Maybe All Mom Wants is...

Today (a day early) I am getting my Mother's Day Present (which really was a new stove a week ago because the old one gave out, but there is something more!). John took the kids to see the new Pikachu movie.

They left two hours before it started! From our house, you'd need to leave thirty minutes ahead of time to be "on time."

They'd been gone about five minutes when I get a call from Bryan.

"What size t-shirt do you wear? I'm just wondering as we sit here in these fabulous seats we got for getting to the show early."

hmm.

We have a GPS tracker on Luci's phone and John's phone. They went to Hobby Lobby first, and then Walmart, and then on to the movie.

😇😊😂

picture comes from this FaceBook group

Hooray!

I can actually blog from my phone. Wow. Technology is really something!

Bryan helped Luci choose which dress to wear to The Big Wedding.

We spent over two hours at Kohl's getting an complete outfit for both kids. I am pretty sure that Bryan tried on more things than Luci did!

Just Like My Mama

The first time I can remember my mother taking me clothes shopping was in 1974.  August.  The mini-mall in Boise.  The Bon Marche.  Lots of polyester.  Trying on lots of clothes, and everything that fit, I was able to take home!  Wow.  That was the first time I can remember Mom not balking at the price tag.  (I'm sure there was a big sale going on for back to school clothes.  Plus, we got those handled bags that said, "Bon Marche," perfect for toting gym clothes back and forth to school.) 

Many of my clothes until then had been sewn by mom, or picked out when I wasn't with her. While shopping that day, there was one particular blouse, one that had a drive-in movie scene printed on the polyester:  I said, "We can't get this one, there is another one almost just like it in my pile." Mom said, "Yes, we can."  Wow.  That was rare! 

Mom always was generous when shopping for her grandchildren (and that time for me at The Bon--and probably for Janet, too, but my child-memory has just mom and me being there).  When we'd go to Boise, she'd say, "Let's go to Penney's!"  By that time, Boise had a HUGE mall, with a HUGE and very nice JC Penney's.  That usually meant new clothes for the boys, and later for Luci, too (she got Gymboree!).

Which brings us to Today.  Today I had a coupon for 30% off my total at Kohl's and they were also having a big sale.  Plus, I had a girl who has outgrown most of her things, even the clothing that Santa brought not that long ago!

Luci tried on, and tried on, and everything that fit went into my basket.  She was so happy!  We found a dress that fit and looked so cute, and then went and found two others with the same cut--and asked Luci if she liked those colors, too.

She said, "I like them, but I'd rather have the one we already picked out.  I don't want to trade."  I said, "Yes, I know--but we can get both of these, too."  She was thrilled, but sort of in disbelief.  Just like I was back in 1974. 


Modeling some of her bounty, with JT's help.

Thirty Days of Thanks...

Neighbors! I am thankful for our neighbors. Yesterday they took JT and Luci for the afternoon, and I got to be by MYSELF. (Yeah, Bryan stayed here, but he was in the Man Cave playing a video game, so it was the same as being by myself.) I couldn't decide whether to take a nap or go grocery shopping. Or, go take a nap at the grocery store (that one had strong appeal!). I ended up getting some groceries and spending less than I normally do (another thing to be thankful for, little helpers were not sticking extra things into the buggy). Thank you, Butler Family!

In this same vein, I am thankful for all the people who've made this trip of John's bearable: the folks from church who were responsible for The 12 Days of Christmas last December; Diane, who took all three kids; the Cook's Pest Control people who made right on our mailbox; and several trips ago the people who helped empty our basement when it flooded (the Delano's and Woods' deserve golden crowns for that!), and JoAnne and the Hambly Family for taking children so I could have a little peace and Christmas shopping. And last, but certainly not least, the men who did the Bush Hogging in the field next to us on Wednesday, Veterans' Day--They did not charge us anything for our portion of it. Nothing. They just said "Thank you" to John for serving our country.

Our hill before:
and after, ready for a good snowfall and some sledding!

Retail Therapy

Oh, my goodness! I had such a nice time today. Luci and I ran off to Huntsville to the Build a Bear Workshop. The boys were supposed to be doing their schoolwork while we were gone. Suffice it to say that they are doing their schoolwork now. Luci and I had a grand time chatting about lots of things (almost all of her choosing, of course--there's only so much you can talk to a four-year-old about). After choosing the perfect (purr-fect?) Hello Kitty and a camouflage bear for JT (we named it Daddy Bear, of course), Luci and I had lunch in the food court. She loves the mall. Any mall. But this one had escalators and an elevator (which our one-story mall does not) and she was in hog-heaven.

"Life is all about ME," says Luci.

