so disappointed that he asked if he could wear my dress. While the situation in and of itself was quite amusing, I think Big B was the star of this ensuing comedy. Watching him explain that dresses are for girls was one of the highlights of my weekend.

Breakthrough

2008-04-18T13:41:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gentleman, we have had a breakthrough. I can feel the anticipation in the air…..did they win the lottery, is Austin potty trained, did she come up with a way to eat cake and lose weight. Sorry to say no, no and no.

Luke’s tooth finally broke the gum line. As with labor, between the first and the second kid you forget how horrible teething is. I strongly believe that forgetfulness is why brothers and sisters exist, and why most of them eventually have their teeth.

Luke does fabulous during the day, but keeps waking up in pain at night. BUT my mom has generously agreed to watch the boys tonight so YEA for that. A night off. I’m stoked.

Stranger Danger

2008-04-17T11:56:00.000-05:00

On the way to Mother’s Day Out this morning Austin saw an 18 wheeler at the stop light next to us. “Wanna ride big truck” – repeat 50 times.

So, as a mom, I immediately thought of the don’t-get-in-the-car-with-strangers lesson. I calmly explain that yes, that is a really cool truck, but we can’t ride in it because we can’t get in the car with strangers.

So my ever so shy child says “Hi truck man. Mama, no stranger, ride truck.” Check mate. Two points for the 2 year old. I have been telling him that it is okay to say hi and make friends and to play with new kids because he has a really long “warm up” period when we see new people (or even old people sometimes)

Maybe I need to add a clause to this pep-talk I give him. The “greasy old man driving a truck” clause.

Thankfully the truck turned and I got out of that conversation with some dignity.

The kiddie museum was fun yesterday. I really enjoyed the adult conversation. It took Austin a while to warm up, but he ended up playing trucks, having a puppet show, riding a merry-go-round and the cherry on the top – giving G a hug goodbye. Way to break out of that shell sweetheart – just remember – little boys and girls at the kiddie museum – okay. Greasy guys in trucks – not okay.

As moms tend to do, we got on the topic of having babies, and I mentioned that the doctor who delivered both of the boys is moving. I’m really torn up about the whole situation. How dare you move away from me when I’m not sure if I’m through with you yet?

I know, I know. Best for his family – good opportunity for his wife – close to their relatives…etc. I wish him well. I just wish him to be well HERE. Don’t you know that the world should revolve around me????

So I’ve got to find a new doc. Much fun. Better watch out for that “greasy old man delivering babies” clause.

Yummy pressure

2008-04-15T22:02:00.000-05:00

Ah, the pressure of a first post.

I'd like to write something profound, but I'll settle for just getting something on the page at this point.

We could go the whole life history route, but I don't have that kind of patience or time. So why not blabber about Dancing with the Stars instead.

Did you see Kristi Yamaaaaaa? As you can see, I have absolutely no clue how to spell her name, so I'll just call her Kristi Yummy. Ms. Yummy was fantastic. Sexy and floaty - just how I like my dancing.

The real drama was watching Ms. Yummy's husband though. He seems nice enough, but he's not an actor. You could tell that he was ready to explode with jealousy while watching his sexy wife dancing with another man but was tactfully holding back because of the cameras. Thank you Mr. Yummy. I'm sure your wife truely appreciates that.

In other more facinating news, tomorrow I'm going to take the boys to the kiddie museum with some friends. Should be fun. Hopefully they'll sleep in until at least 7:30 so they won't be ready to go home for a nap 10 minutes after we get there. Incase you missed it - there was an important piece of information in that last sentence. What - rewind - what did she say? Yup you heard me. Sleeping in around here constitutes staying in bed until at least 7:30.

I used to sleep until noon on a regular weekend basis and barely made it out of bed before 8 on a work day prior to the boys. Note that the oldest was born over 2 1/2 years ago so that is a long period of adjustment and I'm still *&^%&*%ing about it. I don't think I'll ever stop.

Wait - better yet, I'll just plan many years in advance for payback. That will help me in the mornings. When they are in high school I will burst in their room full of cheerfulness every weekend morning by 9 am. Note that we are not going crazy here. 9 am is much better that 7:30. Heaven forbid that I punish myself in the process of payback.