another funny

hehe, Brookie made me giggle again so why not share! I was with my good friend Mel when I told her that I needed to go to the grocery store. She offered to watch my kids while I went (BL-E-S-SSS-ING!!) and I said yes. Brook asked where I was going and I said to the grocery store. Then she said, "oh, did you find some money mommy?" hehehe ya, I guess I found some money so why not buy food. hehe. Guess she really is listening when I say, "we don't have the money".

what to write

So I have wanted to post, but I can't think of anything that tops just how great I am!! Brook did however say something funny today, so hear goes.

As you know we recently bought our vehicle. Well, for some reason we had to go to the dmv to get the title. Ever since we moved to our place now, we have been told that we belong to Denver county. Everything that we had at Arapahoe county got transfered to Denver county so naturally I thought that I should go to Denver county dmv to get our title. After my morning walk, I packed up the kids and headed out. We sat in line for about an hour and then my number got called. The lady grabbed my paper work and said, "You live in Arapahoe county, you need to go there... next!" To which I explained that for ALL other government agencies, we reside in Denver county. She rolled her eyes and printed something off the computer that says Arapahoe county and said, "If you don't believe me, believe the paper...next!" I marched out steaming mad. I even said something that I know I shouldn't have to Brook on the way out, loud enough that the lady could hear me (part of my passive aggressive tendencies I guess). I said, "Brook, and thats why we hate the government.". So I got the kids in the car and was headed towards the Arapahoe county dmv when Brookie shocked me. She said, "mom, maybe we can go tomorrow." and I said, "ya maybe," and she said, "that way you're not so angry". She is a wise wise woman. Lesson learned Brook, when you're having a rough morning, just give up and try again tomorrow. (Maybe she secretly reads her daddy's psych books at night).

Something to Really Brag About - By Drew

The award which Shayna referred to in the previous post holds little, if any, credit in comparison to her accomplishments. All too often, her work is overlooked. I mean when was the last time you heard of , or saw, an awards ceremony for homemakers? This type of event is unheard of, although this is the most impacting job that exists. So, if there should be any bragging done… I think it should be done in regards to my wife’s daily accomplishments…..

1. She wakes up to an immediate need that needs attention. Usually hunger, thirst, peed bed or a really messy diaper. Often times these needs are communicated by crying or screaming. On the other hand, I get to wake up to quietness.

2 . When I go exercise in the morning I walk out the door. When she goes to exercise. She has to allow 30 minutes in order to prepare the kids, which usually includes getting the snacks ready, changing clothes, finding shoes, getting bottles for three, getting the kiddos strapped in the stroller…. and usually having to redo this the whole process a few times before leaving. She has two to push and one to carry… now that is a real Triathlon. Nonetheless, she gets it done!!!

3. By the time she gets home she has probably changed several diapers and cleaned several messes. She doesn’t get a break to the break room, instead she starts preparing lunch while making sure the two kids don’t get hurt too bad. That is multitasking!!!

4. After lunch she gets to put them down for a nap…. well that sounds nice but the kiddos tend to not follow the same sleep schedule. So, she spends time reading/singing to them, and changing a few more diapers. Meanwhile, she is pregnant and just praying for a minute to rest. PATIENCE!!!!!

5. Time for dinner… this is hard! The kids are either waking up from naps or grumpy and tired because they did not want to nap. Our kids truly want to help out with everything.. they have big hearts. So, trying to prepare dinner in a small kitchen with a 2 and 1 year old as your sous-chef is an art.

6. Dad gets home…. After having no break she gets to listen to me vent about my day and cool down. She never gets a break… she is always at her place of employment. So, when you hear someone say they had to pull off an 18-hour shift… that doesn’t have anything on my wife… she is always on a 24-hour shift. WOW!!!!

What it all comes down to….. my wife has always wanted to be a homemaker and she does an incredible job. I am forever grateful for her skills…. She could easily be the one bringing in the money, frankly she could do much better than I! So, she gets the rewards that will never be formally presented on this earth… however, what she does cannot be replaced by anyone else and will bring the longest lasting rewards!!!!

bragspot

I'm doing it. I'm bragspotting about my husband, so if you already know how cool he is, you can feel free to skip this post. For those of you who have seen The Christmas Story movie, Drew got a "major award". Thats what it feels like anyway. He received a letter from Argosy that states:

Dear Andrew,

You have been selected for the Argosy University Denver Outstanding Graduate Student Award for the 2010-2011 academic year.This award is given to students in recognition of their academic and extra-curricular excellence as evidenced by academic performance and by setting an example that both motivates and inspires other students in the classroom and outside the classroom. The award will be announced at the upcoming Commencement Ceremony on November 13th at the Embassy Suites Hotel. I truly hope you will be able to join us for this event.

Signed, blah blah blah

Yeah for Drew!! I hope we get a leg lamp!

Watch Out for the Guy in Tights on the Bike!!!

Hey everyone, this is Drew (Shayna's sidekick). I wanted to share a story that happened yesterday... enjoy!

