Babies, bathrooms and Football, Oh My! {10 on Thursday!}

Better late than never, as usual!

It's been a busy week full of everyday normal stuff with a few minutes of hilarious thrown in to make it fun!

1.  I had lunch last week with a girl from Jason's school at a place called Silly Goose.  It's in East Nashville which is not traditionally somewhere you'd want to find yourself but the community is working hard to change the atmosphere there.  It's still a little sketchy for parking but the food venues are REALLY good.It boasted fresh baked breads, smoked turkey, goat cheese and avocado.  That's my language!  I had possibly the best(and only) basil lemonade I've ever tasted!

2.  The day has come for me to (temporarily) say goodbye to weekends with my husband.  No, it's not because he's going to be working or out of town.  Tonight, I become a "football widow."  I know many a coaches wives have already said their goodbyes but tonight is the beginning of the 2012 football season and with it I will mourn the loss of Jason every Thursday-Sunday while he babysits the couch and television.  The only acceptable interludes are frequent visitis to the fridge and restroom.  He's pretty passionate about it so I'll allow it.  Besides, I'm just grateful he doesn't follow it with "hunting season!" Right, Mari?

3.  On that note, I'm taking both children to the Vandy Owen MBA tailgate today for the Vandy/ South Carolina game tonight.  Sure, it's a school night but how many chances do you get to go to a real college tailgate in first grade? I imagine we'll be seeing our fair share of "littering parties!" Now, wish me luck as I drag two kids across campus for the headliner of Football 2012 being broadcast on ESPN as football kickoff.  This is all happening at the same time as the NFL Titans game tonight.  Warning, Nashville is sure to be CHAOS!

4.  Next weekend I'm leaving the family behind and going on my first ever girl trip!!  I'm pretty excited about it.  There are 10, yes ten of us flying from Nashville to Chicago to spend 48 hours without kids!  Our plan?  Shopping, eating and more shopping with a little bit of eating and maybe a drink or two.  Adventures in Chicago.  It may be the next "bridesmaids" movie.  Probably not though.

5.  With my sister and several friends having babies, I confess I think about babies far more than Jason would like me to admit.  I have known for a long time that I want one more.  I've just got to keep convincing him.  Oh, and him having a job would be nice after school too. (in the works!)

6.  I had a parent moment of realization recently.  Actually it was Jason who got to experience this proud moment as he accompanied our 6 year old to the truck stop bathroom.  He walked out and told me, "well, Jackson can now read the graffiti on the bathroom walls."  Lucky (or not?) this time it merely said "kill yourself".  I GUESS that's better than the expletives he could have sounded out while standing at the john. Oh, the infinite knowledge of the bathroom stalls.

7.  On a recent road trip, I had packed snacks for the boys (I'm SO my mother!).  I was handing out combos to the kids by the handfulls.  Lincoln announced he wanted more "bones."  Confused I asked him what bones were and he said, "You know those bones like you gave us and we give Roxy."
Well, come to think of it, the combos DO look exactly like the treats we regularly feed Roxy.  Poor kid thinks I'm feeding him dog treats but he liked them enough to ask for more!

8.  Just this morning at the neighborhood bus stop, I was instructing Jackson on tucking his shirt in when I look over and see a cute, blonde 3 year old with his pants around his ankles readying himself to water the grass.  I run over and jerk his pants up while explaining the faux pas of public urination.  Nevertheless, it was noticed by every parent at the bus stop and we embarrassingly made our way home to use the indoor plumbing we so thankfully have.

9.  If ever more than a few minutes go by and I can't hear Lincoln, I can put money on the fact he's up to no good.  Yesterday, I called and called him.  I went upstairs and yelled for him.  He came running out of the bathroom and said "I was just going potty!" Sounding suspicious, I walked toward the bathroom and he said, "You don't need to go in there, you go back downstairs."  That, my son, is a dead giveaway that I DO in fact need to go in there.  Looking around, I find a giant wad of gum in the garbage that had been recently disposed of.  Someone was hiding in the bathroom to eat gum and then spit it out as to not get caught.  Soon, he'll realize I'm smarter then him or at least learn how to not get caught.

