The never ending mess

It seems these days that the mess in our home is never ending. I have taken step after step to organize, clean, and make things easier for the men in my life to help me keep up the housework. This has not helped in any way. With Booga in school during the day, it has gotten easier. However, once he hits the door, the tornado of destruction begins again. It grows from an F-2 to an F-4 once the eldest of the males hits the door. I frantically try to follow behind them picking up the chaos that is left in their wake, but to no avail. There is an old saying that if momma ain't happy, then no one's happy...well, Momma ain't happy!

Well, maybe I contribute to the mess just just a little bit. :)

It's started...ALREADY

Today after picking up Booga from school, I asked how his day went. He got a big smile on his face and whispered something. I didn't hear what he said so I asked him to repeat himself. He raised his voice only slightly and spoke again...I still didn't understand what he said. I, again, asked him to repeat what he had said only this time in a normal voice. He said, "A girl kissed me today". On the outside I was calm and collected. I asked who it was and when it happened. It was a girl named Chloe, and she was saying goodbye to him. I said, "it's no big deal, she was just saying goodbye".

On the inside, however...WHAT?!?!?!? Who the hell is this little HARLOT, and why is she kissing you? This is only your third day in school and already you got some floozy trying to influence you?!? Stay away from girls, Booga, they are EVIL. Believe me, I am one.

When Daddy Mc got home, he told him what had happened. The response was as suspected. "Alright, you got a girlfriend! Who is she, is she cute? You probably shouldn't be kissing girls because your mom's not going to be happy about it, but I'm okay with it. Well, he is a handsome kid!" I will be placing my size 9 shoe squarely up Daddy Mc's butt later this evening; and hunting down Miss Chloe to let her know to keep her mitts off of my boy. Well, maybe not...

Day 2...Nervousness 1, Booga 0

Day 2 of Kindergarten has proved not as exciting as day 1. After bringing Booga into the classroom, he began to get upset. Like a good mom, I comforted him and said my goodbyes. About 30 minutes later, the school calls. Booga is in the health room. He has thrown up. You see, Booga has his mother's stomach. Yes, when I was a wee lass, I vomited when nervousness hit...there I've admitted to it. The nurse informed me that he needed to come home and get cleaned up. I drove as fast as I could (faster even) back to the school. When I arrived, Booga's things had been placed in the appropriate "puke bag" (a plastic trash bag) and he was ready to come home. Bogey Bear, it seemed, had taken the brunt of the assault as he had done in the past. Such a good soldier that bear...always willing to take one for the team. We got Booga home, showered, teeth brushed, and him calmed down. Back to school we went. Bogey was too injured to return to duty.

This time we sent other "reinforcements". That's right, we sent in the all powerful "Little Tig". Little Tig just happens to be a cross-country traveler and VERY brave. He is one of Mommy Mc's first Tigger companions, and bears an old collar from one of my first dogs properly sized down to fit him snugly. I would send Little Tig with Daddy Mc on all of his trips out of town. It became a running joke between the two of us. Having traversed all of Western Kansas, Dallas, Colorado, and Florida he is an expert at making you feel like you are at home. We did NOT send Little Tig's luggage with him this time as he would not be staying over night. Yes, he really has luggage. Little Tig seemed to calm the situation; and I have not received any more phone calls today. Tomorrow, we shall skip the breakfast and perhaps have a piece of toast.

One child's joy is one mom's heartache...

First day of Kindergarten. "The best day of my life" as Booga put it...one of the worst for Mommy Mc. I was able to keep it together until we left and just as we hit the doors of the school...the flood came. Completely irrational, I know. There's just something about sending your first born into the unknown world of school that is HORRIBLE! He can't be this old just yet...I can't be this old just yet! He's my baby, no matter how big he gets.

By the way, isn't he ADORABLE?!?!? So excited to be a Kindergartner! Bogey Bear has seen Booga through so much, and now it's his first day of Kindergarten, too! Lucky bear!

