Why I Don't Travel Alone with the Boys Very Often

Jack and Will are spending the weekend with my parents! Woo Hoo! The boys were definitely doing the happy dance today...in fact, Jack was literally jumping down the hallway to class this morning with excitement. And, oh the cheers, when I picked the boys up from school and we headed to meet Gramma halfway.

I think I have failed to mention Will's obsession with cars, trucks, and buses. Well, suffice it to say, the love runs deep. DEEP, y'all. And it serves as great entertainment while we drive around town for Will to look out the window and notice all of the various transportation vehicles. Not so much on the interstate. For an hour and a half, I listened to "FIRETRUCK! FIRETRUCK! TRUCK, MOMMY! TRUCK!" Nonstop. NONSTOP! Do you know how many 18 wheelers there are on the interstate?!?! Way too many! Just about every other vehicle. I know because Will pointed out every single one AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS! And don't even think that you can ignore his observations. Oh, no ma'am! He will scream "FIRETRUCK! FIRETRUCK! TRUCK, MOMMY! TRUCK!" until you respond with some appropriate truck conversation that goes beyond "Oh yes, that is a truck!" No, that doesn't cut it. He will continue to scream "FIRETRUCK! FIRETRUCK! TRUCK, MOMMY! TRUCK!" until you provide a more detailed dialog about the truck. Each and every one of them, every single time. I kept waiting for Will to need to take a breath so the "FIRETRUCK! FIRETRUCK! TRUCK, MOMMY! TRUCK!" would stop, but apparently a 2 year old only needs to take a breath once every 27 minutes. I counted. It makes for a very, very loooong 1 1/2 hours.

And in between all the delightful truck conversation, Jack was providing his own form of food for thought, such as "Can we go to Washington DC so I can go to the White House and meet our new president Barack Obama?", "I am so glad that I am a mammal 'cause I get to be live born! Being a reptile and being born out of an egg would be soooo boring!", and "Who is my stepmother?".

Have I mentioned I am not a very good traveler?

So we met Mom/Gramma at our usual McDonald's and let the boys play on the playground. I wished Mom good luck for the ride home, trying to relay Will's enthusiasm for trucks. She just smiled the "my grandchild is the most adorable thing, what could he do that would ever be annoying" smile that only Grammas have, and off they went.

And it wasn't 5 minutes later, before my cell phone rings with Mom laughing hysterically about how Will has been screaming "FIRETRUCK! FIRETRUCK! TRUCK, GAMMAMMA! TRUCK!" nonstop since they left McDonald's. And I just smiled the "I get to listen to my music in peace and quiet all the way home" smile that only free-for-the-weekend Mammas have!

Free Food! Free Food!

Y'all know Little Miss Penny Pincher here is all about the FREE!!

Quiznos’ is giving away one million free subs. All you need to do is fill out a short form with your name, email, and birthday and they will send you an email link to your printable coupon for a free small signature sub or small every day value sub.

You can print one coupon for each adult in your household. Each adult has to have their own email address.

You can get your free coupon here.

Happy Eating!

I Just Think I Have Lots of Gray Now

Brent got a new car this past summer. And it is nice....sporty, fast, all the bells and whistles, and did I mention FAST! He has it professionally cleaned about every other week and in between he washes it himself. It still smells brand new. The car is Brent's baby. I am allowed to drive it for quick errands, but only if I promise to park it far, far away from all the other cars and then hike the 5 miles to my destination. It is a special priviledge for Jack to get to ride in the car and one that he relishes; however, Jack must be in freshly laundered clothes and clean shoes! Absolutely no food or drink allowed in the car. Will, on the other hand, has never seen the inside of the car, nor is he allowed within a 3 feet radius of said car. Until this weekend...