Blue's Clues just came on. Joe said, "It's my birthday!" Luci said, "Hey, I have a birthday! He has one like me!"

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At soccer practice Thursday night, the identical twins Mason and Nate had on different colored shirts. Coach, clarifying which boy was which, said, "Mason, you're wearing red, and Nate, you're wearing green." Then Luci (the only Asian on the team, the only one with black hair, and at that moment the only girl) piped up, "And I'm wearing white!"

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Today was all about J.T.--Luci and I took him to Huntsville for a Tang Soo Do clinic at the YMCA. Leave the house at 7 a.m. and home at 6 p.m. Once we got to the YMCA, Luci says, "Come on! I want to go to the mall!" We passed a mall on the way to the Y. She's a shopper through and through. We've only been to that particular mall once before, and Luci remembered the Build a Bear Workshop (we have a lamb in a wedding dress now), and the Chinese food in the food court (their fried rice was our lunch).

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Friday we studied the human body...the skeleton was the topic. A few hours after lessons were over, Luci kept telling me her "skillet" was sore. Finally, in frustration, she said, "You know! My skillet! Where my bones are!"

It's the little things, really.

I get to go grocery shopping BY MYSELF this afternoon! I'm feeling kind of giddy about the prospect!

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How sad is that?

This is not me, of course. It's Jennifer Garner, big movie star. I love this photo because she looks so doggoned real.

Photo from here.

A Wonderful Weekend

This has been one busy but wonderful weekend. Our friends Barry and Diane watched the kids for us while we Christmas-shopped (and wrapped and hid) gifts for the kids. That's Rachel with Luci, above. Rachel pretty much babysat Luci all by herself, according to Diane. Thanks, Rachel! And thank thanks to our good friends B&D.

John and I went out to eat at this wonderful little Italian place here in town before hitting the stores. It was so nice to be a grown-up in a grown-up kind of place, and not wipe up spills or sticky hands. John and I had nearly an hour at our meal, then the fun began. We went to several stores, and found most of what was on our list. It was a quick 3 hours of shopping. It almost counted for exercise, since we were nearly jogging through some of the stores. John was sweet and held out his arm for me to hold, but I suspect that he was just trying to make me keep up with him. It took another hour to drive home, unload the car and then get out to B&D's house. I wrapped and hid presents while John picked up kids. They had no clue that we'd gotten anything. (hee hee hee--evil laugh!)

The best part of shopping (well, the second-best part, since the best part was just spending time together) was that this year the kids have gifts that Daddy chose just for them. The other two Christmases when John was on military trips, everything was picked out by me and had Daddy's name on them. This time, the gifts really are from Daddy.

At church, a special prayer was said for us as John's trip begins. Our good friend Kelly led this, and I was glad that he didn't say anything that made me cry. He can make you laugh and cry all at once.

Heath and Shanna and their girls joined us for worship and lunch. We had a long lunch and a good visit. It was such a good day today! (I'm sorry I didn't think to bring my camera to lunch. The girls were so cute playing together, and Sara was a hoot--she has a great belly-laugh!)

Bryan and JT have gotten along wonderfully all weekend. Such a good weekend!

One of Those Days

Today I took the kids to the Army base to get our ID cards renewed. 75 miles away. One way. My card expires next week, Bryan's at the end of the month, and JT has never had a card, but he's eligible. So, off we trotted this morning. Early.

We get to the office and the lady tells me we need our Sponsor. That's the military family member--and John was not with us. Frantic, I get Bryan to call John, who just happens to be in Huntsville today--usually he's not--and he was only a few miles from us. Good! The last few times I've been in this office, John has been overseas and the pile of papers I always carry with me have sufficed. I had no idea he was actually needed here. John said he was glad that *somebody* needed him!

While we are waiting for John, Luci demonstrates to the entire assembly of soldiers that she understands the nature show we saw the other day--a DVD from Netflix which shows animals on the Serengeti giving birth. She tells, rather loudly (of course), how JT was born--"JT! That baby was bornded like when Mommy popped you out!" Now we have about 10 troops deciding they never want to have kids.

JT now has a migraine--he's eaten things with corn syrup the past few days, and it's showing. He is pale. He is upset that we are breathing, but we have no intention of stopping.

John gets there, our number is called (finally!) and we discover that when Daddy entered the information on the kids that Bryan's eyes are listed as green (they're blue), JT's eyes are listed as blue (they're green) and, according to Daddy, Bryan was born in a totally different year. And now JT is looking as green as his eyes.

