What is that thing?

So Friday we were supposed to be leaving for the Cash of Hope Auction.  By 5:15 my wonderful husband was still not home.  I am getting impatient.  Not only would he not tell me what "errand" he needed to run that was keeping him, but the babysitter was here which meant we were on the clock.  That clock is expensive so hanging around is not in the budget.

Finally at 5:20 up pulls the van.  Robb gets out, hands behind his back, weird cockeyed smile breaking across his face.  As he approaches the house he pulls out his hands and reveals....a rat...{ahem} puppy.  A tiny, 1.8 lb chihuahua puppy (you can understand the rat mistake, they are hard to differentiate.)

My kids and I were dumbfounded.  If you could only have lived the history of the no dog policy at our house for the last 7+ yrs.  We've tried dogs, it hasn't fared well, so for the last number of years the drill sergeant (I call him this lovingly ~ he teaches boot camp fitness classes so it fits) has had a firm "no" stance to animals of any kind.  No one could believe this turn of events.

But alas it is true.  We are the proud new owners of a puppy.  A very tiny, very cute puppy named Yoda.  He is turning out to be very manageable too so we are all happy about our newest addition.

My poor, tortured children keep asking if we are really keeping him.  This after being robbed of the first family pet 5 or so years ago.  (That story will have to be shared later but the short version:  I bought the kids a Shitzu puppy that only lasted about 2 months and then I got rid of it.  All I can say is it had more "Shit" in it than "zu".)   But Yoda is here to stay.  We are all on board this time around.  

Rule #1 in pet owning...everyone has to play along.               

Rule #2...everyone has to want the thing.   

I think Yoda's odds are good.

Way to go Dad!

Kids say the darndest things

So yesterday I was driving my kids to church and Joey discloses that "not next year, but the year after that he will be going to Junior High youth group instead of the kids church."

Joey wearing his brother's space helmet

We almost had a fatal crash on the Badger as I realized that this was true.

What is going on at my house?  These kids are growing at break neck speed.  It's insanity.

When I picked them up Joey was playing soccer with the Junior High kids.  As he got into the van he explained.  "I figured since I'll being hanging out with the Junior Highers in a few years I should start getting used to it."

On our drive home the "growing up" talk continues as my two boys discussed where they would live when they get older.  Joey declared that he would be staying in Lynden so that his kids could go to LC. (He knows how to get in his mom's good books.)  Riley cannot believe this.  He empathically declares that he will be moving to New York so that he can be in a big city.  And if NY doesn't work out then he'll settle for California or Oregon.  Where do they come up with this stuff?

Mother's Day

My kids made hearts out of paper clips to decorate for Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is joyous and sad for me. My mom passed away almost 12 years ago and every spring, when Mother's Day approaches, I can't help feeling like I got gipped.

My mom was an amazing lady and I was so blessed to have her for the first 20 years of my life. The problem is, I wasn't ready to spend the next 20 without her. She was one of those moms that always had an answer, was always ready to listen, and always knew that shopping heals a girl's heart. She was the best!

I miss you Mom!

Life

So every once in awhile life creeps up on me and I realize, time is short and I had better make the best of it.   I love my kids and my husband but sometimes I can be easily distracted by my so-called important tasks that take up the better part of my day.  I work A LOT so my time at home is short.  Usually I come home and immediately tackle dinner, dishes, laundry, vacuuming, and whatever else I find to do.  My poor husband works himself like a dog trying to keep up on house stuff and yet I still manage to find things to do that fill up my time.  And then I have weeks like this past one, where all of the sudden I realize life is passing me by.  My kids are growing up and I'm too busy cleaning, working, and {cough} blogging to realize it.  Those moments stink!  I hate reality, especially when it comes in the form of a good kick in the butt.

Take this kid for an example...
This is 3rd grade (last year).  He is now coming to the end of 4th grade and all of the sudden I realized that this means next year he moves buildings.  Not only does he move up in grade, he moves up in buildings.  AHHHHHH!  I can't take this kind of reality.  I really like all my kids in one building...the elementary building.  I AM NOT READY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL!  I don't think I can find my way around that building, I don't think Joey can find his way around that building, and if he can, I don't want him to.  He's just too darn big.  There are so many things that showcase just how big Joseph is getting.  However, none more than this.  My baby has started his own blog.

I love it and hate it.  It is so cute but it's also another mark on the wall showcasing how big he's getting.  I can't stand it.

Here he is at his 10th birthday this past March.  Ack! 1-0!  I was told this was going to happen but I didn't believe it.

There were times when this guy was 2 that I thought he'd never grow up.  All those times of crying (both of us), battles over food, potty training woes (he once pooped on the seat of my car instead of the toilet), sleepless nights and napless days.  I never thought I'd say it but I would give anything to have a few of those days back.  Just a couple...is that so much to ask?

