snip

Doodle is getting his hair cut on Tuesday afternoon.  The curls have gotten quite unruly and he is frequently confused with Albert Einstein. 

As much as I love the curls, I could do without the frizz, tangles, and frequent morning battles over the hair brush.

I know I'm partial, but are you kidding me that he's really this adorable.  No wonder he's rotten.  I could eat this cheesy grin {literally, i see remnants of dinner} up!

perturbed

Dear Target,

Usually we're the best of friends, but today our relationship took a bad turn.  

You see, a few weeks ago I bought a pastry decorating kit.  It included disposable decorating bags, tips, couplers, and bag ties.  Except when it came time to use my supplies, I opened the box to find myself supply-less.  The box only included bags.  

No biggie, I thought.  I'll return it to Target when I have a chance.  On I went to Hobby Lobby {already on my list of errands} to pick up what I needed.  

Today, I stopped by Target {where I spend a significant amount of money weekly} to return the kit.  Except you wouldn't let me.  Your "guest services" employee was not only rude, but slightly hostile when she explained that I couldn't return an item that was missing pieces because it was missing pieces.  Huh?

After much back and forth they agreed to let me exchange the item {which I didn't want to do because as I already mentioned I no longer need it}.  I then had to walk through the store to get the replacement kit, which I found to be a little unnecessary considering you pride yourself on customer service.  

THEN, came the kicker:  I was forced to pay extra to account for the difference in sales tax.  I'm sorry, but I think that is ludicrous.  First you won't let me return a defective item, then you make me pay to have the replacement item that I really don't want.  Is this a joke?  Are you trying to be like Walmart?

All that being said, I think I need a break.  You know, like in high school when you and your boyfriend don't want to see other people but you don't want to see each other anymore either?  I'm sure we'll reconcile at some point, but not this week and maybe not next.  

I'm highly perturbed.

real life

Why hello again, friends.  Have you been missing me?  

Lofton's been working all day and into the night on house plans and takeoffs which has left little time for me to blog, shower, do dishes, or even breathe.  This toddler of ours keeps me busy.

Some snippets of our week:

• Reese will no longer eat french fries.  Evidently they are both "yuck" and "eww ghos".  There was even some dramatic tongue sticking out action in there. We were in public when he came to this revelation.  It was not a pleasant scene.
• Reese also told me this morning that he "no poop no more" because "it tinky." I suppose this is life with a son?
• Jake was on top of the washing machine when Lofton got home from work today.  Let me write that again.  JAKE WAS ON TOP OF THE WASHING MACHINE WHEN LOFTON GOT HOME.  And Wednesday, he snuck into the kitchen when I was changing clothes and ate a loaf of bread plus two limes. No, our dog problems aren't getting any better.

And that's our week in a nutshell.  Hope yours has gone better.  Toodles!

a weekend recap plus a dose of sass

Life has gotten the best of us lately and blogging has been pushed to the back burner.  My apologies.

We spent a lazy weekend battling colds, rolling out of beds, working on our taxes and doing mountains of laundry.  Yes, it really was that exciting. 

As for the child whom rolled out of his bed {and gave his mama a near heart attack}? He’s fine.  His face is a little banged up and he has a semi-black eye, but otherwise he’s his usual jolly-toddler self. 

Last week was a doozy for me at work; something about the realization that some parents take no responsibility for their children and the lack of routine due to holidays and the weather.  Like I said, it was a doozy.  I briefly considered becoming a cupcake baker, but Lofton reminded me that we need my retirement and insurance.  Shoot.

Lofton has lots of big and exciting work things keeping him busy.  Can I just brag for a moment?  My husband, who HATES being a salesman, is at the top of his store in sales and in the top fifty company-wide.  So while he may not enjoy selling, he seems to be doing a pretty bang-up job.  Am I surprised?  Not one bit. He’s pretty amazing.  Oh, and our son still thinks his daddy shoots birds for a living.

And speaking of our son; it seems the sassiness has spread to school.  Yes, Reese scratched someone today.  

