Tuesday, August 28, 2012

"Where Do You Live?"

There is a little BYOB (bring your own bottle) water store just over the lake bridge from my boss's house where we fill our giant water bottles for the water dispenser in the kitchen.

I know what you're going to say "So picky... WE just drink OUR water from the TAP..." And to you I say, well done, you win, here's your cookie, but I bet if you tasted the unsettling water that comes to the house from the bowels of the murky, smelly lake nearby you would join me at the water store.

The older man who runs the water store with his daughter is adorable, and sweet, and comes to get the bottles straight from your car when you pull up and then bring them back to you, full. Which is a great service when you're talking about three giant, full bottles, one opinionated 6 year old, two "let's see who can make Devyn's heart stop first" 2 1/2 year olds, and a nanny who unfortunately only possesses two hands and dwindling sanity.

Today, we had our water store errand and, since Mr Water Guy was not as busy as usual, we stood chatting by my car after he brought back our full bottles. We formally introduced ourselves to each other (where I was slightly thrown off by his name NOT actually being Mr Water Guy) and exchanged a few pleasantries while the twins watched the exchange out the open window from their carseats. (Buddy was at school).

"Where 'bouts are y'all from?" He asked kindly.

I gave him the name of our town.

"Oh! Just over the bridge," He remarked conversationally.

"HEY! Hey GUY!!" we heard from inside my car, and we both stooped over to peer through the open, backseat window. We were met by Brother's scowling face. (And when I say "scowling", I mean I'm surprised the flesh didn't melt off Mr Water Guy's unsuspecting face.)

"Yes?" He asked Brother grandfatherly.

Still scowling angrily, Brother answered loudly and defiantly, "Where do I live? I come from AMERICA!!"

The South: producing staunch patriots for... a helluva long time.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Last-Minute School Supplies

August 23, 2012

Buddy's Kindergarten Meet the Teacher Night is tonight, and his school has requested that all school supplies be dropped off tonight as well. School starts Monday.

It's not as if these dates were sprung suddenly on us... But for one reason or another, this morning dawned and Buddy was still missing his required 2 regular-sized containers of Wet Ones hand wipes, and 3 folders, which were to be plastic, pocketed, bradded, and one each of yellow, red, and green.

Picky punks.

Mom-of-the-Kids, having already scoured Walmart with Buddy in tow looking for the required folders, asked me to check out Staples to gather the last few items today. So off we went.

Upon entering the store, I was approached by a male employee who asked if he could help us find our items.

"Sure dude." I said without hesitation, handing over the list.

It was all downhill from there.

Wet Ones? Male employee: "Oh! Here they are! Perfect size too!" (author's note: they were Lysol bathroom/kitchen wipes. 15 count. In a miniature travel bag.)

Yellow plastic, pocketed, bradded folder: "We don't have plastic, pocketed folders, unfortunately. But here's one with Batman!" (author's note: ?????)

Red plastic, pocketed, bradded folder: "Here's a purple project folder! I bet that'll work!" (author's note: no, it won't. And I'm feeling concerned for your reading and comprehension ability, sir.)

Green plastic, pocketed, bradded folder: "well, you can look, but I haven't seen any..." (author's note: good call. I believe I SHALL walk away now, if you'll kindly return my list and leave me alone.)

After a few minutes of leading the three kids around in circles, a female employee approached us and asked if she could assist. Not wanting to surrender my list again should this employee prove as "helpful" as the last, I read off our missing items to her, doubtfully.

Within minutes, our travel-size baggie of Lysol bathroom/kitchen wipes were replaced by the correct 2 containers of Wet Ones for hands, and she had directed us to the folder Mecca, an aisle which the previous employee hadn't thought of at all, where she helped us in quickly acquiring our red and green folders (plastic, pocketed, with brads). Our yellow version, it turns out, is a hot commodity this year, and is sold out almost everywhere in this area. So I learned from the harried, twitching mothers who walked by muttering to themselves as they searched desperately, "brads... Yellow... Pockets... Has to be plastic... Brads... dammit... Yellow..."

So. We bought the yellow one in paper and left.

And I double-dog dare the teacher to say its unacceptable.

Morals of the story:
1) The Woman will be of help. The Man is wondering when his next break is.
2) Teachers are picky. And last minute shopping sucks.
3) Yellow, plastic, pocketed folders with brads are brought to you direct from Satan.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Dog Days of Summer

It was a cool summer day here in north Texas. And by cool, I mean the TEXAN definition of cool for summer: which falls in the unheard-of low-80's.

That being said, I declared it a "park day", packed the kids and the pup in the car, and hit the road. We located a cool little dog/people park less than 10 miles away, parked, and made our way to the enclosed area for dogs so I could tire the energetic pup out first.

Ranger
 Ranger-the-pup was a big talker the whole way to the enclosed dog park: barking in his lowest, toughest register and straining against the leash as if to say to the other dogs watching our approach "if only this girl weren't holding me back...! You'd be TOAST...!"

I undid his leash and set him free once inside as the kids and I made our way to a shaded picnic table to set up camp. Ranger relished the unleashed freedom and immediately took a few joyous victory laps at full-speed around the perimeter, ears flapping and tongue dangling out of his open mouth.

And then THEY came.

