4 Miles

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"Mommy, I have ants on my graham crackers!"

And you look, and yes, there are very teeny-tiny ants the exact same color as the cracker ON that cracker. And the others you gave your child. And as you look in the package they are in there. And as you look on the baby's crackers, they are on them. You're able to find a few ant free crackers to give to the now screaming baby (because you TOOK AWAY HIS SNACK!) and try not to be too grossed out, since the silly child won't listen to reason.  And some things are worth the silence. 

And you go investigate the cupboard. And find more ants. And ants in all your other boxes of crackers (and discovered you had WAY too many crackers). And in a box of stuffing. So far the brown rice, couscous and instant mashed potatoes seem fine. But I'm watching them.  And trying not to be too grossed out.  Because I HATE ants.

(This picture was taken the day we picked up the van from my parent's house.  The pillows were there in hopes they would nap on the way home. It does make me wonder if thumb sucking is genetic. )

Yesterday was Alex's 18 month's check up (he's meeting all milestones, got 2 shots, and is still in the 20% for weight). We HAD to take the van.  The boys LOVE the van. When James leaves in the morning now, he's told by Will "Daddy, you have to take the car!"  If I say "Boys, lets go for a van ride!" (not CAR RIDE, I must say van or there is fussing about why we are not taking the van), both boys come running. 

After the appointment, we headed back to the van. As usual I opened up the side door, got the boys in, put my purse in the front, and started to go about getting the kids into the car seats. This van comes with installed car seats that fold out of the seat. So far, since we've only been using the van around town, we've just used those.  Will always sits on the far side, the straps are set for him.  While I was strapping him in, Alex ran up to the front seat area and was having fun playing with buttons. I got him back, put him in his seat, closed the door and went to the drivers seat. To find the door locked.  Somehow it hadn't registered that when Alex was playing with the door lock button (flipping it up and down, up and down) the doors would be locked.  And my purse, my keys, my phone–all in the front seat.   

I stood there, in shock. I had just locked my boys in the van. Will opened the side window wanted to know what was wrong. When I told him all the doors were locked, he told me the side door was open, try that.  Um, nope sorry.  But I tried it, just in case.  I was at a loss of what to do for a moment. I thought if Will could unstrap himself, he could unlock the doors! So I tried to talk him through that. His booster seat, in the car, he can unbuckle.  He is able to unbuckle the clips on the top part of the car seat in the van. But he hasn't been able to hit the red button and unbuckle the lower clips.  These fall right at the crotch.  So I was trying to get him to press hard on the button to see if he could unbuckle it.  He started to cry about it hurting. I (yelling through the window) was saying things like "Use two thumbs!", "Can you try four fingers?", "How about using Rusty's paw?"–hoping that wouldn't hurt his fingers.  Then I realized where the clip was located.  I spoke loudly (thinking at the same time "I can't believe I'm about to say this!")  "Does it hurt your fingers or your p*n*s?" (I have no problem using the word, I just don't want to encourage the searches that would result from putting the word in this post).  He sobbed back "My p*n*s", and I was back to trying to find a new way to get my kids out of the hot van.

I had the sudden reminder that James' office is just down the street from the Doctor's office.  And he had the car! He could bring me the spare key! So I ran inside, back upstairs, to the Doctor's office, to call James and ask him to bring the car.   And about 10 minutes later, our hero arrived. 

Lessons learned? 
1) No more pushing buttons for Alex.
2) Keys always stay in my pockets now.
3) We need to move the booster seat over from the car to protect my son's most sensitive organ.

This morning Will said "Daddy, I love you very much…but…there isn't any dry grass outside."

Huh?

***

This evening, while reading a book, James asked Will "What's in the nest?"

"Chips!"

Well, it's another pound gone which means I lost 5!!! Who-hoo! 11 weeks into this and I finally get the 5 pounds lost star (I'll James will be putting it in the side bar later in the week when they email it to me).  But really, only 2 weeks on Weight Watchers.   I'm supposed to share a favorite snack.  It's No Pudge Brownies. At only 2 points, it's a a wonderfully, yummy chocolate desert. AND, they have directions on the box on how to make them one serving at a time in the microwave (just 1 minute) so I get a hot, yummy, PORTION-CONTROLED treat.  That's a good thing.

