The great white hope-- he aint

Most of y'all know Bow is my dear darlin baby. The one that will drive a saint to drink and a Pope to cuss. He is walking and bouncing, and flipping off stuff, on purpose and on accident. He has no sense of easy. Everything he does is full steam ahead. and he is like a bull in a china shop. Its scary, funny and has made more than one person gasp and clutch their heart.


Tonight I was trying to go through my coupons, it was a daunting task. There were hundreds to cut, catalog and file. I had to decide those to keep, those I knew I could use and get out my expireds. Plus I wanted to go through and add up the expireds and get them ready for sending overseas to military families that are stationed out of country.

BR had just woken up and was trying to eat. Bow was all over both of us, and we had asked the kids repeatedly to play with him. Around that time the phone rang. I jokingly told BR it was his other half. His brother Luke was calling to tell him somthing about work.

So, the phone rang, I had 487 coupons in my lap and bow was trying his hardest to eat as many as he could. BRett came to rescue me. He convinced him to go into his room. So the little guy toddled off after his brother wiht a squeal and a faster pace. 23 seconds later Matt came running in,
"OH MY GOD MOM! I am SOOOO sorry!!"
I looked at him blankly.
I heard Bow screaming, but not a death curdiling scream, more of a 'I want my way right NOW' type scream.
so Matt, says "its bad!! real bad!! blood everywhere!!"
again with the blank stare, and looking at him trying to find the blood.
Well about that time, Brett comes out, hollering "we didnt do it! I swear, he was running and then he fell and .... ohhhhh.. the blood!!! "
Then he runs out, back into his room, I got up, and coupons went everywhere. the 'good' pile, the 'expired' pile, the 'trade' pile, the 'send to coupon circle' pile. they all landed in the 'trash' pile on the floor. They wouldnt have, but my helpful kids were trying to help...

Bow was still crying, Matt is wringing his hands and hollering 'the blood! the blood!' Brett is saying "please let him be okay!" "please mom, help him!" and Rayley is running around, bound and determined to trip me screaming "I'm scared! I'm scared!!" and BR is saying to Luke "yep, just a typical day"

I went and got Bow from Brett, they were telling me that he had been running/walking and became airborne and hit the bedframe. It was less than a minute after he did it that I see this:



He had already stopped crying. and never said a word after I got him. I just went and got a paper towell, wet it and wiped off the blood. Then tried to find something to ice it with.




He didnt appriciate me trying to do that. and the kids were twittering around like dang birds, scared to death, freaking out, and on the verge of puking.

Everytime I stopped short it was a domino effect, one would run into me, another into them and the third into that one. Finally I sat down. It wasnt worth being rearended.

Bow sat in my lap, faught me while I took the pictures. (he wantd the camera, wouldnt keep his head turned so I could see the swole up cut, wanted to smile, and was generaly just a pain. ) finally he got down and went back to playing.




It does look pretty bad, well, right now, it looks pretty funny. when he went to sleep I put some horse medicain on it, and the only bandaid in the house. a huge barbie one.. He did wake up once, and the bandaid keeps his eye half closed. he really looked funny then. Like an albino Stallone. But the swelling had went down some, and its not colored up. It is still kinda gaping, and I might try to put a butterfly on it a little later. But he doesnt take kindly to you putting things on him. I dont fiqure the bandaid will last long once he wakes up.

So, since he has gotten his first fight called cause of a cut, I dont think we will be seeing him walking down the ramp with a towell on his head, bouncing into the ring with his entorage and loud obnoxious music playing.



He just swells up too quick. Now if he learns to pick his battles and quits attacking stationary metal objects, can learn to dive and duck and weave, he might have a chance.

And yes, he has on a pink shirt. About a week ago he went in Rayley's room and opened a drawer and was pulling out clothes. Then he walked around for a while trying to put one on. it was pink with pink stripes. So finally I slipped it over his head, then after a little while he got both arms in. He wouldnt let me take it off him all day. he was so proud of dressing himself, and he slept in it that night. The only way I got it off him was wiht a bath. He will do anything for a bath!


About 15 minutes after it was all said and done BR headed into the kitchen. Bow followed but was headed full speed ahead and ran smack into a wall when he didnt take the turn quick enough. He landed on his butt. It was just a clean bounce. BR stopped turned around and honestly, you couldnt help but laugh. He just sat there stunned, and then started to tune up. BR said something to him and kinda chuckled, so he got up and went on into the kitchen where he proceeded to try to climb into a chair and onto the kitchen table.

