A Busy Calendar...

After having a few short weeks of nothing on the calendar, I now find myself writing this and that down every week. Soccer is in full swing for Hank. That means practice one night a week, games on Friday night and Saturday morning. He also has handbells and FROGS at church on Sunday nights. PJ starts wrestling conditioning today. That means three days a week after school for the first few weeks, then it's every day after school. Austin is still working a few nights a week. Take all those and add in our normal stuff, like going to the gym, going to the grocery, shuffling the boys to their other things such as football games, doctor's appointments, birthday parties, etc. It gets rather busy!

I am getting so excited about my niece's arrival! She's due right around Thanksgiving, and I can't wait to see the little turkey! I have been having such a good time buying pink clothes, cute hairbows, and other things girly. Between mom, Stevie and myself, she's going to have a closet full of clothes before she even gets here. It's been over seven years since we've had a new baby in the family, and we've never had a baby girl, so with little Miss D coming, we are all quite excited.  Hank is going to get her a special gift just from him, which I think is sweet. He said he's still going to call her Sassy. (I had a dream right after Kase & Mark found out they were having a girl--and in my dream they named her Sadie Amelia, so her initials were SAS, and we all called her Sassy! Hank was with me when I told Kasey about the dream, and he's pretty much called her Sassy since then, which I think is so cute.) I think all the 'men' in the family are getting her a gift just from them as well. Rough, gruff Uncle Joe is giving her the 'Pinkalicious' books. That.Is.Funny.
Sassy isn't the only new baby coming. We have two new babies coming on Joe's side of the family as well. One in December, the other in January. And, they are both girls! That means I get to buy even more pink!

The next few months are going to be busy and exciting!

Anything can happen in 2nd grade

Yesterday afternoon, Hank's teacher called me at work. This is never a good sign. It means whatever the reason for the phone call is bigger than just sending a note home.  I could hear the apprehension and nervousness in her voice as she said, "I've been dreading this call, there was an incident today and..." Again, not a good sign. I'm thinking to myself, 'Oh lord, what did he do? This is not good!' and after a few seconds pause she blurts out, "Hank was peed on in the bathroom!"

She goes on to explain that another little boy wanted to see if he could pee straight up. And, well, that didn't work to well for him because he ended up peeing on Hank's shirt sleeve! His teacher was mortified as she was telling me the story. She assured me that they scrubbed Hank's arm down, gave him a new shirt, etc, etc.

I'm not sure what she thought my reaction would be, but I started laughing! I have three boys, I understand how little boys think and the things they do. After I started laughing, Ms. N finally relaxed some. If she was that scared to call me, I wonder how she did calling the mom of the boy that did the peeing! How do you have that conversation?

I told her that I appreciated the phone call, that it was all good, and that I couldn't wait to hear what Hank had to say about it.

Me: Hey Hank, how was your day?
Hank: Good. I made a 102% on my math test, and we played soccer at after school.
Me: Did anything interesting happen?
Hank: No.
Me: Really? Then why do you have on a different shirt?
Hank: Awww man, Ms. N told you!
Me: Yes. (And then I start to giggle!) What happened?
Hank: (Looking dead serious) Some kid peed on me. What else do you want me to say? It's not like that was the best part of my day.

Dear Miss Sports Bra & Tight Yoga Pants,

I understand that you have worked very hard to get to your six-pack abs, and killer butt.  I must give you credit for that. Of course, you’re young, and I would guess that you haven’t had children. If you were my age, with three kids, and had rocking abs, I’d give you a lot more credit! However, as great as your abs are, other patrons of the gym would appreciate you wearing more than just a sports bra and tight yoga pants when you work out. 

By patrons, I mean women like me who are literally sweating their butt off while running on the elliptical wearing an old Colts tee shirt and faded track pants, who have had kids, and have the battle scars to prove it. We can’t help it that we have stretch marks bigger than your waist, or that our girls aren’t perky. We are the majority of the women at the gym, and we are trying very hard to get back into the jeans that haven’t fit in over two years.  When you come in wearing next to nothing, and then coincidentally, “Fat Bottom Girls” plays, it’s just a little too much. It makes us want to choke you, go home and eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s!

Yes, you have great abs. Yes, you have a great butt. Yes, your sports bra is cute. But, it’s still called a bra, and therefore, a shirt should be worn as well.

Signed,
The Hot Sweaty Mess on Elliptical #7

When I.....

How many times did you say that when you were little? I imagine it was a lot. When I was a little girl, I would say "When I grow up: I'm going to have a huge house, I'm going to be mayor, I'm going to have little girls and do their hair every day, I'm going to stay up late, I'm going to never be the mean mom, I'm going to...." The list could go on forever.

Now, that I'm actaully a grown up, I find myself saying, "When I get old........"

I'm blessed to have several very special older people in my life. They range in age from late 70's to late 80's.  And, when I look at them, I have nothing but admiration and love.

The older gentleman that I work with is 77-years-old, and last night he went to a football game two hours away in Nashville. He didn't get home until after three this morning, and yet, he was in the office by 7:30 with coffee in hand. I know my butt would be dragging if that was me! But, he's as happy and chipper as always. Now, that's not to say that I won't catch him napping at his desk later today.  He has this easy-going way about him that I love, and even though it can be frustrating at times, working with him is one of the best parts of my job.

I am very lucky to have both of my grandmothers still living. One is 82, the other 87. They keep everything written down on a calendar, not to keep track of doctor's appointments, but to keep track of their social life. Grandma J meets all her old lady friends every Thursday for margaritas! It's a standing date, and those old women won't miss Margarita Night come hell or high water. Grandma D hasn't been feeling very well the past few weeks, so she's been taking it easy and resting. When she feels good, she's out and about every day. Quilt Club, Homemakers, Forever Young, etc. etc.

I look at these spunky grandmothers of mine, and Mr. Bob, and I can't help but think, "When I get old........"