A Valuable Lesson

I learned a lesson today - one, like most, that would have been so valuable a long time ago. It began with Garrett reminding me about the birthday party (that we had both forgotten!) tomorrow night. So began the panic in deciding what gift to buy. No fear - Garrett to the rescue...a Bakugan. I know, don't ask me. It's a cross between Yugi-O and Pokemon, and evidently one of the hottest boy toys around - and reasonably priced (YAY!!). As we were heading to Target, Garrett told me that all of the discount stores were out of them. I felt a severe anxiety attack coming on, because this could mean only one thing....Toys R Us!

I haven't been there in quite a few years (actually since Garrett was a toddler) for a reason - taking my 3 kids there was a living nightmare. If you've been around my kiddos long enough, you have seen that they are quite adept at the tag team effort. The premise behind it is if they beg, whine, run around crazy - one after another, then they will wear me down enough to give in. Sometimes I was strong. Sometimes not. It was enough to send anyone over the edge. Right as the stress peaked, the Toys R Us in Rocky Mount closed...allowing me to keep what remained of my sanity. Never, ever again would I have to go to Toys R Us....until tonight.

Through breaths in the paper bag, I gave Garrett (and the girls) a run-down on my expectations. I will buy the gift with a $10 limit, and you each may have $5 to spend on yourselves (no doubt that $5 would cause an issue - when's the last thing you've seen a toy that cheap?). We walked around the store for about an hour...browsing and looking at prospective Christmas gifts. The shock of all shocks? All 3 kids were amazingly well behaved. There was no running, riding the bikes, playing with the balls, or begging. The girls didn't find anything, and decided to save their money until tomorrow, Garrett chose the gift and his toy, and we were on our merry little way. Nothing short of a miracle!! The lesson learned? Kids under 9-10 years of age should not be in Toys R Us. Waiting until less than half of the store appeals to them cuts down on what they actually want to ask for. Sounds almost like common sense now. If only I had waited...it would have saved a whole lot of crying (mine!).

The Crud

Crud season is officially here! Not that I would know firsthand or anything, because Mom's are not allowed to get sick - under any circumstances. I have fought the urge to share with my children that I have felt a little under the weather for the past week. Why? Because once I show my weakness, the hell begins. With the 3, it usually happens in this order: #1 says she's not feeling too great either (a ploy to sleep in and miss school? I think so) #3 realizes that it's PARTY TIME!! Mom will never have the energy to fight him when she's down (and I must admit, he's right). #2 usually comes to my rescue and keeps the home running somewhat smoothly (a sweet gesture that ultimately drains her and lands her in the sick bed). Add to that the fact that life will not stop - there is still school, homework, activities, and the dogs (especially the puppy) - which means that sick or not, I still have to get up and function like every other day.

So for now, I will cowboy up, go to the baseball awards, help with projects, and amuse the kiddos - while they are utterly clueless, and hope that they are in "sweet mode," which just might give me a chance to rest this off.

I find myself wondering who it was that insisted that we get a Great Dane. I mean really...couldn't they foresee the amount of pee and poop that could come out of a dog (even a puppy) of that magnitude! And then I am reminded by Robbie that it was indeed me that begged, pleaded, and cried for months for this dog. To which I must respond...since when do you start giving me my way?! Wimp!! (Love ya anyways, though ;o)

Pee and poop aside, Athena is here to stay. And she is darn cute...especially her love affair with Frank.

Ballgame!

Just as the umpire calls the end of the game, we bid adieu to the baseball season. It's official...it's over. It's a bittersweet time. I must admit some relief that our weekday afternoons and evenings (and Saturdays) are now free for homework, old-fashioned playing, and earlier bedtimes. But I will miss the fun, excitement, and social outlet that Little League games bring.

As we figure out what to do with our new free-time, take a look at some highlights of Garrett's 2008 fall season....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Just like the Red Sox Thursday night, the 2A Astros came back from 7-2 in the last inning to win the game. An exciting feat, and the best part? Garrett had the tying and winning RBI's. Looks like he's back!! After last week's triple (a real one - not because of an error on the other team) and a close slide under the tag to steal home, Garrett's mojo is back!! Now if he can just keep it until spring....WTG Garrett!!!

PS...Don't you wish you had stayed 5 more minutes? LOL

These nights must end soon, right? Right?!!?

Puppy life has proved to be nothing less than eventful. Athena is settling in and making herself comfortable...with Frankie watching over her each and every move. He has become quite protective over his new baby - actually growling and nipping at Kaylee and Garrett for getting too close to Athena. He is never far from her side...when she sleeps, he lies beside her watching her breathe. Sweet, but maybe a little obsessive - LOL.

The first 2 nights home were sleepless - for me, that is. I have had puppies before, and crate trained them successfully, knowing that at first they might whine and bark for a few minutes before they quiet down. Not Athena! She would bark all night (and I mean literally all night) long. Yesterday I put her in the crate, and she barked for 4 hours straight!! Not wanting to start a feud with our new neighborhood, I knew I had to find an alternative. So, to the ballgame she went, where she was played with and gawked at for 2 hours, and then I brought her home, fed her, and put her and Frankie in the kitchen with the gate. They seem to be getting along well, so I assumed that they would be safe left alone together - and they were. Just short of a miracle, they both stayed quiet until 4:30am...quite the feat considering that Thursday night, I was up at 1:00am and finally 3:00am for the day. It is amazing how good 6 hours of sleep feels. Today I am totally refreshed - and ready for a couple of ballgames. Here's hoping that we have broken the no-sleep habit....

It's a Girl!!!

It's official...we added a new member to our family. A 4-legged one. We are now proudly owned by a 7 week old Great Dane, Athena. Isn't she sweet?