UNDER CONSTRUCTION

My blog has not gone in the direction I meant for it, so I am going to majorly overhaul what is there and will be back soon. And when I say soon, I mean consistently, like a real blogger. Don't give up on me yet!

Feet Don't Fail Me Now

This post may not be for the faint of heart or for anyone who doesn't enjoy torturing themselves with gross pics of post-op feet. Yes, this is my foot and now I'll never be a foot model. Not that I ever wanted to, but at least that was an option, whereas now, my career has ended before it began...haha!

For those of you who have never seen my "Flinstone" feet, I'll let you in on a little secret. Only one word can describe my feet...and it's a four letter one...UGLY. You thought I would say something else!

Anyway, I've had a very painful bunion for some time now (over a yr) and chose to ignore the pain. I just bought some really ugly shoes, so I could be on my feet all day. Recently, I've started to work out and that's when I couldn't ignore the pain any longer. So, I made an appointment with Dr. Werber in Scottsdale, AZ (love him) and he told me it was more than a bunion and then launches into a very medical explanation, but the long and short of it is the bunion was shaved off, the bones repaired, and a pin put in. At my next appointment, I'm going to ask for more details.

It hurts, but the worst part is not being able to drive or get around. I wear a very attractive heel boot that I'm hoping Belle will bejewel for me, but it's not comfortable and the swelling at the end of the day makes me want to sit on the couch all day with ice on my foot. It's getting better day by day and they've given me some good pain meds.

Just as an FYI: daytime TV is horrible, so I've become addicted to etsy.com. Is it possible to spend all day on the computer, why yes, it is!

My Favorite Time of Night

During our recent stay in Kingman, AZ, I had some trouble sleeping, but as you can see the rest of my "punks" did not! Sometimes, I suffer from a little insomnia and when I do I go from room to room checking on everyone and watching them sleep. The day will come soon that they won't sleep in our house every night and I won't get to watch them a peace and think about how lucky and blessed I am. Some nights I get up several times to check on them, especially when they were babies.

I was appalled to find out that one of my best friends on the planet, and possibly could be the best mom ever, did not check on her kids before she went to bed. After making her feel insufficient and sufficiently guilty, she assures me that she checks on them every night and admits that's one of her fav things to do, as well.

Don't tell the kiddos, but sometimes I lay down with them and hold them as tight as possible because each day is one more moment I can't get back of their childhood, plus they are super quiet and that's always a bonus when I'm trying to love on t hem (hahaha).

So here is a snapshot of my favorite time of night:





If you don't already look in on your family at night, try it. You never know, it might become a habit!

Sorry?

Recently, our 3 usually well behaved children landed themselves in some serious hot water with their dad and I. So, we did what all good parents do, we lectured them. We told them how disappointed we were in them, how we expected more, and that we couldn't trust them (they had been fighting and not listening ALL day). We then retreated to the bathroom where we stayed for a few minutes, so they could "think" about what they had done. (Since we were in a hotel in Kingman, AZ the bathroom was the only place we could go and lock the door).

While we were locked in the bathroom, the children took it upon themselves to use dad's ipad to apologize to us, so they opened the awesome program that allows you to write and draw in different colors. As you can see, they saw the error of their ways, repented, and felt sufficiently guilty given their awful behavior.

I would like to point out that instead of writing a note and slipping it under the door, like we did in the "olden" days, they took the newest piece of technology in the room and created a new way to apologize. Just another use for the ipad and the next time I need to apologize to my hubby you better believe I'm going to use the ipad. And yes, we did forgive the kiddos...how could we possibly stay mad at such a creative group of children?

Our Prayer Tonight

Did I mention my son was funny? I know, this will be 2 posts about him, but what can I say, the kid has material. So, Belle, Charlie, and I were in my bed (which is where they have been sleeping for the last 6 weeks while hubs has been gone)...don't ask...anyway, we were snuggled in bed saying our nighttime prayers and it's Charlie's turn. Earlier in the day at school he had fallen off the monkey bars at school (right on his cute little bum) and complained a little off and on about it when he got home. Back to the prayer:

"Dear Heavenly Father,
Please protect Daddy in Kingman.
Please make Mae better and help her to be able to play again,
and please help my butt to stop hurting.
In Jesus' name,
Amen".

Hysterical laughter coming for Belle's side of the bed and all I could think to say is "did you just say butt in a prayer to God?" We don't use the word butt in our house (notice it's four letters). I may use it, but the kiddos aren't supposed to...so, Charlie closes his eyes quickly and says:

"God, I meant to say bottom...will you please help my bottom stop hurting".

As Belle continues to giggle, I can't help but join her because my funny son managed to say "butt" as he was talking to our Father in Heaven. I could almost hear His chuckle, as well.

Kids say the darndest things, don't they?

Meet the Teacher

My son in funny! I've never met a kid quite like him. Last year, when we started a new school he gave some advice on making new friends and we used his wise words again this year. He told them, "Just make them laugh. That's how I make friends."
Who doesn't want to be friends with a funny person?

So, this year he started 1st grade in yet another new school. We went to Meet the Teacher day and things went so well. We met Belle's teacher, bought our spirit shirts, and last but not least met Charlie's teacher. And this is how the conversation went:

C: Hi, how long have you been teaching?
T: Long enough to know how. Probably longer than your mom's been alive. Well, maybe not that long.
C: Would you say like 25 years? (He's like grilling her now).
T: Almost 25 years. So long that I go to the district and teach other teachers. But 1st grade is my favorite! (All smiles. She thinks she's satisfied him)
C: So, you're like a professional teacher then?
And to this she looks over at me smiling like "it's going to be quite a year" to which I reply out loud, "he's all yours!"

So, I'm wishing Ms. O'neill a lot of luck with this little boy because he's going to keep her on her toes! I then told her not to believe everything she hears about me to which she says you too!

Back to School

It's that time of year again where our little ones and big ones head off early in the morning, spend their days with teachers and friends, and return home tired and hungry. Last year I was sad and felt empty when the kiddos went back to school. This year was quite different and what a relief.

I felt a little guilty doing the "happy dance" before the bus even pulled away from the curb, but it didn't stop me from celebrating just a little. My poor neighbor was sending her 4th child to kindergarten and cried as we walked back to our houses. I felt for her, but was relieved to find out that my sister-in-laws did their own happy dances as their children left for school.

School has been in for 4 official days and I have become so much more productive around the house. Tomorrow I'm headed to a nearby gym (gasp) to sign up for a membership, so I can start working out and return my body to its post-baby state...ok, maybe that's a dream, but I would like shrink the size of my butt! I can actually do some things for myself this year and feel a little guilty about that, but my mother-in-law says give it 2 months and the guilt will be gone.

I am also happy to report that all 3 children have had positive experiences in their new schools and seem to be making friends and adjusting well. After our first day jitters, things started running smoothly, including going to bed at a decent hour. Although no one likes getting up at 6:30 (including me, especially me).




WOW! Where does the time go? It was only yesterday...and now they are in the 3rd and 1st grade.








Two words: seventh grade! One important rule: NO boys! A mom can hope, can't she?