After BR left, I told the kids that I wanted some help cleaning the kitchen. Since they had done nothing but eat and dirty dishes all day. They whined and pouted. But I started off by saying
"who wants to empty the dishwasher"
silence
"who wants to fill the dishwasher"
silence
"one of you is going to do one of them and the other the other"
"I'll empty it!" says Matt
"No! I want to empty it" says Brett
I told them that Matt called it.
But Brett insisted on rock paper sissors.
Brett won with paper over rock.
Matt wanted 2 out of 3.
I made Brett comply, cause everytime Brett looses he insists on it.
both got paper
then Matt with sissors and Brett with paper
so the tie breaker was up.
it was rock and paper again. In Matts favor this time.
Matt preened and Brett went back to pouting. We all finished our pie. I was a really bad mom tonight. We all had a peice of each of the pies for supper. plus a little dressing and cranberry with ham for desert while I put it all up.

I fiqured they had eaten enough all day to make 5 meals, so no big deal.

We chatted for a little while, I reminded Matt that emptying the dishwasher meant to put UP the dishes, not stack them on the counter and to put the silverware in the right places. He just smiled and nodded. And I reminded Brett that he had to clear the table and rinse out the food.

Then I got up and went to clean Bow up. Shortly thereafter Matt came to the bathroom and said "Brett unloaded the dishwasher and now wants ME to load it"
"oh HELL no, he didnt"
"oh yea.. he did"
so I told Brett to go ahead and load it too. well this was met with resistance. He couldnt belive I wasnt going to make Matt do it. I explained that Matt had to unload, he had to load.
"But I forgot and so we will just switch"
"thats not how it works, and you didnt forget, you just bullied yourself into it"
"really, I forgot"
"really, you couldnt have, we just talked about it 4 minutes ago, now get it done"
he came up with some crap about it breaking the rules. I insisted that he would learn to listen.

While he did that I told Rayley and Matt to clean up her floor and they could watch a movie. Matt was sitting on the edge of the chair and just sat there. Then as soon as I stopped talking he started with some inane story. I asked him if he knew what I said.
"of course"
"okay, what did I say?"
"I just told you I heard you."
"well, what did I say?"
"gosh mom, if you dont remember already, you really are loosing it"
"matt. what did I say?"
"word for word?"
"that would be nice"
"well,, ummmm, you said..... 'Rayley and Matt, listen to me'... then mumble mumblemumbleMoviemumble mumble .... alot of other stuff, and 'what did I say?'"
"what was the other stuff?"
"I dont know, I have already forgotten..."
"matt, you have GOT to start listening"
"But mom... I have short term memory loss"
"no son, you have HIA syndrome, you need to fiqure out WHAT I said, and do it"
"well, alright" and he got up to leave
"where you going?"
"to watch a movie, thats what you said, I remember you said MOVIE"

So I explained it again. Then the phone rang, while I was talking to BR I was flipping through the guide, and came across Polar Express. Both boys had seen it back when they were in 1st grade and kinder, but I never had. So I decided to let them watch it. I told them to get a few blankets, come in here and sleep and watch the movie.

They jumped on that like a chicken on a June bug.

BEfore they settled in, I told them to all go pee. (I swear, they will be in college and I will have to call them and remind them to pee) Well Matt went first, and he came in here and stood in front of me and said "mom, I am sorry, I didnt mean to... then burst into tears and started saying "your gona kill me, your gona be SOOO mad!"
I fiqured I knew what happened, but I just asked him, he said, "please dont be mad! please let us watch the movie"
"matt, what happened?" I fiqured the toilet overflowed again.
"I was just flushing it and then I heard a pop and then .... OH NO!! Dad is gona be SOOO mad!! are toilets expensive??? "
I was trying hard not to laugh. I told him not to worry I could fix it. it wasnt a big deal, the handle just broke. it happens.
"but, now dad will have to come in from working all night and fix it, and the last time he had to fix the toilet it took forever, and the time before that it took all day and he broke like 5 things!"
"first of all, the last time he was changing the ballcock in my bathroom, and its one of those newfangled ones and it would have been easier if he had read the instructions. , second, that other time he had to remove the toilet, and ...well, he doesnt do that type of stuff well.. and its messy. and third off all, I am usually the one that fixes the toilets, I have fixed ours when that happens a few times, and would have been the one to change the ballcock BUT, your dad had insisted that I go and buy him a new one RIGHT THEN, and then didnt put it on for over a month, so I let it sit there and we had to finagle it to make it shut off. So, I will fix it, Dont fret. Daddy doesnt even use that bathroom. Now dry your tears and lay down to watch the movie. " I fiqured it had pulled loose or something, not really broken.

