Thanksgiving Break!! Woot Woot.

Thanksgiving

I hear stories about people hating the holidays because families are always fighting, bickering about whose house to go to, old sibling rivalries carried into adulthood ect. Down here we don't have family (Except Loopy's brother) so we get to choose who we spend the holidays with! AND because I like to cook big meals they all come here. Since we moved to Florida 10yrs ago we have had a rotating group of people on Thanksgiving. Joe, Jon, Corey, Ballge, Pete, Brad, Ian, Jessica, Mark, the list goes on. 

Nom Nom Nom

This year were graced with the presence of Karry and her kids (Luke, Mel, and Natalie), Grubbs, and John (Loopy's brother). I gotta say it went REALLY well. I didn't take many pictures cause some of them are camera shy and I didn't want to make everyone uncomfortable. 

One Cool Turkey

Every year Logan names our Turkey. This year his name was "Wishbone". Previous names were "Butter" "Gobbler" and "Jesus" Gotta love traditions! 

A few more pictures from our awesome family holiday!

Kendal LOVES Grubbs, she told me to take this picture so we can remember him when he leaves.

Luke helped me eat the eggs. Karry makes amazing deviled eggs. They are my favorite and I would have taken on the whole tray by myself! He was also awesome enough to play with Logan most of the day. I might have to have this boy over more often...

These girls are so freakin' sweet. I might keep them too! The little blond one can eat as many Hawaiian rolls as I can and THAT is impressive.

I should say something about this but I really can't think of anything other than the fact he was mad at me because I couldn't draw tiny little faces just the way he wanted them under all the hats. Sometimes I just can't win.

Part of Logan's holiday break assignment was to write down his favorite thing about Thanksgiving Break. (more about this later)

"My favorite thing I did on Thanksgiving was playing football. I played football with Uncle John and Luke. My football was yellow and blue. It sung the Michigan fight song"

Black Friday

I went shopping at Target late Thursday night. I WAS going to shop the night away with Jodi but after 6 hours in line for a tv at Wal*Mart she gave up and went home. Anyway, I was in and out in less than an hour. I mostly went for the people watching because I did my shopping online while Wishbone was cooking in the oven. Loopy chose to go to work on that Friday because we are still getting paid hourly and its easy money. They did close the business at 3pm AGAIN and the bosses told them to go enjoy friends and family (Same thing happened on Wednesday!) I sort of love the real world. 

Friday night Sean came over for a bit. When he was here the other night he wasn't feeling well but luckily he was up and ready to go this time. At one point I was chillin' on the couch and heard some serious commotion from Kendal's room. 

When I got there I discovered that the boys had started a war with Loopy and Kendal involving ray guns, Care Bears, and a Nerf Gun. 

They were REALLY serious about this fight. I am still not sure who won....

But this made me laugh.

Saturday

Adriana told me earlier in the week that she would take the kids for the day so me and Loopy could spend some time together. FOR NO GOOD REASON!! So I thought hell yes! We woke up, packed them up and promptly dumped them off at her house for the day. After we do this we always look at each other and think "wow, its really quiet" Then we listen to vulgar music and crack dirty jokes for a while. 

First stop, coffee on the beach 

at Beach House Beanery

 We did a little shopping at a consignment store, cause I am dutch and the kids won't know the difference.

Then Loopy wanted to go on a woodsy adventure. So we went to Bullow Plantation. We have been hopelessly looking for a hiking trail we took with Logan when he was a year old. This was not it, but ended up being pretty cool anyway.

It is much quieter hiking without kids. So much so that we were able to walk right up to this armadillo and watch him dig in the dirt for about 20 min. I also took some video, but its not that interesting.
You had to be there.

This tree was all sorts of confused on how to grow in a strait line. I was going to sit in the hole down there but it was filled with spiders and other things that we consider "too much nature".

