the cORRner: June 2013

Saturday, June 29, 2013

"I Must Have Done Something Good"

Most days I feel like a pretty lousy mother. I don't like getting on the floor to play, it actually hurts. I hate when they make big messes so I don't like play dough or slime, and summer is hot, so I'm not running around outside. I beat myself up all the time about everything I don't do, that I thought I would do, as a mom.

Sometimes though, on nights like tonight, I know that I'm not all bad. I have little, reassuring moments of validation that I am doing something right. Very right, I might say.

I took Ayden out by himself tonight. It's important for me to spend some time alone with the kids. They don't get much 'mom' time on a day to day basis, and I love to take them away from the house and touch base with them. Sometimes we have very meaningful conversations and sometimes, it's just for fun. Well, it's always fun.

Ayden chose to eat at Panera. That kid is a hoot. He likes the noodle soup in a bread bowl. Then we went to the sporting goods store because he's been asking for sandals. I figured it would be a good time because they go on sale mid-summer. Ayden decided he would save his soda for Dillon and half his cookie too. I thought that was very sweet. Next we went to Five Below. If you've never heard of that place it's like a dollar store, but better. Everything is $5 or below so the quality of most of their stuff is better than a dollar store. As we got out of the car I told Ayden he could pick out one thing, anything, in the store. He informed me that he was going to get something for Dillon. I was so touched that he was going to give up his choice for his brother. I thought to myself, "Wow, I don't get down and dirty with my kids but, at the end of the day, they will be good people." And I'm ok with that.

Dillon and Ayden with their gumball machines from Five Below.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Go On Take the Money and Run

I don't know anyone that likes to be broke. I know it drives me crazy. I like to get out of the house and find fun things to do. Unfortunately, this usually requires dinero, even if just for gas. So far this summer I have been at home with no money. I splurged here and there - spending $1.05 at McDonald's on a soda to share with Ayden and Dillon while they played, going to the dollar store and getting a couple of 'treats' to give the kids, things like that. I even went really wild one day and got the kids one thing each off the dollar menu at McDonald's. You may ask, what else have I been doing to occupy my 'free' time? I read the horribly written novels off the free list on my nook, I sleep, I play Lego Harry Potter with Dillon, and I police the children so no one gets an injury we can't afford. None of this really satisfies the rambling urges I get honestly from my dad.

Here is the question for you - have you ever done something that you really can't afford to do? That you really shouldn't do? Well, I'm about to - tomorrow. Tomorrow I get paid. Tomorrow I take the kids to King's Dominion. Side story: Way back, for Christmas, we decided to buy season passes for the family again since it provided so much fun the previous year. We didn't get them last summer since we were taking a trip to Houston. When our income tax came we really could have used the money for other things, but it was a gift and a promise so we went ahead and got the passes. I took the kids over spring break when the park first opened and I haven't been back since. They are beyond excited for tomorrow.

This is the only photo I have from that day of all the kids since the older ones took off.

Why is this such a bad idea? Yes, we have the passes, but the park costs money other than entry fees. The gas alone is a big problem. However, the joy on my kid's faces and the time we will spend together is beyond worth it to me. Sometimes, you just have to bite the bullet, take the money and run! (But not like Billy Joe and Bobby Sue)

Enjoy viewing some more happy children during spring break!

Ayden loves the bumper cars.

Doesn't Dillon look like he's built for speed?

Sunday, June 23, 2013

I Swore I'd Never...

When I was a young gal, in my teens, I said never all the time. "I will never listen to oldies stations on the radio." "I will never put my baby in a harness!" "I will never be out of the 'fashion loop'."

I have had to eat my words so many times I've lost count. I enjoy some of the current music, but for the most part, I am still an 80's, early 90's, kind of girl. I put my first child in a harness the first time I had to go somewhere that did not allow strollers and I was huge and pregnant. Then there is fashion. Okay, I was never huge on fads, but I was aware of them and enjoyed many of them. The latest one has me scratching my head though. Socks.

http://dhsknightlynews.com/discovery/?p=5535

It's been going on for a while. If you haven't seen this, you may need to check your mouth and ears for the sand that must have entered as you buried your head in the sand. Caleb is the one that brought it to my attention, of course.

He is the one that seems the most concerned with fashion in this house. At first, I figured he was just being neurotic; however, it turns out that all the boys are really into this. Nike Elite socks. Of course, it had to be Nike right? Other brands have tried to imitate the look, but Nike is still the one that the kids wear. Of course, if you're going to wear socks that cost $15 a pair, (yes - for one pair) it would be silly to wear jeans. So, even in the dead of winter the boys wear shorts. They're so smart at this age. The school where I teach is a campus style school, so we had boys is massive coats and shorts just so everyone could see their elite socks.

Of course, since I am writing about it now, the trend will die. And, you know what, that is fine with me. I'm tired of my kids spending $15 for one pair of socks.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Help a Girl Out

Now that my kids are older and, well let's face it, boring, I have run out of ideas for the blog. Honestly - I am in such a slump when it comes to writing topics. I used to post all my pictures here for family to keep up with me. Now I have facebook where family can see all our obnoxiousness. So where does the cORRner go from there? Ask me a question, give me an idea! I need a jump start for my dead battery here! Because I pretty much feel like this lady:

I will tell you a story though. Get ready it's pretty freaky. Last night I dreamed I was in the next Star Wars movie. All the original cast were there in their original parts (who else would they play Heather?). I think the dream was inspired by this and other similar rumors. As much as I love the first three Star Wars movies, I hope this isn't true. I'm afraid it would end up 'made for TV' movie quality and it would just be sad. Regardless, my parents were Luke and Leia, I know, figure that one out - gross. They came to visit me incognito because they were in hiding. Leia was like a jedi hippie and drove an x-wing car. Basically that means it looked like a white 80's corolla with a big flap on the driver's side. We set off to visit the grandparents and my real dad ended up pulling over to buy me a soda. Interpret that dream please! Or should I say nightmare. Of course there was more to the dream. I just can't remember it all since I was awoken at 6:30 am by a sick little boy.
Anyway, let the nightmares begin.....