Cookies for Iraq!

We busily baked for Daddy and his team members so we could mail off packages last week before the holiday. I simply forgot to post photos of our fun adventure!

Dixie

Good Morning. The current time is 3:30 am and the current temperature is 63 degrees. My dog, who insisted she had to pee (for the fifth time this week, which is driving my nuts. As I train my kids to sleep through the night, the dog decides to wake me up instead).

She is outside barking. .

Despite my attempts to call her in, she is pacing the fence and barking. Oh, I hear noises, so that makes matters worse....like someone is banging a trashcan But I cannot see...my trashcan is all clear, so....

Well, since I am awake, I will update a bit.

Yesterday, I was attacked by a dog.

Okay, so not really, but it got your attention.
There is an excess of elderly people here that are getting puppies. These old people are trying to train their dog to sit and be quiet as other dogs pass....hard to do when they have a dominant personality I guess. I have no clue what makes a dog do that, Dixie never did. I guess I will have to contact the Dog Whisperer on that one.
So a German Sheppard, muzzled, I might add (which only adds to your fear) was going nuts despite the owners attempts to yell "Amber, down" over and over. Well, the dog had a muzzle, and the old man said she just wanted to meet my dog - so I let them sniff away. This freaking dog went nuts after they did the obligatory sniff. She was just a puppy who wanted to play. I have seen doggies play like this before, it isn't a big deal. Some people freak over it though. I seriously think they should have a dog park in this neighborhood to let doggies socialize.
The man was very embarrassed of his dog and pulled her back and tried to get her to calm herself. She nearly knocked me down.

We continued walking.

Lucas wanted to play a game of peek through the stroller sunshade window - it kind of drove me nuts at first because the sun was no where in sight. The rain had dried up long enough for us to get out the house and it was terribly overcast. So, we walk and play peek-a-boo - and I get over how ridiculous I feel for doing it because I know it makes him happy.

A lady was in her yard, which reminds me again of how ridiculous I feel. She begins to tell me a story about how good my dog is, walking beside the stroller, and how she had one and she sees me everyday and it makes her miss her dog. What do you say to a woman like this?

I really wanted to say.....Well, I would love it if you would take her off my hands! And proceed to tell her all the reasons I want to get rid of her. And don't worry, Richard is aware of these reasons. Not to mention, she went freaking nuts when we got home, and it took me 10 minutes to get her back into our yard with the neighbor's help. I was so pissed at that dog.

I am still pissed at her.

She can stay outside until I get up....

Goodnight.

Rain

After the babies went to sleep, I swung outside until the sun disappeared. The rain was rustling in all the trees, and a family of deer was grazing across the street. Everything was incredibly peaceful and my mind wandered....

I feel old.

I have a will.

I never in a million years could have known this is what my life would be like when I daydreamed about my prince charming. I couldn't even have told you that this is what my life would be like if you asked me last year. But here I am. And this is so close to what I dreamed, yet so far....

Looking back, I recounted all of the friends I have had. How friendships evolved, faded, remained stagnant, or intensified. Surprisingly, the ones I most appreciate and adore are the ones separated from me by the greatest distance. The ones whose lives are too busy to chat more than every few months...yet, it is with those who I feel the most understood.
These friendships are never undervalued. I do not look to these friends as support, because that is a given. Instead, I look to them to share in the rollercoaster that we all experience.

Despite where life has taken us all, we have a common thread of wanting to be the best possible woman to ourselves, to our husband, to our babies or to our dreams.

I was lucky enough to have two of my most adored friends visit with me this summer. Being with both was inspirational to me. On the one hand, I was able to cherish our time, to catch up on what we haven't spoken about in ages and to just be. On the other hand, I was able to recapture my purpose in life, as I so often get caught in the little things....

Then there are those with whom I have lost touch...I still have a vague idea of what they are achieving, but I don't know them as an individual anymore. The aquaintence. The "I used to know you, but..." And the reality is, those friends are no different - they still want to be everything they can be.

Although it is comforting, it leaves me wondering....

Am I attracted to strong and giving women?

Good thing I am already married.

