Super Glue, Gas, Showering, Bathrooms, and Arm Pits

If the title of this blog post hasn't tipped you off, this post is totally random and will mostly likely make no sense at all by the time you are finished. If that might give you a headache, or you feel like saving yourself a precious 15 minutes or so, then by all means, check back in tomorrow. I just hope I don't have a headache by the time this is done.

#1. I LOATHE super glue. I really do. I can't stand the stuff. Seriously, the next time something breaks, I am just going to throw it away, and save myself the misery.

The Little Man's Darth Vader helmet took a hit and a decorative piece on the front came off. He, of course, went into hysterics. Out came the super glue. I thought, "I'll just put a little dab here, replace the part there, and bingo bango! I'll be the hero of the day.

That is NEVER how it happens with super glue. I swear that stuff has some sort of curse on it. First of all, I would LOVE it if someone would enlighten me on how to open up a tube of super glue so that the ENTIRE contents of the tube do not come flowing out all over the place (read: all over my hands and fingers). While trying to get the glue off, everything in the world sticks to you with super force (hence the name). However, once I got the mess under control, and got just a dab onto the broken mask, wouldn't you know, the glue WILL NOT hold the little plastic piece in place. My finger, however is permanently attached to the mask.

I think that stuff is made to adhere human flesh to just about anything.

Also, once you get yourself unglued from your project, how do you get the glue off of your skin? My fingers are like sandpaper right now.

Lastly, I got a bunch in our kitchen sink. It dries pretty fast there too.

And it doesn't dry clear...

#2. I filled my tank at the gas station yesterday for under $60. I just about fell over with joy.

#3 I have been experiencing a weird phenomenon. OK, I guess it isn't too weird, just new. I have been getting compliments on how great I look this last week. The weird/sad part is that I don't look any different than I ever have. I just realized that some people just think that I am all dressed up and put together because the only time they have seen me is when I am sweaty from working out, and still have my workout gear on, or wearing my PJ's/sweats out in public because I was having a lazy day and just plain didn't want to get ready. There is a whole segment of people out there that think that this is how I look all of the time.

Part of me wants to fix this and wonders how this even happened, and the other part just doesn't care.

It's up in the air right now as to which part of me will "win out". I do feel weird telling people after they have commented, "Wow, you look really nice today! What did you do different?" that the only thing different is, I have showered.

#4. I think I am going to buy stock in the Clorox wipes. You know, those wipes that are like Wet Wipes, but instead of cleaning up a dirty bottom, you are cleaning up a counter top or the floor or some other mess. My mess is the bathroom. It's messy about five to six times a day.

Having a boy is interesting. I won't even discuss the areas that I have to clean, and how far away from the actual target they are.

#5 I don't know if you remember, but I am having laser hair removal done under my underarms. I can't tell you how happy I am with the results so far. I haven't shaved under there since the beginning of August, and I am as smooth as a baby's bottom.

Many people have thought this hair removal was kind of silly, but I don't care. They say, "It only takes like 2 minutes to shave there, so it's not that big of a deal."

Well, let me tell you, that is two more minutes than I had before.

Also, I haven't had one freak out episode yet at the gym, or after I realized my hand was in the air for whatever reason, wondering when the last time I shaved was.

Lastly, they are beautiful. Seriously. They are smooth and there is nary a trace that any type of hair has ever lived there. No bumps, no coarseness, no five o'clock shadow at noon. Nothing.

I better stop with this randomness and try to get back into some sort of organized living. I might even take a shower and put on some make-up. I've got to do something about all this super glue all over my hands.

Of course, I'd have to clean the bathroom first.

Oh, The Many Hats I Wear

While The Little Man is running around the house in his Darth Vader costume:

P: Mommy?
me: Yea, bud.
P: Are you going to get dressed up like Luke Skywalker?
me: Um, I don't think so, bud.
P: Why not?
me: Why would I get dressed up like Luke Skywalker? Do you want me to be Luke Skywalker?
P: Yea, I need you to be Luke Skywalker because I really need someone to beat up.

Sweet.

Although, it does give some variety to playing Barbie and doing the laundry.

Growing Pains

I am definitely one of those moms who gets a bit weepy when my children pass milestones. Some moms celebrate, I get sad and anxious. I guess I am happy too, I mean I do love to watch my kids grow, but to know we are growing up so fast is kind of sad for me.

In the last few days, The Little Man is really growing up. He has been learning how to correctly say his "L's". I know that is silly to get weepy about, but he sounds so grown up when he says "pLease" instead of "pWease". Granted, the "L" sound he is making in his words is extremely forced and almost sound like a drunken slur, but they are there, and they are only going to get better, and then gone will be the days when I will hear the sweet call of "WANIE!" or "Mommy, wook at that!" or "I rewee wike that one the best".