On another occasion I was looking for Lincoln and he comes out of the bathroom and I ask,
"What were you doing in there?"
He tells me "I was just smellin."
"Smelling what?"
"The cat thing, you know, the cat thing?"
"You mean the litter box?  Why, Lincoln?"
"I dunno, it just stink so I smellin it."

Gross.  Kids.

10.  I recently read this article about raising boys.  I found it funny and oh so true in so many cases.  I feel like I have very typical boys.  Here's hoping they grow up to be respectable Men on day!  It's worth a read, and there's a girl version but I wouldn't know anything about that...yet. (here's hoping!)
http://www.ivillage.com/raising-boy-parenting-tips-we-wish-wed-known/6-b-440087

He's Baaaaack!!!

It was 3 constant weeks of  "How many days till Dad comes home?"  

It became, "How many hours now?"

It ended with them waiting by the stop sign on the road until they saw his truck.  There were squeals of joy as they jumped into his arms and held on!

Even Roxy was pretty glad to see him. 

Since he's been home, they have been his shadow every waking second.  They talk to him non-stop.  Seriously, I asked him once, "When am I going to get a chance to talk to you?"
Lincoln's first statement was "I didn't miss you while you were gone but now I miss you!"  (yes, apparently he's got it backwards!  Then he said, "When I grow up, I'm going to grow a beard just like you!"

They've played ball, frisbee, legos and of course had a few tickle/tackle fights.  It's been fun seeing them reconnect with him.

My favorite moment was him working in the yard and coming inside to eat dinner and taking his dirty shirt off.  I look up from preparing the meal and there are 3 boys without shirts on at the kitchen table.  They want to be just like him.  And I'd say that's a pretty good thing to be!!

Jason wasted no time and started back to school on Monday.  It was offically his LAST first day of school EVER!  We're pretty excited about this year in Nashville and the opportunities beyond.  I'm so proud of him for all the hard work he's put into this MBA program and the jobs it will provide.  He's a great husband, a great father and a wonderful provider!  We're lucky to have him and Happy to have him HOME!

One down, one to go!

We have a first grader in the house!

How many grades are there, mama?

Well, there are 12 in school then 4 more in college.  You can decide after that.

So there are 16 grades and I'm just in the 1st?

Yes son, don't rush it.

He's a proficient reader, he LOVES math and he's already dissected sheep eyes, made crystals and learned the history of several presidents.  I'd say he's ready for at least 7th grade.

Jackson started 1st grade at Harpeth Valley Elementary on August 1.  He started earlier than most schools around because they are beginning a modified year round schedule that will give him a few more breaks in the school year.  We are totally ok with it.  We have been SUPER happy with his school.  It was a very researched decision to live in this school district and I feel like it has been validated dividends!  He has learned so much and all the teachers seem wonderful.  His teacher this year is young.  She's a cute little athlete that just started last year.  Jackson has had  the best of both since last year his teacher retired after his class!  She was wonderful too and he still misses her!

He walked into class without hesitation and got right to work.  He claimed when he got home that the teacher asked him how he felt about the 1st day and he said he was "a little shy and nervous".  I'd say he's also a follower and heard someone else say that.  He's never been shy a day in his life.

He gets pretty serious about the snack he chooses each day and riding the bus.  He LOVES that bus and begs to ride it every day.  I can't complain, I love the bus too.  She delivers my son every single day and I never even have to leave the neighborhood!  Car rider lines are for the BIRDS!

We stared this first day of school photo and I made him promise he'd do it through high school.  We'll see if he follows through.  Next year, he'll be taking this photo at a different school.

 Most likely in a different state.  Probably Texas.

