Thanksgiving 2010 - Fishing

The boys had a great time fishing at the pond at the ranch. How could they not? You drop in your line and BAM! You got a fish!

My Name is Drew and I am the king of fishing.

Two boys. Two fish.

My name is JB and I am The Great Fisherman of this pond.

Drew has a big one. Well, bigger than most.

Say, "Ah." Or, "Pucker up!"

Brothers.

Proud of their catches.

And, look! I was there, too.

The Orthodontist

JB thought this contraption was funny and teased his technician by speaking chinese with it in his mouth.

Thanksgiving Catfish 2010

The boys and I went with my mom and dad to the ranch on the Saturday of our Thanksgiving holiday. Drew caught a small catfish on his hand line. It was the biggest catch of the day. More to come on the rest of the fishing adventures.

Dear Universe

I took this past week off from the gym after walking in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day last weekend. My shin was still a little sore and my knees were bothering me. On Friday, I went to lunch at Eatzie's on Oak Lawn. What I saw that day and my reaction to it will not leave me.

I had purchased my lunch and was just sitting down at a table outside to enjoy my hot lunch and read. There was a trash can at the end of the walkway. A Latino man, probably in his twenties, approached the trash can, opened it, pulled out someones discarded food and ate what was salvageable. I was struck with sadness for him. I was struck with the thought that I should do something but I was too afraid.

I sat down slowly and started opening my lunch. He walked past me and approached the next trash can. And I just sat there. Doing nothing. Feeling ashamed. And sad. I ate my lunch full of regret.

Why didn't I just quietly give this man my lunch? I could have easily done this and gone back into the store and purchased something else for myself. I could have come back to my office and had a free lunch that is provided on Friday's. But I did nothing.

So I just need to say this: I am so thankful for the abundance in my life and I am so sorry that I didn't do something for him.

Periorbital Cellulitis

One day last March, I had just arrived at work when the school nurse called and said Drew's eye was red and a little swolen. He had spent the night at his dad's house so I had not seen him that morning. I asked if it was oozing any mucous to which she said no.

Okay, then. Send him back to class. I am a firm believer if they're not running a fever or oozing anything gross then they can go to class.

No, she would not send him back to class. So, back in my car I got and went and picked the stinker up. It was a rainy day. Strict instructions here. If you're going to be sick, be sick on a nice day so I can at least enjoy it.

I called him a faker. I didn't see anything wrong. But, I made an appointment anyway just to prove that school nurse wrong!

Crap. What is periorbital cellulitis? And, is it contagious?

It's an infection in the skin around the eye. Here's what Drew looked like on the morning of Day 2.

Hey, Drew! Your eye is all swolen. Shoot, I guess you weren't faking it! I'll keep you home one more day lest that school nurse call me to come back and get you.

I got a lot of yard work done on Day 2. Afterall, I wasn't sick. I trimmed these shrubs. And, bagged them into these bags. (I hate that part.)

I turned these bananas into banana bread. (I love that part.)

The swelling went down throughout the day and the kid was bouncing off the walls, I swear. There was absolutely no way I was staying at home with him again. I'm not one of those moms.

This is what we woke up on Day 3.

Whoa! It looks worse than it did the day before! What is going on here? It's swollen shut! You're going to school. And, stay away from that nurses office!

Guess who called me first thing that morning. Go ahead, guess. Damn, school nurse.

I was not coming to get him! Can you say, "I'm looking for some attention?" You send that kid back to class. He's fine! He was bouncing off the walls yesterday! I'm not coming to get him.

I sat there and thought. And the mom guilt flooded in. What if he really is not feeling well? What if my baby needs his mom?

NO! He's fine.

And, at the end of the day when I went to pick him up, he was cheerfully bouncing off the walls at his after school program. Literally. Bouncing off the walls. And you can see for yourself the swelling went down.

Day 4 was getting a little bit better. And, I didn't feel guilty for sending him to school.

He didn't need his mom.

Funny Face

You funny, JB. You funny.

Love you.

A New Kind of Super Hero

Hello!


I'm Pepperoni Boy!


Here to save the day!