In the meantime, Brett goes in there, and he says "ohhhh, he really did break it, smooth in half!!"

so he hugged and kissed me and then I hollered "but its a part I have to order, so now everytime someone uses the bathroom you have to go in there, take the lid off, put your hand in there and flush it manually" He turned white as a ghost and became kinda dejected.

"really?, I have to?"
"yep"
"but, but what if someone..."
"yep"
"can you just holler, scream and beat me with in an inch of my life?"
"for what? cause a cheap peice of plastic on a cheap toilet in a crappy trailer broke after 2 years of being in this clorine drenched water?--- Sweetie, that is NOT your fault. that handle has been pulled at least 2,000 times since we moved in, it was just your bad luck it happened to YOU"
"But, but, thats not fair"
"I am sorry sweetie"
then Brett messed it all up, by saying "We just gona leave the lid off? since Rayley cant pick it up? till you get a new one? I already taught her how to flush it"

So Matt started to grin and told me "and you are always telling people we got our mean streak from dad..."

We watched the movie, it wasnt bad. I really liked the message especially since Brett keeps telling Matt that Santa isnt real. He wont admit he doesnt belive, and swears he does, but his friends are telling him otherwise. Matt will ask me, and I tell him that as long as you belive - he is there. and that I still belive. I will buy them each a bell, since I think this will be their last 'true' Christmas. The other kids are getting awful convincing. I sure hate it, but such is life I reckon. Brett hasnt said anything, but I know they have discussed it amongst themselves. Plus it didnt help when I had Matt dump some old boxed taters outside last summer and he came in and said "That stuff looked an awful lot like that snow Santa leaves in the living room!" and a slip up I made the other day when Rayley asked how long snow lasts in the house, I said it doesnt, that it melts quickly when you bring it in. Matt said "but you said Santa's snow is magic, and thats why it doesnt melt when he drops it off his boots in the living room."
This kid cant remmeber to wipe, but remembers what I said last year in the flurry of opening presents..

Now they are all asleep. I have woken Bow up a few times to make sure he doesnt have a concussion, and I think the day is done.

And as a closing note, How ticked off do you think Rayley was when she saw Bow hitching a ride in Barbies car??





Edit'd to add:
Blacx tried to find my trailer homeschoolin song on youtube, (THANKS!!!) but couldnt, so I am fixing to break some copywrite laws, and give you the lyrics. :)
(sorry Tim, but, it just fits soooo well!!) And for those of y'all that have never heard Tim Wilson sing, you have GOT to go and listen. I recomend you start off with church league softball, its less likely to offend :)

well the high school wrote momma a note,
and told her Dennis couldnt come back
so she went down to the principals office
and read them the riot act
She said all y'all been to College
and cant keep kids from cutting up in class,
y'all are smart and all
but you aint got the brains justa whip Dennis' ass

I'm gona mobile home school my kids,
gona break out the double wide belt like my daddy did
I can teach them to read and write
and I got enough to play football friday night,
were finally on financial aide
so I'm just gona give them all good grades
and thats all she had to say, so we'll see y'all at UCLA

Well the high school wrote momma another note
and told momma the rest of us oughta stay,
and she said I've seen them SOB's BS from the NEA
She said Go grab your stuff out of your homeroom,
and take it home to your room right now,
I've seen this stupid school,
they got half these fools out in trailers anyhow.

I'm gona mobile home school my kids,
they'll have to learn it like Lincoln did
I wont expell or suspend,
well get out a belt and wear out a bunch of rear ends,
our test scores reflect and show,
we know enough about sex and Tornado's .
Them trailers are about the same,
so we'll see y'all up at Notre Dame.


