Two of Those Days

MG bit MB yesterday... on the face near the eye. She bit him so hard that it bled. I was there when it happened. She did it because little brother was trying to get a DVD case that she was holding. I was just so horrified and shocked and a bit hysterical. It's not her normal behavior, fortunately.

Today I realized that I strained my back when I grabbed MG away from MB and slung her over my shoulder to carry her to her room since she wouldn't go by herself. And I have a fever with a migraine headache too! Oh brother! Is it possible that I've made myself sick from worrying? We went out to do a few things today and around dinner time, both kids pitched huge temper tantrums and wouldn't eat! It was just awful. I'm ashamed to say that I lost it and had a tantrum too. MG got quiet and just looked at me with her mouth wide open and said "Mommy, I don't like that face!" I guess that I looked pretty ugly to her crying and fussing. One of those days. No, two of those days.

Kitty Decision

We still have three of the sweet cats that were abandoned here several weeks ago. We're keeping Captian Bobo.... I'll explain later why he's like a little pirate. We just had an offer from a neighbor who would like one cat, Jasper the male grey cat, for a barn kitty. Of course we're all very attached to him now, so we're trying to decide the best thing to do. Our family continues to urge us to get rid of them because of their dog. If he caught them, he would hurt them. And they must have been raised around a nice dog, because they will not run from Mr. Cat Hater. Fortunately, we have been here to intervene twice before something bad could happen.

The little girl Lucy has become completely sweet and friendly. She will let me pet her tummy. She is very pretty too. I think that she's always going to be a smaller petite cat. She and Jasper are always together, so I think that she would miss him a lot. I wish that we could find a home for her too. She is very loving and is such a sweet pet. Sigh...I guess it would be best to take our neighbor up on his offer for Jasper. We'd probably still see lots of Jasper since he'd be so close. It might even be difficult to get him to stay at the neighbor's house since he could easily find his way back. Does anyone out there want a cute little girl cat named Lucy? She's a beautiful black cat that has auburn in her fur when she's in the sunlight. Her eyes are big and yellow green.

Belly Button Chocolate

Today we bought those little Reese's Cups miniatures from the grocery store. MG loves "chocky" as she calls it. I try not to over do it with sweets, so I gave both kids only one each. I turned my back for a minute, and MB had a chocolate explosion all over the place. He had it smeared on his legs, on his shirt, on the car seat straps and all over his face. Who knew that one tiny little chocolate do this? I got him all cleaned up...or so I thought. When I was changing his diaper later, I found a big gob of melted chocolate in his belly button. Wonder how it got there!

We've all been better after those horrible colds. I thought that it would never end! We got out to the park today and had so much fun. MG was so happy that she made up a song that she was singing at the top of her lungs while she was swinging. Then MB jibber-jabbered along with her, so he was trying to sing too. It was so funny! The song went like this "Up in the air and over the ocean!" and then she would sing little phrases about the playground. It was very cute.

While we continue to have problems getting MG to poop in the potty, MB has been trying to use the potty on his own. Just today he yelled out "Poop!" and then he ran over and sat on the potty. Only, I didn't realize that he really was ready to do that, so he went in his diaper while sitting there on the potty. But it's so interesting that he has the concept figured out. Now why are we having such a problem with potty training our 3 year old, but our 1 year old is ready to go!

Happy Birthday Metal Mark!

Today I'd like to wish a happy birthday to my hubby, Mark! I'm going to let Metal Girl help decorate a cake for him! Oh boy! We get to make a huge mess! Go on over to his blog and wish him a happy birthday if you get a chance! :) http://metalmark.blogspot.com/

New Blog

I've decided to create a new blog to reminisce about my childhood growing up in the South. I've been homesick for the places and people that I grew up with, so I thought it would be fun to write about it! Tell me what you think or if you have any ideas to make it better. Thanks! Here's the link to it! I haven't created my first post yet, but will work on that this weekend! Stay tuned! :)

http://stillsouthofthemasondixon.blogspot.com/

A Little Disturbed

I have a friend who I knew for a fact wanted a second cat to keep their first one company. When we had the cat invasion, I tried to talk this person into taking one. Her excuse was that her family was going on a long vacation in the summer and didn't think a new pet would be a good idea at this time. Now I find out that she has indeed adopted a young kitten. I understand that she may have wanted a younger kitten than ours, but her first excuse was just that. A lame excuse. She should have told me the real reason. : ( Am I just in a bitchy mood, or should I be a little disturbed by this?