Out with a Bang...bang, bang

It's my last night as a temporary single parent of 2 rambunctious boys.  It couldn't come soon enough.  I sit and type with my (ahem) second glass of much deserved wine.  They really tested the limits at times, especially tonight.  It started when Jackson got home from school and within seconds, I was ready to send him back to the bus and home with Ms. Martie the bus driver!  He started making Lincoln scream about who knows what.  I discussed just today with my friend Mari, WHY in the world do siblings act so perfectly when they are separate but so atrocious when they are together?  Why does being together bring out their worst characteristics?  I would happily take either one of them on errands, to publix or even antique shopping but I'd pay BIG money just to leave them home when they are together.  I'd eat McDonald's not to take them to the grocery store together. (and I HATE McDonald's!)

We knew from the beginning that Jason would have an internship and that it likely would not be in Nashville.  We knew it would mean 3 months away from him but we'd done 3 deployments, 3 months would be a piece of cake.  Well, it was a piece of SOMETHING but I wouldn't call it cake!  I didn't realize how hard raising boys would be without their father (whom they LOVE) would be.  Apparently he's far superior to the one who feeds them and give birth to them!  Not a day went by without his mention or missing him.  We all missed him.  I missed his help in breaking up the fights and doing half the bedtimes.  I missed him taking out the trash too!
Tonight was one of those nights. The final straw (you know, the one that broke the camels back).  I had a coupon to Wendy's that bought me 2 kids meals for $2.  You can't pay me to wash dishes for that so  we had Wendy's after an hour at the park that is in front of the house.  While getting ready for bed upstairs, I hear BANG, BANG, BANG and I jump up to scale the stairs and survey what is making such a racket.  Before I hit the top stair, Jackson is crying and Lincoln is at the stairs apologizing to me.

He had taken his wooden toy hammer and given his sweet Daddy a "welcome home" present in the form of 15 dents in the walls of the house we RENT.  I'm sure his dad will be thrilled.  Me, well, I sent that boy straight to his OWN bed, alone without a story.  If he got up, he would get "the spoon".  Of course, he cried.  It was hard to put him to bed crying but he knew better and did it anyway.

Later I went in there and consoled him with a lesson in forgiveness.  He said he forgave me for being a mean mom. It wasn't cracking me, I told him we do not say that.  I punished him for his wrong doing and now God forgave him and so did I.

But alas, there are still holes in the wall and I'm still sleeping alone.

Tomorrow, oh, Tomorrow!

It's Tuesday! Time for 10!

It always seems to creep up on me, the blog, Tuesday, the laundry.  Right now, I can only come up with 5 of the 10 things needed to fulfill the title.  It things get lame at the end, you'll know why.

1.  Jason comes home FRIDAY!  We are all pretty excited.  Not post deployment excited.  That's a whole other world of excitement.  But we can't wait to have him back here with us to help with baths, bedtime and discipline   I'm sure he'll be fun too!  His final presentation is tomorrow and after that, his final interview.  I know he'll do great and maybe this time next month, he'll have a job waiting for him!


2.  My sister's baby shower was this weekend.  It was filled with all kinds of pink and cuteness.  She's having a girl in October.  We are all so excited!  It's the first girl in this family in 30 years!  What are the chances I'll  be next?  *fingers crossed*

3.  Jackson and I recently watched Mirror, Mirror.  It was a cute movie and mimicked snow white but with a twist.  We especially loved the feisty seven dwarfs in the movie.  After that, we were somewhere in Nashville when we crossed paths with a little person.  Jackson innocently said "Look mom!  That man looks just like one of the seven Dorks!"  Yep, we had a politically correct talk right then and there.

4.  Jackson started school on Wednesday but he was off on Thursday so we had a fun day!  He chose to go to the Science Museum and since it's cool inside, I did too!  He LOVES that place.  It was kinda crowded but we managed to hit all the high points.  I got pretty annoyed at the end of the day as there were unmonitored children from a childcare facility that were doing things (climbing on things, over rails and into places) that they weren't supposed to do.  It was ruining the fun for all the other kids.  I used it as a lesson in "don't do wrong things, even if no one tells you no to."