Dora

Today was uneventful. The rain came and it made me want chili. Lucas doesn't eat chili, so it kind of screws up that craving...Maybe I will make some and invite over the neighbors. Or I could just freeze it since I eat dinner like three hours before they do...

So...You are on the phone with someone and there is a bad connection. Why is it that the only time you actually hear what the person is saying is when they ask "Can you hear me?" I experienced this today...

Moving on....

Dora the Explorer is a great show for children. I enjoy it, and I admit, I go around the house saying stupid stuff like "We Did It! We Did It! We Did It! Horray!

But what I really want to know is why does Dora match her socks to her bracelet? Her socks do not match her outfit, that's for sure. And isn't she a little young to just be wandering around all day? Maybe in today's modern times it is okay, but I know I wasn't even allowed to wander to the next aisle in the grocery store when I was her age!

Oreo

If you have ever wondered why you twist open an oreo cookie to lick the inside - please wonder no more!

I have completed a study which led to an answer. Of course, the validity of the study is non-existant since there was only one participant in the study - who lives in my house...

Well, regardless of that, I have concluded that it is an innate action, just as rooting or clapping. Since we cannot give a newborn an oreo cookie, it is inconclusive to some extent.

However, when a toddler is given an oreo for the first time, the participant examines the cookie before carefully twisting and licking the white filling. There have not been books or flashcards or TV shows that have exemplified this for the participant. Thus, I predict that ALL humans will behave the same way.

Sure, all adults have a different way of eating oreos. But deep down, you know you really want to twist and lick.

Four Years of Love

Four years ago, I was fretting with last minute details of our wedding. I was a giddy school girl waiting for my day as a princess...

On Sunday, Rich and I will have made it to another anniversary of our promise to each other - and although we are apart yet again, we know that there is much more to our relationship than "celebrating" our anniversary. We see each day together as a chance to celebrate our love for one another....


Since we never exchange gifts, I was quite surprised today when I received the most beautiful bouquet! Richard knows I hate flowers, so he ordered me a fruit bouquet! A wonderful assortment of pineapple, canteloupe, grapes and strawberries! Even the inside filling was edible - lettuce!
(http://www.ediblearrangements.com/ I ordered one for my mom when she was in the hospital last year, but never got to see one with my own eyes!)




Fabulous, I tell you! Lucas loves it just as much as I do!

The Frog Adventure

Lucas threw one of his Animal Discovery Cards under the deck - so the frog is lost forever. I was really sad because he is doing so well with those stinking cards. How can I teach him about a frog if I can't show him what one looks like?

Well, that is why God is soo good! We were going for an afternoon walk and a what was beside the stroller? A frog!

Lucas identified it, and even looked to see if it was still there when we returned!

TV

This morning began just as every morning, with cuddles and cartoons on the couch. We ate a yummy breakfast of oatmeal and grapes, dressed and went outside for our daily walk. The humidity level is nonexistant in the morning, so the air resembles the crispness of fall.

We played outside a while, but Meredith was getting cranky so we went inside so I could settle her for a nap. I turned on the TV for Lucas.

Nothing happened. The TV was broken!

I settled Meredith, and then fed Lucas and I again....a yummy lunch of turkey sandwiches. (If you don't buy freshly sliced turkey from the deli, you should! You are missing out on great quality for the same price as packaged lunch meat.)

When nap time rolled around, I finally attacked the TV. I had time to research a bit online. A wealth of information flowed to me! That Al Gore is fabulous for inventing the internet!!

To make a long story short, I fixed our TV....spending only 3 dollars in the process. Well, unless you count the cost of the milkshake with which I rewarded myself -- for being so freaking smart!

Care Package

Lucas, Meredith and I were busy making an inventory of things to send to Daddy. As he was moving from one thing to the next, he fell backwards into the box!

I am sure Rich would love this care package!

Kiddie Pool

I have a neighbor, just as you do. However, my neighbor is cooler than yours. Infact, she is cooler than the other side of the pillow....cooler than aloe on a sunburn.

I won't bore you with the long list of things that make Melanie so cool.

She did invite us to the pool with her yesterday afternoon. After she had spent the morning with Lucas, while I was with Meredith at her appointment, I almost turned her down....

