Bandaids

Lately, this child has me buying bandaids on a weekly basis. I am not sure he is going to make it through kindergarten the way things have been going this week. Maybe instead of just a bike helmet, I should send him out to play in one of those snowsuits like the kid an A Christmas Story was wearing. It would be hard to get hurt with that on.

Oh and yesterday I thought I was going to have to take him to go get stitches. He did a head plant into the brick retainer wall in our back yard and was bleeding all over the place. It was hard to see how big the cut was because it was in his hair. When I finally got it to stop bleeding it was only ---- <--that big. Apparantly your head bleeds a lot. Either way I was sad grandma/nurse Mickey wasn't here to calm us both down.

Hey Marcus let's sit down and watch a movie tomorrow until I can go to the store and buy some more bandaids.

Progress Reports

Today the boys brought home their progress reports. Usually a day to celebrate in our house since they always have pretty good grades. Nathan got his usual straight A's, and Marcus is finally recognizing all his letters and their sounds after months of hard work. Huzzah!

I opened Jason's and I think my mouth hit the floor. Two F's and two D's! I can't believe it! Before this, the worst he has ever got was a single D surrounded by mostly A's. To me this is where it is real hard to be a parent. School is something where I am not in complete control and am not there to see what is the issue until it is too late. I can honestly say I thought he was doing well. He never has problems completing his homework and I never got a note from his teacher about missing assignments. Total shock.

The guilty party is confined to his room for the day after our long talk (I hate sending them to their room for the whole day, I always feel so guilty but it's for his and my own good right) and there is already a letter for his teacher in his backpack.

I am determined to get to the bottom of this and get him back on track. Mom, Mickey, Mena, I am sure you have all been here before, any advice?

P.S. Sorry for the not so cheery post, I'll try to make the next one extra cheery to make up for it

Tonight was craft night at our house. I thought we could use some holiday decorations around the house and the kids were happy to lend a hand. I love to craft but I'm no good at coming up with creative craft projects. We decided on hand wreaths since I did those in 3rd grade and knew what I was doing and Jason made a toilet paper santa which came out really cool looking. Jason and Nathan thought it was hilarious, and by hilarious I mean in tears on the floor laughing, to make their hands have six fingers or really pointy fingers. Me and Marcus didn't get it. We are too mature for things like that. Nathan and Marcus did Thanksgiving wreaths and wrote things they were thankful for on each hand. Jason made a Christmas one and isn't his Santa awesome? All of their stuff came out great.

I was going to do a wreath but spent most of my time helping Marcus cut out his hands. If I were to do one I would have wrote that I was thankful for being able to stay home and be with my children, for my sexy husband, for my new Twilight book "New Moon" that I can't wait to read (thanks mom and Stan for the gift), and for cooler weather.

One of Those Days

Today was one of those days. It was one of those days where we just fell of the face of the Earth, and life only existed in this house of ours. One of the lazy days where we stayed in our pajamas all day and did nothing.

the baby slept more than usual

the boys hardly stopped playing video games

Mike was glued to the football games on tv while I couldn't seem to escape from my book


In fact, the only hint of any sort of physical activity today was when it actually rained for 5 minutes. It was just long enough for Marcus to grab his beloved Bob the Builder umbrella to dance in the sprinkles. He was the only one who actually got dressed today.

Rain and clouds have that effect on us. Good thing there is only 7.5 rainy days in Arizona a year.

Back to normal tomorrow

Dinner and a Movie

Tonight I had the pleasure of going on a date with four handsome gentlemen. We went to a benefit spaghetti dinner, to raise money for the new community baseball field. Holy cow there were a lot of people there! The spaghetti was okay but the caesar salad was delish. After going through 500 plates of spaghetti and salad, they actually had to turn people away! I would say that is a successful fundraiser. Unfortunately, one of my dates had a number two diaper during dinner and the restroom didn't have a changing table. I think these should be mandatory in all bathrooms by now. That's okay though, we improvised.


After dinner, my dates took me to see a movie in the park. Every month, our neighborhood does a free movie night event for families to come watch a new release on a giant 50ft inflatable screen at the park. Tonight's flick was Journey to the Center of the Earth, I would give it two thumbs up.

I was super excited that I finally got to wear a jacket for the first time in months. That quickly wore off when I remembered that I hate being cold. Cold weather to me is anything under 70 degrees.
It probably wasn't a good idea to go straight to dinner from soccer practice. Those shorts and tall socks weren't doing much to keep him warm. Nathan said he felt like the inside of the freezer. He hates being cold too.