Socks

What is the deal with socks?  These 3 people that I live with can NEVER find ANY socks.  I don't understand it.  It boggles my mind and may be the sole cause of my mental breakdown.

I'm sure you can remember my late arrival to the 3 drill sergeant's who were waiting to leave on our Seattle trip.  Well, without naming names...I'm blaming it on 2 of the 3. I was out the door, almost to the car when I hear 2 voices:

"Mom, I don't have any socks." {whiny kid voice}

"Well, where are they?" {me-pleasant, accommodating, jovial}

"I don't know..." {more whining}

I head back to the house - utterly pleasant and willing to help - of course.  I search and I search and I search.  In vain I attempt to find any 4 socks.  I could care less at this point if they match, if they have holes, really anything will do.  McDonald's requires socks or I would have made them go barefoot.  I turn up nothing.  How in the entire house can we not find 4 socks.  Not pairs...just 4 of them.  

I left - with my pleasant attitude still shining- and hoped they didn't go to McDonald sock-less.  What I don't know can't hurt me, right?  I didn't even ask when I got home, I couldn't.  

This weekend I had had enough.  I went to the mall on Sunday and stocked up on socks.  Gobs of socks.  You'd think owning a shoe store and carrying socks I would not have to resort to this but Smartwool socks are no small purchase and I was over spending that kind of $ on lost kid's socks.  Only responsible adults deserve that type of heaven on their feet.  I went straight for the bargain white socks.  

I'm putting an end to this sock madness once and for all.

Adult Onset Dyslexia, ADD, and other issues

I've realized recently that I have several apparent issues that are rising rapidly to the surface.  

I have been transposing numbers a lot lately.  Can you get dyslexia as an adult?  I think you might be able to.  Its definitely worrisome.  Shoes are mis-priced, invoices are mixed up...

I've also noticed that my attention span is deteriorating quicker than my waist.  I sit down to tackle a task and before I know it, I've started another, and another, and, yes, another.  And then nothing gets done.  Lots is started.  Little is finished.  If I could, I would fire myself and hire someone with a lot better attention span.  And someone who would do a better job at finishing tasks.  

Then there is the sleep issue.  Anyone's who has kids knows what I mean.  I don't think I've slept many full nights in the 10 years I've been a mother.  They conspire, they pillage, and they run me over.  I definitely think it is a conspiracy.  I can just hear it...

Joey-"I'm tired tonight.  Its your turn to get mom up."

Autumn-"I did last night.  Your turn Riley."

Riley-"Okay, I'll have leg cramps tonight.  That will work."

I blame the above and pictures like this on my lack of sleep.  There has to be a reason for all this madness.

 

An Ode to Teachers

I could never be a teacher. I don't know how they can do what they do 10 months of the year. It blows my mind.

When I was little I loved 3rd grade, so naturally I thought I would become a 3rd grade teacher. Now that I am wiser...I realize how ridiculous that is. You have to be a certain breed which I am clearly not.

Teachers have a lot of patience, I don't. Teachers enjoy crafty things, I don't. Teachers are okay with kids using glue, I am not. Teachers get asked a million questions each day some of which are completely useless to the state of humanity and they get up the next day and do it again, I would never get out of bed again.

My youngest is a question asker. He asks me questions from the moment we get up until bedtime. I think sometimes he asks me questions while I'm sleeping. The last few days he is all into what type of animals live in Washington that he has not seen yet in his 6 years of life. Being that I am not a biologist or have spent any time in the past decade researching animal habitats, I HAVE NO CLUE. That is not the answer he was looking for.

Out of desperation I told my little guy that I would get up with him at 6:30 am and we could spend some time researching these mind boggling questions. By now you have likely read about how much I LOVE mornings. Getting up early is in itself a sheer act of love. But I'm also not big on questions. I just live in the moment and figure things out as need be. I really don't ask a lot of questions. I don't know the answer to a lot of questions. And I don't want to be asked a lot of questions.

But we have spent the last two days researching the questions that plague this guy's soul. Its been a personal challenge. And it makes me realize how special teachers are. And it reminds me that I could never be a teacher because I would probably curl up in a ball under my desk and never come out.

A Saturday with Ree

This weekend I joined a few of my shoe divas on a trip to Seattle. We were on our way to meet The Pioneer Women at her cookbook signing.

