Eli - The Football Player.

Eli decided a few months ago that he wanted to play football for the middle school team.

This seems like a good idea to him, because 1. Girls like football players, and 2. he is a good "kicker" at soccer, and kickers don't get tackled, so football really won't hurt.

Imagine my sweet husband's joy when he was asked to coach middle school football, and HIS SON finally decides to play football!

Well, the season started last week. Or, practice started. It is every morning from 7 am - 9 am.

The first couple of days, I watched and waited for Eli to gripe, complain, or ask to quit. Nope, didn't happen. We are at the end of week two, and it is still a go!

Today is Eli's first game - it is a scrimmage game. He seems excited to play. I am feeling a little nauseated at him playing.

Eli told me a few weeks ago that he thought he would go to college at Harvard. He thought he would be either a doctor or a lawyer.

Kick Hard, Eli :)

Consignment Sales.

I was fortunate enough today to be able to venture out into unknown territory... Yes, I went to Cookeville!!! Horray for me!

A friend shared a "get in early" ticket to a consignment sale. I got to shop earlier than others, because she put clothes up for sale. So, after work, I came home, showered and changed and ventured off early enough to stop at Wal Mart. I was in H.E.A.V.E.N.

For many, many years, I took my daily excursions to WalMart for granted. I went to WalMart so frequently that the greeters would call out, "Hey Emma and Tripp! Are you having a good day?" Or, I would hear, "Is Emma better from her cold the other day?" or "Did you have a good trip to the park yesterday?"

Yep, I was that frequent.

Anyways, I got to go to Cookeville for about 1 1/2 hours - that includes my drive time back and forth.

Oh, wait. I ventured off subject. I have a consignment sale story.
Here we go.

Consignment Sales are just big, organized yard sales that specialize in kids clothes. Some of the items are junk that the sellers are hoping to unload on to someone else. Some items are name brand, boutique outfits that sellers (namely, moms) are hoping to get the same amount of money returned in which they paid. Occasionally, a shopper will happen upon a great deal. Here are some things I have learned about consignment sales since I started frequenting over the past 6 years.

1. Beware of the pregnant women who are shopping. Especially those who tell EVERYONE they are having their first child. So what, lady? You think you are the only one to ever get pregnant? 99.9 percent of people here have had babies. That is why we are here.

2. Keep your composure. When the Consignment Sale Organiser yells "GO!" and shoots the gun, walk calmly to your predetermined most-needed sizes. Don't show your stress.

3. Arrive with enough time to have time to think about who needs clothes the worst. Here is an example of the thoughts in my head - "Emma has grown more than Tripp, right? Yes, Mel, she needs clothes worse. I get lots of things for him from a pass-down buddy. So, I am just really looking for Emma. What does she need? Well, mostly church dresses."

4. Add up the amount spent before you turn over your purchases to a checker-outer. That way, you can make sure your amounts match. And no one gets cheated.

5. Never, EVER, EVER take your kids with you.

6. If you are shopping for multiple kids, and the need for each child is equal, take a shopping friend. When Emma and Tripp were younger, I had a friend named Robin. She and I went together, and I would shop for Tripp, and she would grab things for Emma while she was shopping for her daughter.

7. When in doubt about an item, pick it up anyways. You can always put it back if you don't need it. Better to be safe than sorry.

8. If you have to take your kids with you leave them outside in the car. With the shopping buddy. Then, you can switch out watching kids while each gets a chance to shop. I did this ALOT when the kids were little. Especially on 1/2 price days.

See, men, there is alot involved in dressing our children. Being a frugal mom is important. But mostly, it is all about the kill (finding a great deal). Compare it to deer hunting.

So much to say... where do I start?!?

Another busy week and weekend have finally been completed.. It was time for the fair here in town. This is always a busy week for us, as Dave usually works lots at a food booth, yet this week seemed to fly by quickly.

I have a fair post all in itself. I had many realizations while spending obsene amounts of money with strangers with very little teeth and smaller amounts of clothing than I have saw in years.

Also, this past week, I keep looking at Eli and noticing how tall he is getting. Still skinny, yet so tall. He is eye level with his sweet daddy. Keep in mind, this kid is only 13, he will end up being 7'5 or something. Right now, he is pushin' 6 feet. How does that happen? Is it the expired milk I keep in the fridge?

Tomorrow is another day of work.

