Sunday, July 31, 2011

Post vacay

We are back from our trek out west. It sounds so cool to say we went on vacation to Colorado.
That is a factual statement.
But not the hoity toity places. Not the mountains. The Plains. Where we used to live.
It was 111 degrees and I am NOT kidding. But we saw family, and it was county fair time which used to be crazy busy fun for us. I didn't even cry during the goat show. (I miss having goats so much it's silly, almost -- but not to me.)
We saw Jay's parents, and his brother, and his nephews, and his nephew's babies for the first time (a 2-year old and an 8-month old). That's when I missed his sister. She should be there - she has a granddaughter born in a family that never has boys. It made me weepy - like it just hit me that she's gone when it's been almost three years.
I saw former coworkers and great friends and the kids had a great time. I knew someone would ask to move back - I was just hoping it wasn't Jay. It wasn't. That area is dry and about to blow away, economically.
My mom said before we left: People won't even recognize you.
Seriously. Several didn't.
Now we're back and the bags are unpacked and I'm down to one kid. One is with her friends in Va. and one is with my mom.

Best country song out there right now? This one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qzhngp7jh8
Father Carroll said this morning that to be envious of other's gifts is to lack appreciation of your own. I envy all of Carrie Underwood's gifts, from her voice to her body to her husband. It's wrong, I know...

I have no idea why sitting in a car for two whole days makes me tired. But I am. Exhausted. Is what I am. I need a good run - it's the first thing on the agenda tomorrow after Josh goes to the sitter.
Best thing about vacation? The food. OH HOW I MISSED THE FOOD. I heart Rita's tamales. And she fed us well.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Epic fail

I have 10 million posts in my head, and can't you all read them in there?
I have been doing this parenting thing long enough to know that the youngest is most likely to be spoiled and babied and turn out to be a brat.
When Jay and I were first married I quizzed him on this "mother-son" bond that I was seeing as lasting way too long into adulthood. He said I wouldn't get it unless I had a son one day.
Here's where my epic fail in parenting is occurring: I don't think it's because he's the baby so much as I'm old and quite frankly, tired.
It's easier to give in than argue. Easier to just do it than go through the life lesson.
One night I'm saying "We are just done buying Legos."
The next night I'm clicking "buy it now" on ebay.
He didn't ge breakfast before the dentist the other morning because he said it was too early, he was too tired to eat.
After the dentist he was starving.
We stopped at Sheetz. (ugh). Donut? Granola bar?
No, he wanted an ice cream cone.
Yeah, I bought it.
"Mother!" the girls said in unison when I told them later. "He just came from the dentist. The. Dentist."
"But he didn't have any cavities!" I said.
I don't think one ice cream cone is going to turn the corner on that.
I'd write more right now but I have to go remove him from my bed because he's got this thing about not falling asleep in his own bed lately and I while I won that argument last night, I was too involved in the All Star game to go round and round about it tonight.
Epic fail.
He looks well-rounded and polite, still, right? RIGHT???