Cougar Mom

I love fall. I love the cool crisp air. I love the colors of the leaves as they turn from green to orange and yellow and red. I love pumpkins and the taste of all things pumpkin - cookies, pancakes, lattes, bread, etc.

I love football, mostly because it keeps the boy folk in this house occupied every Saturday for a few months. No, really, I have always loved watching college football, even when I was watching it on a teeny tiny screen with antennas when I lived in my first off campus apartment way back in my North Greenville College days. I love the triumph, the victory, the special interest stories. In fact, ESPN's 30 for 30's usually cause a little lump to gather in my throat.

This year, however, I became a football mom. A real hard tackling football mom. How did these children get old enough for this sport? Why did their parents decide it was such a good idea to let them even play this violent sport? And I'm sure one of my friends is wondering how on earth I helped convince her to sign her son up! Misery loves company, I guess! Our hope was that they would play one year, get knocked on their butts a few times and decide this wasn't the game for them. So far, our hope hasn't come to fruition.

Since August, this little weird shaped brown ball has taken over our lives. For a month and a half, we had football practice for someone 5 nights a week. World rocked!

I mean, when in the world are these children supposed to eat dinner or do their homework or play with their friends? Nonetheless, we signed up for this and we have somehow made it work. Lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at 5:30 and a full meal at 8:30! Many nights studying spelling or vocabulary words while laying in the bed. Just do it!

Now we have 2 games one night a week, most weeks. For some reason we're coming up on a 2 week stretch with no football games. Can you say LONG night? What am I going to do with myself for that one night a week for the next 2 weeks when I don't have a 2 year old crawling all over me, begging for snacks and drinks, or wandering a quarter mile away from her older sister who has been given the task of watching her? Do you know just how exhausting the antics of a discontent 2 year old at a football field can be?  Thankfully we have a good system in place where we end up at the field in 2 cars. I stay for the first game and a little of the second and the father of this bunch stays for the duration of the second game.

As I was watching the Georgia/Alabama and the Clemson/Notre Dame games yesterday, I informed the boys that if it were ever pouring cats and dogs during a football game, that I would not be in attendance! I know so loving and sacrificing of me! The people in the stands, those cheerleaders, the refs - they all looked absolutely miserable. I love them. I love the fact that they love playing football, but I sure don't love being a rained on, wet rat looking spectator. Sorry young lads!

We had the unfortunate experience this week of participating in a game where 2 coaches from the opposing team got into an altercation with each other in the middle of the game, before the end of the 1st half. The team we were playing has a long winning record, like years and years. They have dominated our league, apparently. On this particular night, our little Cougars weren't letting them run the score up and the plays they were attempting were getting shut down. (Hold that Line! I was a cheerleader for one year of my life.) We can only guess that is what set these two coaches off and against each other. The game had to be called - a forfeit by the other team. Our people skidattled out of the field as quickly as possible.

My first thoughts about this whole situation, other than being glad I wasn't there to get my blood pressure pumping, was how unfortunate for these kids! This is the example set for them. Winning as the ONLY thing. That any disagreement should result in an altercation and threats. That whatever grievance these coaches had with each other was worth shutting an entire game down that these kids, ours and theirs, had been practicing and preparing for, for months. These kids are watching and observing. As a matter of fact, one kid, during the 8 year old game, was tossed out of the game for unsportsmanlike conduct for pushing one of our kids while he was laying on the field, post tackle. Where do you think he learned that? Just a terribly sad situation and one that I don't wish any parent or child should have to witness.

These are kids. Many of whom will never play football past this level. This is a sport. It is purely for fun. Winning and losing are part of the equation. I hate to see my teams, my kids, lose, ever, but sometimes we aren't cheering for the better team or the team who gave the best effort. I want my kids to be kids as long as possible. I want them to enjoy sports! Being a part of a team, that sense of belonging, is way more vital to their lives than having a perfect record playing peewee football.

Regardless of how many times my little center hiked the ball short or over the QB's head, I'm still proud of him. (I cast blame on myself for his not having a 100% snapping game last week because we got in an emotional fiasco looking for his uniform socks before he left for the game.) He put his uniform on. He did his part for the team. He stood on the field for almost every play of the game! He had to give up Bo Jackson's number after the first game, and though he was disappointed to change his number, he did it willingly. He also changed positions mid season because one of his coaches figured out that he could snap the ball pretty well. Team player!

