Sergeant's Sprinkles

Yesterday marked the first day of Fall... I was so excited. I got up quite early, waiting for the doors of my gym to open and ran just over 5 miles. Then as I was springing curls in my hair for the Sergeant's game and sipping on cinnamon tea, singing,  I was thinking of how I am going to decorate my house today for the season... and light my favorite candle while I do it.  

The real Fall feeling only lasted hours that morning. I got to Stink's game and my shade umbrella couldn't be positioned right, so the sun rapidly warmed me. Warmed me to a sweat in S. Stink's jersey when I cheered his first tackle. As half-time approached so did an unpleasant dehydration headache. I realized at this moment I got a little too excited this morning and my Fall plans were premature. Between the dirty football team we were up against, nagging parents and crying kids my 5am perky flower feeling turned into a wilted flower one... in need of water and some rest. I crashed and burned at home after I told my Sergeant how well he did powering through that brutal game. This was a game that we lost but remembered the lesson. The lesson of integrity and doing what is right through true sportsmanship. If you have fun and do your best you always win according to Mom.

That helped Stink through the afternoon... it only took him so far though. As soon as he could tell Mom and brother were re-charged he had plans to win by score at something that day. So he said we were going to the park to play:

-Swings
-Hangin for Bait
-Tickle Monster
-Tag
-Football
-Soccer
-Backstop

And we needed to play all of them, and if we did he would make us Sundaes with sprinkles. So he got his grocery list ready and packed his backpack for the park.

I don't know where he got all of this energy from at this hour and on game day but we all went with it. I got a Hail Mary play (out of luck) and reminded him where he gets his legs from. He made his brother feel terrible and won at ALL of the games we played so he could feel better.

At least we got these out of the deal. Stink couldn't even finish his because he fell asleep after all of that on this non-Fall day. My sweet Benny and I snuggled and watched Jumanji as I rubbed his little sun-kissed cheeks with aloe vera. As for me and my candle... we will wait for cooler days.

Baby, I know

I fall in love with my children more everyday. As they change my hope is that I help them grow. My Sergeant is going through an odd tooth stage, currently. He has two very large front teeth with the surrounding teeth either being very small yet or just barely coming in. So the only meaning I found in this change was some laughter at the breakfast table this morning. We were seeing how many different faces we could get him to make accentuating this look. As you can see he doesn't mind this temporary style... He's having as much fun with it as we are watching it. 

 

 

This is my sweet Sergeant who is struggling a bit right now. My Sergeant who is strong and can bare a multitude of various things at once and still pop out a positive sentence in the midst. I've seen him crack a bit lately. He doesn't like to show that side to me... but when he does he's never ashamed and always comfortable as long as it doesn't affect his 'man of the house' label he thinks he's earned. He tells me today that the 4th grade is hard. His class environment is a little more disorganized than he likes or is used to. He is adjusting. He got that very nasty virus Benny and I shared... he got it the worst actually and gave me more than a few frightening airway scares. He is still recovering. He is practicing football hours every week. He is enduring physically. He still goes from house A to house B. He is persevering. He's being maxed out in every 9 year old area just about. Baby, I know. So I'm going into a protective mode with close and watchful eyes on my dear son. Stink says the classroom is getting better and I know personally the tiresome length of this viral illness will pass in time giving him more energy to focus everywhere else. If not, mom will need to do some adjusting that we discussed today. 

 

In the meanwhile here is Benny and I watching some of that physical endurance at Stink's football game. He has recovered the ball, intercepted and made a few tackles. So proud of that pickle. How I do love you honey.



My three boys and a couple of big teeth... ;)

 

 

And this super cute ring I found today. I surprised Benny with it after school to let him know I'm ready and so excited to see him in baseball... which starts this week!

Nurse Benny

Last year S. Stink was sick at the beginning of the school year. This year Benny took his turn to capture some back to school bugs, but brought them home to share. How sweet. It started in on me Friday... then yesterday, I felt it full blown as I awoke. My chest was warm, even more as I coughed and my whole body ached. It felt like every nerve in my body was on fire and about to burst through my eyeballs that were only halfway open. I didn't want to budge. I didn't. Benny took one look at me and knew exactly how I felt. He went to the kitchen and made my tea for me. Then he cooked me my oatmeal... with fresh blueberries even. Brought it all to me in my bed, took my temperature twice and layed with me. It was the best oatmeal I've had. It gave me enough energy to take DayQuil. Then as soon as that kicked in I was able to get myself together enough to pull out some homemade burritos I had frozen long ago. It was my emergency stash... the 5 minute lunch that didn't taste like it to the boys. My fever was broken and I started to get an antihistamine buzz to put me back to sleep for a nap. I woke up to this...

I didn't know if it was part of a febrile dream or the real deal. It was real. Benny cheeringly told me he had used all of the tape. He wouldn't say what for. I put my head back into the pillow and briefly braced myself for what my house must look like at this moment. I got up and it was fine and we still had a little tape left. Benny surely knew how to get me on the rise. I had to bribe him with an I-phone app to get that picture of his drawn-on face. Then he must have thought that I looked just lovely being ill, because he tried to make me into a zombie. By the end of the day I was equally sick of my bed and the cheesy movies that were on. I didn't want to leave the house but needed some fresh air. The boys got me to take them for yogurt. The car was disgustingly hot and I prayed I didn't see anyone there, but of course I did.

A half box of tissues, lots of water and many packets of theraflu later I am feeling better... Benny was okay after a few days of this crud too and I hope that Stink doesn't get it. I do know that my dear Benny made a great Nurse. He took care of me, showed me love, made me get up and made me smile.

I just adore the combination of this sweet story and my Sergeant's loving voice...

