Prayers of a 6 Year Old Boy

Dear God,
I pray that my mom feels better soon and that my dog's farts don't stink tonight.
Amen.

(Maddox's prayer the other night).

Back to School 2012

For the first time in, I don't know, possibly ever, I left the school on our last pre-student work day feeling completely prepared for the masses to arrive early Monday morning.

The extra hours I put in to get there were totally worth it, as I completely enjoyed my last official weekend of summer (post upcoming). But the best part, I was really able to focus on my motherly duties getting the kids ready for their first days. I made the whole family delicious lunches, and got up early enough to make a real breakfast- French toast and scrambled eggs.

Maddox has been begging, hoping and even preparing himself for first grade all last week. He forced himself to get up early, and abstain from naps,"because I am not going to get to nap in first grade mom!" this seemed to work out great as this morning truly was the smoothest in Caster history!

The after school report from both of them, though vague, leave me with high hopes and a positive outlook for the year.

As for me I made a lasting impression on a select few 6th grade students as I slipped in my heals and went flying into their classroom, landing practically on my face and splaying the stack of papers across the room. This was their very first experience of middle school; whether it made them laugh or realize that nothing they could do would ever be that embarrassing, I'm happy to provide them with a bit of humor and confidence. Since this happened first thing I also had a great first day of school horror story to share with all my classes. (and comedic relief for some staff as well.) The only saving grace I have in this is I *think* my dress managed to stay put around my bum and not fly over my head....

Both my kids looked amazing, and all too grown up. And truthfully I'm no worse for wear, my ankle was already sore.... All in all a good memorable start to the year!

Would you believe me if I told you:

Maddox and Brian had just gotten back from trick or treating, I was busy catching up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while...When our conversations and candy counting were interrupted with a rapt at the door, not surprising as it is Halloween and we were expecting some ghouls and goblins to come a knocking.

I open it to find a neighborhood family, including an old school mate of Madison's. This family is... well... let's see... nicely put and hopefully PC too... different. Over the years we have supported fund raisers and engaged in very happy conversations with the girls. Tonight the girls had brought big brother and dad along their trick or treating trek; they were on their way home and had to stop by our house, but not for a treat... this time the trick was on us...

In addition to the saying of the season, we were politely asked if their dad could use our restroom. "What could be the harm?" I thought... as I allowed them into our home.

As we stood and entertained a conversation that lapsed well into the awkward duration to cover the obvious nature of business happening behind the closed door at the back of the hall, I couldn't help but think of all the harm actually occurring in my bathroom.

My friend and her daughter politely excused them selves from the stalemate happening in my water closet, and upon exit gave me the "Oh, man this really sucks to be you" look, while I returned it with a "BRING ME LYSOL" look.

Still we waited, sorting candy, talking about costumes, I even provided refreshments! (Not to sir squatter, but to the kids.) One after another each of the visiting children wandered down our hall to check on the status of dear ol dad... "I'll be out in a minute." "Just finishing up." "I'm almost done."

I could take it no longer! Just the thought of having to see this man face to face after... you know...that, I excused my self to the kitchen to clean up dinner figuring surely he would exit and I would evade the pleasantries of their good byes... but no... just as I finish the kitchen task and have nothing else to do... he emerges. Puts on his coat, thanks us for the use of our facilities, and they all leave...not in the scurried "hide your face I'm so embarrassed" fashion, but as if nothing out of the realm of normal had just occurred.

There we stand, stunned, not sure what to say, staring at each other. A game of Rock Paper Scissors to see who is laden with the task of lighting a candle and checking the state of our porcelain perch.

Thankfully my friend had understood the dire circumstances we were in and returned with the greatest gift:


Brian braves the unknown, complete with the hazmat work gloves and bathroom cleaner, shirt pulled up over his nose and mouth. As he opens the door and steps inside, he turns, eyes meeting mine, and I know that I will owe him eternally.

I am now faced with quite the quandary... If it was this bad for us... how much worse it must be for him, the bathroom borrower?

Learned? If you begin with the thought "what's the harm"...it probably isn't a good idea to continue.

