Was I drinking when I signed up and PAID for this????

Can you say....OMG!!! OPK!!! (Note: OPK=other people's kids) We had the 'dress rehearsal' for the dance recital today. I have never seen so many kids, costumes, cans of hairspray and tears in one place....well...since last year anyway! I can't believe I keep putting myself through this!!! It is so fun to see my precious little Carli and Kylan doing their thing on the stage....but....do all those other kids really have to be there too??? LOL You know you know what I mean....you've thought it so many times!!! Nobody was naughty and the day went rather smoothly....but OPK make me nuts. Why??? I don't know!!! It is something that makes me feel bad, but I can't help it! As a general rule....they are MUCH MORE BEHAVED than MY kids! They listen to me better too! I think I jumped off the cranky bus and landed right in the middle of the high school auditorium! We got there at 3:00 and we were leaving at 7:36. That is a bit long for Miss Carli. Wormetta kept peeking out and then going back in. Carli did really well, but was almost to cry in ever single picture. She was so tired. Kylan sat so nicely for 4 1/2 hours with all the little boys in his class. I was amazed!! I'm so proud of him! I can't brag enought on him!!! No Wilbur....not 1 time!!! Wow!

Soooo....tomorrow is the recital. It starts at 6:00. I'm wondering if there is any slight possibility of me getting in the doors with a margarita in one hand and a beer in the other??? Maybe a sedative.....one made for horses??? Don't worry....I will pack up that HUGE bag of snacks to have backstage and go in with a smile. It's just how I roll. My Momma taught me to suck it up and deal with it! I just had to rant a little bit!!! If you see me sleeping in my seat at the recital.....it is from a horse sedative....let me sleep. I'm buying the video.... I can watch it from home!!!

Life is good today??? Right????

I think I must be livin' right.....

I got a phone call from Annie today that said...."Can I have your kids today???" ....or something like that...that is what I HEARD anyway! She took Kylan and Carli before I could even begin to experience Wilbur and Wormetta. What a wonderful friend she is!!!!

I went to the school and saw Kameron do his report on Albert Einstien. His Momma was so proud of him. He made a really cute little mad scientist! I love that kid!!!



I got a HUGE box from the UPS man today. It was my new Melaleuca products!! Is it normal for me to be excited about cleaning products? I have wanted to do try these products for a long time, but never had the opportunity. I had a great time being home alone to mix my magic potions and try things out. My house may still be messy....but there are some REALLY CLEAN SPOTS here and there! ((grin)) I think I'm in love!!! I need a little cleaning apron to go with all my new spray bottles that I put in my cute little carrier. ((What has happened to me????.....somebody rescue me!!!)) You know what the coolest part is??? These products are totally safe for my KIDS to use!!! Are you thinking what I'm thinking?!?! Yup....I'm thinking I might have a really clean house this summer and all I will have to do is sit on the couch and eat bon bons!!!! ((Dream on Caryn....dream on!!)) It was a nice thought! Toes in the sand.....BOX.... LOL

Kylan and Carli are enjoying some time at the Baptist church. I'm hoping they teach them some really nice things to do for their Momma! Isn't that why we send them to church???? ((Dream on....dream on))

Overall...it has been a great day! I'm sitting at my computer basking in the quietness. All I can hear is Kevin and Kameron playing the Wii and enjoying each other!!! The craziness will arrive again soon....but for now....Life is good today....Life is good today!!!

Today has been calm....ish....

Kylan and Carli went for a play date today. Kylan went back to school for the spring program practice. Carli took a nap. It has been a pretty quiet afternoon! Is this just the break that Mommy needed or is it a little calm before the storm??? 3 kids acting horrible for a week.....I think I needed the break!!!

Tomorrow....kids are out of school and Kylan is still grounded from all things with wheels. I wonder if I should keep a tally sheet to keep track of the number of times he asks for his bike??? Maybe I will do that!!! It might be fun to report on!!!

Hopefully....it will be a calm day tomorrow too!!!

Is he trying to kill me???

Wilbur Roundbottom had a great day at our house today! The Mommy had a 'no happy face' most of the day. I really tried to blame all the chaos on the wind, but I'm not so sure he isn't on a quest to KILL me. Seriously!

