HOT, HUMID, and a HUNDRED

It's hot.

I know everyone around these parts know it's hot, humid and will reach 100 again.  This is how the lovely mid-west is:  Hot and Humid in the summer, we celebrate Fall for a few days, then snow/ice/wintery mix for a few months, then it rains a ton, we get a few nasty storms, maybe a tornado warning or 8, then a few nice days or sunshine and 80 degrees, then we are back to HOT and HUMID and a HUNDRED.  I really hate the HOT, HUMID and a HUNDRED (with our without the damn heat index it's still fricking HOT).

Here we go, truth be told I.Hate.Summer. I do. I hate hot, so I better never be going to hell, or I will be the biggest whiner Satan has ever had.


I like snow, I like cold, I like WIND CHILL. At least one can escape the wind chill by going inside to cosey up by the fire place.  Ahhhh....winter, I miss you.

But, Heat? This can really never be escaped. Unless you turn your AC down to 65, and then enjoy paying that $1000 bill.  Blah, our AC doesn't drop below 74. Nor does it rise about 74. Jeff says it's too cold, I say put on a sweatshirt. 74 is the best compromise we can come up with.  I sit here at 74 degress in a tank top, shorts, and still think it's a little warm.

The husband LOVES this heat. LOVES IT.  I consider him a freak of nature.  God love him, the poor guy works out in this crap, kinda. He works in a shop, fixing cars, sweating his tush off.  So, remember, if you get your car worked on this summer -- add about 10 degrees to the thermometer and that is what my husband is working in.  Yesterday, their shop got to 109. I do not know how Jeff does it. I offered to ditch the kids and bring him some ice cubes. HOT.

The kids are enjoying spending the time naked in their pool.  They own bathing suits, they waer them, however, they do not like getting their suits wet.  Maybe next year they will figure it out :)

I just needed to type something, this blog has been dead since the ABC's were completed. 

I will try to do better, but, right now, this heat is sucking out all good ideas.   

2 Cool Kids

Happy Father's Day

To my dearest, most awesome Husband,

I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day.  I will be sad to miss it; we have waited SO LONG to finally celebrate YOU being a FATHER!  As you know, I will be globe trotting back to Germany for work.  Trust me, I'll ensure I raise a nice glass of brew in celebration of you.

As I drink, I know I will think of how this day progressed 4 short years ago.  We were still unsure of our future, hoping, and praying.  I will remember being told we WOULD be parents, on Father's Day.  I know, that gift alone will never ever be topped in our lifetime.  That was the best Father's Day and Belated Mother's Day gift ever -- our darling son (CC don't feel left out, YOU were our early Christmas miracle). 

I remember the few people we shared our news with.  I remember reading a book of baby names with you, and we both agreed how much we loved the name Connor.  Then Joesph, just worked, but we tweaked it to Josef, as a nod to your German heritage.  Ironic, how I'll be in your "home land," huh?

But, dear Husband, I do hope you have a wonderful day.  Celebrating with our two miracle children.  I wish they have no meltdowns, accidents, or creative art moments while I am away.  You all stay safe, know you are loved, and we will celebrate you when I return.

Love and Smiles Always-
Me

Your Three Biggest Fans

Z

 If you have read this blog long enough, you know our love of the Zoo.  We had a special opportunity to have breakfast at the Zoo and learn what certain animals enjoyed eating.  Instead of boring you with the particular nutritional requirements of an Elephant (FYI they like hay, watermelon and bananas), I will share this with you:

Connor loves reptiles, especially snakes.
Calista loves penguins.

Here is their adventure at our breakfast.

I think this was a python of some kind.

Red Tailed Hawk

Baby African Penguin

Connor jumped right in

Check out CC's face. Totally in awe.

Connor wanted to hold a fish. The keeper gave him a glove, so he picked a fish up. Then...

Decided to pick up fish #2 with an ungloved hand.

Baby Penguin, with his "chocolate milk" formula

CC still petting Baby Penguin

So Sweet

Still petting....

