"get your head in the game..."

david's off on fridays so in our house, it's like saturday morning...

right now in mac's room there are dinosaurs, trucks and a few Lightening McQueens lined up across mac's shelf. mac faced them all forward and treated them with front row seats to the "show." the boys (all 3) are singing and dancing... "why do i feel so wrong? my head's in the game, but my heart's in the song..." 2 out of 3 know the words. 2 out of 3 are naked. 

i'm in the kitchen now. i can hear elephants above my head... "this feeling's like no other, i want you to know..."

sometimes days are poopie

today has been rough. lots of seemingly redeeming events have been included throughout - i got up early and read the Word, c'mon. lori came by with the kids, krissy called, and mary... it's the first beautiful day in awhile. and still, this day has sucked. 

on sunday, i'll be completing my 7th month as a stay-at-home mom. i'm still trying to learn how to mother my children like it's not the weekend. i'm still trying to learn the Ecclesiastes of my everyday: 

to every hour there is season, and a time to every purpose under mothering.

a time to lie down, a time wake up.

a time to snack, a time to say no.

a time to call husband, a time to refrain from calling.

a time to play, a time to teach chores.

a time for tv, a time for crafts. 

a time for friends, a time for solitude.

a time to clean, a time to refrain from cleaning.

today was one of those days when by lunchtime my boys started speaking to each other in that "we're in this together" tone, like suddenly their lives have become "Shawshank." i remember speaking to my sister like that. "just keep cool. eat your carrots and no one will get hurt. don't make eye contact." today i was the crooked warden.

we did make it outside. i was pretty cranky, but it's easier outside b/c then they can run around and they're not as likely to hang on you like baby chimps. this is all in theory, of course. we broke out the new bubbles auntie erin gave us for easter. mac asked if i would blow bubbles while he caught them. sure, mac. 

experts say this is a great activity to relieve stress; a way to teach children how to deal with their anger as it teaches them to take deep breaths, etc. all this information came flooding back to me as i was blowing bubbles... then i was really pissed.

easter conversations with mac

friday night we colored eggs. while we waited for the eggs, david told mac and bode the story of easter. "and so Jesus died but on easter, he rose from the dead. He's alive!"   excited, mac replied, "well, you know what?! when i was little, men on horses chased me with swords. they chased me and they fight me and they kill't me!" his head lowered and in a low voice he repeated, "they kill't me." 

me - "well, what happened? did you come back to life?"

mac - "no. i died."     oh.

this morning in kids' club, mac sat next to mr. darin in the big circle time. making his day, mr. darin was thrilled to share this one with me:

the teacher says, "today is easter and that means Jesus is alive!"

mac calls out - "what about Elvis? Elvis is alive."

it's only 10:30 am. can't wait to see what other "prophecy" awaits us...

happy easter. Jesus is alive! and maybe elvis...

we lost maggie today

this is fairly common... losing maggie. she can open the gate and has even been known to climb the fence. she's feisty and clever for an old black lab mix. we've replaced latches, blocked the gate, etc. but none of that matters when someone or some dog just needs to get out. 

usually we can stand on the porch and call her and she'll come right back. if that doesn't work, then maybe we walk a few houses to the end of the block, call her again and she comes right back. there's no need to scoop her up; she runs right to the porch, wagging her tail. 

then there are those incidents when we haven't even realized she's escaped before a neighbor knocks - "found maggie out running around. here she is..." 

but today was different. maggie was gone. i was about to take the boys to the grocery. we were in the "1/2 shoes, 1/2 no shoes" stage. mac was instructed to put on his shoes, hat and coat. bode was told to "stay on the couch. don't move." they knew it was serious. "mommy, maggie's gone?" 

i went outside and scanned the block, calling her. nothing. then, i heard her little fast paws running... nope, just wind blowing some leaves. david is at work, and suddenly, i have a situation. no collar, but she has a chip. she knows how to get home, but has no clue that cars will kill her. this could be ugly.

i come back inside, the boys are waiting - obediently. "mac, go out on the porch and yell for maggie. don't stop." like a little soldier, mac follows orders exactly. i put bode's shoes, hat and coat on. he's deployed - "go out on the porch and help your brother."

i need a coat, it's freezing. i can hear the boys on the porch. "MAG-GIE!" i grab my phone and lock the door. the grocery will have to wait. 

and we're off. it's a strange day - cloudy, 34 degrees, not a soul in sight. it's about 4:30 pm. 

