An update

So my last post was in November, and it's February. Ooops. March.

I'm sorry. Lots has happened.

We had Thanksgiving in two different places, early with the Bartletts and on Thanksgiving Day with my group, where Big Papa attempted to play Pictionary, and we all got good laughs at his attempts. See below:

Somehow, The Spouse brought home a dog. The conversation went like this. “So N. is here in the office, and she has her dog with her, and she needs to find a new home for him. He’s six years old, well trained, really, a good dog.”

Me: “He’s still a DOG. We can’t change his genetic make up.”

Him: “So I told her we could bring him home, try him out for a few days.”

Me: “So basically, you’re telling me you’re brining home a dog, and we’ll own him.”

Him: “Yes.”

(Insert expletives here). (Expletives continue every time The Dawg gets into the trash, eats something he shouldn’t or jumps on my bed or the couch. It’s a cycle).




And of course The Boy loves The Dawg. He’s a Husky, so he likes to run and dig. And he’s a bazillion pounds and too big of a dog for us to own, but The Boy loves him. He’s run away (The Dawg, not The Boy) more times than I can count, and The Boy of course was heartbroken. But since I’ve learned not to leave doors open, The Spouse learned to buy The Dawg a collar, and The Boy learned to grab that collar every time the door is open, that problem has begun to correct itself.

The Dawg and I are merely roommates. I leave him alone, and he’s constantly in my face or trying to eat my dinner or wanting to go outside. And of course he’s a MALE dog. Just what I needed in our house. Another MALE who NEEDS something from me. It’s kinda like living in a fraternity house, minus a keg of beer and those red drink cups all over the place. But the dirty undies on the floor, messes that need cleaned up, and men everywhere... yeah. It’s the same.

The Boy turned six. He rocked it out at a bowling party with his cousins and friends, and did sweet dance moves every time a pin went down. He’s decided next year that he wants a dance party, with a dance floor and a disco ball. Son, this is a fantastic idea. I’m thinking we make it big, combine it with his brother’s birthday and charge $2 to get in. We’ll make it like a wedding, but no one has to get married.

My Sister and her family came in December, and it was so good to see them! We saw the Titanic Exhibit at the Indiana State Museum, looked through old pictures and played in the snow. We took five kids with us and Aunt Patt, and had an awesome time. Big Papa and Mimi somehow got separated, so we left Mimi in a parking garage, tossed her a few granola bars and a bottle of water and said, Godspeed. We gotta get these brats home. Luckily they were reunited later and were able to argue in the car on the ride home in peace, without grandchildren in earshot.

Olivia had never seen snow before, so it was so fun to see her outside, trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue. She’s a Florida baby, having moved there when she was nine months old, so the whole snow/winter coat/gloves deal is foreign to her. As I was leaving, I told someone to go get Liv - it had started snowing. Our Florida Baby comes out in jammies and bare feet, but did remember her coat. She’s learning what it’s like here in the Midwest.

We had an early Christmas at Matt’s house and Santa came. As a small gesture of our appreciation for Santa coming, we bought him a bottle of good vodka. As Matt went to wrap it, it crashed on the garage floor. A quick run to CVS (actually, two, as I got there first and realized I didn’t have my purse) and the crisis was averted. Teamwork, Matty... Teamwork.

Christmas came and went. Santa brought too much stuff and was up too late wrapping, but the boys were happy and Santa went broke. The usual. But then....

The Boy left for an entire week to go snow boarding with his grandparents. One week of me at home with only one child, him gone to Colorado, shredding the rockies. He had a blast, wants me to build a half pipe in the backyard and is already making plans for next year. After googling halfpipe, I kindly axed his idea. But he had a great time and I missed him and his one-liners to pieces.

On to January - New Years was uneventful and then His Brother turned TWO. HOW can I have a two year old already?! He’s a walking and talking fool and is starting to become familiar with “being in a corner.” He has spent his share of time there for hitting me, telling me or The Spouse no and arguing with his brother. He’s getting the idea. It’s hard for me to remember what its like to have a two year old in the house. It’s SLOWLY coming back to me. Good times.



February... oh how I’m glad you are in my past. We’ve had our share of snow and ice this winter and were forced to spend a few days in the house - cabin fever set in big time for all of us. I really thought by the third day, if I had to play one more game of Wii I might hang myself with the controller cord. But we survived. By Thursday of “Snowpacylpse 2011" I decided I was coming to work no matter what. So what if I had to take a hair dryer to my car doors and drive 12 miles per hour to get there? With The Boy in tow? It was worth it.



And now March. Spring is in the air and we’re slowly getting outside and dragging out bikes and skateboards and nerf guns.

And a blog update wouldn’t be an update without a few one-liners from not only The Boy, but His Brother.

-His Brother has started to recognize certain places and loves to go to Applebee’s. I asked him if he wanted more applesauce, and he said, “more Applebee’s sauce?” He also points out the window to “Shake and Shake.”

-The boys spent the night with Mimi and Papa and The Boy was playing video games with Papa. Papa said, you know, sometimes I have a really hard time with this level. The Boy says, “Welcome to my world.”

-Also while playing video games, he grabbed the controller from Papa and said, “Here. Watch the professional.”

-His Brother is very good with manners. I handed him part of a bagel and he said, “Fank you Momma.” I said, you’re welcome Buddy... he looks at the bagel and said, “Fank you, bagel.”

-The Boy was driving His Brother crazy by chasing him with a remote control car. His Brother hollers at the car and says, “NO! SIT! STAY!”

I’ll try to be better about updating the blog.... but his workin’ momma has her hands full!