Conversations

Tarren: Mom will you teach me to shave my legs?
Me: Ummmm... no! You aren't old enough. Besides once you start, you have to keep it up, and you'll end up regretting it
Tarren: What do you mean, "keep it up"?
Me: You'll have to shave every other day or so. You're hair will keep growing back.
Tarren: That's why I figured you could take me to get a wax.

Are you freaking kidding me??!!! What next???

Asotin Parade

I got a phone call this morning a little before 8am from my brother in law asking where Trenton was. I expressed my confusion and said that he stayed the night with my sister and why did he need him. Apparently they needed Trent to be in the parade to walk with another kid and hold a sign. It was a mad rush around the house to get everyone up and moving around. Tarren had a friend stay the night, so I drug her around with us. I honestly wasn't planning on heading out to Asotin, I just wanted to mill around the house and get some long time needed chores done. That didn't exactly pan out. Off we headed.......Daddy and Bug making light of the fact that we had to be there an hour and a half early

Tarren and Aaron(I know that's the boy's spelling, but that's how she spells it) watching the parade. I had to beg both of them to stop running out in front the cars diving for the candy. I don't think the cheapy candy is worth a squished kid.

Trent holding the Save a Life INBC Banner. I had to run out in front of them because they were WAY ahead of the INBC truck and bus. I had to tell them to stop and wait for everyone to catch up. These two boys didn't listen.. they kept running forward, oblivious to what the heck they were supposed to be doing. It was cute.

YEPEE!!!!

Eric called me yesterday to tell me that the next site they are moving to is the one in Lewiston. Just outside of Hell's Gate State Park. I was so praying for that one. It was a toss up between Lewiston, Moscow, or Postfalls. I could have dealt with the first two. The plant should be shutting down sometime next week (hopefully), unless Knife River tacks on another order. I'm just happy that he's coming home for a little while. No more traveling and hour and a half each way to see him, ( like I did last night and this morning). And no more stinky trailer. YEPEE!!!

Slight Irritation

I've only mentioned my biological father in a few previous posts. There's a reason for that. He's practically a stranger to me. I may know history about him, but I don't KNOW him. I don't know what his favorite cereal is, what his pet-peeves are, or where he likes to go just to hang out. I know that he's always paranoid (due to the meth), and I have his handwriting (chicken scratch). The last time I talked to him was somewhere around Christmas or New years. He remarried a woman barely a year after my mom and his divorce back in '86. Years that followed proved to be vindictive, spiteful and jealous of my sister and I. She only thought of her and her only child. I remember at Christmas her daughter got brand new everything, while my sister and I got her wrapped hand me downs. I HATED football! During that whole entire season, I'd take 3 books with me, and I'd sit in my room while visiting my dad's house and I'd read them all. That's when I'd do all my extra credit for school, I had nothing else better to do, while my dad and step mom sat in front the TV. That part of my childhood only turned out to be empty promises and big lies. When I got older, and realized more and more (like them dealing while I was visiting), I stopped going. I hated going down to Boise. I think when I moved to Lewiston, I saw him 3 times. I know he took my mom back to court when I was 16 because he though my mom was telling me that I couldn't go see him. I had to sit on the phone with the judge and explain to him I had better things to do. The judge in turn told my dad that I was 16 and old enough to make my own decisions. Shortly after that, the meth took control of his life and I broke all communications with him. Six years later, my uncle told me to call my dad because he's out of jail and his life was on a better track. I did. I gave him that benefit of the doubt. Like I said, I only talk to him every now and again.
With all that being said, last night my sister called and said that she talked to dad. I guess she's going down to Boise in June to see my brother in laws family, and was going to try to meet up with dad. Great. But what pissed me off about that conversation was that she let my nephew, Cooper, talk to my step-mom. She convinced him that he wanted to stay with them for a week during the summer break. She PROMISED him to go here and go there. It was my childhood all over again. She promised me all sorts of things just so we'd come down, and she'd find some lame excuse for us to stay in front of the TV. I guess she had told my sister that she wanted my kids for a week too. Uumm... I don't think so. They are strangers to me, so I'm going to ship my kids off, 8 hours away from me for a week. Eric even said no. Well, those weren't his exact words, I put it mildly and edited it for you. I just don't see how they would think that would be okay. I know they are "grandma and grandpa" but ... I don't have words to express my confusion. I have given them every opportunity to come up here and spend time with the kids. I have room at my house. I have never denied them that. These are MY kids and it's my obligation as a parent to keep them safe from whatever I feel is harmful. And going to Boise for a week without me being there, I just don't feel that's safe. It baffles me to think that she would think I would be okay with all of that. I'm just not sure if the meth has killed a couple few brain cells too many. My foot is down, my kids aren't going (without me). I just wonder if feeling this way is wrong?