I am Riding home on my bike, IN THE BIKING LANE. A friendly man, with an excess amount of testosterone, quickly passed me in his truck. He was about an inch from knocking right off of my bike. While in passing he said, " Explicit, explicit, get off the road, explicit, explicit!" Mind you, I WAS IN THE BIKE LANE! I proceeded to ride IN THE BIKE LANE, while approaching the upcoming red light I noticed he was the right next to me stopped. I began to have several thoughts... first of which, I did something wrong on the road, wait no, I was IN THE BIKE LANE! Second, (the therapist side of me) he had a traumatizing experience on a bike and the simply the sight of a bike triggers unwanted/very angry feelings. No, the third thought... just keep going about my business and ignore him. So, it happens I pull up to the red light and he said, " Hey, explicit, explicit explicit, you got a problem with me?" I was thinking to myself I have not yet even acknowledged his existence, how could I have a problem???? I continued to look forward and ignore him... he said, "You need me to get out of my truck to talk about this?" I thought to myself talk about what? You are simply carrying on an unwanted hateful monologue. There only needs be one individual in a monologue, right? Next thought, I should say, "yes, but hold on let me go set my bike down and come talk to you, better yet can I set in the back of your truck and we can speak while you take me home, that is since you don't want me on the road, IN THE BIKE LANE." Well, the time came I turned to him and said, " Sir, we can talk if you would like; however, my office is a few miles down that road (pointing). I prefer to speak to people in a more private and confidential setting about their problems. The downside is talking to me about your problems means I will have to charge you my normal fee and that is $$." WOW... it worked... he shut his mouth looked ahead and sped off. And me, well I stayed IN THE BIKE LANE and rode my happy self home! So, when you see that guy in tights riding his bike, be nice to him, especially if he is IN THE BIKE LANE trying to get home to his family!!!

By the way... when I got home Shayna had made the BEST meal!!!

gratitude

So, my last post sounded whiny and while it's true that I cry when I am frustrated, I also cry when I am extremely grateful. One example was how tonight I cried as I thanked the firemen for getting T-ray out of the car quickly and safely, crying partly from embarrassment, and partly from gratitude! Don't you love Sundays!

ps, no one got hurt,I just locked the keys in the car without taking T-ray out first.

why I wish I were 2

So, here is a true, I mean "hypothetical" story as to why I wish I were 2.

I needed to go to the store today. We were out of milk and a few other essentials and I like to shop when Drew isn't home so that I can take advantage of the few times that he is home. Since I know that I have 2 kids, I decided to go prepared. I waited until T-ray had a nap, and I took a giraffe toy that I got at the dollar spot at Target to bribe Brook. We got to the store, and I put the kids in the only double cart I could find. As we walked in the store, T-ray started kicked Brooke. She of course began to scream, which made T-ray scream back. I tried my calm, sweet mother voice, which might as well have been the flapping of butterfly wings cause the kids did not hear it. So I resorted to covering T-rays mouth and threatening to take away Brook's giraffe. This stopped the fighting for about 30 seconds. So I let Brook out of the cart to walk beside me. Which of course she did not. Now, if anyone has ever shopped at Safeway around 2pm you would know that this is when all of the older generation like to shop. We were going down the cereal isle and there were 2 such older women shopping in front of us. Brook thought it would be hilarious to scream as she ran past them. One of the ladies grabbed her chest as if Brook's scare had given her a heart attack and the other looked at me and said, "my word!" I of course apologized as I ran past them to catch Brook. Giraffe got taken away and the scream began again. I should have just quit and left, but I didn't want to come back. A few scenes later we were ready to check out and there were 2 cashiers and about 8 people to check out. I got in line with T-ray screaming, thinking this would deter others from coming behind me. It didn't. A few minutes later, "oh my" and heart attack lady came and stood behind me. I was trying to load the stuff from the cart onto the conveyor belt while also grabbing the power bars out of T-rays hand, which are so awesomely placed at child seat level. Brook meanwhile is asking me about every candy on the candy rack and why she can't have one so giraffe came back. I got to the front of the line and the cashier was young, but sweet. She kept stopping to try and get T-ray from crying. I realize she was trying to help, but I just wanted her to be as quick as possible. Meanwhile, the grouchy twins were doing their best at gawking and sighing and making me feel really really stupid. Normally I wouldn't let stuff bother me, but I happen to be a little sensitive right now. The checker then asked how old T is, and then how old Brook is, and she followed my response with, "wow, one right after another huh. Well, at least this way you got done quick." Reasonable Shayna knows that she didn't mean anything by it, but hormonal Shayna thought, "you're right, what was I thinking! and she doesn't even know that I am doing it again" as the tears start to well up in my eyes. I get my receipt and start heading out as the checker asks grouchy how she is and she responds, "well my ears hurt, but I'm fine." I got the kids in the car, the groceries in the car, myself in the car and then started to bawl. Full out, wailing bawling (side note:I am fine). Now comes the part of the story as to why I wish I were 2. Brook says to me, "mom, what happened?" and she is dead serious. She has zero idea what happened. All she knows is that we went to the store, got some food, mom cried, and we came home. What a life!

one leads to another

Hey everyone! We bought this....

so we could fit more of these...

cause we're having another one of these...

because we are this...

and we're due around here...

and we are happy!