Boy Shopping

I was laying in bed last night reading a book, where one of the characters is called Ghost-Boy.  This naturally led me to thinking of all of the names that I used to give the boys on which I had crushes in college.  You know the ones that I was afraid to talk to.
First-Aid-Boy, Yard-Boy, Danny-Boy, ROTC-Boy, Running-Boy,
Library-Boy (Also known as lets-go-to-the-library-and-"study"-every-day-for-a-semester-until-you-start-to-get-a-crush-on-me-and-then-announce-your-fiance-is-coming-from-the-phillipines-boy),
and Bagelby's-Boy (whom my roommate actually liked, but I later found out was also my neighbor's Social-Dance-Boy).

I had an epiphany: My search for boys was similar to impulse-shopping.

First, lets review the boy search (I was boy crazy, afterall):

I saw the-boy.  I thought I would die if I didn't talk to him.

I talked to him in class, or at devotional.  Whatever.

I thought I would never be able to live without him.  

I agree to a date.

Next, lets compare it to my impulse-shopping:

I see the cutest bracelets I have ever seen.  So cute they make my heart ache.

I look at them while I am shopping.

I move on, continue shopping, all the while thinking about these bracelets, knowing they would look perfect with that black top in my closet.  My heart was aching after all.

I give in and go back.   

Finally, the conclusion:

They are cute, but would be cuter on someone else's arm.  

They kind of itch and aren't very comfortable.  

I most definitely would never be able to live with them.

I forget about them.

At least the boy-shopping has been retired.  Now to master the impulse-shopping.

Pop Tarts...The New Perfume

Recently, a friend was telling me of the differences in the frequency of child-bathing between her and a sister.  One was an "every-day-bather-no-matter-what", and one is a "few-times-a-week-and-absolutley-always-before-church". 

P.S.  There was no judgement there, just differences stated.  All I could think was "Where do I fall in there?"  Because I most certainly could not pin point a time when all my kids were bathed in the same day.

You see, we have entered that phase where some shower and some are still bathed by their mammy.  Its hard when they start showering.  For a few reasons:
1- I no longer have complete control over the bath situation.
2- The standard of clean that I would like to maintain is different than the child's, mainly because he doesn't have one.
3- I am pretty sure that they aren't even aware of all of the places that need to be washed.
4- It frequently involves the use of an entire bottle of shampoo.
5- No one remembers how to properly use a shower curtain and I am certain the whole bathroom is going to fall through the floor thanks to all of the water that ends up on the floor.

I also find that my standard is lowered during the summer, when swimming pools are frequented, and we have no where to go.  Am I alone in this?  Perhaps, we have the only filthy kids in town.

This morning I announced to my children that a bath was in order.  "Why" was thrown out and I replied with a "because you're stinky".  Cooper then commented, "I don't smell stinky... I smell fresh...like a Pop tart."

Amazing. 

I do have other kids....

Lately I have noticed that Zaida gets top billing around here, so lest anyone forget, 

we do have other children!

 Cooper about died when they went to Free Comic Book Day and these guys were there, along with an overly healthy Captain America.

 

Evolution of the Moustache

Oh ye month of May, how I long for you to end! 

Who Needs Toys?

School's out for summer!

So I recently polled my children to see what type of activities they would like to do this summer.  This is what they want to do:

1.  Go to Logan's.  (Not Krista's, or Nonnie's.  Logan's.)
2.  Go to the Beach.  (This is already a reward for a goal that is in place, but it is summer!)
3.  Visit cemeteries.  (What?  My kids are scaredy cats!)

We will do those and many other things I am sure!  I just have to find a new motive to get up early!
What kinds of things are y'all doing?

