Thoughts on Shoes

I of all people love shoes, however, at our house we don't wear shoes in the house especially on the carpet. I get that from my mother. She is a fanatic about it and I think on her new 2 year old carpet maybe 2 people have ever worn shoes on it. She doesn't even like to have people over to the house because she sometimes is embarrassed to ask them to take their shoes off.

Luckily, most of my friends know that we would like them to take their shoes off. Mainly because there is a pile of our shoes at the door. Its a good hint that our messiness just lucked out on. Plus, I don't have any problem asking people. I think its a generation thing. Now when my mom's friends come to see the house sometimes I chicken out.

So why am I telling you this? My friend Casie let me borrow her carpet steam cleaner because we had some remodeling in the house and the workers had been in my hall with their port-a-potty shoes. I can confirm that they had been in a port-a-potty because since there is still construction across the street they used that when they needed to go to the bathroom. Ewww!

So I cleaned that carpet and was appalled. Decided to do our living room which NEVER has shoes on it. Okay, maybe the occasional run through from the boys, but its closer to never than some. I put a picture of the dirty water above. This is my official urge to everyone to not wear shoes on the carpet. Ugh! How gross is that water and we don't even wear shoes inside. Imagine what it would look like if we did!



Random Shoe Thought
Why at play places where it is required for the kids to take off their shoes do parents not take theirs off too? Hello? Our shoes are just as dirty as the kids and you are walking all over the floor, climbing the equipment... You are not exempt!!!

Automatic Drama

When I set out to go to the mall this morning I didn't go with any sort of lofty goal except to pick up the boys latest photos and get my oil changed at Sears. Yes, I do get my oil changed at Sears. Yes it is a bit more expensive, however, it gives me a lot more options for boy entertainment which is worth the extra bucks. Most of the time Jiffy Lube doesn't have the greatest toy options. Did I mention that the mileage between my last oil change and this one was 9000 miles at least????

Anyway, we go get the pictures and play with the bead table and other toys there. We go to Stride Rite and get Logan some new sandals because the hand me down sandals from Dylan were too little and then Dylan announces, "I need to potty." No biggie, we go to the newly remodeled Lakeline Mall bathrooms and, UH OH, they have redone everything in nice tile and it is so super shiny.

Why the uh oh? They replaced the old potties with automatic flushers. One look at those things and Dylan is always like , "I don't need to go." What to do? What to do?

Wait! Sears has potties! Let's try those. On the way there I ask a worker where they are located. Dylan says something about automatic potty and the lady pipes up quite proudly, "We have those here." Can I get a break here????? Dylan decides that he has to see for himself and I'm prepping him by saying, "If we don't potty here we don't get to eat at the mall. We are going home." We go to the bathroom and indeed there are automatic flushers. He's a no go.

So we go back to Sears Automotive to pick up my car as it was over the 45 minute limit. Guess what I forgot? My car always requires some fancy, weird oil filter that either takes extra time to find or they have to get it delivered from Advanced Auto Parts (I asked the guy where it comes from today.). Needless to say, the car was not ready so now we definitely cannot go back home.

I decide that the mission of the day is to get the boy on the automatic potty and "Make it yellow." Now why did I bring this on myself? Sounds stupid, I know, but we are going to Disney World next week. How does that relate? You have to go on an airplane, which means you are in airports, which ALL have automatic flushers. If we were doing a quick Midland flight (55 minutes), no biggie. However, since we are going to be doing an almost 3 hour flight we need to conquer this. I need to not have the accident on the plane because he thinks he can go on there and realizes that even Mommy is a bit scared of that potty.

So, I say, "Let's go back to Sears' potty and try. We have to. We have no car and we can't eat until you potty. " Whiny crying starts. So I force him on the potty. Actually pick him up and pull his pants down and hold him on the potty, tinkle down. Usually, I'm not a make you do it person, but Dylan actually does respond well to that every once in awhile. Some things you just don't get a choice in. Plus, would I rather do this at Sears and ruin a morning or in the airport and ruin his first airplane experience?

Now I hear a lady walk in. Great. Dylan is screaming, crying and I'm talking him through it. Yes, she thinks its abuse I'm sure. Embarrassment, but she leaves before seeing my face. Of course Logan is chilling outside the stall in the stroller so I am recognizable.

No tinkle yet so we stop. Good try, good sitting on the potty, etc comes from me and Dylan calms down. He says he's hungry and I say, its not lunch yet and we can't get pretzel sticks until we potty. He decides to try the other Lakeline Mall potty that we went too after we go outside and hang out because I don't want an accident on Sears floor. I'm pretty frustrated by this point, but remember my parenting class (a church MOM time thing which is fabulous) and how we talked about anger. I'm keeping it in for now.

