Little frog in my kitchen window.

There is a little frog that lives on the outside of my kitchen window.  He's been living there for about 2 weeks.  Every morning I go check to make sure he didn't die of "cold" (it's TX- it's not REALLY cold....) because I really don't want to scrape froggy corpse off my window before breakfast.  But he's just sitting there, suctioned to some section of my kitchen window.  He likes it there cuz we leave a lite on in the kitchen all night, so the bugs visit, and he gets free meals w/ no work.  He's a smart little froggie.

A few days ago, Joe and Bub were outside in the back yard burning leaves.  I tapped on the window (from inside) and pointed out the froggy to Bub.  He came over, wasn't sure what the froggy was, so he touched it, realized it was a frog, got scared and ran away.  Joe was watching this, thought it was funny, got the frog off the window and tried to get Bub to hold it.  Bub wasn't having any of that.  He is deeply afraid of all reptiles, amphibians, and birds.  I have no idea why. He loves mammals, we have yet to meet a marsupial.., but anyhow, he's afraid of the froggy, and runs away.  Joe puts the froggy back on the window (very relieved froggy, I'm sure...).  And then what does he do?  he pretends he has a frog in his cupped hands and chases Bub around the yard.

 loverly.

Amazing Day, thank you Hartley Family.

Today Joe & I struggled w/ whether or not to brave a church service, and then if we did, what church to go to.  We have been struggling with this for a few months for various reasons, one of which that we publicly acknowledge is that the standard 10-11am service start times really wreck havoc on Zber's nap and the rest of our day is that much harder...and as I have stated before, Sundays are typically hard.

Anyhow, we decided to suck it up and go to our "home" church, mainly because I didn't feel up to being in "make new friends while struggling w/ my run-away son" mode.  it gets hard.  I have to be super cheery to do it.  I'm not super cheery lately.  so we get to church, Zber makes a dash for the nursery...what?  She really wanted to be in the nursery.  who am I to argue w/ my child when she gets a stubborn streak surpassing only her father's?  fine, the lady in the nursery is wonderful, and just loves Zber, so one less distraction to deal w/ while dealing w/ Bub.  I get asked if I want another cat.  ????  no.   Then I get into the sanctuary and note it is set up for a concert.  My whole soul drops to the bottom of my feet.  Bub does not deal w/ loud music well.  Grandma and Grandpa aren't here.  I prepare to leave within 5 min of the music starting.  I hate doing that.  I gear myself up for this, and I will be leaving almost as soon as I get there.

Here is the amazing part:  It was a family that played bluegrass.  Bub was completely mesmerized by this family and their music.  He sat the whole time and listened.  no fussing.  no screaming.  no trying to run away.  He wanted to hold both Joe and my hands.  He wanted me to help him clap in time w/ the music.  He clapped between the songs all by himself w/o any prompting that it was time to clap.

We gave them a large (for us) donation.

I was teary eyed watching Bub enjoy himself so much.

I am a sap.

The music itself was very inspirational.

I need to trust more that God is giving me the right directions, even when I don't feel up to following them and I'm dragging my feet.

After the service I brought Bub up to the leader of the family (the dad) and told him that Bub has never liked live music and has never sat thru an entire service w/o fussing, and that he loved the music so much.  I asked Bub to say "Thank you", and Bub signed "Thank you" and shook his hand.  He asked if Bub was deaf, and I had to explain that Bub has autism, and that he can hear and understand fine, he just can't/won't talk *we're still trying to decide that one*.  He gave us a CD, but I had Joe put some extra cash in the CD donation box.
If you can inspire my son that much, I will throw money at you.  Even tho I'm mostly broke.

If you get a chance check out their website....  The Hartley Family

As always Joe and I got into a "mock" argument about whether or not bluegrass is country.  My stand is that it isn't...bluegrass is to country as dixie is to jazz.    Joe laughed at me.  I know he thinks he's right.  I'll let him think it if it makes him happy, cuz right now...I am super happy.

Nubs.

it's better today, kinda...

well, the dishes are done, most of the laundry is cleaned and put away thanks to Joe's helpfulness this morning.  Unfortunately the brakes on our car did something bad last nite while Joe was coming back from his nite with the boys.  No accidents or anything, but he's at Sears right now attempting to get them fixed.  Bub is at grandma's, and Zber is chillin w/ me, half watching TV and half playing w/ sidewalk chalk.  (alright...really she's kinda EATING the chalk everytime I turn my back....guess I'll be getting out some miralax for her tonight to counter the extra Ca2...puff)


I made Yabluchnyk this morning (Ukrainian Apple Cake), and we have 3 pieces left.  Bub kept sneaking off w/ apple slices while I was doing all the prep work.  I discovered that my egg-cutter also is wonderful for slicing peeled apples into uniform slices...and that Bub is able to help me cut apples now w/o my having to worry if he will slice off his fingers.  Yayee, one more thing I can let Bub help me with in the kitchen!!!