Yummmmmmmm.

birthday pics

Bless the Child Who Lost His Shoestring

We have had many adventures in the past few weeks. Apparently when we moved, I developed amnesia when it came to taking Jacob places. It has most definitely been established that I can take him NOWHERE.
YESTERDAY, we went to Earth Fare. A grocery store across town that has lots of specialty stuff, and where I tasted the most delicious blueberry yogurt covered pretzels. We ordered lunch for the kids, looked around, dished up some plates from the salad bar, and headed to the tables to eat. It was lovely, for about 2.5 minutes. What was it that spoiled the mood? The children not liking their food? No. The abominable fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt that I had to stir up? No, fortunately my children have no such aversions. The company was the best, and could only have been better if the children had been left out of the equation altogether. What was it then? Oh, that's right. Maybe I forgot one of the details. Jacob, revolted. He ran back and forth through the automatic doors, continually slammed the doors to the trash cans, tried to play in the bathrooms, and once caught, screamed incessantly. At one point, I had him sitting on my knee, with my other leg crossed over him, and trapped by the free arm which was not feeding Zaida the aforementioned yogurt and trying to keep her from dumping the $5 pretzels, her sandwich, Caroline's sandwich, Jacob's pizza, and my salad onto the floor. Most of it did hit the floor at some point, and I suppose I may as well have thrown the monetary contents of my pockets on the floor and saved myself the "she needs to get a grip on her kids" looks that were hurling at me.
We have been walking to and from school a little. The other day we had a tantrum because Jacob wanted to push the stroller. No biggie. TODAY was also amazing. Jacob rode his trike. Cooper walked his scooter. I pushed Zaida. All was well. Sure, I was annoyed that Cooper was moving slower than the rest of us. I was even terrified and embarrassed when Jacob rode his trike out into traffic. The main problem on this trip was the lack of a mule. Jacob quit riding and pushed his trike out into school traffic, abandoning it. Cooper gave up also after Fred Flinstoning the trike for a while, he is less than coordinated. Add the backpack and stroller and it was MY FAVORITE. (So I carried it all for a while) I passed a lost shoe string on the sidewalk. I went back after trying to push Jacob along one kick at a time and now the trike has a leash! Thank you to the child who probably made his mother very unhappy, your service will be remembered every time I pull the trike.

Inspire me, Please.

I am having style confusion.
Now that I have my own house,
and the space to create and personalize,
I don't know what I like anymore.
It is okay because their is plenty to keep me busy,
I just happen to be delaying
my dive into reality right this minute.
But only for a minute!

The Answer to Your Question is...

MOST DEFINITELY NOT.

Not right now anyway, and not for a while, and most definitely not until my husband experiences some divine intervention to tell him to keep on. JK. And if you have no idea what this is about, then you didn't have any questions.

When I Grow Up...

like father.....................like son

One of the questions I most commonly ask people is "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I still have things that I would like to become. Such as: a librarian...or a patient mother of five children.
I asked both of my boys (the one's that I don't have to decipher their words) this question and they both responded by saying that they wanted to be what their daddy does. Awww. So sweet. Right? Granted his job is very cool and it's a small niche to be a flying photographer (the unofficial title I just made up). That sounds so awesome, except they think he actually pilots the helicopter and plane. I think they really want to be pilots who take amazing pictures of themselves flying. And who wouldn't?
I do think it is lovely that they want to be just like their daddy. I am sure they will want to be a many great and wonderful thing before they decide to be a something that works in a cubicle. Like an astronaut, or an artist. Samuel seems to have loftier goals than Cooper. Cooper says he will be a security guard in Sam's factory, or to be a worker in that same factory (I am pretty sure he thinks that Star Wars toys are made there).
They remind me frequently that I am already grown up, to which I respond with surprised astonishment. I can't be the only one out there that still thinks of myself as 17. When I meet people and they are my age, I automatically think they are older than me. And you know I am getting older and grown up because the nurses treated me like I might know something during the delivery of my last baby (which I don't). Sam turns 8, and will be baptized in a few weeks. That is the biggest reminder that I am indeed in the middle of my life and well on my way to being grown up.