He said it was still a work in progress. But I just couldnt help but die laughing when I heard it. Cause the general consensus from everyone I have talked to out here is that I should just home school these two, since they were suspended from the bus and such. And I havent totally decided against it. For sure I will if my Mother in law stops working. Nothing they are involoved in revoloves around them being in school. to be honest, I am probebly leaving them in for purely selfish reason... I cant do the PTA if they aint there! LOL

I forgot to post their 'Thanks'

Brett:
"Is this a test?"
" No, its a list for you to look back on"
"ahhhh Okay,"
My family
what I have
to have a home
for having friends
for making good grades
for getting out of ISS
that its close to my birthday
and almost Christmas
for living in a place where I have the oppertunity to be Thankful
"you aint going to publish this are you?, LIke in the newspaper?"
"no, it wont be in the newspaper"
"good, cause I dont want people thinking I was in ISS cause I was a terrorist"



Rayley:
For getting to go to somebodys house to visit
that its almost Christmas
that princess' get to wear pink.
For Aunt Manda giving me Curtsy (a pink beanie baby cat that she has lost about 5 times and gotten replaced...)
For getting to come to your house.. (her own home)
for all my barbies
I am Thankful for you letting us have toys.
For you painting my room, and buying me CO Co puffs.
And for cutting coupons for everything cause that means more cereal
I AM NOT thankful that you are mean and cruel, and dont love little girls.



Matt:
"I would like a list of everything you are thankful for" says I.
"like a list I have to make?" says Mr. I hate the W (work) word
"yep, but its not like its hard or anything"
" okay.... what was I thankful for?"
"yes"
'what DID I give thanks for?"
"yes"
"I dont get it. What did people tell me THank you FOR?, or what did I say thank you for"
"Things that when you wake up in the morning you say "gee God, Thanks for ...Blank..."
ohhh
that I found something I lost.. "like what?" a car, a toy car
Oh and I thanked Meme for some pie.
I am Thankful for Bubba giving me one of his old phones. will you buy me some minutes for it?
for Amanda letting me use her cell phone last night to call you (me) and say I love you and good night. See thats why I need a cell phone
For Bowdrie being born
FOr dad letting me go hunting with him
cause you (meaing me) let us (meaing them) go to Me'mes house
for you (meaning me) taking pictures of us (them) cause otherwise I wouldnt remember what I looked like as a baby.
for you (me again) letting me (him) play baseball, and taking me to all my practices
For you (me..) promising them I will take them to a football game (opps I forgot all about that...)
Thankful you let us keep Rabbit for a while, and for buying fish and taking care of them and for giving up your goats so we could have horses, can we ride today?
I am thankful for you making us those plants and keeping them all these years.
And for you and dad giving us guns and teaching us how to use them.
I am Thankful that you and Dad love me.
For our house, and all the stuff we have again since the burned down house burned.


So, here it is. Sadly it shows me that I need to work on them some. It sure does seem like its all about them..

I'll take a stab at Bows..

I am thankful for..
being the baby
eating any time I want, which is all the time
all these toys that I can throw all over
sneaking into the kids rooms while they are gone and throwing THEIR toys all over
clean diapers
all the dirt in the house plants
daddy's shoes to hide toys in
y'all turning your backs so I can climb on stuff
when people drop food on the floor, and when I find food I dropped on the floor
when someone doesnt lock the dishwasher and I can climb in it.
when the dishes still have food on them after I have climbed in the dishwasher
when someone leaves the door open enough for me to get out
when someone leaves the bathroom door open and I can get in the tub or play in the toilet
when TV shows go off and the commercials come on so I can dance
when mom forgets that its cold outside and I need shoes on
when I can find an unattended phone to play with
when I can find an unattended remote that works to play with
when mom or dad leave their drink unattended. I love Dr Pepper and Mt Dew.
when mom lets me take a bath
that the cat loves me and lets me body slam her and pull on her and bite her
and when I get a nice long nap


Mine?
I am Thankful for the DVR, with out it I would never see all of a TV program.
and for lots of mushy stuff liek family, friends and having a roof over our heads, enough to eat, and BR having a good job.

I am also thankful for bed time, (or bednight as Rayley calls it), school hours and nap time.

Dishwashers and micorowaves. and Computers. so I can talk to other adults.

Turkey, Football and Kids. oh... and Family

"Anticipation of Death is worse than Death itself"

This is written on the wall at the Death Chamber at Huntsville.

We shall see how this applies to my day.

I am going to do this blog a little differnt. I am splitting it up. Writing some now, and the rest when I get home.