Celebrating Our Independence Day

We went pretty low key for our celebration this year. We headed to the fireworks show at the country club with our friends Jason and Summer. I don't think Maddox had seen an aerial fireworks display that he would remember. It was so fun hearing the oohs and aahs from both my kids as they exploded in space.

The next night, for the actual 4th, we had a BBQ with Jason and Summer at our house. Later my mom and Dan {it was also their 7th wedding anniversary}, Dan's daughter Kara and her family, and my aunts Pepper and Penny all came over and we had quite the ground display of fireworks. Everyone brought over a huge bundle of fireworks.

Maddox was given a sit-n-spin from our neighbors, and he is loving playing on it. He spent almost the entire morning of the 4th on the thing. He gave us a good bout of laughter while riding it. So I just had to include the video of it!

I wish I was a pirate...

cuz then I wouldn't have to use manners.

Learned: He is listening to the books we read...


Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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Dear Target,

I a writing to complain about the terrible service I received at your store last night. This is what happened:

I just had to grab a couple of things and I was already annoyed because my daughter wanted this LAME looking headphones and music player set that looked like a baby bottle, and I just couldn't come to terms with buying it. So my friend, Anne and I headed to the check out stands and the store was SO busy that I thought it was Christmas time. I mean we were weaving through people and then the lines were so long. We ended up getting in line behind a friend of mine that I had not seen since high school, Chantalle. She looks the same just older, as I suppose I do too. But what shocked me the most was here total lack of fashion sense! She used to dress so cute and trendy, and here she is at 30 something in the middle of target wearing pattern jeans... they were a blue background with tiny little flower bouquets all over it, and it didn't stop there, she had on a matching shirt! Here in front of me stands not the friend I remember but a denim flower princess from the early 90's!

As Chantalle is finished the people behind us, who apparently know her, hand her two drinks, a new flavor Mt. Dew (the white one) and an Aquifina, to check out and she finishes. Then the lady just comes up to check out in front of Anne and I saying, "Since we are together, I don't think you will mind if I just move up here." Now remember that I am already a bit annoyed and in a hurry so I am not my usual forgiving, considerate self, so I speak up and say... "Ummm, actually I do mind, we are in a bit of a hurry." So off Chantalle goes herding her children out the door, and the lady behind me harrumphs.

Anne is quickly finished, having only a two things. Now it is my turn. I set all my stuff down, and the cashier, I mean Sales Associate, who heard the whole exchange about us being in a hurry just ups and leaves with her trash can. Sauntering slowly to the larger trash receptacle, taking her time emptying and making sure to converse with her coworkers on the way back. During this whole exchange I am looking around fuming, trying to find a different line to join, but they are all several deep. I also notice the lady who tried to cut in front of us is in the next lane and already paying and heading out the door!!! Now I am beyond fuming!!!

The sales associate, then slowly starts ringing my stuff up, taking her time, talking to her co workers. Finally I can't stand it anymore and I ask her, "Excuse me, did you not hear my earlier confrontation, I am in a hurry, could you please go faster." Now she gets an attitude, and welcomes me to join a different line, of course they are all full now, which I dutifully point out to her. She then consults a fellow sales associate who recommends that she take a moment to "step out", which apparently means she steps out of the cash register area to take a minute and calm down. I guess I have been so rude that now I have upset her!!! So she stands there just looking at me with malicious thoughts, almost like... "ha ha ha, how is your hurry now... I have got the power now lady." Finally I can't stand it any more so I request to see a manager. Instead they call up the sheriff, who ends up being the husband of my eye doctor. I try to politely tell him that we are having a confrontation, and I am in a hurry. He tries to be the good guy to both of us, which only frustrates me more... because OBVIOUSLY I am in the right! Through his mediation attempts I only get more pissed, and finally storm out of the store buying nothing.

Anne and our kids had left ahead of me to get loaded in the car, so I begin searching the parking lot...

