What I overheard today while driving in the car
Brody " I think mom is 20. Wait...... NO....... her's 23."
Hank "How old's daddy?"
Brody "73 I think"

BAHAHHAHHAAAAA!!

On that note, I had an "age spot" removed from my forehead today. What the hell is that about? And, the good news is....... they're genetic. Lucky me. And, also, I know you had a botoxed face nurse. So, stop talking about my "age spot." You and your expressionless eyebrows.

Our family was sitting around watching football tonight, and as they cut to the commerical Hank yelled " Whoooo......cheerleaders! I see their butts." With a very happy grin on his face. God help me when this kid is 16.

God Bless America

Tonight on the ride home from church the boys spotted the yellow ribbons downtown. Of course, as soon as they spotted them, they said "look, ribbons for soldiers! Why are there ribbons for soldiers momma?" Well, I've always felt that if they are old enough to ask, they're old enough to know. (Obviously taking into consideration their age.) So, I explained that 10 years ago some very bad men killed some people. Imagine how a conversation goes with a 3 and 4 yr. old from here. If not, just insert a lot of "why"?
I explained that some people don't like America and some very bad people flew a plane into a building where people worked. The building collapsed, and many people including firemen and police officers died. Brody said "well, then why do soldiers still die?" Which opened the conversation about war. The boys were quiet for the rest of the ride and I could tell their little brains were working overtime.
At dinner, we said grace as usual. By usual I mean Brody saying his prayer. Hank singing the new song he learned in school. Followed up by Brody saying "I knew that song first Hank. I was in preschool before you." Cue fight. Me reminding them that we are saying grace and they are fighting over who said a better prayer. And tonight, for added fun, Brody said "oh yeah Hank, do you know your prayer in Spanish." Last time I checked Brody wasn't bilingual. And then our 20 minute grace is completed with all of us putting our hands on our hearts and Brody singing "God Bless America." For real. I'm not joking. It like Chevy Chase's house on Christmas. Minus the squirrel.
As we were eating tonight we did a lot of talking about prayer. The power of prayer, praying if your scared, praying if your thankful, praying if your sad, happy....you get the point. Basically, just explaining that God is with you at all times. I love how my boys really understand this for such a young age. Hank said "where is doggy heaven? I wanna see Lulu there someday." Brody said "there's soldiers in heaven." So sweet. Wouldn't our world be so much better if every person just had compassion for others?
In honor of all of those who lost their lives God bless them and their families. God bless all the Americans who helped that day. And, as the Kowboys say often "God bless the soldiers."

Today has been a very emotional day for me. For a thousand and one reasons. And, NO, I'm not p.g. This week of school has been great. The Kowboys are loving it, and I am getting a whole crap load of stuff done. Like what you ask?
Well, I washed all my delicates......ahem.....bras that have been sitting in a pile on the bottom of the laundry room floor as if they are awaiting Heidi Klum and her angel wings to come sweep them up and walk down the runway while Seal (can't decide if he is hot or not) sings some sucky song. Meanwhile Heidi is swaying down the runway with her bouncy, yeah I've had 4 kids in like 15 minutes, boobs. That would be if, if, Heidi wore Hanes Her Way bras from WalMart. What? They're raspberry pink and teal. Kind of hot? Right? No. Not at all. But, ya know what? Kovi can't tell the difference. He thought they were from Vic's. And, someday he'll get me some big ol' perky boobs.
I have to say, this school stuff has been bitter sweet for me. Of course, it's nice to have some time to get things done without having to "ounce" (announce) a rodeo, pretend to be Princes Leia, pitch baseballs, go deer hunting, "ounce" a water ski show, try to teach the terrier to fetch, feed Brody's pet worms.....ya get the point. But, it's wierd. I realize after this week I will be working Tues. and Wed., so I will just be home alone on Fridays, but still, it's wierd. For 5 years my days have revolved around the Kowboys. And now, I have from 8-2:30 one day a week to do whatever strikes my fancy. Wierd. I think I have a 70% love, 30% hate relationship with school.

First day of school!

First day of school...first day of school Nemo. Those were the first words the Kowboys heard this morning. Because they are 3 and 4 the excitement was almost tangible. They actually ate breakfast. Gasp! Got dressed when asked, brushed teeth for longer than 8 seconds (and moved the toothbrush on their teeth, not just stand there with it hanging out of their mouth) and put their socks and shoes on the 3rd time I asked. All and all..... a good start to the day. No screaming, no tantrums, no fighting, no crying. And, the Kowboys didn't scream, throw a tantrum or cry either. hehhehheee..... I have big hopes for day 2.