We go to the other potties. Same thing. Crying, but we sit there. I give up for a bit and decide its lunch time. We eat. I come up with a new plan and tell him the secret we have been keeping.

"Now Dylan I want you to know that Mommy isn't trying to be mean by making you tinkle in the automatic flushers. I know it is scary, but I need you to be brave and start using them because you know how we are going to Disney World next week?"

Dylan - "Yes."

"Well, to get to Disney World, we have to go eat lunch at the airport, use an automatic flushing potty there because that's all airports have, get on an airplane (**eyes are looking excited here**), and then fly for 3 hours. That's like six Mickey Mouse Clubhouse shows... Then we get off the plane at another airport and go potty in an automatic flusher there because that's all they have and get on a bus to our hotel."

Dylan - "We get to go on a bus???? Logan did you hear that? A bus?"

Now who would think a boy that LOVES the airport and picking up Grandparents there would be excited about a freakin' bus? Hey, whatever. He's seeing the picture now.

Lunch is over. He decides he wants to go to the Lakeline Mall potties by the food court. They have recently been remodeled too, but he being the 3 year old he is thinks that they don't have automatic flushers. He was wrong, but this time after I pulled his pants down and sat him on the potty, he didn't scream as much as I pointed out that the red light flashes to show it knows he's there and then when we get off it goes off and then flushes.

We walk out of the stall and there is a Grandmother there. She looks at us coming out of the stall and says, "I had to see this." I guess she wanted to see who it was. Anyway, she actually was supportive, which as most of you moms know that random Grandmas are usually not nice. They come up and ask, "What's wrong , little boy?" like you are abusing them. I shared the next week trip and she understood and was asking me how I got him potty trained as her daughter has a 2 1/2 year old and is trying before new baby comes. Yeah, don't think that is going to work out as I'm sure the older one will revert for a little while, but I'm not telling supportive Grandma that! She likes me and I'm getting discouraged and feeling bad mom. Its one of those things where you see this was a mistake to start, but you have to follow through or it will bite you next time.

I'm not sure what to do from here, but I know that we have to solve this somehow. Luckily the family bathroom right next to the women's where we were was magically unoccupied. I asked him if he wanted to see if they had automatic flushers. I mean it was 2 hours since he had told me he needed to go. He says yes.

Now here is something exciting. No, its not that there were normal flushers. Although, as I write this, I'm thinking maybe I went a little overboard on the we must do it thing. Anyway, I felt so close so I kept chugging on. What was exciting?

"MOMMY, THERE'S A LITTLE POTTY! IT HAS AUTOMATIC FLUSHER TOO!"

So I think to myself. Logan has got to be getting bored and is smiling at the little potty because I have to admit, it is cute. I see an opportunity.

"Logan, would you like to sit on the potty?"

Now what 18 month old who has seen his brother sitting on 3 different potties over the course of 2 hours wouldn't want to? So I hear a yes from him and take off his diaper and sit him on the potty. He was so proud of himself. I'm cheering him on and saying yeah Logan. Guess what? The potty didn't flush until after Logan got off. What a great demonstration even if there was no tinkle from him.

So I ask Dylan if we wants to get on it. We bargin over a smoothie. Usually, we get a small smoothie split in 2 glasses and I share the boys, alternating drinks. He asks for 3 smoothies this time and I say sure. I'm desperate. What is 4 extra bucks? He says yes. We get on and I'm talking him through it. Logan is trying to play with the flusher light as I am batting his hand away.

"Make it yellow. Make it yellow. You can do it."

I can see Dylan relaxing. No screaming this time and he starts going! YEAH!

"Keep it up! Keep it up! Yeah! You are doing it!"

Then I see the light stop flashing. Oh crap! The potty is going to...

FLUSH!

Dylan jumps up. I'm thinking. Oh, Logan, why?????? But Dylan doesn't get upset because I start jumping up and down.

"Oh you did it! You were so brave!!! Yeah, Dylan! We can do this at the airport."

He's jumping up and down with his undies and pants around his ankles. All is good. We call Grandmommy while we are in the bathroom and she gets all excited. She has been getting updates per bathroom and at lunch all morning so she appreciates it.

Thank you ,God! My child went in the automatic potty and doesn't hate me!

Now I just feel like we need to find some more automatic potties - one for each day - so that we can keep this new found skill up.

