And counting of course...I am so looking forward to the 16th.
I have to take off early again to pick up the kids. I don't mind (since they are my kids), but it would really help if I had more than, oh, 2 hours notice. So today I get no lunch so I can take off at 3:30 and take 30 minutes personal time.
When we get home, we are behind on laundry, dishes, dusting, and vacuuming...and I have class.
I know, I know...gripe gripe gripe. It's early - what can I say?
Bry-onicle is going on a field trip today to the capital and tomorrow going on the VIP lunch with the 4th grade teachers to Taco Mayo. I have to remember to get some money for that.
Frankly, I don’t know who is happier – the young princes or myself. It’s kind of a long story, but I’m behind on my word count and even though I said I wouldn’t pad….
So, Bry-onicle has always possessed this infatuation with baseball (he gets that from me – I love baseball). Sadly, the young prince has lousy fine motor skills. While he is smart as a whip, branded gifted and talented, and can write a story like nobody’s business – it takes a lot of hard work for him to catch on to a sport. So I figure off season ball is the best kind of baseball for him. He can learn the game, it isn’t as competitive, and he gets a cool uniform.
Alas! Monkey Butt feels left out because he missed soccer sign up (he is a speed demon on that field, I tell you what). So, I pay an extra $25 so he can play off season baseball too.
So – to try and keep up with the math…that’s now $50 and it is right around the first week of school, mmmkay? I’m cool with that. Bry-onicle is excited and Monkey Butt just loves any sport he gets involved in.
Bry-onicle is on a kid pitch team (meaning the kids pitch the ball) and Monkey Butt is on the coach pitch team (which is the step above tee ball). Good news! They have the same coach! Bad news – we were practically living out at the fields.
Okay, so I have to pay for a bat so now that is $28 dollars. They already have gloves and a ball. So now, keeping up with the math we are now up to $78. I’m still cool with it. You can use the bat for other forms of entertainment like bashing in knee caps of would be home invaders. It’s a family investment, right?
Next I have to buy pants and socks (so that is $10 per pair of pants and $5 per pair of socks so that is a total of $30). Keeping up with the math, we are now up to $108. Oh, and Bry-onicle has no cleats at all (Monkey Butt was allowed to wear his soccer cleats). So those cost me around $20 on sale. Keeping up with the math - $128.
Good news! Since both teams have the same coach they get the same name…The Yankees! For two shirts and two caps it was $75. So keeping up with the math we are now up to $203.
I have to pay a gate fee for every game - $2 per person for regular games and $3 per person for tournament games. Plus, you know – if you get hungry (which can happen) you go broke at the concession stand.
So games for the young princes are held on Monday night back to back. The stupid thing was since Monkey Butt’s team played first, they wanted to charge me not only the $2 gate fee for me (which I didn’t know about until like the first game) and $2 for Bry-onicle even though he is a player. I had to argue that one. Wasn’t like he was wearing his uniform for fun though I threatened them both with being ball players for Halloween. First game – Bry-onicle freezes his tail off and the coach’s wife gets mad at me because it is 9:30 PM, windy, the game isn’t over, and I say sorry but I am taking him home.
The kind of fun thing is that Bry-onicle was number 11 (his favorite number) and his best friend (also on his team) was number 7 so every time they would get together they would sing the 7-11 theme song. Back to the story though…
Games are Mondays, Tuesdays were set aside for practice for Monkey Butt, Wednesdays was set aside for practice for Bry-onicle, Thursdays back to Monkey Butt, and Fridays (until football started) back to Bry-onicle. I told you – we practically lived on that field. When my new semester started, I told them we wouldn’t be able to live on the field. I had class on Tuesdays and Wednedays. Apparently other parents were complaining besides me because practice was cut back to Tuesdays and Wednesdays and then the Tuesday was moved to Thursday (which we have church on Thursday).
So for several weeks, I am either finding someone to pick them up for practice or what have you….and then I got sick with a sinus infection and Bry-onicle’s best friend’s mama came and picked him up to play on Monkey Butt’s team because they were short. The coach’s wife again got angry when I said that Bry-onicle could not stay through his game (because for the most part is for him to learn better coordination and because he just wanted to try it out). By this point in time, Monkey Butt cries because it is time to go to practice and I can tell that Bry-onicle is wearing thin.