Vaccinations

Why is it that the day children are scheduled to get shots, they are perfect little angels? Tater was a perfect little boy until we hit the doctor's office. A parent couldn't ask for a nicer kid....UNTIL, here comes the nurse with the needles. Then it was all over. The crying and constant whining began. No amount of cuddling would cure it. Perhaps tomorrow the immune system will kick in and he'll sleep most of the day....please?

Monkey See, Monkey Do...

A couple of cute milestones happened yesterday. First, Tater has been learning sign language. We used this method with Booga and it worked out quite well. Fortunately, we were able to start younger with Tater. He has already mastered the sign for milk and uses it quite often. Last night, he discovered the use for "more". He truly takes after Daddy Mc in this regard. Why? Well, you see, we've been trying to get him to say "more" for a while now. We had not, however, tried using it in conjunction with ice cream. This is where he and Daddy Mc are in sync. After a small bite of Ben & Jerry's, Tater decided that he wanted more, and more, and more, and more. Just like Daddy Mc. He's got it down now...no problem!

Second, Tater and Booga were finishing up their cinnamon rolls while watching some cartoons. Tater had finished his first (which he NEVER does), and started walking around with his paper plate and fork. I decided to watch him to see what he would do with them. He quickly rounded the corner and went straight to the kitchen sink. He stood on his tippy toes and then proceeded to place the plate AND the fork into the sink. I was shell shocked! I guess he had seen his brother do it so many times, that he knew just what to do. Now, how can I get Daddy Mc to do it? Just kidding!!!!

Visit with Bybee

First, Bybee is the Great Grandmother to Booga and Tater. Second, rare is the occasion that we get to see our Bybee... at least we don't get to see her as much as we would like to for she lives in the evil land far, far away. This being said, the kids always have a hoot when they are with her. This time was no exception. You see, Booga has discovered an exciting game called Slap Jack. He has discovered that when timed just right, he can "slap" a Jack faster than his opponent. This of course tickles him to no end...especially when funny noises come out of your opponent when they aren't fast enough. When playing with Bybee (IF you are of the correct age), you generally win. Of course, she beats the CRAP out of Mommy and Daddy Mc at just about every card game we play. You see, we are NOT of the correct age. She shows NO mercy...EVER. We're talking getting the snot kicked out of us! ANYWHOOO...back to the story. Bybee showed Booga how to play Slap Jack. This made Booga's day, and Bybee's as well. So much, in fact, that Booga laughed about it the next day. Making a child laugh so hard that he nearly pukes can be a difficult task when you do not use the tickle monster. It is an easy task for our Bybee. She has managed to find a way to entertain children of at least four generations now. She had mastered the art LONG before I came along and I got the distinct pleasure of her entertainment. It is all together a different thing to witness your children enjoying the same games, getting the same belly laugh, and learning from the same woman that you did as a child. It is truly an amazing gift that I have that my Grandmother is still as fun as she ever was.

WE LOVE YOU BYBEE!!!!

July 2007

Traveling...with children

When traveling with children it is always necessary to provide plenty of activities to make the trip easier. At least, that's what the experts say. I don't believe that those experts have met MY boys. No matter how many hours of entertainment we may provide, they are most happy when running around and screaming. This being said, the trips back to the distant (and evil) land aren't exactly a quiet and enjoyable trip. If timed just right, we have one child who naps most of the way and the other who does his best to try to wake him up with the constant questions. When not timed right, it is all we can do to remain safely on the road and arrive at our destination without grinding our teeth into bloody stumps. This time....we timed it right!

Kindergarten Blues

Ok, all of you moms out there know how HEARTBREAKING it is to enroll your first child in kindergarten. Well, I am no different than the rest of you. Booga is so excited to go to Kindergarten, and all I can think of is, "this boy is not old enough to go to school yet". I know that he is the correct age for school, but I know it was just yesterday that I brought him home from the hospital. No, he didn't have an accident yesterday...

This is the same child that, on at least one occasion per day, drives me nuts. He then does something COMPLETELY adorable, is wonderful, or goes to sleep. I am then transformed into Mushy Mommy Mc and forget all of the bad things that he has done and I want him to stay young forever. School is full of bad people...you know, GIRLS. Sooner, or later, he will find out that they aren't so icky, and bring one home to marry. I realize that it will definitely be later, but I'm a mom and can see well into the future. I'm psychic...I can predict falls, fights, hunger, thirst, and bathroom emergencies well in advance...just ask my kids. This will be an "interesting" time in our lives. Coping skills....that's what I need.

