Happy Birthday Rick

Happy Birthday, my husband.  This is the first birthday that we have not spent together.  Since I cannot give you a Happy Birthday kiss in person, I have included a pair of glittery lips in this post.  I love and miss you and the little girl does too.

The Snitch

This afternoon Katie informed me that my desk in the office was a mess.  She then proceeded to threaten me by saying, "You better clean your desk or I am calling the police."  My daughter, the snitch.  I don't know which bothers me more.  The fact that she threatened me or that she would have no problem turning me in to the police.

Sneak Peek Exclusive

For the last two weeks,  Katie has been vacillating on what costume she wants for Halloween.  She has gone from a vampire to a genie to a witch to a musketeer to Tinkerbell.  Today when we cruised down Wal-Mart's Halloween aisle, Katie spotted a costume and with more conviction than I have ever seen her express, she anointed the costume pictured below as "the one".

Cleopatra/Genie Queen

Previously, Katie had never heard of  Cleopatra.  She thought the costume would make her look like a queen and a genie.  Therefore, we have dubbed the Cleopatra costume as the Genie Queen or Queen of the Genies.  Actually the costume is rather neat.  Each wrist band is attached to a corner of the see thru, sparkly blue cape, so when Katie moves her arms, the cape gracefully billows behind her.  I also like the hanging gold beads that partially circle her head.

That's the sneak peek to which the title of this post refers.  I let her try on the costume today so I could take pictures for Rick.  To ensure that Katie will still want to be the Genie Queen for Halloween, I will be hiding the costume.  If she gets to wear it too much before trick-or-treating, she'll get bored with it and then will want to be something else, such as a a vampire or a genie or a witch or a musketeer or Tinkerbell.

West Texas Fair

Feeling out of sorts.  Perhaps I am just monumentally tired.  Ballet is later today, but I have all intentions of feeling better by then so Katie can go.

This weekend, Rick, Katie and I went to the West Texas Fair.  It was Katie's second time to the fair.  The first time she was only two weeks old.  At the time Rick wanted to take Katie on the little train ride, but I was too much of a wigged out, new mom to let him do that.  This time Katie experienced several rides.  We let Katie pick the rides on which she wanted to go and she had her eye on the ferris wheel so Rick accompanied her on her first ride.  She loved the ferris wheel and it was her favorite ride.  Next, Rick and she went on a ride that involved little pods on long arms.  The whole ride turned in a circle on an angular plane while the pods spun.  Kind of like a Tilt-a whirl.  She kept her eyes closed, head down and nestled under Rick's arm.  She wasn't too crazy about that.  She was a little more selective with the rides after that.  She did the yo-you all by herself and enjoyed flying through the air like Tinkerbell.  The next ride was the Tilt-a-whirl.  I went on the ride with Katie.  Since there was only the two of us, they set another lady and her 10-year old daughter in our pod.  It started out okay and I noticed Katie had her eyes squeezed shut.  We continued to go around and around at a dizzying speed.  I felt myself getting unbalanced.  I chose a stationary spot on which to fix my gaze (Katie's knee).  Pretty soon that wasn't working, so I too had to squeeze my eyes shut.  Every once and a while I would open then and try to find Rick.  When I did I would shake my head, "No".  He thought I meant that Katie was not enjoying the ride when I was trying to tell him that I was getting miserly unbalanced and feared I was going to throw up.  I am pretty good about convincing myself that I will not throw up--mind over matter--especially while seated within puking distance of two strangers.  I silently coached  myself while praying the ride would end soon.  Finally, after what seemed like 20 minutes, the ride slowed down.  I recall walking like a drunk to the steps.  Rick met us there and the first words out of my mouth were, "Rick I am going to throw up."  He guide me over behind the rides to the fence and I proceeded to lose everything that was in my stomach.  Afterward, I had to hang on to Rick's arm to walk because I was that disorientated.

What was I thinking going on that ride?  Perhaps I was recalling my childhood when I enjoyed that ride and not the last five years.  In my previous work-a-holic life, I did a seminar at sea with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.  After the cruise, I could not get my land legs back which was the norm.  I had to go and see my doctor when it went on for a week.  I was informed that I had vertigo and was given medication.  When I was pregnant with Katie, I swung around on a chair in our office and set off another episode of vertigo.  Like I said, what was I thinking.  I am susceptible to vertigo yet I went on a ride that spun and spun and spun in fast circles.  (I am getting nauseous just thinking and writing about it.)