The Great Shoe Kick Robbery

One of JB's favorite events at Field Day is the Shoe Kick. It is exactly what it sounds like. You loosen one shoe and then you kick it as far as you can. The farthest shoe wins.


This is a serious sport. Not one to be taken lightly.

He sends a quick prayer out into the universe.

Total concentration.

Get Ready. And Kick!

His shoe didn't go very far. Not far at all.

Total disappointment.

It's okay JB.

Don't cry french fry.

But mom. I was robbed. The basket was in my way. The basket!

The basket was right in front of me and blocked my shoe!

Let's review.

Yes. the basket was there, son. And you had a beautiful kick, son. But unfortunately, sweet boy, your shoe just went sideways and the basket was not impeding your kick from traveling a any distance. Other than sideways.

He didn't agree with me.


After review of the play, the call on the field stands. Sorry, son.

Hijacked Photo

I love this picture of the boys. Let's see... Drew looks to be about 2ish plus some months maybe. That's the hall in our Park City condo.

While Drew is cute and cuddly in the front, I'm not sure what JB is doing in the background.

But, it's dang funny!

Yellow Envelope Project

One year ago this week, HouseofShine.com started an initiative to Spread Shine by recognizing every day people that make their corner of the world SHINE.

Watch this video to learn more.

You can make a difference by taking 10 minutes, one yellow envelope and 44 cents and telling someone else that they SHINE. Click here to see this weeks nominee.

Just Drop Us Off

Me: Look at all the cars! Everyone is walking their kids in. I better walk y'all in.

Them: No, mom. Just drop us off.

Me: Are you sure? I feel bad.

Them: We're sure, mom. Just drop us off.

Me: But I feel like such a bad mom. Everyone else is walking their kids in.

Them: We'll be fine, mom. Just drop us off.

Me: Are you sure? You know where you're going? I don't want you to feel like I don't love you because I didn't walk you in and take your picture with your teacher at your desk on your first day of 3rd and 4th grade.

Them: We're sure, mom. We know where our classes are and you took our picture at home. Just drop us off.

Me: But LOOK at all these parents. I should walk you in.

Them: Just drop us off, mom.

Me: Okay, but I better still get the Mom of the Year Award.

Them: You got it mom. Stop the car.

Me: Okay. Have a good day! I love you. Talk when you're supposed to talk, and listen when you're supposed to listen. Go learn something!

Them: (DOOR SLAM)

Me: They don't know how lucky they are that I'm willing to just drop them off.

It's going to be a great year!

Look who turned 41!

Yum! Snickerdoodles!

Having a great day.

I love my co-workers.

And Facebook.

And my House of Shine Shiners.

And the photo below.

And I love the fact that

I have the same

exact haircut today

as I did when I was five!

Hair Trends

The boys and I were discussing the fact that we feel JB has started quite the trend though we know he's not the first to ever have a mohawk.

Last summer he was the only boy for miles that had a mohawk.

Later that fall our friend Jestin was allowed to have his hair cut into a mohawk for the homecoming football game. Color and all.

This summer JB once again got his mohawk.

And so did several other little boys.

I told JB he wasn't original anymore.

"What's another cool haircut?"

"Hmm... I don't know."

I could go bald.






Might not be a great idea for the summer. You might get sunburned. And, when you get older and go bald you'll be mad you were bald all those years you had hair.

OH! I could grow an afro! Those are cool!

You can't grow an afro! You're not African!

Well, Drew does have a point.

Nothing to see here, Mom - Keep Moving

There is nothing suspicious about my eight year old yelling back to me the other morning, "We'll be waiting in the car, Mom!"



There is nothing suspicious about both boys sitting in the third row seats when I get in the car.



There is nothing suspicious about them being quiet. Very quiet.



There is nothing suspicious about a Matchbox car falling out of your sons pants.



There is nothing suspicious about the same son grabbing himself when said car falls out of his pants and saying, "Ooh! I gotta go to the bathroom!"



There is nothing suspicious about the pockets of the other son bulging out and making a clicking sound.



No, nothing suspicious at all.

