get crackin'

We're on our way to OKC again. When Yago gets out of work (hopefully early) we'll head out. I'm supposed to be showered and mostly packed by now but I'm drinking coffee and catching up with my Internet instead. I'll go shower in a few minutes, promise.

I ate pumpkin pie for breakfast, someone has to. I always try to tell myself if it has fruit in it so it's like eating a danish. That's not so far off, is it? I gained all my weight back that I lost from the diet a couple of weeks ago. Yago insists we need a middle ground, a healthier overall diet. He's right but it's very difficult around the holidays. I made cookies and four pies last week. I know when we get to OKC his mom will have candy, cookies and pie. I'll feel obligated to eat them because Yago won't. I guess that's what the New Year's resolution is for.

I'm still working a couple of days a week, it's going pretty well. I'm considering trying to get a full time position for three months to pay Schmitty's tuition but I don't know if I could do it. I feel bad for Ralph in daycare, they're never good days for him. He's not happy. Plus, I don't feel like I spend any time with him on the days I work. It's a couple of hours, that's it. I hated that with Schmitty but I didn't have much of a choice then, I do now.

A guy at work told me a story that I can't get out of my head, I can't stand it. He told me he chipped his tooth when he was a kid doing something stupid. He clipped the corner of it with nail clippers! I hate tooth stories, they give me the willies!! This guys just plunges in to a nail clipper/tooth story without warning. It can't get it off my mind. Ick ick ick.

Time for the shower and my third cup of joe. Merry Christmas to everyone.

busy holidays

We're supposed to get freezing rain this afternoon so the commissary was packed full of people. Yuck.

I did my PFT yesterday and passed, two and a half points lower than last year but I passed. I would say the best part of working is being able to eat lunch with Yago. We bring leftovers for lunch and then meet in the cafeteria to eat them. Yesterday he met a couple of people I used to work with. He commented that everyone I knew was old. Most of them were my trainers when I was an airman.

I'm trying to transition Ralph to his bed for naps but he's not having it. I put him down an hour ago and I can hear him playing in his room. He never behaves! That reminds me... We went to the BX today and he was playing on the tricycles until he spotted the big pink Barbie Jeep. He got in there and loved it! I helped him in and out several times and let him play for a few minutes. When I told him it was time to go he threw a FIT!!! Very embarrassing.

He screamed and hollered while I tried to finish shopping, even in line at the register. Finally, an older couple behind me started talking to him and he got shy. (shy = quiet) Then another kid started a tantrum near the registers. Someone in another line yelled, "Shut up!" very loudly. I thought that was more obnoxious than the tantrums. Little kids are little kids, deal with it. The other mother finally left her cart and took her kid outside. I felt bad for her. When it's close to the holidays and you have a list of things you have to accomplish sometimes you just have to ride out the tantrum along with the embarrassment. It's one thing when a seven-year-old acts up and another thing when it's a toddler. You can't control a toddler, I don't care how fabulous you are.

meat & dairy please

It's Thursday which means just four more days of our cleanse. I'm REALLY looking forward to Monday. I think we're going to have dinner at Don & Millie's, which means greasy burgers and $.99 margaritas!

we're in, i mean he's in

Sammy got in to BT!! I was very excited but we haven't had a chance to tell him yet. He had a friend come over after school and spend the night, now he's out geocaching with his dad.

After school yesterday I helped the PTO President and VP decorate a board for Christmas. I was chatting with both the women and said I needed to talk to the office staff real quick and I'd be right back. When I returned the VP told the President that Schmitty was changing schools next year. The President looked surprised and asked me if we were moving already. The VP said, "No, they're just changing schools." As if I were an infidel or something. Mind you, the President was talking to ME and the VP answered. I was shocked that anybody knew, much less was blabbing. The VP is the same woman that announced at my first PTO meeting that I bought Susan's house.

When Yago came home I recounted the story. He said he couldn't wait until Schmitty changed schools and people could talk about how we didn't belong because we weren't good enough. "Why?!" I asked. He said he'd rather deal with that than people talking like we thought we were too good for the school. I must say, I agree.

We started the cleanse last Sunday night when we got home from OKC and have stuck to it pretty well except for the birthday beer Yago received as a gift. I've lost seven pounds by cutting out meats, sugars and gluten. It's crazy. I don't know if I can make it another week though.

I'm going to shower and clean while all the boys are out. Have a good weekend.

report

Oh my goodness, so much to report. It seems like forever since I've updated.

We went to OKC for Thanksgiving, it was awesome. Lots of good food and the family is always happy to see the boys. Yago and Schmitty did a lot of GeoCaching and even took Big Daddy with them. We've been picking on Yago because it looks like he got a GeoRash. Maybe poison ivy or something...