And my little defensive player who is working his way up the depth chart from playing his mandatory 8 plays a game to getting into the regular rotation, I'm proud of him for never giving up. (tears are starting to well) I'm proud of him for proving that he can do his job on the football field, for showing his coaches that he can catch just about every pass that is thrown to him. One day he'll get his chance to show off his wide receiver skills in a real game, I'm sure. This child will make a great assistant coach or statistician some day with his knowledge and passion for the game of football! Standing on the sidelines or being an active force in the game, he's my son and I'm proud to call him mine.

If one of these precious boys of mine should ever get terribly injured playing football, I'm not sure what I would do with myself. I guarantee hysterics will be part of my display. For now, I'll just pray their high tech helmet and proper tackling technique by the other team serve them well.  I'll also pray for clear skies and 75 degree temperatures on all game nights.

Go Cougars!

Soccer Monsters

This week the Wade boys became official soccer players. They're definitely not the stars of the team, but they have a good time for the most part.

I'm not sure how to really explain the game to Bailey or get him to understand how to be aggressive and get the ball from the other team. During the game today, you could see the disappointment on his face when he wasn't kicking the ball. I'm not sure if he thought they should give him the ball when it was his turn or if he had to share with everyone else. Taking turns has been an issue for him since a little sports camp he went to this summer. Playing soccer aggressively doesn't require taking turns so he's gotta have a change of attitude when he's on the field playing.




Maverick just doesn't get it and kind of stands around. Most of the pictures I have of him he's got one of his hands on his head or hip just standing still. The coach is very helpful and tries to make sure the kids that aren't involved are getting a chance in on the action.

Our team is definitely the underdog, not well organized or trained team. The team we played today were very aggressive and acted like they knew exactly what they were doing! For us, it's all about having a good first sports experience for the boys. Of course, a good experience requires good snacks and today's snack parents went over the top with theirs!

A Lesson in Honesty

Tonight I had the unique opportunity to teach the boys about being honest. I may have gone overboard, but want to take hold of teachable moments that I get with them before they're beyond teaching the basics.

We were getting ready to go out for our evening stroll when I noticed Maverick pointing at the ground near our neighbor's garage saying, "Quarters! Quarters!" There were some coins, 37 cents total, laying on the ground by their garage door. Instead of just leaving them there, we picked them up, along with a screw that could've done serious damage to a tire. I told Maverick that we were going to give them back to our neighbors since they were theirs.

Maverick rang the doorbell and I told our neighbor that we found the coins on his driveway and wanted to give them back. I'm sure he thinks I'm a big weirdo now, but oh well! Maverick handed him the coins and ran back toward his bike. My neighbor asked what his name was and then called him back to the door to give him the coins and tell Maverick that he could keep them. I think he said something about being too honest!

As we left, I told the boys that any time we find something that doesn't belong to us and we know who it belongs to we should give it back to them. I'm not sure there's ever a time that we can be too honest, except maybe when answering the "do these make my butt look big?" question! The boys are like sponges and remember all kinds of things. I hope this experience, as insignificant as it can be, will be a building block for future conversations about honesty.

If you saw Captain My Captain's facebook status on Saturday, you know they were very honest in telling their father about me breaking the mirror to the van as I was backing out on Friday. Bailey even rememberd to tell him that I said "Oh cwap!"

Little Fishy

We spent Sunday afternoon at a friend's birthday party. I was sure we were ready for Total Chaos since it was as party for a 2 year old and there were numerous kids in the 5 and under crowd present! And did I mention it was a SWIM party? Only 1 parent had to get in fully clothed to retrieve their child who got overly brave without his swim wings on. That parent wasn't me, thank the Lord! I was more concerned about Bailey jumping too close to the edge off of the diving board. After a little coaching and pointing him in the right direction, he did pretty well jumping away from the side.

Maverick wasn't too concerned about getting in the pool. There were other entertainment options! Isn't hot in his swimming outfit? I told him he's going to pick up all the 2 year old women in this thing. This is Bailey and our friend Savannah playing ball in the pool. Bailey LOVES the water and has NO FEAR! Not sure if that's a good combination or bad?Maverick's version of swimming! This is about as wet as he got all day long. I think he thinks swimming requires too much effort. Here's the little fishy dog paddling himself around the pool.

