From a Child's Eyes

We're driving home from school the other day.

A convertible drives by that the boys see.

Caden says: "Mommy, the lid is off that car."

But Mommy, I old now!

Whenever I tell Caleb no to nearly anything he says: "But Mommy" in his whiney voice "I'm four; I'm old. See?"  As he holds up his four fingers to show me.

Something like how we woke up on their 4th birthday!

Who takes their kids to swim lessons without towels? Me.

Every one has bad days, and I've had my share of them, but I rarely blog about them.  Today will be one of those rare instances where I bitch about my day.  (If you don't want to hear read it; stop now!)

My alarm went off at 5:30 as always.  I hit snooze, heard thunder, and decided that thunder was an good reason to not workout.  When I got up for real, I realized that was a terrible excuse, and I really should have/needed to workout!

Then I left for work, and realized I forgot my engagement and wedding rings.  Nothing like your finger feeling naked all day.

Then work wasn't so fun.  I've had more meetings in each of the last three weeks that I normally have in a month.  What's the deal!?  How am I supposed to get much done, when I'm constantly in meetings!

People really irritate me.  There is such a thing as thinking about something and digging a littler deeper before asking a silly question.  (Even though, I'm guilty sometimes.  Sorry!)

I left work early to get home and get the kids to swim lessons.  Last time I took them, we were late, so I was really going for being on time tonight.  But when I got home, I was just tired.  I laid on my bed for about 2 minutes while the boys got dressed and decided that just maybe we could skip swim lessons tonight.  I even called hubby and asked if he thought it'd be okay.  As I'm hanging up the phone, I see the boys and know that I have to do the right thing by them.  Swim lessons are good for them, and they need to learn that you have to stick to our commitments.

So we get 95% of the way to swim lessons, and I realize I left their towels at home.  Who takes their kid to the pool without a flipping towel?  Oh wait, me.  Shit.  So we drive past swim lessons, while the kids are yelling at me from the backseat.  I had 17 minutes to go find a towel in a town that had next to no stores, and get back to the YMCA.

So we went to Buehler's, our local chain grocery store, which I love for groceries, despite the slightly higher prices and their assortment of other items.  I get the kids out of the car seats, run into the store, walk around.  But they didn't have any towels.  I was banking on people cashing in on summer opportunities with beach towels.  We run back out of the store, and it's time to load up two kids back into their car seats for a 2 minutes drive down the road.

While we're climbing into the car, Caden starts horsing around and scrapes his leg on the floor crawling in.  Tears galore for just a little scratch.  I quickly kiss boo boo and buckle them in to head to CVS down the road with about 8 minutes to go.

We get to CVS.  Get the kids unbuckled again from car seats, rush inside, rush around, and find ONE lonely beach towel sitting on an empty shelf.  Which is just flipping great for two kids.  I quickly talk the boys into sharing a towel just this one time for swim lessons and off we go to wait in line to pay.  As we wait in line, I decide that a Hershey's chocolate bar would be absolutely acceptable at this time. 

As we finish checking out I rush the boys to take the shirts off now before we get to swim.  We load up in the car again, and I'm wondering why I don't just go home at this point because our 30 minute swim lessons has already started at this point, but we drive to the YMCA anyway.  I get them out of the car seats, and as we're crawling out of the car, Caleb's fingers get pinched a wee bit in a closing door.  More tears.  More kisses of boo boos.

Seriously, is it even worth it now!?  We go in anyway.  The take of their shoes as I look like a crazy mom while every one sits and watches me come in late with the kids.  Then the kids don't want to walk over to the pool.  Then they get over their and Caleb cries though the next 10 minutes of the 15 minutes of swim lessons they made it to tonight.

I got sit on the other side of the glass window with all the other parents feeling like a total schmuck, especially once I hear parents commenting: "someone's not too happy" about Caleb crying in swim lessons. 

Swim lessons end, I go to get them and now, as expected, they're complaining about not having their own towels.  We get over it, go buckle in the car again, and off we go home.

We get most of the way home, and I realize the gas tank light is on, and I have no idea how long it's been on.  I check the display that gives approximate distance to empty, and it said 25 miles.  Hubby is going to have a nice surprise in the morning when he gets in the van.  I did NOT stop for gas!

By the time I got home, the kids were running in the house to get ready for eats, and I was hugging hubby in tears after a crappy day.  Luckily he was nice enough to take the kids for the rest of the evening, so I could do another tasks that puts a dent in any day, paying bills.