Then I hear "Beep! Beep! Beep!" thinking it is a car backing up I frantically search around to avoid being flattened, but it doesn't stop, this annoying beeping continues. Then I look over my shoulder, it is quite cloudy, and fuzzy around the edges and I see a glowing blob and as my eyes focus better I see a 5:45 in the center of the glowing blob, and the beeping seems to be coming from that direction...

Learned: Brian is just thankful that I had this dream about Target and not him... He is usually the one I wake up pissed at after a vivid confrontational dream.

ALSO NOTE: Even though it was a dream I am still pissed at Target, and pretty sure I will be boycotting it for a while... (till I need something there).

Some Things I Thought I Would NEVER have to Say... (that is until I had a boy).

"Quit wiping buggers on the wall!"

"He's mad at me because I won't fight him!"

"Just sit here and watch TV, so I can have a moment (very brief) of semi silence."

"Thank you for bringing me a worm home from school, though he looks a little crusty!"

"Is there anything you don't throw?"

"No, under 'there'(speaking of his manhood area) is not old, will always have wrinkles there. It's just the way God made you."

"What do you mean it was an accident?"

"I pray for the woman you will marry... that she will be good enough for you and able to win me over."

Learned: There is a WHOLE lot that I never thought I would experience but am so thankful that having him brought these experiences to me.

The Name Tags Name

Today when I picked up Maddox from his grandmas, he got in the truck while I was still talking to Machelle. When I finally went to buckle him in he had an ornery grin on his face. When I asked him what he did he just said "nothin'" and kept giggling. Then I noticed that my keys were not where I had left them in the truck and said so, and he just giggling.

Finally he told me where they were and he laughed saying "I also took your people knower" and gave my back my district ID.

So from hence forth in the Caster household we shall call name tags "people knowers"!

Learned? It is amusing (and amazing) to me how well kids can communicate things when they don't know the real word for it.

Mr. Socks

Lately when Maddox has been taking a nap, he will take his socks off his feet and then put them on his hands. I finally got a picture of it because it cracks me up. Hope it gives you a giggle too.

Learned? I just hope his hands don't end up smelling like his feet after this quirky action.

March, have I told you I love you...

Dear March,

Today you captured my heart with the sun shining bright in the sky, and the temperatures reaching the mid 50's. You also didn't even spoil it with a cold wind.

I took advantage of your gift after work today by going to the park and running. I have been so used to your evil cousin, February, toying with me with cloudless skys but bone chilling breazes. So of course I was a bit over dressed since I had packed my fleece pants, long sleeve thick running shrit a fleece and a jacket. Fortunately I also brought a t-shrit. So I made due with the clothes I had by folding up my pants into capris, and wearing only the t-shirt. I am just so thankful to have been able to be warm while running. Maybe with your continued show of affection (clear skys and warmer temperatures) I will actually get some real running in. My goal this month is to run 10 miles a week, so it would be really great if you could keep up this promise of fair weather and not end up being a tease.

I also was thrilled to see that my spring bulbs are peeking out of the ground, another reason I love you.... I can't wait to see the luscious green take back over my yard.

Well I am sure that you are pretty tired after your first day at work, with all the effort it took to make this positive change in the weather, but I wanted to take a minute and make sure you know how much I truly appreciate it.

Your crush,
Brooke

Learned: amazing what some warm weather and sunshine can do for your spirits!

Maddox Being Maddox

I can not believe how fast this kid is growing...physically and intellectually.

Currently he is 3 (though that will change in just a few months) and is completely grown into 5T clothes. ALL of the 4T's we bought him over Christmas are high water or belly shirts. Which I guess is ok considering my next tid bit:

This morning while trying to find clothes for the boy I discovered that he had only one pair of jeans (out of 6) that did not have a hole in the knee. So I threw those on him for school today. When I picked him up... sure enough he had a gaping hole in the knee of these too! When I asked him is he slid around on the floor at school like he was sliding into a base, he said "Mom, the hole in my pants is because I am growing, not from playing." No son, the bare ankles I see and you belly button sticking out of your shirt with sleeves up to the middle of your forearms is because you are growing; you have holes in ALL the pairs of jeans we own because you are a boy...

