The Gym and Promises

OK so it has been awhile I know I know....

We have been having lots of conversations lately in my house about the gym and getting healthy blah blah blah.  

Mary Beth loves amusement parks and wants to go to Disney world.  So silly me said that I was not healthy enough to go.  That sparked the conversation that has changed my sleep habits. 

Let's just say I was up at 4:27a.m. this fine Monday morning.  OK consider myself a morning person however at that time of day it is not morning but actually the middle of the night.

My 17yo did not realize and started her cheery chipper talk on the way to the gym.  I was quiet and listened.  Then we get to the gym and she still has not stopped talking so I gave her the mom look.  That didn't work 15 mins into the stationary bike and she starts with the encouraging words.  That was it I looked at her and let her know to shut up.  She smiles and lets me know that I can do it....

Obviously I know that I can because I was.  She is still oblivious to the mood that I am in and is still talking.  I let her know that I am not talking because there is no longer the breath available for me to communicate.  She smiles and doesn't realize at the moment that I want to smack the smile from her chipper face but cannot due to lack of oxygen. 

Then I get off the bike and head for the Arc Trainer.  Unbeknowst to me this machine has a mind of its own.  I am just struggling and thinking that I am more out of shape than what I thought.  So 5mins into this killer workout the trainer comes to me.  OOPS he says you are on 25 when you should have started at 1.  He smiles and laughs and shows me what to do next time.  I once again think if I had the strength to knock the smile from his face and realize that I do not so I smile and keep going.

Sarah starts the you can do it speech again.  Really come on does she not see my obvious look of pain.  She needs to stop really....

I start thinking Disney is not worth all this and then it ended.  I was driving home and now I am drinking my smoothie and laughing and all so I can get up tomorrow and start over again.  I love Mary Beth but I need not promise anymore.

OH MY REALLY!!!

Have you ever just looked at the kiddoes and thought "what the heck were you thinking?"  Well let's just say that I have the pleasure of thinking that thought everyday of my life.  (After all I got kids)

So sun is out, humidity is up and I break out the sunscreen.  MOM can I swim?  Sure make sure you put sunscreen on before you go out.  OK...

So two hours later, Clay your looking pretty pink did you put sunscreen on?  No but I will right now. 

Meanwhile me and the girls leave for a BBQ down by the river.

5 hours later me and the girls make it home.  Clay is asleep.  It is 7pm and he is out cold.  So we let him sleep.  Next morning: MOM I got bumps on my shoulders!  Clay did you use sunscreen?  Well I came in and couldn't find it.  So I went back out for a couple hours then came in and found it.  I put it on then. 

MY THOUGHTS ARE "REALLY". 

I had to break it to him that it isn't bumps but blisters from to much sun.

Then there was the silence.  The confused look.  The question:  Are you sure?  Then the reality that any thought of a normal life for the next week or more was out the window. 

3 Angels and the Wannabe Saint: Summer oh Summer where have you been!

3 Angels and the Wannabe Saint: Summer oh Summer where have you been!: "Let's just say that I love peaceful mornings with coffee and listening to the birds sing. However that was not the case this morning when M..."

Summer oh Summer where have you been!

Let's just say that I love peaceful mornings with coffee and listening to the birds sing.  However that was not the case this morning when Mary and Clay saw the pool was finally complete. 

SLOW MOTION running across the yard.  Hair blowing in the wind.  Then up the ladder they went.  Down into the water and the loudest screams ever when they realized that the pool water was only about 50 degrees.  I sat back smiled and drank my coffee.  Then Sarah grabs a water squirt thing a majiggy and has at it with them.  Clay trips (hehehehe) and falls face first into the icy water.  Mary squeals like a pig.  Sarah is running away.  And I am drinking my coffee. 

I now have a headache from all the whines and cries and screams:

Stop splashing me. Don't I wanna get out now.  This chair is base. 

Smells of hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill.  Potato Salad, Deviled Eggs, and Fresh Fruit.