Official Road Apple Resutls

Not too long ago, I ran my first 5K.  It was full of adventures and fun, and I will definitely be running another!  I looked online this morning and saw the final results posted! 

"In conjunction with the sixth annual Holmes County Rails-to-Trail Benefit Auction the Holmes County Park District hosted the annual Road Apple 5K and Fitness Walk on Saturday, June 12th with record breaking numbers participating.

The event kicked off day long festivities at the Hipp Station Depot in Millersburg adjacent to the Holmes County Trail.  All proceeds from the race benefit the Holmes County Trail Coalition and support the maintenance and development of the Holmes County Trail.

With 25 walkers and 117 runners competing Saturday morning, Randy Rufener crossed the finish line first with a time of 19:22.  Marilyn Hershberger was the first female to finish with a time of 21:39. "

My final time was 29:32.8!  My goal was to finish in under 30, and I did it!  I was the 67th finisher.




On another note, I know I have some blogging to catch up on in what we've been up to!  And I have a BIG Thank You to send out to Allie for the blog award!  We've a busy week ahead, and I'm preparing to fly to Baltimore this weekend to head off to Washington D.C. to spend the weekend with my awesome college friend Clarie!

There's a Hole in the Bucket

If you listen to kids music on some kind of basis you may have heard this song, but I think it is absolutely ridiculous.  More of my commentary below after you review the lyrics!

Prepare for the dumbest kid song ever:

 

There's a hole in the bucket,

Dear Liza, dear Liza

There's a hole in the bucket,

Dear Liza, there's a hole.

Then fix it, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, dear Henry

Then fix it, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, fix it.

With what shall I fix it,

Dear Liza, dear Liza?

With what shall I fix it,

Dear Liza, with what?

With a straw, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, dear Henry

With a straw, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, with a straw.

But the straw is too long,

Dear Liza, dear Liza

But the straw is too long,

Dear Liza, too long

Then cut it, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, dear Henry

Then cut it, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, cut it.

With what shall I cut it,

Dear Liza, dear Liza?

With what shall I cut it,

Dear Liza, with what?

With an axe, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, dear Henry

With an axe, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, an axe.

The axe is too dull,

Dear Liza, dear Liza

The axe is too dull,

Dear Liza, too dull

Then sharpen it, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, dear Henry

Then sharpen it, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, sharpen it.

With what shall I sharpen it,

Dear Liza, dear Liza?

With what shall I sharpen it,

Dear Liza, with what?

With a stone, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, dear Henry

With a stone, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, a stone.

The stone is too dry,

Dear Liza, dear Liza

The stone is too dry,

Dear Liza, too dry

Then wet it, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, dear Henry

Then wet it, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, wet it.

With what shall I wet it,

Dear Liza, dear Liza?

With what shall I wet it,

Dear Liza, with what?

With water, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, dear Henry

With water, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, with water.

How shall I get it,

Dear Liza, dear Liza,

How shall I get it,

Dear Liza, how shall I?

In the bucket, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, dear Henry

In the bucket, dear Henry,

Dear Henry, in the bucket.

There's a hole in the bucket. 


 I think this song is completely nuts! I know kid's songs can border on weird sometimes, but I take a real issue with this one!  I mean what is it really trying to teach your kids?  You can't do anything without being told?  You don't have to think your way through your problems?  And it's just so aggrivating!

The one thing the song did get spot on, the woman is the one with the know-how!  :)

You need to go potty?

Not too long ago, Caden and I were out alone for a Mommy and Caden morning.  We spent the morning running errands and went to the store for some items.  I took him out to lunch where he wanted, which happened to be Applebee's. 

Throughout the meal, he and the waiter were very chatty.  It was cute, and another realization for me that he is becoming such a big boy!  

Toward the end of our meal, he and the waiter are chatting again when Caden asks "you need to go potty?"  The waiter stumbles over his words, as I quickly say something to cover it up.  However, Caden follows that comment with a "you smell good" and a "did you take a shower?" 

Needless to say I was slightly embarrased as I explained to him that we don't ask strangers about their personal hygeine!  But it did secure the waiter a good tip!

Someone called me old.

During my 5K, I pulled ahead of Shelly, but ended up running alongside another girl for a good portion of the race.  She was by my best estimation about 15; she was definitely a high school teenager by any regards.  There was some brief conversation between us as we ran. Most of which was insignificant enough, I choose to forget.  However a few of comments that I can't seem to shake.