5.  Yesterday Lincoln and I bought groceries and on the way home, I decided that I couldn't cook AND put the groceries away so we needed to go to the Mexican place.  It's just a place up the road and the kids LOVE it.  Mostly because they have a gumball machine and they bring their quarters to get gum if they eat well.  Lincoln immediately asked me for gumball monies and I got him out a quarter.  He handed it back to me and said it was NOT gumball money.  Well, I know a quarter when I see one and I was certain it was. After a few minutes of arguing with him, I said, take it or leave it here on the table, that's your gumball money.  He then proclaimed "It's NOT gumball money.  It doesn't have an eagle on it!"  Wow, stubborn kid.  It was a state quarter.  I got out all the quarters I had and we had a little lesson in currency right there in the Mexican cantina.  I had 2 state quarters and 2 eagle quarters.  He took the eagle quarter and said, "No this is gumball monies!"  And all was right in the world.

6.  Last week, my parents came for a little visit.  My dad lived here for 18 years and had never visited the Loveless Cafe.  It's an iconic place way out here in Bellevue.  A Nashville original, visited by all the celebrities.  Proof lines the walls of the old house as it is covered in signed celebrity photos.  But most come here for the biscuits and we were not different.  You can even watch the workers make the biscuits through a window in the wall here.  We had a fantastic meal of comfort food and came home stuffed.  I highly recommend the Loveless Cafe if you're in the Nashville area.

7.  One kid is easier than 2.  I quickly remembered how much easier it is to entertain one child and drag him around on errands with me.  When they are together, loudness and fighting ensue.  But one of them is usually an angel.  (as long as I fork over the gumball money)

8.  Crickets....(chirp, chirp).....

9.  Tonight we headed over to the Opry Mills mall for the free Lego build at the Lego store.  It was much more crowded than normal but after we all built a Lego shark, we headed to Chuy's to find out there was an hour and a half wait.  No way I'm waiting that long for Mexican food!  Food court for us.  On the way there, we stopped by the bathroom and as we're entering we see NOT one but TWO Elvis' walking out.  Jackson gasp, "Look mom!  2 Elvis's!"  Later we figured out that there was an Elvis tribute that evening and that explained the crowds and the table of 7 Elvis' including the Asian Elvis we saw at Johnny Rockets!

10.  You might be a mom of boys If...you get excited about the release of the new mini figures in the Lego collections. You might be a Christmas fanatic if you're over the moon about the prospect of one of them being Lego Santa Claus!!  Only 139 days till Christmas, ya'll!
http://www.xmasclock.com/

Ten on Tuesday

It's the LAST day of summer in the deFoor house but we've been busy the last few weeks.  We have really made the most of our summer!

1.  The boys are enjoying blueberry smoothies this morning, compliments of the 7 pounds of fresh blueberries I picked last week from a farm in AL.  I picked until it was so dark, I could hardly see the berries.  It was the only time it was cool enough to stand outside!

2.  We're in the 2 week home stretch of Jason's stint in Houston.  I came to the realization today that no matter how long the time you're away, when the end approaches, everyone involved is DONE.  Whether it's a year, 15 months, or just 3. It seems the last mile is ALWAYS the hardest..

3.  I can't be alone.  Sure, I've been alone the last 3 months but I mean, I can't be alone "without my phone".
I had to drop my phone off at the Sprint store for a doctor visit.  It was having some serious stress related issues.  While without my phone for an hour, I succumbed to actually writing down all the things I reached for my phone for.  The list was impressive.  Here are just a few of the examples.
-text mom and ask if she ordered something
-call dad to tell him I'm on my way after the phone check up
-call Stella & Dot customer and tell them their style rewards from last night's show
-check time (who has a watch these days!)
-update facebook with how disconnected I am without my phone.
-google the price of something on my target visit
-call dog groomer for an appointment
-check with my workout partner on our meeting time next week
 And that's just to name a few.  It's a terrible beautiful addiction to technology but I am not alone!

4.  I made a new dip that is pretty awesome.  I saw it on another blog and of course pinterest to the rescue, I found it there.  It's called Poolside Dip and you should probably make it tomorrow.  Whether or not you'll be poolside but we highly recommend poolside.  That's where we wanna be!