We did stay at the fair so Katie could ride a few more rides.  She did the merry-go-round, baby roller coaster and the little train that I nixed when she was 2 weeks old.  She absolutely cracked up Rick and I  when she was on the train.  The train ride consists of a little train that goes slowly around an oval track.  When she was on the roller coaster Rick tried to get her to put her hands in the arm, but she won't.  However, she did do so on the little train.  She looked so pathetic and funny with her arms in the air as the train chugged at 3 miles per an hour around the level track.  Sadly, I didn't get my funnel cake because I doubted that it would stay in the stomach.  Matter of fact I still felt like crap the next day; however, blessedly, the vertigo did dissipate.  Also,

We had a good family night despite the visit to the perimeter fence and Katie had a blast. I didn't have my camera so no pictures of Katie being a goof on the little train or me kneeling by the fence--not that Rick would have taken a picture of me puking.  Rick was happy that Katie was game to go on rides.  Hopefully she will be one of  those kids who like rides unlike her dear mother.

Katie making dump cake last Monday.  She made the whole thing by herself.  I just put it in and took it out of the oven.

Artwork

Katie has been very busy today.  Yesterday I bought her a video learning game from Office Max called Jump Start Advanced Preschool.  I bought it because on the back they speak about the seven learning styles.  I attended a workshop while at the MOPS convention last year that discussed the seven styles of learning.  It was incredibly interesting and I learned valuable information.  Anyway, Katie has been on the computer playing which to my delight is actually learning.  Below is a picture of Katie hard at work at her "compooter".

 It was close to noon and Katie still had on her jammies.  Changing into day clothes would require her to leave her computer.

When it was time for a nap, Katie wanted to sleep in one of  the projects that she created from the DVDs.  See below.

She also wanted to display some of her artwork on our front door, on the outside.  I hope it doesn't rain.  I believe that they are a surprise for Rick.  (Rick, act surprised.)

While the games were downloading to her computer, I asked Katie what was on the screen.  She "read" the message for me.  "You can't do that right now.  I am downloading, but I do love you."  What a sweet computer.

In other news, Katie received her fifth strip on her TKD belt.  Testing will be done on October 8, but I don't know if Katie will have enough hours.  I actually want her to stay as a yellow strip so she can get the forms down pat.

Grasshoppers. UGH!!!

We another plague of the locust and I feel as if I am living in the time that Exodus was written. When I went outside this morning, the plants were covered in grasshoppers.  They have eaten every single petunia, as well as the leaves and stems.  My grape vines were hard to see because of the swarm and the vines probably will not last much longer.  Any new growth that the vines had, the grasshoppers have munched.  So much for growing grapes.

I cannot help but wonder if our cotton field is going to produce any cotton this year.  Grasshoppers by far are the most destructive bug I have ever seen.  In a matter of a few hours, they can destroy acres.  Anyway, I was on a killing spree this morning.  I worked my fly swatter to the point that it broke.  After reading online that a mixture of water, dish soap and cayenne pepper will keep them off of the plants, I sprayed the plants and I am hoping for the best.

Rick can't kill grasshoppers and I used to be that way until they started destroying my hard work.  I have become rather ruthless and Rick commented more than once, that when I get to heaven there is going to be a huge grasshopper with a flyswatter waiting for me.  That's okay, my fly swatter will be bigger.

Beauty vs Ugliness

This morning we had to run into Stamford and the post office to pick up the box that contained Katie's ballet attire.  I had ordered two different leotards, two pair of tights and one pair of leather ballet shoes.  Of course, the minute we got home, she stripped down to her skivvies so she could try on the real ballerina clothes.  And when I say "the minute we got home" I actually mean she began disrobing about 1' before the front door...outside...on the steps.  Anyway,  here's Rick's Little Doodlebug Ballerina.

