Growing Up

Growing up is so exciting when you are little...until extra responsibility pops up. This morning, Cole wanted to take a shower. I said okay but he had to wash himself. (He is very resistant to somethings). He said okay but then never did. I made him stay in until he did wash himself. He cried and cried and cried through the whole process. When he got out, he said, "Mom, I hate growing up!" As we sat down and sorted out the pros and cons of growing up, he calmed down a little bit. Pros: going to peoples houses without me being there, being able to help himself to food and drink (I am pretty picky about letting them help themselves. I don't want the messes.), staying up late some nights, being in charge of "the kids" when I run down the road for 5 minutes, walking up the "house hill" on the way home from places, taking neighbors treats by himself, making his own toast (he use to make eggs too, now he has decided he doesn't like them anymore), going to zoo camp, and soon going to school. Cons: wiping himself (I had a hard time getting him to do that without tears), dressing himself and now washing himself. I would say that the pros out weigh the cons. "Besides," I said, "you wouldn't run away with me to never, never land." He just shrugged and said, "I would have missed Dad." (I don't know why in his mind, we wouldn't take everyone. I told him the only reason we didn't go is because he wouldn't go and we couldn't leave him behind.) So fastforward 25 years and he will be the Dad in this picture. Probably look very similar and all.

Words of Wisdom

Okay, on I was flipping through channels the other day and I stopped when I heard something about nagging wives. This topic has always kind of bugged me. I am not a nagger and I try to really hard not to be. At the same time, men that call their wives naggers drive me CRAZY! This is what the therapist said, "There are two sides of nagging. The wife asks, and when the man agrees to the assignment, doesn't do it, she has to ask again. This process repeats itself until the man gets annoyed, calls her a nag and does it, or finally just does it." I turned off the t.v. then. I agree. I would say that 90% of nagging is not the wives fault, the man just needs to do it or say he won't and let her call someone to do it. Now, I understand that there really are women who do not fit in this category but I don't think there are very many. Case in point: I ask will to fill up the blower so I can do the leaves faster. He says, "no, don't worry about it, I will do it. I wait a month. I don't want to wait anymore. I rake the leaves (this goes on for a few months because 4 little kids, rain, and burning them take so much time that it takes forever!) Finally, I say to Will, "why don't you just let me know how to mix the gas and oil (or whatever you have to mix in it) so I can just do it when I want?" He says, "Why don't you just wait for me to do it instead of make the work so much harder for yourself?" I say, "Will, it is March, how much longer do you want me to wait?" He says, "It is always raining so I haven't been able to do it." I say, "Will, really?" I didn't nag, I just did it myself but give me a break men. Just say no and be done with it. Next piece of great advice I have heard. It was on the radio and was addressing men. "Guys, don't ever ask a woman out on a date while she is working. Chances are pretty high that she is only being over the top nice because of work. Especially a waitress, she wants great tips. She is probably not into you, just into your wallet." Thank you Lex and Terri! I have had a few awkward moments with this same scenario. Instead of always assuming you are rockin it, assume she is just good at her job. Ask her later if you want to go out. Not in the middle of her shift where her answer may affect her payment or customer service. Another thing my Mom told me once, "Polly, you just have to know that EVERYONE you know is going to disappoint you sometime. Chances are, they won't even mean to and probably don't even know they did. Don't take it personally, just know that it is going to happen and be grateful for the times they are there for you. You will disappoint everyone you know at sometime in your life too." Sounds kind of depressing but it has helped me roll with the punches so much better. In my experience, it is fairly true. I don't know if I would say everyone but pretty much, everyone who is close to you it is accurate. No big deal though. Idle hands are the devils workshop. Enough said

Free Time

I always think of great stuff that I would like to blog about. Then when I get the time to actually blog, I decide that I don't want to spend my free time blogging. So that is why I never update. It is just not a priority or a passion so it will be very sporadic (obviously).

Lauren's visit

Lauren and Nick came to visit for Thanksgiving. It was so fun to see them and their two sweet babies. I don't think that Emma and Lilly got put down unless they were asleep. They are do cute. It was so fun to see everyone. Cole has always made such a special bond with Nick but this visit tightened it. He was so ready to go home with them. I told him I would miss him too much and he said, "Mom, I will send you pictures." I guess I have been demoted.