My day started at 4:30.
The MO-RONIC dog was whining to get out. So up I got and got let her out.

I decided to go ahead and put the ham in. my mothers oven isnt real good, but my main reason for volunteering my own oven for the ham is simple. I wanted lunch ready by 1. I have a full day planned. and it revoloves around football.

My grandfather and I talked about it last night. He was thrilled his day will work perfectly for it. Mine wont.. But THANK GOD for my DVR. and plus, I can now say "I need to go home, the game is on... nono.. I would hate to ask you to turn off your lifetime movie "how my family hates me and why I am derpressed" just so I can see something that I look forward to 8 months out of the year...

ANyway, I got the ham going and headed back to bed. Then at 5:30 the alarm went off telling me to get up and put the kids on the bus. So I climbed over BR and turned it off. This is NOT an easy task. Anytime I sleep with BR its a night of me being sandwiched between 2 furneses. That both feel the middle of the bed is theres. And BR is like a mountain, so its not just leaning over him to hit the button, you need a raple, a few carabieners, and possibly a rescue helicopter. PLUS, its like being on an avalance prone mountain. If you move wrong you take the chance on waking up the imbonabale (yes I know thats mispelled) snowman. or as the family likes to call him : BOW. Once you wake him up, sleep as you know it is over.

So, I got that done. and promptly fell back asleep. Then, at 6:23 the OTHER alarm clock, the one in the living room where I usually sleep, finally had penetrated through my sleep fogged brain. and do you know what the first thing I thought of was? There was no brown sugar on the ham...

I didnt dress the ham. I just picked it up, foil wrapped and in its pan. But as I was trying to put a 13 pound ham in the oven this morning with out moving the racks down I tore the foil. But in my sleep walking state it didnt actually dawn on me.

So, I got up, turned off that alarm, and went back to bed. I slid back in the covers, not even waking BR. Bow had scrunched over to him, so I had the entire other side of the bed to myself. I laid down. closed my eyes and was JUST about asleep. when I had this awful urge. There was NO stopping it. and usually I can. I am famous for NOT sneezing. I just make a little jerk with my body and squeak a little. ( I think it is in defience to my grandfathers sneezes, of which buildings have been brought down by... ) but not this time. This was going to be a humdinger.

And I tried. I really did. so I sneezed. and then I looked quickly to Bow. he moved a little sighed and scrunched up his sweet little mouth, then settled into his daddys chest and went back to sleep.
BUT when you have had 4 kids there are somethings that just dont work like they should. and although each and every time my feet had hit the floor this morning I had made a visit to the potty (both on the way OUT of the room, and again before getting back into bed.. ) I had to go. okay, so I had to sneak BACK out of bed. no big deal. I did.
Then back INTO bed. so far so good.

BUT I had woken up Duke. who got up to make sure I hadnt droped food at some point. well instead he found the cat. So, he had to chase her. and they dont do this quietly.

This woke up Bow.

so, the day had started. I got up and went into the kitchen. BR followed. And sure enough there was NO brown sugar on the ham. Pinapples and cherries, but no sugar.

and the pineapples were few and far between. Cherries too. THis sent us into a search for pineapples. we tore the kitchen apart. and aside from opening the 8 cans of fruit cocktail and putting pinapple chunks all over it, there was nothing we could do.

So we flipped the ham. since it was sitting on its side, and the cut portion was not facing down, and moved the few pineapples and cherries. Then I slathered brown sugar all over it and slapped it back in the oven.

then BR made breakfast. bacon and eggs. it was pretty good. Then he washed the pan. and the pans that I hadnt washed yesterday.

Once we were done we came into the living room and made sure the TV was set for the games. Then proceeded to watch some things we had recorded. well, truthfully, I tried to watch the parade. But BR hates the parade. and truthfully, I hate all the commentary of it. show me the dang floats and shut up!

Then he turned it on a recorded bob and tom. They are on wgn or some such. But Tim Wilson was on there. and the first song he sang had me in tears. I kid you not. BR and I were both alternating between laughing, crying and saying "ohhhh thats US!"

It was mobile home schoolin, or some such. I have tried all day to get it on the computer. but I cant. This is my new theme song. You have GOT to hear it. I will try to find it.

If I cant find it (and chances are on this old dial up I wont), I will rewatch it and type up the lyrics on here.