We had a MOM's group meeting today. This sweet little get together is a great time for we Moms to fellowship and a chance for the kids to play. Well....Wilbur and his buddy decided to sneak on over to the house (we were at the Baptist church across the street) and get out the bike and Jeep. When I came out, here is what I saw..... The bike and Jeep are parked across the street BEHIND 'Victor's House' and there are NO LITTLE BOYS around. There is a HUGE backhoe in the front yard of Victor's house and a HUGE hole. I begin yelling for the little monkeys and they don't appear. I keep yelling....and yelling.... Finally, another Momma says...."I think they are over there.(pointing).... Sure enough... they were at the neighbor's house banging on the door to see if their boys could come out to play! (Those boys are in school all day!!!! Wilbur knows this!!) I give them both a good talking to and send them off to get the Jeep and bike. Do they ride home and park them??? Oh NO....his buddy takes off in the Jeep across the empty lot and Wilbur takes off on his bike like a crazy man!!! I'm in my yard stomping around and yelling! No kidding....making a total redneck hillbilly fool of myself. All the while my hair is standing straight up on my head from the 800 mph winds that were blowing today! I even made it a point to wear make-up, iron a shirt and wear some new red flip flops today.....Was it worth it??? At this point....I'm thinking NOT!!! I got Kylan in the house changed his clothes and was taking him back to school. (Today was dress rehearsal for the spring program. Which is PROOF that God loves me and wants me to be happy!) Wilbur going back to school was a blessing!!! Believe me! We are getting in the car to leave and I say...."Where is the Jeep?" Wilbur says...."I don't know...." Mommy's Head spins around and I'm not sure I can control myself any longer. I stomp around the yard looking for the Jeep and find it on the OTHER SIDE of the church. Wilbur sneaks into the car and leaves ME to get the Jeep home! (I think he is scared at this point. But, obviously, not scared enough.) My options are: sit in the little plastic Jeep and try to drive it home or push it home. Well, I have very long legs and big feet....I'm not so sure the first option is really an option at all. (Can you imagine??? I'm not sure I couldn't sell tickets to watch that event!) So....I push that Jeep home in gale force winds. The steering wheel kept going the opposite way that I needed it to go.....I was mumbling and cursing....it wasn't fun....I promise.... I parked the Jeep in the garage and informed the car load of children (somewhere in there I added another buddy to the mix!)....I was HIDING the Jeep battery for one week!!!! I, also, added.........I'M MAD!!! (As if they hadn't figured that out.)

Things went well while Wilbur was at school.

The bus drops a load of kids in my yard.....including Wilbur! His buddy Chuck was waiting on him. You see....Chuck is the alter ego of Wilbur's buddy Cade. Cade had been at my house all day.....until WILBUR came home!!! There were 600 kids in my yard and roaming through my house. The last time I see those two boys, they are playing in the bedroom. A bunch of kids came in the house..... (skip a few minutes)..... Ring, Ring.... Hello?....Um, Caryn.....Do you know there are 2 little boys at my store?......WHAT????......DID YOU BEAT THEM???..... Yes, friends.... Wilbur and Chuck decided it would be a good idea to ride their bikes to A Pioneer Place.....Chuck was hungry! Just so you know.....they had to cross the busy HIGHWAY to get there! Lindy asked them.....Did you cross the highway to get here? (I know...obvious question...but give her a break....she was shocked).....they said....NO...we rode on the grass..... Now...Daddy enters the house....I tell him what they have done....he drives to the store....spanks Wilbur's bottom and brings him home....this left Chuck wide eyed and scared to meet up with HIS Daddy..... I, seriously, thought I had stroked completely out!!! (fast forward a couple of hours)

Wilbur and Carli are in the bathtub....Wilbur uses a slap bracelet to attempt an appendectomy on his sister. (that is the only reason I can think of that he would CUT her with a bracelet) His Daddy, once again, has to spank his bottom. He cries and throws a HUGE fit and pukes....yes friends....he pukes....Wilbur is a puker from WAY back. If he laughs too hard....he pukes....cries too hard....he pukes...coughs too hard...he pukes.... At this point....I think Daddy is about to stroke completely out! Bless his heart....glad it's him and not me this time!!! We are ready to end this day!!! Lord....please end this day quickly and painlessly....Amen....

The good news is.....Wilbur went to sleep rather easily sitting on the couch reading books with Daddy!!! The day was ended....the circus music is winding down....de de dedle dedle de de dum dum.... (much emphasis on the dum dum part)

In the middle of the whole mess....Jan Jan called and said....Do you need a break from a kid tomorrow?....why don't you bring somebody to me....I said....I really need a pedicure and a day alone....she said....I will take them BOTH...Praise the Lord for that sweet lady....she is saving my life!!! Life is good today.....

How did I end up here?

I was just in the shower reflecting on my life. Yes...I just now took a shower and it is 2:40 pm......get over it!! LOL If you saw me out around town earlier....The answer is YES....I was not yet showered...but I did take time to brush my teeth and get out of my jammies!! Anyway..... Reflecting.... I thought about the dreams that I left this little town with. I was going to be a fashion designer and live in NYC. I think I know what happened to that dream. My Momma prayed it away!!! LOL How could I leave this little town and say I would NEVER be back and then almost 20 years later live in the same little town and love it? Here is how it happened.... (Just in case you want to know!)