We were headed to play with Nooks and shop for kid's books at Books a Million when I saw a new music store. It was in this large complex owned by the local Russians. Infact the place was called "Z Music Store" So when you say it with a Russian accent its even better. 

Image shamelessly stolen from their facebook page

ANYWAY, the guys in there were really nice and Loopy got to play a really nice hand wired tube amp that he now wants to buy. It's only $1000 and had a great sound but alas, we need to get our car out of the body shop next week.. which also costs $1000. 

I took a video of that too, but the sound on my phone sucks horribly so I won't subject you all to that. Just know it was fantastic and the Russian was impressed with his playing. 

We also went to Sakura for dinner. Which is amazing and delishous every damn time. It was nice to enjoy the meal without maintaining the kids. I even had a chance to people watch. Which I LOVE. After 12 years its still SO much fun to just hang out with Loopy. He's pretty awesome. It was a great day

Sunday

This day was not fun or awesome. My kids were whiny a-holes. That's right, I said it. I blog all the time about how awesome or funny and hilarious my kids are. Every few months they have a day when they forgot how to listen, or do things for themselves, or do any freakin' thing I ask of them. Even if that thing is sit down and shut your pie hole for 2 seconds instead of beating your sister/brother with toys and yelling in my face. If your kids have never had an A-hole day.. you are lying. 

For instance, Logan had some homework that I didn't bother to look at until about 3pm on the last day of vacation. My bad. He cried on the floor for an HOUR because he didn't want to read the paragraph his teacher wrote about his assignment. It was "Too much words" Mind you he read TWO Diary of a Wimpy Kid books this week. Your argument is invalid child. The assignment was to write a short story about your Thanksgiving (See above) and choose a scene from a book you read recently and make a scene in a box or on cardboard. You would think he had to write a dissertation and animate it.

We WERE going to see a movie at 5:30 but since everyone was screaming like banshees at each other I got in the car and went to Target "for groceries" all by myself. Honestly, I sat in my car for about 20 min before I went inside and just listened to the silence. Aaaah. I am not the only one who does this. I know because there was a woman sitting alone in a mini van across from me. This made me feel better for two reasons 

1) I was not the only mother who lost her schmidt on the last day of vacation.

2) She was drinking a glass of wine while enjoying her silence so her day was worse than mine. 

Normally I would be a little judgey about dinking/ driving/ responsible parenting but I guarantee that woman finished her glass and spent at least an hour drinking coffee at the Starbucks listening to her ipod before pretending to do her shopping and went home happy and sober. Its a mom thing. I get it. 

I made the swingset.

I felt better when I got home and the next assignment was a little less stressful. But keeping him focused on this task was like convincing a moth to sit still on a light bulb. We came up with this scene from his latest Wimpy Kid book. 

That red kid is flying off the swing and about to land on the clothespin seesaw and launch the blue kid. 

Monday

I am still without a car. This comes with pros and cons. 

Pro: I get to sleep in again. (this should get 2 or 3 places on the list of pros) 

Con: I have to ask my friends to help me. I am not good at asking ANYONE for help. EVER.

Pro: I get to wear pj's ALL day!!

Con: Me and Kendal are stuck in the house ALL day!!

So we found some things to keep us amused today. I remembered the bag of pipe cleaners, fuzz balls, and googly eyes I got on sale at Target yesterday. SCORE!! We spent that afternoon making creatures and driving them around in rollerskates. 

Note to self:
Have Logan clean that mirror!

Once that got old, Kendal got into Logan's dress up chest. He has some fun stuff in there!

She was shocked to see what she looked like as Spiderman head/ Jessie hat!

Once that got old I remembered that I know how to make Balloon animals and bought a new pump yesterday! 

And hats....

And swords...

AND hats with balloon animals on top!

Loopy was so confused when he got home. Apparently in our 12+ years together I failed to mention that I could do this. He was really excited to get a hat and sword! I can't spill ALL my secrets.. This is what keeps things interesting. 

Accidents and Forced Relaxation.