Bailey's final jump off the diving board before it was time for us to call it a day!

The Boys' Introduction

The boys got to wait 24 hours before they came to see Jenna Beth in the hospital. I've learned lately that too much transition and change in one day is not good for Bailey. He had already been wisked out of bed by someone he doesn't know very well. Spent the early morning hours and day with a friend (a wonderful friend and true blessing) and then back home to Grammy and no mommy! Coming to meet Jenna Beth would've been overload!

So here are their first moments with their sister.

Riding the Range

I know these aren't the pictures you were expecting, but I'm trying to get caught up!

The other night we were watching Backyardigans. It was an episode where they're all cowboys. Within minutes of the episode coming on, suddenly 2 horses appeared in the living room. Maverick was the copy cat in the whole scheme. He saw Bailey with his horse and hat and a few seconds later, Maverick had a horse and hat in the living room. It was too cute to pass up the photo opp.

Boys, Boys and More Boys

Here is the boys' Easter Portrait. It was a real challenge getting the two of them in one place at the same time before we left for church while their clothes were still clean. It truly is a miracle that I was persistent enough to keep at it until they both appeared on the steps!
Bailey was intense hunting Easter eggs at our friends', the Preece's, house. One of Mav's first finds was a huge rock! I think Bailey was looking for the big kids' egg at this point.

An unusual moment - brothers playing peaceably together for a few minutes. Another picture taking feat almost gone bad. It didn't last long and obviously both didn't look at the camera, but I wanted to get a picture of them in their Auburn windsuits before it got too warm for them wear them again.
Then this happened! I'm not sure what provoked this. It doesn't take much, but it's probably the most honest picture we have!

Mommy Where Are You?

A couple of weeks ago, we were just hanging out at the house when I heard Maverick say over and over again "Mommy where are you?" When I went to find him, I saw his head peaking through the protective railing upstairs. He had pulled a rocking chair and a big stuffed horse out of his bedroom to stand on so that he could look over. He's the reason they they had to come back and install this Brady Bunch looking railing in all of these houses! Bailey later joined in on the fun. We've had to put an end to this fun adventure because they have left big red marks on the wall from the rocking chair and the fact that one of them is likely to fall off of their prop and injure themselves.

Not Funny At The Time

I'm single parenting for a few days this week. I'm calling it my 'dress rehearsal' for the real thing! So far we're all still alive, but I'm thinking I might need some serious blood pressure medication before it's all said and done.

We were having a great morning today. Mornings as a single parent aren't much different than the mornings of our dual parent household. I managed to have us all ready to go before 9 am because that was my goal. I had to stop and get some sausage mcmuffin's to take to a meeting, which reminds me, there's still one in my purse....So I knew we needed to get out of the house by at least 8:45!

As I was preparing my own bag to walk out the door, Maverick, the angel, started begging for a drink. I told him no and that he would be getting one soon when he had his snack at school. He wasn't very happy about that answer or me shutting the refrigerator door in his face. His response was throwing his sippy cup and hitting Bailey square in the nose. (I can laugh at this all now. It was so not funny at the time.)

Bailey started crying. I'm sure it hurt. The cup came at him from point blank range. Now, I'm all frazzled and just trying to get out the door before something or someone else explodes! I give Maverick the appropriate discipline for the moment and started forcing everyone out the door. Bailey did exactly what he's supposed to do. Maverick, on the other hand, started his typical morning stall tactics except today, he decided to put himself in time out (sitting on the bottom step). That was a good choice, but there was no time for that under our time constraint.

I got Bailey strapped into the car and came back inside to get Maverick. As soon as I got him strapped in, I was ready to go. After I got to church, I realized that I left my bag sitting in the kitchen. I felt like a kid who had left my homework at home! I went to 2 different meetings without my calendar and thankfully I got myself a drink at Mickey D's when I got the sausage mcmuffins or I wouldn't have had a drink all day.

I've told this story at least twice today and every time I have cracked up laughing because this is so my life! It doesn't seem to matter how prepared I get myself for what's going to happen, I can never prepare myself for what the boys are going to do and the effect that's going to have on the preparation I did do!