The rest played out like this. Drew ran to the bathroom. While he was in the bathroom I looked to JB and said, "How many cars do you have in your pockets?" JB hands over about 5 cars. He runs off. Drew finally comes out of the bathroom where I am waiting patiently. I tell him to put all the cars on the table. He unloads about 8 cars that he had stashed in his underwear. He didn't have any pockets. I tell him to stay put while I locate JB. I ask him how many more he has in his pockets. Here come at least 5 more.

Approximately 18 cars.

Sneaky little liars.

You can't fool me.

I'm a mom.

Blogging

Blogging, blogging, blogging.

Here and there and everywhere.

I have new artwork posted up at House of Shine and my art blog, cheryl e wilson.

Check it out!

Public Service Announcement - DFW Area

On my way into work this morning this Gray Ford Explorer, Texas Licensce Plate Number: W6T LLT driven by a caucasion woman, blondish/grayish hair about 50 - 60 years old who was chatting on her cell phone decided that she need to be one car length ahead in the passing lane.

I was the one car length that she needed to be in front of.

So, I whipped out my rusty, trusty cell phone and snapped a picture of this heinous driver because zooming ahead of me and cutting me off got her to work a lot faster than if she had just stayed safely behind me. Stupid bi... I mean, crazy woman driver.

A Brunette & Her Sharpie Pen

Because I order the office supplies for my area, I keep the pen samples. As far as I am concerned, it's a perk.

With today's order I received one Sharpie Pen that looks like this:



How very nice! I love Sharpie products. I'm definitely keeping this one for myself.


I look at the pen and notice there is a small cap blocking the writing mechanism. Do you see it at the end of the pens on the right hand side?


I'll just be able to pry that off with my nail.


Wow. It's really stuck on there.


Letter opener. That's too fat. I can't quite get it in the ridge.



Let's try the scissors.


Dang! That thing is stuck on there!


I would use my teeth but I really have paid too much for those to go messing them up over a Sharpie pen.


Come on! I can do this.


Pull hard!


Pop!


The cap on the other end came off.





Oh dear.


Feeling pretty silly about right now.

Road Rage

Do you see the car in this picture?

Here. Let me help you. Do you see the car in this picture? I've drawn a red box around it. Do you see it? Do you?

Well, let me tell you about the driver of this car.

She is the stupidest woman driver I came in contact with today! She nearly killed me! She gives all women drivers a bad name.

Now, I know I don't pay attention all the time either but friends, please don't text and drive. That's what this BLEEP BLEEP was doing? She was holding her phone up, looking DOWN, and swerving in my lane.

At first I was just going to drive by and go on my way. Maybe the driver just slipped but when I saw her texting, I got so angry I slowed down and mouthed out my window, "Really? Really?" And then I held my phone up and motioned for her to put hers down.

She put it down but then she put something else up! Wait. You nearly drive into me and now you're giving me the finger? Puh-lease! I oughta kick your BLEEP! I wonder how you got that dent in your car you stupid BLEEP BLEEPITY BLEEP BLEEP!

This is a family site so I can't type the list of sailor swearing's I was saying in my car along with "I'll show you. Let me just whip MY cell phone out and get a picture of you. You BLEEPITY BLEEP. You just made the O'Pry Blog of Fame for STUPID BLEEPING DRIVERS!"

This is a public service announcement. Please PAY ATTENTION! First, please don't text and drive. It's dangerous and you could cause a wreck and kill yourself or someone else. And second, if you live in the DFW area- stay away from this BLEEP!

I can't quite make out the plate. 3TT-P2C or 3TY-PZC. What do you think?

I need to mount a really good camera on my car that has the trigger on the steering wheel. Now that would be cool! Just think about all the blogging I could do!

Whew! I feel better now. Don't you?

I Guess I Was Big Trouble

Y'all want to see baby Cate?

You already showed us a picture of Cate.

But you didn't see a picture of me holding Cate.

See.

(Cutest, sweetest, cuddliest baby ever.)

Yeah.

I'm going to adopt her.

See she's so sweet.

You said you didn't

want another kid.

You can't do that.

Yes I can.

Nu-uh.

Is it a girl?

Yes.

That's going to be big

trouble when she gets

older!

And there you have it.

All girls are big trouble!