Developmental Milestone?

Earlier in the day:

Me: in the kitchen
Logan: walks in with something obviously lodged in between her toes
Me: bends over and stares. then plucks out...a gooey booger!!!

Five'ish minutes later:

Greg: in the living room
Logan: walks in and stands right in front of him.
Greg: Ew Logan! Get your finger out of your nose!
Logan: complying with Greg, sticks her finger in her mouth.
Greg: EWWWWW Logan!!! Don't eat your boogers!!!

Me: Realizing that Logan probably put that booger in between her toes to save for later.

Pit, Meet Stomach

Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I was thinking of interesting blog topics to post about...mama drama, toddler drama, spouse drama, and so on. Unfortunately, one topic didn't pop into my head this morning. And that would be: car drama.

I have posted before about my beloved 1994 Honda Accord. How I thought it was on its last leg, how I thought it was done for. Miraculously, my saintly mechanic was able to revive our car for cheap (hence the "saintly" prefix). But this morning, I got another phone call from my husband.

Initially, I thought it was a phone call from the Girl Scout troop leader or another parent I know from Em's school. Well, it was another parent from Em's school...it was my husband. And with the sound of silence followed by a loud whooshing sound, he informed me that the car died while he was on the way to work and he was stuck in the middle of an intersection in morning rush hour traffic.

My first thought? Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh. (I know, pure genius.)

My second thought? Do you need me to take you to work?

So after me asking the obvious question: "What do you mean? It won't start?"

Followed by the ever obvious answer: "NO! I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION!"

My brain started reeling. Just WHAT was I suppose to do??? I'm panicked, he's obviously panicked, Logan (coming off of being sick over the weekend) is still sleeping, Emma's bus will be picking her up in 10 minutes, and I've only been conscious for 30 minutes. WHAT was I suppose to do?

So after going through his own lighting quick stages of shock, he hangs up after some kind folks got out of their cars and helped him move his car. I think one thing he had in his favor is that he was wearing his blues today so onlookers knew he was in the military. Although, if he were in his flight suit he would've also been equally pegged. But I think the uniform helped him get instant help.

A few minutes later, Greg calls to let me know that the car is sitting on the side of the road at "X" intersection. He has gotten a ride from a stranger (also in the military) headed to the base and when he calls me from the stranger's car, he was much cooler and calmer. I know my husband well and attribute this docile behavior to the stranger sitting immediately to his left. But I'll take it. It was nice to have him "collected" while we tried to figure this out on the phone.

So as of right this instant, he is at work and I will need to pick him up after work. I also called my "saintly" mechanic and he is going to see what's wrong with the car. He has a friend who has a tow truck and so I'm waiting to hear back and see if his friend will pick up my car of if I need to call roadside assistance to pick it up. Logan is asleep right now so I'm not clamoring to call roadside assistance just yet. There's no sense in disturbing a sleeping toddler with an immobile automobile.

So as I wait for Logan to wake up, I just went to consumer reports and am researching Honda Odysseys. Did you know that CR ranks minivans in this order: 1. Honda Odyssey 2. Toyota Sienna 3. Dodge Grand Caravan

I did not know this.

But it doesn't dissuade me from the Honda. It only persuades me that we need to get another Honda.

The only problem is procuring one.

I don't like auto dealerships at all. I don't. And Greg doesn't either. (Enter headache.)

In the end, I'm trying not to let this cast a shadow on my Monday. But hey...I've already had my cup of coffee and what's the worst thing that could happen?

Oh, yeah...going into debt after having zero car payments.

Hit and Run

This morning I asked Emma why she doesn't wave at me when she gets on the bus anymore. She told me, "Mom, I did that in the second grade. It's just embarrassing now!"

I said, "Well, I don't mean to embarrass you, Sweetheart."

Emma: I'm just going to face the front, Mom. Please try to hide behind the door frame and not wave too much, okay?

hrmpf.

...do y'all hear that? That's the sound of my heartbreaking just a little.

Headed Out!

The last few days have been so wonderful around here. The weather has been so warm and wonderful, the kids just being themselves has given me a renewed vigor in how much I love being their mother, my Gerg has been so busy at work that it has been downright refreshing to catch up with him after his busy day (that is...before he goes to bed at 8:00p), and in general, I am just plain content.

