Scherer & Sons

Another Shift...or the End of the Mr. Mom Era

OK so for the last three months or better Ross' (who due to service) has really had to switch general roles with me because I'm the working schmuck now and he's at home.
For the boys ...I couldn't have asked for a happier situation. They have grown into the relationship with their dad beyond all of my hopes. Is it and has it been hard? Yes especially financially/ Belts are tightened here close to the point of razor's edge here. But we have been hoping ...and praying...and hoping..and waiting ..that there would be an answer.
And there was.
Ross starts with the Port Authority as law enforcement on Monday. What a relief and a blessing to us that Ross is hired to a place that he was looking forward to being employed by in light of today's economic woes. And you can see the potential progression in the field. It wasn't exactly exactly what we expected but then...who's driving the bus? You have to trust...and honestly therein lies my biggest struggle. My pride..my hard hard head..my expectations of the way things "should" be....gets in the way of what "is". I have a tough time...in fact impossible time living in the "what is"...I mouth the words but my mind is already on to the "what's next" or "what should be"...I may have been born completely devoid of a "what is" gland...I am "what is-deficient"...handicapped.
What does that cost me? Weelll part of the reason that I take so many damned pictures is so that I am reminded of "what is"...it's an effective reminder..one that I need frequently...like dialysis...I need to have a treatment or I go off a cliff mentally...so this is practice...

A good man...a good father..one that does banana bread and bean art...as well as the time honored tradition of pull my finger.. And "show me your muscles"...
Little feet in great big shoes.. And then there's the mugging...I've seen myself in so few f the pictures..I gotta get out from behind the camera..I'm getting pretty good at being persistent when handing Ross the camera.. "Grady..Where's your eye?" "Riiiight deeeeerrr" So key-ute you could just kiss him till he disappears.. Then there's the little middle...taking pictures of him is like trying to take pictures of someone locked in a moving car with a wasp... He wouldn't mimic me...so you can get him to smile by telling him not to tell me a secret... Ewwwwwww Deacon what smells?...don't tell mommy Deacon...don't tell her... Then he laughs himself into the hiccups...."Daaaa-hic Daaaaaaa-hiccup....Daaaaaaddy TOOOOTED!
Then there's my little archeologist... So serious sometimes... He's very in touch with his emotions though....this one here is thoughtful. And this one is "whine until your mom wants to stick a fork in her eye"...you probably recognize this one in your own house...And finally the little moments where we can all sit and BE together...where we're doing something fun....like vegging out with the laptops eating popcorn on the weekend..could life be any better in that moment...? What is....that's where I need to be...just practicing everyday to stay there... Now that's the hard part isn't it?
We get off the Mr. Mom road on Monday at the Two Jobs, Three Kids in Preschool Highway exit. Transitions are always a little bumpy at first but at least with two of us...should be less "Pack Mule Mommy" and more "We're Coming Right Back"...Less "Holy Shit" and more "Have Fun Boys"...Less "I shoulda, coulda, woulda" and more "What is".

Retrospection

Here's a few from the year you didn't see....looking back it has been a crazy year. Full of wonderful things...Ross coming home, retiring from the Army, me getting a job and moving across the country. It's also been full of a lot of changes and chaos....Ross coming home, retiring, me getting a job and moving across the country. You could probably sum up the year in one word..dichotomy. We have been either full stop or full throttle the entire year. Looking back I still cannot believe how much they've grown...truly.
So here's to 2009 as our year...we are hoping for a more steady pace..more even keeled than that of 2008. Ross and I have our words for 2009 too..Mine is DILIGENCE..more of the same only steadier and without stopping. Ross' is DRIVE...and not as the act of operating an automobile but as in to be motivated to complete a task.
Many blessing to all of you guys! May this New Year be your year too!

Ever get the feelin'

that the faster you run the farther the finish line gets? Well...I've been feeling this way alot lately..trying to keep up even sometimes feels like a monumental task...and I don't ask for help well so usually..I wait until I'm a blubbering mess before I finally give in and say...I need some help.
Today was that day...and really it isn't take alot of help just enough to make me feel like I could get over the hump of it..
Thanks Mom..I love you.
OK so I'm really tired...here's some pictures from the hunt today...we had it over at YaYa's...weren't too sure if Coop would be in bed..we found rabbit tracks and half eaten M&Ms ...proof the bunny had shown up..

How do you like the hairdo with this one??

Mom had the eggs hidden all over the house...and she got a tent at the dollar place for ten bucks...and dollar books...who says that you have to be an only child to be spoiled? They had so much fun!! Then we went and played in the snow some more..poor Grady just when he thought he was doing good growing teeth...now we won't let him play because he'll get too cold..

