Broken Promise(s)

A long time ago my mom and I went to visit a family with a bunch of boys. I remember looking at the grimy walls and finger-printed t.v. and promising myself that my house would never display such artwork.

Today while wiping off blackened doors and walls, I realized that I broke that promise.

Here are a *few* other promises that I have broken:

• My children will not have dirty faces (how hard can it be to just wipe it off?).
• My children will never have snotty noses (read above).
• My children will not have temper tantrums in public (bad parenting).
• My children will be trained to not touch my breakable things (very teachable).
• My children will clean up their mess before making a new one (again, teachable).
• My children will always listen the first time (good parenting).
• I will be the parent who remembers what it is like to be a kid (how can you forget?).
• I will be the parent who is endlessly patient and loving (good parenting=good kids).
• I will be the parent who always has a clean home (good parenting=clean, helpful kids).
• I will be the parent who always has fabulous meals planned for each day of the week (what else do you do if you stay home all day?).

Failure or Perspective?

Shoe Tying

A few months ago I bought Madison some sneakers with shoelaces. In other words, it was time to learn how to tie. I gave Joe the assignment because I had previously been unsuccessful.

About 5 minutes later (or less) he said, "Good job! You are a fast learner." I abruptly turned around and said, "What? She can do it already? Impossible." Madison showed me her new skill, and I thought, "Wow! Joe is a good teacher!" I praised her and Joe for their good work.

Then Madison pulls me into the kitchen and whispers into my ear, "Don't tell Dad, but I already knew how."

Bittersweet

Sitting here

There is a nice breeze blowing through the window, and Ammon is crawling to me quickly, begging me to pick him up. Madison is playing the piano while Logan and Grant voices are playing outside, some sort of boy game I think they made up (Pokemon, I miss Star Wars). Joe should be leaving work soon. Marinara and meatball crock-pot smells are floating through the house.

Life is pretty good, it's pretty good.

what we've been doing:

Things I found around the house:

 Logan's schedule.
Click on it to enlarge.
Notice what time he gets up?
Yeah. . . 

Madison's "teast" (test). 

No matter how early we get her up, she will use the time

to not get ready for school. The thing is, she makes Logan tardy, 

but her teacher never marks her tardy! 

One day we really got onto her about getting

ready more quickly, and I think this is her plan

to be on time. 

Also, it looks like both kids are fighting over 

who gets to set the table.

I got tired of all the backpacks, shoes, and jackets piling up 

at the bottom of the stairs. Ideally, they all have a place

in the kids' rooms, but it just wasn't happening! Now there is a 

hook for each child. I don't know what we'll do if there is a #5. 

 We have a huge bathroom at this house--not fancy, 

but huge. I've been thinking for a while that it was 

a little out of control--I avoided cleaning it because

I just didn't love being there. For about $20, and using what I already

had, I got it cleaned up and feeling a little bit nicer. 

 I wanted something on the walls, but you know me--it 

needs to mean something. Also, art is kind of expensive.

Someday I will get something cooler (and bigger), but for now. . .

I bought some $3 frames from WalMart  and 

put in some pictures from China. 

 Joe took most of them--this is before we had
digital cameras and photoshop.

Isn't he an amazing photographer?

In real life they look even better, because here you can see

my shadows and the flash from the camera. Plus,

it's a picture of a picture.

 The top one is us on the Great Wall of China. 

I still want to put more on the walls, and I want something 

 on the divider between the tub and toilet, but

for now, I love it!! 

Goodbye Blackcoon.

I don't know what did you in, but it was probably my fault.

I officially hate having fish.

Keeping a cat alive is probably easier, but I don't like cats. Or dogs.

The kids can have their own dang pets when they move out.

The humans are all alive

Lost a fish this week. We tried adding two Cories to the tank (I'm hoping that they will somehow magically clean the bottom of the tank so that I don't have to, hahaha). One died the next morning and I had to be the one to get it out and flush. :( I named the other Cory "Dracula" because it is white, ugly, and has fangs. The gal at petsmart said it would die without a friend to school with. She had some tongue rings, so I guess she knows what she's talking about, and I am expecting the worst.

Logan and Madison had their first soccer games today. Madison made a goal. And touched the ball with her hands. Joe went to Logan's game (that was at the same time) and reported back that he did well (except when he kicked the ball towards the wrong goal). Having never played or even seen a soccer game, I think today went well. I expect much improvement over the next ten weeks. I will also take pictures.

Today we went for the hike I've been wanting to take for over a month. It was perfect outside. And it wasn't paved!! It's kind of odd to have to drive 30+ minutes and pay money in order to walk in nature--I grew up just crossing the street to take a walk in the woods. Joe carried Ammon in the backpack, Grant and I walked 5 minutes behind everyone else, and Logan and Madison spent the time running back and forth between Dad and Mom. Logan wore his soccer gear plus dress shoes (I guess he forgot his change of clothes). Madi wore a sweater and capris, and Grant wore his jacket upside down.  It was a lovely day. 