The cards are in hand, John is on his way with TVA business, the kids and I are on the way to the commissary for groceries. Luci, surprisingly, is the best behaved of the bunch. JT is not looking well. After a very quick trip, we head to the PX for lunch and then to the car. JT got sick in the parking lot (thank goodness it's not in the car). I give JT Nyquil (not Feingold approved, but it works for him), then buy a bucket at the PX for the long trip home. Thankfully it's not needed.

Next time, how about I call you to come along for our adventure? Any takers? John definitely does not want to be in on our shopping/errands trips.

Just the Girls--Homeschool Convention

Luci and I went to the Homeschool Convention in Birmingham. I didn't go to the lectures, just the Vendors' Hall. I was able to buy our curriculum for next year (yea! but the boys are booing!), and I got some other fun stuff--or, as the boys would say, I got "instruments of torture." They do not like school or learning nearly as much as I do.

It was a fun Girls' Weekend for Luci and me. We stayed at the Sheraton, which is connected to the convention center. That was luxurious and convenient.

When we walked in the front door, Luci was in heaven. It was big and beautiful. Luci said she was "Eloise and you can be Nanny." If you are familiar with Eloise at the Plaza, you'll know who she means.

There was also an Indian wedding going on that weekend. There were 800 in the hotel just for that, and so about half were women dressed in gorgeous saris. Luci thought they all were princesses.


Here's Luci, about 60 seconds after we got into our room: Making herself at home.
Breakfast came to our door, just like in Eloise.
At the book sale. Why did the Early Works children's museum hand out kazoos? And Why oh Why did I teach her how to make it work?!
Having fun at one of the booths.
Packed up, ready to head home.
Luci found a friend to dance with while we waited for the van.

Why on earth did I think I got a good deal?!
Maybe this is why....
The loot:
And a puzzle. It will be fun on election night. There are two complete puzzles in the box--one red, the other blue, so you can have your own election results on the dining room table. You can root for the color you want...but we have our favorite color picked out! We are going to have this out on November 4th.
Luci talked us into doing the puzzle. (Bryan and JT had fun doing this--do they know it's educational?)Luci said, "I found Grandpa's state!" And she was right! Grandpa and Gran-Je live in South Carolina! Good for you, Luci. We use a plastic place mat from Walmart with the US map on it to go teach her some of the states we've visited and places where we have family. She knows quite a few!

A Difficult Thing About Homeschooling

A friend, Dawn, told me what she thought was the only hard thing about homeschooling: Christmas shopping. Because she always has her son with her. (Actually, I bet Dawn would have quite a few other things she didn't like about hs-ing if she had two or more to "school" at the same time. She has two older boys, graduated from school, and one younger son who is the homeschooled child. But that is for another post or two or a hundred.)

It is hard to shop for those presents when the kids are with you. Luci is easy--she doesn't know she is supposed to peek under the jackets in the shopping cart. Bryan and JT think it is a big game.

The two Christmases that John spent overseas with Enduring Freedom, the boys and I had a "train" thing going in Walmart. (Luci wasn't home with us yet.) We all took big coats and each of us had a shopping cart. I was in the front, then JT, then Bryan. We were all very good about not peeking, and the gifts were hidden under the coats. Those were fun memories for all three of us ("OK, this is the kitchen gadget aisle. I love all of this stuff. I'll be at the end of the aisle, looking the other way.") Sort of exciting, and so different. The only tricky part was paying at the check-out. The cashier got a kick out of us trying to hide things from each other, and she was really good about helping us keep the secrets. That's what got us through those deployments--finding something fun and trying to do things a little differently.

This year, the boys are big enough to leave at home one at a time while I take Luci and one boy to the store, and I also had some days that I could just "bug out" with the kids all at home with John.

But one day this past week, the kids and I were at Walmart and I just had to get a few items while they were with me. We ate breakfast in the McDonald's in the back of the store and then the boys headed out to the Electronics section with Luci strapped into her stroller--she is a good rider, and will put up with a lot if the stroller keeps moving. I actually got to sit there and drink my coffee in peace. Why didn't I think of doing this a long time ago? Coffee all by myself and no dishes to wash. After the coffee was gone, I made my mad dashes around the store, hiding things under the roll of paper towels and potato chips, and made my way to the Electronics section.

I get to the shoe department and I can hear it...."I have to go potty! I have to go potty!" over and over. Finally I make it to the correct aisle, and there are the boys, playing "Guitar Hero" on the store's X-Box 360 and Luci is straining at her stroller straps, yelling, "I have to go potty!"

Maybe this wasn't such a great idea! I had to wade through shoppers 3 deep to get to Luci ("Excuse, me, that's my child"), we made it to the bathroom where she decided she didn't have to go after all, and the boys ended up seeing most of what was in the cart. Rats. Maybe next year's shopping secrets will be better kept.