 En pointe with the help of a chair and a barstool

 What a professional look on her face

Since you got to see some pictures of beauty, you are now offered a picture of ugliness, me.  To be more specific, it is a picture of my arm after a freaky fall.  Sunday night, Katie and I were painting the MOPS' sponsor boards on the living room floor.  I got up to get a pair of scissors and straddled the poster board in an attempt to step over it.  I quickly learned one foot was standing on Katie's hand.  Not wanting to break her little fingers, I lifted my foot up, lost my balance, fell forward and caught the edge of our glass topped coffee table.  The area was instantly ugly and hurt like heck.

I usually don't post pictures of bruises; however, I tend to wear tank tops and short sleeve shirts this time of the year and I hope the picture and explanation will cut down on the, "Oh my gosh!  What happened to your arm?!"   Those type of questions only encourage me to answer humorously or sarcastically.  For example, yesterday at the MOPS meeting I was tempted to answer, "It's the result of being on the Steering Team.  Another member and I had a little dust up."

A Lecture

Katie unwrapped a stick of gum for me.  I opened my mouth thinking she would put it in.

Katie:  Momma, I don't feed you.  You are not a baby.  If I put this gum in your mouth, you will look like a baby.
Brenda:  Yes, ma'am  (I placed the gum in my mouth)

Wiggly Feet and Movie Attire

I had a wonderful MOPS meeting this morning.  It was the first MOPS meeting for the new school year.  Katie definitely enjoyed being back at MOPPETS.  When we were leaving, she must have hugged and kissed Zoey fifty times before I could drag her away.

After MOPS Katie and I spent the next 1 1/2 hours at McDonald's Play Land.  Katie always manages to make new friends there and she was very tired when we left, so much so that she asked to take a nap.  However, that was going to have to wait.  We headed to Hobby Lobby and then to her dentist appointment where she got her teeth cleaned for the first time.  She did amazingly well.  The only indication that she was apprehensive is that her little feet wiggled when the dental hygenist had a tool in her mouth.  Once again, they said Katie's teeth look great.  She has an appointment in six months and they will do x-rays.

We stopped at Walgreen's before we headed to Tae Kwon Do.  She has four merits on her yellow stripe belt, but will not get the fifth until she has her forms down pat.  They are doing testing again in October, but I don't know if she will be ready.  After TKD, Katie asked me where we were going next.  I told her we were going to go home and she could nap on the drive.  She actually said, "Yeah!!" 

We finally arrived home at 6:30 pm and a UPS package was waiting for Katie.  It was the new Barbie movie A Fashion Fairy Tale.  Katie has a habit of getting dressed up to watch Barbie or Disney Princess movies.  This evening she decided that Sleeping Beauty's gown and crown and Cinderella's shoes were the proper clothing for the Barbie movie.  In case you wish to replicate Katie's outfit, I have included a picture for you so that you can refer to it when you have your next movie night.

We are now on the second viewing of A Fashion Fairy Tale and I am sure we will have viewings 3-101 in the coming days.  Ciao.

Snow, Cedar Chips and Flying Booties

I was looking back at the pictures that I posted yesterday.  Seeing the picture of Eric in the snow reminded me of something Rick told me once.  Before we met, he took the dogs to the park that was at the end of the street where he lived in Lansing.  Being Michigan and winter, of course snow was on the ground and falling out of the sky.  The dogs went galloping around the park and at one point Rick thought he lost them when in actuality they blended into the snow.  I laughed and thought, "Boy, he's easily confused."

Fast forward to after we were married and when we lived in that same house while in Michigan.  The back yard was fenced and I got home from work first, so I'd let the dogs out.  I had to do it immediately because Max would not leave me alone until I did.  When I say "won't leave me alone" he would continually poke his snout into my backside as if he was herding me to the back door until I let them out.  Rick always said Max was happy that I came around because he finally had someone on which to pick.  (Rick was the leader of the pack; Eric was second in command and Max was third and last on the totem pole of power.)  Back to the topic at hand, one winter day I let them outside and they raced to the poopy pen (Rick had designated a back corner of the large yard as their pooping area.  He fenced it in with short, upright logs and threw cedar chips down.)  Anyway, I checked on them a few minutes later and I couldn't find them.  To my relief, I finally saw them.  They had blended into the snow.  I guess I too am confused easily.  Let this be a lesson to you that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Speaking of cedar chips.  Max hated walking on them.  He would actually tiptoe and never went very far into the pen.  (Later we found out he was allergic to them when we had a full allergy test panel done on him.)   Rick was once talking about the type of guard dogs Eric and Max were.  (Both dogs were schutzhund trained and only understood German, which my husband speaks.)  Anyway, Rick said all the intruder would have to do was throw done a handful of cedar chips and Max would run and hide.  At the time, it made me burst out laughing because Rick said it in a deadly serious voice.  It still makes me laugh.