James looked so cute bundled up in his little hoodie jacket and blanket. He watched the movie on the blanket for a while and then fell asleep.

Marcus talked my ear off for most of the movie. It was nice though, I have been on some dates where there is that whole awkward silence thing going on. He was nothing like that, always something to say with him. He was disappointed his jacket did not have a hood.

After our movie we headed back to my place for some hot chocolate.

It was a fun night, I hope they want to ask me out on another date soon.

James gets Mad

Normally I am so excited about baby firsts. Their first bath, their first tooth, their first steps. Today James had his first tantrum. We were at Sam's Club buying large quantities of formula, water, bread, five gallons of mayonnaise for six dollars, you know, that sort of thing. After, we decided to treat ourselves to milkshakes for lunch (we are very health conscious grownups). James decided he wanted some too and when he realized we weren't going to share he started screaming like a madman! I am not talking about crying/screaming, this was give me that ice cream/yell with intent scream. It was cute and we laughed at first but he wasn't giving up and everyone was looking at us. Then it wasn't so cute. Where did this child learn this and how does he know to scream for ice cream and not baby squash!?

Election Day

The last time Mike and I took the kids to the dog track, Jason asked which dog we were voting for. I figured that we probably weren't being responsible parents if that was what my children thought voting was. Today we decided to be responsible grown ups and set a good example for the boys. We Voted!

I think the poll worker could tell I was a newbie. He chuckled a little when I asked him where do I sign my ballot. Then he politely told me that the ballots were anonymous. DUH! Learn something new everyday right?

I am sure I will be up late tonight with my eyes glued to CNN
Go Obama we'll be rooting for you!

Mystery Fish

Mike took the boys fishing this weekend at our community lake. They all had a few bites and Jason and Nathan each caught a fish! Does anyone know what the heck type of fish this is? It has a pointy mouth/nose and is sort of yellowish in color. If you have any idea please leave a comment, I really wanna know!

Fright Night

There is so much to love about Halloween. The costumes, the candy, the food, the family, the excitement. Every year we head on over to Uncle Chris and Aunt DeeDee's house with my sister and her kids and my mom, Stan, and Brianna. We always eat pizza and then go trick or treating. That is the tradition. That is what I love to do. I took a ton of pictures because not only do I have to show off these scary/cute kids but I am also showing off my mad photography skillz. And know I will introduce the creatures...

Here we have a very spooky skeleton aka Nathan.

Batman aka Marcus

A hungry baby monkey we call James

Batman, dead demon creature aka Jason, dead geisha girl aka Brianna, and Angel aka Angel

Here is the ninja practicing his ninja chops tomorrow he will be known as Ryan

And of course an angel named Angel

I'm not sure what Uncle Chris was dressed as but it was pretty scary

Even Deedee was scared

Early New Year's resolution- I am dressing up too next year. I don't want to miss out on the fun!

Jason enjoying the fire before trick or treating. Maybe he is getting up his strength to carry all that candy.

Batman running to save an angel in distress

A dead geisha twirling here beautiful cloak

This is always such a great neighborhood to trick or treat in. So many houses go all out. This house in particular is one of my favorites. There are so many people dressed up and trying to scare everyone as they walk past, including me. The guy with a bat tried to sneak up on me twice and would have scared me good if it weren't for my sister and Marcus warning me. Marcus wanted no part of this house and had my hand in a death grip till we got two houses past it.

This was a garage band putting on a concert in their driveway. They were pretty good! The house right next door to them had a cotton candy machine and were handing it out freshly spun to all the kids. Grown ups got jello shots too! Right across the street from them the house was putting on a chili cook off. Everyone that stopped by got to sample and vote. I heard number 1 was the best but I was too leary to try mystery chili. I am a baby.

James and my mom playing at the chili house

I don't know who this kid was but I thought the stilts were a pretty cool touch. Maybe I could add learning to walk on stilts to my resolution too.

I love this house too. Last year's theme was hippies. This year they were dressed up as the Mario Bros. Notice the question mark boxes on the wall. They also had the mario music playing too! Great attention to detail. Geesh Chris PLEASE pull those pants down about 6 inches you are scaring the children!

This house was right across the street from the scary house. They were really good about not scaring the kids but Marcus didn't believe me. I guess they were scary by association.

It was such a fun night, I am already looking forward to next year. Seriously though babe, you and I are dressing up next year, whatever you want to be as long as it doesn't involve me dressing like a, well we can discuss that next year.