Lucas had a fabulous time though. He is a little young to understand the rule "No running at the pool" -- and thought it was great fun to run in circles. When he was finally plunged in the pool, it took a bit to warm him up. Sarah (Melanie's daughter) and Joanna (Sarah's friend) played with him a bit. And after a while, he was walking circles in the water.

Yum! Chocolate!

Lucas loves to help me do everything. He will push the laundry down the hall, and hand each piece to me to put in the washing machine. I can hand him pieces to put in the dryer. The other day, while folding clothes, he saw me putting things away....so he began stuffing random clothes in the drawers!

Most recently, he was very interested in what I was doing in the kitchen. Since I hadn't fixed my chocolate craving (see previous blog posting), I was making brownies. I put him in his chair and let him stir a bit, and then he licked the bowl!

Housewife

I read today that a husband adds an additional seven hours of housework per week from his living here.

Wow! SEVEN hours per week?

I feel like I do nothing but clean now. And I am still not satisfied with my progress. I guess if I were cleaning instead of typing this, I wouldn't obsess over the little things I should be doing but haven't... I can't imagine what it would be like if Richard were here....
I have never been happier to hear that 2,548 hours of cleaning will be saved while he is away.

Good thing I have trained Lucas to help...

Yesterday, I spent all morning at UVA for Meredith's 4-month checkup. I recall complaining that military hospitals were impersonal, quick, in and out. Yet, now going to an amazing civilian provider, I am annoyed by the laundry list of questions, the waiting for the second doctor to come in and visit....The grass is always greener...On a happier note, she weighed in at a hefty 12 pounds (25%), and 21 inches long (10%).

Meredith received the most ridiculous book. "Baby Faces." Maybe I am being too critical, but only a few times have we gotten cool books (Like "Goodnight Moon" - oh, and the doctor was trying to be smooth and assess Lucas' ability by reading to him and asking him where things were and he totally pointed things out to her - words I had never used before like kitten or mitten).

Meredith was showing off for me, rolling on the exam table and grabbing the stethoscope. I am so proud. I never doubt my parenting skills when I go for Meredith. Lucas is the problem. Those residents seem to make me think I am doing everything wrong...well why haven't you started potty training? well why this? well really?
One day, I think I am going to scream at the doctor..."Well, his attention span is a nano-second, he doesn't listen, do you really think I want to stress myself out anymore than I already am?"

Moving on, I realize as I am typing that I am using this blog as a replacement husband. These are not things I would normally say to just anyone. It takes a special someone to appreciate stories or thoughts of my own. This was never my intention. I never wanted to provide a way to share the idiotic things that I think or do....

For example...
The philosophy with Lucas is: "out of sight, out of mind." The beauty of such a short attention span, means his memory is almost equally as short. I had purchased a package of chocolate chip cookies to sustain an intense craving. I had to hide them because Lucas was begging, crying, and screaming for them on a daily basis. I immediately placed them in the oven when he wasn't looking.

However, the out of sight, out of mind overtook me once they were put there. A few days later, I turned on the oven to preheat for dinner. After a while, I started to smell an awful, yet indescribable smell....worse than burning. When I finally peaked in the oven, the entire package had disintegrated and wrapped itself around the rack. There was a pile of black cookies, which had fallen to the bottom of the oven....crumbling before my eyes.

I am surprised I didn't have to put out a fire. Just this accident alone added an hour of housework!

Not to mention that I tried to get Lucas to sit on the potty without a diaper and he peed all over the floor instead....Stupid doctors!

Food for Thought...

So for the record, this was not an absolutely terrible day. We had our moments of hell, but in the end it was not unmanagable. I guess babies can wake up on the wrong side of the crib...

Dinner was fabulous - or maybe I was just hungry. I stand firm that it was fabulous though. I fired up the grill for the third time since Rich has been away. Obviously, that is his duty...not because he is a man, but because I am scared.