I was off this past Friday. We seemed to have a basement full of water. Water, in fact, from the flooding THE PREVIOUS WEEK. The water went unnoticed by me, and most of the family. I think that a combination of work, school, kids and stress, and that wild summer virus that ran thru the house caused me to not consider the fact that we do have a basement and water is quite possibly residing in it. So, imagine my suprise when on Thursday morning, right before work, I noticed a stinky, mildew-y odor floatin' around the kitchen. And when I opened the basement door, I saw where it was coming from. Lots of stinky, yucky water was hanging out. Dave put the fan down there, hoping to dry it up, but all it got us was a basement with a creek running in it. The majority of my stuff is in plastic containers, but there is some stuff, like my christmas stuff, that is in cardboard boxes. Because we keep having rain, we keep having more water. I am hoping to get it cleaned out this week. If not, we can start our own penicillin factory down below.

Procrastination...

It seems as if there is something that I am the queen of.... procrastinating.
I seem to work better under pressure. I have a unit due tomorrow in Geometry.
Yet, I decide to write on the blog that I love so, so much.

I was talking with a friend last night and she "suggested" to me that when I am upset about something, that I write a letter. She used the example of how she writes her mate an uplifting letter when she is not feeling that uplifted by him at that moment.

Since I am full of procrastination, and hesitation, and wishing for inebriation, I think I will write myself a letter.

Dear Mel,

Please don't be so hard on yourself. You are OK.
Start praying harder for a balance. And remember, God knows what is in your heart.
He knows that you need help. And He loves you more than you know or understand. It will be OK. One day this will all be over. It will be a distant blur, kinda like when the kids were little and you had two of 'em in diapers and felt like a milk cow. And you will look back on all this with fond memories. And it will be nice to be able to tell the kids how you finished school, it only took 15 years, but you made it.

I love you,
Me

Wait. Now that I read this, it does exactly what it is NOT supposed to do. It throws subliminal messages at the recipient. It hints at anger, and agression and dissatisfaction. Oh, well. I tried.

Random thoughts and happenings.

Today is Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

I have a stoppy nose and I am tired. I was sick all day Sunday and I took FOUR naps. I was so happy to stay in jammies all day that I wasn't really that miserable with being sick.

I would like to have a day where I could sleep all day without being sick and running a fever.

Wait, I am turning this into confession Tuesday.

Confession One and Two are above. Too lazy to edit and put the numbers in.
I will start with #3.

3. I am majorly stressed out about school and the amount of hours I am registered for. I started out with a decision to take full time and ended up with NINETEEN *19*
How the he** does a mom take 19 hours. If I used sentence enhancers, I would be using plenty right now. They are in my head. Would someone please email me or call me and go over the pro's and con's of what I just did?!?

4. I am feeling neglectful once again. I came home from work and all I heard is how they fought all day.

5. I am glad that Tripp is givin' up the naps cause he goes to sleep about 7:30 p.m.

6. I am thankful Eli is at the fair working cause I just have Emma roaming around the house.

7. I was looking forward to a quiet week.

8. I would love a date with my spouse.

9. I want to go to Splashcountry.

10. I saw my mother at the fair last night. My kids did not know who she was. That makes me sad. I think she looked sad cause they didn't speak to her. She was probably faking. But it still hurts my feelings.

11. Emma just knocked Dave's hat in the toilet "on accident." I told her it was OK, just set it up and let it dry, and he would have toilet water on his head tomorrow. She laughed. I laughed. I bet Dave is not laughing right now.

12. All of the above is true. Except at the end, I told her to throw it in the hamper and I would wash it. Got ya, Big Daddy :)

Conversations.

Setting: The Van
Chidren Involved: Emma and Tripp

Visualization: We are in the driveway, getting ready to buckle up so we can go to work. Kids are in the back of the van.(I make Emma buckle Tripp up so I don't have to climb in the back of the van. I am lazy that way, OK?)Tripp decides to try it for himself! Yey!!!

This is a day I have dreamed of FOR YEARS... everyone can buckle their own seatbelt.

Conversation goes something like this:

Tripp: Emma, I want to do it mysef!!
Emma: OK Tripp, just try! You've got to want it! You've got to want it!!

(Tripp reaches his little hand around the buckle. He pushes it into the claspy thing. Tripp snaps the buckle closed!)

Tripp: Emma, I did it! All by mysef!
Emma: See, Tripp, I told you, you have to want it!

Blessings.

I have many blessings in my life. Sometimes, I choose not to recognise them. This week, I am blessed with a home that was not flooded. We had a little water in the basement. That was it.

I am blessed with a husband who likes to serve his community. When the rain started on Wednesday night, we had just finished VBS and were still at church. We came home, and as we sat and listened to the rain, and watched the lightning show, Dave listened to the scanner. Around 11 p.m., as things got rough, and he listened to his friends on the scanner, he felt the need to go help. I am so proud of him for stepping up and having a heart of service.