The first thing she said to me was, "wow that grandma is really kicking butt, there's always some old lady who kicks my butt in 5Ks."  I didn't respond. Mainly because I was focusing on the race, and in truth, because I didn't think she looked that old to me!

Around the halfway point, she decided to tell me that she was going to walk at some point.  She advised me that when my legs got tired to stop running and walk backwards.  Again, I didn't respond, and I was thinking in my head that it was awful bold of her to ASSUME that I would get tired in the first place!

And the final comment that really irritated me came somewhere during the second mile.  She had decided to let me know she was going to walk.  I replied this time with a simple good luck.  Then she decides that no, she doesn't need to walk and proceeds to ask my age.  I reply simply with "24."  Her response to that was, "oh, I'm not walking!"

Really!?  My response: "that's your determining factor of weather you can walk or not, your ability to keep up with me because of my age!?" 

A mumbled yes was her response.

Seriously.  I was offended.  Snotty teenager! 

In good news though, I kicked her butt.  She did eventually walk, and I never did once!  I finished at least a few minutes ahead of her, and couldn't have been happier to wipe that smug look of her face!

Road Apple 5K

Saturday, June 12, 2010 I ran my first ever 5K!  About 3 months ago, I started training to run a 5K.  It's something I'd been thinking about for a few months and finally decided I needed to get my but in gear and get running!  I have an awesome friend from work, Shelly, who ran with me. I've been tracking my progress on dailymile throughout.

We had some rain the week leading up to the race, and I was getting weather anxious as it approached.  The day of the race, we had no rain, but there was a CRAZY amount of humidity! 

The 5K was held in conjunction with a Family Walk and a benefit auction to support the Rails to Trails program in Holmes County.  Shelly, who's run previous 5K said this was a fairly casual one, with what looked like several less serious runners.  Fine by me as a first timer! 

The race started at 8:15.  We ran along the Rails to Trails, which did you know is also a buggy trail for horse and buggy?  Well, it is, and it was still open to horse and buggy traffic during the race.  I ran, past, and next to buggies periodically throughout the whole race!  (As a country girl myself, I LOVED it! Shelly, couldn't say the same!)  Along with the horses, comes the poop.  It was LITERALLY a ROAD APPLE 5K!  I watched my step and managed not to step in any horse shit the whole race!  Shelly complained about the smell the came along with the manure, but for me, it smells like being home!  I smell manure on the fields at times when I run at my house too. 

I finished my first mile in 9:25, which is my fastest time yet!  I finished my second mile at 18:something.  Forgive me for not being able to remember in my excitement!  I don't know my final time, but it wasn't 8:45 yet when I finished, so it was under 30 minutes, which was my goal!

I will defiantly be running another!  Maybe I'll even start to work towards a 10K!

Your armpits are yucky!

The boys love to wear their pajamas that are sleeveless.  For about the first 10 minutes they run around telling us that "my armpits are sticking out!" 

This night, was especially entertaining as the boys told daddy that his armpits are yucky.  Daddy asked why of course, and the boys response: "They're hairy, you put hair on your armpits; it's yucky."

But mommy, Caleb & Caden have nice armpits.

"Your kids?"

I baked a pie, that my family didn't like.

As I was putting things together to take it to work for my co-workers, the boys were eating breakfast and watching. Caden says "Mommy you taking that to work for you kids?" Caden doesn't have friends at school, he says he has "kids" at school. He said I was taking pie to work for my kids like he took cupcakes to school for his kids on his birthday!

By the way, my coworkers said my pie was EXCELLENT, not to mention they were surprised it was all homemade!

Nothing

Half of our family conversations as we're driving in the car go something like this regardless of what may have been the topic of discussion or who was talking at any given point. 

Caleb: Mommy & Daddy

Mommy: Yes?

Caleb: No, Mommy AND Daddy

Daddy: Yes?

Mommy: Yes?

Caleb: Nothing!

Caleb & Caden: Laughing hysterically. 
-----
Caden: Mommy & Daddy


Mommy: Yes?

Caden: No, Mommy AND Daddy

Daddy: Yes?

Mommy: Yes?

Caden: Nothing!

Caleb & Caden: Laughing hysterically.
-----
And continue to repeat with a few spatterings from Caleb saying "It's taking too lonnng!"

Happy Kids are More Important than a Clean House

I've been trying more and more to really listen and enjoy the time with my boys.  Thanks to reading other mommy blogs and letting go of come of my OCD, I hope my kids are having more fun than ever.  I'm trying to be a little less strict and a little more spontaneous.

