You Make Me Nuts!

This morning my almost 3 year old said no less than three times that he was a psychopath. I kid you not - he said "I psychopath" as he headed down the stairs to the garage. Again as he headed to the basement to watch his daily dose of Dora the Explorer; and yet again as I strapped him into his car seat to run errands. Maybe I need my hearing checked - but it is moments like these where you flash forward 15 years and hope that this is the kid you are going to be proud to unleash upon society as he hits adulthood, or fear will be the one atop a bell tower with a high powered rifle screaming "Why didn' t you let me watch Spongebob mom??!!". Parenting is such a leap of faith. I can't help but wish for that crystal ball that would let me gaze into the future and see the end results of my efforts - whether those efforts be brilliant or completely inept - giving me a chance to continue or change. Because once you get to the end, there is no rewind. I can't take back those words spoken in frustration or impatience. I can't give more attention to make up for a past lack. Too much or not enough? For all my grand intentions, if I miss something, even just one thing, one seemingly small innocuous thing through ignorance or choice, will it be the one defining thing that makes all the difference?

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Flik: Here, pretend - pretend that that's a seed.
Dot: It's a rock.
Flik: Oh, I know it's a rock, I know. But let's just pretend for a minute that it's a seed, alright? We'll just use our imaginations. Now, now do you see our tree? Everything that made that giant tree is already contained inside this tiny little seed. All it needs is some time, a little bit of sunshine and rain, and voilá!
Dot: This rock will be a tree?
Flik: Seed to tree. You've gotta work with me, here. Alright? Okay. Now, y-you might not feel like you can do much now, but that's just because, well, you're not a tree yet. You just have to give yourself some time. You're still a seed.
Dot: But it's a rock.
Flik: [shouting] I know it's a rock! Don't you think I know a rock when I see a rock? I've spent a lot of time around rocks!
Dot: You're weird, but I like you.
(From "Bug's Life", Disney/Pixar)

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When I feel like I am beating my head against a rock, I just want to be assured that I am growing trees. For all the weirdness, the stinky-ness, the mess and uncertainty - I like them, I really do. Time, a little bit of sunshine and rain . . . and hope.

Dear Driver waiting for my parking space at Walmart,

While I understand that parking and hoofing it in from the back 40 is a pain and time consuming (I have soooooooooooooo been there - dragging/carrying my juvenile posse along, with a 40 lb diaper bag, in the pouring rain), please note the capaciousness of my vehicle and shopping cart and observe that I have maxed out both in personnel and supplies. Based on that, I would think a less patient person would move along, taking his chances with another parking space; but since you are determined to park in the specific spot that I currently occupy, a little suggestion if I might? Unless you are prepared to either a) get out and help me load groceries or b) wrestle my toddler into his car seat as he seemingly sprouts 11 additional sets of arms/legs and commences screaming and kicking; accept that this is going to take some time.

And no, YOU DO NOT get to honk at me.

Sincerely,
crazy lady with the plethora of kids and enough groceries for a platoon who is beginning to develop performance anxiety as the cars line up behind you

The Guest Blogger: Jessi Topic: My Birthday

Okay to all you people I am Jessi, Jessica, whatever but I am the guest blogger today. Unlike it being my mom it is going to be ME!!! My topic is my birthday which was Wednesday, December 2, 2009..... I am now thirteen an official teenager! So here are some pictures with some captions below them. (hint hint below the picture!)


Earrings from Schuck Grandparents

Watch from Schuck Grandparents

Watch attachment also from Schuck Grandparents

The amazing polka dotted quilt

BOOK!!!!!!!! PHOTOGRAPHY!!!

Awesome blowdryer with atatchments

this is from my friend Brooklyn

PURPLE POLKA DOTTED PAJAMA PANTS!!! (From Brooklyn)


MY Yummy Pavlova Cake thingy!

I have been known for my Big Mouth! lol!!
This was my birthday I didn't get a picture with my card from my McCrary Grandparents but I did like it!!!! Luv, Grandma Donna, and "Big Chief"........... it's a long story! Well, not really but anyway you get the point....... hopefully!
OH!!! And all my presents I loved I was just making funny faces..... I am known for that!

Pumpkins, Fairies and Skeletons - Oh My!

Some of you may recall our pumpkin mischief and mayhem from last year. I am pleased to report that everyone participated this year in the carving, including Trent - I have photographic evidence.

Nathan actually put his hands inside a pumpkin this year and pulled out one handful of seeds and pulp, said "Yucky!" and was happy to let Jessi take care of the rest.

Adam preferred to just inspect again this year.


Sadie is my get-to-it girl - she just dives right in.





