84 cents

It’s 6:30 in the morning and I’m sitting on the couch with my cup of coffee.  Zach comes hopping into the living room, bright eyed and bushy tailed.  He is usually an early riser, but bright eyed he is not.  He usually shuffles into the living room, throws himself on the couch and watches cartoons for awhile to wake up.  I’m trying to figure out why he is so happy this early in the morning and then it hits me.  As soon as he says “I wonder what the tooth fairy put under my pillow?  I haven’t looked yet!”, my heart starts pounding so loud I’m sure he can hear it.  While my mind is racing through visions of him finding out the tooth fairy doesn’t exsist at the early age of seven and then the domino effect of all that brings (tooth fairy isn’t real, what about Santa?  The Easter Bunny?) and then just what a horrible mother I am and all the counseling he is going to have to go through because of this, all I can think to stall him is “Let’s wait until Lilly wakes up and you can look together?”  Like the child doesn’t have to do enough things with his little sister, now he can’t even look at his own tooth money by himself.  He thought that was a great idea (bless his heart) and I felt my heart start pounding a little slower.  Until I realized I didn’t have any cash.  Anywhere. 

I turned on the cartoons, hoping that he wouldn’t notice me rounding up some change.  I snuck into our room and pulled open Mike’s top drawer where he keeps his change.  I quietly grabbed a hand full and put it in my robe pocket.  After taking a few steps, I again quietly retrieved the money and just held it in my hands.  I had never felt so relieved as when I put it  safely under his pillow.  No notes or fairy dust this time, but it would have to do. 

As soon as Lilly woke up, they raced into his room to check it out.  Zach was so suprised about the amount of coins under his pillow, he could hardly believe she left that much.  “Do you think there’s about five dollars here?  I mean, this is ALOT of money mom!”  I started eyeing the coins, noticing that there were alot of pennies and not so much silver.  Oh boy.  “Let’s count it, let’s count it!” they were both saying.  Slowly but surely he totaled it up to a whopping “84 cents!”.  He sat there confused for a minute as if he were thinking “but it looked like alot.”  Thank goodness my sweet boy really is sweet, because he said “Well, it’s ALMOST a dollar!”  Super mom I am not (obviously!), but I was sure I could round up enough change to complete a dollar.

At dinner that night, Mike asked him what the tooth fairy had left.  Zach said “She left me 84cents but mom gave me enough to make a whole dollar!”  I thought Mike was going to choke because he was trying not to laugh.  I informed him later that next time he was on fairy duty!

Potty Training – Episode One

Yes, this post is about potty training.  But if you are reading in hopes to find some actual tips, advice or suggestions that work, read no further.  I do not have any.  Instead, I have resorted to praying every day that my child will not be going to Kindergarden in diapers.

When Lilly turned two she showed an interest in using the potty.  We loaded up and went to Wal-Mart in search of the perfect one, settling  on the “Jackpot Potty”.  Afterall, her pediatrician said “If she’s showing an interest, make it available.”  Well let’s just say that the whole potty training mission bombed after all of about a week.  She had seen the potty (a new toy! in the bathroom!), even used the new potty and that was it.   After about six months of no use, except to sit on it fully clothed and tell me she is NOT going to the potty but just sitting there for a minute, we decided to put it up.

Last week she asked about her potty.  When I explained we put it up until she was ready to start using it, she said she was ready.  I had a hunch that she wasn’t but didn’t want to miss the golden opportunity if it could actually be true.  She used it right away.  A little bit later, she used it again.  She even asked for a pull up.  I was in shock!  I kept telling her ”I am so proud of you!  You are such a big girl!”  When we picked up her Bubba from school, she came home and showed him how she could use the potty.  He of course told her “I’m so proud of you Lilly, good girl!”  She said “I’m so proud of me too!  We are all SO proud!”

Just as I was about to call her Daddy and tell him the good news she ran up to me and said “You can put my potty up.  I want a diaper now.”

You Might Be A Redneck If…

Your first kill is a rat!  In case you wondered just how redneck it can get out here in the boonies, now you know.  I don’t feel this picture needs much explanation.  And, since I wasn’t home at the time, I’ll never know exactly how it all went down.  Thank you God.  The fact that my son is holding it and my daughter is wearing gloves, I’m better off not knowing.

And Yet, Another Look

Lilly loves to swing.  I swear she would stay on those things forever if she could find enough people to keep her going.  There is a catch though.  If she gets to going too fast, she gets “the look”.  The first time it happened it actually scared me because it looked like she was going to pass out and throw up at the same time.  You would think that with a look like that she wouldn’t want to go again.  But just as soon as you slow down, she’s ready for more!  (And, if you’re wondering how we actually captured this look, it’s her Daddy’s fault.)

Tank Dress Sale at PinknCamo’s Etsy Site!

PinknCamo is going on vacation for a couple of weeks. While one of those weeks, I’ll actually be on vacation (yeah me!), the other one will be spent updating the site with our new fall products.  Meanwhile,  you can check out our sale going on right now at our Etsy store. Happy Shopping!

Back in the Saddle Again

Since it’s been, well we won’t actually spell it out, let’s just say a long time since I’ve posted, I wondered if my password would still work.  Bingo!  It does. 

I know you have been dying to hear what we’ve been up to (the emails, the phonecalls, the knocking down my door!).  Even more importantly I know you are wondering why my children look as if they are ready to shoot a scene for MASH.   We’ll get to that in a minute.  Mainly because I have NO idea what they were doing and I’m trying to think of a good explanation.