The things we love

In honor of Love Day (Valentine's Day), I thought I'd share just a FEW of the things we (the McGregor's, but Jenny biased) love.

10. 70 degree weather in February, and playing outside in our own backyard. We'll take it!!
9. Friday pizza-and-a-movie nights. (6:30ish every Friday, if you wanna' join us.)
8. A clean house. (Even better is not having to be the person who cleans it.)
7. A good read.
6. Financial stability.
5. A cold, rainy day every once in a while. Cookies baking and music playing are musts on these days.
4. A date night out (and the kids love babysitters, so we're all happy).
3. Nap time!!!!
2. The gospel as taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.
1. The opportunity to be part of a family, to love and to serve one-another, and to grow-up together. (My partner in crime is pretty great, too!)

What are some things you love?

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Decade of Valentines

Today gives me the privilege of recounting over a decade worth of Valentines with my dear sweet Jennifer. Here is a brief highlight reel:

2001 – This was our first Valentine’s date. We went to a dance together, but she kept hanging around this other boy so I asked, “Who’s this clown?”

“He’s my date! And why do you keep following me?”

2002 – This was our first V-day married. I bought Jenny a stuffed armadillo to symbolize that our love had a thick protective shell around it. She smiled, but then said I didn’t have to buy her any more gifts for Valentine’s Day in the future.

2003 – I know that when a wife says “don’t buy me gifts,” she doesn’t mean it. So the next year I bought her a dozen fresh-cut red roses. First question when I walked through the door: “How much did those cost?” (True story)

2004 – We decided to take a romantic getaway to Kauai. As we were boarding the plane, however, two gentlemen in suits approached me and insisted my name was Ismael Asmud Hussein, and tried to carry me off for further questioning. We spent good money on those tickets, so Jenny decided to board anyway. She blew me a kiss as my heels dragged across the airport linoleum, my arms interlocked with the officers’. Jenny never really explained how her Hawaiian vacation went—she says she just doesn’t want to make me jealous. All I know is that every Valentine’s Day since we receive several post cards with pictures of embarrassingly muscular Polynesian men.

2005 – I arranged a scavenger hunt for Jenny, but I got disoriented after hiding the 2^nd clue. Needless to say, she never arrived at the ice rink I rented out. I had to share the heart-shaped ice cream cake with Victor, the Zamboni driver.

2006 – Most of Valentine’s Day in 2006 was spent with Jennifer trying to meet my bail. Since it detracts from the spirit of this post, I’m going to skip past 2006.

2007 – Jenny thought it would be romantic to replay our youth and do a shopping cart derby at the grocery store. Unfortunately, I’m not a great shopping cart driver. I bumped the bread isle, which brought down the soup aisle, which set off a domino of crashing aisles across the store. The restraining order expires in 2018.

2008 – Who knew people could be allergic to saffron? Well, Jenny does. And so does the South Euclid Fire & Rescue.

2009 – This Valentine’s Day was rough because we couldn’t spend it together. Instead I was stopping the heist of a collection of rare art from a Belgium gallery. His Majesty Prince Albert greatly appreciated my service.

2010 – We had just moved to Texas, and our new house needed to be repainted. Jenny took in a few too many paint fumes and got “lightheaded.” The paint splotches on her clothes convinced her that she was a super-heroine named “Rainbow Fight,” and that she needed to stop a crime in progress across town. The police found her in the back of an Albertson’s showing people her new-found powers by karate-chopping wood pallets.

2011 – Last year was bittersweet. That was the day—of all days—I received the divorce papers in the mail. I mean, who does that on Valentine’s Day??? I went into a primal rage. I poured leftover paint on all our carpets, dumped our oatmeal food storage into the commodes, tubs, and sinks, and then I set our mattress on fire as I threw it out our 2^nd story window. When Jenny got home she pretended like she didn’t know what was going on. That’s when I examined the court papers a bit more carefully: “Juan Castro Jimenez-Rocha v. Candelaria Rosa Jimenez-Sanchez.” Wrong address.

2012 – Too be continued . . . .

12 Year-Old Me Meets 30 Year-Old Me

*Please note that if you were involved in one of these stories, I am not writing about you and am not attacking in anyway. This is simply about me growing up and figuring out who I am. 

Scholastic Book Fair, Sugar Grove Elementary 199(3?):

I am in love with the Sweet Valley Twins Book series, and they are selling one at the book fair. The book is $1.99. I can't decide if I am going to spend my hard-earned allowance on this book, and while discussing it with a friend, she says something like, "It's only $2. What's the big deal?" Boy do I feel dumb. A few days later I try to convince a different friend to spend her money on the book by saying, "It's only $2--what's the big deal? You should get it." She replies, "Yeah, but it's my $2, and I'm saving it for something else." Why didn't I say that?

