The Middled

So you know the show "The Middle?" I'm a little fuzzy on all the details.....but the episode went something like this. Frankie can't go to a school meeting. She makes her husband go in her place.  She then gives him strict instructions about having to sit on the front row so he can be the first one to the sign up sheets.  She said he HAD to in order to get her on one of the better committees, instead of something like cleaning committee . She also insists that he uses a ball point pen, not pencil. She says if he writes in pencil the other moms would erase her name and take her spot. I watched the episode and thought it was funny.....but I remember thinking who would erase somebody's name? How tacky!!  If they got  to the sign up sheet before you they deserve to have first choice.   It's common decency, right? Well...... last year I go to my son's preschool open house. When we walk in we are instructed to sign up for 2 snack days and a holiday party. I got there early enough that the sign up sheet was mostly empty. This allowed me the luxury of putting  some real thought into the whole thing. If I sign up for snack right after a pay day I won't be nickel and diming it when it comes to my turn. Maybe I'm the only one in the world who thinks this way, but I want to bring the good snacks! I don't want to be the mom who phones it in. You know....the  one who brings $1 cookies from dollar store because she's  already blown her food budget for the month. If you have never been there I want you to teach me a thing or two about budgeting :)! Anyway,  I find my perfect days and pick the Halloween party for my party. I do realize that decision is slightly risky since they do have my application on file at the Baptist school. And it does ask my religion and it does say "Mormon." Now please understand....I don't know where this started, but  In religious mythology it is said that  the Baptists do not think Mormons are Christian. You hear whisperings on the street.....and these voices are constantly in the back of my head. I mean, I am a Christian, and I have yet to have a Baptist run up to me on the street and question this...or tell me that I am going to Hell....but you do worry. What if one faulty sign up decision alters the entire school's view of  my sweet child? Oh the pressure!! After much debate I decide it's their school having a party on  the pagan holiday, so I go for it. Halloween it is.... over say Easter.  I know the fun that can be had at a Halloween party. It's a pinterest lovers dream! Oh and bonus....it's a pay day!! My selection process is complete. I sign the sheets  and  jot down my days on my welcome folder. Not wanting to be the mom that forgets snack day I take a moment to put the dates in my phone as well. I am set!!

A few months later I get a phone call. It's Micah's teacher informing me that I never signed up for snacks so she put me down for the upcoming week. No, it wasn't the day after a pay day, and it was a week after Christmas (talk about blown budget!) But that wasn't the part that mattered. I was "The Middled!" Somebody erased my name and took my awesome days! Yes, it was indeed written in pencil! But those were my days!!  I got there first!!! I couldn't believe it!! Who does that? Now, not only do I have to race to the store to have decent snacks for the next day, but I also look like the flakey mom who tried to slink by with out signing up! Nice!

So moral of the story is this. We just got back from this years open house. Once again  I chose my days carefully!   But this time I am wiser. I am a follower of  Frankie's sound advice!  I sign up in INK!! Crazy parent is gonna have to use white out to take my place this go around! And as for the class party? This year they pre-assigned them. What did they give the Mormon girl who picked Halloween as her party of Choice? Easter. Well played Baptist school! Well played!!

In Memory of Dads.......

 

 

When I asked Daniel if he wanted me to tell him a funny story or spare his feelings he opted for the funny story! Yet another reason I adore him! Somebody that can put humor over ego is somebody I can totally hang with :)!  Especially for the long haul!!

So one night a while back we were  watching the news and one of the stories was about the boy who lost his dad at a ranger game when he reached for a ball over the railings. They then showed a clip of the boy throwing the opening pitch at the game a year after his father had died. My eyes started welling up with tears thinking about the sweet dad trying to catch a ball for his kid and dying instead, and the young boy loosing his dad in such a tragic way! It also hit me how upsetting that had to be for the player who tossed the ball into the crowd! He was trying to do something so kind and it ended up so horrific!!  Von seeing me cry asked, "mom, what's the matter?" I told him the basic story, He then  looked up at the t.v. where  the boy and his mom were standing on the baseball field and he said, "mom that's not sad! Look.he still has his mom!" A little taken back by his flippant response I thought I'd drive home the point by making it a little more personal, so I said, "Von it's very sad, what if that was daddy? Wouldn't you be sooooo sad?"  with out missing a beat and says, "no, you'd still be here! Besides, he'd be in heaven! He'd be fine!"

For the record,  Daniel would be missed terribly!!!!! The boys may not realize it but Daniel's way more likely to fly them like an airplane, carry all three at a time, camp w/ them in a tent in the back yard, let them take long baths with out rushing them  because we're in a hurry, play video games w/ them, buy them the "little hot dogs" they love (i think the very idea of a Vienna sausage is repulsive),  change words in songs to make them funny,   and read books in crazy voices! Yes, he's irreplaceable....even by a mom!

Days Like These....

So all and all my boys are delightful!! Full of energy yes...but also a blast!! That being said the last 2 days I could have done with out!! I think we'll start with our trip to Wal-mart to buy wasp spray. We had several wasps working on a nest on our front porch. The boys had heard me talking about them constantly! I'd tell them to be careful when ever they played outside, I'd make them to run from the house  to the car so the wasps wouldn't sting them, and probably made a way bigger deal of the situation than necessary (did I tell you I have an irrational fear of bugs?)! So my boys knew we had an issue!! We are walking into the store and I ask the nice greeter if he knows what isle bug spray is on...before he could answer Von chimes in, "cuz we have A LOT of bugs in our house!" It was one of those situations you wish you could say..."just wasps, not bugs, just wasps...and outside..not in!" but then you know you would look like a bigger dork trying to explain it away...so you just thank the stranger for his help as you slink away!