I also forgot my grocery list and coupons when I left this morning. I planned to do that quick trip before I picked up the boys. Instead, I had to take them with me. The snowball just never seemed to stop rolling down the hill today!

I'll post about my grocery trip experience tomorrow after I've finished grocery gaming for the week. It was its own adventure!

400th Post

For the record, this is my 400th post and I missed my 2 year blogaversary somewhere in the past month or so. I'm not sure I remember exactly when I started this venture.

The past few days have been enjoyable for the most part around here. Yesterday, LT got off work around lunch time so we loaded the van and headed east to Chick Fil A for lunch. A #1 with Diet Dr. Pepper never gets old! The boys both enjoy going there and Bailey always leaves with a new friend or two. The last time we were there on a Friday night, he actually knew his new friend's name before we left.

While we were waiting for LT to come home, I attempted a photo session of the boys in their new Tarheel shirts courtesy of GG. This is about the best I got! Something on the tv was obviously more interesting than I was. But do notice Maverick's shaggy hair because the next picture it's not the same.

This evening we had to go to our Plan B because the CDC apparently doesn't work Saturdays of a 4 day holiday weekend. This is the 2nd 4 day that I've had a brilliant plan that didn't come to be because the CDC was closed, therefore no childcare for the precious angels. Plan A included the Outback Special and a Steakhouse Salad. Plan B ended up being Mall Food Court hodgepodge! Plus Maverick got his hair cut. He looks so grown up with his hair freshly cut. He even sat in the booster seat all by himself. He never made a peep or acted like he wasn't into the haircut. He just sat there and looked around like he was a seasoned hair cut pro. I was a proud mommy.

Bailey took a break from playing on Noggin.com to get in on the photo taking action. He just likes to see himself on the camera screen after the picture has snapped. At least I can get him to smile now. If only I could get both of them to smile at the same time in the same picture. I've considered trying to get their pictures done before LT goes on his vacation, but I haven't gotten my nerves that prepared yet. I'll keep you posted.

Bailey's Version of Happy Birthday

As you can see, Bailey very much was in charge of the show at Maverick's little birthday celebration. I was just glad to hear him sing and not scream telling everyone to stop singing as he's done to us in the past. Not sure he'll ever make the cut for American Idol!

Big Gift Reveal

After we opened all the wrapped gifts on Christmas morning, we tried to bring out the bikes for a surprise. Bailey wasn't extremely cooperative, as you'll hear in the video, but Maverick knew exactly which one was his.

Bailey's bike is obviously a little too big and it'll last us for years to come! I actually think LT is going to go tomorrow to get him a Harley, too.

At the end of the video we're laughing because Maverick came around the corner with his handlebars in his hands. They hadn't been fastened in right or something. I wish I could've gotten the look on his face as he came around the corner with them in his hand!

Ikea for Groceries

The one thing I greatly dislike about El Paso is our lack of good grocery stores! There's a Walmart Supercenter on every corner and an Albertson's around the block from every Walmart and that's about it! I shouldn't really complain. I can and do shop at our neighborhood Commissary, but I know there are better ways to grocery shop than what we have here!

There aren't any stores in El Paso that regularly offer double or triple coupons so I've decided the value of couponing here is pretty much zero! There isn't a store here where you can call in your grocery order or do it online and just go pick up the groceries. There just aren't any options.We all know options are necessary for those of us who often have to go to the grocery store with kids in tow. Yesterday was one of my "I'll never bring the kids to the store with me again experiences."

We got to the Commissary and I parked strategically next to a car shaped buggy because I knew this would at least please Bailey. The major downfall with the car shaped buggy is that both children have to sit side by side. Can someone please design a buggy with 2 separate car compartments that are completely out of arms reach for those riding in said compartments?

I honestly don't remember what happened first, but we were about finished with our produce shopping, the first stop on the tour, when something happened with my 2 car drivers that made me say "Okay, we're going home." I started going toward the front of the store when something inside of me said "give them some grace." So we had a little talk. You know the line "One more chance and we're leaving the grocery store for real and going home isn't going to be any fun." Okay, maybe I'm the only one who says such things to my children!