But today I'm headed to Tulsa to a women's conference and I'm very excited. I'm excited to learn new things and get renewed in my soul. It'll be a good time.

But at the same time, I silently wonder if I should just stay home. Especially in light of the wonderful week I've had. Granted, I will only be gone for 24 hours...but that's A LOT of hours!!!

It's funny, but a few weeks ago I had the spring fever bug so bad that I really wanted to just get away by myself and rejuvenate and come back as a refreshed mama. But now that that time is coming, I kinda wish I were staying.

I know...I'm fickle.

But I know Gerg will do a great job taking care of the girls, and I know the girls will remind him of how wonderful it is to be their father. It's inevitable. The girls just do it without even trying (reminding us of how lucky we are to be their parents).

Anyhow, I'll be back on Saturday (tomorrow...see, not that long). But long enough to miss them.

I hope your Friday is swell, and I hope your first day of Spring is full of excitement (of the good variety)!!!

Out From Under My Rock

Hello again, All!

Here I am again, out from under my rock.

And it has been nice to take a break from blogging. Life has swished by but I regret that I didn't get a chance to post all the goings-on. This blog has been more like a journal to myself in many ways and I wish that I had kept up. But no sense in guilting myself for anything. Instead, I will just press ahead!

So where to begin...where to begin....

At the moment, hubby is in the throws of a crazy busy work schedule, toddler is in the throws of daily tantrums, and tween is in the throws of figuring out who she is (a process that will probably not end until she is in her 30's). And I am in the throws of weight loss and trying to figure out how to constantly be a better mother. And from the way I see it, figuring out how to be a better mother will never change. There's always room for improvement.

As for the weight loss, so far I've lost 15 pounds in 5 weeks. Yay! This week I'm hoping for at least a 1.5 pound weight loss but we'll see how it goes on Friday. I've decided to follow Weight Watchers and it has been one of the best choices I've made for myself in quite awhile. I go to meetings every Friday morning and have met some very wonderful ladies. I'm enjoying talking to other women who struggle with their weight, too. I know that as I continue to keep my posting up, I'll get to share how the weight loss is going.

And to close this post off with something for you all to really sink your teeth into...Greg got promoted!!! And we are overjoyed with his accomplishments. As he would say..."our" accomplishments. But needless to say, he got promoted!!! And so our lives will continue to evolve with the military firmly in the picture. But honestly, I couldn't imagine any other way to live.

Stomach Flu.

The stomach bug (aka the stomach flu) has hit my household hard and fast. And the only one unscathed is dearest Emma. And I sincerely pray she doesn't get this, too.

Long story short, Greg first got sick last weekend. Then Logan got sick on Monday. And Wednesday? That was my day. The last two days have gone by in a fog for me. But I'm just glad to be upright for the time being.

The lousy thing is that we all got our yearly flu shots. And although I know that those vaccines don't prevent all strains of the flu, it's lousy that it didn't prevent this strain. Because this really hurts. On a scale of 1-10...painwise, this ranks up there at a 10,000,000. Birthing Logan naturally wasn't even like this.

It's time for me to sign off now and try to curl up on the couch while Logan plays. Thankfully she and Greg are better.

I wish you all health and strong stomachs!!

Frosty

I took this last winter. Our flag will look like this again very soon!

Today is the first day of ice for this wintery season. Oh joy.

Poor Emma even wiped out on her bottom on the way to the end of the driveway to catch the bus this morning. I'll have to make sure I put deicer down tomorrow morning. So I guess I'd better buy some deicer today!

I've got the morning weather on and it looks like we won't get much of a reprieve, but you know what, that's okay. It's winter and we live in Oklahoma.

So today, I think I'll finish up a neckwarmer I'm knitting up for myself with Berocco Pure Merino (oh so soft and plush). This past weekend I knit up two adorable berets for the girls. I'll be sure to post photos shortly of their matching hats.

But today I think I'll make a pot of chili for dinner, snuggle with Logan all day long, and maybe even get the fireplace started today.

I hope you are all staying warm and I'll talk with you all tomorrow!