So I brought it on myself, but better now than next week I suppose.

I am officially a Soccer Mom

Ahhh...Thursday practices and Saturday games. Every Saturday. What's with that? I'm sooo not ready for it I have found out. Too much commitment. Lucky for me Dylan isn't into it as much as we thought he would be. Also, 3 year old soccer is not what I expected.

He loved the first practice. Kicked the ball, talked to the coach. Better than Josie who was digging a hole in the field or the twins who just stood there and held hands the whole time. Not as into it as Ryan, the coach's son, who is almost 4 and weighs 50 pounds. Yes he almost double Dylan's weight. Although, we found out he does have his flaws. He clocked a kid at the second game on accident, kind of. He should play basketball because that is what he guards like. He's nice though and he and Dylan like to make faces at each other and play.

There is also Gage. The second game he was the only kid playing. Literally. They called the game when no one else would come on the field from our team. He was speed demon and kicking the ball in the goal constantly. He hasn't performed quite at that level since, but still is the major player on the team. His mom bribes him with Skittles.

I'm getting ahead of myself. The team name is "The Soccer Balls." It took us a few weeks to stop laughing every time it was said. My favorite is the team huddle..."Go SOCCER BALLS!" One of the girls came up with it. Now that I think of it, I haven't seen her in awhile. She is the one with the pink soccer ball, sun glasses and shoes and she is a blond. It cracks me up. So cute. She even has pink shin guards. I'm telling you, its the white blond hair that does it though. But like I said, I haven't seen her too much lately. I wonder if she quit.

Speaking of quitters, there is Ian. He wouldn't go out on the field at all. Never, ever. Not at practice or at the games. Okay, maybe once or twice, but not enough for me to remember specific instances. His Dad seemed pretty disappointed that he wouldn't go out on the field. There was the illusion of pressure from him, but the silent kind. Anyway, Ian's mom finally told the coach that she wouldn't be bringing him back because he screamed and cried every time soccer was mentioned. Gotta be too much pressure at home for that to happen because my kid doesn't love it, but he's not screaming and crying about it.

So you are wondering where does Dylan fit in...Besides clock-guys-on-the-other-team Ryan, Dylan has a mix of all the other kids. I'll give you more info on that later. Since I don't update my blog too much I have to keep you in suspense. Be waiting on pins and needles for the first game blog coming soon!

Update for the last couple of weeks

Random Stuff

It took me 14 days to settle into 31, but I think I'm there now so I can blog a bit! The birthday itself was uneventful. My children didn't even know it was my birthday until Greg got home and told him. I was really craving some artichoke and spinich dip from Cheddar's so we went and ate there. I passed on the actual meal as I wanted the Cookie Monster at the end. Yum!

That sounds super good right now, but since I can't leave sleeping kids at home I won't go and get one. Plus, I'm trying to eat a little healthier. I do have high cholesterol. How old of me! However, I haven't been too good about things lately so I thought I would try today. So far its going well and everyone knows how much I love cheese.

A weird thing happened last night; a dream actually. I haven't been sleeping too good lately because of the extra belly flab going on right now so I wake up more and remember my dreams. Last night I had two random appearances in my dream from two of my mom's old teacher friends. Dolores, who my mom just recently told me had Alzheimer's, so I get why she was there, and Sharon. Weird thing about Sharon is that she has been dead for probably over 5 years or more. Very strange. I forget what we were talking about, but they totally looked the same. Its weird how you cannot see someone for 10 years or more, but remember what they look like exactly.


Boy Update

Main thing is we've been having nap issues. Not hard core ones, but for me any problems are an issue. Twice last week Dylan asked, "Why do we have to take naps? I don't want to go to sleep." So we busted out the nap fairy again. The nap fairy is courtesy of my friend Kelly. Its a great idea. If you go to sleep, the nap fairy might come. So far, miss fairy has come every day and brought a toy or a lollipop. If its not a lollipop Dylan gets a little upset, but he doesn't need one every day! One day when the nap fairy left a lollipop for Dylan, he remarked that she didn't leave anything for Logan. Ooops! Silly nap fairy. Luckily, the nap fairy made a stealth delivery to Logan's baby gate in front of his bed room right when he woke up and before Dylan could get there.