Which reminds me of another story.  Rick had bought little, black, leather booties that velcroed closed for the dogs.  They came in handy when it was muddy or snowy outside.  Rick and I were in the early stages of our relationship and he asked me to put the booties on the dogs.  I didn't know Eric and Max well at that point and was still a little intimidated by them.  Trying to be a helping and impressive girlfriend, I gently put the booties on all eight feet and silently thanked them for not ripping my throat out.  Well, Rick opened the back door, the dogs shot out  and the booties went flying in the air.  Because of my fear, I didn't get the booties on all of the way.  Rick was good natured about about it, found it funny, as I did, and he even went out into the darkness of night and walked through the snowy/muddy back yard to retrieve the eight booties.  The visual memory of those booties flying up in the air still makes me laugh.  As a side note, I never was asked to put their booties again.

Huh...?

I have many confusing conversations with Katie.  Sometimes it is due to her mispronunciations and sometimes it is due to her incredibly philosophic mind.  However, this made me laugh and feel old all at the same time.

Katie:  Mommy, I've grown up.  I have ankles.

Mommy:  Hon, you always have had ankles.  (I point to her ankles.)

Katie:  Oh....I mean......I mean...  (She then points to my crow's feet on my face.)  Those!

Mommy:  Wrinkles, Hon.  They are called wrinkles and you are too young to have them.

This isn't the first conversation that I have had with Katie regarding wrinkles.  When my in-laws were here, Gaga and I were putting on face cream.  Katie wanted some, but it was very expensive and for wrinkles.  I told her she didn't need to use it because she was too young and didn't have wrinkles.  She proceeded to get teary eyed and say,  "I want wrinkles."  I have tried to convince her that wrinkles are not something you want, but she desperately wants to use my expensive face serum.  Today, after the above conversation, she showed me her wrinkle.  It was the crease in her leg that forms when you sit down.  I had to burst her bubble once again when I told her that wrinkles don't disappear when you stand up.  But oh how I wish they did.

More Picture Memories

I am still going through our picture CDs and found two more that I would like to share.  (Actually I found a ton that I would like to share, but I doubt that you feel the same way.)  The first one is of Katie when she was three months old.  It had snowed overnight so I was anxious to get Katie outside to experience snow for the first time.  Once again I packed her in clothes so that she resembled a little sausage.  However, the funny part of this picture--besides Katie looking stiff as a board--is that I didn't have mittens or gloves for Katie, so I put a pair of socks on her hands.

The next picture is of Eric.  Of course he accompanied Katie and I on our snow adventure.  I rarely went outside without him.  In the picture he has his beloved tire in his mouth, the same tire that we buried him with.

Gosh he was a beautiful dog.  Not a day goes by that I don't miss him and Max too.

Marshmallow Protection

Kate and Rick were watching some kind of marshmallow movie (martian/alien movie).  Katie was properly protected.

"Memories light the corners of my mind..."

Today I was going through the picture CDs to find pictures of Eric and Max.  I stumbled upon pictures of Katie when she was a newborn through six months old.  It has only been four years, but I cannot remember Katie being so tiny.  It seems like a life time ago.  Also, whenever I see pictures of Katie as a baby, I am amazed that I didn't carry, hug and kiss her 24/7.  Here is Katie at her first football game.

Look how tiny she was!  Actually she was two months old in this picture, so she was actually big for her age.  The poor little tyke couldn't even see because her little hat was pulled so far down.  You can tell I was still a new mom.  I was afraid of her getting cold, so I dressed her like a dog-sled musher.  The little boots were a gift from my friend Dana, who was also my maid-of-honor.  Rick still has that "I'm so happy to be a father" glow on his face.