I think here she is trying to figure out a way to sneak Baby Penguin into our stroller.

Glove for CC (FYI- Connor was STILL holding those dead feeder fish)

Keeper feeding the Baby the little fish CC picked out

Connor and his favorite snake and keeper

Connor and Mickey Mouse, the Rainbow Boa

Ta-da!

CC had to give it a try too!

Trying to car jack the Zoo's eco-van thingy

After our breakfast, we had a lovely day at the Zoo.  :)

Alphabet challenge complete.

Y

You ask, "What's his Mother like?"
I want to respond, "She's looking you right in the eye!"  Instead, I understand you are asking about his Birth Mother. I answer your question, because I am polite and I am sure I've made the same mistake before. Back before I knew any better.

You ask, "Does he look like his father?"
I want to respond, "You've seen him, what do you think?"  Instead, I understand you are asking about his Birth Father.  I answer your question, as I understand what you are asking.

I should stop and correct you, but I don't.  If you were a stranger, I probably would use some of my best sarcasm for you. Instead... I don't.  I am polite and too polite to point out your oversight.  I know you mean no harm, but your very basic questions do cut a bit.

I am his Mother.
My husband is his father.
CC is his little sister.
Together we are a family.

Please just treat us like one.

X

eXtreme eXcitment

Yeah, for real, can you think of an "X" topic? X-rays? Yes, I have have TONS of them.  Not an exiting topic unless you are interested in my old orthopedic/sinus issues. 

Xylophone? No, I cannot play one. But, there is a Curious George episode that revolves around one.

Xanax? Yes, it is working WONDERS for the black cat from hell. Best $4.00 a month I spend.

So, back to eXtreme eXcitement....

Any guesses what Connor Josef is going to try tonight??? Here's a hint....

Connor's New T-Ball Gear

Action photo

Jeff did the fatherly duties of taking Connor shopping for his gear.  I suggest helmet and bag, since Connor already has a bat and 2 gloves.  Well, Jeff got Connor a new bat too, thinking this new bat had less "pop."  By the second hit, we realized the "pop" is not the bat - it's Connor.  He smacked that ball from our side yard, down the drive way, across the street, and it landed in our neighbor (across the street) front yard.  No bat will contain the "power" of Connor. :)

Here is hoping Connor has a great time playing ball tonight!  I am SURE pictures and a post will follow.  I mean, I can already tell you we have about 11 family members meeting us as the field to watch practice and the game... It's not the "Big Show" yet, but it sure feels like it!

W

Wow, I'm calling this one in. My goal is to finish our alphabet journey by next week.  My conclusion with "Z" will be inspired by a special visit we have planned on Saturday....

Last weekend, we went to a FAVORITE art fair.  Totally sound very NOT Kim and Jeff, right?  Well, about 8 years ago on a very boring Saturday, I drug Jeff to this Art Fair.  We learned they served beer (honest to God that is how I initially got Jeff to go).  But, little did we realize we started our own little tradition.  We have not missed a  "Summerfair" in over 8 years. 

In those eight years, as a couple, we have had quiet a metamorphosis.  Our first year, we went, naively, seeing these beautiful handcrafted rocking chairs - perfect for a nursery.  I remember young Jeff and Kim, taking a business card thinking, "We will need to call these people soon!"  At that time, young Jeff and Kim had NO IDEA how hard their road to parenthood would be.  Years later, we did purchase that rocking chair, in hope that our adoption dreams would come true.  About a month and a half later, they did.  But, that rocking chair, sat alone, in an empty room painted blue.  Just patiently waiting....

Then, it became part of what it was meant for:

I love this picture of these two from October 2008

I could bore you to tears with all the cool things we have purchased from Summerfair.  This year, we added a cool penguin, a pig and a lady bug to our lawn art, and a clay plaque that makes me giggle. 

The clay plaque is my inspiration for W --- WINE.

