December-Already?

Where the heck did November go? Oh I remember now, it was the month I didn't put a single fall decoration, or Halloween one for that matter. It was the month that was consumed with so many naughty children each day (at school), that I couldn't even think straight. It was the month I might have told my OWN blood children. DO NOT act up tonight, I have had ENOUGH naughty children for today. After three years of this line, they have come to take it seriously. So yes November was a huge blur, except for Thanksgiving, which was absolutely perfect.

So this December needs to be better...has to be about SOMETHING else, anything else. I am waiting for the Christmas spirit to nab me. Grab me by the shirt and say "Guess what, this a FUN month. This is your FAVORITE time of the year. Start acting like it"

OK, lets get started.

Hunting with boys...

...at 5:00 in the morning

Snacks: cheeze its, cold pop tarts, pioneer woman iced coffee, blue rasberry slushy

Gear: camera, guns, cartridges, orange (see later quote), calvin and hobbes books

Dialogue:

There's one! Get your orange on! (Hubby)

Dang, there it goes, we should have just dropped the backpack, went prone, and shot it (Hubby)

My stomach hurts, I think I am getting car sick (Small Fry)

Holy crap did you see those two bull elks, I almost peed my pants! (Small Fry)

Look, somebody got something, there's the entrails (Big Fry)

You could have drove the truck up to us you know. (hubby, pointedly to me)

And the winning conversation of the day:

Me: Look how the litte ice crystals blink on the grasses (it was really cool)

Big Fry: Yeah and think of how the blood is going to look on when I shoot my deer.

Living with an over thinker

I am not posting this to create a debate (Karen and I pondered last night that pondering is good when one knows that the thought isn't right or wrong).

Small Fry is an over thinker (not sure where that comes from genetically), so at the dinner table he says, "So I am wondering about the truth about Santa". Silence from the other 3 family members at the table. Big Fry says nothing as he was threatened with death years ago to not spill the beans.

I of course answer a questions with a question, "Well, what do you thing?". This perplexes my small black and white thinker. "Mom, I am wondering if he is real or do you do it?" I respond with "Do you really want to know?'. Silence. As he gets into bed he brings it up again, how he just can't stop thinking about it. "Mom, what do you think?"
I look him straight in the eye...and for one of the few times...lie. I say, "I believe". He swallows hard, faces the wall and goes to bed.
A few minutes later I hear loud sobbing and go to check it out. He is beside himself. "Ijust don't KNOWWWWWW?", "I love Christmas, and I just don't know what I want to believe...., you copied that from the polar express"
I reasssure him I did not copy, I tell him I had that same question and my mom told me the same thing, "Well, it is all about what you believe"

He sobs more, reads some Diary of Wimpy Kid and when I go back to tuck him in he says "Thanks for calming me down mom"

As I walked away I felt a little ashamed and a little selfish. My mom's heart says he just wasn't READY for the truth-really, he knew it and I knew it-the truth that is. At the same time, there are some things you need to just BELIEVE in, have FAITH in, whatever they are for whomever you are.

You all may deep down disagree with me and my actions on many levels but that's ok, blogging is as much for ourselves as it is for those who read it. It reminded me immediately though of a texting conversation with a good friend last night, and a wonderful future wine date (even if it is just a wish right now) to ponder about beliefs without judgement or persuasion, just to love each other love what makes us all tick.

Another challenge

Ok, so not only has a friend asked me to ride across Iowa with her in July (60+miles per day), but another friend, whom I work with and attend boot camp together has "invited" hubby and I to create a team to do this crazy thing called Tough Mudder race.

I am not sure about this one...

http://toughmudder.com/events/twincities/

Still here

I am still here, was away from the computer for a little while.

Here are some happenings...
Went to Vegas for a conference-that's right Vegas. I have seen enough of Vegas to last me another 15 years-the last time I was there. Apparently when you you are from the midwest people will ask you if your are from Canada, multiple times. We finally said "yes", which was easier than explaining or looking at the glazed eyes of people who had no idea where South Dakota was.

Power shopping-I did love the power shopping, especially when you have a power shopping partner-one can do ALOT of damage in just 3 hours.

Work-I was sooooo glad to get away from work, I am hoping when I go back tomorrow it is with a fresh start, the last weeks have had me rethinking my career choice.

On a happy note, hubby and I celebrated 17 years of wedded bliss last night. Well I wouldn't use the word bliss-that is for fairy tales. But I really can't complain. What hubby waits on their wife when her friends come over for girls nights? Makes sushi and his famous popcorn for them. Not many I can bet. There are countless reasons, too many to list here. I do think in this day and age of quitting when the going gets tough, instant happiness being over rated, and huge divorce rates, we are not a statistic.

Life is good

A Perfect 10

DO NOT let the title fool you, a 10 today was not a good thing.
By 1:00 I had seen 7 of my most frequent fliers (code for consistently naughty children that I am good friends with)
By 2:00 I was up to 9.
At 2:30 I hit a perfect 10 when my son's middle school assistant principal called me to tell me he had to serve detention for flicking plastic back and forth with a friend during a guest speaker.

All I could think of as I hung up the phone was "Thank goodness he didn't throw a chair and scream at her, like #2 did at me"
There is always a bright side, right?

The Good, The Bad, and" The Gross

The Good
Big Fry was able to get his tooth pulled-a few days earlier then expected, he was miserable!
I was able to enjoy a day at home with Big Fry and make homemade cookies, a rare treat for a weekday
Halloween was a lovely night, perfect for trick or treating
Session two of dog obedience-we made it through without being asked to leave OR being too embarassed to come back (as some other unfortunate souls have done)

The Bad
Having to tell people they are not good at what they do
Hubby's grandma finally consenting to move to a nursing home, but it isn't even in her home town
Small Fry's parent teacher conference, the first not-so-good-one EVER. That is a whole other story
My work schedule, naughty kids, my lack of good wife and parenting skills

The Gross
"Mom, the cat puked in your room" (Big Fry)
"Well get some paper towels and clean it up" (Me)
"NO WAY, I am not doing that" (Big Fry)
A half hour later...when I go to the room and find no puke
"Gee thanks for cleaning the carpet, it looks good" (Me)
"Ummm I didn't" (Big Fry)
"Well where was it?" (Me)
"Right here...uh oh" (Big Fry)
Both of us "Ewwww, LUNA!