Monkey Butt did finish his tournament (and in soccer, that means the end of the season but apparently not for baseball). Bry-onicle gets bronchitis and pretty much if we had waited any longer he would have ended up with pneumonia. I am sure the cold night air did not favors, but I didn’t let him play any games or go to practice when he started coughing all the time. I thought it was probably allergies, but it just kept getting worse and worse. Poor kid was sick over the entire fall break.
I found out last night through Bry-onicle’s best friend’s mother that the season is officially over. He breathed a huge sigh of relief. He said it was really stressful on him to have to come home and rush around every day to get ready for practice and that he doesn’t want to play next year. I told him that was just fine…now on to the fun stuff: the other parents.
My young princes played a total of about 10 games (so there’s $20 + $3 for the tournament so keeping up with the math we are now up to $226….not counting Monkey Butt’s tournament) and I’ve come up with a few things about those parents:
If you are so big that Omar the Tentmaker would have to fashion your baseball britches, you have no business yelling at a kid who ran for the base instead of sliding (he was still safe either way). I know I've told yall that before...
If you have four children (two of which have lingering defects), you need to quit trying for that girl. You lament and lament (yes I am talking about the coach’s wife) about how sick your kids are / was (one is partially deaf, one is a little person, the baby may be hard of hearing, and your oldest is the only one that is physiologically normal), it is time to quit. Who cares that your husband’s favorite slogan is “I’ve still got two more seats in the Suburban!” Get a hobby besides baby making. Might I suggest crochet? Look, if your kids came out okay and did not have defects (or you didn’t whine and complain about the defects and just loved them for them) have as many as you can afford to support. Don’t have them because you want a girl. I think I read a statistic some time ago that said every time you have more than one child (in a row) of the same sex, you more than double your chances for the next one being the same sex.
Don’t go out and party because your National Guard husband is deployed. Look, you seemed like a nice mom and a good mom. You kept your girls under control, they were polite, and well behaved. They seemed like model young ladies – so why on earth are you out partying? What I really want to know is who you have baby sitting them and instilling morals into them (maybe while dad is home he rubs off on them)?
Don’t be so quick to judge someone based upon the fact they want their kids in church or won’t live on the baseball field. My kids have other interests…both are fantastic readers (and love reading), involved in church, and have numerous friends and a nana with a swimming pool and swing set. Baseball is a fun hobby – it isn’t life.
The kids on the team, though, were all very good and sweet kids as far as I could tell. One was truly gifted at the game and he took up for Bry-onicle (from players on other teams) several times because it was his first season and because he would often strike out (he could catch a mean pop fly though). He would pat him and tell him what a great job he did and he would even help correct his stance or just anything he could do for help. That boy may go far in baseball, but I sure hope he goes to college too.
Monkey Butt said, "When I have kids, I am going to name one Sheen and the other one Happy Gilmore."
Mom: I don't think your wife will go for that.
MB: Then I won't get married. I'll adopt.
Mom: Fine - then I, the future grandmother, will say no because those children will have to go to school one day.
We all know what happens when you have a strange name...the only reason Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple will get out of being picked on is because mama is insanely rich.
I'm just saying that parents shouldn't live vicariously through their children. It is fine to feel incredibly proud of your child's academic or sports accomplishments. It's fine to maybe even brag (a little).
I'm just saying that if you cannot fit into a pair of baseball pants , you have absolutely no business yelling at a kid because he ran to third base instead of sliding into third base. Does it make a difference in a non-competitive off season league especially considering that the kid made it and was safe?
Yeah I know that even non-competitive leagues can still be a little competitive (kind of like how non-caffeinated coffee still has a little caffeine). Still, tell the kid what a great job he did because he made it and was safe. Tell him later if you think he could improve (or better yet - let the coach do his job...if you want to coach, then volunteer).
Nope, wasn't my kid involved. Bry-onicle was moved from the outfield to center field. Both his team and Monkey Butt's team won last night.
Time sure flies when you live on a baseball field. I guess the "good" news is that Monkey Butt's practice was rained out today. Bry-onicle's scrimmage got toasted Friday night, too. Next week is not only my birthday (anyone want to give me $100 LOL), but both boys' first games, and the cold front starts coming in. I have a feeling that we are going to go from summer to winter. We don't always have fall around here...but I love it.