I have some really cool LO's coming up too so stay tuned.
We played in the snow...and my little outdoorsman Deacon...not really impressed with the snow...liked the way it looked but eh...too cold on his lil digits. Coop was a racing madman...laying, jumping rolling throwing...Lo-o-o-oving the snow..go figure..
Did not get a really good one of Grady today ...but the big news is...HE'S GOT TEEFS..couple nubby edges...but by golly in a month or so they'll work on cookies right?
(I have a new camera..and the learning curve is straight up and down...Thanks hon' Happy Mother's Day!)

 

Bit of a funny color on that one...but I love the way it turned out...and Coop has the most blissful look on his face..but it's the first snow Killeen has seen in 30 years and probably the last for another 30...and it was gone before naptime today...we truly enjoyed it..

Cold Day in Hell

OK well seven miles east of hell anyways...here it is April and starting about 4 o'clock this afternoon you're never gonna guess what happened...yup it snowed...and snowed and snowed...pretty much till about 11 o clock pm...didn't stop me from going to a crop however...cause I'm tough that way (yeah right)...but here it is..get a load of this!

Here's mom's house..mostly slush now but there were two of us still scrapping till the end..neither one of us from cold weather places...just knew it wouldn't last..besides we wanted to wait till all the goofballs got off the road before we peeped out again anyways! I think ...think that this may make summer's unbearable heat a little easier...knowing that sometimes in April it does this..Kinda hoping it lasts so that the boys can play a little in it tomorrow.

Although I think it would be funny (but cruel) to hunt eggs in this...so we're moving the hunt to Ya-Ya's house..I'm gonna write a "bunny " letter telling Coop that he couldn't stop here because mommy left the alarm on and he didn't want to wake him up...
Hope everyone out there has a very special Easter!

Dirty Diana and Dr. Evil

OK so after I got the hounds hair cuts. They don't look so much like homeless anymore. well mom and I got to giggling the other night...because of a book...with puppies ...one of which was named Diesel...Mom said "That's what you shoulda named Deacon"...probably...The she popped out with..."or named Stormy that"..Deacon and Diesel...well that's probably true they are a pair those two..
Then I got to looking at Niles...his floofy hair...and mom and I got to gigglin..
Well you look at him..does he not resemble a certain Motown star with the hair?..pretty funny..
"Baby baby...baby don't leave me...oh don't leave me...oh it hurts so bad.."

It's Diana Ross!

Then there's Stormy...
truly the brains of the operation. A dog on a mission...his particular being to tear up anything or steal anything that isn't locked down or require opposable thumbs to access...he's a wicked smart dog with a pechant for naughty doings...he has a sweet streak a mile wide though and never was there a better lap dog..in other words Deacon's karmic twin.. notice the red around the beard...well some of it is age...the rest is what happens to Schnauzers when they eat red jelly beans...

Three and one near miss

Let me apologize first for the sheer length of this blather. I got started and couldn't stop. So feel free to skim...or skip it. You didn't miss much...like soap operas..just catch Friday.

Did some great work today.

I got BOTH boys signed up for the preschool classes. Hopefully they'll both be taken in. They construct their classes by gender and sign up and birthday date. Keeping my fingers crossed. I got there about 35 minutes early. Well because ya know they had said "first come first serve in kind of that hush hush, emphatic, >wink< way. Not to mention that we have been on the waiting list (well Coop has) since last June. So I am waiting at the locked door. (Elbows out people, not to mention the COPIOUS amount of heckling I'd have to take from Ross if I wasn't even competitive enough to get my kids into preschool...)..OK well anyways..this lady comes out and lets me in...and leads me to where they're signing folks up and there's two folks already there. WOW...So I am waiting and this guy says (he's next) " I think you need that paperwork filled out"...and points to a stack..."Thanks"...I pick it up and I had thoughtfully brought my own pen (which I am from now on going to staple to my butt cheek it came in handy THREE times today)..
Well I'm NOT getting out of the line to fill it out..by golly...there might be a rush of faster writers with better penmanship than me and...well..I was going to STAND in line and finish..so I am starting and the same guy (smug little b^$$^%d ain't he?) says "I think you have a number with that stack and you can sit"...I check (I mean who knows the ambitious preschool daddy may be fibbing to see if I'll flinch right?)..but I do ..It's number six. I'm still waiting for the quiz bowl they might have for spots later...I'll totally win that...I studied the handbook and everything..
Long story short it wasn't bad at all...I feel good that both boys will get in...and Deacon wasn't even on the waiting list..It's a 3 day program from 9-2:30, and a good program that I've checked into...perfect for my little guys.
So, then we're off to lunch, Target, bank and the post office (groan)..well I walk in..not having Ross' box closed even because I expected to stand in a long line...I was the only one there...I almost dropped my boxes...never happens and before I could stop myself I yelped "HOLY mother-a-God..REALLY?" and Bob ..obviously from Jersey or a Borrough of New York quips in his New England nasal.."Naaaah we're closed"..."Just kidding"..too funny...he lets me borrow tape (which I forgot..) very very cool.