Dave always follows thru with what he starts. What a blessing this is - he sets a great example for our children.

I am blessed to have a job where I can help others. Since the rains, our congregation set up a disaster relief center. I have worked there for several days. I have been able to see the Red Cross in action - which is a blessing on its own - as well as those in our area who serve, such as police officers and firefighters. I have listened to stories this week of those who lost all, those who lost some, and those who had no where to turn.

Yesterday, when I had only two other persons show up to help for the day, I was blessed in having my mother-in-law as well as my sister-in-law step up and help distribute items. They sacrificed their entire Saturday to help. They are blessings to me.

My sister came up for two days and helped with my little kids. She asked for nothing in return. Because she was here, I was able to work and not worry about my sick Emma.

I know that good things come from the bad things. I have found lots of good this week.

Bedtime.

Last night, I was blessed with being able to hold Emma as she went to sleep. This is a rare occurance anymore, usually by bedtime I am ready for them to go and try not to give them time to dwadle. (Is this a word, anyways?) After she went to sleep, I looked at her sweet face and realized how big she is getting. Her hair is so thick, her eyelashes are so long. I notice that day by day how her expressions and mannerisms are changing.

She is becoming a big girl. I am so proud that I have a daughter.

Eli picked her up out of my lap and carried her upstairs to her room. Following this, Tripp climbed up in my lap and then he told me he was ready to go to sleep. He does this new thing with his belly - when he wants something, his belly talks to you. He makes his belly button the mouth and he always begins by saying "My belly says..." and it usually ends with "I am hungry" or "I am thirsty" or "I want some red juice." This comes out in a nice, growl -y voice.

So, last night after he told my "My belly says I am sleepy," I carried him upstairs and I laid down with him. And we talked. He told me the story of Goldilocks and the three bears. And he got it right.

When I put the kids to bed, they ask me to come back "just one more" oh, about fifty times.
I usually just walk away. But last night, since I did not have two children in competition with each other, and I went back twice for that ""just one more." What a blessing I got when I went back.

Tripp says to me "bend down and give me your ear." So I did, thinking he was going to whisper one of his secrets. Instead, he gave me a kiss on the cheek. As I melted in a puddle on the floor, I kissed his cheek back. He lifted his little hand and rubbed his cheek where I kissed. And then he told me " I wanted to keep it, Mom."

What a Good Night.

A workweek-weekend. And random thoughts.

I worked alot last week and it continued on thru the weekend.

This week is not looking any better.

I am tired.

The kids came with me to work for the afternoon. I was so happy just to hear their little voices talking in the background. I love their little faces.

Tripp's feet were dirty, as were his hands, and I took him in the bathroom and I washed them. I love those little fingers and toes. I know that they will be big fingers and toes soon, so after they were "clean and shiny" (this is what Tripp calls them) I kissed them all.

I think I have told you that in different times in my life, there are certain songs that represent where I am at. For example, at a defining time in my life, Matchbox 20's song "3 a.m." was what I was.

Sometimes, that song comes back to me.

Right now, Taylor Swift is in my head. It is that Cinderella song she sings about Romeo. There is a line in the song that says "don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess" and this is what I concentrate on right now.

When I was pregnant with Emma, it was a Shania Twain song, "Forever and Always."

When I hear these songs, it takes me back to a particular time.
I wonder where I will be next year.

Don't mess with my kids.

I recently had comments made to me that was inappropriate... they were made in reference to my children.

It is funny that in .2 seconds - I can go from trying-to-live-my-life-right church secretary back to a foul mouthed bar wench.

I need to repent.

I hate - HATE - the meanness of people. Over the course of the past couple of years, there has been one person in particular who enjoys taking shots at me- no, not me, at my children, really - for no reason. I know the reasoning is that she is trying to get me to have a reaction. I have tried to not comment, keep my mouth shut, not to stoop to her level.

This person has told me that I was ugly - to my face, no less. She has caused me stress. I have been embarrassed by her husband in public. She has mocked me and talked about me to others while I was in the same room. Only one other time have I ever lost my cool with her. That time also envolved my kids.

Well, yesterday, she got a reaction.

As with most mothers, the love we have for our children is so powerful, it will cause you to do things you never thought possible. Talk about love moving mountains. Well, a mother's love is indescribable.

Without giving specifics, I will just say this: you can do what you want to me, and attack Dave, but don't mess with my kids.

Conversations.

Today, I took the kids with me to work... Tripp was feeling really rambunctious, which is not unusual. After running wide open in the church and being scolded several times, I took him to the bathroom. I stood him on the counter and I told him to look at me. in the eyes.