Then check out!!! We are at the register and there is a sweet middle-eastern girl standing behind us. Von does not know the definition of a whisper and his little voice carries!  especially when he's about to humiliate me :), he yells out, "MOM!! WHY IS SHE WEARING THAT SILLY HAT?" Being caught totally off guard I ignored him hoping nobody heard, so of course he repeats louder to make sure I don't miss it this time, "MOM!! WHY IS SHE WEARING THAT SILLY HAT?" I am dying and couldn't pay fast enough!! As we walked out he got a stern explanation about how that "hat" isn't silly, it's very important to her and it represents her religion, and we are respectful to other people's beliefs etc. etc.....but of course the girl heard none of that...just the loud questioning of her attire! Sorry Miss! If I were better on my feet in awkward situations i would have apologized on the spot! But at the time all i could think to do was get out! get out NOW!!

WARNING!! THIS SEGMENT OF THE BLOG CONTAINS POTTY TALK! IF EASILY OFFENDED BY POTTY TALK YOU MAY WANT TO STOP READING HERE!

So lets end the night with this lovely event! We are  at a concert in a local park and i take Von to the bathroom. The line is out the door and probably a dozen people in the bathroom itself. My son comes in with me then as i am going the bathroom yells out..."MOM YOU DON"T HAVE A PENIS!!" Thank you Von for the update...and letting everyone else know that i picked the correct bathroom line!

Then finally today....Von who is COMPLETELY potty trained is sitting naked on my couch  saying he wet himself! I'm totally confused by this cuz he has not had an accident in over a yr....including overnight...so i ask him what happened? He says completely mater of factly, "I peed on the couch cuz i don't like the new one! It's yucky and i want the old one back!" Yep totally intentionally he peed on our brand new couch!!

Luckily for my little chickadee he has the ability to easily get back in my good graces!! If nothing else (contrary to this post) he's a charmer! So a few apologies, and heart felt "mom you're my best friend!" and maybe and couple "mommy, you're beautiful!"  and the child will not be spending eternity in time out! but I am seriously hoping for a better Von day tomorrow!!

Soccer Champs

I'm afraid our children were blessed with my athletic ability! I love the idea of sports but never have been very good at them...and my husband has no interest in them at all. So i knew the molding of little athletes in the Barfield home was totally and completely on my shoulders. So six weeks ago i did it!! I signed my 3 &4 yr old up for soccer...and just as I suspected they are not natural born athletes! Game day however, is the most exciting day of my week!! Hysterical!! I was sitting there giggling at a game last week, watching each kid do there own thing.There was the kid  kicking the ball the wrong way, the kid wandering  off the field to say he was bored, the kid pouting because somebody took the ball from him, the kids running up and down the field in a group and never touching the ball, and of  course the kid that makes every goal and carries the team. No matter what the circumstance, or how lacking a kid is in their soccer skills, when that whistle blows you would think those kids were professional MVP's, and just won the world cup!!  Each parent is giddy with delight at their kids performance!! So my thought is this....I hope our Heavenly Father treats us like parents treat their kids after a pee-wee soccer game!! I hope no matter what.... if one kid carried the game, or if we kicked the ball the wrong way, got bored and walked off the field, cried because we didn't get to touch the ball, or sat there and picked the flowers i hope when life is done and  he greets us, i hope it's with the same enthusiasm!! I hope he throws his arms around us and says, "WOO HOO!! YOU WERE AMAZING!"  "YOU DID SO GREAT!!" YOU WERE OUT THERE TRYING SO HARD AND I'M PROUD OF YOU!!" Even if we  weren't the best at the game i hope we get points for playing!

After the Rapture

Saturday was suppose to be the end of the world! Well according to some kook in Cali! Of course i was beyond sceptical.....but there is ALWAYS in the back of your mind (or at least my mind) a little tiny thought of what if? What if he's right! I know only God knows the exact time Christ will return....but it still made me think...and maybe try to be a little better person! ya know, talk a little nicer to the kids, spend more time w/ the family, be as perfect as possible....just in case!! So the clock struck 6pm (which was the hour he predicted) I started on all the phone calls to make sure my family hadn't been taken up! I wouldn't have been too surprised if i was left behind...but i have a few family members that would be taken up for sure....so imagine my relief when they answered the phone! I also kept telling myself that of course my perfect babies would be taken and they were still right there in front of me! Yes,  proof this was all crazy and i could go on w/ my day! Starting w/  throwing my 3 little rug rats into the bath tub. My three and four year old were playing loudly in the tub when i pulled my 11 month old out of the tub and took him into the bedroom for a diaper and pj's when all of the sudden i realized the loud splashing around had grown silent!! I gave the baby to my husband and went in to check and the tub was empty!! only water remained! My heart stopped!! Oh my gosh the kook was right!! I stood there frozen for what seemed like forever when the silence was broken by my two wet naked boys laughing in the kitchen! Yes I'm a total dork! I'm here to admit it to the world!! I'm glad it was not the last day of the world and  I hope i get to go with my babies when it is!