Is tailgating really part of the job? As I was sitting in mass with “No David”, it was hard not to be bitter. We could have gone to mass last night as a family, but there were “too many good games to watch.” Lance couldn’t go this morning because he would miss the tailgate. (Of course, he would have still made it to the game with time to spare.) Sunday night mass is only a last resort because it interferes with Sunday dinner and getting ready for the week. I love football, I love my kids, I love my husband, but these don’t seem to mix well Sunday mornings during football season.

There is a book called No David that I inherited over the summer from the person who was cleaning out her house by bringing over bags of junk she didn’t want. The bags sat in my car until I could make it to the donation center and Goose saw the book. Turns out that he had already read the book and loved it. Now everyone in the house loves it. It’s a fast read and something you don’t mind reading over and over. The story is simple: a little boy is constantly doing something that his mother doesn’t want him doing.

This is my life. I feel like all I do all day long is tell Snax NO. He is into everything. I had to make a new house rule about how to throw away your gum. Some people might think it’s because I am an obsessive freak, but nope, it’s because Snax goes into the garbage and chews it himself. The only break I get from him is when he is sleeping and even then, it’s not much of a break because he is such a light sleeper. I can’t believe that the fourth kid in this house is the light sleeper. I’ve never told anyone to be quiet because we’re a loud house even when we’re not mad. But for this kid, people can’t even shut their doors normally. He is constantly hurting himself from falling off chairs. This kid climbs on chairs so that he can steal food from whoever might be eating at the time. And if you make him mad, he throws something. It’s like everything he does is a big, fat NO.

I hate constantly telling him “NO”. I try redirection, but this kid is stubborn. Cute, but very stubborn. He is much more curious than the other boys were at this age and there is no resting when he is around. He is the child that make me rethink the rules on television. He is the one that made me so very tired this week while trying to teach the other ones. He is a mischievous little boy and I love him so very much. I just wish I didn’t have to stop him from doing so many things.

I LOVED last week’s episode of Mad Men. Love Don. Love Peggy. Love them together. As best friends. Loved when she told him off and when he yelled right back at her. Lance thinks Don might be emerging from the hell hole he’s been in all season, but I think he can still fall further.

Tonight I sort of parked in front of some guy’s car so I could run into Lance’s fantasy auction to say hello to two guys who flew in from out of town. One from New York, the other from Hawaii. The guy I blocked wasn’t amused and told me he didn’t care how many rug rats I had, he didn’t want me blocking in his car. I told him to “eff off.” I almost felt bad for blocking his car, then he insulted my kids. What an ass.

Goose was back at the eye doctor this week. The doctor said to keep him home until his eye wasn’t red anymore. Lance thinks it’s fine. On the other hand, I feel he needs a bit longer. We’ve finished two books, done math facts, religion, made cookies, art and just had a blast. I don’t think the BH wants him to go back to school either. Maybe this eye thing could work in my favor.

This morning I sent Squirt to school on the bus, only to have the bus not pick him up. So he started his day by arriving thirty minutes late to school. Then I got a phone call because he was out of dress code. He wasn’t wearing his dorky uniform shorts. They didn’t let him return to class until we took him new shorts. I hate when there are rules I just don’t care about it. It’s hard not to let the kids know I don’t agree with them or care about them. He had a really bad day yesterday, then was bummed about today, so I decided the only thing that could make it better was Double Dave’s pizza buffet. The kids so loved me tonight!

Goose lost another tooth last Sunday night. The only problem: he couldn’t find it. I think he swallowed it, but am not that interested in finding out. Regardless, he was so upset that he had nothing to leave the tooth fairy. He wrote a sweet note explaining the problem and got his cash.

It’s official…I am a football widow. Lance is gone again for his fifth and last fantasy draft. Then there are the Texans games, the games he Tivo’s, the college ones, the players, the articles and so on. And I can never really complain because it’s “part of the job.”

We took the boys to the UT game on Saturday. We had been planning this family event all summer. It would be the Baby Hulk’s first football game. Then Lance didn’t get tickets. I was so upset, but not so upset that I was willing to pay for these tickets. Not to be a total Texas snob, but this was just Rice we were playing. I realized that it would only cost more once we were playing better teams, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t paying for tickets to this game. Finally, Lance came through late Friday night with tickets! So we found a babysitter for the baby and took off.

The Baby Hulk was a total bust. I hate when that happens. It’s not that I expected him to be into the entire game, but five minutes would be nice. We had to bribe him with food to get him to watch the game. And let’s be clear, the other boys were just as bad. Between one texting and the other one goofing around, this is their last game for the year. I know Lance and I weren’t watching entire football games at the younger boys ages, but we at least watched part of them and cheered. Lance even said that our little nerd will probably end up at Rice. Fabulous. Anyway, we did get some cute pictures so that one day we can lie about what fun we had at the game.

The Baby Hulk- ready to cheer!