As for Logan, today we practiced some Super Nanny techniques! ha! He never gets out of his bed when I put him down for a nap, but today since he got up around 8:30 he wasn't as tired as usual. He opened his door and just stood there at the gate. Of course, I'm reading to Dylan into his room and putting him down and I keep telling Dylan, "Stay where you are. Mommy will put him down. Don't talk to him and he'll get that he needs to stay in bed." I hope Dylan doesn't figure out that we use that frame of thought for him too! Anyway, after about 6 times Logan stayed in his bed, moaned a bit and is now napping happily away.

Going Back in Time

I think I'm having an about to be over 30 crisis. How do I know this? 3 words - Sim Theme Park.

Yes, for some reason I got the craving to play Sim Theme Park, a game that I haven't played in years, but still have the cd lurking in the desk somewhere. I found it. Right now it is installing. I'm betting that the 1999 game won't work on Vista. Right now I am about to launch it. Here goes. Oh my gosh, it worked. I was afraid that I would feel really old when it didn't.

I'm off to relive my college/post-college youth (or mid 20s at least). I'll keep you updated!

Teddy Bear Picnic 2008

So I have a little work break thanks to Jessica. It's actually pretty funny now, just not when she has to go fix it. She wiped out a big table of fields and has to back them up. Yeah, doesn't sound too bad in the end, but it does remind me of the time I had just started NI and fully taken over this email database that housed all the emails for the customer support people. My mentor had left the building to go to Manufacturing and within the first week I had deleted all the DAQ e-mails and they were not really recoverable. I was stressing, trying not to cry in the stairwell when Crawford said, "Its really not that big of a deal." I totally thought it was firing, but then everyone has one of those stories. I'm really not giving the story justice because I want to get to the present, but turned out everyone was cool about it. Not the same attitude when Gil and I took down the entire North American Application Server though, but that's another time.

Froggy Goes to School

Yes, its a children's book, but today Dylan's Froggy got to go to the Teddy Bear Picnic. Each year the 2 1/2s get to bring their favorite stuffed friend to school and they have a big picnic. From what the teacher has told me, they eat pizza with the kids, get bounced on the parachute, write with sidewalk chalk, etc. There are the fun staples of balloons and bubbles, too. Each kid has made a t-shirt with the hand prints of all the other kids in the class on it. Way cute!

So Dylan sleeps with Froggy every night. Froggy technically is a bath, finger puppet, but has migrated to Dylan's bed to stay nice and dry. When Ms. Dawna mentioned this, Froggy was definitely the front runner. However, I was questioned today when I told Dylan we brought Froggy. "And Blue and Spunky?" Those are two of his dogs that must always keep watch over him on the left side. So Blue and Spunky must be jealous right now while they listen to Froggy's fun day. (Dylan is napping right now so Froggy gets to update the stuffed crowd now.).

When we got to the room, Froggy immediately got a "Dylan's Friend" tag tied on him. The tag was as big as Froggy. Froggy was the smallest friend by far. In fact, Adian brought the largest red teddy bear I've ever seen. Froggy can hold his own though!

So from there, I don't know exactly what went on and when I asked Dylan about Froggy and his day here are the responses...

K: Did Froggy have fun today?
D: Yes
K: What did ya'll do at the picnic?
D: These balloons popped.
K: Outside?
D: In the big room. They just popped. They were real loud.
-----
D: I'm hungry.
K: Did you eat pizza for lunch?
D: Yes.
K: How many pieces did you have?
D: 1, 2...3...4...5..6
K: 6 pieces. Wow you should definetly not be hungry now.
-----
D: Miss Drenda couldn't get the bubbles fixed.
K: The bubbles?
D: It was broken and Miss Drenda said she could fix it. It was broken.
K: A bubble machine?
D: Yes. Miss Drenda didn't fix it. Maybe tomorrow.
-----Conversation when picking him up
D: I didn't listen today.
K: What didn't you listen about?
D: ****No response****
Miss Dawna told me that he was swinging Froggy around and that she had to keep asking him to stop it. I'm thinking that is where the previous line came from.


So as you can tell, I don't get very much info out of Dylan except for balloon and bubble drama, and pizza numbers. I still believe that they had a fun time! I just can't get details.

I'm back!

Yes, it has been quite awhile...almost a month, but I haven't forgotten my blog. I want to post, but have been super busy lately. As I told you in an earlier post, I have been doing some programming work for my friend, Jessica, and it has been taking up all my computer free time. 10 hours a week doesn't sound like a lot, but if your only free time is nap time or night time then its hard to get in. However, I am caught up right now. Well, kind of...I'm to a point that I can't go on until some assistance is received and Jessica and Marty are moving into their new house this weekend so she is in super crazy world which means I get to do some other things. Yippeee (for the move and the extra computer play time!)!