Little Kitty Masquerade and Zber tussle like puppies, and Bub gets concerned/jealous of/for Zber and splits them up which ends in massive Zber crying.  I tell Joe that I have no idea how he does it every day and that YES I WILL get him a membership to the fitness center associated w/ my new job....esp since it has free day-care while you work out and they have no issues/limitations with us bringing our son w/ non-verbal autism.  well...at this time they have no issues with it....that may change after a few times we visit with him....sigh,


Must dash.  Nubs all today.  :)

Sundays can really suck...

The worst day in our house is typically Sat or Sunday.  Esp if Joe or I or both of us are sickly on either of those two days.  See...This is how it is btwn all of us....  I worked hard during the week and want to chill out and recoup from my job...Joe worked hard during the week and wants to chill out from the kids.  Bub had a hard week at school being in a disciplined scheduled and wants to not listen to anyone at any time to chill out from the week, Zber is super excited to have everybody home at the same time so She won't sleep during nap-time and insists on waking up at 3am to ensure all the playtime with us all she can cram in to a brief 48 hr period.

I had a mandatory vaccine in my rt deltoid on Friday for my new job.  Seriously...my arm is STILL killing me and I had what felt like a 3-day hangover all Friday and Saturday.  Joe had digestive issues all last nite and today...so he wanted (and did) to hide out in bed out of misery.  Bub wanted to poo on the floor a lot today...at least 3 times just today.  He really hates it when I scrub his fingernails...but like I tell him..."If you are going to touch it, I'm going to scrub it...I see you eat...you forget to use your fork sometimes!!!!"   Zber found a piece either Joe or I missed.  I threw up in my mouth a little...which is odd since I deal with a lot of poo at work too.  Maybe it was because she's my baby...I don't know...either way, puke in the mouth is just not a happy kind of thing.

But back to the vaccine thing...if one little vaccine can eff me up, I who am....(let's be kind...) ...rubinesque...imagine how it can eff up a little baby...and they want to do up to 9 different ones at once?  not to my babies...and not in Texas.  YEA for my philosophical right to refuse!!!  I'm an adult, and it made me have one of the worst head-aches of my life...and you're telling me it won't damage a baby's neurologic tissues?  I'll give the shots, but I sure won't let my babies have them on any one else's time frame but MINE!


grrrr......

The Madness

I'm upset! Joe caught something on Doctor Who today that I missed and shot him down on as silly...but he was right.  WHAT?!!!!  I'm supposed to be the DW nerd in this family..he only got into DW because I watched it all the time in our early years and our apartment was so small he couldn't get away from it...and NOW he's catching things I miss?!?!   NOOOOOOO  say it ain't so.....

I think I have failed in my nerdiness...

But the reference WAS to a Tom Baker episode, and tho I like Tom Baker's Doctor...he's not my favorite..but he IS Joe's favorite....so maybe that's why he made the connection and I missed it ....5 min into the episode...grrrr.

I keep telling him to keep his mouth shut cuz that's my job.   grrrr   I think playing football today at the family reunion did something to him...got a few knocks to him from the younger cousins....  lol    *kinda*

yes, I am not joking

I love April 1st.  I am not an April fool's day kinda person tho, bc I do not excel at ANY kind of practical jokes, they usually got me beat up by my brother when I was a kid, or I ended up making my Mom/sister cry...and just for you that do not know my mom, brother or sister....making my Mom and/or sister cry is just BAD BAD BAD (just trust me on this)...and my brother is a giant (6'7"ish) and even when I WAS bigger than him (I'm 18 months older) he's always had a mean left hook which my lower lip found out numerous times...(I have always been a weenie)  But I don't blame him at all, before he knew any better I used to dress him up in a Cinderella dress and call him "Rosie" and make him play Barbies w/ me all the time.

So I love April 1st b/c of other reasons.  usually it was pretty much spring by then in the upper mid-west and I love spring.  I love seeing the trees bud, and the crocuses and tulips peek out of the snow (something I don't get here in TX)  I especially loved the apple blossoms and lilac blooming...TX pear trees and wisteria are close southern approximates, but don't quite cut it.  (Ok, I'm starting to get homesick, boo)

But April 1st is my favorite and my best bc I married my Joe on April 1st.  and it was completely an appropriate day for it.  I did get several responses to my RSVP asking me if I was for real.  yes, I know me and Joe are not "typical" and we tend to be a little out there at times...but I wouldn't go thru the time and expense of printing, addressing and mailing 200+ invitations...I am not so devious or elaborate.  It was a wonderful wedding, and a beautiful day, and although I have been told it was reminiscent of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (still haven't watched it), the reception was fun even if my DJ started to make fun of the Ukrainian wedding music my uncle brought for us to play for a bit.  We got to share a wonderful day w/ so many people we love.