I got a chance to do something cool–all because I blog!  This writer I love to read (Boomama– check her out if you can, she is SO funny) discovered a band she loved. And she has this superpower to make music companies listen to her.  Well, not quite, but she discovered this band that she LOVED. And she was able to get them to give away CDs to her readers.  And I got one! And I really liked it! So I wanted to spread the word that they are a really cool band you need to check out.  Click on the flashing button and you'll get to hear FIVE of their songs. And you should really listen to "Beautiful You", that's Alex's & my favorite.

I was very excited two days ago to get my email to tell me my Harry Potter book order was being prepared and was to arrive today.  I was much more excited to see that BIG box in our mail box this afternoon. 

James' boss (Ric) had organized a big gathering at his house today. He started with breakfast and paint ball this morning. It was going to end with a bon fire at dusk. I'm not quite sure what was planned for inbetween, but he had hired a babysitter to watch the kids.  I was VERY excited to hear this–the kids could be gone and I'd have ALL DAY to read the Harry Potter book!!! But then we got an offer I couldn't refuse, to get the kids pictures taken by a VERY good photographer, for FREE!!! So I made a 10:00 appointment, telling myself the book probably wouldn't be here before than anyway (it wasn't).  We had pictures taken at the park and then I took the boys up to Ric's house. I stayed for lunch and then came home–to find The Book in the mail box. 

I got to read all afternoon. I can't remember the last time I've had all day to read without being interrupted.  I loved it (both the time to read and the book).  I was determined to enjoy the book, to not rush through it.  I still finished by 8:00 this evening.  I did enjoy it.  Now it's James's turn. I'm not promising a full day like that to read though.   I do have to admit I'm a bit stiff from sitting so long–I'm out of practice! Must find more books to read! ;-)  I hope those of you who like the series enjoy reading the final one as much as I did!

Tonight, after supper, the kids and I were outside.  Will noticed the moon.

"Look Mommy! The moon! How do people get there?"
"In a really powerful rocket. Or the space shuttle." (We have a book on Space he likes to read.)
"But Mommy, if people went to the moon they could knock it down, and break it."
"Um, no, the moon is big, and can't be broken. The ship can land on it and people can walk on it."
"Oh."

…A few moments later…

"Mommy, why is the moon like that and not round?"
"Well…(oh crap!)…The earth's shadow is covering up part of it. blah, blah, sun, then earth, then moon, blah, blah …"
"Well, the clouds can cover the moon for that shape too."
"Um, the clouds are here, the moon doesn't have clouds."
"Why?"
"I don't know, it just doesn't."
"Ok. I'm going to go play now!"
"Ok!" (Thank goodness!)

I was a BIOLOGY teacher, not physical science one!

So I haven't been too good about posting this the last few weeks. That's because I was gaining weight, and that's hard to admit. But I refused to quit! So I joined Weight Watchers last week.  So far, it's been very good. First, I lost the 4 lbs. I gained back! Who-hoo! (So, for those keeping track, I'd lost 4 lbs, gained them back, and just re-lost them.)

So far I am really liking Weight Watchers. It helped show that we are eating pretty healthy, as I thought. But being pregnant and then nursing had kind of messed up my understanding of what was a proper portion. I'm liking it more then the Body for Life we did last year because I feel I have more freedom in what I eat–I just have to keep track of it. I'm competitive enough to enjoy the challenge of getting what I want to eat under the points, plus I love that if I work out, I get more points…silly, but it's a nice "bonus" or reward in my mind. And I'm using those points on healthy things! But I can also save a point or two for a treat of chocolate, or work in something small so I'm not feeling deprived (which then makes me want to overeat).

My goals for this week? Work out 5 times (I only got 3 in last week, but I was sick with a nasty summer cold–I know that helped with the weight loss as well!) and keep up on drinking my water (I know the cold helped make me want to drink more). I don't expect to keep up the big number like last week, but I REALLY want to lose 1 lb. so I can put a "Lost 5 Pounds" button on the blog! 

Yesterday we bought my parent's mini-van. So I guess we're now "Grown-ups".  I don't feel like it!  Will loves the van.  Asked why it's "because I can see out better and it's brighter in it at night so I can see".  And, for the first time in two years we have two cars again.  I'm proud that we made it two years with only one car–and it was only an issue one or two times. Though as we've both gotten busier and more involved in church and other activites, it's started to take a bit more juggling.  

Last night Will said "Why aren't we going to park the van in the garage?" (We only have a 1 car garage).  He then said before anyone can answer "I KNOW! Daddy can build another garage for the van!" 

Um, yeah, he'll get right on that this weekend.