A Little Girl!

On Thursday, Greg and I went to our ultrasound. Yes, #3 is going to be a girl. How exciting! Dylan and Logan will be such good big brothers. Of course, I speak for the long run. I can't imagine a baby girl involved in tackle yet.

Mom came in town and watched the boys while we went in for our appointment. She and I went semi girl shopping on Friday and this morning. She already has 2 dresses, 2 bubbles (who knows what the real name for those are?), and a warm, long sleeve one piece. Needless to say, Greg is excited, but a little worried about this new clothing line item on the budget.

I think he also was a little relieved because he knew I wanted a girl. I could have handled the My 3 Sons thing, but I think that having a girl the 3rd time will make things a little more exciting. Dylan was exciting because he was the first. Logan, because I was so out of it with Dylan that I didn't remember a bunch of stuff. Plus, he has totally developed differently, physically and personality-wise.


Random Sea World Sunday

Last Sunday as I woke up at 7:15 (ugh), I thought to myself. We should do a day trip to Sea World today. It would be a good test for Disney World in May. I told Greg my idea and his immediate response was, "Huh? Uh...no." After 30 minutes, my excitement wore off (or wore down) on him and he went to wake Dylan up. We got the boys dressed and ourselves organized and were out on the road by 8:45. It took us 2 hours to get to the park and then the fun began.

First things first, snack time! The boys got a snacky lunch of popcorn and watermelon while Greg and I got a burger. After that it was dolphin show time. We went to Viva! and I have to say it was excellent. I think it was my favorite thing of the day. They had cool divers, acrobat stuff and dolphins. Dylan liked it too as he munched on his HUGE bucket of popcorn that had a lid. I suggest it for anyone. Logan really enjoyed the popcorn also. It kept both of them focused at the show when they weren't as interested.

Next we went to Shamu's Happy Harbor and played in the little water park there. They had a blast. It was Logan's favorite thing by far! Dylan was old enough this year to ride the kiddie rides. He even waited 30 minutes for one of them. We were shocked. His favorite ride was the paint cans. Next we went to see the sharks and dolphins. Then we had snack time again at the Ice cream shack. Dylan chose frozen lemonade over the double scoop soft serve covered in strawberries Greg and I got.

Next was the Sea Lion show and then the real water park for a bit. Logan was exhausted by the time a 5 o'clock dinner came. He had fallen asleep for about 30-45 minutes in the stroller around 3pm, but a bumpy road to the water park woke the poor baby up.

We drove home and we thought for sure the boys would fall asleep on the way home as Dylan is a consistent napper, but both of them stayed awake. Logan "talked" about the first 1/2 of the way home.

When we asked Dylan what his favorite thing was he said, "EVERYTHING!" Needless to say we will be going back for another day trip as we got the "exciting" Silver Pass. My parents are coming in next Friday morning so since we will be down south we may hit up Sea World again. Also, we as a family will be going again later on in May or June.

Being able to take fun day trips is one of the great things about living in Austin. Sea World is only 2 hours as is Fiesta Texas. New Braunfels and Gruene are less than that. The boys like to visit there also. Lastly, there are so many fun lake restaurants around Austin that we go do that on a Saturday or Sunday. I think Hula Hut is tomorrow after church. Yummy! Plus, Dylan and Logan love the lake. In fact we went to Iguana Grill out towards Lakeway yesterday with Grandmommy. Ahh....Spring is great!


Random Thoughts

I have to put a plug in for Launchcast radio. I used to listen to it when I worked at NI, but obviously I haven't had a reason to listen until this working thing at home. Its pretty fun.

Also, I got to read a book this week. It was pretty good. I'm an easy reader when I'm doing it for fun. There is a publisher called Heart Quest that I've started to like. They are romance, but have a lot of faith based stuff involved. The characters are usually somewhat religious. I have to say I like them as they tend to have better storylines. Of course, they are usually set back in the early 1900's if not earlier.


Follow up to Last Post

Easter went off well. I ended up feeling guilty that I hadn't gotten the eggs out so I dug through the closet and moved a bunch of stuff and got the eggs out and stuffed them. Of course, when Greg came home he had to put the closet back together, but at least the Easter Bunny was prepared.

We actually didn't hunt until after Church and Lunch because my boys get up at like 8am. Church is at 9:30 so by the time we get dressed and breakfasted there isn't anytime. Our Easter Bunny likes to come during church. I know that won't last forever, but, hey, niether will the Fruit Loop egg filling!