Birthday Girl

My baby is 3 today

Last night we made "pup-cakes" for Caitrin's birthday. She wanted to take some to her daycare. I pretty much let her take the wheel.



It was just the 4 of us, which was kind of sad. Caiti made sure we set aside a pup-cake for daddy. And if you notice I was really cheap and used her 1st & 2nd year birthday candles. I figured that 1+2 = 3, .... right? It served it's purpose.

She got a bunch of clothes from her dad and I. So one of the things she got was High School Musical footie jammies. As a baby, I couldn't keep these on her, it made her too hot. But now... she didn't want to take them off.

Just waking up with scary Mary hair, but proudly showing off her HSM jammies.

It doesn't seem like three years. She acts so much older, but I know that she has to keep up the her older siblings. She went from 2T pants straight to 4T because her legs, but of course WAY too big around her waist. She's gonna take after both her grandpas. Tall. She's in an awesome daycare. The lady has a child development degree, was a teacher in New Mexico, but has 5 kids of her own so she wanted to stay home with them. I don't have to pay extra for "pre-school", she does it everyday no matter the age. Caiti came home the other day telling me that octopi have 8 legs and 3 hearts. She comes home with the coolest art projects, and Amy lets her play with play-doh. (the biggest no no in my house..I hate that stuff more then the dentist). There are days that I just wish everything would just slow down. I have a 10 year old, a 7 year old, and now a 3 year old. Talk about my hands being full.

Seriously think about it

Do you take advantage of your tongue? Apparently I do too.

I have been going on regular dates to see my dentist. Last week I had two dates with him. I don't mind it all so bad just because he's good eye candy. On Wednesday, I had to have some more work done. Since I had seen him the day before, he felt sorry for me and would only do half the procedure resulting to my right side. When laying in the chair, he whipped out the huge needle, (I swear it was two feet long), and numbed me all over my right side of my upper and lower jaw. With my eyes closed so I didn't have to see the horrid instrument, I felt something "weird" going on in my tongue, a swelling feeling, then a painful pop and burst of pain. And just like that the pain was gone. The dentist went about the procedure, and I took the rest of the day off since I can't answer the phones sounding like a special needs person. I remembering taking note that I went to bed still feeling numb all over my right side.

When I woke up Thursday morning, my tongue was still numb and it felt really swollen. I chalked it to the fact that I might have bitten it through out the night. I also thought that if I went to the gym (at 5am) and got my blood flowing, it would ebb sooner. Still nothing. When I arrived at work on Thursday morning, I promptly called the dentist and asked if your tongue is suppose to be numb for going on 19 hours. After a few minutes of being on hold, I was told it COULD happen, but not very often. When numbing me, he could have easily nicked a nerve. It could take up to 2 weeks to heal, and possible after that there might be permanent damage.

I am now on day 5 of my tongue being half numb. I have bitten it numerous time. I feel like I have a speech impediment. I have to really think about the words that have "s" and "l" in them. It takes me a little longer to pronounce them. I have lost sense of taste. For Easter, nothing tasted good. There is some taste, but very dull. It's very frustrating!! I ate nothing on Saturday just because, what's food without taste... ? One thing that I did find somewhat amusing is the task of drinking coffee. When I take a drink, I tilt my head to the left-I feel warm coffee, I tilt my head to the right-nothing. Hot-nothing Hot-nothing Hot-nothing.. well you get the point. Eric kind of gave me a funny look when he caught me doing this. All I could do was giggle to myself. I have to take it all with a grain of salt, not that I could taste that either.

On the upper side. I do think that I'm coming out of it because I'm getting horrid headaches, and on my tongue, I'll feel tinges of pain every now and again.

Easter '09

I never win....

.....But I did tonight!! I won an iPod Nano and a nice beach towel made from Egyptian Cotton. Inland Cellular had a BUNCO Night for the employees. I wasn't going to go, just mope around the house maybe make Easter cookies, but I forced myself out of the house. I asked Eric's dad if he wanted to spend time with the grand kids, and he said sure. There was lots of yummy foods. And good times were had by all. I tell everyone that my job spoils me.. It hasn't made a liar out of me yet.

First Hair cut

A long time ago I read of a Jewish tradition where they didn't cut the child's (mainly boys) hair until they were three. The Jews compare the child to a tree. In the Bible it says "when you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three year you are to consider it forbidden , it must not be eaten" Lev 19:23

At the age of three a Jewish boy receives his first hair cut and is considers ready to learn the Jewish Education. They throw a party called "Upsherin" meaning to shear off. Blessings are said over the child, and the first snip of the haircut is given. Usually the first snip is in the hair at the center of the forehead, to symbolize wisdom, learning and insight.