Ooops

Last week I posted that although Loopy's new job is rainbows and unicorns all over the place he does have a couple instances of "PTSD" that bring him back to reality. The Survivors Club has been awesome about giving him advise along the way when he gets skiddish about OT or deployments.

Don't get me wrong. He has never once even a little bit for a moment reconsidered or regretted his decision regarding employment. This conversation doesn't need to happen anymore.




Just some hiccups along the way that can be worked through. Thanks again Survivors, you are awesome!

One little obstacle is other cars on the road.




OK, they are big obstacles but sometimes they slam on brakes in traffic and cause other obstacles.. like being down one car for a couple weeks. 

I wasn't upset at all. I was grateful that Loopy was not hurt and neither was the other guy. 

Logan on the other had was PISSED!

"LOOK what you DID to my favorite car! I bet you got a ticket too!? You are gonna PAY for that DAD!!"

Life's a beach

So Saturday there was a night time surf competition down at Flagler Beach. I was all excited to go. Logan was pretty psyched too. As we were getting ready to head out the door. Loopy and Kendal suddenly wanted to go with. Once everyone had adequate pants and hoodies we headed out. It was a little misty but no too bad on the way there. Once we showed up it was CRAZY rainy, and pretty dang cold. There were still tons of people sticking it out though hoping to see some good surfing action.

After some time on the beach and boardwalk Kendal had enough and Loopy took her back to the car. 

Logan was determined to walk to the end of the pier. About this time it really started to get cold and more rainy. Logan would not be deterred. Between the big surge and large waves we got pretty soaked. He loved it though! 

This same night my friend Karry and I had made plans to head out to the beach for a nighttime walk, and perhaps drink some sangria while watching a meteor shower on a blanket.

photo credit to
Imaginations Captured Photography and Videography

THIS is what we pictured in our heads.

Beautiful, right? 

I TRIED to warn Karry about the windy, rainy, wavy mess that was happening at the beach just an hour before we were supposed to meet up. The rain died down and we figured we'd give this a shot anyway.

THIS is what it actually looked like.

I was also sort of hoping to see one of these!






Now we have been known to be stubborn people and not give up. So we bundled up and hid out under the pier restaurant (to block the wind and poor the booze) and attempted a moonlit walk.. Then the tide rolled in. After some sangria in the eye and a lot of sand and water from the waste down for both of us we gave up and headed to Denny's to dry out. We had never hung out before with just the two of us and it was nice to get to know her better. Karry also experienced the 'Kara Effect' where strangers just walk up to me (or sit in the booth and hold my hand) and tell me their lifelong dreams and life stories. Shout out to my new friend Phil from Denny's.

Thanksgiving break. Sans car.

Its a good thing my kids are homebodies, cause we can't go anywhere. The kids don't care because every time we leave the house I hear things like: 

"I wanna go hooome!" 

"I don't wanna stop at another store." 

"WHY do we have to go on fun adventures?" 

"I miss the cooouuuuch"

Infact Kendal is pretty convinced we aren't 'home' unless we are IN the living room. We can be outside in our safe fenced in backyard and she'll hear a loud truck, plane, lawn mower, ect and demand to "Go Home!" When I can talk her into going outside for fresh air she wants to swing as long as possible. 

This day both kids wanted to bring their stuffed animals. How do you swing without dropping said stuffed animals in the wet grass you ask? You stuff it in your shirt of coarse! 

Me and Logan also practiced our soccer skills. (we have none) I might sign him up for soccer this spring so I can watch a whole team of 6yr olds run and kick like floppy ragdolls. I just fear the crazy serious parents.. who will throw things at me and yell at my kid.  

We have had to find ways to amuse ourselves in the house, too since it was pretty crappy outside.

The kids made crowns and pretended to be the King and Queen of Hearts.

One day we had a circus going on in Logan's room.

