It's all good

14

14…no it’s not my favorite number…that would be 12.  With 12/12 being my birthday, it’s a given. Squirrel… 14 is the number of posts I did on the blog last year.  That’s horrible!  I use to post weekly if not every other day before…now I’m lucky if I feel like touching a computer at the end of the day with an 7.95 year old, 4 ½ year old, Vice Principal husband who is molding middle school lives and a 11 month old puppy.  Did I mention that I’m just trying to match my socks and keep my brain in my head? 

January 1^st I had this goal to post more and it just happens to be I have a moment (I didn’t fall asleep putting Griffey to bed) before Nick gets home from gym hockey (bunch of old coaches thinking they are 18). I just looked at my blog and saw 14 posts last year.  So much happened last year and looking back I know it wasn’t just having a busy family…it was two things that I shut down time for myself to reflect on this crazy awesome life…..my boss (who is more than just a boss…my mentor for work and family) left Commuteride and Fin was diagnosed with ADD.

After my favorite boss in the whole wide world left Commuteride…work life got a bit crazy with finding a new groove.  I had the same job but I didn’t have the person who was/is my mentor to keep me going.  I have realized that this gave me the chance to step up and lead, but not from a title/job position. It also gave me a way to stretch my talents and dip my toes in a few things that I’ve been wanting to do but haven’t.  It’s been a growing year…growth is hard but it’s a good thing.

Fin’s journey is a whole year of posts that I couldn’t get myself to want to write. I should have documented it for other people to learn from and I want to go back and do it but for this post’s sake…we went from thinking Fin was at grade level to getting diagnosed with ADD to diagnosed from ADD to Sensory Integration Disorder. 

I wouldn’t say that 2014  (hmm…14 posts in 2014) was a bad year by any means; it was just big learning curve.  This year it continues on but we’re learning how to adjust.  Sometimes we need to learn over and over and over again. 

So here’s to another year of learning curves and adjusting with the 3 people (plus puppy) that I wouldn’t want to be without.

Cheers to 2015….a few weeks almost months late.

The coveted phone number

My mom tells me that I loved talking on the phone when I was little. My Uncle Marsh who worked for AT&T doing work on phone poles gave me an old brown phone to play with and I guess it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.  I also have a slight memory of a Mickey Mouse play phone.  I’m sure I had a few conversations with Goofy and Minnie Mouse….lots of gossip within the gang if I can remember correctly.

The past few days Fin has mentioned a friend name Ryker and wanting a play date with him over the weekend.  They exchanged phone numbers on pieces of paper at school (probably not when they were supposed to) and Fin came come with the coveted piece of paper with Ryker’s phone number.

Friday, Fin asked Nick for his phone and called Ryker.  Side bar….both my boys are non phone talkers….they get shy, quiet and look away from the phone…this is not who they are normally.  They are outgoing, talkative and love your attention.  This is the reason why Facetime works with our family…not a phone conversation.  Ok…side bar over.  Fin gets the answering machine (I know I just said answering machine not voice mail) and leaves this very cute and quiet message that I think Ryker’s mom probably had to turn all the way up to hear.  Poor Fin, every call last weekend on Nick’s phone Fin wished was Ryker.  Fin unfortunately did not get a call from Ryker however, the boys were at it again planning for Ryker’s birthday on the playground Monday as Fin went into grave details about over dinner.  Thank goodness Ryker’s mom called this morning with plans for Ryker’s birthday.

I do have to laugh as she so very politely told me how sweet Finley sounded on the voice mail.  I told her that Ryker has been Fin’s best buddy that we’ve never met except for the fact that Nick had lunch with Fin last Friday and we know that Ryker does exist.

I’ve learned a few things from this brief phone/play date experiment.  1. Teaching phone matters is much more tricky than I thought.  2. 7 year old boys can get just as excited about the phone ringing as a 16 year old (boy crazy) girl (which I have no experience in what so ever) and 3. That some people’s parents plan birthday parties only 2 days in advance. 