Loud music, sunscreen, big sunglasses and sweet tea. 

This is definitely the start of summer.

Chores, Chores, and More Chores

I don't understand why kids complain so much about Chores.  Really, all generations have done chores in one way or another.  Sure I didn't walk to school with my sisters and brother both ways up hill for 5 miles in the snow.  However I did walk to the busstop at the corner of the road.  I didn't have a bus pick me up at the end of the driveway for me. 

So when I ask my kids to do chores why do they complain so much.  Like mowing the yard.  OK so while I run your sister to work please mow the yard.  Response:  What!!! I'm tired, it's hot, can I do it tomorrow, this weekend, how much you willing to pay me.  My answer: Me too, Me too, NO, NO, I buy you clothes, ipods, computers, and clothes what more could you possibly need.  NOOOO AIR is free.  Well at least in West Virginia it is.  :-)

Twenty mins later I pull back into the driveway and the lawn is 90% mowed and he is asking for a break.  Oh yeah did I mention we have a riding lawn mower.  Break really???

So the little one smiles and says to me in her angelic voice, "Yes, mommy I cleaned my room."  So I say ok well let me finish watching this show and I will be up to check on it.  She runs full throttle up the stairs and I hear World War III happening.  Dogs run scared down the steps, crashing, banging, shoving and then it is well I'm ready now. 

Some people would think that I should know better, but heck I'm a sucker.  So upstairs I go and I trip over toys on the way up the stairs.  Turn the corner and stuffed under the bed is everything imaginable (clothes, books, toys, boxes, balls, shoes, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, and everything in between).

Her comment: But you can walk without tripping on anything, I don't see the problem.  OK can I have a yard sale, I think we should get trash bags, its your fault you bought me this stuff, etc.

My response: Really, I do.  No we cannot have a yardsale, you have drawers so no to the trash bags, don't worry cause I don't have to buy you anything else.

The oldest says.  Mom you just don't understand!!!  I don't have time for chores.  I have work, school, soccer, band and FFA.  I don't even have time for friends.

Just a side note: soccer, band and ffa are her choice and so is work.

OK so I say well you didn't work the last three days and you only have the laundry so put the clothes in the washer (5 mins) study until clothes are washed (30 mins) then put clothes into dryer (5mins) study while clothes dry (30 mins).  I think that is a fair compromise. 

She doesn't like me.  But then again what teenager likes their parents.  I don't think that parents are prepared for the amount of complaining that comes from three little angels.

BEEP BEEP there's a Jeep!!!

Did you ever wonder who in the world thought up the idea of the Punch Bug Game?  Well I did the first time Mary Beth hauled off and whacked me in the arm. 

Now I am not one to think it is funny to hit the mom...Here's the scenario:  We are in the van coming back from picking Marybeth up from the Dad's house.  Hot cranky and she wants food...or to do something "fun".
Well next thing I know my cute little innocent angel  hauls off and whacks the crap out of my arm.  Years and years of motherhood has not prepared me for this uprising.  My eye twitching because I saw Mary's life flash before my eyes.  Then I turned to her calmly ok who am I kidding.  I turned and said " have you lost your mind?  What the heck did you hit me for and don't you know that people........."  She smiles and says " Yellow Punch Bug no Punch Backs!!!"  I said "where looked in my mirror and said that was a PT Cruiser!!!"
We are gingerly going down the road me rubbing my arm and her just a smiling away.  Here it comes again.

POW!  Mary Beth that is not a punch bug that is another PT Cruiser.  SO I did what any good mom would do.  I thought about the lesson in all of this.  I also said games on honey.  We drove around town for about an hour just scoping out driveways, parking lots, ball parks, etc...  Then I realized that I live in Lewisburg WV not exactly a thriving metropolis.  So the name of the game is BEEP BEEP there's a JEEP!!!