I also got distracted while putting dishes away and sorted the tupperware cupboard. You know how the bowls get warped or nasty so you just throw them away? Then you open the door to the never ever neat and tidy tupperware cupboard and an avalanche of lids tumbles out.. Don't lie, it happens to everyone! Anyway. I decided to sort out the mess and here are the lids that were left behind.  

Here you go recycle factory! 

This weeks kid-isms...

Kendal and Logan were playing in his room. She had a 'girl' lego guy, Logan had a 'boy'

Logan: Hey, you are one hot lady!

Kendal: nope, I'm pretty cold, I'll go put some clothes on.

Logan: wah wah waaaaaah. Fail.

Logan informed Kendal that she can earn her pants by going to the bathroom. I have nothing else to say about this, because its true.

Logan trying to clean the playroom: Mom! Seize her!!
Me: What? Why
Logan: She STOLE something!
Me: Logan, she lives here.
Logan: But moooooom...

A couple months ago the kids were fighting over whether the pretend lawn mower was a truck or a rocket (or something else dumb) I told them they are both right, you can't argue with another person's imagination. Here's the problem with that logic:

Me: Kendal! Stop knocking everything off dad's desk with that giraffe!
Kendal: Its not me, its just the giraffe did it.
Logan: Mom, you can't argue with her imagination...
Me: *sigh* Giraffe, please stop knocking stuff of the desk.
Giraffe: Ok, Kendal's mom.
Kendal: See, I didn't. I'm just a little boy!
Me: Nope, you're a girl
Logan: *Clears throat loudly*
Me: Never mind. I give up.

And my personal favorite of the week...

So me and Loopy were laughing about the keywords or phrases people use to find my blog. One of them is 'pee pants' (don't google that) I suspect it is linked here because I have a potty training a toddler. Anyway, We hear Logan's bedroom door open and I assume its because he has to pee. BUT he doesn't go to the BATHROOM. I warned Loopy that he better get up and find him before he pees in the playroom or pantry. It was too late. He was standing on his tippy toes trying to piss in the kitchen sink. Loopy flicked on the light and was like "WHAT IS GOING ON!?" Logan 1/2 woke up but couldn't stop himself. Pee. Everywhere. I have no idea how some got INTO the sink but most was on the cabinets and floor. Loopy cleaned up with soap and Clorox wipes, I put a very offended (because I was crying laughing) and confused Logan back to bed. Does anyone else have kids who do this? Its been a while since it happened and I usually catch him first and point him to the bathroom.

I asked this question on facebook and got some pretty funny answers and stories about peeing on couches and in other people's bedrooms. Its good know I'm not alone here.

Tonight Loopy changed the lightbulb in the living room. This required a ladder. This required drumsticks.. which led to random drumming. Sometimes I think I am living with a future cast of Stomp in training.

Stay tuned!

Next month I'll post about our Thanksgiving shenanigans, Two months worth of weird key word searches, Stuff Kendal says wrong and turns out to be offensive, Kid-isms, and more fantastic snarky-ness!

Soapboxes and family time

Elections are important 

However, they really bring out the worst in people. 4 years ago social media wasn't as prevalent in society so this is the first time I've really seen how mean people can get when you disagree with them when it comes to politics. I understand that it's important to be informed and be proactive about subjects that you feel strongly about. But seriously, facebook on election week and especially election night is the best people watching EVER!! It's like the whole country is watching this giant sporting event and talking shit about the other team via social media. Memes, edited news clips, unfounded 'facts' ect were flying all over the place. I have friends and family on both teams and many of them were respectful, stating facts and making me laugh the whole time but I was shocked at how beligerant some people got when their 'team' was losing or another person contradicted them. I deleted a few people who were downright mean and insulting to everyone with a different opinion. I want no part of that sort of anger and judgement. It's sad that our differences separate us to the point of not speaking anymore. Nothing is gained from that... Can't we all just get along and agree to disagree? Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox. You should watch this bit from John Stewart because it made me laugh-snort.

