This week's (mostly lack of) accomplishments

I’ve got myself a sleek new shnazzy laptop.  Name yet to be determined. This laptop arrived in the nick of time – for my week of being an absolute couch potato.  After last week’s insane yard working extravaganza, this week was pretty much the complete opposite.  My butt barely left the sofa.  I’ve had the nastiest cold that was accompanied by the most annoying hacking cough that ya ever did hear.  Really. So annoying.  One night I was hacking so much at 3am, I woke Kayliana up.  She told Mike, in a very concerned voice, “Mommy’s coughing.” Yes, yes she is.

This week, Matthew lost his, I don’t know, 50^th tooth (our boys are freakishly ahead of losing teeth – they’re very advanced.  I should brag about how amazing they are and so above average in this way.  It’s a gift).  He left a note for the tooth fairy that said, “Dear Tooth Fairy, Insted of money, please give me the Lego Star Wars Commander Rex. Love, Matthew P.S. What do you look like.” 

So, here’s what I don’t like: stinkin’ overachieving parents.  Yes, you know who you are.  You’re the ones that do not just one but ALL the over-the-top mom-of-the-year ideas that you find on Pinterest.  You make the rest of us look really bad.  And I don’t appreciate it.  How dare you!  My parenting plan is to set the bar so low, to keep my childrens’ expectations in the pits so that when I do anything above and beyond the call of duty (for example feeding or bathing them) that they are pleasantly surprised and touched with my level of love and commitment to their well-being. 

With the boys being in school for a few years now, they come home with more and more of these elaborate dreams based on what other kids tell them.  “Oh, the Tooth Fairy left me $20.” (Suddenly those two shiney quarters next to Matthew’s alarm clock lose their luster).  “Oh, the Tooth Fairy brought me a brand new Lego set.” (Matthew starts wondering what he ever did to the Tooth Fairy).  “Oh, the Tooth Fairy brought me a Ferarri convertible.”  (Matthew probably starts considering moving in with another family to see if this improves his standing with the Tooth Fairy).

Well, I have news for you, over-achieving parents: I don’t appreciate you and you smell bad.  You stink!

 

Matthew came down the next morning with shoulders slumped and bottom lip protruding.

 

“What’s up, kiddo?” (Knowing that I would just have to hear about how lame I am).

 

“The Tooth Fairy totally ignored my note.  She didn’t even do anything but leave $0.50…like usual.”  Stupid, lame Tooth Fairy.  Ahh, well.  Like I said, I’m not about to start being awesome with my oldest kid.  Then, I’d just have to continue the charade of awesome parent for years to come.  And, let’s face it, that’s just exhausting.

 

While I may not spoil my children (in some ways…in other ways, I’m sure, many would argue they are spoiled rotten), I DO plan on spoiling a new child in my life.  I shan’t elaborate on details as they aren’t mine to announce (and I know we do share some of the same readers), but last night I was blessed beyond belief to be with our best friends, Jason and Rebecca, as Rebecca gave birth to her fourth child, the newest member of our clan, and Mike’s and my Godchild. (The Baptism will be in November. I can’t wait!)  Rebecca, as always, was incredible and I’m just so touched and moved that she loves me enough to ask me to be there.  I LOVE this baby SO very much and can’t believe what a joy it is to have such incredible friends who really are family.

This week's accomplishment

My cranky old man laptop, Filbert, hath bit the dust. I'm currently typing this on our Netbook which is kind of a big pain to type on.  Not my fave.  At any rate, I was all ready for this first full week of school.  I was going to do lots of prep for my upcoming session of music classes (starting in a couple of weeks).  I spent a couple of evenings starting to organize my music on iTunes so that I can put my playlists on my iPod.  I've been using the same cassette tapes (yes, I made 'lil 'ol mix tapes for my music classes) for the last several years.  When Filbert died I lost what progress I'd made. Erg.  So, maybe a blessing in disguise, with no easy laptop situation this week, I gave up on the music class prepping plans and spent three days in a row outside doing yardwork.  It also helped that the forecast was amazing, so I made the most of it.  For three days (two that were above 88 degrees) I battled with a rose bush and a huge juniper shrub.  I wanted those bad boys gone.  They put up a good fight -- with crazy, thick deep roots -- but they had no choice but to give up when facing this gun show.  I eventually got them out and have planted about 10 new things (in that whole area - not just where the shrubs were) including some bulbs, and then I added some fresh bark as well.  It was a ton of work. It was so stinkin' hot. I have blisters on my hands, my back, legs and arms are super sore and I've had a sore throat/cold the whole time...but I did it and it's done!  After days of hot yard work and not feeling awesome, yesterday I showered (not the first time in three days, I promise, but it must've looked like it) and wore a sun dress down to the afternoon bus stop.  Honestly, it was like people didn't recognize me at first.  Apparently, I've looked like such a sweaty, disgusting, dirty, barky mess, that just my bathing impresses people!  

Here we go again!

Another school year has begun.  We walked the boys to the bus this morning for their first day of school.  Matthew (on, this, his 10^th birthday eve) is looking forward to 4^th grade and improving his math skills and reading outloud abilities).  Zachary (7 years old) is starting 2^nd grade.  This year he wants to work on writing.  He’ll also have a big year with First Reconciliation (for which he seems to be compiling an extensive list of sins! J ) and First Communion in May.  Kaliana (2.5 years old) is also looking forward to an epic year.  We will do potty training (God help us) and maybe, just maybe, we’ll see a decrease in toddler tantrums.  That’d be amazing.  Yesterday, in the pouring rain, while walking from the car to the boys’ teacher meet and greet, Kayli had an epic display of two-year-old angst in someone’s front yard.  It was a full on, throw herself on the ground, kick off her rain boots and roll in the muddy grass tantrum for about 12 minutes.  We were late, drenched and cranky for our first impression meetings with the boys’ teachers. Awesome! 

 

Other than the mud-rolling tantrum, we spent yesterday preparing for the school year and Matthew’s birthday.  We celebrated last night with my fam and my Godmother, my mom’s sister, Ann who is in town.  Thankfully, Kayli was (mostly) tantrum-ed out by last night’s family dinner!  

Camping

 The kiddos and I had an awesome ‘lil camping trip with my dad last week.  We were on Whidbey Island at Deception Pass State Park.  The weather was mostly cooperative (as were the children…dad was on pretty good behavior as well).  The state park is near the naval base and the boys LOVED getting to see the fighter jets doing practice fly by’s over head. One highlight (for the boys – and maybe dad) of our camping trip was the rope swing that they fashioned in our camp site.  The highlight for me was our last night.  I was able to get the kids in bed earlyish and dad and I enjoyed a couple hours of quality time by the campfire.  It was a clear night and the amount of stars visible was amazing.  The camping trip with my dad may just become an annual event.  (That is, if he’s willing to spend that much quality time in the woods with US again)!