She so does not like me now.  We have a Jeep Dealership in town.  I know its funny isn't it.  Well the only problem is that now I am constantly on the ready.  We have to be because at any given time one of the kids could spot some random Jeep like a liberty and here it comes. 

I feel like I got the tattoo without the needle.  I have a permanent bruise in the shape of a fist.  But when I'm feeling mommafied I just drive by the dealership and get it out.

Now when your kids ask who started the BEEP BEEP there's a JEEP game you can let them know.  ME

Stress, Water and War

Ok so I have three little angles.  Sarah is 17yo, Clay my 15 yo and Mary Beth my 8yo.  Today is Memorial Day and yes I had to work.  The kids had off and of course I had to find something for them to do each separately and then as a family.

Mary Beth was up at 6am and the first thing out of her mouth was "can't i just get dressed at dad's house".  She gets up and lays back down on the couch.  7am comes along I am ready to go.  Mary Beth is not dressed, Sarah is asking for me to call her at 8am, Clay is oblivious to anyone and everything and I am late to work.

The dogs are not on leases, the cat ran out the door and I am trying to get Mary Beth off the couch.  She screams that it just isn't fair that only she has to go and why can't Clay be the one to leave.  We jump in the car and on the way to the dad's house try to call.

Voicemail and she is mad again.  Demanding to stay alone and guaranteeing that the girlfriend will be back from NC early.  I had to break the news that no she could not stay alone if there was not someone at his house.  The tears flowed and still we drove.  Called again and VOICEMAIL....More Tears...

5 Mins. later she was smiling and running into his house and he said his phone was turned off.

Down the road I go, still late to work and called my sister.  She answered and was not happy when I asked "What are you doing?"   "Sleeping!" then it dawned on me that she had off today.  As I tried to apologize I realized that she was not going back to sleep.  I suggest coffee and a peaceful sit on her back porch.  She laughed.

I get to work and realize that it is after 8am and I forgot to give my oldest her wakeup call.  She answered and I said "Good Morning...."  She was not very happy.  She had to get up and get ready for the Dandalion Festival Parade.  She had to call someone to get a ride and had to get moving. 

At 12:45pm she called my cell not once but twice...she texted call me now!!! So I told my boss that this must be an emergency and he stepped out of my office for a minite.  I called immediately only to find out that she needed my permission to go to lunch with the "boy".  Really I mean come on!!!  So I said only if you take your brother. :-)  She is thinking and then says ok he can come...  so everything is set and I go back to work.  The call comes maybe 30 mins later.  "I'm home" in the most unhappy voice imaginable.  I said as cheery as possible....OK. 

Work work work then the phone rings again.  Mary Beth????  What could it be?  I return the call and she says "mom when can you come get me cuz i'm hot".  I know what your thinking.  This cannot be real.  Well I said well I have to work until 3 or 4 then I will be there.  She said so can we go to the river.  Now WV mtn water is cold in the spring.  So I said no but we get to go to a BBQ at my work.  She started crying.  BUT you PROMISED!!!

Really don't see this one coming.  I don't remember so I call home and tell the older kids that plans have changed we are going to the river.  They are good to go.  Time to leave to pick up Mary and I call my friend on the way home.  She was at the river yesterday and said don't do it.  Colder then a witches T..!  So I call and tell Sarah and Clay that we are going to the pool.  WHEWWWW.

Get all kids in car on way to the pool and come around the corner and no one is there.  CLOSED really and then the tears came but you PROMISED!!!

Jeez, so we go to the restaurant and on the way home the oldest says let's stop at Walmart.  We do and it's let's buy a pool for the yard.  Water gotta love it.  OK so no one is thinking of the time.  We buy the pool and off to the car.  It is now after 6pm.  Been up for 12 hours and I just wanted to relax.

Mom can we set up the pool on the way home.  No MaryBeth it takes at least a full day to fill the pool with water.  Tears started pouring and blubbering sobbing cries...  But I'm hot.  What good is a pool with out water. 

And that is the day that I had.