Valentine's Day

We had a nice Valentine's Day. The FRG party went really well. Caleb had an awesome time. He colored, played muscial chairs, played bean bag toss, and ate lots of candy.

My Valentine's Present

This is what I got for Valentine's Day from my WONDERFUL husband!! I actually got it before he left, which was 11 days ago (seems like it's been a month already). Thank you honey, I love it!!

We have a fun filled day planned, starting with some laundry and then helping set-up the FRG Valentine's Kids Party and then attending the actual party at 2pm. And to finish off the day, we're going to babysit so some of the Blue Ridge mommies can go out together for some Valentine's Day dinner. Yes, it will be a day full of romance and love.....of course don't forget that I have two men as my dates today!!!! Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. I hope that you are feeling the love.

Organized sports

Caleb is finally old enough to join an organized youth sport, BASKETBALL. Today was the first day of practice. There was probably about thirty-five 3-4 year olds running into each other, throwing balls at each other, and yelling, "my ball!". It was great. Caleb did really well for the first 40 minutes, but when they asked the kids to dribble the ball across the court, Caleb fell apart. He's never held a basketball much less dribbled a basketball, so he lost all confidence and broke down into a pouting fit on the floor. When we got home, he told me that a boy laughed at him....I don't think that was the case, but that was his perception and his feelings were hurt.

There are so many life lessons that he will begin to learn now, aside from how to dribble a basketball. And I get to learn how to explain those lessons appropriately to a 3 yr. old. I'm not sure I'm ready.

What I hope Caleb learns in the next 6 weeks:

1. How to listen and take directions,

2. Self confidence,

3. and that you don't have to be great at something in order to enjoy it.

If he learns to dribble a ball in the process, wonderful, but not necessary.

Overwhelmed

Yesterday, the boys and I went out in town to buy some produce. It has been awhile since we've been out just the three of us and now I remember why. Anyway, walking into the market this older Japanese man (he said he was 81) came up to me and started talking to me. He had no personal space and invaded mine very closely to my face. His teeth were rotted and his breath was awful. I found myself leaning backwards to the point of falling trying to give myself some breathing room. The boys were strapped into the stroller and the stroller was pressed up against a box of lettuce. There isn't room to walk with a stroller to begin with, but I wasnt' going to leave the boys out in the main isle (like many of the Japanese women do). Other people were trying to pass by us (pushing and forcing they're way through) and this man just kept talking to me. I was very nervous and Caleb was starting to get upset. Caleb is trying to pull himself out of the stroller and yelling at me, "Let's go home mommy". I literally wanted to come out of my skin. I tried several times to relieve myself from this man's conversation to no avail. He was telling me that he was in the Navy during WWII (I think, his English was very elementary) and he kept hitting his hands together saying, "Imperial Staff! Imperial Staff!!" I still have no idea if he was in the Japanese Navy or if he was in the US Navy...His physical stance made me think that he was in the Japanese Navy and that he was upset with me being there, but that could just be based on my anxiety during the situation. Anyway, I had to be very rude and walk away, which is difficult for me to do with old people. (I have this thing about old people, they make me sad) At that point, I wanted to leave and go home, but we had walked out there and by Gosh we were going home with produce!! So we continued with our shopping until this American woman came up to us in the checkout line and started asking a million questions....where are you from? How long have you been here?? In a 2 minute span, I knew everything about this woman and her husband. She just kept talking! And then she tells me, I can walk and talk if you have somewhere to go. URG!!!! I just wanted to have a nice walk and buy some produce. So much for that. My last mistake was going to GAP where we had another situation....

Then, we went home. I was so exhausted from being so OVERWHELMED! People just suck the life right out of me. Am I just losing my patience with age???

Learnin to Scoot

Caleb got this scooter for Christmas and Shawn and I have both tried showing him how to use it, but he doesn't like to take instruction from us. However, he does listen to his favorite "bud" John. Of course, John has a "big boy" scooter which goes much faster than Caleb's little Radio Flyer, 3 wheel scooter, but Caleb tried very hard to keep up and finally got tired and decided to just chase John on foot. In the process, it was decided that Caleb needs a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and if they make them, ankle pads....

Our Super Bowl "Monday"

It is beyond WEIRD to watch the super bowl on a Monday morning.

9:00 in the a.m. is a bit early to munch on chips and salsa and down a cold beer while cursing out a quarterback for not getting rid of the ball soon enough. So we skipped the chips and dip and the cold beer, but enjoyed cursing out the quarterback and celebrating touchdowns. Caleb learned to yell, "Go Steelers" and the arm gesture for "touchdown". Thankfully the game kept us interested because watching the game on AFN (Armed Forces Network) we missed seeing all the cool commercials that you lucky folks in the states will be talking about for the next month.

I have to say that this game was the best super bowl we have watched in some time. Of course, we love Pittsburgh (thanks to my dad) and the last half of the game had us sitting on the edge of our seats and screaming (ok, so I screamed the most). At one point, Caleb put his hands over his ears and shhhh Shawn and I. My kid, the loudest kid on the block, shhhhhed me....that's just embarrassing!

"TOUCHDOWN"

Random Events

1. I was voted into our FRG as the new Vice-President. I am very excited about this new adventure in my life. Being able to help out other families makes me feel useful and I like the sense of belonging that comes from being a part of this organization. Also, it's kinda like having a job outside of being a mom that doesn't require me to a committed schedule.

2. We are preparing to become a single parent household again. Shawn will leave as Riley is crawling and will come back as Riley is walking. It's not so much the physical preparation of getting clothes washed and packed or making sure our power of attorney is current that is hard, but it's the emotional preparation that for the next couple of months you will be soley responsible for your household. No break from the kiddos!

3. Trying to keep up with Riley is trying these days. I thought I was fully transitioned into being a mom of two. I was sure that I had this job down, but then Riley started crawling and this new development has made having two kids a new experience. Riley is into EVERYTHING! Caleb doesn't want Riley in his room because he pulls up all of his train track. So Caleb is constantly yelling, "No Riley" "Mom come get Riley". I can't get anything done. If Caleb gets out a coloring book, Riley is right there to help pull out pages and crinkle the page that Caleb is working on. Sometimes I just want to scream! My house has become a circus of constant toddler yelling, baby climbing, laundry growing, gate enclosed arena.

4. Now to top off everything else....the boys have been sick!! They have been up every night for the last 3 days. Caleb has gone through several boxes of tissues and wants to be by my side (attached) at every moment. Riley has fluid dripping from each facet of his face. He's crying, his nose is running, he's coughing, and drooling! Every time I pick him up, I have to change my clothes. UGH! With the house being closed off by baby gates, the rain outside, the boys being sick, and the thought of Shawn leaving is giving me some anxiety.