I worked Tues and Wed, the people all seem okay but the job seems a little overwhelming at this point. My boss is looking to me to be the technical expert on architecture since I'm the only bonafied comm officer. Um, BCOT didn't really make me an expert in anything. I feel stress about his expectations. Also? I feel stress about my PT test in less than two weeks. Oh well. I won't do great but it'll be over. I'll be working a couple days a week until March, then I'll do my annual tour.

That means Ralph had two days in daycare. Yago dropped him off Tues and when I picked him up he was standing in the middle of the room crying his eyes out. He ran over to me as soon as he saw me, that always makes a momma feel good. The caretaker said he had a rough day and he didn't eat lunch Tues or Wed. I guess he prefers my cooking! We hope it'll get better for him.

Schmitty had his test and interview today at Brownell-Talbot. We should know something... TOMORROW! I think he'll get in without a problem. He was excited about going this morning. The admissions director walked me out and said, "He's so mature, he'll fit right in here." The school times are different and I keep looking at the clock in a panic because I'm afraid I'll forget to pick him up!

boogie man

I have my own boogie man, I named him Ralph. He's got a runny nose that won't quit. The tip of his nose is raw from being wiped, poor little guy.

We're going to OKC this afternoon and last time I got in trouble for not being ready on time but having an updated blog. Since I'm making a blog entry today I have to be sure to be ready on time.

This year is flying by. It's strange because it seems like forever since we've been in Germany. Home is home now.

I'm on to the boogie man, he poops himself every time I get on blogger! Shoot.

frozen buns

I walked Schmitty to school today and froze my buns off. It was about 28 degrees outside, I thought it'd be fine once we got moving. I did work up a bit of a sweat but my face and legs are frozen! Poor midget, he was glued to the stroller.

The diet program is back. We lost it in one of our computer crashes so Yago got the 15 day trial and we'll probably buy it again. I lost a pound yesterday so that's good.

We're heading down to Okalahoma tomorrow for Thanksgiving. I dread the drive with the baby because after a couple of hours he just hollers. I wish you could let kids out of their carseats these days but you can't. I think he'd do better if he could just MOVE. Pinned in a five point harness for eight hours isn't fun for anyone.

It looks like Schmitty will take his test and interview at B-T a week from Thursday. I know he has mixed feelings about changing schools.

Well someone messed their pants and needs to be changed.

mrs garrett

This afternoon we're touring Brownell Talbot. I'm excited, I'm not really sure why. It's not like I get to go to the school! I'm trying to come up with intelligent questions for the admissions director. Yago asked what I was wearing to the meeting, it seems like we should dress up to make a good impression. I want to look good without looking like I'm trying too hard.

I can't wait to see if it's what I expect. The school has a Headmaster which conjures up imagines of Eastland from The Facts of Life.

privacy please

Well, Friday Yago and I are going to look at a private school for Schmitty. It's more expensive than in state college tuition. I'm just so displeased with the attention he gets at his current school and the test scores of other nearby schools.

If we wind up paying thousands of dollars a year for this school I'm going to blame Mickity for sending me the link before we moved. ;^)

turn off the radio

Why does Sean Hannity hate public transportation? Why is he opposed to Americans being able to receive basic medical care? Why is he opposed to affordable college education? How is that American?

to our house grandmother comes...

Yago is at the airport picking up his grandmother, she's going to visit us for a few days. We're excited to have her come. I can't believe Yago still has grandparents! They're always so happy to see the boys.

Ralph said "orange" today without prompting! He has a book of colors and I've been working with him to learn orange and yellow the last couple of weeks. Today Yago was reading the book to him and he said "orange" on the orange page. FINALLY! That is one stubborn kid.

Gotta go finish sprucing myself up before Grandmother gets here!

Et tu, Oprah?

Mickity called me yesterday to tell me about a great offer on oprah.com. She said it was a show about organizing your house. I dvr'ed it and watched it this afternoon.

Here's the thing... I was curled up under a blanket on the couch watching a show about messy houses. I couldn't stop looking at the baby toys scattered around the living room. How am I supposed to relax and watch Oprah if she's doing a show about housework?? It just makes me feel guilty that I haven't done the housework yet! Thanks for ruining my hour of relaxation!

It was like trying to eat a bag of potato chips while watching The Biggest Loser!

cheesy creezy

Yesterday Yago and I MADE cheese. We freakin' made mozzarella cheese! How cool is that? We bought some organic milk that wasn't ultra-pastuerized and got to work.

The article we read a few months ago claimed it only takes an hour and is delicious, it was true! We ate it all last night in a risotto I made but we're excited to do it again. We're going to look in to making different (more complicated) cheeses too. It's just so neat to turn a gallon of milk into a little ball of fresh mozzarella.

forgotten innocence

Last night we watched Air Bud on the Disney channel while Yago worked his mid. I popped popcorn and everything. Schmitty cried when the dog was taken away from the kid by the evil antagonist. I felt bad for him and put my hand on his leg to try to comfort him. At the end there was the inevitable championship game and he sullenly said he knew what was going to happen... The team was going to lose the big game. It hadn't even occured to me that the team would lose. I know that the dog will come back and the team will win when the kid takes the winning shot in the final seconds. I thought of how nice it would be to actually be surprised by the happy ending.

the new mids

Yago found out Thursday that he has to work mids over Veteran's Day weekend and Thanksgiving weekend. He spent about five minutes convincing me that he wasn't putting me on. I thought it was a joke or something.