Skinny Poolside Dip: 1 red pepper, 2 jalapeños (unseeded), 1 can of corn, 1/2 can diced olives, 16 oz fat-free cream cheese (softened), and 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch dip seasoning mix. Serve with crackers


5.  While making the above dip this weekend, I improvised and used a skinny green pepper from my grandpa's garden for the jalapeno.  I knew the first bite I took that it was a HOT HOT pepper but the cream cheese made it edible.  The next day life went on as usual until I took a shower and prepared to head back to Nashville.  I told my mom I noticed my left hand was really burning and I put ice on it.  It kept getting worse and worse.  It was NO joke!  So, my mom started googling solutions.  We tried ice, rubbing alcohol, bleach, WD40, mechanic orange hand cleaner, half & half all with NO avail.  I even stuck my fingers into whole tomatoes to relieve the burning.  Right before amputation was placed on the table, we tried buttermilk.  Believe it or not, IT WORKED!  I could not have been more relieved or thankful for grandparents and their love of buttermilk (yuck)!


6.  It's consignment season and that means shopping and selling!  Both are great feelings,seeing the old stuff gone and new clothes coming in.  I scored Jackson a sweet pair of cowboy boots this year and let's face it, Lincoln looks adorable in most anything I force him to wear!  I lucked up on 2 pair of my "worlds best pajamas" by Hanna Andersson for Lincoln!  A whole new dynamic to shopping this year is the ability to FINALLY look for girl clothes!  No not me.  With Tracie due in October, I'm girl clothes crazy.  Heaven help us if I ever have that girl.  Jason better look out (and take out a loan)!


7.  Kids say the darndest things.  Especially my kids (bet everyone thinks that!)!  Yesterday Jackson was looking out the back window and said "Look mom, it's a onecan!  You know that bird with a long yellow beak!"  Son, did you mean a toucan?  Yes, that's right, a toucan!  
Then today at the pool, I'm sitting with Lincoln in the chair at lunchtime.  I'm taking down a turkey sub when he looks down and says "Wow, mOoom, you're leg is fat like Asher's."  (Asher is a 6 month old chunky monkey boy my parents are friends with.)  I'm not sure which was more insulting, being fat or compared to a 6 month old.  Thanks a lot Lincoln!

8.  I shamelessly take the kids to get their haircut at Sports Clips.  It's pretty cheap, they do a pretty good job and the boys LOVE it.  I fondly refer to it as the Hooters of Hair.  I also jokingly claim it's "hooterific" when people ask me if I like it.  Sure, it's good enough.  I had two Bieber wannabe's this summer.  I had been referring to the boys as Jackson Bieber and Lincoln Bieber because of their long, in the eyes hair that I had let grow out while ignoring haircuts in lieu of pool time.  With school starting soon, I had to do something about the Bieber do so I broke down and visited our local Sports Clips.  I also made some before and afters so we would always remember the Bieber generation.  

9.  It's summer and styling people in Stella & Dot jewelry is way easier and more appealing to them in the fall and spring but this week in our team email (about 30ish people, I think) I was listed as the TOP seller!  I was pretty happy to see what seemed like a mediocre month to me, had been profitable!  Besides, it NEVER seems like work because it's just that much FUN!  On top of it all, I rewarded myself with THIS beauty!  

10.  Is it strange that I like to keep my two favorite vices side by side?  I see them as the forces of good and evil however, they change places during the day.  The coffee is good in the morning and the wine wouldn't be so great but at night, that coffee would be the evil and the wine a good thing.  Either way, both vices and both mine.  At appropriate times of course!

And one last photo because I could not help it.  We've been playing musical beds lately.  I have been putting both boys down in Jackson's twin after Lincoln decided he couldn't sleep alone (he's almost always been that way though).  Lately, I go upstairs LATE for bed and flip on my light to find those two turkeys in MY bed together.  I put them both in their respective beds so that I can sleep and Jackson bouces back out of bed and asks to sleep with me.  I allow it but then somehow, he ends up back in his bed and Lincoln arrives for an early morning snooze about 6am.  Musical beds.