The Tell Tale Tub......

Friday night....Knit Night at the Shabby Sheep Yarn Shoppe.  I look forward to this night.  An evening filled with laughter, hilarious stories of our children, of yarn projects gone astray (like Erin's Rasputin of a purple cowl!) and yummy food.
I was anticipating the moments when I could snag my yarn bag and skip from the house without a care or a kid.  Oh, dear reader, it is never ever that simple in my land. 
The children ate a hearty dinner (okay, chicken and rice, my creativity in the kitchen is at an all time low) and were headed to their showers.  Sounds simple enough.  The boys spent most of the day helping the crew install the metal posts for our new fence and hard work and the great outdoors had definitely scent marked them.
There was the usual giggling, thumping and loud random noises from the upstairs, so Steve decided he was going up.
It was then that the noise escalated and I heard the dreaded words, "Hunny, can you come up here, please."
Oh NO!  He called me Hunny, and he said please.  I considered my options, flee, suicide or face the music.  Option number one graced through my brain, but curses....my yarn bag was upstairs.
Suicide wasn't truly an option, because I have far too many unfinished project (like my life!).  So, with a trembling in my heart, I climbed the stairs.
At the landing, I heard Steve berating the boys on their toothpaste painting habit.  Maybe that was it.  After all, I had cleaned the bathrooms on Monday, could it really be that bad?
I climbed the second set of stairs.  Caitlyn was standing in her doorway with wide eyes.  Perhaps she shouldn't see the carnage, I sent her to her own shower.
I walked closer and Steve was addressing the boys in stern and serious tones.  He saw me.  Crap, nowhere to run.
"Have you seen this?" and he pointed to the tub.
(insert horror movie scream)
There was trash all over the floor (hate to admit it, but my boys have lousy aim, more on that some other time). There were towels on the floor.  Well, it is a kid bathroom. With a trembling in my heart, I lifted my eyes to the tub.
Bright blue water, the same color as their shower gel.  Cold water, with chunks of white ivory soap floating in it.  Three shower poufs. A plastic shark.  A lego guy (I think maybe young Obi wan).  CARNAGE!!!
Steve asks, "Okay, who did this?"
"Not me."
"I don't know"
"I didn't"
Ah, my dreaded extra three invisible children.
Conner said in a small voice, "the water won't go down."
I drop to my knees in agony....not a backed up tub.  Please no, no no. 
In my world, backed up tubs are far worse than backed up toilets. A toilet you can plunge without getting wet (much) and can clear  easily (it is also a good cardio work out).  The last time there was a clogged tub, it involved one army figure and a band aid that was murderous to remove.
Steve proceeded to chastise the boys.  They hopped to remove towels and trash, scrape toothpaste off the counters and I fished my hand into the tub.
The water was frigid and I felt my hand cramp right away.  I turned the stopper to the left and lifted.  The stopped turned to the proper open position, but the water remained.  Cold and blue, it taunted me.
I couldn't see past the shower gel induced azure, but I was fairly certain a wild experiment involving the drain and floating soap had ensued.  I suck my fingers into the icy blue and tried to spin the stopper to remove it from view, to allow my most treasured tool access.....the snake.
The stopper spun merrily and defied my efforts.  My hands began to cramp more and my thoughts were: NO! Not on Knit Night!  How can I crochet (I am a non knitter)?  How can I feel the yarn in all it's textured glory. NOOOOOOOOoooooooooo.
Anger was the next emotion.  It must have showed on my face.  Steve quickly went to finish dishes (isn't he sweet and SMART), the boys went and had record fast showers in my bathroom and only left one towel behind.  I stalked to the closet, Caitlyn popped her head into the hall, saw my face and quickly withdrew and shut her door.
I reached in my closet and pulled out my next best tool.....the wire hanger.
Yes, I still have wire hangers.  In this enlightened age you may ask, why?
Because I can MacGyver it into anything.  It has cleared out vacuums and hooked items from the roof.  Now I was going to employ it to go where my snake was unable to fit.
The children left, the dogs voluntarily went to their crates.
It was me and the cold blue tub.
I closed my eyes and sent a prayer to the plumbing saints (I am not Catholic, but there have to be plumbing saints.) and reached my hands into the icy blue.
I threaded the end of the wire hanger into the small gap left under the tiny space of the open stopper.  The wire met resistance.  I pushed and there was the slightest sense of give.  I was right.  Soap.  I turned on hot water and as it trickled, fresh foam appeared.  I pressed harder with the wire and knew I could move it no further.
I was on my knees, up to my elbows in frigid water.  The tub mocked me with it's still waters.  I poked futilely on the blockage.
But come on....not on a KNIT NIGHT!
I couldn't feel my fingers, my knees were aching.  Motherhood isn't for sissies.
I decided to surrender....for the short term.  I gathered my strength and rammed the wire into the softest part of the blockage and left it there.
Mother of Mayhem....giving up?
No, dear reader, a strategic retreat.
I left and soaked my numb hands in warm water.  I went downstairs where my clean and freshly showered boys (no getting away with a sprinkle of water and spritz of Febreeze tonight!) watched me cautiously.
I grabbed my yarn bag and told my husband I would deal with it later.  I lifted my chin and went to Knit Night, I earned it!
My revenge?  This morning the tub was empty except for some boy dirt, soap scum and a bend wire hanger rammed into the drain.
My new plan? Some industrial strength pipe cleaner.
Oh, and I am seriously thinking that the boys should build their own sweat lodge and use that.



