Blains, Trains, and Automobiles

Me: You get what you get...

D: And you don't take a fit! 

J: I'm trying to blains myself!  

(Brains!)

J: Mom?! You remember me?  I'm trying to talk to you, Mom!  MOOOOOOOM!

J: Are we there yet?

Me: Yep.  This is where we live now.

J: I don't live on the road!

D: Mom, you're past 9 years old. You're so old!  And Dad? He's old like you.

Me: Did you eat the pretzels in Mama's room?

D: Well, I didn't eat them all.  

(From Minecraft chat)

C: What the heck? You're just murdering animals!  Here, let me help!

D: We're going to get Dad at Texas! 

Me: That'd be a long drive.  We're just going to get him at the airport.  

Me: You need to put your sheet back on your bed.

C: I put that there to tell Minion (ferret) that it's time to go to sleep.

Me: The only sure-fire way to get him to sleep is to let him run.  Every night.

C: I do!  I yell at him to go to sleep, but he doesn't, and just keeps me up.

Me: Yelling at him won't do a lot of good. Remember he's deaf and he can't hear you.

C: I know.  I sign to him, in a language he understands, so he knows it's time to sleep. 

Me: I see.

J: Are we going to pick up Jamie and Jordan?
C: No, someone even better!  [with apologies to J & J!]  Dad is coming home! My most favorite person in the world!  I get to see Dad again!

(7/30) Today was my sister's wedding.  I got my hair done early in the day, and just got to hang out all day with her, her friends, and my family.  The ceremony was *beautiful*.  I was not going to cry, but thank goodness there happened to be a napkin to save my seat. What a touching ceremony!  We stashed the kiddos at Nanan's house, and got to spend the evening celebrating my sister, and being with the fam.  It was such a beautiful day, and I'm so happy for them!

(7/31) We attended the tie-dye party at the twins' preschool today, while Dad was at work. I love the new location!  It has a great outdoor space, and I'm excited to see the completed indoor space.  The big kid wasn't too excited about coming with us, but he grudgingly agreed to come.  For the taco bar, mainly. After a long & hot day, the kids all fell asleep on the way to dinner.  We went to the Japanese Steakhouse tonight, and my pyromaniacs were thrilled with the show!  

(8/1) Happy birthday to me!  I worked today, but certainly felt celebrated! Dad worked too, and the kids were with Amanda.   I went walking & talking with Sarah tonight after the littles went down.  We walked down to the Baskin & Robbins, cuz exercise and ice cream naturally go together, right? 

(8/2) Work day for Dad & me, and the boys were with Amanda. I got to celebrate my birthday with my work peeps today, since we're all in the office on Tuesdays.  The rest of the day was low-key and relaxed. 

(8/3) I had the kids today, and we headed down to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium with some friends.  I've been wanting to take them to the aquarium this summer and this zoo has both!  We had a great trip, and all three boys opted to ride the camels. C was gung-ho, J followed his lead, and seeing JJ ride the camel finally made up D's mind.  Brave boys!  

(8/4) Work day for me, and Dad had the kiddos.  He went up and grabbed the teenager today for the weekend, and made an awesome feast on our new grill!  It's been so nice to sit outside in the evenings lately.  We even had a fire in the pit tonight.  

(8/5) Work at home day for me, and Dad was off today.  I woke up to no WiFi, so had to (twist my arm!) work from Starbucks this morning.  I got off a little early so I could go on a date with my hubby for a late anniversary celebration.  We started at the meadery, where we got to sample close to a dozen different varieties. We liked absolutely everything, and will definitely be back for the spiced mead when it comes back this fall.  From there, we went to see the new Star Trek, which I loved. Just the right amount of cheese, and I loved the nod to Takei, and the original crew.

(8/6) I took D to the gym with me this morning, and then stopped and grabbed him a sucker for having a good morning.  JJ threw a royal fit that I didn't also grab him one, so Dad took him school supply shopping and got him one too. We had planned to all go to Emerald Downs this afternoon, but J started clutching his stomach and acting sick.  So I stayed behind with the littles while Dad took the bigs to the Downs for an afternoon of fun.  J felt better after a bath, and was literally running in circles about 20 minutes after they left.  Figures.  We had a quiet afternoon, and evening, and it sounds like the bigs had a good time.  

(8/7) D and I took Dad to the airport this morning, while the teenager watched the other two. D has been challenging lately, so sometimes it's best to divide and conquer.  I really do try to do fun things with the kids, but nothing ever quite goes as ideally as I imagine it will.  I took the herd out for Slurpees this afternoon (which D promptly spilled in the store), and then we went to the park.  I even encouraged C to bring some cardboard to slide down the hill.  He was thrilled, until it didn't work so well, and some other kids brought an actual sled, which really out-classed his box. He told me on the way home that every other mom he met was nicer than me.  So yay for reigning supreme as the meanest mum? Sigh.

(8/8) Work day for Dad & me, and Amanda had the boys.  I left a little early today, so I could grab the boys around normal pick-up time.  We had a pleasant evening tonight playing video games and watching the Olympics. The boys requested pizza, and we got real fancy and had frozen ones. But mainly the grocery store trip was to secure some cookie dough ice cream.  We video chatted with Dad in TX, and he hasn't combusted yet, so that's a plus.

(8/9) Work day for Dad and me, and the boys were with Amanda.  She kept them late for me, so I could go to my work's book club this evening.  I picked one of my favorite books for next time.  And if people don't like it, there will at least be wine!  

(8/10) We headed up to Nanan's today to make a Costco run and pick up a new couch for her.  My boys had to test out all the furniture, of course.  I told them no shoes on the couches, hoping that would keep them off, but it just inspired them to take their shoes off instead, and to continue testing out the couches.  C said I could leave them there to live in the furniture aisle, and was all set to stay there with the furniture, until he discovered Costco samples.  We eventually got the couch back to Nanan's, and I took the boys to the park on our way home.  They're such climbers.  C got all the way on top of the bell again, and D even made it half way up.  We then went home for dinner before heading out to grab Dad from the airport.  The boys told me every plane that they saw on the way was his. So good to have him back!  

(8/11) Work day for me, and Dad has the kiddos.  He's making noises about grilling tonight, and taking a field trip to the meat store. The boys love getting a fancy soda there.