As a kid I rarely remember knowing where I was while traveling around town in the car, let alone rules of the road, but Maddox seems to be all to aware. When I picked him up from school he told me that if we went straight we would get home or we could turn right and that would also take us home, amazingly he was correct! Then while reading "Go Dog Go" before bed he noticed that the traffic light in the picture only had red and green and told me that "in real life the lights have yellow which means SLOW DOWN!"

Now he is on a kick telling everyone how to spell his name. It is so cute to hear him describe his "d's" as circles with lines going up.

Learned: I am just having a mommy moment and it is hard to believe that he is growing up at what seems to be warp speed. I keep looking at him thinking that I have to get in all the squeezes and smooches I can because when I blink again he will be 12 and that won't be too cool any more. Then I'll blink again and he will be 18 and other girls will start moving in...{sigh}... to hard to have your babies grow up...

Bad Word Police

The other morning I was putting Maddox's shoes on and it slipped off, so I said "Drats!" He told me I couldn't say that word, and when asked why he said "because it's a bad word." After explaining that drats isn't a bad word, he replied "Well your are saying it instead of a bad word."

What do you say to that...

Learned:My 3 year old understands that it is not always what you say but how you say it that matters.... Something that took me a lot longer to figure out...

Dear Forces of Nature:

I am writing to tell you that you can stop with the lessons.

I already knew that metal is a conductor, that if you put it somewhere cold...it gets cold, and when you put is somewhere hot it gets hot. And if you touch it while it is in, or just recently removed, from either of these locations it will immediately conduct that same temperature to you. I did not need the reminder last night when I accidentally forgot that the pan in my right hand had just been pulled out of the oven (using an oven mitt) and transferred it to my left hand (with out an oven mitt). These are really nice blisters on my hand.

I also already knew that glass is an insulator, and that when it is placed near a window in the winter it will get cold but not necessarily feel cold. I also already knew that heat energy will transfer from my stove top through a tea kettle and make the water inside boil. I also already knew that if you pour hot liquid into glass that is cold the class will shatter. I did not need a shattered single serving french coffee press, and counter top, cupboards, drawers, floor, and my self covered with hot coffee and wet coffee grounds to be reminded of this.

Thank you for listening,
Brooke

Learned; My husband saw me cleaning up the mess through my tears, and offered to help. I just told him "all I wanted was my coffee!" He came back from the store with a Starbucks for me. All that to tell you that I learned My husband really loves me, he can see through my girlie irrational emotions and find a way to make my heart happy again. I love him!

Team Dinner

Last night we hosted Madison's soccer team's first team dinner. I had something a little special up my sleeve for them besides plain old spaghetti and meat balls...

When the girls all sat down for their dinner I gave them each a menu. For their appetizer they could choose from penalty kick, goal kick, drop kick, header, and corner kick. For their main course they chose from different soccer positions; keeper, stopper, defender, midfielder, forward, and coach. Then for dessert we served some fancy foot work moves such as the rainbow, zig zag, left right left over, and chest trap. When they looked at the menu they were a bit confused saying "none of this is food!"

Each of the items they ordered corresponded to the specific cups, plates, and utensils they would have to eat and drink with. Some of the items they drank from were juice pitchers, tea pots, sippy cups, and beakers. Their dinner was served on or in pot lids, platters, corn on the cob holders, tiny bowls, huge bowls and ice cream cone dishes. Then they had to use items such as ladles, slotted spoons, ice cream scoops, chop sticks, and other miscellaneous items.

It was quite amusing to seem them feasting on a messy meal with these silly items. They all loved it and had a great time.

Silly Things He Says

This morning I was given my own comedy show from Maddox...

First he wakes up early and crawls in bed with me about 10 minutes before my alarm was to go off. When I got up I told him to snuggle in with my pillows. About 5 minutes later he walks in all pout "Mom! I don't like to snuggle pillows, I like to snuggle mom and dad!"

Then as I was getting dressed he comes up to me with googly eyes, like a kid in a candy store, and tries to grab by b@@bs, after being denied he says, "Awe, come on I'll let you touch mine if I can touch yours!" ALREADY at 3 he has that line down!!!