Oh, I guess I should feel you in. Eleven years ago, I had a grill emit its combustable force in my face. Picture this: A hot summer day in Virginia, I was home alone, feeling domestic. Pork chops had been thawing, and I thought I would get a start on dinner before the parents came home. Being 15, I had never lit the grill before, but that did not stop me. Instead, the grill stopped me. I lost my bangs, my eyebrows, my eyelashes and half of the hair on my right arm and looked as though my face had a bad sunburn. Food for thought: DO NOT put your head near the grill to see why it didn't light. I didn't cook that night.

Anyhow, I was proud that I have finally gotten over my fear. The end result gave me delicious turkey burgers three days ago. I finished those off, so I was forced to cook again -- this time BBQ chicken. I feel almost guilty that I am eating so well. Okay, so not really.

Good Lord

Sunday, 8 am...I am ready for a nap. I would pay someone to take my child away for the day. He is driving me nuts. He woke up screaming....not the "Hi! I am awake scream." The scream was piercing...more like "Why the hell aren't you giving me what I want?" I have heard it at least four more times since 5:30. This is going to be a long day...

Mail

Yeterday, I realized I had read all of my magazines at least three times, and I needed something fresh and stimulating. Lucas was content wandering in the yard, picking up acorns, so I opened the most recent Newsweek magazine.

I typically have bigger things to wrap my brain around than the political controversy discussed in Newsweek - like how to convience my son from dashing to the road, climbing on the toilet, or yelling at his sister while she is sleeping. (Unfortunately, Parenting magazine is yet to publish tips on how to deal with these issues....)

Anyhow, I always flip through the Newsweeks last, since the recipes and decorating ideas in BH&G are much more rewarding. I can actually replicate suggestions - because everyone knows food is the way to my husband's heart. I digress...

The most entertaining article jumped out of the Newsweek - something small, but it caught my eye....on crocks. Yes! The author drove on about how he and his tween son sit in old towne Alexandria until they have spotted 12 pairs of crocks...typically it takes less than 15 minutes....the shoes are overrated and just plain silly - but everyone has a pair. Well not everyone...

The article made me think of a friend who recently complained to me because everyone wears them in DC - how hideous they are. Dressed for success, accessories including neon green crocks and briefcase. My neighbor has some -- yes, multiple colors. Not only that, she is nearing her late 40's and she still bejeweled hers. They look so pretty with the ladybugs and frogs....

I saw a lady yesterday who had gone as far as matching them to her outfit, bright blue crocks, capri pants and a bright blue shirt. Why draw more attention to yourself?

I tried them on once. Only once.
A friend and I wondered about all the hype. This was years after they had hit the mass market - more like last year. While we were out shopping, we slipped our feet into a pair. I admit, they were comfy...but I would rather hang out with the guy from Man versus Wild than wear them...

The author in Newsweek ranted that the Crock company have warehouses full of crocks and no where to replinish them. The initial supply and demand was amazing, so the production went in overdrive. Supposedly, there is a pair with my name on it sitting in their warehouse. I think I will leave them for a poor soul who needs a replacement pair....like my neighbor.

Videos

Richard misses the little things that our children are going through....I was telling him what the babies are doing now and he replied "I wish I could see!"
In leiu of his presence, I have started to capture the days on video every now and then. You can look at videos at your leisure on www.youtube.com/devonrkc

Lucas and the Deer

The deer are prominent in the Lake. Families graze at all hours, and to me there is something beautiful about tiny spotted fawns frolicking away from their mother....yet, never too far. I wish my son were as wise as the baby fawns.
He craves freedom. The minute I open the front door he runs like a bat out of hell to escape. I stay in the backyard typically - but sometimes duty calls. Lucas thinks it is a fun treat to walk down the street to get the mail. The problem is getting him to stay near.
So imagine.... we have Lucas, the curious 18-month old who darts down the road faster than you can blink. He spots the family of deer, enjoying an afternoon snack. Immediately, he freezes and I could see the wheels turning. He starts walking closer to the four does, who freeze. As he gets closer, they decide that danger is near and they take off, gracefully flying down the road. Lucas sees this as his cue and runs after them.
I was lucky enough to have my camera in my pocket.

Far Away

The countdown has begun. Richard has finally parted ways with us to begin his journey to the desert. I thought things would be different with his leaving...but I suppose that the last three months had been filled with enough emotion that there is nothing left to do but move forward.