I have to say, last night was a rough one. We have some transitions coming up. Like......momma is starting a new job. Yes, that last word was J-O-B. As in work. I will be working not 1, but 2 days a week. YIKES!!! Starting next week I will be working Tues. and Wed. in an office in Rhinelander. I will greatly miss all my friends at Grembans and god knows there is a special place in heaven for bosses like those guys. But, as the kids get older and their needs change, being in town 2 minutes from their school was just were I needed to be.

Anyhooo....today was a great day for the Kowboys. They were little rock stars. Brody helped Hank and showed him how a seasoned preschooler does things. I didn't cry. I'm not gonna lie. It was adorable and heart warming and so cute I coulda squeezed their little heads. But, 7 hours to myself was kinda nice.

Thumbs up to cool backpacks. Buzz and Spiderman
Grammie's gonna kill me. But, I thought this was adorable.

I think Papa was more emotional than me!

My unshowered, unmake-up'd self. Funny, that's my usual look! And my Hottie husband and so cute it should be outlawed kids.

My very fav!!! Look at Hankie lookin'
at Brods. I love this one because this was how the morning was. Any questions Hankie had he asked Brody. Ya know, this is B's second year of preschool after all.

Jacket goes here!

Checking out the name tags...seeing if they know anybody.

Putting his supplies away. When I picked him up his teacher told me that he sang "God Bless America" for her. She said she almost cried it was so adorable. I did cry. It was that adorable.

Which toy...which toy???

Dropping his name in the bag .

Hankie's cubby.

Today, while I was in the shower, with the door locked, enjoying my Bumble and Bumble volumizing shampoo, I was quickly brought back to Mom land. Hank was standing outside the door (by standing I mean pounding on the door) yelling "Momma, I gotta go poop." Me, wanting to enjoy my 12 minutes of hot steamy lather told him to go downstairs. Well, as anybody with children knows, they can not poop in a different bathroom. They need to poop in the bathroom that I am using. And enjoying. So, here's where this story is going.......I unlock the door while Hank is screaming "bad, I gotta go BAD!!!!"
I let him in, quickly finish my shower, and dry off. While I'm standing there, wrapping up with my towel Hank says:
"mom, why do you have those big things? (boobs)"
Me: "I know, they are really big. (for real, I really said that) Ladies have these so that when babies are born they can feed them."
Hank: "why do you wear a brat (bra)?"
Me: "So that my shirt looks nice."
Hank "Ohhhh.....so your brat pushes those big things up and squeezes them together?"

Yes Hank, yes. And with some really good underwire and padding, we can all be a DD.

Ouch!

Today I took a womens self defense class at Beyond Martial Arts. My friends Jeff, Mishel and Eric taught the class. Here's a little low down on the gang that taught the class. Jeff is an 8th degree black belt, Mishel is a black belt and Eric is the national champion of some type of martial arts that I don't know how to pronounce. Translation=they are one bad ass family. Or, as our house calls them: The Incredibles......
Jeff-Mr. Incredible-he's one tough dude
Mishel-Elastagirl. (You need to take her Yoga class people)
Eric-Dash-he can do all sort of crazy tricks before you eyes even realize he's got you in a choke hold
Mishel has a daughter who we'll call Violet because I have yet to meet her, so I think she has an invisible force field around her and she has a son I'll call Jack Jack because I'm not sure if he has any crazy martial arts powers.

O.k, so now that you have the low down, picture me Mrs. Not Even Sort of Tough...getting my butt wooped for 7 hours straight. Here's the thing, they didn't sugar coat it. Jeff called us all sorts of nasty names, put us in in incredibly aweful positions, and played on our weaknesses. Women were crying, women were furious, women were scared. But, guess what? We learned in a BIG hurry it's just not gonna be real fun when a 200 lb. man is trying to do terrible things to us. And, we learned lots of tactics to hopefully keep us safe.

I know you're all thinking "like what?" Well, then pay up and take the class. Really, learn for yourself. You could ride in a car with me all day long, but that aint gonna teach you to drive is it? If you are a women you should take this class. It's not fun. It's very stressful. It's very invasive. But I promise you will leave there feeling much more secure. And, with a right leg that's missing a big piece of skin, the entire side of your body bruised, you won't be able to turn you neck to the left, your teeth will hurt, and you'll have some awesome rug burn. But......hottie Eric will teach you. Hottie Eric is worth some rug burn.