Half hour makes a difference

Kirby didn’t have to go to the bathroom at 3:30 this morning (I moved it from 3am to 3:30am now since he’s not needed to go then) and he still didn’t have to go.  This is of course a great thing...however, I wasn’t going to get up at 4 so I let him go till 5:30 and there was a little spot on his blanket that looked pretty recent so I’m thinking it was probably 5am-ish.  I know you are all dying to know the details of my sleepless potty training nights.

Not sure what exactly to do with that because I’m not wanting to get up at 5 knowing that I could never go back since I can’t even get to 6am on the weekends. 30 minutes is precious in sleep time…hello….i know that I can’t (not that I won’t or haven’t) wake Mr. Rip Van Winkle sleeping next to me.  That guy sleeps like I did as a teenager…man I’d almost give up Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups for that (I totally would).   Nothing wakes him up.   Am I really going to end up being like my parents and never sleeping in again?  What has my world come to?...it’s my own fault really….my strength (darn strength finders) of “responsibility” has become my nemesis because I take on the responsibility feeling like I’m the best cut out for it (because no one does it the way I do) and then naive to myself I teach them that I will take care of it (whatever task it maybe) forever and always.

I guess I became a morning person? Two babies later and I went from a person who can sleep through anything to a morning person. I guess I should count my blessings since it’s the only quiet time I get if Griffey doesn’t wake up.  In my Pollyanna world I would snuggle in on the couch with Kirby, sip my chia tea, read a book, then take him for a walk while the sun is coming up and the air is just the right amount of cool on my face.  I wish I was productive in the mornings.  Hmm…all this from debating a half hour of sleep….I think I’ll try 4am and go from there. Thanks for listening to the conversation in my head.

Baby vs. Puppy

I’ve got to be honest…I’ve been making a mental list of what is easier…a newborn baby or a 3 month old puppy?  I know… pretty sad but I have officially figured out one is not necessarily easier than the other. 

Round #1- Baby doesn’t move, puppy doesn’t sit still unless after a long walk...baby wins

Round #2- depends on what day it is who wins….it’s acceptable to put in kennel and leave for a few hours, however you can put baby in a car-set and leave for hours…tie.

Round #3- diapers…this is honestly a toss up.  There are no diapers to buy for a puppy but it is nice that pee and poop go into a diaper…I’d rather clean a butt than a kennel or the floor….so baby wins

Round #4-sleep…At 3 months Fin was sleeping through the night, but Griffey didn’t sleep through the night till he was almost 1. Kirby is now about 4am but then is up for the day at 5:30/6am.  If the baby is Fin…baby wins

Round #5 cuddling….baby wins.  Nothing like cuddling with your beautiful baby, toddler or 7 ½ year old.  Fin loves to cuddle and pray he always does.  Kirby is nice to have to lay by you to keep you warm when you are reading or watching TV.

Round #6 bath time…baby wins.  They don’t squirm and fur is harder to wash.  Plus, babies smell so awesome after a bath.  Kirby is just cute and fluffy with a slight hint of cherry almond smell.

Round #7 feedings…dog wins.  Even if Kirby has very expensive food, I would rather buy expensive dog food and only have to feed him twice instead of every 3 hours.  Plus, dog food is cheaper than formula.

There is no rhyme or reason to my madness, but I do have to remind myself that “this too shall pass” and that a dog “year” is really only 1.7 months long so right now I’m going through the toddler years right now.  The toddler years won’t last forever and soon as I know it he’ll be fully house trained, able to sit, heel and come on command.  Just have to keep up the training. 

Meet Kirby

Meet Kirby…our 9 week old 3^rd generation mini labradoodle.  He was the only one of his litter to not have a body full of curly hair.  He’s just a soft fluff ball who I just happened to name after the great Kirby Puckett.  I took the liberty of naming him when Nick said he really thought “we” were ready for a puppy. That is pretty much the only thing I have won since Nick spotted Kirby on the internet about a week ago.