We took my car into the dealership on Saturday to have the brakes changed, which meant we cruised around in Daddy's car all day. Oh, was Will excited! He knew it was a special time and was dancing with joy in the driveway to ride in Daddy's car. While riding, I would turn around to see him looking out the window with a big smile on his face. Brent asked if they would like to "go fast" and of course they did! Oh, the giggling, the laughing, the cheering. And for the rest of the weekend, Will would yell "GO FAST DADDY! GO FAST!" (over and over and over again). And when Brent would oblige, Will and Jack would just laugh and cheer and clap their hands.

And I saw my future in about 11 and 14 years flash before me. And it was not pretty. Alot of worrying. And alot more gray hair.

JPEG of the Week

Note the adoring look on Will's face as he watches his favorite person in the world. This morning Will woke up crying not for Mommy or Daddy, but for Jackie B! Everyone should have a hero =).

Happy Birthday to Me!

It has been a fun birthday! After I dropped Jack off at school, Will and I headed to the gym for my power class. We were doing our quad track, which is the second track of the one hour class, when the stereo blew out. So for the rest of the class, we didn't have music and worked out to the instructor counting out the beats to us. Very interesting, but a good workout nonetheless. We came home and I put Will down for a nap, which turned out to be a short nap and seriously interrupted my planned computer time. And then one of the highlights of the day: two of my good friends surprised me with flowers, a card, and a tray of chocolate goodies! They are the best =)! Brent got home at 4 this afternoon and we enjoyed some fun family time. Pizza and King Cake for dinner tonight. It was so sweet having my guys sing "Happy Birthday" to me, especially Will who sang with such gusto Happy Birthday to Daddy! And then of course it became a game to sing to Daddy instead of Mommy. All in all a good day!

Breaking Bread with the Nuns

Today, we wrapped up the kindergarten testing with OLA. YAY!! Now we wait until the first Friday in April when the letters will be mailed out. And just for the record: I think it is absolutely ridiculous that it is so competitive to get into private/parochial schools around here, but we will jump through all of the hoops to get in.

We had a good, EASY dinner tonight....Peachy Pork Chops and Green Beans. Did I mention easy?!?! Dinner was done in about 20 minutes. So I thought I would share the recipe for the Peachy Pork Chops (y'all don't need me to tell you how to make green beans...or in tonight's case, how to open up the cans).

Peachy Pork Chops

• 4 (1-inch-thick) pork chops
• seasoned salt
• onion powder
• 1 (16 oz) can sliced peaches, undrained
• 2 Tbs brown sugar
• 2 Tbs butter
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
  
  Place pork on a lightly greased rack of a broiler pan. Sprinkle with salt and onion powder on both sides of the pork chops. Broil 5 1/2 inches from heat (with electric oven door partially opened) 7 minutes on each side.
  Combine peaches and remaining 3 ingredients in a saucepan. Cook, uncovered, over low heat 10 minutes, stirring often. Arrange pork chops on a platter. Pour peach sauce over pork.
  
  **I put the peach sauce in small bowls for the kids to dip their pork. Because being able to dip your food just makes it more fun!

Brent, Jack, and I loved it...Jack had seconds on the pork & sauce. Will picked at dinner, but Will has a take-it-or-leave-it relationship with food, excluding candy or desserts; in which case, he has never met a treat he didn't love.

Will finished dinner early and decide to provide us with a little dinner entertainment. Remember when I told you that we thought Will might become a priest? Well, if the priesthood doesn't work out for him, maybe the sisters will allow him to join their ranks?!?! Because really, under the habit, who can tell if one is male or female?!?!

Sister Mary William

The "Singing" Nun

After dinner, a little WWF action broke out in the bedroom.

My Favorite Guys

A Hint of Spring

The weather this week has been wonderful...highs in the mid 60s. Just the perfect temperature to play outside. Today and Monday, the boys are out of school for a President's/Winter Break weekend. We had a slow start to the morning, which is really nice not having to hit the floor running. When we finally got moving, we headed to the gym, where the boys had fun playing in the nursery while I went to my Power class and then walked on the treadmill. Then we decided to take advantage of this wonderful weather by having lunch at McDonald's.