I guess I am doing okay after Stripe's (FC22) death. Every cat I've ever had ended up dying from cancer or neuro disorder. The good news is that FC15 seems to be coping well. I was a little worried about him since he's never been without FC22 in his entire life. But, FC15 is far more social than FC22 was and he doesn't care whether or not the dogs are in the room. If he wants mama's loving, he comes and gets it!
I got an A in Intro to Psych. I think I'll have an A in Interviewing and Investigation. I got a B on my final test...before it my average was 95% so hopefully it doesn't pull me down. This should be my last term before my major officially changes. I have History of Criminal Justice (gag - bore - snore) and Wills, Trusts, and Estates (which will be useful but probably still boring).
The neighbor behind is still keeping us up (or at least me - for some reason our bedroom is the only room you can hear it in and know that is where the music is coming from at 4 in the morning). Neighbor across the street is coming out of her shell with me...lived here three years and I know her name - she finally asked me last night what my name is. She even gave me a couple of skirts and invited me to an Arbonne party at the end of the month.
Work is awesome. I love my job and I really enjoy my co-horts.
Right now we are watching Delta Farce. It's okay; I've seen better, but if you watch it expecting nothing then you'll be alright. We saw Underdog. It was really cute. I was impressed...I was skeptical about it at first.
That's really about it on this end. I'll take my camera with me to the games tomorrow night (provided they are not canceled from rain) and try and get some video of the boys.
Yeah, I know it isn't spring. Matter of fact, our leaves are already falling from the trees. Yet, here in the big ole' town of Noble we love our sports. We love our sports so much that it doesn't matter what time of year it is - you can play any sport at any time. So - we are playing baseball.
Fall league is great because it isn't nearly as competitive as spring ball (and everything is on clearance!). The good news is that my boys have the same coach...but practice is on different nights.
So for the next two months or so we are going to eat, sleep, and breath baseball.
Our schedule looks something like this:
Monday - two games
Tuesday - Monkey Butt practices
Wednesday - Bry-onicle practices
Thursday - Monkey Butt practices
Friday - Bry-onicle practices
Guess I better buy out Sprawl-Mart in bug repellent.
In case you can't catch what Monkey Butt said...he said, "I wasn't scared, but I almost peed my pants though!" It was right after his first ride on a roller coaster with a loop.
My family has a more interesting game for weekend excitement!
It's called, "Where's Grandpa?"
The exciting, weekend adventure game where you must track down your 83 year old grandfather that likes to hitchhike!
This week's winner? The Oklahoma Highway Patrol! They found him with his suitcase in hand headed down I-40. It is the one time I've ever been glad that The Cop Magnet is in their system. They asked grandpa if they could call anyone and he said to call his son (my husband is a junior). So they ended up calling us. I was so glad they called to say they found him hitchhiking as opposed to splattered across four lanes.
Yesterday was the first day of school for the boys. I won't go into the horrific sideshowish nature that is the transportation department....because the director, also a family friend, promised me they are working on it.
That's why you get no TT. I didn't have any time to think up something...I took my lunch at 8:00 to take the boys to school and so I sat at my desk from 9:00 - 5:00. Today I get to leave at 4:30.
Today the boys are riding the bus to school and for once they are not the only children at the bus stop. I just can't believe how quickly time has gone. Now I have a fourth grader and a first grader...a fourth grader who promptly ignored me when he saw his buddy at the bus stop and that when I said, "I love you! Have a good day!" said, "Uh...yeah. Bye mom."
So now I am sitting in a very quiet tin can alone because I don't leave for work for 15 minutes. I can't take them to school because they can't be dropped off until 7:50 (Monkey Butt) and 7:40 (Bry-onicle). To ensure that I get a decent place to park I need to be up and outta here by 7:30. Nerve wracking... I don't know if I like my kids being at a bus stop without me there. Bry-onicle, being the little tattle tale that he is, will update me this evening and I will know if I should stay. The one older kid at that stop is a girl and she's a pretty good kid. She comes to our church sometimes...not the brightest crayon in the box, but very nice. I think she's in high school.
In other family related news - I go for my eye exam tomorrow. Bry-onicle had his last week and got his glasses. The frames twist. I thought that was awesome. Insurance paid everything but about $40. After my eye exam we are going to the Sam Noble Museum. It is free admission and I haven't been. The boys love it.
You know what just dawned on me? I could be reading my homework instead of blathering mindlessly... Actually - I have time to put up the dogs and grab my book. Anyone up for Quiznos? I'm starving!