We managed to make it down another aisle and I thwarted a major incident in the cooking oil section. Just imagine tiny hands reaching toward the glass bottles of Olive Oil. Picture me saying "Get your hands off that. Stop!!!" Before long, Maverick started pulling Bailey's hair and grabbing his shirt. Bailey's of course going nuts! This was when I finally said, "We're going home!"

So now we have some fruit and vegetables, a couple of bottles of BBQ sauce, a 24 pack of Coke Zero (only because it was on display right as we walked into the store), pudding and a couple of packets of Chili Seasoning! Hungry, anyone?

Once again, I can be quoted as saying, "Never again will I take my children to the grocery store!!!" Never say Never, right?

I did squeeze in a few groceries at a brief trip to Target yesterday afternoon and was able to snag enough to get us through 2 events I have tomorrow that require food by piggybacking the purchase of a few groceries with a work related trip to one of the Walmart Supercenters, where no one spoke English.

My conclusion is that someone needs to operate a grocery store sort of like Ikea does. As soon as you walk in the main entrance, there's a big play area for children, complete with security check-in! You drop your kids off to play while you have a peaceful grocery shopping trip, free from all the antics and drama that come from even attempting grocery shopping with small children in tow. Anybody wanna go in the grocery store business with me?

Lap of Luxury

I had to post this picture so you can see just how easy the 3 and under crowd have it here in El Paso. Notice their Red cups!

Most Eligible Bachelors

I took these pictures the other day and figured I better post them before the week begins and I don't have time to do it. I bought some Boy Scout Caramel Corn from one of the kids at FBC and shared some with the boys when we got home from Mother's Day Out. I think Percy, the train, may have gotten a taste, too!Mavvy needs to grow another 3 or 4 inches before he'll be able to fully maximize sitting on the stool at the counter. He's really getting to be a big boy and the lift to the top of the stool is about 6 inches shorter than the lift to his seat! I think it's super cute when he just sits on the stool.
Finally, the front shot of one of the matching shirts I got them at GAP for about $1.99 several months ago. They have another that says "Playground Casanova." For $1.99, I'll put just about anything on them! Isn't he a handsome little fellow?

Craziness

If my life were a dry erase board, I would totally erase the past 24 hours. It's just been truly crazy! Probably not that crazy, but to me I thought the madness would never end. I'm not sure that it has, but we'll see.

Our Thursday afternoon, post Mother's Day Out/Work, ritual has been stopping at Sonic for happy hour drinks. We've done this for months and yesterday may have been our last trip! Maverick always drops his styrofoam cup and it explodes and yesterday was no different. After cleaning that up and putting what was left in a different cup, I noticed that there was something wet on the coffee table and floor surrounding the table. From what I can tell, Bailey's cup got dropped, too. It was just leaking a little, but enough for Maverick to have spread it into a big mess. I put Bailey's cup inside a measuring cup and thought he could just hold the measuring cup with cup inside and drink. NO! Not an option in his mind! A few minutes later, he took the cup out of the measuring cup and dropped it again, sending an apple juice slush explosion all over the kitchen floor. None of this would've been as huge of a deal except Thursday is piano lesson day and I spend a good bit of the afternoon straightening up for my students to get here. Cleaning up 3 apple juice slush spills just wasn't in the plans!

Fast forward about 4 hours - - I'm baking cranberry bread to take to MOPS this morning. When I went to pick up the vegetable oil bottle, I grabbed it by the cap that I hadn't screwed on and vegetable oil covered the counter! I've wiped it and sprayed it and there's still a sheen on that one part of the counter!

Fast forward about 12 hours to this morning - - Friday is cleaning lady day. Today was a MOPS morning as well so that makes things a little hectic trying to pick her up and then get to MOPS on time. I picked her up and brought her back to the gate where we have to give our IDs to the security guy. We've been doing this for 6 months and no one has ever said a word about my cleaning lady's visa from across the border. Today's security guy questioned me and asked what she was coming for and asked me if I payed her for her services. Apparently I'm breaking the law! He even threatened to report us to the border patrol - me and LT. He offered to call someone and have them explain this further to me. No thanks. I got the message loud and clear so I turned around and took my cleaning lady back to the bus stop. If I weren't an honest person, I could've lied to him and probably been fine.

Looks like I've lost 2 of my favorite things in life this week - my weekly diet cherry dr. pepper from Sonic and my cleaning lady!

