Cats, Carnivals, and Conniptions

Mango is still alive...barely.  That cat has got the patience of Job.  Tatiana "plays" with that cat constantly and he has yet to bite or scratch her.  It's pretty funny to see Mango come running out of Tatiana's room, no doubt to save his own life, and then to see Tatiana come running out after him exclaiming, "I think Mango is scared of monsters!"  I'd have to agree.

We decided to give Mango the afternoon off by taking the kids to the carnival that came into town.  Normally I avoid it at all costs, I mean, paying as much for wrist bands as a ticket to DisneyLand would cost seems a little ridiculous but every once in a while I like to remind the kids I'm not THAT horrible.  As always, Aren was a great big brother and went on all the kiddie rides with Tatiana.  She really is lucky to have him.  We did let Aren have a little bit of a break and go on the big rides.  Check out this picture of what was supposed to be Aren, but the guy next to him stole the show I think...

Lest you think our weekends are all fun and games, this was also the time I decided that Tatiana needed to be potty trained.  She turned three in June and I figured it was time...again.  I say again because this is really the third time we've started this project.  You'd think I knew how to do this, being she is my third child, but Aren pretty much just decided one day to poop and pee on the toilet and Lily was so tiny and sick that we never really thought about it.  I'll just jump to the end and tell you she's not peeing on the potty.  After crying to my mother for twenty minutes and having her assure me that when Tatiana interviews for a job they will not ask how old she was when she finally learned to crap on the pot, I gave up once again because this girl is just bound and determined to not pee unless she's in charge.

Please don't tell me what you did to get your children trained because I've done it...sticker charts, pretty panties, treats of every kind, promises of ballet lessons, toys she's only allowed to play with on the potty...the list goes on.  And no I will not throw her into a cold shower if she pees her pants.  What is wrong with you people?  I still figured I'd mention my lack of amazingness to help other loser moms with loser children who won't pee on command and to show off this totally cute picture of my half naked daughter sitting on a toilet with a kick-ass unused sticker chart in the background.  I may not be able to get my daughter to deposit her waste in appropriate places, but I sure know how to get back at her with pictures that will piss her off in ten years. 

Prude

So apparently Katy Perry did this video for Sesame Street and during the screening of it, too many parents complained about her attire and so it's been pulled.  Really?  I mean, yeah, there's definite boobage, but it's not that bad and I'm pretty much as prudish as they come.  What do you all think?

Really? Yes, Really.

The other day my phone rang and it was my sister, Katharine.  The conversation was pretty normal and then it turned into something dark and grotesque.  It went something like this:

Kath: So, are you guys still planning on coming up for Thanksgiving?
Me: Sure am.  I want it on record that we're having tons of meat, carbs, and sugar.
Kath: Fine. But before that I was thinking of running a 5k.
Me: That's great!  Good for you.
Kath: Wanna run it with me?
Me:
Kath: Hello?
Me: Seriously?  Do you know which sister you're talking to?

After much thought, I've decided to go ahead and do it.  I'm running a 5k in two months and let me tell you something.  I don't run.  At least not until this morning.  I ran 1/2 a mile this morning - after my sixty minutes of kick me in the ace step aerobics - and plan on running three times a week until I can run 3.1 miles without vomiting and/or passing out.

Ready...Set...Go!

Weak Moment

We all know how I feel about animals.  You've forgotten?  Click here.  But for whatever reason, last week I got bee in my bonnet and decided I wanted a cat.  Now.  I broke the news to Rick by saying I wanted a baby.  With fear in his eyes he stood there for a moment then I said, "Ok, how 'bout a cat?"  After a sixty hour work he was weak and ripe for the picking, so I got my cat.

Meet Mango

Boyfriend

Check out what Aren made today in school.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Growing up in Maryland we had the opportunity to watch the Baltimore Orioles every summer.  We started out at Memorial Stadium with three buck night and went from there and every game was full of fun and stories to tell.  Now I live in the middle of nowhere and major league baseball isn't an option, but in Tucson there is a minor league team that fills my desire to relive those fun summer days.

Last night we went to the last game of the Tucson Toros with the Bartholets  and we had a blast!  We left Tatiana at home and had date night with Aren which he claimed as "the best night of his life".  I don't know whether that's good news or pretty dang sad.  Either way, it was pretty fun.  For a measly 13 bucks per seat we were in box seats and even had a guy that would take our orders and bring food back to us so we didn't have to miss a thing.  Plus we were in shouting distance of the Toros players.  Our favorite for the night?  Luis.  Easy on the eyes and acknowledged our teen screams every time!  We're getting season tickets next year!

The family...minus the crazy one

The Bartholets

Aren and Tuffy, the mascot

Laurel and our Luis!

Sunday School Revisited

So I was sitting in Sunday School a few days ago and we were talking about Job.  I had read the lesson - yes, I read it before hand.  Why is that so hard for so many people to believe?  Anyways, I read it and I haven't figured out if that's a good or bad thing.  I feel like I come prepared, but then I get disappointed if we don't discuss the points that I want to discuss.  So, Rick and I had our own little Sunday School later that day and it was interesting to talk to him and compare thoughts.

Job was one freaking amazing guy and we're always told we need to be more like him, but let's be honest.  If we really want to liken the scriptures unto ourselves, there is no way in hell we can ever be like Job.  No matter what happened to him he was spot on and gave all the Sunday School answers, but is that what we're expected to do or even capable of doing?

It's no secret that we've had it rough for a little while.  I don't want to say I even sustained the losses that Job did, but I think losing a child, a home to a fire, and living on next to nothing for years to get out of debt can at least help me to sympathize with the guy.  The thing is, I wasn't Job.  Not even close.  For years I prayed sporadically at best and when I did I often begged for understanding to help me cope with the crap I'd been dealt.  In the scriptures the help and understanding always comes right away, but in reality that sometimes doesn't happen.  Sometimes you just have to deal with it until you're at a place to accept, and sometimes the acceptance doesn't come...sometimes all you can do is deal with it.

Sometimes we remember things differently than the way they really happened.  That horrible prom date where you spent the night at the guy's house and the guy left for work the next morning totally forgetting about you and making you hang out with his parents until your mom got there to pick you up - yes that really happened to me - is so devastating at first but 20 years later is totally hilarious.  Losing a home to fire is painful until you realize that the memories you have are not found in a house, but in you.

I wonder if Job really was as Sunday Schooly as he was portrayed in his book.  Maybe the book was written years later after he'd had time to reflect and had more time to realize what was really important.  Maybe he wasn't sitting there covered in boils, surrounded not by his family because they were all gone, but friends who were constantly questioning his spirituality, and thinking, "Man, I sure am blessed."  Maybe it took a little bit of time to realize how he needed to feel.

Maybe we're all a little more like Job than I originally thought.