The past few years we have been on the lookout for a dog.  Ideally we wanted to get a shelter dog but after learning that Fin was allergic to dogs with fur just like Nick…we knew that we were going to have a more difficult time knowing that the dog we wanted was going to need to be a pretty specific dog.  We were looking for standard poodles, labradoodles or goldendoodles knowing their personalities as well as their hair being what Nick and Fin needed.  Those dogs don’t stay long..if even a day which we have learned at a shelter.  Then knowing Griffey needed a dog smaller than him…a puppy was in the cards for us.

Nick spotted Kirby (who’s name was originally Nick…that definitely wasn’t an option in our house with two Nick’s already) on the internet about a week ago and started working me on “it’s time”.  Yes, I want the boys to have a dog to grow up with but was I ready for all the work…because I know that it will be me doing the majority.  I’m the one who has “responsibility” as a strength (strenghtfinders.com) and will do all the research and take the work on even when I don’t find it to not be in my favor.  This is where the strength becomes a bit of a weakness…Nick knows it. The positivity strength also worked to Nick’s favor as I focused on the positive of the boys having a dog to grow up with and God knows the boys have been pretending to be dogs for years. Nick made the appointment to meet Kirby and I started researching what to do with a puppy since I have no clue.  I grew up with a cat….so much less work (plus it helps when you are 8 vs 35…parents really do all the work).

Nick met the puppy’s family in Oregon before he went to umpire a game to see how his allergies would be with him.  If Nick did well then Finley would more than likely do well.  The boys and I then headed to Oregon to check out get Kirby.  I had been in contact with the family the week previous asking every question in the books I was reading and yet I knew I was still so unprepared.  Kirby got into our crate and we headed back to the previously dog proofed house (I knew he was coming home with us when Nick spotted him).

The boys were smitten immediately.  Fin was protective of him and was not letting go the second he held Kirby.  Griffey was a little standoff-ish only due to the fact that he wasn’t wanting his ankles nipped.  Nick was super excited…so excited he forgot everything his parents had done when they had Petey, Nick’s dog growing up.  I was excited too…Kirby was soft, cute and cuddly.  He’s lucky that God made him so cute. There’s a reason God makes babies and puppies so cute. 

Remember kind words

What is……?

Griffey being curious about my phone and snapping a selfie

Griffey could probably carry on a conversation for hours….that is if you will answer his questions.  He’s an inquisitive tender-hearted boy who is in his mid to late (God willing) three year old curious stage.  He can ask any question out of the simplest statements.  He’s definitely taught me how to think about life from a three year old aspect.

When’s next winter?  I got this question after Griffey and I were talking about Finley going up to the mountain for his last ski lesson.  I told Griffey that he could take ski lessons next winter if he wanted, and then we could all go skiing. Honestly I didn’t think about it really….next winter…no biggie.  To a three year old, winter is when it snows but when is the next winter?  A quick “help me with this answer Lord” (I do a lot of those these days on all levels) got me to simplify a year into the season which he knows so we could go through spring, summer, fall and back to winter.  A long…. reminder of all the seasons and he was good with the answer.  That was until he got to the next question which I’m sure was one of two questions…”what does that do?” or “what is that?”

Last fall, Nick was offered the opportunity to advice the West Middle School ski team.  I say advice and not coach.  It’s like a coach’s position but no pay and no coaching…just make sure to get the kids on the bus, keep them in line and no one breaks a leg.  Ok, maybe a few other things but Nick got a free season pass to Bogus.  I had a hidden agenda to me agreeing since Nick would be gone for every Saturday in January and most of February…..take Fin with you so he can have ski lessons.  Deal was done….so we then had to con ask Fin if he would like to learn to ski.  Nick had tried to take Fin ski once in Minnesota and that didn’t go so well so we had to brag it up a bit….which really isn’t hard because skiing is a lot of fun.  We just told him it would be fun and he would get to ride on the bus up the mountain.  He was all in!

I’m pretty sure that Nick and I were more excited for him the first day than he was but after that he was so excited for every Saturday morning.  Each lesson Nick would send me a video of Fin improving his skills.  Griffey thought it was the coolest so his turn is next winter.  He of course asks, “what does next winter mean?” 

