Me and Kids

My mom says I have a way with kids.  They seem to like me.  I can get them to do things their parents can't or things they didn't even think they would want to do.  And they love me!

Today I babysat my niece and nephew they are 7 and 6 years old.   I've had a lot of yard work building up and decided I was going to have them help me.  I am not above using child labor, bribery, and threats to get what I want out of the little munchkins.   What I wanted today was to get a flowerbed weeded while I mowed the lawn.  It's not a small flowerbed and it was carpeted with weeds. If you are wondering why I thought they would even go for the idea, I will share my secret.  I observe, listen, and  manipulate.  This is how it went:

Last week the kids came over with my mom, while they were here they pulled a few weeds in the flowerbed mentioned above.  I observed how they seemed to enjoy this little chore.  When they were finished they proudly pointed out their work.  I listened to the pride in their little voices.  Today, I went in for the kill.

Me: "Guess what I need your help with today?"
Them: "What?"
Me: "There is a lot to do outside today and you guys did such a good job weeding the garden that I thought you could work on that while I mow the lawn. IF you do a good job and don't complain. We will go to the park for a picnic when we are all done."
Them: "Okay." 

See how easy that was?  I set them up with water to drink, lathered them up with sunscreen, and let them loose on the weeds.  I checked frequently and told them to get in the shade when they got too hot or tired.  To break up the monotony, I gave them each a ride on the mower.

The kids took the pictures.  Doesn't that mower remind you of Lightening McQueen?  The kids didn't think so either.

As the morning wore on, they started to lose their steam.  They were still plugging away at those weeds but I could see that we needed to speed things up and add a little more manipulation motivation.

Them: "It sure it getting hot out here."
Me: "Are you drinking your water and taking breaks?'
Them: "Yes."
Me: "You know the park we are going to for our picnic has a pond that you can wade in and cool off."
Them: "YAY!" And they went back to work.

The little buggers pulled weeds for almost 2 hours.  I was impressed.  When almost all of the weeds were gone, I sent them in to clean up and cool off while I finished up and sprayed the Round Up.

We set about making lunch and the only bread we have is wheat.  I don't buy white anymore. They both scrunched up their faces:  "We don't like wheat bread."  Me: "Well that is all we have so you're going to eat it whether you like it or not."  The complaints stopped.   I gave the kids the rules for the park. Yes, they earned a trip to the park and playing in the pond but I still wanted to make sure they ate all of their lunch.  They needed to after working so hard.  But rules are rules and this is me:

"If you don't eat all of your sandwich and the rest of your lunch, you won't get to play in the pond." 

From past experience, they know I mean it.  I have amazing follow through.  I once told my son that if he didn't clean his room, I was going to throw all of his toys away.  He didn't clean his room and I threw all the toys that were on the floor out of his room.  While he lay on his bed crying, I shoved them all in the dryer.  As the days went by and he did his chores and didn't argue he gradually got all of his toys back.  I may not have thrown them away but I did take them away and he didn't figure it out until he started getting them back one by one. 

Back to today, after we made lunch we headed to the park with Grandma.  We found a nice shady spot and ate. The munchkins ate all their lunch: sandwich, chips, and jello cups.  Then, without my even saying so, they patiently waited for Grandma to finish eating before we went over to the pond.

Before going to the pond, I gave them a time limit.  When I said it was time to go home, there were no arguments. Nothing. Nada.  I am so proud of my mad child wrangling skills. 

This isn't a one time deal.  I have used my awesome powers to get another nephew to wear socks with his tennis shoes, taught him not to ask for anything when we go to the store, and a slew of other things.  He knows temper tantrums and tears are wasted on me. 

I have to say that hanging with kids was actually a lot of fun.  We got a lot of work done today, we played some, got a little bit of sun, and most important, we spent time together. 

Monday Mashup

This weekend I discovered that good things really do happen to nice people.  While my friend and I were waiting in line to get into the amphitheater for the Kenny Chesney concert on Saturday, two ladies came over and asked if we had General Admission Lawn Seats.  We said, "Yes" and they asked if we wanted reserved seats. Skeptic's that we were we hesitantly said yes.  I was wondering what we would have to do to get these seats.  All manner of crazy things crossed my mind.  See our reluctance, they explained the situation. One of the ladies had won tickets but when she got them, they were not where she was promised.  She told the folks who gave them to her, and they gave her better seats and told her to give the other tickets away.  They said they chose us because we "look nice".  I thought that was really sweet. Out of hundreds of people milling around they chose us because we "look nice".  I wanted to call my sisters and ask them if they wanted my lawn seats but there was no way they could have made it to Salt Lake in time.

We would have been sitting up on the lawn in front of the trees. 

Instead, this was the view from our new seats.

Andrea and I with the ladies who gave us the seats.  I never did get their names.

Andrea and I in our better than the lawn - awesome seats.

 For me, the greatest benefit of these seats - other then the view, was that I did not need to stand to see the show.  I could see perfectly and still remain seated.  I know, it's a concert and you should be up dancing around and what not but with my bronchitis, sitting was much better.  We still had an awesome time.

Uncle Cracker

Billy Currington

Kenny Chesney.  My battery was dying so the picture isn't as good as the others. 

 

In other news, my old Chevy Blazer is not running right now.  A blown head gasket or cracked head.  I will be getting it fixed so the teenager has something to drive, BUT this morning I became the new owner of a 2001 PT Cruiser.  It may not be new but it sure is new to me.  A girl my mom works with was selling this and with my dad's help, I was able to buy it for $3,300 and drive it home. 

My new car!!!

