It's getting hot in here...

Today, the temperature in my car was 100 degrees. The temperature in my house was 90 degrees (yep, we don't have AC). In other hot news, Lindsay over at lifeas5.com awarded little old me this lovely Blog on Fire Award.

Thanks so much Lindsay! According to "the rules" I am supposed to tell you 7 things about myself and pass the award on to 10 blogs BUT since I follow lots of complete strangers blogs I'm just going to let you know which ones I like best. Ok? (Well of course it's ok because you don't have a choice, ok?).

• Erin at erincobb.com/ThePigBear because I just want to be her when I grow up.



• Jenny at 4tunate.net because they have QUADRUPLETS. BOYS. Seriously!



• Kelle at http://www.kellehampton.com/ because she is so inspirational.



• Mr. Halpern at http://www.blogger.com/www.lookatmyhappyrainbow.blogspot.com because he reminds me why I like my job.



• Kayla Aimee at kaylaaimee.typepad.com is another inspirational mama.



• Shawni at 71toes.blogspot.com because I think their family puts the A in adorable.



• Stephanie at stephaniehowell.typepad.com/my_weblog because her blog is so cute.



• Emily at andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com because I have much respect for families that adopt internationally.



• Mary at maryellephotography.blogspot.com because I just want to live in her house. If you can't find me, I have moved there!



• Kara at http://www.craftastical.com/

If nothing else, maybe I will have supplied you with some new reading material.

7 things about me.

1. 1. It took me forever to list all of those websites and even still I'm not sure I did it right. Yep, I'm a dork.



2. If I had to eat one type of food for the rest of my life, it would be mexican. Muy bueno!



3. I have an addiction to stupid reality tv. Big Brother, House Hunters, 19 and Counting, Toddlers and Tiaras. My favorite is the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Making the Team. Yep, I told you I was a dork.



4. My dream career is that of a professional scrapbooker. One can dream, right?



5. I hate onions and bugs and mean people and sweating and when my boys say "What?"



6. I also hate when people embarass themselves. Like in movies, when you know somebody is going to do something stupid like run into a wall or trip. HATE IT! I instantly become embarrassed for them.



7. I have to read in before I go to sleep. I love that I have passed this on to Ben and Dylan.

Sometimes being a mom SUCKS!

Sometimes you have to give out punishments that you don't like and follow through with them.

Sometimes you just have to let them cry and be mad at you.

Sometimes you have to let them make their own mistakes.

Sometimes you have to watch them hurt each other with both their actions and their words.

Sometimes it just leaves you drained.

Tonight, I'm feeling all of these things. I know tomorrow I'll be out of this funk and able to list the reasons why being a mom is awesome. It's just not in me tonight. But it's okay because you can't have the good without the bad, right?

I knew that degree was worth something!

18

What about you?

Interview with a six year old

Mommy: How old are you?
Dylan: 6

Mommy: What names do I call you?
Dylan: Pickle

What are your favorite foods?
Dylan: Apples, carrots, chicken, hamburgers,

Mommy: Do you like any sweet foods?
Dylan: Cheesecake, cookies,

Mommy: What do you like to do?
Dylan: Eat! Playing this (light sabre toy from McDonalds), swing outside,

Mommy: What is your favorite restaurant?
Dylan: Friendly's

Mommy: Where would you like to go on vacation?
Dylan: Tennessee

Mommy: If I told you I was going to take you to Chuck E. Cheese who would you take with you?
Dylan: Mommy, Cameron, Ben and Daddy

Mommy: What is your favorite color?
Dylan: Green

This kid...

This past Friday, this kid turned 9!!

I'm not too sure how I feel about this yet.

On the one hand, 8 was not such a fun age. There was a lot of drama during the 8th year. A lot of whining, pouting, argueing with Dylan and worst of all, EYE ROLLING. Oh how I hate eye rolling!

On the other hand, 9 means Ben is entering into his last year of elementary school. I'm not ready to be a middle school mom. Speaking of middle school, he is only one year away from "the movie" (you KNOW which one I'm talking about). I don't even know how that's possible. At this point, he is still SO naive. I could probably convince him that babies are made by magic dust sprinkled by the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. That is how it happens, right?

At 9, Ben is closer to driving (egads!) than he is to being born. We are closer to the stage where I can leave him home alone than we are to the preschool years. He is only 7 years away from the age Kevin and I were when we started dating. YIKES! I just don't know if I am ready for this.

The one in the middle...

is the green kangaroo. I remember reading this book when I was a child and not having ANY idea what it was like to be a middle child. I knew what it was like to be the "baby" and that's all I could really comprehend.

I never thought I would have a middle child. I always assumed that I would have 2 children. I also assumed that at least 1 of them would be a girl. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have 3 boys.

Dylan has quite the reputation around here. He is our wild one. Our goofball. Our crazy one. The nut. In many ways, he requires a lot of attention. He needs lots of hugs. Worries about us when we are not here. Needs reassurance that we love him just as much as his brothers. Even follows me when I go to the bathroom!

All said, I don't really worry about Dylan. He knows what he needs to feel loved and we give it to him. We know that he needs lots of hugs. We know if we are not at home at bedtime, we have to call and say good-night. We know that we need to tell him that we love him lots. We even know that if I go to the bathroom, he's going to follow me and stand outside the door!

I love my little kangaroo and am thankful for the role he plays in our family.

You and Me

Dear Ben,

This post is dedicated to you buddy. My big guy, my Benjamonkey, the boy who made me a mom. I just wanted to take a minute to say how proud of you I am. Once again, you have welcomed a baby into your calm and secure world without even flinching. I know that things are crazy sometimes and we need your help with things (answering phones, cleaning messes, grabbing burp clothes, etc.) but eventually things will calm down again. Thank you so much for being such a great big brother to Dylan and Cameron. Dylan looks up to you so much and I know that one day Cameron will also. I love you peanut. Thanks for being you.

Mommy