Take that Brandon

So I just got back from Target where I saw my nemesis Brandon. Guess he got demoted to pushing carts. Ha....don't mess, Brandon, don't mess....

Just what he always wanted

I asked Dallas what we should buy Daddy for Father's Day. His response:

"We should buy him a black tuxedo with a purple shirt"

Jayson would love it!

Always difficult to grasp

With every bad thing something good happens, right? I sometimes find that hard to believe. I struggle to see good when things are bleak. I look toward my faith to help me through those difficult to grasp moments and that's when my faith seems weakest. My sister got married last weekend, we had an amazing time. We love love love our new brother in law, we love our sister,we love North Carolina; such a good thing. So easy to see God's plan at work, so easy to be uplifted and thankful. But, yesterday, a friend of mine lost her much wanted, much loved baby and my heart ached (still aches) for her. So hard to see God's plan, so hard to be uplifted and thankful. I don't get it and yet I understand that it isn't mine to get.
So many other things are weighing heavy on my heart right now and I hope that one day I can look back on this time and say "Oh, now I get it"....but until then....

stinky situation

Dallas to his babysitter yesterday:
"I can't take a bath today I'm under the weather"

$1.00 off of your head

Oooohhhh, I was so ticked off yesterday. I recently began using coupons to try to save money. I've been doing really good with it too. I figure the less money I spend on food and household items, the more I can spend on going to the beach. So, armed with coupons, I usually head to my local Target. Yesterday was no exception. Until I ran into "Brandon". He was my 16 year old check out guy who apparently hates coupons or kids covered in frosting from the free cookie, but I digress. He doesn't greet me at all and then proceeds to roll his eyes when I tell him I have some coupons. Each coupon he scans brings with it attitude. I accidently grabbed the wrong size on something and he says "didn't you read it?" WHAT? Who do you think you are, Brandon? I made a mistake. I guess Brandon never does, because when I ask him to take the product off, he guffaws in disgust. I didn't say a word. He then tells me I can't use a coupon because one of my items costs less than the coupon amount. Now, I know my Target coupon policy and I know that they do accept it. In fact, he's already accepted another one, but I don't mention this. I just say "I know your policy, yes you do." He says "It's not my rule". Oh, I am about done with him when he finally is done. I pay the man and then say "You know what, I know that you probably don't want to be working today and I know that couponers are probably not your favorite, but you need to treat customers better, even if they have coupons...furthermore, you need to treat customers as if they are the most important thing to Target. Which incidentally, we are!!!" To this, Brandon responded "I didn't do anything to you" and proceeds to roll his eyes again. Oh, I'm pretty much shaking at this point and say "Your attitude did!" He dismisses me with a shrug and tells me to go "talk to his manager then". Oh, I did....and today I'm going back, heading straight to Brandon and getting my wet wipes for free. Don't mess with a Thrifty Mama!!!

On the Serious Tip

You know, I witnessed something on Saturday that I can't seem to shake out of my head. I was at the gym when two very overweight people were pulling their kids out of the childcare. Apparently, it sounded like they were called because their young son had been asked to leave. As I walked into the locker room, I heard the beginning of the father's "lecture". He was telling his (maybe) five year old that he needed to exhibit more "self-control". Now, while I understand what he was trying to tell his son, I thought to myself....who's modeling that for him? I mean, it IS a big deal to go the gym, especially when I knew they were there to better themselves. But, I thought it was a little hypocritical to tell a small child to exhibit self-control when it was obvious his parents struggled with the same thing (just in a different way). I am not a perfect parent, I know that. I recently read a book where the author stated that adults need to be "the people we want our children to be". I try every day to do that, and I know it's hard, but I don't think I would ever lecture my child to not do the very thing that I can not do (if that makes sense). All I know is that I want to do everything I can to be the person I want my kids to be.

Tattle Tale

Dallas:
Do you know what telling on someone means?
Mommy:
What, Dallas?
Dallas:
It means throwing them under a bus.

We're EXPECTING!

Dallas and Addi were fighting over a water bottle today. After screaming and yelling, Addi finally yanked it out of Dallas' hands and threw it down. Dallas yelled "Her water broke!" to which he added "I guess she's having a baby next". Of course, I quickly asked "What do you mean by that?" He responded "When your water breaks, you have a baby". I asked him where he learned that. "That movie where the baby talks...."

He watched Look Who's Talking a month ago.

He sure does...

Dallas:
That Jesus Christ sure sounds like an awesome guy.

Generations

We celebrated motherhood by spending time with Abuela yesterday. I think my kids keep her young. They laughed and laughed. What a great afternoon...

Why I Love Being a Mother...

For every time my kids drive me bananas, they do a million things that make me smile. This Mother's Day included one of those things. I woke up to cashews from Dallas (For all the times he drives me nuts) and Emergen-C from Addi (to give me energy to chase her around). Those gifts weren't enough for Dallas. He went upstairs for a little bit and came back down with just one more gift for "the best mom ever".

A bag- filled with things he found in my bathroom and a Barbie dress. How sweet.

This is why...

This is why I don't allow my children to be creative. I don't care if it's stifling them from being the next Picasso. Got a problem with it? I'll let you come clean it up.

Let Go!

Addi says some cute things too every once in awhile; even if she has a very limited vocabulary. Today at church, the Pastor was giving an example of a child stuck in a tree and how the child's father was asking the son to just let go. Pastor repeated the words "let go" about 3 times to Addi's pleasure who decided that at that moment she too would implore of the son "LET GO!". She kept yelling louder "LET GO!" over and over. Of course, everyone around us "let go" as we tried control our laughter.

caliente

Dallas: Mommy, I have a real spicy question for you.

Mommy: Ooooh, really? What is it.

Silence.