Halloween Pics

The boys didn't get Halloween costumes this year. Last year Bailey refused to wear his so I didn't think spending money on a costume that he may or may not wear wasn't going to be the best use of our cash. I had to be at church for Fall Festival so LT was home with the boys giving out candy. They didn't have much interest in Trick or Treating. Bailey is just a weird kid!

Here are some pictures of the fun they had Halloween night.

They're getting ready to greet the trick or treaters on the gator.

But first they have to check out what they have to give away and see what they need to save for themselves.

After the trick or treating festivities ended, it was time for a pizza dinner. The cleaning lady cleaned Maverick's seat and it was still hanging outside drying. He got to eat his dinner sitting on the counter. He didn't seem to mind.

What You've Missed

It'll take a few posts and a few days to get the blog caught up to real life.

We haven't spent near as much time at the waterpark as I thought we would this summer, but the times we've been both boys have thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

First we conquered the little frog slide. Bailey's first and then Maverick. I have to stand guard to make sure they don't cut in line and to make sure they get out of the way at the bottom of the slide.

Then we moved onto the big slide. Most of the time I had to climb up to the top of the slide to help Maverick get positioned to go down. Every now and then a big kid would be there and help him get on. By the last time we went, this week, he figured out how to go down feet first on his belly and no longer needed my assistance. Thank goodness!

Here he is celebrating his marvelous slide down the big kid slide.

Maverick's probably on his way to get a snack in this last one! I made the mistake of thinking we were going to time our visit to the waterpark on Wednesday with the lifeguard's lunch schedule. I thought we would just play for about an hour and a half and then come home when she took her break. Bad move on my part! Maverick was ready for a drink and a snack about 30 minutes after we got there. He refused to get back in the water and tried to rip apart our bag looking for a snack, which I didn't have! I had to make Bailey get out of the water and we came home even though we had only been there about 45 minutes. We only live about 3 miles from the waterpark so it's not a huge deal. I've definitely learned my lesson - NEVER leave home without SNACKS!

Proud to Be An American

I'm sure that many of you are just like us and are glued to your tv screen watching the Olympics. Between Michael Phelps' domination of every race he's been in and the phenomonal outcome of the men's relay last night and the success the men's gymnastics team is having as I type, this has been a very exciting Olympics to watch. As much as I need to go to bed, every night it becomes more difficult for me to just turn the tv off!

The two I'm not so proud to be the mother of right now are Bailey and Maverick. Both had bad days at school. The bad reports began with Bailey's teacher saying he had been pretty defiant and not very cooperative. He was helpful cleaning up, though. When I got to Maverick's room, his teacher told me that he had hit another little boy in the middle of the forehead with a rolling pin! How do you respond to that? This kid is just mean and bad!! I'm not really even sure how to discipline him. I just hope he doesn't get kicked out of the CDC. I never thought I'd have the worst behaved, meanest child in a class. It's humbling to say the very least!

$20,000 Swingset

This is what Maverick thinks about his $20,000 swingset!

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that we were buying a swingset from a family in our church that moved to Dallas. See original post here.

As part of the swingset purchase, we also bought a truck. The joke has become that we purchased a $20,000 swingset. I realized the other day that I never have put up pictures of the swingset and partly because for about 2 weeks, it sat spread out over our entire backyard in pieces. When my dad was here 2 weeks ago, he tackled the major assembly of the various pieces. Thanks Paw Paw! I think LT is more grateful than the boys. I had to help a few times and avoided helping put the roofs on it like the plague, but somehow was still roped into assisting with that process. The roofs are huge and awkward and were a major struggle for LT and me when were were disassembling them.

Not bad for $300 and a new to us truck, huh? I'll add a picture of the other portion of the $20,000 swingset when it comes back in the driveway later. We've gotta get our money's worth out of this thing as long as we live in this house because we're not planning to move this thing again!

I think the platform up to the slide is their favorite place. Bailey even took some books up there with him today to read while he ate his rice cake and drank his juice.

I think Maverick noticed a reflective jacket, hard hat wearing construction worker walking across the street or something. Notice the broom in his hand? He always has to carry something up the ladder with him. Last week it was a ball bigger than him. Today it was my broom!