Educating for the future....of wrestling.

This week Robin has decided he would like to be a professional wrestler....apparently he is now a fan of Rey Mysterio....who I didn't know existed until this week.

He's had obsessions in the past.

He has been a professional football player, baseball player, but only plays college basketball (the pro's are ridiculous).  He has been a skateboarder, motorcycle rider, ninja expert, surfer, spy, police officer, professional video game player, and all of the Marvel comics characters, and he tends to combine these careers also.  For example, he's been a police officer who is a super hero, but his powers are to surf on the basketball court....it happens.

But apparently he's pretty serious about this wrestling thing.

I have been trying to figure out curriculum for school through the summer and next year.  But now that he's made this decision for his professional career, it helps me to really streamline and focus our education.

This week we've been watching a show we found on Netflix about the top 50 WWE Wrestlers of all time.  Needless to say, I've learned quite a lot about the Wide Wide World of Wrestling.

Sounds like I need to teach him to work a microphone.

He's going to need to look good in his underoo's so....more sit-ups at recess.

Bodyslamming 101.

He's already written his own entrance song....the trouble is how does he perform it live, as he's making his entrance.....that's a stumper.

Katie can teach him about costume design.

Smack talk is vitally important, might have to work on that multiple times a day.

Theatrics....nah, he's got that down okay.

He'll need a catchy name.  He has been asking to change his name to Tripp....Tripp-tastic, Tripp-onator, Tripp-o-lama-ding-dong...

He'll need to learn how to squander his wealth, mostly on velour body suits and gold chains...oh and maybe a cool sidekick animal...he could have a big walrus on a chain and be Tripp and the Big Tusk.

Mastering the jump off the top rope will be a challenge...but we have a front porch with a railing, we'll get creative.

Sequins, sequins, sequins.

We aren't called the Wrestlin' Rhino's School for Misfits for nothin'!

H :)

So, let's talk about vegetarians...

Robin and Katie were in the backseat of the mini.

They were listening to music.  Katie's favorite song is called "Katie", it's by Deana Carter.  It's about a little girl named Katie who is a vegetarian.

Katie asks Robin, "What's a vegetarian?"

Robin answers right back without even a pause, "It's a person who cleans houses."

Katie says, "Oh, but I'm not a vegetarian."

Robin just looks at her and says, "No, but you will be when you grow up."

And that's the end of the talk on vegetarians.

First baseball practice of the year...

Robin's playing in the farm league this year.

Basically that means he finally gets upgraded to the pitching machine.

Sean bought him all the gear.  New cleats, new batting gloves, new socks, a new throw back net, and a new cup. I guess you could also call it an "athletic supporter".  I only had sisters, so Robin is my first experience with a boy...I have a lot to learn.

Katie helped Robin figure out how to put the cup on.....thank goodness she's around.

All of the gear, coats, cleats, and children were dumped in the car and we rushed off to the first practice of the year.

Robin did well on his first outing.  Stopped grounders, snagged pop flies, his throwing mechanics need some work, but he swung the bat well and didn't pretend to turn into a Transformer or anything on the field like last season, so that's progress.

It was about 50 degrees with 25 mile an hour wind gusts tonight...so Katie didn't last too long watching from the bleachers.  In fact, she lasted a total of fifteen minutes and we headed back to the car, where we watched baseball like most North Idahoans do in April....through the windshield.

So, for the next hour and fifteen minutes Katie sat with me in the front seat of the mini and we chatted and watched brother play baseball.

Katie showed me how to work the bluetooth.

We talked about what age she can get her ears pierced.

We chewed gum and blew bubbles.

We made faces in the rearview mirror.

We discussed the value of a good pair of pink cowboy boots.

And if I remember correctly, there was a discussion about chocolate bunnies, why she has brown eyes...and how long it will be until she gets to drive the car.

It's now about bedtime.  Kids are brushing teeth and putting on pajamies.  They've eaten corn dogs for dinner and watched a smidge of the Chanel de Disney.

There's pink cowboy boots on the floor, sweatshirts scattered all over the living room, and an athletic supporter on the dining room table....and one day of baseball practice down.

Katie starts soccer this weekend....that should provide some blogger fodder....so stay tuned!

H :)

Robin the Wonderoo...

Robin's brain never ceases to amaze me.

I have cut his hair since he was a baby.

I used to do it with scissors and then as he got to be a toddler we moved on to electric clippers.

Now, for the most part, it's a very simple process, I don't have a cape, so we've kept the whole ordeal pretty basic.  I turn the shower on, while he strips down to his underwear and plops on a stool in our bathroom.  I buzz his head pretty quickly....taking extra care around his neck and ears and then he hops off the stool, unders are tossed over his shoulder and he hops in the shower.

We've done this routine for a few years now.

I have my hair cut by my "too cute for her own good" friend Sara.  She's young, blonde, and extremely adorable and Robin is, of course is completely aware of this fact.

The other day I told Robin I was going to have Sara cut his hair.