Our Color, Our New Baby

Its the color that when worn, I feel beautiful and confident. I wear it on my lips for that evening look. Sometimes I wear it underneath my clothes when I'm feeling a bit secretive and saucy. It's pretty on my toes. It makes my body look fabulous in a swim suit. It's the color of my work shoes which my mother thinks are hideous. But I love them.

It is the color of the bow I put on our new baby puppy to meet the boys as they arrived home from their first day of school. It was love, it was amazing. We all decided she looks beautiful in red as well, so we named her "Scarlet".

My mom found her on Sunday, my favorite day of the week. We have been researching dogs for some time and the boys and I were certain a small white Maltipoo or Maltese was the fit for us. Scarlet is small, but certainly not white... a deep blue-black and tan. She's everything perfect for us though. Funny how you plan and prepare for something you think you want and will do great with, then something comes along better than you can ever expect. That's our Scarlet. I don't even know exactly what she is, but what I do know is that it doesn't matter. We love her.

I try to take her everywhere with me. She licks and bites everything including noses, kid nipples, and the heels of my black boots... we are working on that. She was trying to drag the Sergeant around by his underpants this morning and bit his bum. Sometimes she is gassy. She is so super smart... already knows where to go potty (most times) and knows how to give kisses on command. She remembers things I tell her and listens. She eats pincher bugs and chases ants. She loves my boys... she adores me. She is super playful yet likes some space at times. I love that pure child-like play of hers... making innocent mistakes but just wanting to please the people she loves. She likes mirrors and stands up to big dogs. She plays in Benny's room at night and goes under Sergeant's bed when she hears thunder. She fits right in with us- she's a snuggler and likes to be held. She moans when your holding her and she's missed you. She smells so good. I can tell she is going to slow me down a bit, and that's okay.

She is sooo cute (especially in her bling red collar)... a perfect creation from above... love!


PS- had to add this picture in here... Mom's color rubbed off onto someone's choice of football cleats... almost cuter! ;)

Benny turns... 8!

Happy Birthday Love... it was most def a happy one, one of my favorites for you. My little men are getting so big and the parties seem to just get more fun the older they get. Benny woke up to a brand new, shiny bike in his favorite color... orange. It was the hardest color to find on a bike, but I was determined my sweet son was going to get what he wished for. Especially when one day leading up to his birthday he says, "Mom, it's okay if you can't get me an orange bike. There are other things that I like too." That just gave me an extra nudge in the tush to find the perfect one.

I let Ben-Tenny pick two good friends that were able to go spend two days and one night at a water park resort. Sergeant Stink and the party crew went early to decorate the room very special to welcome the next year of joy he is going to bring into my life, and others as well. I captured and adored the happy but gentle look on his face as we all yelled "surprise" when he opened the door to his friends and party scene. Benny doesn't tend to express his excitement in a 'wahoo' manner but with a soft smile and glow of appreciation in his eyes. That's how I know he's truly touched.

We went down a few super high water slides, tubed down the lazy river, and swam until we were hungry for pizza and cake...
The boys decided to wear the cake on every part of their faces before eating it. Then before eating it looked in the mirror to see who wears the best icing look. It was late night swimming across from our room playing marco-polo until the boys were literally wiped. Then all over again the next morning. It was kind of sad to pack up and go... we all had a darn blast.

It was the only party where I ever lounged in a bikini sipping on a drink watching and then actually playing with my Birthday Boy, his friends and my family... all with minimal mess to clean up. Just a little planning and packing involved. Surely beat those Chuck E Cheese and Peter Piper parties pleasing 15+ children and adults briefly in 3 hours (though they were still fun). This one took the birthday cake... for us all.

Love Note Day

It was a day that marked the end of the truest part of Summer for us. I said "bye" to my children with kisses, hugs, grabs, and my high pitched mommy-in-love voice. Then it hit me and I cried very unexpectedly as they drove off and all that was left was me... My boobs were sore so I know it was part hormones but mostly to blame on the fact that we just had another awesome summer break together- that I will cherish but will very much miss my boys, just being there and hanging out.

Then I pulled it together and tackled some things I won't miss too much. Sticky portions on the counter (and floor to match) and items placed in odd spots. Honestly, it wasn't all that bad. The boys are really helping out around the house- sometimes I have to ask a couple times but they are becoming more respectful and responsible with each summer.

My Sergeant told me this was the best summer, on a random day, just randomly with an honest tone and look to my eyes. He was right, the best so far. We didn't do anything super spectacular, but had the most spectacular moments as a family. We decided to find our summer love with each other and locally. We didn't even get to explore everything on my mental summer local list... there is so much to do here and the possibilities are positively endless when some thought is applied. The boys did request to extend the "summer fun box" project. I was told that just because school is starting doesn't mean the summer is over, so we must continue, and must share later.

The boys do get sick of each other towards the summer break's end, even though they are the best of friends. The fights are frequent, words get more creative and the house gets louder. Benny even said he didn't care if he saw his brother for the rest of his life during one of the last days... he said it with hesitation followed by a long dinner conversation hosted by mom.  

My house is now almost spotless clean, ready for the year and the first love note for the lunch boxes was already written. The kids are now back to school. I started to write about it last night but didn't quite make it... my boys interrupted me with a snuggle request and I fell fast asleep. Benny and I were in a simultaneous breathing rhythm as I held him and felt my Sergeant's nose air on my skin as he smelled his mom right to sleep. Put me to sleep, putting them to sleep... all the way until 5:40am today. Just in time to make pancakes and send those muffins off with my love to their next school-year adventure.

I may be a little delayed during the summer when it comes to some things... but the pace is right with the best reasons... us.

What a summer... <3