Our lives thus far......

Ok, it occurred to me that some of you don't know the story behind Mommy and Daddy Mc. So, here goes:

Once upon a time in a distant (and evil) land, Mommy and Daddy Mc went to high school together. Mommy and Daddy Mc hated each other (although Daddy Mc will say that he never hated Mommy Mc, but that Mommy Mc was just always mean to him....Mommy Mc disagrees). Mommy Mc was dating Daddy Mc's best friend at the time, and found Daddy Mc to be a bit of an ego maniac (Daddy Mc AGAIN will disagree with this statement...but he was). Mommy Mc had the presence of mind to know that Daddy Mc's friend was a loser, and broke up with him. Mommy Mc went to a party with some of her and Daddy Mc's friends, and proceeded to have a couple of rather interesting drinks. Daddy Mc started looking and acting nice to Mommy Mc and they started to talk....long meaningful type of talking. They found out that they actually had a lot in common. They decided to go out on a date. Their friends disagreed with their relationship and abandoned them, but Mommy Mc and Daddy Mc knew that they had a very deep and spiritual connection. They would not let anyone or anything come between them. Five years later, after many talks from Mommy Mc's Grandmother and Mommy Mc herself, Daddy Mc decided to ask Mommy Mc to marry him....well, sort of. There's a lot in there folks, but none of it is really funny. Of course, when you are proposed to after a HUGE fight by your boyfriend throwing the ring at you and saying "here, this isn't how I wanted to do this"...well, I guess that's sort of funny. ANYWHOOOO...September 11, 1999 Mommy Mc and Daddy Mc became husband and wife. Yes, we thought it WAS a clever date. A year later (exactly one year later), Mommy Mc and Daddy Mc moved to the BIG city. They left everyone they had ever known to pursue Daddy Mc's career. They celebrated their first wedding anniversary in a moving van and then later unpacking belongings in their new apartment with paper thin walls and a neighbor who liked "Sports Center" on ESPN at 11:00 at night. It was GLORIOUS...well, sort of. The second year of marriage brought happiness, fun, and a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Yes, as you probably guessed by the anniversary date above...this was September 11, 2001. Oh, did I mention that Mommy Mc and Daddy Mc were expecting Booga at this time? December brought cold weather, our first home, and Booga...two weeks late. Things were going along swimmingly when God (and Mama Moe who had prayed since the day Booga was born about us having ANOTHER child) decided to grace us with another bundle of joy. We were not expecting, or planning, another child, but we were glad he was coming anyways. The date was set, Tater was coming at the end of March. Needless to say, up in heaven, Granny Baker had OTHER plans, and we are sure that she put God up to having Tater come three weeks early. This just so happened to be St Patrick's Day. We knew Granny was laughing the entire day. Did I mention that we had a Leprechaun in our delivery room? Yeah, Leprechaun...we're Irish...what can I say! NO, we didn't PLAN it...he just showed up. Kinda like Lucky on the Lucky Charms commercials...like I said...Granny was laughing the ENTIRE day. Now we are a family of four...happy as could be, and we can't imagine our lives ANY other way.

Tonsils....UGH!!!!!

Well, today we foud out that Mommy Mc will need to have her tonsils removed. Of course, it is not a life-threatening occasion and the procedure won't happen until the end of September. This makes Mommy Mc very upset as her throat, ears, and head have been aching for the past two WEEKS! More updates to come on Mommy Mc's OTHER pain in the neck after the surgery is complete.

Getting started

This is the first of many posts....at least I hope. We will be posting pictures to our blog as we can. We have a LOT of catching up to do! Being the mother of these two is making me go gray early! Anything major, or life-altering will be shared with you...our family and friends. We hope you wil enjoy our little blog, and we'll try to keep it light-hearted and funny so it stays interesting!

PS. Thanks Patti for the idea. Yes, it's taken me THIS long to get organized and to have enough time to sit down at the computer and start it! :)