In the excitement of Halloween and Trick or Treating - I didn't get pictures taken of the kids. (I forgot!) The night of our church Trunk or Treat, Garrett got "lost" for almost an hour and so we were rushed trying to get out the door once he did show up after we scoured the neighborhood for him and I didn't have to call the police. Frayed nerves - not conducive to remembering to grab the camera. THEN, I forgot again the second night when they went door to door! Shame on me! Bad mama! So, when the kids asked what we were doing for FHE on Monday, I told them dressing up in our costumes again and taking pictures - YAY! They were slightly less enthused about this than I thought they would be. In fact, Trent was so excited to get dressed up in his Indiana Jones get up again, he decided to take a nap and slept through it all. His costume was awesomely cool too - I got all the stuff from Goodwill including the leather jacket! (great deal on leather at Goodwill I might add.) Took me a week to find "the hat" which would have been easy had I had enough time just to order one online. Ah well, c'est la vie I suppose. At least I know what he wants to be next year already (Charlie Chaplin) and so I have plenty of time to get the Bowler hat he wants for that. The bull whip was the best part though - Trent made it out of duct tape following this tutorial I found on line. Walmart had duct tape in every color of the rainbow, except the dark brown I wanted. We opted for black. Very cool! Eventually there may be a picture.

Adam aka Mr. Bones. Both Adam and Nathan were skeletons this year. They looked cute together. Unfortunately, Nathan fell asleep after being very crabby about being put into his skeleton costume again.


Sadie is a flower fairy. That bit of pink skirt is all that is left of my prom dress from junior year. It didn't fit anymore anyway and I haven't had need for a prom dress in quite some time now.


Jessica was a black and white ballerina and made her costume herself! That excited me to no end let me tell you - one less costume to make!

Close up of the mask she made. I think she did an awesome job!

Garrett was a wizard and was also seriously not enthused about getting dressed up until I gave him a pencil (he lost the wand I made him) and said cast a spell on your sisters. He is only wearing half of his costume and it was painful enough just to get him to put this half on.


One wee skeleton tucked in his bed - too tired from Trick or Treating.

We had a ton of candy. Now all that's left is the Whoppers and the Tootsie Rolls. I will gladly hand it out to any late "Trick or Treaters" who might happen by - costumes optional.

The Kitchen Faucet Leaks

I suppose I can fit under the sink much easier than I did under the dashboard of my car.

**sigh**

We Have Air and it Blows!!!

This is the blower motor I took out of my van. I had air/heat - it just didn't blow out into the vehicle and the windows being fogged up didn't help safe driving. Now it blows but good. For the record - changing a blower motor out is not really difficult, just a pain in the neck. (I would also add pain in the back, pain in the hip and I am pretty sure I threw my left shoulder out as well) Why you might ask? Because the blower motor is situated behind the glove box and underneath the dash. There is not a lot of room behind the glove box and underneath the dash. There is however, a lot of bolts you have to undo. Lots of bolts that require tools and tools that barely fit. The person operating the tools must also be able to fit up under the dash. That person must fight with the passenger seat, the dash and the passenger side door. This person is not a leprechaun. A leprechaun might fit, my two year old might have fit - me, not so much. I had to kneel on the ground beside the car and then twist/climb in backwards and headfirst. I'm sure the neighbors felt this a great treat to see me half hanging out of the car in our driveway. I'm sure they would have also enjoyed the few choice words I had to say about the accessibility (read: INaccessibility) of said blower motor. Once you have all the bolts out and the motor unplugged - the blower comes out quite easily, in fact, it falls out - which doesn't bode well if your face is directly underneath.




This is the mess that Nathan made while I was changing the blower motor. Jessi is relieved we are not having spaghetti for dinner tonight - she doesn't like spaghetti. Jessi likes Nathan. I like air that blows.

(And if I never, ever, ever have to do that job again - I will like it even better.)

Monday's To Do List Tuesday Recap

Aside from the 176,892 loads of laundry and uploading the photos (okay, and the yelling - I have to admit to a wee bit of yelling) - I got through my to do list.

Washer working again.

After fussing and fretting a bit (since they put that darn resistor in a spot that is almost impossible to work in unless you have hands the size of a 2 year old and are double jointed), I got the new blower motor resistor installed in the van. Unfortunately, it is not the resistor that is the problem, but a $12 resistor vs an $80 motor seemed a better place to start. Especially since the motor is not a job I can do. (Dismantling my dashboard and then having to put it all back together again and have all those knobs, buttons and the radio work again afterward doesn't sound like something I want to dive into without my dad or an expert helping me.) Just my luck I lost that gamble. Though, I will say the old resistor didn't look so hot anyway, so we probably are better off.

We chased the dog who got loose around the neighborhood while I was covered in car grime and I proclaimed her the stupidest dog on the planet - which I assured her was not a good thing. At that point my 4 year old asked me if I was at crazy yet.

Oh honey, been and gone - been and gone . . . .

Off to do a lot of laundry now. If you don't hear from me in a while - send help. (and bleach)