Lipstick on a kid....

As I was pretreating the red magic marker stains that were on the last load of whites I had just taken out of the dryer, Kiley appeared in the doorway to the laundry room. There was no screaming preceeding her appearance - so I quickly surmised that she had gotten into Mommy's makeup. AGAIN. Oh well, that shade was too dark for me anyhow.....

Walmart

I just returned from Walmart. Molly and I went so that she could drop off some film and I could get pull-ups for Mick's school. We were nearly finished, and I left the cart with Molly so that I could use the bathroom. I finished and was washing my hands, and when I turned around to get a paper towel, I noticed a guy there making a hasty retreat. Then I noticed the urinals. I said, "Oh my, am I in the men's room?" And he said, "Yes, you are." I said, "OK, then if you don't tell anyone you saw me here, I won't tell anyone I saw you here!" I really hope he doesn't go to high school with Molly, because he was the cashier in the checkout lane next to ours.........

I really need to learn to pay attention.......

Awards

Timmy missed his bus yesterday morning. Couldn't find his backpack. Since he was already going to be late for school, I made an appt with his foot doctor. We had to pick up his insoles, which the Dr had modified. This Dr was practicing out of two offices, Stafford and Fredericksburg. I learned yesterday that he is no longer practicing in Stafford, so we made an 11:30 appt in Fredericksburg. Lest Timmy think he was being rewarded for missing the school bus, when we stopped for lunch I only allowed him to have the 6 piece chicken McNugget happy meal instead of the 10 piece. We got to the Dr's office, waited for just a little bit, and when the Dr came in, he said, "How are those insoles working out for you?" I told him that we didn't have them yet, so he proceeded to search the office for them, and made a phone call. Guess where they were? In the Stafford office. But, since we were in Fredericksburg already, and since I had made prior plans to have coffee with my friend, we stopped by their house. Again, not wanting Timmy to feel rewarded for missing so much school, I forbade him to have fun with my friend's son during our visit. Afterwards, we headed to Shane's school for an award assembly. I had a message from his teacher inviting me to come since he was getting a reward. I was proud and envisioning what award he would receive: Most improved? Hardest worker? Good citizenship? School spirit? Nope. He got "Perfect attendance". He and about 8 other kids. I clapped as hard as I could anyhow. Today, Mick has an award ceremony at his school. When his teacher called to invite me, she told me he would be getting an award, too, and that yesterday, she told him to wear his nicest shirt for the ceremony. Gee, he did not relay that message to me.....I think she was implying that the shirt he is wearing today, which says "I get my muscles from my dad" was not appropriate, but assured me that I could come up before the ceremony and bring him a better shirt. On a side note, I forgot his class picture day last month, and sent him to school in play clothes. When the pictures came back, he was wearing a shirt that I did not recognize. I envisioned some other 5 year old boy, shirtless and shivering, waiting till Mick got his picture taken so he could have his shirt back. While I appreciate his teacher ensuring he looks his best for school pictures, I don't think I will be cutting Kiley's nap time short just so he can be dressed to her standards! Anyhow, Mick has missed a few days of school, so he does not qualify for perfect attendance. I am curious to see what award he'll get ("Best Dressed" is obviously out....)

Here are some categories that I just know my kids would be competetive for:

Most likely to fall down the stairs with underwear on his head

Girl most likely to bring home a stray cat, or a misunderstood teenaged boy

Female most likely to leave her purse behind in a public place (actually I am tied for this one...)

Most shoes - all left ones

Most likely to leave home wearing mismatched shoes

Most likely to leave his homework at home

Most likely to claim he has no homework

Most likely to be "sick" on Monday mornings

Most likely to steal the twist ties from the bread or the trash bags

Most likely to put the milk carton away empty

Same with the ice trays

Most likely to leave more toothpaste in the sink than is used for brushing

Most likely to get into the shower without checking for a towel first

I could think of more, but that last one just made me realize I should take a shower before I head up to Mick's school. I might even wear some nice clothes.