Between this and Redneck Woman by Gretchen Wilson, These are the songs you need to listen to if you want songs that represent me. They will give you a glimpse into my life.


So, now I am sitting here, and its 11:30am. We are watching Dirty Jobs, and I look over at BR "This sure has been a nice day, I hate to ruin it with all this family crap"
"eeeeehhhhh, not really"
"what cha mean?"
"Its kinda like the saying they have on the wall of the death chamber in Huntsville "The anticipation of death is worse than death itsself" "
"aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh" I said with that dreaded feeling in the pit of my stomache.

So here I sit, supposed to be at my moms, and I am still in my jammies. But its so peaceful. Bow has slept most of the morning, and its been quiet.



Its now 7pm. I went and had lunch. it wasnt bad. And the kids were good. They went outside and played as soon as we finished eating and sat down.
I learned something very detremental to my being while I was there. It is impossible for BR and I to function in our lives with out a DVR. Redneck weddings was on. and something would catch our eye, or we wouldnt hear something, and we would both grab for the remote and damn the luck, she doesnt have a DVR. I kid you not. There was no rewinding, no recording, no nothing... I couldnt live like that. It shouldnt be asked of anyone TO live like that. Especially not with 4 kids. I never go through a show with out my kids arguing, fighting, needing a drink, to eat or just wanting to tell me they have to pee.

There was an awkward moment when we first got there. My mom picked up the remote to turn off the cartoons and put it on the ball game. Rayley started to whine. Mom told her "well you know how your mom and dad are about football." Brett said "yep, they are rabid about it, but mostly mom.. Dad isnt as bad"
I heard all of this and said "you dont have to change it, my game doesnt come on till 3. "
"there is a game on now."
"not till 3 for me"
"NFL! it said NFL on the guide. just cause I dont watch it doesnt mean I dont know what it is!"
"but its NOT either of my teams"
"well its ON right now, but just dont watch it smartass"
So, BR cleared it up. "The cowboys are not playing, its someone else, she doesnt watch anyone else"
"oh, I thought they were all the same"


So, lunch was good. and then we left, came home, dropped off the food and got back in the truck. When I was getting out I thought I smelled cat poo. I fiqured it was cause BR had just said that he had been smelling cat poo the entire time we were in her living room, but didnt think she had a cat inside. I said she didnt. Thn Brett is climbing over Rayley to get back in, and says "Rayley stinks", So, BR said "well she was in my lap most of the time I was there"

Then I really smelled it. I looked at my feet, then looked at Matts. we talked about it, and I went and got Rayley some new clothes. Maybe she had gotten in some outside.

So we get almost to the end of the driveway and Brett says "ohhh that makes sense"
and the WHOLE truck starts to smell like it.
It was on HIS shoes. and the fool is waving it around behind mine and Matts heads. We made him take them off and throw them in the back.
BR asked him where his shoes had been while we were at mothers. He said, "between the chair you were sitting in in the living room and the door" thats about a 2 foot space...

So we got to Marthas and BR's sister, her husband and all her kids were there. They are all grown, the youngest is 15. And his youngest brother and his wife - Amanda came over later, Luke worked all day so he wasnt there. We visited for a while, enjoying the conversations while the kids tormented each other outside. My kids LOVE to see Jamie and Garret. Kristian the oldest just wanted to play with Bow. which was fine with me! A cousin and her teenage daughter (who also LOVES bow and Rayley ) came over too.

One time Rayley came running in and jumped in her Aunt Amandas lap and was all upset. She said "The girls and Garrett are sitting on the lid of the trashcan and they put Matt in there and wont let him out!"
We all agree'd that was fine. Just to not let him stay in there too long, as he might fall asleep.

They were also putting them in the trash cans, putting the lids on and rolling them around the yard. Sounds fun to me.

I talked to Lisa and Jamie about Bretts birthday cake. I want to start making them. Jamie and Lisa do adorable cakes and stuff all the time, plus, I have a friend who is a GENIUS on making cakes. and although I will never be as good as her, she has inspired me. I keep begging her to do it profesionally. She is an internet friend though, and I cant afford to fly her to Texas for a 10 year olds party...