Below is a picture of Max and Eric from the beginning of December 2005.  At that point I didn't know I was pregnant yet and Max and Eric were my prime photo subjects.  Oh, the things I put those dogs through in the name of photography.

Those are reindeer antlers with light-up bulbs on their heads.  Eric is the one towards the back.  You just can see his feeling of indignity on his face.  Max, the goof ball, was getting into it.  Yes, another life time ago. Thanks for joining today's walk down memory lane.

Future Posts

A fellow blogger posted her son's birth story.  I've decided to do the same.  Not so you know all the gory details of Katie's entrance into this world, but so that when I am 105 years old I can reference this blog, which will be printed and bound by then, to remember her birth.  That is if I can find my glasses (inside joke).  It will take me awhile to put the posts together, so the first installment won't be today--yes that is plural, more than one--but I wanted to warn you in case you have more pressing engagements or blogs to peruse.  Stay tuned!

Family Centered Weekend

We had a family-centered Labor Day Weekend.  First, Rick had to get a good, long rest.  That was Saturday.  Sunday we dropped Katie off at Sunday School and zipped over to the Sirloin for breakfast, as we always do before church.  We both look forward to the 45 minutes sans Katie and we also always order the same items.  A breakfast burrito and unsweetened ice tea for me and a side of bacon, toast and coffee for Rick.  After our alone time, we head back to the church for the service.  Katie usually is already in the sanctuary with a Sunday School friend and this past Sunday she chose to stay with her adopted family.  More sans Katie time!  After church we go to the carwash, gas the car up and stop at Dollar General.  That's our Sunday morning ritual and I find our routine comforting.  However, when Rick flies out on a Sunday, I feel so out of sorts because we are robbed of our family morning.


On Labor Day, I cleaned.  Some may wrinkle their nose at the thought of cleaning on a holiday; however, I find happiness in the scent of a clean house.  I recently bought a stack of matching picture frames and all of the hall's pictures are getting reframed.  Since the pictures were down, it was a good time to scrub the walls.

Later, we went to Chuck E Cheese's for dinner and games.  Katie was really keyed up and I humbly admit so was I.  I played quite a few games and we ended up with 461 tickets.  Katie got to pick out five cool prizes.  Rick wasn't immune from game fever either.  Below is a picture of Rick and Katie playing the water game.

Here I am with a strip of tickets that I won while playing Flaming Finger, which is a maze game that you use your finger on a screen to figure out the maze.  The mazes are pretty straight forward, but no matter how hard I tried, I never beat the clock.  Oh well, we still have some left over coins so I can go back and try so more.

Today we got a little bit of rain.  Matter of fact, rain is in the forecast for the next few days.  I believe the weather is a result of the hurricane in the gulf.  The rain will make the cotton happy and I am all for happy cotton.

Katie starts ballet class today.  It is once a week at 5:30 pm.  I would have preferred a morning class, but they were already booked.  You now can look forward to pictures of Katie in her ballet gear.  Speaking of gear, I ordered Katie new ballet shoes, leotards and leggings/tights from Discount Dance Supply.  After a lot of research and recommendations, I settled on Bloch full-sole shoes, as well as Bloch leotards and tights.  She is required to wear a black leotard and pink tights and shoes.  Because the color pink varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, I wanted to stay with the same company for the shoes and tights.  I am as excited as Katie is about her ballet class.  Can you say vicariously living through one's children?  However, I promise you and Katie not to be a stage mom.

Gotta dash.  That is the update.  Aren't you glad you waited on the edge of your seat for it?  Cleaning!  Gaming!  Purchasing ballet items!  Whatever will that zany Brenda do next?!  Ciao.

Perils of Marrying a Mensan

If you recall from a previous post, Rick got a surprise present for Katie and we were to open it after he left for Dayton.  He commented that I could help Katie with it.  When I saw the present, my question was who was going to help me.

Well, Mr. Mensa is home now and built the "simple" little puzzle.

It's a cricket and all I have to say is "Hell no I could not have built that without instructions or at least a picture."  I thought it was a dinosaur and started building it accordingly and did not get past the ribs on the spine.  Darn Mr. Smarty Parts.  Word to the wise, don't marry a Mensan.