Back...

So we're home. I'm not quite sure what to talk about this week on the blog. Do I start in on my Father's sudden death and all the emotions and tasks surrounding that? There's so much to talk about there that I'd likely not stop and pretty soon you'd be wondering what's with the depressing death blog. Or do I just jump ahead to our everyday life?

I'm not sure what the answer is. I'm leaning towards moving on, maybe later when I get my thoughts together and I'm not so burned out on talking about it I'll share some insite with you. I think I'll go upload some pictures. When stuck with the blog, cheat by posting pictures until inspiration hits you.

Missing...

I went missing this week. My Father passed away suddenly on Saturday. Matt, the kids, and I, jumped in the car and drove for twelve hours to reach home. I'm not really ready to talk much about it. Thank you for all the kind wishes and warm thoughts I've already received!

I'll be back next week...

That Was Easy...

A few months ago I had to put one of those entirely enclosed mattress covers on Zack's mattress. He has an unusually thick mattress for a twin bed and he has bunks so this is no easy task. The cover has to be washed every 6-8 weeks and is a total bitch to remove and replace. I've done it myself a couple of times but now with my shoulder being jacked up I can't. This past weekend I got Matt to remove and wash it. Then Sunday night I pestered him to replace. I know he wasn't looking forward to it so the kids and I just stayed out of the way, in the other room, while he struggled.

After much $@%^*)#* and #%)*!*&^, we heard a mechanical "THAT WAS EASY" and "Are you KIDDING me?"

Zack has one of these Staples buttons:

Apparently when Matt struggled to slide the mattress back into the bed, it hit the Easy button on Zack's side table. I about died laughing. Matt was not amused. Don't you just love when the timing is PERFECT?

Ice ice baby...

A few months ago I started chomping ice. Pretty soon I craved chomping ice. I would have a drink and my degree of happiness with it was directly related to the quality of the ice cubes. A friend of mine who works in a dentist's office noticed that I was doing this and told me I was going to ruin my teeth. Made sense so I thought I'd just stop, but I didn't. I have never in my life craved anything, sure I'd think "hey ice cream sounds good right now" but I didn't CRAVE it. I never chew hard candy, I don't smoke, do drugs, drink (don't I sound fun ;-) ). I started to realize that this was a bit bizarre. It's ICE. Frozen water. So, like everything else I wonder about, I googled "ice chewing".

Heck if ice chewing isn't a form of pica (a medical disorder characterized by an appetite for substances largely non-nutritive (e.g., clay, coal, soil, chalk, paper, soap, mucus, ash, gum etc.) or an abnormal appetite for some things that may be considered foods, such as food ingredients (e.g., flour, raw potato, raw rice, starch, ice cubes, salt,)). Craving or chewing ice is called pagophagia and is associated with iron deficiency anemia which I have had for years. They don't know WHY people who are iron deficient crave ice.

Isn't that just bizarre? I organize a blood drive at my office four times per year and I'm about 50/50 on whether or not I can donate at any given time. It's always because my iron is low or borderline. Guess I'd better hunt down some green leafy veggies.

I just love google. Anything you want to know or are wondering about, you can find an answer for. I'm teaching Zack how to search for the answers to all his bizarre questions like "why is water wet?".

Gooooood Morning...

Did you enjoy your weekend? To say ours was slug-like would be an understatement. Since getting my sling off last week, my shoulder hurts MORE, due to the lack of support, so I've sort of been wallowing in self-pity while at the same time trying to keep the savages from uprising.

Friday afternoon I received the kids' report cards. Zack did well, as expected. I praised him and told him that I was VERY proud of him. Then I waited for him to leave with Matt to go to the baseball game. HOT DAMN Skyler blew my socks off with all 4's and Oustandings on her report card. I waited to make a big deal out of it because there's already a bit of competition between the kids. She asked if she did better than Zack and I had to explain that she did fantastic for HER, it didn't matter how Zack did and whether he did better or worse than she did. She's trying to get good grades for herself. She seemed to take that as a yes. Zack's reward for school work done well has always been a trip to Game Stop and since inheriting her brother's Nintendo DS she hasn't chosen a girly game so off we went. She chose a game and spent the evening saying "Mom, watch this. Watch this Mom". We DID get to go bed early, just as I had planned.