It also doesn't help that his favorite thing to talk about this past week, besides how he can do everything by himself, has been how old he is. He's all, "Mom, I'm a really big boy now. Ya, I'm way past two, and now I am three." All I can respond with is, " Yup, you are a big boy now," as I sob in the background.

The Girl, on the other hand, is still enjoying Kindergarten. Even though she is just a young five and three quarters years old (she made us celebrate her three quarters milestone this past weekend), she has a very grown up crush on a boy in her class. I promise, I didn't even notice the opposite sex until well into my 7th grade year. I suspect she inherited this interest from her Father.

Mostly, I just like to blame him for things that the kids do that I don't understand and that scare me. I have no idea if her father was the same way in school.

It's just that it frightens me that she has such a big crush on a boy that I don't even know, and she gets to see five times a week.

Also, they play Boys Chase the Girls at recess and she is super giddy over the fact that he always chases her.

And I found out that HE is the reason she wanted to be Batgirl for Halloween. He is going as Batman. She can hardly wait for him to be Batman and her to be Batgirl. So much for wanting to be Batgirl because she loves the boots. I am working diligently at figuring out a way for her to miss school that day because I can't even handle the idea.

Did I mention she goes on and on about how he wears his hair?

The teacher has assured me she thinks that the crush is one sided, but my heart aches as she displays this behavior that seems well beyond her years.

Daddy is looking into an all girl school in the area.

That should totally work. It shouldn't create a rebellious spirit in her at all.

Dreams Came True Today

Just try to guess what The Little Man picked out for a Halloween costume this year.


This, after MANY talks about what fun it would be to dress up as Woody from Toy Story. I fear those sweet Toy Story days are over. The Force is now with us for probably the rest of our lives.

If that costume looks a tad too big, it's because it totally is. I couldn't find one in the younger boys (read: sweet baby boy) section. So this is going to fit him for a few years.

Joy!

The Girl tried to pick out a costume too, but she just wasn't "feeling it" today as we looked. She brought home a Batgirl costume, but we have already returned it.

I don't even know what prompted her to want to be Batgirl except she kept saying she really liked her boots. They were tall, black patent leather.

I know the feeling.

So instead of fighting off all evil in the neighborhood with her brother, she tackled a project with Daddy that she was hoping he wouldn't change his mind on when he offered it in the first place. Somehow the kids got Hubby talked into letting them "help" him paint the garage. The Girl was ecstatic at the opportunity to get messy.





The Little Man could only be swayed into battling unknown forces for so long, then he too was lured into the thrill of getting totally messy.

Just look at their coverage!


Here they are practicing a method that Hubby was trying to get them to perfect so that they didn't load their brushes up with too much paint.


I think I prefer this look much more than the Darth Vader costume.


Those cheeks should never be covered up by some silly mask!

I Love the Shuffle Option on my iPod

Thankfully, I was able to get out of bed on Sunday morning, and finally get back into running. It was wonderful. I had debated whether or not I should just run on the treadmill, in order to avoid the chill in the air that might push me further into hibernation mode, but I decided I would get tough and face the chill head on. I decided if I just dressed correctly, I would be just fine, and the chill might be refreshing.

I put on my running tights (full length), a long sleeve shirt with an undershirt-with-a-built-in-bra-type-thing underneath, and my headband that is wide enough to cover my ears. I was dressed for the weather. The only problem was "the weather" didn't really exist. It was actually quite nice. Some might say that it was "perfect running weather".

Oh well, I was out there, and I got it done. I am so glad that I didn't run on my treadmill. I saw some of the most beautiful scenery which was perfectly paired up with the best praise music.

I could not have chosen a better match between the gorgeous mountains, which were covered in big fluffy clouds, except for their peaks which poked out at the top, and the leaves that have changed colors (almost completely), but haven't fallen off the trees yet. All that beauty combined with lyrics like: "How great is your love? So much higher than the Heavens with faithfulness that reaches the skies" from Mercy Me. Followed by "Every time I breath I feel a little bit closer. I never want to leave I want to stay in your warm embrace. Oh basking in the glory shining off your face." by Big Daddy Weave. The best were these lyrics from Third Day: "Lord of all creation, of the water, earth, and sky The Heavens are your Tabernacle. Glory to the Lord on high. God of wonders beyond our galaxy, you are holy, holy. The universe declares your majesty you are holy, holy. Early in the morning I will celebrate the light. And when I stumble in to darkness, I will call your name by night."

It was the perfect sound track.

I barely noticed that I was running uphill for a large portion of the run...against the wind.

OK, I might have noticed just a little bit.

Even though it (the run) was tough at times, it was a good reminder that great things aren't always easy. Just because you have to work at something doesn't mean it shouldn't be. Sometimes life's biggest and best blessings cost us something. Sometimes the price is pretty small, and other times the price is unbearably big.