He left tonight right after an early dinner and Schmitty actually teared up. I reminded him that it was only three nights and at least it wasn't Iraq. With wet eyes he said, "It feels like Iraq. Will I see him tomorrow?"

linus(ed)

I was officially pumpkined out yesterday. I bought my third and final pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. I spent $4.50 on a darn cup of coffee. Really, paying for it was I moment I decided never again. I should mention we have a super-snazzy expresso/coffee maker at home. When we're watching every dollar we spend I can't justify spending nearly $5 on a coffee. And? The syrup was at the bottom of the cup so I couldn't drink the last 4 or 5 ounces. So, like Linus on Charlie Brown, I'm not waiting for the Great Pumpkin again. (Well, maybe next year I'll be suckered in again.)

i hate the weekend a month, two weeks a year

I've been busy working out my Reserve schedule and looking for daycare. What a pain! Yesterday Yago and I went to the MOST depressing daycare I've ever seen. It was horrible, I can't even explain it. Yago said it had the saddest playground he's ever seen. You'd only have to step inside the door to understand. I think we've found an acceptable place and a workable schedule, two days a week for about three months and then my annual tour. I should be starting in December.

Yesterday while I was inprocessing I ran in to someone I used to work with years ago. It's an odd friendship/acquaintanceship. He invited us over to his house Sunday, Schmitty asked why we weren't going. I explained that although we're friends I think he would spend the afternoon/evening saying things to embarrass me in front of Yago and it would make me feel bad. He'd joke and try to be funny but eventually it'd be mean. I asked Schmitty if that made sense, if he understood. He said he understood perfectly. He's a good little guy.

I need to clean my house and get things started for dinner.

more treats than tricks

We had dinner guests a couple of weeks ago and someone mentioned their affinity for pumpkin spice lattes. Later that night I told Yagopuchae that it sounded disgusting. After a week or so I couldn't help myself and I ordered one, it was delicious! Now I feel guilty about my insult.

I went to Schmitty's Halloween parade yesterday. What a zoo. You get a bunch of excited third graders together dressed up and costumes and it's pandemonium. I finally gave up on trying to keep order just went with it.

I found out that we are the ghetto house on the block. I bought the cheap bags of mixed candy for Halloween for a couple of reasons: 1) I didn't want to spend the money and 2) I didn't want to be tempted to hork it all down. Turns out our neighborhood gives out the good candy bars, I think our neighbors even take a little bit of pride in it. One house was giving out little Cheetos snacks in special Halloween themed bags. We gave out mostly Tootsie Rolls!

from both sides

I went to the courthouse today to get an official copy of the custody and child support agreement for the adoption case. Don't get me started on why I'm doing what I paid a lawyer to do... it's just easier.

I called to order the documents yesterday, they were ready for me today after noon. I had Yago come home to watch the midget while I drove to the courthouse. I'd like to know what it is that makes a person feel guilty just going to the courthouse? I had to go through a metal detector which is widely practiced but still makes me feel weird. I just felt like everyone assumed I had either done something wrong or was associated with someone who broke the law. It wasn't pleasant.

I found the office I was looking for. The clerk asked if I wanted regular copies or certified copies, "Certified, please." It occurred to me after the request that I'd have to pay for them and I didn't have any money on me. I found an ATM and went back up to pay $7.50 for the certified copies. I left the building from a different door than I entered so it took me a few minutes to find my car. I finally found it... with a gosh darn parking ticket on it! Three minutes. Are you kidding? $16. I guess that's why everyone feels like a criminal at the courthouse.

fall

Last weekend the inlaws came up for Schmitty's birthday (parents, brother and sister-in-law). We all went to Vala's Pumpkin Patch for the party. It was really fun, we rented a campsite for a couple of hours. We roasted weenies and marshmallows for s'mores. I stuffed myself beyond belief. It was kind of a harvest theme park. There were train rides, pig races, bouncy pads, all kinds of things to keep everyone entertained.

This Friday is Schmitty's Halloween party at school, I volunteered to be a room parent. I'm supposed to bring a canister filled with candy and have the kids guess how many candies are inside. Gumballs painted like eyeballs were recommended so I've been searching all over for stupid eye/gum/balls and can't find them!! I'm taking Ralph with me to the classroom, we'll see how that goes. I'm dressing him in Schmitty's old dinosaur costume. He'll be in to everything, I'm sure.

That's about all I've got going on this week.