After lunch, Jack and Will played on the McDonald's playset for about an hour. They were having so much fun playing nicely together. Will is now old enough to tag along behind (and actually keep up with) Jack, so they would climb the stairs to the top of the playset and then slide down the twisty slide. Will thought this was the best kind of fun. I could hear him start to giggle at the top of the slide and he would laugh all the way down. At the bottom, Will would say, " 'mon, Jack! Slide again!" And off they would go.

It was so nice to sit back and watch how much they enjoy each other. And that is my prayer for them...that they are always the best of friends!

An Award for My Resume

We have been super busy this week. Jack had kindergarten testing on Saturday at SJ and on Tuesday at CTK. I hope all went well, although I wouldn't know, because if you ask him what he did during the "games" as we call the testing, Jack's answer is "I don't remember." HUH? You just walked out of there and you don't remember?!?!? And here we thought you were so smart. Hmmmmm. What I wish Jack would say is what he is really thinking, "I don't want to talk about it. Please leave me alone." That I understand.

Each year, our neighborhood does a Children's Secret Valentine party. The idea is you give your secret valentine two small presents during the couple of days preceding the party and then at the party, you bring a present to reveal yourself to your secret valentine. It is always alot of fun. And this year, Will was old enough to get it, or at least understand that something special was going on. He loved getting the candy! As we were heading to the neighborhood clubhouse this afternoon, Will was chanting, "Party! Party! Party!" Oh, he is going to make a wonderful frat boy!

Here are a couple of pics of the boys at the Valentine Pizza Party. Please note that both of them have a plate of pizza with a special iced, sprinkled cookie for dessert. What do they both go for first......

I just had to laugh! And of course, being a candidate for Mother of the Year 2009, I just let them fill up on dessert first. It is a party after all.

Jack finishes up his dinner and decides to go outside to play with his friends. Will and I stay inside and while I am visiting with friends, Will is going to town on a cup of Sprite (I am certain this qualifies me as a finalist for Mother of the Year). Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder, I turn and Ann says, "Jack is okay. But he fell into the creek." (Before you get too concerned, the creek is in front of the clubhouse and is not very deep, especially after this 2 year drought we have been in, but as Jack will attest too, the water is cold.) Now if you know Jack, this is not that surprising; the boy loves water and if there is a puddle to be found, he can get totally soaked in it. I leave Will with a friend and go out to rescue Jack. And the poor thing was drenched! Totally soaked! It was bad! And of course he knew better.

I made him go back into the clubhouse to give his gift to his secret valentine before we came home for a nice hot bath (would some one please dust off my Mother of the Year crown & scepter!) .

And right before Jack got into the car, I knew you would want to see my little wet valentine....so I made him stop, in all of his misery, for a picture. Because I am only thinking of you...so generous that I am. And this just might make a good story (or pic in a slide show) at some one's wedding rehearsal.

And that, my friends, totally secures my Mother of the Year 2009 title! I'm just going to go practice my pageant wave now...

Buy This

You must. SHOUT ADVANCED GEL.

And for the record: Sharpie Markers are pure evil!

Yesterday, Will comes to show me his new 'pamp', which is 'stamp' in Will-speak. He had taken a red sharpie marker and scribbled all over his hand. I snatch the marker away (along with the blue marker that big brother was coloring with on a piece of paper on the bedspread), reminded them of the rules of which markers they could use and where they could use them (this speech might have been delivered a bit crazy lady-ish), and ran downstairs to gather all Sharpies in the house and put them on a high, high, shelf. I felt relieved that the only damage done was to Will's hand; he considered it a red badge of honor.

Later as I was changing his diaper, I saw that Will had gotten the red ink on his new elephant shirt! One of my favorite shirts for him! Once again, we had the "no markers on your shirt" talk, I took the shirt off of him, and headed to the laundry room. I was just sick because I had heard horror stories of the meeting between Sharpie ink and heirloom clothing, with the smocked outfit ending up in the trash. I didn't hold out much hope for the elephant play shirt.