Well, let’s see how do I explain what we have been doing since FEBRUARY!!  I still can’t believe that’s the last time I posted anything.  So shameful.  We have been through a baseball season, first grade graduation, our niece’s wedding, dance recital, basketball camp and our very own booth at Affair of the Heart (I say “we” because it was definately a family affair to pull that thing off!).  We are looking ahead to a vacation in Branson, new flooring, switching the kids bedrooms and school starting.  Life is never dull is it?

Zach is looking forward to starting second grade as well as starting soccer and tumbling.  He’s never played soccer so I think he’s a little nervous but excited to try it out.  Lilly is growing so much every day and somedays it’s hard to remember she’s only two.  Very hard for her to remember!  We’re switching dance for tumbling this year, so we’ll see how that goes.  Potty training’s also on the list because we’ve told her that they don’t make diapers for three year olds.  Cross your fingers!

There is too much to fill you in on.  So, while I know I won’t be writing every day, I will be posting more often than every 6 months.  Mainly so I can look back from time to time and remember what it is I’ve been doing every day!  It feels good to be “back in the saddle again”!

Princess Crown

On the way to school this morning, Zach and I had the following conversation:

Zach:  I wish I didn’t have to go to school.

Me: Why?

Zach:  The only thing that’s fun is PE.  And, recess.  And, lunch.  And, music.  All the other stuff is hard.

Me:  All the other stuff is important too.  Like reading and math.  Those are things you’ll use your whole life.

Zach:  Well what if I don’t understand how to do them?

Me:  Ask questions.  Ask your teacher.  Or bring it home and maybe we can help.

Zach:  What if my teacher is wearing her princess crown?

Me:  Silent.  Silent. More Silence.  Are we having the same conversation?  Did my son just say his teacher wore a princess crown?  Finally, Your teacher wears a princess crown?

Zach:  Yes.  When she wears it you can’t ask her any questions. 

Me: Silent. Silent. More Silence.  Mentally picturing his teacher wearing the crown.  Mentally picturing the kids watching her wear the crown.  Wondering why it would take my son half  of the school year to tell me his teacher wears a crown.  Isn’t that something you come home and share the first day?!   I finally pull myself away from the ramblings inside my head and announce … I’m getting a princess crown!

Grandma and Grandpa

Every Christmas at Mike’s mom and dad’s, they like to get a picture of the kids with Santa and Mrs. Clause.  This year, Lilly and Zach started their own tradition of taking a picture with a different set of mr. and mrs.  Grandma and Grandpa are the sweet ol’ folks who sit on a bench in Granny Judy’s living room.  While Lilly pushed Grandma out of the way and snuggled right beside Grandpa, Zach took Grandma for a dance around the living room.  These pictures make me laugh every time I look at them.

When Zach was younger, he was facinated with the little glasses that each of them wear.  Lilly is now curious about the ol’ couple, inspecting each of them VERY close.  She even had Grandma wearing one of her headband bows before the visit was over!

Under the Tree

About a week before Christmas, I was walking by our tree and noticed a new “package”.  

Before I go any further, let me give you a little background as to what a present snooper I am.  When I was little, I knew each and every present that had my name on it.  I could tell you that I had two big, five small, one that makes noise when you shake it and one as light as a feather.  I dreamt about them every night, wondering, hoping for what could be inside those pretty packages.  The suspense and curiosity about killed me every year.  So, even though I shop for my own presents now (I know! I know!  But, it’s easier that way and I’m always pleasantly surprised!), I do still take notice of new presents under the tree.

So, back to my story….I noticed this new package wasn’t really wrapped but folded up like a card.  A bright orange card.  Hmm…I took a peek as I carried a load of clothes to the mud room.  Another look, just a little closer as I made another pass through the living room.  The tree just happened to be RIGHT BY the computer and as I was trying to work, the cheery piece of paper kept catching my eye.  It took every ounce of will power I had not to open it up.  So, instead I took a picture of it.

Can you guess who the package was from?  The sweet seven-year old who lives in this house…Zach!  On Christmas Eve morning (when we celebrated this year), he gave us his present.  The orange card said “For all of you” and had three pencils and a drawing of our family in it.  I’m so glad I didn’t start crying and blubbering something silly, but that’s what I felt like doing.  Children are life’s sweetest blessings and it’s moments like this that I want to remember forever.

I was surprised that he was able to keep his secret for a whole week.  Even more shocked that I was able to refrain from snooping just a tad further.  He has no idea what the suspense did to me.  Although, maybe he did.  I think I passed the present snooping gene on to him!  Next year’s going to be fun!!!

Daddy Said No

This traumatizing and sad event is a little hard to read, don’t say I didn’t warn you.  It all started after Zach’s birthday, we were finishing dinner and about to serve left over birthday cake for dessert.  Zach had cleaned his plate, but Lilly was still lingering over a mostly full one.  Amist listening to Zach tell us each and every detail from the day and asking Lilly to quit putting her chubby foot on the table, we kept reminding Lilly that if she didn’t eat her food, she couldn’t have any cake.

By now you can probably tell where this story is going.  Lilly did not finish her chicken and so there for….dun, dun, dunnaaaa…..Daddy said “NO CAKE.”  I believe these two words were the most heart breaking sounds she had ever heard.  Very traumatizing for two reasons, one Daddy would say NO, and two the word CAKE would follow.  At least every other day, if not EVERY day she will furrow her eyebrows together in a very sad way and tell me “Daddy say no caaaak.”  When I ask her why Daddy said “no caaaak”, she says with a BIG grin on her face, “I not eat my chicken!” 

Surely one day she will be able to close this traumatic, cake denied chapter of her life.  She does have her own birthday coming up so there is hope.  Until then, every time she hears the word “no” or “cake” or we are just driving down the road watching the cows staring at us, she will say “Daddy, say no caaaaak.”  Heartbreaking.