Now 11 years & 2 kids later...our energy level is kaput today.  Grandma graciously offered to babysit the kiddo's overnite so we have the house to ourselves.  We had dinner at our fav Asian Restaurant here in town (Lotus Inn) and stopped to get some wine.  Ran into a friend from Nursing School, and after many hugs got home.  guess what we are doing now?!?  Typical activities you would expect on an anniversary when the kiddos are absent???  NO...we suck!  Joe's playing WOW and I'm sitting here blogging about how pathetic we are!!!  HAHAHAHAHAHA 
This is why I love my hubby- cuz even when we are serious or just being ourselves, I end up laughing my head off at us.  That's why April 1st is such a perfect day!

Nubs!!!

Beware the "dead sea products people"

This is actually a post I wanted to do pre-Christmas, but didn't get the chance with life being the way it is...so now I will document my sage expressions to my husband that neither of us pay attention to until it is FAR too late. (get that? I don't even listen to myself...how typical is that???)

Here are the Dead sea people:


Now back in late November or EARLY December, I took Bub to the mall here in town, because I was CONVINCED that there was a child-play area like there is at Rosedale mall back up in the winter-state. So me & Mr. Man tromp ALL over this mall (not that it's that big, but you get the gist) and can find no child-play area.

By now, I am irritable (I realized I was mixing up the Many & Numerous locales I have lived in since turning 21) and irritable Muppethead is not always as patient as she knows she should be. Irritable Muppethead is not as glib either. Plus Irritable Muppethead knows Mr. Man is watching her interactions with other people so Muppethead has to "suck it up" and act like she isn't .

So I put on the permasmile- (I learned this contortion of facial muscles in my HS years while working lunch rushes at Arby's which had the drive-thru on the wrong side...I would be rich if I had gotten tuppence for every time SOMEONE said the equivalent of, "who is the ^%$# jerk who designed this &$backward drive-thru". but I digress...) pulled out the quarters and had Bub go on the "rides". the merry-go-round one was ok...but really, they were sadder than normal. Then we go to the cookie store & buy a cookie to share at the food court along with a rootbeer.
I am tired of smiling at this point & decide that 2 hours in a mall is quite enough thank you, so I decide our outing is over and time to go home. the store we are parked in front of has some Kioskes in front of it....Yes this is the part of the story where I start talking about the "dead sea product people"
I am accosted by 2 groups of "dead sea product people", one group wants to sell me hand lotion & stuff, the other wants me to let Bub play with their toys so I can try the hand lotion & stuff at the other booth. I am still being "nice" & say no....not now, I have a tired little boy. They try again so I pull out the "baby has a dirty diaper- I have to go!" routine, which technically was true because he was wet, but he would have been fine for a few more minutes. We are now free & make a run for it thru Dillards.

So after this experience with the relentless nature of the "dead sea product people", Joe & I take Bub to the mall a week or two later to get something (I really don't remember what is was) at night. before we get into the mall, I tell Joe, "don't let the 'dead sea product people' get us". Joe has no clue what I am talking about & makes me relate the above story. Now Joe is laughing at me & bub is impatient to get out of the baby-seat in the back. so we get in the mall, do what we had to do & then it happens....we walk past the "dead sea product people". They have pulled out the stops being just before Christmas & have all sorts of shiney exciting toys out to lure the unwitting. There is a flying thingy with lights that Mr. Man is mesmerized by. we stopped to let him look at it (stupid stupid stupid!) and they dug their claws into us. they are getting Joe to try the remote toys & getting Mr. man to laugh & smile & chase the truck. Joe is loving the hi-tech-ness of these products & gives me the "we should get this" look. bub is chasing the truck all over the place obviously having a delirously good time.


Now, I am still holding back at this point, being wary of the "dead sea product people" they sense my hesitation like a shark senses blood in the water & POUNCE on me pulling Joe into the fray... "for you I giving special discount....my boss, he tell me no to give discount, but I like to giving discount to happy beautiful families" (hello, I am a sucker for people who say nice things about my family) so I sigh while looking at my husband & son. Joe pipes up with "it's Christmas honey- bub loves this...can you just imagine how cool it will be in the back yard in summer?" I sigh again & they go for the kill. We bought them. They are cool. they tried to get me to buy hand lotion too with extra special discount. I flat out said "NO"!

We get back to the car, I say, "I told you to keep away from the 'dead sea product people'." Joe didn't realize that's who they were & we ended up laughing all the way home.

I have yet to go back to the mall. I just know they will foist that hand lotion at me.

I did it!

I am registered for 12 credits. Yes, 12. wow.

I guess dragging my family across country & reversing job roles with my husband IS all it takes to get me back in school.
*giggle*

BIG huge thank you goes out to my Joe, for helping me not be afraid to just go for it.
I love my Joe.