I want to do a baseball diamond. I was thinking about the hamburger. Then a pirate ship. But, decided the diamond might be easier. :)

Unless he ticks me off between now and then. Then I will do a football field. make it a cake for ME :)

Lisa asked me when I was going to put up my tree. She couldnt belive I already didnt have it up. Used to it was up well before Thanksgiving. I told her as soon as I got rid of this dang bunny I would. I am so tired of it being in my living room. I dont know what I am going to do with it. I dont even know if it could live in the wild.. But its not a friendly bunny. It doesnt want to be held, or loved. And honestly, I didnt know a rabbit ate so much or their cages had to be cleaned so dang much. I mean ALOT. But I have to put up the tree so she can take our CHristmas Pictures.

Finally around 6:45 BR came in and said he needed to go to work and to bring him home. He said I could go back over. I told him that was okay. We would go on home. Bow was becoming way too much to handle. He was about to drive me nuts. He has been off his game all day. I am not sure he isnt teething or something. Nothing I could do has made him happy and he has been awful clingy! :(

We went out on the porch and I told the kids to load up. Martha said "I want them to stay here tonight"
So, I hauled butt to the truck, didnt even stop long enough to say goodbye, just hollered over my shoulder "BYE! Love you!" and got in.

I have GOT to clean my house. its a disaster. I mean LITERLY. PLUS, I want to watch my games. And Bow needs some quiet to sleep.

When we got home it was dark, but I could tell my screen door was open slightly. So I came on up on the porch and sure enough, there was a black trash bag stuck in the screen. I fiqured it was more greens from Uncle Geralds garden. But no. it was clothes. kids clothes.

I brought it in and looked. There was no note. So I checked the caller ID. no one had called.

I have NO clue where they came from, or who gave them to me. I am thrilled, I havent looked through them all yet, but there seems to be some nice clothes in there. I just cant imagine where they came from.

I called Martha, to make sure that she really wanted the kids. She said yes and I told her that I hadnt gotten a peice of chocolate pie. My brother in law, Lisa's Husband Gavin makes a wonderful Chocolate pie. but I hadnt gotten a peice, nor had I gotten any dressing. So I told her NOT to eat it all. She asked me how long I would be awake. I told her hours so she is going to bring me a peice and my dressing later.
I told her about the clothes fairy. She had no clue either. It had happened between 3:30 and 6:30.

I am used to friends or family giving me clothes their kids outgrow and I do the same. But seldom do I just come home to a bag dropped off. and since it has no note, I am starting to get a complex. Does someone want my kids to start dressing better? Feel that we are in need of clothing but too proud to ask? or is there a complete stranger out there doing clothes drive bys, and saw the bikes in the yard and the basketball goal and decided I had a few kids that might need them?


All in all, this hasnt been a bad day. It could have been worse. But its been a tiring day. and I STILL dont have that song.. I WANT that song by Tim Wilson.

Now, I have a football game to watch, 2 actually. After I watch the 'boys I have a Texas-Texas A&M game that I also have to watch. You gotta LOVE the DVR!

I had told Lisa about being at moms today, and she felt the same way. She wont watch anything with out it being recorded either. you have to be able to fast forward through commercials! I cant watch something now with out that luxery.

Growing pains

It doesnt matter who is in my lap. Any of the kids, BR, the cat, or just my own hands or drink. Bow, is fixing to get in. and if you try to resist he will scream and claw and push and pull until the offending object is gone.

He doesnt appriciate anyone sitting in 'his' place. This has got to stop. But everyone thinks its so funny that they do it on purpose and pick on him. He DOES NOT appriciate a good joke.

And poor Rayley, she will try and get in my lap, she will wait until Bow is otherwise occupied and then come and jump in my lap for some hugs. Its like the kid can smell when the enemy is near. cause here he comes like a surface to air missle.


I have been having problems with her lately. well, its actually been forever. She or actually any of them, or all of them, ask to spend the night somewhere, OR worse, the grandparent, talks to THEM in a low voice about spending the night, and then asks ME infront of the kid. I dont appriciate that. I then get the 'why'? from the grandparent, (because I said so??) and the "Wwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy????????" from the kid (again, because I freakin said so!). I am FED up with that crap. The water works start, the begging and me being as nice as I can and tell the kids we will discuss it later. It might be that I have a suprise for them. It might be that their daddy will be home for the night, or it might just be I am having a 'bad feeling' and dont want them out of my sight.

I have been being nice about it, but that is fixing to change. and grandparents can just kiss my foot. I dont care if it 'breaks your heart' to see them cry. It breaks my heart to be treated like their babysitter. I have explained to the kids time and again, that when I say no, to just deal with it. wait till company leaves or we get home then cry your little eyes out.