An Inspired Game

Mom and her boys

Need some cheap shelving. Go to IKEA. Need a cheap couch. IKEA. Want to decorate your home every three years, go to IKEA. Everything at IKEA is super cheap. Everyone knows this. So why is it that I go there and find the one item that is going to cost me $900? And we STILL have to put it together. Because of course, everything at that damn store has to be put together. I have finally found some shelves that I can afford without going into savings for them. And they are fine, I like them enough, but it pisses me off that I went to IKEA thinking I would find cheap shelves like everyone else does and I didn’t.

HEB does this to me every time. I used to give Lance shit about coming home with a new dressing, marinade or sauce that we would never use. Now that I have taken over most of the grocery shopping, I am the guilty one. Last night he showed me everything I have purchased in the last three weeks. Of course, all these marinades are about 6.99. Buying two or three of these a week does not keep me within my budget. At least mine have all been really good, (with the exception of the watermelon vinaigrette). I can’t count how many bottles I have thrown away that Lance purchased thinking we’d use them.

For the past two nights, Goose has gone to sleep with a book. It’s a reasonable sized book, not a true chapter book like we read together, but a book that would take two to three nights to read aloud. This morning, I caught him with the book and a flashlight. I didn’t start that until I was in my teens. Is this a good thing or not?!

For Today…August 30, 2010

Outside my window…it’s raining. Baby Hulk started his weather calendar today, so drawing rain was a nice change, I suppose. The yard guys are cutting some trees and Baby Hulk is very concerned.

I am listening…to Motion City Soundtrack, The Future Freaks Me Out. Over. And. Over. And. Over. I get loving a song, but this has been a current favorite of both Snax and the BH for quite some time. I am OVER it!

I am wearing…longhorn workout shorts and a black top. I am waiting for the baby to nap so I can grab a quick shower.

I am loving…my time with BH and Snax. Mostly. I miss my other boys, but we have had a good week alone. We’re getting into a routine and Baby Hulk astounds me with his smarts!

From the kitchen…I continue to thrill myself with how organized my kitchen has been. I have used supplies from the freezer, pantry and kept to a menu. Hopefully, we’ll stay on track this week. I would like to try a new dessert and send some cookies to Paul and Brian.

I am so excited…that football is back!!! I LOVE college football. In my opinion, no sport compares so it’s been a long winter and summer without my sport. Lance and I are taking the kids to the game on Saturday. The shower curtain comes out this week!

One of my favorite things…our new pencil sharpener. We just bought an electric pencil sharpener. Why did it take us so long? Poor Squirt having to use that tiny sharpener all these years.

I am grateful…that Goose seems to miss me as much as I miss him. He knows just what to say to make my heart melt.

I am thinking about…my breakfast in bed this past weekend. Thanks, Baby!

From the learning rooms…today we had music and the boys were so cute. By music, I mean we played instruments and sang songs over and over. I’ve already decided that BH is a math genius. Maybe not a genius, but he seems to be pretty smart. I cheated and started school last week while waiting for some books to come from the library. I just wish Goose were with us!

I am praying…for my friend’s daughter.

Kobra…talks nonstop about snacks during daily mass. It is so loud too. I am promising him anything just to get him to be quiet.

Remembering when…Squirt used to build things. A few years ago, I decided to make each child a scrapbook, (I only finished two), and went through tons of old pictures of Squirt. There were so many pictures I had taken of his creations, similar to below. He loved building things, just like the boys do now.

A few plans for the week…swimming, ice cream with friends, play dates, LONGHORN GAME, lunch with Goose, maybe Lance and I can fit a date in there this weekend!

At recess, if you look closely, you can see his missing tooth.

A picture thought I am sharing…

My little Longhorn and his sidekick

Another milestone was hit today in Casa Zierlein. And it wasn’t Goose screaming and crying in the dentist’s office. The ladies kept trying to explain away his tears, but I just didn’t care. I wasn’t embarrassed, (slightly annoyed, but not embarrassed). There are few things my kids can do to shame me. Did I want him to look like a big cry baby? Not really. It’s one of the few things little kids do that really grate on my nerves. But there we were, him screaming before they even got near him. Finally, they had to take him to the back for his X-rays. And the things is I just don’t understand his fear. Why? Because at age 40, I’ve never had a cavity! Hopefully, this kid has my teeth.

ANYWAY…the point of this post wasn’t about my poor guy hating the dentist, although he did finally calm down. My baby boy lost his first tooth!!! And he wants a tiny rocket ship under his pillow. Lance said tough, he gets money. I am fighting the urge to run out and buy a tiny rocket ship because I don’t want him sad in the morning. Lance also says that he only gets four quarters. I got at least four quarters thirty-four years ago. Marivi just told me they gave her son five bucks. I’m somewhere in between, but of course, I have no cash. I may be calling Jessica for help tonight! Congratulations my sweet boy on losing your first tooth!

For those that don’t read the comments: Lance came through with a five for Goose! I would hate for anyone to think he is cheap because he isn’t. I am the cheap one on most things.