Now I didn't go to the lengths of throwing a party, but I think it's a beautiful tradition. I did it to Tarren and now I did it to Caitrin. (I didn't with Trent because Eric and I were separated when Trent was a year and Eric mom took the liberty to cut his hair w/o me there, and we won't travel down that road).

If she looks sad, that's because she was. She screamed and wailed, she didn't want a stranger touching her. I had to step out of the room and Caiti had to sit on Tarren's lap just for April to even talk to her. Caiti finally settled down and April worked her magic. I know it looks uneven, but it way she was standing and her head was cocked. Looking at her right now, she looks so grown up. She's three next week, where did my baby go?

Sunny Day

This weekend was an awesome one weather-wise. It wasn't too hot, a little breeze came through. Perfect. Sunday I decided to wash my car since it had all the caked on mud from traveling back and forth from Kooskia. I could have taken it to the local car wash joint. I know they charge anywhere from $5 to $7 just for the outside. But then I was thinking.... " Isn't this why I had kids? Cheap, if not free labor...??"

Jackson a little confused..washing himself instead of my car. He's my "special" nephew.

Of course all the boys had their shirts off, and Caiti is one of the boys.

Scrub, scrub, scrub

Afterwards they all played in the sprinkler and enjoyed the rest of the day. My car looked nice in the end. Thanks to my free labor.

Some mornings.....

.....just aren't worth arguing over. (sorry not the best pix, taken from my phone, but I think you get the idea)
I sent her off to her daycare looking like this, attitude included.

Mis-Adventure part 2

... I'm heading back into town to the make shift laundry mat. As I pull up, the lights are still on, but still not sure if it's close or if the doors are locked. I get out, check the doors, peek in, see a scruffy old man doing his laundry... all is go. I head back to the car and get my HUGE load of blankets and sleeping bags. Because I can't see over the top of the mound, I don't see what is next.
I throw the heap on the nearest table so I can observe this place and get a better understanding of my layout. That's when it hits me that I could be in grave danger. In various places on the floor (due to it being so level in the rickety joint) are an inch to an inch and a half pools of standing water, and many puddles are flowing under the washers. Are you freak'n kidding me???

As I tiptoe around trying to find dry spots, I say a lil prayer again, "Oh heaven please help me, I don't want to be electrocuted".

Since the dryer drums were on the wall and the water was flowing to the center of the room, I figured I was at least some what safe. I have 4 big blankets, 2 in each dryer should be good. I try not to make eye contact with the gentleman doing his stuff, so I turn my back to him, lean up against a dry washer and play The Game of Life on my phone. Periodically I glance up to check to see if the dryers are still spinning. Yep, good. Another few go by. I decide to feel them, maybe readjust the blankets to help out the heating process. In the one dryer when I felt them, they weren't hot, not even warm. I know that I check the setting before I started it-high heat. Higher heat means getting out of there faster. So I move it to the next dryer- I drop a quarter in the slot and the drums doesn't spin. Stupid me drops another quarter in..still no go. Then I glance at the other dryer that has my other blankets, it stops spinning, too. It ran out of time, so I drop another quarter in the machine. No spinning either. Oh mother of mercy!! What now? In my observations I noticed that there was a hall way of more dryers. But I was trying to avoid that area. Not open, not well lit, kind of out of the way. Not my idea of a hang out... but on the brighter side, there was no pools of standing water. Carved in the metal of the door of the machines are "don't work" then a date, "no heat" then another date, "use at your own risk" yet another date. I just want to go home. Oh what the hell, what's another quarter and 20 more minutes of my time. I throw my blankets in and keep playing my game. An elderly lady come through the back door, smiles at me (no eye contact, keep head down, no eye contact). She asks me how my night is going so far... I really could unleash on her. "Fine, thank you. Just wish I could find a dryer that works." She replies " Oh honey, I waste about seven dollars every time I come here, you never know which one is going to work, kind of a Russian roulette." She then shows me the only two dryers that have proven to be dependable, of course they are the ones being used. One dryer that I took a chance on seemed to be okay, the other had no heat either. What ever. When one blanket was dry, I pulled it out in hopes of the others drying faster. After what seemed to another life time, the nice lady was loading up her clothes from the good dryer. She told me there as still time left on that dryer and that I could use what is left. God bless her. By that time only two blankets were left to be dried out. Within about 1o minutes, the rest were dry and I got the hell out of there. When I walked in to the camper, Eric gave me a look of "Where have you been?" I shook my head and shortly told all the kids it was bed time. Conveniently no argued with me. Good. I just wanted to go to bed... so i did, not knowing what tomorrow morning might bring........