Moody!

When we went to the store last week, MG was not listening and running away from me and out of my sight. I abandoned my shopping cart with groceries in an aisle and took her and MB right out of the store. She threw a terrible tantrum, but knew that I meant business. Today didn't work out that well when we were grocery shopping. I really should have left my cart and took her out this time, too, but I had a cart load of groceries with several "keep cold" items. It really was an ordeal getting her to listen and get out of the store. I have to yell at her in the store & she throws herself on the floor for a tantrum. This doesn't happen every shopping trip, but it happens too frequently. Maybe it stressed me out more than normal because I woke up in such a bad mood. And I don't know why ! I'm too moody!

Relaxing Morning

Yesterday was my birthday. We all still have colds, so it was a snotty day. Two toddlers with colds creates a big snotfest. You'd have to see it to believe it. And since MG wasn't feeling good, she had several tantrums. Whew...they're both sleeping in a little later this morning which is unusual. Maybe the extra rest will help them feel better for today. It's so beautiful outside, so I hope that I can get them out for at least a little while. I hope that this is the last cold till next winter.

Thought I'd share a memory of past birthdays. My maternal grandmother and my great grandmother shared and I all shared May birthdays. When I was really young, we would pick a Sunday in May and go to a restaurant to celebrate our birthdays together.

I'm a Mommy....not a kleptomaniac.

Well, I really feel like a Mommy wiping runny noses all day. I just filled the vaporizer and moved it from MG's room to MB's room. He's just now getting the cold and I think MG is just getting over it. At least I'm almost all the way better. I remember my Mom using the vaporizer with me. It was so soothing....even the sound of the steam blowing out seems to be relaxing.

I took the kids to Wal-mart this morning because they had a special breakfast event to benefit the Children's Miracle Network. Someone was dressed up like Tony the Tiger and Ernie the Keebler Elf. There was also a clown with balloons. MG and MB had so much fun & got a free picture with Tony. I had MB in his stroller instead of a shopping cart.

Afterwards, I did a bit of shopping. I needed a small laundry basket for MG's room. I was able to place the laundry basket on top of the stroller's handles & then I filled it with the other things that I needed. When we paid for the items, the cashier just put them back into the laundry basket to make it easier to carry it all out to the car. So I was pushing the stroller, balancing the laundry basket of things on top with two balloons attached while trying to keep MG with me. Very inconspicuous. That's when the stupid thing happened.

The door greeter lady came running over to me with a stern and alarmed look on her face. She asked in a slightly accusatory voice, "Do you need a cart?!" I thought that she was concerned that I needed help getting the things and the kids to my car, but she thought I was shoplifting. When I answered "No, thanks. I'm ok," she said "Well, I need to see your receipt!" Meanwhile, MG was already halfway out the door. I was having to yell at her to stop while digging around for the receipt. Fortunately, it was in the basket with the stuff, so I had to hand it to the lady while she checked it to make sure I wasn't stealing chap stick. Yes, I was brazenly shoplifting with my entourage of kids and balloons. Remind me that the next time I try to shoplift, I need to strip naked and balance the stolen merchandise on my head. That way I might call a little more attention to myself ,and it would slow me down just a bit more so that I could get caught going out the door.

I've never stolen anything in my life, so it did hurt my feelings that this happened. Perhaps the lady was just doing her job, but it kind of went against logic if you ask me. Thank goodness I found the receipt quickly or it could have been a much worse scenario! It bothered me, too, that my daughter almost wandered out the door without me. I'm not too mad realizing it was a misunderstanding, but it wasn't the best situation. I'm over it now. So, I have a question for you....Have you every been wrongly accused of stealing something?

I'm looking forward to hanging around here tomorrow to celebrate Mother's day. Then Monday is my 34th birthday and MG's last day of preschool picnic. That will be fun. Hope that you all have a happy mother's day! Have a good one!

Special Grandmothers

Painting by Dorothy Sullivan

I was very lucky to get to meet all four of my great grandmothers. I also got to know my two grandmothers very well. This is a list of memories that are special to me.

My father's mother whom I called Mamaw E. taught me how to blow bubbles with pink bubble gum. She also made me beautiful homemade quilts and toys for birthdays and Christmases. I cherish the Holly Hobby blanket that she made for my third birthday. I still have it. Mamaw E.'s favorite color was pink.