USMC Birthday Ball 2008

My husband and I had a fabulous weekend! Saturday night was the Marine Corps Ball in MD. We had hotel reservations for that evening, and two other couples, friends from way back, planned to stay there too. Tim has been working on a significant and very time consuming project for work, and indicated that he might have to work late on Friday, and part of the day on Saturday as well. Our friends from Texas flew in on Friday afternoon and asked if we could meet them for dinner. I said we probably couldn’t make it because of Tim’s work schedule, and my friend said, “Well, why don’t you just stay here tonight, too?” I had already arranged to leave Molly and Jack in charge of the other kids overnight Saturday, and felt a little guilty (for about 27 seconds) asking them to watch the others for the entire weekend. But, Molly had a $221 phone bill to work off anyhow, and readily agreed to this arrangement if we would erase her debt and return her cell phone to her on Sunday. So, after ordering pizza and ensuring that the kids had emergency phone #s to call, and buying all kinds of cookies, ice cream, soda and chips to appease them, I took off for MD. We met our friends for dinner and had a great time catching up, since we hadn’t seen them in over 13 years. No longer do we talk about diaper brands, or baby gear. We discussed colleges, kids and financial responsibility, the effects of gravity on body parts, and 40 year old life, in general. It was great fun!

On Saturday, Tim took me to the Pentagon and I got a tour of his cubicle, and met a couple of the people he works with. I am sure they were impressed with my Michigan State sweatshirt and the coffee stains I added to the front on the way there. Just trying to look good for my husband! After that, we went to the MCX so Tim could get a haircut. I decided to get a “free” makeup job at the Estee Lauder counter, since I am clueless about makeup, and I wanted to look good for the ball. As I was sitting in the chair, and about ½ way through the application, a line formed directly in front of me, and people were passing me by and pointing, and whispering behind their hands, and I was becoming self-conscious, until the makeup consultant told me they were there to see the guy from Project Runway, who was standing about 10 feet behind my chair. I told the lady I was wearing a plum colored ball gown, and she decided to coordinate my makeup with the color of my dress. Tim came along as she was finishing my makeup application, and when she showed me the results, I was a little dismayed (although I think I hid it well). Purple is a nice color to wear. Purple eyelids suggest spousal abuse. So we went back to the hotel, and I toned it down a bit, being careful not to mess up the rest of the makeup. I put on my jewelry and made my hair big. I took my gown out of the bag, and for the first time in many years, I could be certain I would not arrive at the function with peanut butter, tear stains, or someone else's boogers on it.

When we got to the ball and before we found our table, we decided to get into line for professional photographs. But then we heard that the ceremony would be starting in 12 minutes, so we left the line, and were walking to the ballroom, when we saw Chuck Norris talking to the Commandant. Tim said we should try to get a picture with Chuck Norris, so our friends walked over there with us and our camera and theirs. The Commandant told Chuck it was time to head out, but his wife asked us if we wanted a picture with them. We told her yes. His back was to us as he was talking with another marine, and Mrs Norris started swatting his backside with her handbag telling him, “Come on Carlos (she said to me “That’s his real name.”), just one more.” So he turned around, smiled big, and we got not one, but two pictures. And in both, the Norris’s and Tim are looking at one camera, and I am looking at the other. Because I am just special that way.

The ball itself was big fun. Chuck Norris was a great guest speaker and it is easy to see why all the Marines love him. We ran into several friends from our old neighborhood in Camp Lejeune, and had a great time with our friends from Texas and our friends from Virginia! The food was good, the company was great! We got up this morning, had breakfast at the hotel with our friends, and headed for home. When we got home, the house was clean, everyone was dressed and ready for church, and the kids said they had a great time. There was no junk food left, so I guessed that was true. The only real excitement of the weekend for them was when a bat flew in a window last night. Jack was able to capture it and release it back outside, and it flew away, unharmed. He probably handled the situation better than I would have! I am more than a little pleased that the weekend went so well, both for my husband and me, and for the kids back here. Good to know they can handle themselves for a short time without us. Good to know we can get away for a short time alone!