His face went blank, his eyes wide and a panicked look started to set in on his face.

And then he asked me, "she won't have to see my in my unders will she?!"

"Nope Robin, she won't see you in your unders."

Robin the Wonderoo....gotta love that kiddo.

H :)

Goobers...

One of those goober days...don't ask me why...

Goober crazy hair.

Goober gunky teeth.

Goobers on my shirt.

Goobers on my feet.

Goober smeared carpet.

Goober stuck sheets.

Goober spackled ceiling.

Goober on the cleats.

Goobers on the fridge.

Only goobers left to eat.

Goobers in the bathroom.

Goober slobbered seats.

Goobers on the porch.

Goobered sloppy kids.

Goobers, goobers everywhere.

Smile and say, "I don't care."

:)

Bye, Bye Baby...

There are people that write amazing blogs about decorating....like my friend Sharyl, she's at http://thelittlebrownhouse.us/, she has great stuff on buying and crafting and decorating things.....I am not her....in fact, I am so far removed from all of that super cool stuff, her blog is even decorated cooler than mine.  (Nice work by the way Sharyl.) =)

I love looking at people's houses.  I love the thought of living in a Pottery Barn catalog....but my brain just doesn't quite work that way.  I'm a girl of laziness and necessity; a girl of ease and least work, most benefit.  If Jane Austen were to describe me in Pride and Prejudice she would have called me, "a modest woman, of ordinary means, not following the fashion of the time, but rather a woman of convenience."

That being said, I attempted to be all Pottery Barn cool this weekend.....but, all I ended up with was sore calves.

We just sold our black satin baby grand piano.  It left our home on Thursday morning to go live on a nice farm with a large family....where it can run free.  And while the baby grand was too large for the space we tried to fit it into....when it was gone, the space left was pretty big....and then the wheels started spinning....how can I best make this space fit my life?  A few ideas crossed my mind.....installing a pop dispenser or a gumball machine...but in the end I decided to make it practical for homeschool....so we opted for the ever so exciting bookshelf.

Sean decided he wanted to paint and he wanted the whole wall to be red.  I said, "Sure."  I have no idea if it's still cool to have a red wall....or if that is more circa 2004....I figure if I'm somewhere within the style of the past ten years that's close enough for me.

So, my girlfriend and I set out to upgrade a few things.  I bought a can of red paint and a white board for the kitchen....too much change at one time can mess up my whole "convenience" thing...mostly because then I don't know where anything is.

We now have a red wall, a cleaned and organized bookshelf, the living room looks exactly the same even with my three different attempts to move it around.  I have sore calves (don't ask me why), a pile of things to be donated, a white board, bunnies of dust removed, a great time with a girlfriend, a kitchen disaster, no baby grand, paint stains on my hands, and garlic breath.

I think I earned a couple of Pottery Barn coolness points, but I'm still no Little Brown House....but for me, this is progress....and last I checked progress was a good thing.



Before.....

And after....

More work still to be done, guitar needs to be hung on the wall and the book shelf needs more bins (we kinda have a lot more movies than I thought we did...)....but my Pottery Barn effort is complete.

Looking at the pictures I kinda like the "before"....but it is what it is.... "Penelope" the piano is much happier now and the kids and I have more room to dance. :)

H :)

Ode to my mama...

I was glancing at a picture of my parents today and it provided the inspiration for today's blog.  I love my mom, she's great.  She's funny and crazy smart, and usually knows the right thing to do in any situation.  And while I do LOOK like my dad in drag,  I have however noticed there's a couple of my mom's crazy quirks that are seeping thru the genetic gene pool I never really thought I'd see...

• I'm beginning to truly appreciate bacon so crispy it's actually dusty.

• I dance in the grocery store and don't realize it....until the kids say something.

• I value a good fleece vest.

• I like the imaginary break on the passenger side of the car....I use it often.

• I try with all my might to not to swear....but if I do, I make it good.

• Uck....no matter what pants I buy....no matter what style.....they are still mom jeans.

• Everything is better with balsalmic vinegar and olive oil.

• Poptarts are to be toasted and buttered.

• There is no better time to plan for the next meal than while I am stuffed from the last one.

• Don't go to bed angry.

• Smile and nod.

• Thank you notes.....okay, so that one is always in the back of my mind....not so much on the actual writing of them, gotta admit.

• I talk to myself and when the kids catch me, I tell them I'm just singing...

• I will look for my cell phone in my purse, and panic thinking I've lost it, while talking on my cell phone...

• Try to always comb the kid's hair so it looks like no matter what, "somebody loves them".

• Date your husband.

• Wine is good and often necessary.

• Finally, say "goodnight" whenever you leave or hangup the phone...never say "goodbye".  Goodbye can be forever while goodnight is see ya soon.

My dad is great and gave me my quirky sense of humor and large calves, but my mom is responsible for a lot more than I tend to give her credit for....love ya mamasita....oh you too Pops.