Saturday we barely moved. The kids played in their rooms. Matt and I competed for Most Closely Resembles a Vegetable. I think he won. I eventually took Skyler to the pool.

Sunday was errands with two children in tow. I desperately needed groceries. I don't usually bring the Can-I-Haves with me but I can't push the cart by myself yet. I came home with more crap than ever and I'm not sure if any of it can be made into a meal, but the task was accomplished. Matt helped out a friend in a charity event and found the rest of us separated into our own little worlds when he got home. Skyler has begun the task of decontaminating her room with the promise that we could paint and rearrange. I'm hoping to do that this weekend. I'm sure I'm biting off more than I can chew, as usual.

That was us in a nutshell. Nothing exciting - why am I so tired? This whining about my shoulder knocks me out!

Three Things...

The delightful Whimsy of The Creamery has noticed a drought in the blogosphere. She's come up with the idea of posting three blog posts that you think others should read. This will hopefully give each of us an introduction to a new blog that's fantastic or show off a specific post that you think is wonderful. Check out Whimsy's blog over the next few weeks where she'll link all the Three Things posters together giving you a list of great reads.

Three Things You Should Read According to Amanda:

Michel from Facts Are Strictly Optional is hysterical. She's living in Sudan working for the US Embassy. Her post Dear, USO is particularly enjoyable.

Linda from All & Sundry is amazing. She is what I would call a word magician. She has this way of combining them that makes you think "YES. THAT is a perfect description of that particular parenting event." Her post Blanket Apologies came to mind when I was trying to think of something great to show you as an example.

Matt, Liz and Madeline is a blog that tugs (HARD) at your heartstrings. It's the story of a father, Matt, raising his daughter, Madeline, after losing his wife, Liz, the day after Madeline's birth. Matt has been featured in People and on Oprah for the work he's done to help widows and widowers with the Liz Logelin Foundation. I started reading his blog not long after Liz died. You won't be sorry if you go back to the beginning.

That's my list of three. Perhaps I'll make it a Friday event.

P.S. - if you're already reading these blogs tell me in the comments. What do you love about them?

Teach your boys to love...

I walked into the gym go pick the kids up today and when I called his name Zack turned and his whole face lit up and he said "Mommy you look so beautiful today, such a pretty Mommy". I gave him a huge smothering hug and told him how happy he makes my heart. Tonight, while we were chatting before bed, I told him that someday he'd make an awesome husband because he already knows how to say sweet things to make his partner feel loved. He learned this from his father who is equally sweet with his words.

Men, don't be afraid to teach your sons to love. They will in turn BE loved as I am so sure that Zachary will be when he grows up.

Gamer...

Zack is a video game lover through and through. For his birthday, he got My Sims Kingdom.


I had been looking for a game that was adventure based but didn't have violence or guns or any of that other stuff that boys find fascinating. At first he gave it the old "you're lame Mom" eye roll but he came around and he's been begging me to play it with him for months. Video games are really my idea of a slow and painful death. I don't have the patience, dexterity, or desire actually to play. He caught me in the right mood the other night so I sat and played FOR THREE HOURS. THIS is why video games are evil. They are a giant time suck. We did have fun together and I might have continued playing last night after the kids went to bed. This game is exactly my speed as it is geared towards five year olds (slight exaggeration as it requires reading but there's certainly nothing difficult that most children couldn't handle). There is no violence, nothing is timed, you can dress your character in cute outfits, and the graphics are cute. I even get my own magic wand.

Do I get to be called a Gamer now? No?