Thirdly the Community rec guy (gotta keep'em busy until August right) tells me about a five day soccer  camp taught for  3 year olds this summer for an hour..the camp is British based...comes with a "real live" jersey blah blah...very cool...

I checked and there is NOTHING physical for kids three and under during the summer here...NOTHING...I may have to bite the bullet and put him into a couple of gymnastics classes to get him moving with other kids..Deacon too..not that gymnastics is bad....and he's too young to really differentiate but..it's very one sided gender-wise towards girls..and I wanted something a little more evenly mixed...say 70/30 or even 80/20...not 14 little girls and Coop and Deacon..He'd be a distraction/distracting probably..
I'll come up with something...I get pretty frustrated though...because of the poor quality service that I've had on post..I'm a little gun shy to go back there and get mad all over again...in fact I would rather have someone slap me with an old wet dishrag....
The mommies and more group is a little young for Coop, perfect for Deacon..why oh why can't a military town be next to a nice cosmopolitan area like Houston...Austin is about 50 miles away...I know I know NIMB..

Anyhoo...this picture is one I love and have taken of all three lil fellers...they all have the exact same cowlick in the back of their hair up top (thanks Grandma Nancy) and on on the bottom (that one's my fault)..but the back of little kids heads are so cute..little peanuts.

Which brings me to the near miss of Deacon knocking off a very heavy wooden object onto Grady..where it hit the back of his head and then his face onto the tile..
Scared.the.crap.out.of.me.
I could have been much much worse but I think it grazed his shoulder and rolled off. It left a very light, tiny skinned place and a little red spot on his forehead. It could have hurt him badly.And of course I was going through the rake yourself over the coals mother guilt...(Why?!Why?! I'm so stupid..I shoulda..shoulda..shoulda..).
Mom helped and said "Dedra you can't see everything...how would you know...the other boys never got hurt..it was an accident"...
so I moved the piece..and keep checking him (although he was fine in 30 seconds)...but it makes you appreciate how quickly it can go wrong ...even when you are RIGHT THERE..and it was probably just Someone pulling on my ear saying "pay attention"..well you got it now..I'm all ears..

Shameless baby plug

I bought the set of little bibs at Wally world...during my weekly snatch and grab. I just wanted some plastic backed bibs because the little droolers wet right through the regular ones...AAAANY WAYS...I discovered when i got home and washed them that they have some really funny sayings on them...at least I think so..this one...there's one that says "Smarty Pants" and "Babe Magnet"..I kid you not..so it was a good buy...
Then I caught this photo...they are looking alot alike here..don't you think...hard to catch G still when he's on his knees like that he rocks like he's about to drag race down the hall..but here he was hungry and I had to use the flash and his patience was wearing thin...but funny how it turned out he looks like Simba huh?

OKOK I know he looks more like Ross than anybody,...but sort of no?
Oh hell humor me....and enjoy the little photog of my little photogee.

Smelling faintly of Ben-Gay and Coffee

that's what we are today...lemme 'splain. Tuesday early AM..'round 3 am I woke up with a burning sensation in my shoulder and neck...ya know where a lot of people carry their tension..well I felt like I had "pulled" something..it burned from my hairline to my low back on one side..by the time I got up in the morning...I couldn't move my neck..youch!!!
I called mom who brought over the Salonpas (think nitro patches with Ben-Gay jelly on them) and the Percogesic. I took 5 patches and one Perc and in about an hour I could function (THANK YOU Florence Nightengale)...as you all know (or can guess) immobility is not an option with my three crumb-gobblers..as far as they're concerned "There's no tears in parenting...walk it off"...so I made it through yesterday and last night with a little help...I slept long and hard last night with the patches and the Perc..and today...I FEEL like I may make it through..this happened one other time between Coop and Deacon..my first back problem..I so sympathize now with those that have long term orthopedic issues..I feel ya..glad mine are temporary..aiiyy!

Theories: Now I'm not gonna be too deep here but since I've been struggling with my mood..and since I made the conscious decision to put it aside and "fake it till you make it"...my subconscious decided to take the hit and pass it along to my body...I think my muscles started spasming in response to my mind passing the buck...and I think that maybe this is how it works with ALOT of things in a physical sense..not that stress causes cancer...but stress causes you to subconsciously pass the buck and ignore the signs and heightens your risk for all sorts of ailments..