I am so excited to finally have a new to me car.  I have been driving the Blazer for 10 years and it is certainly a "special" vehicle.  My Dad's nickname for it is the "Rolling Wreck".   I know inanimate objects so not have feelings but I feel bad for my blazer as it sits there waiting to be fixed and driven again.  Hopefully, I can get it taken care of and my son will get at least a few more years out of it.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Friday File

I know you are probably sick and tired of hearing about my being sick and tired so I'll just say the Nurse Practitioner says I have bronchitis and an ear infection. I have antibiotics and really good codeine laced cough syrup.  I am feeling more random today than usual and am taking a page out of Jo's book blog and making a list.

1 - Austin and I went to save some spots for tomorrows AF City Steel Days parade.  When we returned home, the dog was in the house with Grandma.  The lawn care people came to spray the lawn and they needed to do something with the dog so Grandma brought him in. He ate all of her cheese puffs, slobbered all over her hand, and tried to pet her.  I'm not sure how she felt about it.  She rarely complains about anything, just kind of rolls with it. 

2 - My son entered a drawing in the Steel Days Art Show.  When we walk through it tomorrow I will take a picture to share.  He is so good at not letting anything steal his thunder.  If he wants to do something, he does it.  He doesn't sit and worry about what people think. I admire him.

3 - I am terrible at setting long-term goals.  I am great with short-term goals but can't seem to work with the long-term things.  Any suggestions?

4 - Did I tell you that I never hear Grandma complain?  I commented on this to her the other day and she said, "It doesn't do any good."  I am trying to complain less.

5 - According to the scale at the doctors office, I have lost 10 pounds in the past two months.  Hopefully I can keep up the good work. 

6 - My new bras are not very comfortable. But then isn't "comfortable bra" an oxymoron?  

7 - I'm going to see Kenny Chesney tomorrow night!

8 - I wonder if the "reporters" on Entertainment Tonight really give a rat's bum about what they talk about. We watch it every night but tonight I refused.  I like Prince William and Princess Kate but I am tired of hearing about every second of their trip.  I am tired of hearing speculation of who might play Casey Anthony in the movie. Just tired of Hollywood gossip in general.

9 - I am out of appropriate thoughts to share. 

I hope  you have a great weekend!

Because Mom Said To...

I am going to the doctor tomorrow.  I tried to get in today but the old fart is out of the office.  I have to settle for the nurse practitioner tomorrow.  Hopefully she will have a magic cure for what ails me but more likely she will tell me it is something that just needs to run its course and I will be out my $30 co-pay.  I miss the $10 co-pay days.

Yesterday I bought some Sudafed and felt like a drug dealer buying cold medicine to make meth.  Apparently you have to buy this stuff at the pharmacy counter where you fill out a form with you name, address, and birth date.  Then they need to see a picture ID and get your drivers license number.  I was preparing for a TSA pat down, but thankfully it didn't come down to that.  Today it was back to the store for Robitussin for the cough.  The Robitussin bottle agreed with my mom about the doctor. It said,  "Stop use and ask a doctor if: cough lasts more than 7 days". 
The good news is that I don't think whatever ails me is contagious.  Grandma doesn't show any signs of my mystery cold/illness.

We have had some monsoonal moisture the last few days, which basically means humidity and thunderstorms.  Nothing like the  "haboob" Jo posted about in Arizona but more enjoyable.

I am crossing my fingers and toes that my cold and the rain will miraculously disappear before Saturday afternoon so that I can enjoy the Kenny Chesney concert without coughing, snorting, hacking, or becoming drenched.

I am going to rest on the couch for the rest of the evening and try not to lose a lung.  

Really!?!?

I say it way too much and it is becoming annoying but Really?!?! Casey Anthony NOT Guilty!!! I am having a hard time believing twelve jurors are really that stupid.  Okay, I know that was rude but REALLY.  Couldn't they have had a hung jury or something else that would have at least given the state the opportunity to file charges again if they get more evidence?  At this point, she could confess and the states hand are tied.  I am appalled.

I have a cold.  Have had it for almost two weeks.  I am considering a visit to the doctor because I think it might be turning into a sinus infection.  My ears are so plugged up, everything sounds like I am underwater.  I sound like a man when I try to talk.  The back of my skull feels like it is in a vice whenever I cough, blow my nose or sneeze.  And I know I don't feel good when I take a couple of sick days.  I work from home, it seems kind of wussy to take a sick day when I can work in my PJ's and nap on the couch when I get a little to worn out.

The holiday weekend ended up being a little busy.  Friday was my parents 40th anniversary and they invited me to go with them to Wendover, Nevada for a little daytime gambling.  Saturday, I went grocery shopping and spent the rest of the day with my friend Andrea.  We went to a movie, "Larry Crowne" -  I recommend it.  Then we went bra shopping. Lane Bryant is having a sale.  Buy 2 get 2 free.  Good news....I went down a bra size. Then we picked up some pizza and spent the evening with my Grandma.  Then we did fireworks.

Word of advice.  When you are doing aerial fireworks and you find what looks like a firework that didn't go off.  DO NOT LIGHT IT!  Yep, we had a dud in our firework pack but we also did some fountains.  We picked up what we thought came out of fountain that didn't work.  It turned out to be the aerial dud.  We didn't find out until after it was lit and exploded.  Yes we are responsible thirty something women.

On Sunday my sister had a cook out and there were more fireworks.  On the fourth, my uncle invited Grandma and I to share in his family's festivities.  More good food, family, and fireworks.

If I felt better it would have been a great weekend but I soldiered on and still had a good time.

Now we are watching the 48 Hours special about the Casey Anthony Not Guilty verdict.  Really?!?! There has to be a special place in hell for people like her.