His excitement-filled laps around the dog park turned to petrified, run-for-your-life terror as he suddenly realized he was being pursued by the dogs he had, only moments before, been intent on dominating. And, being a dog park novice, how was he to know that they only wanted to play? Perhaps do some no-strings-attached sniffing? In his puppy eyes, certain death by ALL THE DOGS BEHIND HIM was nigh. The time to have his barking bluff called, to (as they say) "nut up or shut up" was at hand, and Ranger--- well, I have never seen that dog reach those speeds before.

It was in that moment that he almost completely took out me and the kids in utter terror.

So although he was never in danger, and the herd of dogs (who DID eventually catch up) only wanted to say hi and play with the new guy, from that moment on he did not trust the situation OR the group of stalker-dogs, and stayed within a 30 foot radius of our group for the rest of our time there. And he spent most of it under the table, eyeing the other dogs warily.

It was an auspicious introduction to the world of dog parks for him, definitely.

Afterward, we traipsed across a grassy area to a playground to let the human children frolic. It amazed me to see how much BETTER they all are at playground-ish things than last time I took them. Given, last time was last spring, when the twins were around 18 months old and needed constant individual adult monitoring as they navigated the play equipment.

So they wouldn't, you know, step off a 2-story ledge.

This time, all three kids let it be known to me that THIS TOWER and it's slide were Buddy's, this OTHER TOWER and slide were Brother and Sister's, and Devyn.... well Devyn, she can just sit at the bench with Ranger if she wants... And they'd tell me if they needed me.

Just as I was thinking how sad it was not to be necessary to their playground adventures anymore, all three kids called down to me to come up to the towers with them, see the view, try the slides, and play "explorers on a pirate ship" with them.

So although I may not be necessary for their playground safety purposes as much as before, I'm still wanted for the games and fun part.

I can live with that.

And the icing on the cake after the fun, park day? All three kids AND the pup napped without a fight when they got home. Amen to THAT.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

An ACTUAL Post?!

I wonder if it's possible to put into words just how nuts this week is shaping up to be?

But first, let's start with how awesome this past weekend was! On Friday, I got my storage unit all set up and rented and ready for ALL THE BOXES coming that way after this weekend's move. That part was not fun. That part was moderately pricey. Next, I went home and began "The Great Purge-n-Pack of 2012". That part was also not fun. But moving on...

Saturday was when it started turning around. I picked up my good friend Amy from Love Field for her weekend trip to Dallas. (A 7 a.m. flight. Because she's a masochist. And probably secretly hates me.) But Saturday was filled with getting our nails did, errands, breakfast at Cracker Barrel, Raising Cane's sweet  tea, catching up, and then BABE'S FOR DINNER!

I think Amy wet herself from excitement.

Or wait, that was me.

Needless to say, we ate way too much (a Babe's must), gathered up our leftovers, and waddled ourselves out the door, where we went home and lapsed into lengthy and satisfying food comas.

The next morning, we relaxed for a while before leaving for THE RANGERS GAME. Where WE WON. And where WE WATCHED HAMILTON HIT ANOTHER HOME RUN. And where WE ALMOST DIED FROM SITTING IN DIRECT SUN FOR FOUR HOURS IN 104 DEGREE WEATHER.

 

But the heat was manageable with sun block and tons of water. And we were sitting next to two of the funniest, drunkest guys in the ballpark. So that helped. These guys were so carefree and uninhibited that the boys and Amy and I all made it up onto the screen over the field. I mean, the cameraman had no choice in the matter: One guy was in a sombrero unable to stand up straight, the other was booty dancing, and then there was Amy and I, attempting to dance but really just laughing our asses off at the boys.

Good weekends make the world go 'round.

Left on the agenda (besides work) this week is:

Tuesday- pack, and Dad will come disassemble my bed for the movers so they don't break it, because it is old and held together with spit and duct tape by this point.
Wednesday- pack. Although I really wanted to make it to my home group since we just reconvened after summer break...
Thursday- pack. Because I probably gave myself too many breaks over the last few days which means I'm likely not even close to finished.
Friday- pack. To the tune of "flight of the bumblebee". At this point, my stuff will likely be just thrown into boxes at will, with no regard toward purging, organizing, or bubble wrap.
Saturday morning- the movers come. And then shit really hits the fan.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Because Bullets are Faster

So a few updates:

  • Buddy is six now! And starting Kindergarten in just a few weeks! I'm going to be honest: there are days when I'm excited for him to start (the stimulation, meeting new friends, and what I'm hoping will be an 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' attitude toward his wrestling opponent brother), and then again there are days when it hits me how strange it is going to be not having him here with us all day, every day. And that it'll be almost a year before he's back home full-time with us again during the day..... 
  • Brother and Sister are a few weeks shy of their third birthday! Oy... How are they that big already? I started when they were not even three months old, and now three YEARS old?! "Snuck up on us" doesn't quite do it justice.
  • There is a pup in the mix, as of January (if memory serves). He is an adorable, sweet boxer named Ranger. I would take him home with me in a heart beat, but something tells me The Kids might notice...
  • I am praying about possibly going back to school for another degree in the near future. We'll see how it all shakes out though.
  • Dating is fun! Well, most of the time. ;)
  • The twins are potty training! And rocking at it. But frankly, we're running out of reward Twizzlers for successful toilet attempts. And NOT because I rewarded myself with a Twizzler each time they got one too. Absolutely not. Ahem.
Also, please join me in praying for these two sweet friends of mine, Allyson and Todd

Illness sucks. But God is bigger. And if anyone can bounce back from cancer, it's these two!