I've never been to a book signing so I had no idea what to expect.
I apparently did not realize that when the ladies say we are leaving at noon, 5 minutes past is completely unacceptable. They were ladies on a mission. They were even more unimpressed when I made them stop at the local bookstore, Homespun General Store, so that I could purchase my own copy of the cookbook. {We were heading to a book store in Seattle.} But I'm a shop local kinda gal and if it was available in Lynden, I was going to buy it in Lynden. The ladies did stop for me and I excitedly purchased my new favorite cookbook. Chock full of the most delicious recipes that will ensure I never fit into my wedding dress again.

(Look at my huge grin...I told you, I love shopping local)

After the little delay we were on our way to the big city. I was full of anticipation and excitement. I don't often leave my small town or my store.

On our travels we discovered that everyone was wearing Sole Obsession shoes. A great plug for the store. These ladies know comfort and fashion and they all picked great shoes for our trip. Tami was wearing her new Jambu Planet's, I chose my new favorite shoes, Leslie was wearing Privo's and Holly was sporting Dansko's.

We had some great times, we shared stories about our birthing experiences because that's just what girls do, we talked about our kids because, again, that's just what girls do, we confessed how many times we each changed our outfits that morning looking for the perfect one because...that's what girls do, and we laughed A LOT!
We laughed so much that when I arrived home I was still smiling. I love spending time with people that make me laugh.

Here we are after trying to squeeze all four of us into that photo booth behind. It was not a pretty sight and eventually a lady near us just couldn't stand it anymore and graciously offered to take our photo instead. The photo booth shots are mainly of my nostrils and Leslie's cheek. I'm not sure what happened to Tami and Holly. I know they were in there but...?

By the time we actually got through the crazy line and met up with Pioneer Woman we were a disheveled, sweaty mess. It was H-O-T in that bookstore and after shopping in the rain our hair was askew, our foreheads were glistening, and our perfect outfits had seen better times. But that didn't keep us from our excitement. We were by far the noisiest bunch of gals there and we had a great time sharing our stories and questions with Ree (Pioneer Women). She may have thought we were crazy...maybe. Tami asked her what size spanks to buy...Ree heard "What size do you wear?" and actually told us, {gasp} I told her the conversation I overheard from some young, naive college boy who thought Ree's conversion from vegetarian to carnivore was "disgusting" (you can read the full story of that below*). Holly and Ree discussed the affects of wearing spanks and the whereabout of all that chub (it has to go somewhere)...yep, she definitely thought we were crazy. But we had so much fun!

Thank you ladies for a great time. Although Ree was fun to meet, the highlight by far was spending time with 3 delightful women and laughing 'til our cheeks hurt.







*My story of meeting up with the young, naive college boy and his girlfriend...
Boy: "So what is this all about. She used to be a vegetarian and now she eats meat again?
Girl: "I don't know" (she shrugs and walks away)
Kelly: (always and eavesdropper) "Yep, pretty much"
Boy: "And you are all here celebrating that?"
Kelly: confused look
Boy: (Turns to the page in the cookbook showcasing Ree's Beef Brisket and then turning to me he says) "That's disgusting"
Kelly: uncontrolled giggling
It was a classic moment. Thank you, boy, for making my day. When I told Ree she said "Where is that boy? We need to talk."

Why the bed?

I chose the background with a bed and lamp because I LOVE sleep.

And if I wasn't sleeping, I'd like to be in bed reading.

(*note: the background has been changed. I'm neurotic about change ~ Sorry!)

I think if I could change something about me, I'd become a morning person.

My mother in law is up before her eyes are even open. I haven't witnessed that personally but I'm pretty sure. She wakes up, meets the day bright and early, and is happy.

It boggles my mind. It takes me at least 5 mins to even remember my name, my eyes open a few mins after that. And beware the first person to talk to me. Its never pretty. My husband started referring to me as "the bear" when my kids were babies. Middle of the night feedings were scary and unpleasant for all involved. I can't function.

I think it might be genetic. My sister and I went away a couple of months ago to Portland for my bi-annual shoe show. The first morning we were there my alarm went off at 6:30am. Anything before 7am is just unfair in my rule book. So the alarm is going off. My sister is calling me "Jason" (her husband's name) and trying to get me to turn off the alarm and I can't remember where I am, why I am there, and where the alarm is. We laughed about it over breakfast but at the time it was frightening.

Is there hope for me? Can this behavior be changed?

The other side...

What is the other side of my sole? Contrary to the way it sounds...I'm not starting a blog about the bottom of my feet. I often have people ask me about my family, about what life is like outside the store.

I feel like I need to begin with the preface that I don't really have a life outside of Sole Obsession Footwear. Generally it mostly consists of sleeping, eating, and laundry.

But every once in awhile something fun comes up...and now I can share it with the world, or one or two people with nothing better to do.

So check in from time to time and see what is happening on the Other Side of Sole.