In case it gets all wonky, it says:

"Drink Wine and you will sleep well.
Sleep well and you will not Sin.
Avoid Sin and you will be saved.
Ergo- Drink wine and be saved."
-Old German Proverb

I might not be German, but I cannot find a flaw in that logic....





U

Understanding

Connor and I had a typical battle again.  I hate that I allow myself to do battle with that little guy. It's not fair to me or him.  He just figured out, at a very young age, what buttons to press to get me all worked up. Being the GROWN UP, one day I hope to figure out how to better control emotions to allow for a proper dialog betwixt the two of us.  (yep I used betwixt, it's a bit more fun that standard between)

I was laying in bed one night, saying my nightly prayers and going over my day.  Connor and I had done battle that day too.  For some reason, CC and I really do not butt heads (I know my time will come).  However, if we ask her to do something or stop doing something, her reply is "OK."  Like I have made her little soul surrender to my every wish.  Or she's just going to be that little person who listens and follows directions.  It's a great thing, until it's not.  I want her to question things, just not "do as I say." 

With Connor, in order to be 90% successful, you MUST turn things on it's ear.  If I ask him to, "Go get dressed." it will be met with some sort of resistance, he will get distracted by something else. However, if we say, "OK, you and CC are going to race. Let's see who can do it first. On your mark, get set, GO!!!!"  Then that little turkey will fly to get himself ready first.  The problem is, by 8:30pm, his slacker mom is tried of games, asking, playing, asking again, YELLING .... Just.get.dressed.  After a full day of work, Mommy duty, and wife duty - I am just ready to relax, and stop talking. By 8:30pm, Connor is also a little punchy; he naps about 1/2 the time now.  No nap days, lead to nightly combat.

Please, know I am using the words combat and battle to embellish the situation. It's not like that, even if some days it DOES feel like that. It's just life with a near 4 and near 3 year old. It's not pretty, it's not all rainbows and unicorns.  We have ups and downs- all within 30 seconds. So, know I do not really, "fight" with  the little ones. 

My problem is, when there is a problem, I am the one who tends to fly off the handle (not all crazy, ape shit fly off the handle (ok, maybe a couple times), but I loose my temper).  After I yell, and act like an idiot; I realize I am BEING AN IDIOT - and I stop. I take a deep breath and ask my offending child, "Why did you _____?"  I am simply looking to understand the motivation behind the behavior.  Today, Mommy learned a good lesson of, sometimes there is no why and things are just accidents. I am trying to remember that.

My bottom line that I NEED to remember is, Breathe, and simply understand they are just little people.  I need to be there when they fall, and not be the Mom who looks at the kid going, "See I told you, that you would fall if you didn't tie your shoes/wear shoes/eat lunch/etc."

I shall chalk today up as experience, and do my best.  That's all I can try to do.  A VERY wise friend (and friend to the other 5 people who read me besides my family) once posted this reminder, "The relationship is more important than the behavior."  Sometimes that naughty behavior just clouds my vision a little.

T

Truth. Truth is, I am d@mn tired of this alphabet blog. UGH!!! But, I will finish, even if the last half of the alphabet is FLUFF.

So, here I give you Friday Fluff, brought to you by the letter T, titled...

Two Kids 'Graduate' Pre-School (a photo documentary)
-or-
Time Flies
First Day Of School, September 2011

Christmas Show, December 2011

 Last Day of School, May 2012

Calista and her Friend, James.  I went to high school with James' Mom :) Calista floored me one night when she told the following, "I want James in my Bed." WHAT? Then she went on to name all her classmates, and explained she wanted them to "come to my bed" to play penguins.  She is too funny.

CC and James

 Connor Singing

All in all, they had a great year and grew a lot.  They are two smart little people!  One of Calista's teachers even gave her a Penguin. 

CC and 'Conway' Penguin

I cannot believe we all survived year 1 of 2 day a week pre-school.  Next year, they will both go 3 days a week....then the year after that, kindergarten.  Oh, please stop the time from FLYING!