I went off to college at UCO in Edmond, OK. My second year I met Kevin Ruff. He was a cocky cowboy and he was pretty cute. I hadn't really noticed him because I had decided men were evil and should be disposed of! (Isn't it amazing how God can change our hearts?) He saw me walking through the dorm lobby and said....."You look like you need a beer!?!?" LOL That was our first date. (Please do not take advice from Kevin on pick up lines....this could have gone very wrong for him had I not really NEEDED a beer.) We knew pretty early that we were ment to be together. (ahhhh....) Now....lets skip forward several years. We were married in June 1996 in the beautiful Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Spring, AR. Six months later we were in Kansas City and Kevin was starting chiropractic school. While living in KC we decided a city was not where we wanted to raise a family. Off we went.....Y2K didn't scare us....we loaded everything we had in a U-Haul truck and moved 'home' to open a practice. We had plans to start our business and THINK about starting a family. WOW!!! God took over! We opened his practice in February 2000 and added a precious baby boy to the family in November 2000. We didn't wait long, folks!!! LOL

This first addition to our home was Kameron. He was such a blessing. I wasn't sure being a Mommy was all that I had bargained for. I had a very severe case of postpartum depression. (Yes, I realize I told you I would make you laugh....sorry) I spent the first 11 months of my sweet boy's life in a deep and desparate place. The good news is......they make medicine for that!!!! After starting on my medicine and feeling much better, I began to talk about it. A friend said to me....."Caryn, I would have never dreamed you were not holding it together. You have always seemed to be the perfect Mom." That hit my heart. (Once again....God at work.) I decided on that very day that I would no longer HIDE the fact that I am an UNPERFECT Mommy!!! What a glorious day!!! You will be happy to know.....Kameron is a great young boy with very little emotional scars from the first 11 months of his life. All of the scars are from the years since the depression!!! LOL

Kylan came along 4 1/2 years later. He was the most gentle little baby. He played in the floor until he fell asleep. He didn't cry much. He was was simply EASY. Well.....when he was 6 months old something happened..... I found out I was PREGNANT!!!! (HOLY CRAP....this climax is almost too much for me and I'm telling this story!) Yes....pregnant! I laughed and laughed and laughed. Obviously....I did this to keep for crying!!!!! As it turns out....the Nuvo ring is NOT effective when you store it in the fridge like the instructions said. Yup....when I found out I was pregnant that silly ring was still in the fridge!!!! (Please don't do this!) When Kylan was 13 1/2 months old he welcomed his sister into the world! He didn't like her so much! Kylan was Momma's boy (and still is) and didn't want to share me! He found any way possible to get attention thus.....the birth of Wilbur Roundbottom. Wilbur is Kylan's alter ego that busts out of him when it is just too hard to be good. The first thing that Wilbur did was the day after Carli came home from the hospital. Wilbur swallowed an inch and a quarter drywall screw!!! No kidding!!! That is a story I will share in more detail one day, but just know it all came out fine!!! I knew I was in for trouble from that day forward.......and I was!!!

Miss Carli has been a new animal for our little circus! The fact that we have thrown a girl into the mix makes things CRAZY! It seems like little girls have thier own way of doing everything and that way always has a WHINE or a SCREAM!!! It wasn't long until Wormetta Roundbottom was born.

Note: The name Wormetta Roundbottom was STOLEN from Rosalee Eels. She used this name and I loved it! Please feel free to use it too! Wilbur was the name that fit for Kylan!!!

So....here we are. 2010 and I'm living in the circus! That is HOW I GOT HERE! It was with a lot of love and guidance and I know I am right where God wants me to be! I don't think living in NYC is for me....yet....but Kevin promises to take me one day! I'm just a simple Momma, living a simple life, in a simple town, with simple friends and simple family! I love being where God has planted me!!! I just hope he plants me in the SAND on the BEACH several times a year for the rest of my life!!!! Life is good today..... Life is good today!!!!

It's Monday!

Is this really going to be the start to my week? Kylan was left at school and Wilbur came home instead. I don't know how this happens. I send a sweet little boy off to school and he comes home a CRAZY man! He dumped a trash can all over my living room and pestered his sister until he made her cry! I'm beginning to wonder if he is part monkey.........for real.

It was a wonderful weekend with my girlfriends. I don't seem to take enough time to really enjoy them like I should. We did the ladies luncheon and then Carli and I rode to Alva to watch an opera concert. It was fabulous! She watched in awe of many of the participants. She did a fair amount of whispering and drawing too. After Ashley sang, Carli said "That was BEAUTIFUL!!" The voice wasn't quiet, but it sure was sweet. Anyway.... Before the last soloist I was asked to "take her out of the room." I was stunned. I take the traveling circus a lot of places and believe me........we should have been kicked out of more than one location, but we never have. LOL I, totally embarassed, jumped up and took her out. She was so sad that they kicked us out AND that they didn't even let her get her shoes!!! She kicked them off under the chair. So funny! It broke my heart when she couldn't let the whole thing go. She was so sad that they would kick us out. They told me that the girl was super loud and hard on the ears anyway! I have always wondered what it would be like to be kicked out of a bar.........but never in a million years would I have thought I would get kicked out of an opera concert!!! This is one for the record books!!!