And how was your day?

Christmas and revelations

Okay, I have been a complete slacker.  I really don't have any great excuses.
Maybe one, alright, two! or four!
Christmas came with many laughs, too much food and great company.
We had our traditional Italian feast on Christmas Eve and the kiddos were amazed and excited when Oh-my and Pop-pop gave them.....FULL SIZE MOUNTAIN BIKES!
Rock on! They can really cover ground now.  They have taken a few trips up the road and back, loving the freedom.  One time I followed on Shiloh, who thought this whole process stank, until the kids shared their snacks.  Then he was quite happy to follow.
Christmas Day brought happiness in the form of legos.  Gotta love those!  Cailtyn also was happy to receive a custom pink horse grooming kit and carry case that she had seen and LOVED!  We had a less than traditional meal going with brisket instead of turkey, but I have to tell you: Clean up was much easier!
We enjoyed lazy mornings (7 rather than 6!) and family time (I can take you in Sorry Sliders!).
My big revelation? My friend, Liberty, introduced me to ravelry.  How awesome is this!!
If you knit or crochet, here is the place for you. I have gotten back into crochet and I honestly didn't realize how much I had missed it!
I have made several scarves and am making granny squares for throw.
I also am at The Shabby Sheep Yarn Shop some mornings, and love meeting all of the crafty people in my community!
So if you are a Portalian...swing by and say hi!

And how was your day?

The Polar Express

A magical event for the family.  We enjoyed cookies and cocoa.  We traveled to the North Pole and picked up Santa.
Conner was absolutely smitten with the elves, Buttercup and Peppermint.  When asked what he wanted for Christmas, he said, "the elves' phone number!".
We told him that wasn't appropriate, so the little schemer got hugs instead.

And how was your day?

Hay Day!

We had a photo shoot!

Windrush Alpaca Farm

What to do on a Saturday after soccer had ended?  Windrush Alpaca Farm in Clovis!  We spent part of our day there and were delighted.
Rosemary Metcalf gave us a wonderful tour.  We started with the rules, no running, no flapping hands and let the alpacas approach you!  We went into the main pen with the mamas and the llamas.  The alpacas are friendly, but cautious creatures.  They sported gorgeous fleeces and colors.  Rosemary held one of the younger brown alpacas for the children to touch.  He remained calm until Conner started towards his head.  Even his "naughty" behavior was mild and when released, Conner commented that he "jumped like a reindeer."
We then went to the "boy pens".  We all hand fed the alpacas and one was brought out to show us proper foot trimming, something alpacas require every two months.  We explored their lovely and unique coats and saw how thick it was.
The whole time we walked around, the friendliest cat in the world was cosseted and held by my children.  The cat, a tom, never once hissed, or even struggled with the kids.  The boys also doubled back to a hay barn and discovered more cats that needed their attention.
We went to the farm shop where we were able to see a blanket, socks, hats and other items made from alpaca hair.  We were educated and delighted all at once.

And how was your day?

The power of Words

Words have power.  From, "I do" to "help" to "I love you", words contain the power to change our world.  My kids are learning all about words.  They have learned one of the best things is when they spontaneously say nice things to each other.  I love to watch the recipient's face glow, and that small smile power their face.
On the other hand, my children have learned that mean words are not tolerated.  That it is far better to not say anything at all.  That slanderous words will get them a sit down.
Unfortunately too many adults haven't  learned this lesson.  While having an opinion is well and good, publicly calling someone out without speaking directly to them first is very immature and uncalled for.  If someone has done something to upset me, by all means I will speak with that person directly. 
My children are learning to speak up, at the moment of an "incident".  "You took my toy and I want it back."  "Don't call me that, it hurts my feelings." "I need my backpack, get off of it."
Maybe all of us adults can learn this simple lesson.  Tell someone, in person, and politely that something is a problem.  If you are rebuked, well, as I tell my kids, you can't control other people, you told them what was on your mind, and the better person will walk away.  Do we really need to make a public note with the person's name?  Sounds like libel to me.
Sigh, kids may be cruel to each other at times, but it is not really calculated in the way it is for adults.  We all need a better filter between thought and deed. 
There is the first stone, I am not qualified to throw it.
I don't think any of us are.


And how was your day?

The Eyes have it

On Thursday, Oct 28, 2010 Conner brought home a sticky squishy eyeball from his Halloween party. He promptly threw it to stick onto the living room ceiling. After James spent an hour shooting suction cup arrows at it, we decided to leave it. November 2, a second eyeball was discovered on the ceiling near the first.
As of November 11, they are both still there. We are officially starting a pool. Leave your guess in the comment box. Winner will receive a batch of pumpkin cookies.

My vote is January 28, 2011.

And how was your day?