Sunday morning I paid the price of bearing the cooler weather, running uphill, against the wind, and a bit of exhaustion from the laziness that was the week before, but I was blessed with God's beauty and presence. A VERY small price to pay for such a huge blessing.

It's a blessing that will keep me moving, and resisting the temptations of hibernation, all week.

On a side note, and not so coincidentally, I have been working with the kids through a book that helps them to memorize Bible verses. This is the verse we memorized last week.

(I video taped it because the kids LOVE to watch themselves over and over. I thought it would be a great way for them to teach themselves, and keep them motivated.)

((In case you thought I was crazy or something.))

(((Seeing that video, though, was not what tipped you off to the craziness, was it?)))

Fighting the Call of the Wild

Tomorrow is the day that I convince myself I am not a bear. I'm totally serious. This time of year, I go nuts. You may have noticed, I only blogged once last week. I really wasn't all that busy. I didn't have any deadlines. The kids were normal kids; no illnesses, no weird projects, no appointments, no sleepless nights, or wild new behaviors that I had to spend time breaking. I was just busy eating my way through our grocery budget and then doing what one should do when they have successfully consumed enough calories for a week in just one day, sleep.

I do this every year. As Fall gets into full swing, instead of getting a burst of energy like a lot of Autumn Lovers, I just turn into a bear. I eat and sleep. When I am not sleeping I wish I was sleeping. It's more than just a longing to sleep, I am actually really exhausted. Exhausted enough to miss several workouts in a row, and nap in the middle of the day. I actually dosed off for a brief second this week while I sat in a lawn chair in the front yard as my children played. Today, I ate so much cheese, food made with cheese, and then, just to balance everything out, a whole assortment of desserts that thinking about it right now, is just a bit overwhelming.

Tomorrow morning, I will go out and run. It is going to be quite chilly here, and I don't care. I can't afford to. I can't keep this up for a second longer. The week was nice. It was like a little vacation. Kind of like what I imagine going on a cruise would be like (I have never been on one before so I can't be totally sure). I have heard you can eat pretty much all day while you are on board. I have also heard that the food is amazing. I can't say that the "amazing food" part fits this past week, but definitely the "eating all day" part fits. Also, I imagine that with all the "At Sea" days, one would probably sit out on a lawn chair and dose.

Basically, my home was like a Carnival Cruise line. Except the food wasn't as good, and we didn't have any fabulous ports. Unless you consider Super T fabulous.

Which, at times, it totally can be.

It's time to snap out of it. Time to look back at this week as a distant memory. Time to find my groove again, and fight my way back to the numbers I recognize on the bathroom scale because unlike a bear, I will not actually sleep through winter without eating. No, Ma'am, I won't. In fact as a general rule, I have found that I usually am good at keeping up with this pattern of eating and sleeping up until March. At which point I totally panic because I realize Summer is just around the corner, and I will have to take off the extra large men's sweatshirt and elastic waisted sweatpants.

I've heard that next week it will really feel like Fall is in the air, as the weather takes a turn. It will take all that I have not to sit down with a big bowl of soup and sleep the week away.

It feels like I am fighting my natural instinct.

If you see me cruising around town in a cozy sweatsuit, try to give me the benefit of the doubt and assume I just came from the gym. I am feeling pretty confident you'll be right.

Somewhat.

I Love...

1.) That The Little Man asks when we are going to pick up his sister from school even though we are just pulling out of the carpool lane from dropping her off.

(It is a little sad.)

2.)When we pick her up in the afternoon, he is so excited to see her. He asks a million questions right away about her day, and is genuinely interested in her answers. He even has feedback for some of her dilemmas she faced that day.

3.) That The Little Man's first 3 questions are always the same when we pick her up: 1) How was your day? 2) Who did you play with? and 3) Did you have enough time to eat all of your snack.

Precious.

4.) On the days that I pick The Girl up from school first, and then we go pick up The Little Man from his school day, she acts the same way towards him. She even talks to him in a high pitched voice that is similar to when a grown woman talks to a small infant/baby.

5.) He doesn't even blink an eye at her high pitched voice. In fact he loves it, which is demonstrated by his sweet smile, big hugs, and enthusiasm to share his art project and all the details of the day with her.

6.) That as soon as he is done sharing his day with her, he immediately asks her about her day.

The same three questions first.

7.) To look at those tiny little shoulders and bony little arms all tied together with a slight pot-belly because it reminds me that they are still little babies (OK kids...I know they are kids now, not babies).

8.) That they just have to look at each other for a split second before they burst into laughter...about nothing.

9.) That they have each other.

10.) The absolute blessing that has been given to me to be a "Stay at Home Mom" so that I don't have to miss a single ounce of any of this.