My Mother's mother Mamaw W. loved to read. She took me to the public library for the first time when I was six years old and we checked out a book about a cat. Her dog "Lucky" came into the library with us. When she was suffering from cancer, I used to spend the night with her and we'd stay up late chatting and reading books. Her favorite colors were yellow and red.

My Great Grandmother F. was so sweet. When she would get excited about something she would say "Lordy! Lordy! Lordy!" She used to own a restaurant in her younger days and could make the most delicious and beautiful looking yellow cake with white icing. One time when my brother and I got in a fight at her apartment, she gave us one stern look, and we immediately stopped. I also remember seeing her with her hair down once. It was thick, wavy and shining silver. I told her that it was pretty and she laughed.

My Great Grandmother W. was very quiet. She lived nearby, so she babysat me some when I was little. I remember eating lots of treats there. She always had some of those candy orange slices for me. She made pretty dresses for my dolls. She had a beautiful flower garden with all colors of my favorite "Sweet Williams". She made banana pudding for every family picnic, and would always take me aside and tell me that she made it especially for me. When she was older, she had Alzheimer's. When she didn't recognize alot of other people, she still knew who I was because I had the darkest hair in the family. I guess that triggered her memory and she would say "There's that little dark-haired Christy girl".

My Great Grandmother B. baked an apple pie every Sunday. I remember going there for Sunday dinners. One mother's day we visited her and I got in trouble with my parents for picking a big cluster from her beautiful blue hydrangea bush. She didn't mind, though, and laughed and told me to keep it. I didn't get to see her for several years after my father died, and I'll never forget the Christmas after that time period. She gave me the biggest hug and held me close for a long time.

Great Grandmother E. was always sitting in a rocking chair when I visited her. She always had a big smile on her face and gave me a big hug every time I saw her. I don't remember her as well, but I do remember that she was happy and loved seeing us children.

Crappy Cold

I've had the crummiest cold for the past few days. It was so crappy that I missed MG's second to last day of preschool before summer break. It seems like every time I take off from work for something special, I get sick and miss out on it. I'm just now tonight beginning to feel better. Mark made me soup, made me drink orange juice and hot tea with honey in it. He takes good care of me when I'm sick, even though I'm the worst grumpiest meanest sick person around.

Remember our little girl cat visitor Lucy? She has become super friendly and is so sweet and playful. She climbed up into this honeysuckle bush just for fun & Mark captured this dazzling photo!

Can We Keep Them?

I knew this would happen. I've fallen in love with the three cats that we have left....the ones that I was going to take to the shelter if I couldn't find a place for them by now. Lucy was shy, but she has grown so friendly and sweet. Instead of gobbling her food down like the boys, she waits to be petted first. She comes to MG now too. She and Jasper are good friends, so I'd really like for them to get to stay together. Bobo is still outside, but we hope to bring him in this weekend. I need to have him treated for fleas first. Whew-hopefully I can take care of that tomorrow. We're still getting pressure to get rid of the cats, but I wish that we could keep Jasper and Lucy as outdoor cats. So I've been trying to come up with ways to make it safe for them outside and to work out something with our relatives who want to let their dog run loose. So far my brain is too tired to work it all out quickly.

Today I took both kids for their check-ups at the doctor. MG's 3 year check-up and MB's 15 month check-up. I was so embarrassed. MB fought with the doctor, so it was like a wrestling match. Dr. Ashburn said "Whew, I didn't know that he'd fight me so much!" The nurse let me hold MB in my arms for the three lovely shots in the legs. That's the only way that we could do it. MB is usually so jovial and cheerful, but he was one grumpy bubby today. MG did fine. I think that she was a little disappointed because she didn't get a shot. She cracked me up when the doctor asked if she knew her first and last name. She gave her first, middle and last name, but inserted "Mark" in there as an extra middle name.

I have to watch MB every minute. He is a climber. I was in shock when I turned my back for a few seconds and then found him sitting in the middle of the kitchen table. I didn't think that he would be one to climb like a monkey since he's so big and not so nimble. Well, he's strong and he won't give up. He climbs into the front bay window. I've put a bean bag chair up against the bench there to make it easier for him not to fall while he's doing it. Does that make sense? He's going to do it no matter what, so I might as well make it safer. I want to get a family picture made as soon as all the bruises and scrapes disappear from Bubby's face. Everytime something happens, I think "Oh no! We can't get his picture made this week!"