My life in photos....

Those of you who follow me on Facebook will see that the photo I have just posted of myself is the same as the one on my Facebook profile. Minus Kiley. Because there are lots more cute pictures of her! I have been taking more pictures lately, inspired by the photos some of my friends are posting on their webpages. Beautiful pictures of their kids, especially. Apparently, my talent does not lie in photography, because I just can't seem to get a single picture that captures the delightful little people who live here. But I will keep trying. As for myself, I have tried (and failed) to get a picture of myself in which : I don't look 10 years younger or 10lbs lighter. Maybe it's the angle, maybe it is the lack of proper editing software. Or maybe it's the subject matter! I had a conversation with a friend of mine a few years ago, and we were talking about how you see pictures of yourself taken 10 years ago, and you remember not liking those pictures at the time. And how, now, they don't look so bad! It is all relative, I suppose. Here's hoping we will get some decent photos at the Marine Corps Ball this weekend! And maybe some cute ones of the kids doing the major leaf-cleanup that awaits us in the yard.......

Where's my sign?

So we are at the end of the driveway waiting for the elementary school bus this morning and my neighbor's daughter says, "Hey, where is your John McCain sign?". This same girl and her sister saw some kids pull it up a few weeks ago, and then run off when they yelled at them. Before this weekend there were not many signs out at all, but suddenly there are lots of Obama/Biden signs on our street. And that is fine - advertise for your candidate - just let me advertise for mine as well. I hate bumper stickers, and I have a McCain/Palin bumper sticker on the van. True, Tim put it there before I could stop him, but it's growing on me.... But, I am not stealing and/or destroying any Obama signs, so leave mine alone! As I've stated before, I am not usually all that in to politics. But this particular election has me following things closely. I went to the local Republican HQ this morning with the intention of getting as many signs as they would give me and sticking them up all over my lawn. I hate confrontation, but I can be as passive/agressive as the next person! I got only two signs. One is up now, and I have one in the garage to put up tomorrow if the other one gets stolen.

I am so very weary of all the negative ads on both sides. I have a hard time understanding (or maybe I am just naive) why the candidates cannot stand on their own merits and let their records speak for them. I firmly believe that if you are "all that", it will be obvious to everyone, and you don't have to put someone else down to make yourself look good. I think that is what I dislike most about politics. I will be glad when that part is over.

The kids had a mock election at their school today. It is interesting to see the kids get defensive of "their" candidates - because you know that most if not all of their opinions are soley based on who their parents are voting for. Obama won the school election, and apparently there was some gloating from the kids who voted for him. Not to say it wouldn't have been the same way if McCain had won, among his supporters. But, my kids voted Republican. When I asked them why, Colleen told me it is because Obama wants to pull the Marines out of Iraq before they are done with their job, and the Iraqi people will suffer as a result. An almost direct quote from her dad. Megan said it's because of his pro-life stance. I had the abortion discussion with her a few weeks ago when she asked me why we are voting for John McCain. I think she was in disbelief when I explained it to her - not a discussion I relish having with any of my kids, but all the more poignant when statistics say that 90% of women who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome chose to abort their babies. Having Sarah Palin and her beautiful wanted, and much loved baby in the news is such a reinforcement of what is good and right. My kids could not imagine life without their own little brother (as much trouble as he is sometimes!) and the thought that he is not perfect has never crossed their minds. Nor has the thought that anything "imperfect" or "inconvenient" should be destroyed. The innocence of children is wonderful to behold.

I did tell the girls that no matter who wins the election, it is our duty to pray for that person, that God will give him the wisdom and the fortitude to do the job well, and to make the best decisions for the good of ALL of America. And, we need to continue to pray. Not only is it all we can do at this point, it is the very best thing we can do!