"ok, boys. we have to walk around and call for maggie. be loud and don't stop." 

we head up 8th street. "MAG-GIE!" 

mac (5) - "maggie's our dog. we lost her. we have to find her!"

bode (2 3/4) - "maybe we should split up." 

me - "let's go this way, boys. keep yelling."

we head down the alley toward 9th st. "MAG-GIE!" i listen as the boys stay concerned, yet optimistic. mac reflects on his love for maggie. bode insists "we'll find her." i waited for them to complain about the cold. bode always whines about needing mittens. but there was none of that. their hands shoved in their pockets, noses red and runny, they pressed forward, calling for their dog. bode worked to keep up with our pace. mac never stopped calling and never complained. i thought, what am i going to do if we find her lying in the street? 

we've been out about 30 minutes. we head back to our block to tell our neighbors. it's windy and still freezing. i still have to go to the grocery... and start cooking for easter... and david will be gone for hours to come. we're about to load into the car for a wider search when maggie comes running full speed down 8th st. and right up to the porch. our mouths drop, we all jump up and down - "maggie! maggie! you're home! good girl!" she runs inside the house. the boys are hugging her and i'm showering her with peanut butter crackers. mac and bode tell her, "we love you, girl. we're so glad you're home. we missed you."

within a few minutes, we're back on track. "ok, boys. we're going to kroger. mac, please put maggie up. bode put your hat back on." and off we go. 

it was an hour i can't get back. but for what i learned about those 2 little men today, i wouldn't trade a thing. i thought maggie was gone for good this time. as we walked, i wondered what we would do, how the boys would take it and so on. i was afraid she was hurt. we adore maggie. she is calm and super sweet; i don't want to lose her. but losing her today was a gift. an opportunity to catch a glimpse of my sons' hearts and character. mac leading us - "let's go this way. let's try the park." and bode insisting we keep going. i watched in awe and felt blessed to know them.

what a great day - losing maggie. 

st. patty's day and eel tossing continued...

the cincinnati enquirer was quite taken with the youngest in our gaggle of st. patty's day eel tossers. not only did she make the video, but also leah made the front page of the Local section in yesterday's paper. of course, mama mary was most excited about the headline. "cast 'em out, leah, girl. holla!"  (i think we're due a post on this blog about authority...)

happy st. patrick's day in cincinnati

a stay-at-home mom often feels inspired on holidays. on MLK Jr. day, she might head down to the museum for a civil rights coloring contest or maybe on Lincoln's birthday, she might teach her kids how to build a log cabin. 

so it was only natural that a few of us moms take our kids down to fountain square for a little pub fare and ale. there had been some nonsense talk of attending the public library's festivities, but then we found out the library doesn't serve guinness. who needs story time when there are punk irish bands to be heard, bangers to be eaten and eels to be tossed? 

leah made us all famous with her eel-tossing skills. watch this video:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20080317/VIDEO05/303170109/1035/LIFE

yes, it was chilly, but most of us enjoyed the day and we were all home by nap time. 

"Alex" the Police Horse was the star of the show.

this was a nice change from pb & j and goldfish crackers. 

lori and mary and (jeremiah who was probably the warmest of all of us...)

i've longed for the day i would teach my son to toss an eel. what a proud moment.

where's PETA when you need them?

pinch me

it's here. and it's open. now i don't have to get a hotel room in pittsburgh to buy a lamp.

i thought i knew all there was to know about IKEA, but at today's grand opening, i discovered:

- exactly where employees take their smoke breaks.

- "this stuff don't look european." (actual quote from a lady shopper.)

- people will do just about anything to get a free chair... or even a catalog.

now that ohio has an IKEA (and thank God it's not in cleveland), maybe the founder of this website can move on with her life:  

http://www.ohikea.com

wow. get a man or some community... or something.

ky blizzard '08

don't be shocked when it snows a foot in march. i'm telling you, if you want freedom and happiness, live your march life understanding that if it's going to snow a foot in the ohio valley, it's going to happen in march. hold onto the promise that flip-flop season is coming and surrender to winter's last gift. embrace it, eat it, make it into snowballs and throw it at people. 

the boys were geeked (adult boys included.) this was the kind of snow you could swim in...