So I sprayed the shirt liberally with Shout Advanced Gel, rubbed it in really well with a toothbrush, and let it sit for several hours. Then before I went to bed, I put the shirt through the stain wash cycle of my new washing machine. Checked on the shirt first thing this morning and miracle of miracles...

THE STAIN WAS GONE!!

As I was pulling the shirt out of the washer, Will said, "No! No! No marker shirt! No! No!" Apparently, the crazy lady speech made quite the impression.

So, the next time you are at the grocery store, do yourself a favor and buy this! Before I was a Zout loyalist, but no more. I am now a Shout Advanced Gel girl! I've heard that this stuff even works on stains that have already been through the dryer.

Next up, Shout Advanced Gel and I will be battling a very stubborn ring-around-the-collar! Stay tuned for next week's exciting laundry episode! I'm sure the suspense is just killin' ya!

First Born

Here you go mommies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Feel free to play along...Just copy and paste it for yourself in the comments section!

Let's see how much you remember!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Yes

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes - 5 years

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
Cautiously joyful...we had previously had a miscarriage

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
No

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
32

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
Home pregnancy test

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
Brent

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
No, the first one was a surprise

9. DUE DATE?
June 11

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
No

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE
Salty stuff, but I ate anything and everything; after all, I was eating for two!

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
My boss. Funny thing is we got along great when I wasn't pregnant.

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Boy

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
No

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
23 lbs

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
Yes

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
The first one was a surprise (work) and the second one I knew about (friends)

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
No

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, VA

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
14 hours

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Brent

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Brent, the nurse and my doctor

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Oh yes ma'am!

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
8 pounds 2 oz

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?
June 18, 2003 (1 week late!)

29. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
John Henry

30.. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
5

Mission Organization Continues

Snapped this picture real quick on our way to church yesterday. The longall Will is wearing is one that Jack wore when he was 3!

We had a fun day yesterday. It was beautiful outside with the highs in the low 60s, so Brent told the boys that they would be playing outside all afternoon while he trimmed up the hedges. Will was all over that and even Jack (our little vampire who thinks "the sun is too bright" or "it's too hot") didn't complain. They both came in at the end of the afternoon filthy and happy, just like little boys should be!

I spent the afternoon inside (Brent would say that I am the head vampire) continuing our version of Mission Organization. For those keeping score, I have cleaned out and organized the playroom and Will's closet, and have gotten the attic in a more manageable shape. This weekend I tackled organizing the filing cabinets, which were in a desperate state. I must admit that the filing cabinets really highlighted my perfectionist (or maybe OCD?) personality...and it wasn't pretty. Each category (finances, house, insurance, health, taxes, etc) is color-coded, with a file tab that is placed in a specific space according to its designated category. Each file folder is labeled with a computer printed label (because my handwriting wouldn't be neat enough!) that is centered just so in the file tab. Are you scared yet? And the sad thing is that as I was organizing the files I knew I was going overboard, but it made me feel better to have everything perfectly neat, even if I am the only person that will ever see them. It is a sickness, I tell ya! And what is worse is that I will open the file cabinets, admire the neat organization, and just smile. At this point, you are thinking "We have got to get this girl a life!" And you would be right! But as the saying goes...it's the little things in life!

Brent took the day off today! YAY!! Lately, he has been slammed at work, working long days and the past two weekends. They filed the summary judgement last week, so he needed a day off to decompress. This morning I had a kindergarten informational meeting at SJ to go to (it went very well, very excited about SJ), so Brent took Will to his gymnastics class. Will was so excited to have Daddy there! And Brent had fun having some one-on-one time with Will. Brent was surprised at how good Will is. And I knew exactly what he meant because I, too, had the same reaction after the first few classes with Will. After watching the effort that it took Jack to do these gross motor skills, it is surprising to see how seemingly effortless it is for Will. Just makes me so proud of all of Jack's hard work over the years. And I have noticed these last few weeks that Will is getting better about following directions and waiting his turn. Very important life skills...but so hard to master as a 2 year old!