Fin of course met lots of new buddies on his bus rides.  Nick went up to Bogus during the week with his team (Jr. high race finals) while Fin had to stay back at school.  The kids asked where Fin was.  That would be my social butterfly Fin.  He’s never met a person he didn’t become friends with. 

Legacy Live

 

Last fall, I was listening to Dave Ramsey on the radio…like I do almost every day from 12-3 if I’m in the office.  He announced that he was going to be coming to Boise in February and that his first 50 tickets were on sale for $25. I got on the website and bought 2 of them.  I knew that February seemed forever a way but it would be something I could look forward to after Christmas was gone.  Winter is just so blah…Dave Ramsey would cheer me up.

Last Thursday, Nick and I had our foster-grandparents (Gene and Lynn) from down the street watch the boys so Nick and I could grab a bite to eat (literally eat and run) and see Dave LIVE!  Nick was looking forward to it…partly because he wanted to see if Dave only wore blue shirts (every video he had a blue shirt) but I was about bursting at the seams. 

Yes, I was a little “over-clamped” when Dave came out.  I’m somewhat of an emotional person so it didn’t surprise me that I was “moved” a bit when I got to see someone in person who has taught my husband and I how to be good stewards of God’s money.  If I didn’t stumbled (God really) upon Dave message from a doctor after my accident in 2005, my family would not be debt free (except our home) today.

Nick and I didn’t really learn anything new that the event…we didn’t really go there thinking that we would have.  We really wanted to go to re-energize ourselves and remember why we are still working hard to stay in budget each month to meet our goals.  We left feeling re-newed  and to make more of an effort of educating the boys about the little money that they earn at home. Oh boy is Finley a spender…he reminds me of what I was like as a child.  Griffey… he has no clue that his change is adding up in his bank but I for see a saver in the future.

 

Head meets Nerf gun

The Super Bowl was pretty uneventful so why not have it livened up a little with a run to the ER? 

We spent Super Bowl Sunday at some friends of our and after half time the kids were all playing with surf guns and swords.  I went to check on the boys and ask them (I could hear Fin) to just settle (which really doesn’t work) and as I got there as Fin turned around to go towards the kitchen and Griffin happened to be right behind Fin so Fin’s big nurf gun happen to make direct contact with Griffin’s head.  Switch I happened to see out of the corner of my eye.  What I did see was Griffey dropping to the floor and blood pulsating out of Griffin’s head.  Oh goodie.

Head wounds…gotta love them.  I scooped him up and ran to the kitchen to put a towel on it and both of our shirts were covered.  I have to admit that I noticed this and was thinking I would score a new shirt since the one I was wearing was a bit big.   Sorry, I digress…. I believe Griffey was more scared because the blood surprised him.  It looked pretty bad at first since blood was all over his face and stuck in his eyes.  He stopped when my friend Anita got his face cleaned off and Nick made a joke.

He stopped bleeding and the cut wasn’t more than an inch but it was somewhat deep and knowing from past experience from his past stitches, we took him to the ER.  We drove across town knowing that ER was more to our liking.  Griffey was lying in my arms making sure that we were going to the doctor because he would make his head feel better. This child with probably turn into a hypochondriac as he believes medicine will solve everything.  My kisses or cuddling are typically over rated.  I have taught him to believe that honey lemon water will help with a sour throat versus cold medicine.    

 We get to the ER and it was pretty busy so Nick checked out the Quick care across the hall and the doctor yelled from the back and said “bring him on back” they were empty as can be and obviously bored from the football game.   The doctor cleaned and glued him up before I got done with the check in. Nick said Griffey was his usual self and was happy as can be sitting there getting cleaned up and sucking on a sucker.  Griffey walked out with his sucker and a sticker on his bloody shirt as I was signing papers.  He cracks me up.

Here I thought that going over to a friend’s house would entertain the boys so we could watch the football game.  I guess I was right about that, but forgot that nerf guns can get so dangerous.