Holding My Child Hostage

At least once a week (usually on Tuesdays, since Mondays are a late night for us), Ike falls asleep on our way to jiu jitsu.  And, in an effort to promote world peace, I let him sleep while parked in the dojo parking lot.  And, I usually use this brief moment in time as an opportunity to bond with my oldest over homework.

Today we ventured into the world of two-step equations.  Basic Algebra, which I actually do comprehend.  Bwahahahahahahaha.

So, wielding my not-so-smart phone calculator app, an antiquated understanding of how to figure out "y" and a 12 year old who just wants to make it look like she did her homework.  We set off on our grand adventure. Which lasted a whole millisecond before we were arguing.

Oh how I love puberty....

Ten minutes, three envelopes once containing bills and now graffitti'd with math problems, and my calculator later. Izzy finally acquiesced.

And my spell check says I spelled "acquiesced" correctly!

Alex has started a new hobby and that is to antagonize his sister.

Moops, in an effort to be an overachiever, has resorted to doing all of his homework for the week as soon as he gets home on Mondays......

And so far, I have only eaten 2 fun sized kit kats out of the Halloween candy stash! 

Alas, we still have 3 days of this work/school week to endure.  And Halloween lands smack dab in all that is going on.  So, a sugar high on hump day is how we will play it.

Procrastination Is Where Creativity Is Forced Into Overdrive

I am a master procrastinator.

Halloween is on Wednesday.

We bought the kids costumes today....

I'm sure, had we purchased the costumes a month ago.  Everyone would have been able to be exactly what they wanted to be.

Instead they are a ninja, indian, zombie, and a vampire with glow in the dark teeth.  Because after 4 different stores, the only vampire teeth I could find were glow in the dark.

They did have these fangs that you can adhere onto your canines, which looked really cool.  Only problem is, Izzy canines haven't grown in yet. 

Once Halloween is over, I can then focus on all the things I want to get accomplished for Christmas, but wont.....

Hindsight is 20/20

Yesterday I went a bit overboard at the gym.  I rocked out my Burpees, my walking lunges, my knees to elbows and my 400 sprints.  I got so motivated, I decided to finish off with an additional 1200 meters on the treadmill to give me a solid 2 miles.

Today I walk up and down my stairs as each and every muscle in my legs and butt scream at me for the torture I have put them through. 

And of course, today was the day we ran out of toilet paper upstairs.  I left the phone downstairs and it started ringing.  And then I had left my car keys in my jeans pocket but had changed into a different pair of jeans after I spilled my lunch in my lap......

This is where I have flashbacks to when we bought this house, and I informed the realtor I only wanted to look at houses that were 2-stories.  And I keep thinking to myself "You were an idiot back then".....

This reminds me of other mishaps and ignorant actions on my part.  Most of which are all clustered into my early to mid 20s and involve the lack of better judgement on my part.

Like, that one time I decided to paint the inside of my house terra cotta orange!

It came out great, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  There were vaulted ceilings involved, plant shelves, and I didn't own a ladder.

And there was that one time I painted a back drop for my aunt.  I used my master bedroom wall, because it was the largest blank space I could hang the canvas.  The back drop came out great, both on the canvas and on my wall.  This is where my Dad taught me all about primer.  Which he probably should have taught me about before I attempted to paint my house orange....

I learned how to clean out the glove compartment in my car the hard way as well.  It was 2 in the morning and my husband was coming home from Iraq, and I spent 15 minutes at the post gate looking for updated insurance.  I found it, and then gave the gate gaurd dirty looks as he lectured me on organization. 

I will be honest though, I didn't learn that last lesson very well.  Because this weekend I spent a good 20 minutes looking for my most currant insurance registration again. 

These Chairs

What you see, are 10 empty chairs. At this point there is no explanation, they are just 10 empty chairs. And without further explanation, they remain 10 empty chairs.

But, there are a minimum of 60 women that will beg to differ. These chairs are not empty, they are full. Six to a chair, if not more. This simple row of chairs is overflowing, standing room only doesn't begin to describe the emotion. And not one of those attempting to occupy these chairs is concerned with actually sitting. They just want to be there.

These 10 chairs...

They are for a funeral.

And while WE can not be there physically. We are there in spirit.

A friend lost her husband to War. He was a medic, he was in combat to help others. Not just our own, but those fighting us as well. He went out to save lives, didn't matter whose life it was. His goal was to save it. Even if it cost him his own.

And it did.

These 10 chairs represent the families who serve side by side, day after day, knowing the value of what could be lost. These 10 chairs represent the true value of what it means to be an American. They are not fancy, not even close to being comfortable. But they are tried and they are true, and they stand strong to support us all.

These 10 chairs represent the spirits of families, friends and patriots. They hold the memories, experiences, and the fears of those who carry the same burdens in their hearts. The sacrifice that comes with these chairs is heavy and real.

These aren't just chairs.

This is a repost from last year. Not a day goes by where I do not think of my dear friend and her family, and the sacrifice that her husband and many others have made for us. This post is in memory of SSG Brian Cowdrey and all who have paid the ultimate price.

10/13/13

Today marks 2 years, since SSGT Cowdrey's death.  This week, my family also said our final farewells, to my uncle.  A Green Beret and Silver Star Recipient, who served in Vietnam.