You're Gonna Miss This

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG9XfJxMY8A

I woke up with this stuck in my head today. I'm having a really hard time with Jupiter lately. I just don't understand him. Maybe it's a man thing. I've basically had to club him, and drug him to get him to agree to help me take the boys Trick or Treating tonight. Mercury is in this horrible phase where he just takes off at any given moment and Neptune will not hold my hand. So no way can I take both boys myself this year. And Jupiter has not gone ONCE. He's fighting me the whole way. And I just don't understand. He hardly spends any time with the boys. Yes they can be annoying. They don't listen, they fight, they break things, they talk back, but they are kids. I don't understand how he can not miss these things he's not doing with them. Maybe it's because I'm female, I don't know. But as trying as the boys can be and as much as they annoy me to no end some days, I can not imagine missing out on their lives. This in my mind is the best part of my life. This is what I've always wanted to do. How can he not enjoy it? I don't get it. But I know one thing. I'm gonna miss it. I already miss they babyness. I miss it I miss it I MISS IT! But I will not miss out on these things that are so important to my kids. I will be there for them and at least I will have the memories.

No More Briefs

So Mercury was potty trained at a fairly reasonable age I think. He was totally potty trained (day and night) about a month and a half before his third birthday. I think that's pretty good. Especially for a boy, and because I think Neptune will go to college in diapers. Anyway, he graduated on to 'big boy undies' or briefs with cartoon characters all over them. We had Scooby-Doo (those were the favs), Cars, Bob The Builder, Thomas, dinosaurs, trucks...you name it. The kid had more undies than I knew what to do with. Then all the sudden one day...the love affair with 'big boy undies' was over. He refused to wear them (he is now 4 btw). All his 'big boy undies' had become, "For babies mom!". Um last time I checked diapers were for babies.

OMG I'm sitting here reeling! First of all when did he get such an opinion and since when did he decide what undergarments are appropriate and what are not? He now must have and will only wear boxer-briefs. We tried boxers, he got them stuck in his zipper or they were all bunched up and hanging out the top of his jeans. But boxer-briefs fit the bill here. Do you know how expensive it is to go out and replace perfectly good undies? And they don't carry very many boxer-briefs with characters in his size. Ugh.

But my 4-yr old is now perfectly dressed in his boxer-briefs and his little hiney is very happy.

Shampooing

Wow that looks funny. Is that even a word? Shampooing...hmmm

Well for my Tuesday accomplishment..that's what I want to accomplish. This week I would like to shampoo my carpets. They need a good deep down clean. Neptune has become a master of throwing food on the floor then mashing it in before I'm able to clean it up. I really do long for the days when we had a dog. She would eat that stuff up like it was going outta style when Mercury went through this phase.

I have no idea how Neptune is able to keep growing considering how much of his food he's throwing on the floor or trying to feed to the cats these days. And let me tell you, cats do not clean the floor like a dog would. Have I mentioned I miss my dog?

Nothing

That's what I feel like I accomplished this weekend. Although I *think* I really did a lot. Well, the fact I had no time to myself suggests I did a lot. But I did find time to knock back a few glasses of wine. My wonderful husband brought me home a huge bottle of Lambrusco. Ah yes, he does really know the way to my heart! lol.

I managed to make it into church at the ungodly (no pun intended) of 9 am on a Saturday to paint and redecorate my class room with a few other women. I team teach the 2yr old through 4 yr old class on Sunday morning. So that was an accomplishment. I also skipped a good portion of my Saturday nap to play board games with Mercury while Neptune napped. That helped alleviate some of my mommy guilt. I think it's the Christmas Cantata practice on Sunday afternoons that's making me feel like I've had no time during the weekend. Oh well. It's only until Christmas. Which is too far away, and yet not far enough away all at the same time!

Tonight Mercury and I are going to Veggie Tales Live. He's much less excited than he should be for what those darn tickets cost me. Today the little dear told me he wanted to stay home with his Neptune, Grandma and Grandpa (who are coming to watch Neptune while we are gone). And that I should go by myself. Well, gee thanks kid.

Menu plan menu plan menu plan

Well to be quite honest I've run outta money and food. So the next few days are gonna be a throw together whatever the heck I can!



Friday - chicken helper (I *think* I have some of this...)



Saturday - uhhh a roast? or something I can throw in the crockpot



Sunday - pork chops and potatoes



Monday - Mercury and I are going to "VeggieTales Live" so...something on the road.



Tuesday - something with kielbasa



Wednesday - speghettios? (healthy, huh?)



Thursday - I CAN GO BUY SOME FOOD! Stir-fry beef and cabbage with crab rangoons and fried rice



Now after seeing how poor I am, would you rather see some more pictures?

Neptune on a hill. Exciting huh?

I like to pretend I can take good pictures. So humor me

Obviously the boys were playing in the woods

This is Mercury this morning on the way to daycare. I just can't get over how he can look so 'old' sometimes. Please ignore the trash in the back of the van.

Back To The Land Of The Living

I.AM.BACK!



I had pnemonia last week. Came outta nowhere and hit me like a ton of bricks. I've never had pnemonia, and I hope to never have it again.



I'm not quite sure how my kids survived except their wonderful daycare kept them late a few days and then brought them home. I think I would die without that woman!



Then Tuesday Mercury had his pumpkin patch field trip with the preschool. That was fun. So I'm trying furiously to catch up here at work. I was out a week, back for a day, gone a day, and now I am back. Ugh. Talk about a mess. But here are a few pics from the week/end for you to check out until I can get my head outta my butt and back on this planet.

This is Mercury and Neptune after decorating for Halloween.

This is the first time I let Neptune have cotton candy. He wasn't sure he liked it at first. Then...he became a huge sticky mess!

Here is the first day I was starting to feel better. I took the kids out and Mercury was having fun with some batting practice.

And this is Mercury and I at the pumpkin patch on Tuesday. Notice how we have the same stupid smile?

Vote

Now I'm not overly political so this is the only political post you will see from me. And I will post my regular stuff again next week. But I saw this and thought it was very important. Please, check it out.

http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=14473

Thursday Three

1. I really am not a fan of cold weather. I LOVE autumn, but I don't like how fast it's gotten cold.

2. Christmas presents get really expensive the older your kids get.

3. I really really like hot chocolate. Especially if it's homemade.

Kid-Friendly Food

Oh yes my friend. This is something I will be doing on a semi-regular basis. Like when I actually find something my kids will eat! lol. And that I have! I found it last night. Now I made some changes to it, but I will post the original recipe for you in case you don't like my changes. But my kids loved this. Even Neptune gobbled it up and that kid does not like meat.

Crescent Sloppy Joes
The original recipe is by Pillsbury
http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=15515

Here is my version:

Brown 1lb ground beef and drain grease. Mix in one can of Manwich (the only kind of sloppy joe I will eat). Separate your crescents into four rectangles. Place a generous amount of sloppy joe mixture in the center of each. Throw some grated sharp cheddar on top. Fold over and seal. Cut a slit in the top to vent. Bake at 375 for 11-18 min. (or in my over for 10min 30sec). Enjoy!

They are awesome!