The new obsession

The country did not collapse and sink into the swamp the day after elections, so we went on about our business. Last week's favorite movie was Alice in Wonderland. This week it's Holy Grail. When the knights blow up the rabbit with the holy hand grenade and they go down into the cave Kendal keeps asking me "they went down the rabbit hole, where is the big headed queen?" She found the bonus feature disk and made me watch the Lego version on Camelot about 100 times. Its pretty cute so I didn't complain...

She also loves the Hard of Hearing option on the main menu. That just means they yell out the options of the main menu through surround sound speakers. She runs back and forth and yells back at them. Logan is in on the fun too. Did I mention that when my parents were here he volunteered to pray before our meal? He totally did it in Monty Python style. I dont remember the exact words he used but it was something like "Oh God, please bless us thine food to our bodies. Keep us safe if thou food shall kill us..." Its REALLY hard not to laugh when these things happen. I doubt Grandma and Grandpa found that as funny as I did. He also tried to get his friends at school to play along...


Logan: Guess what I taught my friends to play at recess?
Me: What?
Logan: Holy Grail.
Me: were you just galloping around or did you search the castles?
Logan: We were King Arthur, Sir Galahad, and Jayden was the patsy with the coconuts. We went to Castle Anthrax, Camelot, and the Gorge of Eternal Peril.
Me: Did you find the grail?
Logan: Yup!
Thankfully there was nothing in his planner about what they did at Castle Anthrax...

Shopping with kids

After we dropped Logan off on Friday morning I decided to take Kendal down to the farmers market for some home grown produce. She was all excited to take her giraffe on a new adventure. This is how a Kendal searches for lost toys...

Once we found him we were headed down to the beach, you can't beat the scenery here!

There were tons of vendors and Kendal could care less. She was mostly interested in getting her giraffe all dirty so she could give him a bath when we got home. 

We got lots of good stuff for around $15 but she was mostly excited about the blueberries. Maybe we'll head back this week and see what else we can find. 

After we picked up Logan I had to get the regular groceries. Both kids were REALLY well behaved. I think it has something to do with my realization that its best to wait for the end of the shopping trip before stopping to get cookies at the bakery. They were just having a grand ol time in the checkout lane... I have no idea how to rotate this. Logan is chanting "Sprinkle Cookie" Kendal is stuck on "I like M&M's" If the video doesn't work you can watch it HERE

Annual Bounce House Extravaganza 

One a year a local church rents every type of bouncy house ever created and has them set up in Town Center. All the kids within a 25 mile radius hear the hum of 20 generators and swarm the area for FREE popcorn, face painting, entertainment, cotton candy, and more bouncing than any child should attempt after eating cotton candy, popcorn ect.. I was going to take both kids because Loopy had some work to do.

But Kendal refused to stay awake. 

Let the fun BEGIN!!!

YAY! GIANT OBSTACLE COARSE. 

 

Bounce houses as far as the eye can see!

Cotton candy on the way out. I got some to bring home for Kendal but it started melting so I had to eat it. I didn't have a choice.. I love cotton candy.

When we were leaving I saw this giant amazing sand art left over from a festival last weekend. I thought Logan would be amazed by the craftsmanship and skill. He walked right past it and found a tiny little pile of sand off to the side. He is powerless against piles of sand and MUST play in them. 

 

PLEASE come here and stand next to the work of art so I can take your picture

That wore him out pretty well and before we knew it he was asking to go to bed. We have a strict(ish) bedtime routine that I have probably mentioned before. Everyone cleans up their toys and gets ready for bed, then we sit on the couch to watch a 1/2 hour of tv, and then its story time. Loopy was working on a project while I was getting the kids settled. Kendal had to prepare the care bears... (can't rotate this one either. sorry)

While I was reading to Logan, Kendal was waiting for daddy to finish up. Her blankets must have needed warming up because she peed on them. I had to stop reading with Logan and help her out. When I got back into room he was wearing a mustache...

"Mom! I've been waiting 20 years!"