There were three things this morning that he said and did that cracked me up, but in typical fashion I can't remember the third.... I'll post it when I remember.

AHHH! I remembered!!! Maddox loves reading before bed each night, and right now he is liking this book by a local author, Wendy Sylvano, titled "Just One More!" It is about a bus in South America where there are just too many poeple on it, and they keep coming abord with all sorts of belongings. The driver keeps hollering "Just One More!" and they keep packing on the bus. So Maddox was throwing away something in the morning, and I told him the bathroom trash was too full. He looked at me and hollered "Just One More!" then laughed and said just like my book mom!

Learned: Boys are boys, and they will be boys, there is just no changing that fact!

Wow! That's Hot!

In my 6 (or is it 7?) years of teaching I have had many embarrassing and/or laughable moments; today I add another to the list.

One of the students at school, whom I do not have but he always comes in to say "hi", was making his daily appearance. Today he had a special treat, he brought in one of those dancing and singing stuffed animals and danced for the class. While he was dancing I went to type something and forgot that I had a scented candle burning and slightly burned my arm while reaching over it.

In reaction I yelped, "WOW! That's hot!" in that instant the whole class became silent looking at me with shock and discomfort, then completing my thought, I said "Don't reach over an open flame!"

This was met with an entire class bursting into laughter, and it dawned on me that they ALL thought I was commenting on how hot this student dancing was.. I of course couldn't stifle my own laughter.

Learned? Sometimes it is not wise to say what ever is on you brain.

My Kids Crack Me Up!

Me "Madison what are you doing in there?"
Madison "I am pooping sideways."


Maddox singing in the car to the Ting Tings That's not my name...
"They call me grand ma, they call me Caid, That's not my name"

Learned? Kids continually crack me up! I wish I was that funny!

Let's Swim!

Yesterday we went to Malia's birthday party at the local indoor pool. It was crazy busy. They had a swim meet that just got over, and all those waiting to get in were jammed in the foyer. Just before 2:00 (when the party was supposed to start) the lady came out and told us they were still cleaning up from the meet, but they wanted to get us in so we could start swimming right at 2:00.

Maddox, who had been waiting patiently (as patiently as a 2 year old could) responded with a YEAH! The next thing I know Brian is saying "Maddox!" I turn to see my son in the room full of people with his pants around his ankles! Brian quickly pulled them up and informed him that he needed to wait to change in the changing room. Maddox got very embarrassed!

I thought it was pretty funny that he was so excited to swim, and so uninhibited that he could begin changing into his swim clothes as soon as he heard it was swim time.

Learned? Swimming in January is COLD, even at an indoor pool! Brian and I swam with the kids, but I only lasted for the first half of the party.

My Wild Family

Maddox:
Madison
Brian:

My Wild Self

This was a really fun site to play around on. Some of my co-workers and I made portraits of our "Wild Selves". One made one based on functionality the other was stylistically, and mine was based on my personality.

So this is my psychoanalysis based upon my wild self:
Lion Mane: I am a Leo
Flamingo wings: I like to look nice (the peacock tail would have better represented this but it made the picture too busy.
Scorpion tail: the defensive, wicked, impulsive, part of me.
Lion Legs: The runner in me.
Gibbon Arms: The necessity to juggle a lot at one time.
Sea Lion Ears: Not being a good listener. (they were the smallest)
Eyes: They looked a little sad
Brows and Lips: They looked a little mischievous.
The Shirt Color: My favorite color is green -right now.
The Emblem On The Shirt: Three loves of my life, the need to be loved, the desire to be better at loving others.
The Skirt: It matched the best with green.
The Background: The coming storm, the passing storm, or the storm I am in the midst of, a reminder that between the storms- no matter how brief, there is a sense of peace. Also I am comforted by thunderstorms, I love the smell and the energy in the air.

Make one and send it to me via email! I'd love to see what you come up with!

Learned? I learned a lot about me. Maybe I'll do it again sometime when "life" makes another turn...