Second: Not enough concentrated physical activity..I mean keeping up with three little boys is alot yes..but I need to do something to raise the body temp and stretch..Ross has heard me say it a thousand times..flexibility prevents low back/ muscular issues..I firmly believe it..now I need to put my money where my mouth is..

OK (Stepping off soap box):...Enough of that..

Thanks guys for the kind support of my little blog here..I do it for me...a running mental journal..but also for you..to get a laugh...keep you updated..let you know that things could be more insane we could come visit right?? I feel supported by you alot..I'm blessed with wonderful extended family and friends that I love dearly!

Oh...the coffee smell..well Deac spilled a little of my coffee in the box of wipes this morning..and I ain't throwing them away (they're expensive right?) so if my chillun come around smelling faintly of Kona blend then you know what happened..

By the way..Grady had his 6 month appointment on Monday (busy week here)...he's 21.2 lbs and 28 inches long. He's in 12-18 month sleepers and clothes..
In comparison with an average kiddo..Deacon is 35 inches, 27.4 pounds and 21 months old..

We have a quarterback, a running back and looks like to be a fullback (Sorry Ross but it takes skill to be on the line too right?).
All the boys got shots..they were super brave (much unlike their screaming mama at their age.."It would've taken five men to hold you down for that" my mom cracked dryly), easily consoled and well behaved..I was proud as punch...

Ms. Vickie is coming this weekend...all the boys (well Coop who remembers) are excited..they'll be happy to try their charms on someone else this weekend..and it will be so good to see her...

I have a good lead on a job that stay at home work ad may bring in a little extra moola but let me keep my hand in as far as education goes...I'll be working on that..

So it's busy here..but I'll try to update with new pictures and layouts soon..
Smooches ever'buddy!

Boom

The artillery has been going since Friday afternoon off and on. Not too sure what they are training for but dang it gets loud at night. Sounds like huge thunderclouds and we are very far away from it. It rattles the light fixtures and windows sometimes. I suppose if I got used to helicopters taxiing and landing all night then I can get used to this noise. It's just different...unexpected and unplanned...not rythmic...so sometimes it's a little unnerving.
I have been going around and around with Coop tonight trying to get him into bed. The problem is I threaten with no follow through...makes my alone time...well not alone...and therefore a sadder me. I need to go to sleep anyways...I would love to bottle what that kid runs on and drink it in my coffee...
Good night sweet readers.

Frakkin Learning Curves

I hate a frakkin' learning curve...in other words I hate screwing something up and looking stupid....I'm sure I'm not the only one but the anxiety over things lately has gotten more intense...

I belong to a message board where there's a group that meets to chat on Tuesday night. Now the design is digital scrapbook and I am a NEW NEWbie in the group...not to mention that I have very little time and energy at this point to devote to a study this intense...I have learned an incredible amount of info from these ladies and truthfully I am BLOWN straight out of the water with their talent...many are designers, artists by trade and I ...well I aint. They are so helpful...but I can't help being a little intimidated to ask questions...and just hope that they'll start spilling grand secret tips for me...I feel like an eavesdropper some of the time...
It's totally not their fault...it's me. And I do ask some questions...so mostly I am just venting and blowing off  frustration about the place I am versus the place where I want to be with my skill...
I have to remember that creativity is a muscle in a way...my strength is often not in my design skills but in my writing...I have to focus to bring good design...

OK so here's what I made for tonight's Tuesday gathering...It's so simple it took everything I had not to touch it ...or add to it...and maybe it's too simple..there were some pictures of the buses leaving that I wanted to add but couldn't find them...double dang it. In any case...click on it to make it bigger right?

Here's the other thing about anxiety...I have to fight it...like for a few weeks there I let myself get so anxious about answering the phone ...I was only answering it for mom and Ross when he called. Not that I have a flotilla of friendly visitors pounding their hot little fists on my door...but I occasionally get a package or a "REPENT NOW!!" leaflet from the Good Book thumpers in the 'hood. BUt for those weeks...if I didn't want to talk...I wasn't answering...and often if I am not encouraged I won't go out.

Anyone that knows me...knows that it's not really me...I enjoy company, fresh air...yada yadada.
But not lately....and worse is making phone calls...I get so would round the axle about it...it's almost become a subconscious thing...like..I'll wait till this time...then that time comes and goes...so I'll wait till another time...then I look up and the place is closed and I never made the call and I beat myself up and promise to do it tommorrow...and I don't...

Now  a couple of days I forced myself...especially after a potential employer called the house and talked for 90 solid minutes with the monkeys in full fledged pandemonium. I guess somewhere in my mind I figured that if I survived that...I could make a freaking phone call...

Oh and I learned to sew tonight...I got my learning curves hanging out all over the place lately!
OK must run...don't call me...or knock on the door..just Email me and let me know your coming..