Maybe we don't get to bed at exactly bed time, maybe we don't have a fully cooked dinner because I'm too buy playing outside with them, but they certainly haven't seemed to notice.  My house may never be as clean as I with it were, but after all, happy kids are more important than a clean house.  (Straight from the mouth of my mom!)

I want to soak up my time with my boys, and I want to enjoy their love, hugs, and kisses before they decide mom isn't cool anymore.

A Failed Afternoon of Fun

This morning we went to several local garage sales as a family, as it is local garage sale weekend, and my town seems to take it pretty seriously.  As of Wednesday evening we had a half dozen or so carnival/fair food stands setting up shop in town.

We came home and hubs left to help one of his buddies move.  The kids and I had lunch and then they went down for a nap.  I had been planning on going grocery shopping with them when nap time was over, but I decided I wanted to be more fun than that.  So I sat down to look on-line for something fun to do this afternoon in the area.  Then it started raining.

And I got to thinking, why do we have to go anywhere to have a cool afternoon?  Who says that we can go play in our yard in the rain and have just as much fun!?  It was a perfect rain for playing in the rain.  It's warm, no storms, just a peaceful summer rain.

I thought I'd get the cool mommy of the year award.  I went, woke my boys up from their nap, threw on their swim trunks & my bathing suit and we headed outside!

They hated it.

The rest of the brief 20 minutes we were outside, and I was running around playing and having fun, I heard all of these statements, multiple times.

**  "Mommy, it's wet out here."

**  "Mommy, the rain is too cold."

**  "Mommy, I want to go inside."

**  "Mommy, I'm too cold out here."

**  "Mommy, it's yucky out here."

**  "Mommy, I just want to go sit."

**  "Mommy, I going to sit on the porch."

So I said fine, we'll go back inside and finish our naps.  And so we did, but not without complaint there too.

**  "Mommy, I need a towel."

**  "Mommy, I dirty."

**  "But Mommy, I'm dirty; I can see it!"

**  "Mommy, I need a bath."

**  "Mommy, I didn't like that."

And now, here I sit.  Kids sleeping again.  Me sitting here disappointed that my kids didn't have fun playing outside in the rain.  What kid doesn't love a good splash in a puddle?

I baked a pie!

With the help of my two little boys, we baked a strawberry rhubarb pie!

I'm pretty happy with the way it looks!

Hubs and kids tasted the pie tonight.  No one really liked it.  Hubs said it was alright.  Kids refused to eat it.
I do have some happy co-workers today though! 

Sleepy Preschoolers

After an eventful first few days of Memorial Day weekend my boys were tired!  Friday night they went to stay at their Aunt TT's house (their nickname for Aunt Tanda).  I'm sure while they were there they didn't stick to much of any sleeping/eating schedule.  (I will spare my comments on that for another day.)  We picked them up Sunday morning and spent the day visiting with my mother and father-in-law before heading to their biological's mom's for their monthly visit at her house.  By the time we were getting back in the car for the hour drive home at 5:30 that evening the boys quickly fell asleep in the car. 

We arrive home and still had dinner to eat.  I sent the boys to take of their shoes and socks and wash their hands to sit down for a dinner of leftovers.  Hubs and I prepared the food, and were wondering where the boys were for dinner as they hadn't come to the table yet.  I found Caden sleepy eyed laying on the couch in the living room.  Sleepy little Caleb was curled up under the sheet in his bed sleeping yet again!  I have never seen them go to their room to sleep of their own free will, especially before dinner!

Cedar Point Date Day

Over the weekend, hubby and I had the opportunity to spend a full day at Cedar Point without the kids.  I hadn't been for about 3 years, and it was nice for a change to do something adult-ish with my husband. I say adult-ish because the place was crawling with teenagers with very few families, etc.

 My faithful driver

We're getting close!

As excited as a kid!  I can see it now!

One of my favorite thing about Cedar Point (besides the roller coasters) is the people watching!  There were so many tattoo covered people that just continue to amaze me.  My favorite was the tattooed woman with cut off shorts, that I swear her extra large sized belt buckle covered more than!  All in all, we enjoyed the beautiful weather we had and the time together!  The short lines and smaller crowd were pretty awesome too!  (We never waited more than 45 minutes for a single ride!)

New Pajamas! New Pajamas!

Aren't they just adorable!?