Once the kids were in bed and everyone had clean dry sheets I went out for coffee with by buddy Scott, cause he's awesome. I don't think I'll ever get sick of midnight coffee. "They" told me that when I'm a "grown up" I can't do that anymore. Lies. Maybe other grownups go to bars or something... 

Sunday...

On weekend mornings when we have nowhere to be and the stars are aligned just right the kids let us both sleep in with little interruption. They came in to ask if they could use the camera to make a couple videos. I switched it to record and sent them on their way. This is one of the movies they came up with

"Can I do YOUR bathroom next?!"

Loopy had to fix a broken toilet and pick up a few things at the store. I was planning to take the kids but Logan through a huge tantrum about how he doesn't want to go and bla bla bla. So he had to stay back with me and clean. Luckily he likes to do things I am not a huge fan of. Like dusting, washing windows, and scrubbing toilets. If only he would fold the laundry... I'll take what I can get I guess. 

Logan has been working really hard to keep his bedroom clean. (WITHOUT BEING TOLD!!) So we were able to have an afternoon jam session. It was going really well and they were writing some new music. Until I got the camera. I would post a video but I don't think you all want to hear "We Will Rock You" AGAIN. For some reason he won't let me record him playing anything else. It was sort of funny though because he was having some tempo issues. That song in 1/2 time is sort of painful to sit through. 

At dinner Logan informed me that the next day was a holiday and there was no school. That means my big plans of dropping Logan off and coming home to snuggle on the couch under care bear blankets was moved to Tuesday... I hate when he's right. Later that night. Loopy said I looked worn out and irritated. So he voluntarily took both kids to Target to pick up a few things. The wonders of a relaxed Loopy continue to amaze me..

Passing time and Mommy Rules

Monday the kids woke up crazy early. Probably because there was no reason to do so. I eventually got everyone dressed and headed to pick up lunch and meet friends at the park.

Ever so impatiently waiting for a turn... 

Attempting to get a group picture

I gave up, maybe Susan got a good one..

Rest and reflect? Yeah, right...

Bye then...

Love

Once we got home I was reading a funny post from a friend who has a couple kids who are just as nuts as mine are (plus one)

"I just broke mommy rule #437 Never leave the room while your child is finger painting! This one should be moved up a few hundred."

I laughed at this, which led to...

"Mommy Karma just showed me rule #439... never laugh at your friend who is cleaning up after breaking rule #437"

 More importantly...

"Mommy Rule #438 Never assume that you can out-stubborn your kid who is crying for candy corn on the kitchen floor because she didn't earn her 'potty reward'. She will pee on the floor and continue to lay in it, crying, until you come to see what her problem is. On the positive side, the kitchen floor got mopped and the kid got bathed.. sigh."

The good news is that we both have a decent sense of humor once the unwarranted and temporary rage wears off. Sometimes its best to just walk away.. to get a glass of wine.

Rainbows, Unicorns, and reality.

Ok, so this new job has had its ups and downs.. like on Saturday when there was a big deployment for a totally new site. Loopy had to put in 12 hours this weekend. That was the down side. The up side is that he was not stressed about it. There was no pressure and yelling and adding features. Instead they were congratulated often and thanked for the hard work, He will also be paid overtime. At one point I overheard his boss on a conference call say "This is ridiculous, these people should be with their families. They need to have some time off next week!" We both looked at each other like "WHAT!?" Anyway. There was a moment of flashback rage on Tuesday because it was a frustrating day in general.. I suppose it is part of the recovery process. 

I was taking nap with Kendal on Wednesday and Loopy got home at about 5:15.. Since he worked late on Friday and put in time on Saturday, he went in later and they sent him home an hour EARLY "so he can balance his work and family life." Literal rainbows and unicorns followed. 

Ok.. so the unicorn didn't just happen, but my friend Karry is awesome and wasted no time creating this little gem. I am seriously considering making this our Christmas card.