  

we in the 700 block are good. we're good at watching teenagers in the alley break the law... or laws of physics. we're good at watching our kids bug the newlyweds. we're good at incorporating delicious alcoholic beverages into every community event. and, emphatically, we will call 911 on your ass so fast, your head will spin. 

saturday we discovered we're very good at snow. the kramers and the johnsons joined us for some sledding, tunneling and the first annual watch-dad-relive-his-youth amateur snowball fight. 

the newlyweds are born and raised michigan folks, so they talk a "big snow talk." nowhere to be found, davidrussell and mr. drew chucked snowballs at their newlywed doors and windows. it took a good 15 minutes before anyone even came to the door. newlywed neil said something about "working on a house project." is that what you kids are calling it these days? put some clothes on, for the love.

anyway, weather is a miracle. i love it.

here's some more pics... 

you want some, mr. drew?! YOU WANT SOME?

hi daddy:)

bode bear in his cave.

twas a wondrous blanket that could make even a backyard in newport beautiful. we are grateful. now bring on the flip-flops!

the giants have done it again!

high five! great news! They Might be Giants released a new kids album, "here come the 123s!" we don't own it... yet. no doubt, it's awesome. and the good news is the dvd and cd come in one case for about 18 bucks. we love "here come the ABCs." kids love it, and the music isn't nauseating for mom and dad. heck, it's how mac learned the alphabet.

throw this baby in along with some colored eggs, and your easter basket is done. 

buh-bye, brett.

my old friend, brett favre, has finally decided to retire. after 17 years, he has seized the opportunity to go out on one of his higher notes. 

yes, brett and i go way back. it all started in panama city beach, spring break '93(ish). my housemate/sorority sister, kristen quint, was approached by a hot dude offering to buy her a drink. she had no idea who he was so he bought the bar a round of drinks to prove it. she asked, "what's a packer?" i, of course, wasn't in panama city but that's how the story goes. so we all return to the good ole AGD house and process quint's story with a collective "GET OUT OF HERE!" and so began my relationship with brett. come with me, cyndi, kerri, jill, chip, as we reminisce... 

the downstairs phone was our general line. upstairs was a pay phone where we were to call long distance and receive personal phone calls. my room was next to the pay phone so when brett called, it was sometimes i that would pick up. he was quite the talker -

me - "hello?" or did we answer "alpha gam?" (i can't remember.)

brett - "is kristen there?"

me - ohmahgahohmahgah "uh, no, may i take a message?"

brett - yeah, could you tell her brett called?

me - holy crap. ohmahgah. think of something to say. "sure, brett, does she have your number?"

brett - "yes." 

me - "are you sure?" kelly, you're an idiot.

brett - "yes." kelly, you've pissed him off. he hates you.

me - "alrightie then. i'll tell her."

brett - "thanks." click. 

immediately i call my dad. "dad, holy crap! i just talked to brett favre! i love him, daddy. i love him. i didn't tell him, dad, i didn't tell him. i'm so sorry. i didn't tell him i'm a browns fan. oh gah. oh GAH!" my dad responds - "holy crap! you just talked to brett favre. woo him away and marry him!" 

me - "alas, father, my fraternal sister holds him in her heart. i cannot. i cannot."

dad - "bless you, daughter, for you have lived your college years with purity and integrity. go south then and learn the knowledge." 

me - "yes, father. thank you." 

the following football season kristen tasted the NFL girlfriend limelight and would return to murray, ky to tell the tales. she attended brett's first shoot with GQ in L.A. it was apart of a larger NFL shoot and so she told of sitting by the pool with emmitt smith's girlfriend, charging drinks to the room. she drove her little beat-up pinto-type car to green bay for home games and spent new years eve in nashville with george strait among others. and then it all came crashing down. brett reunited with his ex-girlfriend, who is now his wife. days passed, the pay phone rang, but it wasn't brett. (it was usually a bootie call for rae...) 

congratulations, brett. go back home and be with your kids and your wife (who looks disturbingly like kristen). you've poured into the NFL, the city of green bay and probably a charity or 2. go pour into your family. God bless you. we affirm your decision.