But tonight Rayley pulled it again. When mother asked if she could go and spend the night and I said no. SHe welled up and started to bawl. So instead of just walking out, my mom stands IN the door, and says "tommorow baby, I promise, we will do it tomorrow" or "please dont cry, it makes me feel so bad" and of course "mommy's not trying to be mean, she just doesnt understand". I am trying to hold my tounge till after the holidays.

Anyway, enough whining..

Tonight has been interesting.. Rayley is in a picking mood, and Brett is being loving, so Rayley is constantly running by him, behind him, or past him and hitting him. So he will then attack her and kiss her and hold her down. Bow LOVES to get in the middle of it.

They have been having a blast all night.

ANd Bow started a new thing a few weeks ago. He loves to head butt you. I am not kidding. and he doesnt do it easy. all of my kids have done this, but Bow is by far the one that is meanest.. They think its a game. and for them it is. And the kids will let him do it forever. But they definatly come away from it the worse for wear. They dont 'participate' they just sit there, and he does the banging.

and he has started kissing. He has only given me a few kisses, but they are definatly, open mouthed, slobber hanging kisses.

I am the ANTI head butter. I just cant do it, if you do more than rub my hair I get a headache. I cant help it. so I surely cant do the headbutting game. Bow hasnt quite grasped the 'okay to headbutt' and 'NOT okay to headbutt' people.


But he does enjoy it, he will hit you and then squeal, and then go in for more!
I would worry about brain damage but he doesnt have the nessasary equiptment.

Of course before the evening was over, I had Rayley on a crying jag. I swear she is worse than a drunk sorority girl. she changes moods quicker than she changes from a ballerina to a princess. next thing I know she is bawling cause "Matt hates" her. and how they dont like her cause she is just 4. and all kinds of other crap. Nothing they have said has started this. She just wasnt getting the required attention from Matt. I know its middle child syndrome. She was the baby for 3 years. and I do try hard to keep her feeling loved.

of course all the playing turned into a full fledged fight eventually. Maybe I need to rethink that lack of video games that we have decided on...

Mostly cause I am tired of being the 'safe zone' and having all of them pile on top of me. Its all fun and games, till someone gets hurt.

Oh and as far as Thanksgiving. No, I am NOT cooking if I can help it. I usually LOVE to cook a huge meal like that. But for some reason this year its just not there.
BR will be working, and Mother wants everyone to go to her house. I tried to veto all the expensive dishes, its just redeculas to spend 150.00 on one meal. We had also decided to not do a big meal at my MIL's house. we were going to have a family dinner on Saturday when BR and Luke were both off. Then Amanda's mom died, and Martha (the MIL) decided that since Amanda had been going to spend the day at her moms and now couldnt that she would cook. Of course she got sick today, a stomache virus, and I dont know what I will end up having to do. My mother in law doesnt do 'sick' well.

We have all debated at one time or another just shooting her and putting her out of our misery when she is sick. She will wail and whine, stomp and beg to die. Its amazingly stupid. Normally, I love her to death, but her sick is not something I deal with well. I dont deal with stupidity well at all.

I really wouldnt mind cooking, but I have bought NOTHING for Thanksgiving. AT ALL. no cranberry sauce, no turkey. ANd I dont plan on it. I will help all I can though, but wont go to her house to do it. I also plan to try to find a few Turkeys on sale after Thanksgiving. I refuse to spend 1.27 a pound on one. No stores in my town ran a single special on a turkey or a Ham for any decent price.

BR pulled a long work day, so he will be off tonight, and then tomorrow. Although he does have to go and get his health card tomorrow. He will go back on Thanksgiving Day I just dont know when.

I will honestly be glad for him to be home, so he can corral these kids for a few hours. I am thisclose to telling them to just put on a movie. I really dont do that, but honestly. one minute they are nice and loving, then they are fighting and screaming.

And as soon as I get one to settle down and start doing something constructive or less DEstructive, the other 3 start to climb the walls, or get into a fight. Its enough to drive a saint to drink.

Now I know why my grandmother was fond of saying "your going to give me a nervous breakdown" when me and my cousin got together.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. I plan on making the kids write down something they are Thankful for. I am sort of apprehensive about what they will come up with. But we shall see :)