The conversation went something like this:

Me: Tripp, you look at me when I am talking to you.
Tripp: yes, yes ma'am.
Me: Tripp, I want to know why you don't listen to me when I tell you to stop. I want you to calm down. Now, tell me why you don't listen to me.
Tripp: Well, it is just my brain.
Me: What does your brain do?
Tripp: It tells me not to listen.

What am I gonna do with this kid?

Blooming where you are planted.

Sometimes in life, there are detours.

I may be zooming along just fine, then BAM! Something changes, throws me off track, and I get thrown into a situation that I don't know how to handle.

Then, I spend my time playing the coulda, woulda, shoulda game.

What could I have done to make things different?

What would have made the difference in my outcome?

Should I continue on?

I know that I shouldn't question. I am not in control. I am not the boss.

What to do?
Well, I am trying to get into my head that this time, since I am not totally happy with a situation that I am in that I am going to make best of the situation.

There is always a life lesson to be learned, right?
Right now my life lesson seems to be saying there are some MEAN people in the world.
So, I am going to keep on looking.

Innocence.

I would like to keep my kids pure from the bad things in the world, but no matter how much I want it, it is just not gonna happen.

Let's talk about the subject of death, for instance.

Just a couple of weeks ago, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, we were riding thru our small little town. It just so happens that that there was a dead dog in the road over by the DGM (Dollar General Market). So Emma says to me, TWICE, "Hey Mom, what is that in the road?" I avoided her questions, in fact, I pretended she didn't even speak. The third time she asks, as we are leaving the DGM, "HEY MOM, WHAT IS THAT THING IN THE ROAD?" I quietly answer, "a dog." She says to me, "well, is he taking a nap? But why would he go to sleep in the road?" I just said, quietly again, "no, he's not asleep" hoping to leave it at that. Did that work? No. She said in a very strained voice, "is he dead?" And so I answered with a quiet "yes."

This conversation went on and on. Tripp became involved. Why would people run over animals? Why did the dog have to die? Did he go to heaven? What if Harley-Charley died? We would miss him so much. Does everyone remember the kitten that Mommy ran over (last YEAR) and his head was squished and his tongue was hanging out?

I get sad that my children are having to learn that bad things happen in the world. I would like them to keep up the idea of sunshine, flowers and rainbows. But it is not going to happen. Just recently, we also discussed divorce. Why do people get divorced? What does that mean? Why wouldn't mommies and daddies stay married? Wouldn't their kids be sad? Are you and Daddy going to get divorced?

Ugh.

Just a couple of days ago, following a family dinner with a family who really doesn't talk much, (mine, by the way) Emma and Tripp noticed that everyone went outside to smoke after dinner. They know the basics about smoking being bad for you, turning your lungs black, and that type of thing. But they never realised that one of their aunt's smoked. As we were pulling away from the party, Tripp asks, "Did you tell them that their lungs will turn black and that they will die? Roll the window down and tell them." Um, no Tripp, I didn't tell them. They know."


So, I guess it is just sad when the kids start to know things aren't always peachy. Eli, of course, knows things. I have already been thru things with him. It has just been so long ago that I forgot how bad it felt when he started becoming knowlegeable about worldly things.

It makes me want to lock them up in the house.




**** DISCLAIMER - as a former smoker, I try to keep my mouth shut to smokers. I would love to smoke, but the fact is, I am an addict. I am addicted to cigarettes. So I don't smoke at all. I am just sad when people do smoke, cause it is the hardest thing in the world to quit.

Friday - ooooh no!

Not the usual title of my Friday posts, I know.





This means I am just a few days of going back to work after a busy vacation week. I guess I should just accept it. There is only one month till school goes back and all the summer stress of babysitter issues will be over. We made it this far - now, we must finish up. Dave has had a busy week - work is beginning to come in! Actually, he is at work again today. And he has a job all next week. It just leaves me needing a babysitter. Or the kids will have to be locked inside the house. :)
This is where we have spent the last couple of days. Ah, it was good. We fished, caught turtles, swam and ate junk. *I use the term WE loosely* I really just observed. I read two Nicholas Sparks books that I hadn't read before. I love him so much because most of his books are based in NC on the coast... and I lived there for a couple of years. I can really visualize what he is describing. The book I finished last night was based in Wilmington. So that was close to my heart.

Homework is calling me. Not really, I just have to complete a unit by Sunday. Since we have 30+ people coming over on Saturday, I have to clean and get a move on other things. Off to write a lesson plan... have a great 4th!