Let me set the scene for you:  I go into the big playroom to pick Reese up.  Per usual, he runs into my arms and smothers me with kisses.  Right on his tails though is a little lady dressed in green and pink.  I won't lie, she was super cute.  She tugged on my dress and said, "Scuse Me!"  Followed by, "Reese scratch me today."  Oh really?  So I asked him, Reese did you scratch this little girl today?  His reply, "Ebie { translation: Evie} push me!"  Umm, is that a yes?  The little girl then says, "You spank him at home!?" Uh, that would be a negative little princess!  Sorry.  

yummy in my tummy

I have a horrible, terrible secret to spill.  Monday at the grocery store I bought a giant box of mini corn dogs for Reese.  That’s right--I’ve started to cave under the pressure of toddler-dom.  It gets even worse.  When I got home I didn’t even follow the “recommended” heating method.  I used the microwave.  He practically beat on the table begging for more!

Try as I might to stuff my growing boy with healthy nutritious food, the junky kid-pleasing stuff keeps creeping into his diet.  I take full responsibility, too.

Lofton and I were pretty proud of our healthy, eat anything we put in front of him, eater.  And then salmonella struck.  It’s as if eating nothing but peanut butter sandwiches for three weeks cleansed his healthy palate.  Now he prefers spaghettio’s, easy mac, and corn dogs to edamame, grilled chicken, and homemade veggie-loaded pizza. 

We try, oh how we try, to push the healthy stuff on him.  We attempt to make him eat what we eat BUT sometimes I just have to throw in the proverbial towel. 

I will say it could be worse.  Peanut butter on wheat bread sandwiches shouldn’t clog his little arteries anytime soon.  And he does still eat ungodly amounts of grapes, bananas, and oranges.  His almond milk is chock full of goodness, and we can occasionally sway him to eat scrambled eggs.

I just hope he doesn’t turn into one of those kids that will only eat French fries… or even worse, beanie weenies. {That one’s for you, Mom.}

just the facts

Reese stats: 

            Weight—36 pounds

            Height—About 35 inches tall

Can say his ABC’s almost entirely {LMNOP get a little slurred}

Counts to eleven AND can count up to five objects

Finally knows his colors—green, blue, red, orange, yellow, and purple

Can almost undress himself

Would live on grapes, fruit snacks, oranges, peanut butter and easy mac if we let him

Loves to sing.  Favorite songs:  Itsy bitsy Spider, Row Row Row your Boat, some various rap songs, and rock a bye baby

Likes to take hot wheels cars everywhere he goes

Says his prayers with us at night

Asks LOTS of questions {What dis, Mama? What dat? What you doin? And yes he sounds like he's from jersey when he says "What you doin?"}

Is Mr. Independent unless it involves walking; he wants to be carried everywhere. 

Frequently says these things ::  “Mama/Daddy-O hold me”, “I do it.  Me!”, “I no like this.”  “No do that no more.” “Sorry Mama Sorry.” “I please ride in Daddy-O truck.” “I no school day.  Stay home day.”

Favorite books:  If You’re Happy and You Know it {Thanks SIL!}, Good Night Moon, Go Hamster Go

Loves splashing in the tub

Torments the dogs {see below post if you would like to see how anxiety ridden they have become}

Helps me bake and cook. 

Is obsessed with Handy Manny, Mickey Mouse, and Oso.  OBSESSED.  He also knows that he is NOT allowed to watch Phenius and Ferb on Disney.  I find this hilarious.  If he even hears the music come on he starts yelling “tange Mama tange”!

Adores his teachers at school.  He isn’t so keen on the other kids at school BUT he talks about his teachers non-stop.

Gives us lots of hugs and kisses.  It literally makes my day to see him run across the room to me at daycare.

Has started blaming others for his actions.  {Reese do you have stinky pants?  No.  It Buck!}  This is particularly amusing to me. 

Is beginning to tell elaborate stories.  Hmm... sounds like someone else I know.

shock and awe

Do you know what I loved about going to the doctor as a child?  Highlights for Kids magazine.  My favorite part was the page with the hidden pictures.  You know, it was one big picture but within that there were lots of hidden items.  I could do those all day!

So let's play a game, shall we?  I'll show you a picture and you try and discern the hidden items.

Observe:

This, my dear readers, is what my laundry room looked like when I got home from a very stressful day in third grade.  

Can you spot the hidden items?

Let's see-- there is a beach chair, a beach float, a rug, dog food, a trash can, the ironing board, a bouncing ball, a step ladder, a fleece blanket and an entirely new box of laundry detergent.

ALL DESTROYED BY THE DOGS.  We are officially at war.  Thankfully they spared the washing machine, dryer and hot water heater.

And so, after a glass of wine {or maybe 2} and an expensive trip to Target, this overworked and slightly perturbed Mama is throwing in the towel for the day.  Yep, I'm done.  Checking out.