Fast-forward 18 years:


I am eating with some beautiful and talented friends and we are discussing Valentine's Day. They are throwing out complicated (to me) Valentine's cards ideas. The conversation is roughly as follows:

me: Are you doing that for her teacher? (I never thought about doing a special Valentine for the teacher.)


friend(s): No, I (we) make our Valentines.

me: You don't just buy the ones from WalMart for $2?

friend(s): No, they come home and I throw all those away.

me: Yeah, I LOVE that!!!

friend(s): (something about making them cute and personal.)

me: Yeah, Madison put some silly bands in hers and Logan got Star Wars cards that change pictures. They love 'em, and we did them all last night while we watched a movie. It took 30 minutes.


I'm not fancy or complicated and I hate stressing over things (like planning birthday parties). I'm not gonna' lie. . . sometimes I feel guilty about this personality flaw. But I feel like I'm finally coming to terms with who I am. And I'm okay if other people know I'd rather buy already made cards at WalMart than spend my time making some. We are all awesome in different ways, and that isn't one of my ways of being awesome. I think I'd even be ok telling someone that I didn't want to spend $2 on a book. Being 30 is wonderful. 


A more normal face (which, by the way, Joe says must mean I am confident if I can put that crazy picture out for the public to see. lol, that's one way to look at it. :) 

Thinking Thursday, and something truly frightful (but downright funny)

1. My brother Brent just got his mission call to somewhere is Brazil (never heard of the mission and can't remember what it is). 

2. Last night I put a pound of spinach in the lasagna. I was either finding a good way to get my kids to eat spinach, OR, I was ruining an entire pan of lasagna. Even Joe said it was good, so that means I have another way to hide veggies. Actually, my kids love veggies, just not spinach.

3. Signed the kids up for soccer, which means the next 10 weeks are booked--specifically Saturdays. After paying a good amount of money to register and to buy shoes, shin guards, socks, balls, and some sportsy clothes, I think we are good to go. Madi had her first practice Tues (I think she's going to do well) and Logan's is tonight.

4. Ammon is almost one!! He wants so badly to be a big kid (see pic below). He's close to walking, and he just figured out (not mastered) how to get down the stairs. In all fairness, he rarely wants to get down, but always wants to get up. 

4a. We've encouraged something naughty. . . when we say "no" he smiles and starts shaking his head. It's pretty cute, so we let him get away with telling us "no" and laugh instead. I see trouble in our future.

5. Grant and I have been working each morning on our letters and numbers. I know a lot of your children the same age already know these things--but he's baby number three, which means he is interested in other things, I have other things going on, and quite honestly I'm not overly worried about it--he's going to be in school for the next 13+ years of his life! OK, so I actually feel like a bad mom that he hasn't quite mastered writing his first name (among other things). But you know what? Logan knew all of his letters and numbers before Madison was born (at 21 months, so there). Anyway, my point is that Grant and I finally have time together to play games and learn, it is going well, and we are having fun. 

6. Since Joe started teaching seminary, he has been getting up at 4:30 a.m., which means I wake up at 4:30 a.m. (not to be confused with getting up). We don't go to bed early enough to avoid being tired during the day. But on Tuesday we went to bed at 9:00 and I didn't need a nap the next day! I'm actually considering getting up early and doing something constructive in the morning. It really would require getting to bed earlier, which is hard because when the kids go to bed I feel like I'm finally free. 

7. Truly frightening but funny at the same time: Madison took this picture a while ago (my crazy face). I laughed so hard when I saw it, and I have been debating whether or not I should show anyone. Because come on, it's FUNNY! But it's also kind of embarrassing. So I don't know how long I will leave this on here, and if you see it, please don't think any less of me, just laugh.

The Nice Lady

You know I'm not talking about me.

A few weeks ago I made a last-ditch effort to inspire the kids to make their beds and keep their rooms clean--for a whole week.

Bribery.

The winner got a date with me to a destination of his or her choice.

Logan won hands-down and he chose the bookstore.

In our family the bookstore means Half-Priced-Books because we are too cheap to buy books at full-price (especially when you can check them out and return them (no storage!) for free to the library).

So we went and I gave him a $5 budget.

While he was agonizing over $25 worth of books a nice lady (if I tell you her race am I racist?) asked me discreetly if she could buy one of his books for him "because she is so happy to see a boy who loves to read and wants him to be able to get the books he wants." At first I felt a little embarrassed. . . I mean, $5 was the budget, I wasn't trying to discourage reading. But then I realized she was trying to be nice, so she gave Logan $3 to cover an extra book, and he told her thank-you. In the moment I said, "What do you say?" and she said, "He said thank-you," and Logan said, "Thank you," again. I felt kind of bad about that.

On the way home from our date I told Logan I would either take him to get a root beer float or we could get supplies for root beer floats and share with everyone at home. He chose to share with everyone at home, and I thought that was pretty cool.

That was two weeks ago.

Today they asked me who was winning for the week. I explained that the offer had expired, but in case you are wondering, it's a tie. . . for messiest room.