Remind me again why I wanted to see that movie? Okay, I understand it's The Simpsons. Think about this:
1. Do NOT take your young child. If your child is younger than 13 do NOT take them. I made that mistake. Unless of course you don't mind hearing the Lord's name taken in vain or seeing Bart naked (I don't mean like the cartoon show naked, either).
2. Go with really low expectations and you should be okay. It's not that funny. Do yourself a favor and just go rent a couple of seasons of the earlier ones.
In the last week (and please keep in mind that since I work and have kids and a husband that my time is rather limited) I've downloaded around 3 gigs of files (backgrounds, embellishments, ect) for digital scrapbooking. My little lap top here only has an 80 gig drive.. So The Cop Magnet had to give me one of his 20 gig portable drives. I am going to move the files over to it for now.
So I am now drowning in digital files. The fun thing is that you can find them for free.
Other than that not much has been going on...
Grandpa Joe managed to hitch hike from OKC to Noble. Nana Beachy wants to send him off to family camp for a week, but I am very afraid that he would manage to wander off and get lost out in the sticks. I just don't know what we can do about him. Nana Beachy, Poppy, The Cop Magnet, and myself think it is time to put him in a more supervised assisted living center. We just can't get Uncle Cousin Jerry Springer to agree to it...and yet he is always wanting us to come up and take care of him. It was his idea to move Grandpa up there..
Yesterday we made pizza and cookies. We also went swimming for about three hours.. Today is church and I am just sitting around. I am very tired. I went to bed at like 8 last night and got up at 9 this morning. I am still tired.
And our family gained independence from direct dependence on water wings! Bry-onicle is now aqua-mobile. Squarepants is getting there and swims underwater very well. He can doggy paddle for about 15 seconds. Monkey Butt swims underwater like a fish and is learning to tread water. We let him stay in without water wings for about 10 minutes and then we make him put his back on so he can have fun.
The rain held off just long enough to have a good party for Bry-onicle. He had four friends over and they swam, ate cake, opened presents, swam some more, and came in and played. This par-tay was only supposed to be about two hours long (1:30 - 3:30). Big Baldy calls at 3 and said, "I just got your email - how much longer are you going to be there? We'll come down." So my brother, his wife, and children started down. 3:30 comes and goes...still no parent has come to pick up their child (or children).
I dunno...I'm the kind of parent that always believed that 3:30 meant 3:30; it doesn't mean 3:45 and it doesn't mean 4:15 unless you call and tell me you are running late or something. I was ready to start charging for babysitting.
Have you ever seen a 6'5 man that weighs around 230 or 240 riding a motor scooter? No? Well you should. It would complete your life.
Today is Bry-onicle's ninth birthday. I remember the night I brought him home - he cried all night...literally. I remember wishing that he would hurry and grow up. Now I am starting to regret that wish - even though I know that it is not possible to stop a kid from growing up. So I am going to put up some pictures for you all.
This was the day I brought him home. He wore this blanket out. When he turned five I made it into a teddy bear because you couldn't see Pooh on it anymore.
Here he is at 6 months with my grandmother. He loved that wheel chair.
Here he is at his first birthday party. He hated the cake. To this day, he isn't crazy about cake or ice cream. His treat of choice is Smarties...or Sweet Tarts.
Here he is at three. This is right after we moved to Little Rock AFB.
First day of kindergarten...yes, they wore uniforms...and yes, that is Monkey Butt with him.
Here he is at almost six with his new and improved Pooh blanket..this was the summer after kindergarten.
Here he is at 7...and this better be the ONLY time I ever see him in the back of a Cop car.
Done with my final papers for Social Problems and Legal Ethics. We are getting ready for church. I bought Hannibal Rising in paperback and it is an awesome book. We are working to get the house straightened up really well since I start work in a week. I am so excited. I will be making more at this job than I have made since I was pregnant with Monkey Butt seven years ago. I am really getting excited.
In other news, my all nighters might be disappearing. My good doctor put me on Lunesta. He gave me samples of the 2 mg and the 3 mg. The 2 mg made it to where I got in that twilight sleep and couldn't go all the way to sleep or wake up. The 3 mg left a metal taste in my mouth, but I slept ALL NIGHT! Yahoo!
Happy father's day. We are taking The Cop Magnet out to eat after church.
