Clothing

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. ~Mark Twain

My monsters will never have to worry about being naked. Or at least they won't until they grow out of their current sizes.

I just did laundry...one of the most hated chores in the world...at least in this household. Jeans just came out of the dryer and the monsters have so many pair of jeans, I can go almost two weeks without washing denim.

How did this happen? Seriously? I'll tell you how it happened. Old Navy. Yes, Old Navy has these jean sales where jeans are $10. The monsters love Old Navy jeans, so every time they're on sale, I go in and get another couple of pair for each of them.

I have an Old Navy additiction. It needs to stop.

Until later...

Lewis and Clark

The ultimate camping trip was the Lewis and Clark expedition.

~ Dave Barry

Well, the monsters will not be going winter camping this weekend. The troop leadership decided it was just too cold, so they're going to switch out next month's outing for this month's and go snow tubing instead.

I teased the Scout Master last night that he just didn't want to camp out in the below zero weather to get his "Zero Hero" award. He sort of smirked at me and then said that the boys wouldn't have any fun. Yeah, right!

However, not having to send the monsters out in the frozen tundra works for me. I was not looking forward to figuring out how to keep them warm, not to mention both of the monsters were thinking of skipping this month's outing. They however have changed their minds and will be going with the rest of the group on Sunday. It helps that the Vikings have a bye this week too and won't be playing.

Here's hoping next month, the temps are a little more temperate and the Scouts have fun winter camping.

Until later...

Nature's Way

Camping is nature's way of promoting the motel business.

~ Dave Barry

Tonight the monsters have their weekly Scout meeting. As I got things together for dinner, I remembered that this weekend is the annual winter camping outing. The Scouts dig holes in the snow, using the snow as insulation and then spend the night around a fire before crawling into those holes to sleep.

It's -15º at night people! That's dang cold! The monsters don't have sleeping bags that are good that low. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to keep them warm. I may have to invest in a case of handwarmers! LOL!

I'm so glad that Scouts fulfills the monsters' need to camp. It isn't something I enjoy or even think about fondly, even when the weather is nice.

So tonight while they're at their meeting, I'll be trying to come up with ideas on how to pack them for this outing, with an eye on keeping them warm without melting their sleeping holes. I'm getting an eye twitch just thinking about it!

Until later...

One Coming Home, One Taking Off

Bugaboo had a cold, cold night last night. I'm interested to hear how it went when he gets home.

Which should be about the time that Mr. A takes off for his Scout outing. Only it is supposed to be warmer up North where Mr. A is going, then it was down here last night. What's up with that?

I'd best go get Mr. A out of bed and get him motivated to head out.

Until later...

Done!

Wreath sales are over. At least they are for the Monsters. They have sold 52 wreaths each, and I don't care what the Troop wants, we aren't going out to sell more.

Now we just have to deliver those dang things...but that's something to worry about another time.

Until later...

Brotherly Competition

The monsters are really into the whole "I can sell more than you can" portion of wreath sales. Mr. A was quite put out that Bugaboo was out-selling him until this past weekend.

By the time they had to report partial sales on Monday, Mr. A was up by one wreath. He had 26, Bugaboo had 25.

Nonnie? Well, she's had it with the sales. I'll be glad when they're over.

Until later...

Christmas Wreaths

I don't know of any activity that a parent hates more than the constant fundraising that their children are roped into. School, sport, what-have-you.

Well, fundraising time has hit the Nonnie household once again. Bugaboo has his school fundraiser, which I don't actually mind, as it requires that the kids read to earn their pledges. Mr. A has his school fundraiser, which is selling over priced cookie dough. I just used up last year's cookie dough on Sunday. Sigh.

And now both of the monsters are selling Christmas wreaths for Scouts. Bugaboo will be bridging up to Boy Scouts in February, so rather than doing the Cub Scout fundraiser, he's doing the Boy Scout fundraiser.

The Christmas Wreath fundraiser pays for the monsters' dues and for their summer camp fee. So all in all, it makes sense for us to participate. I just hate going out every night for weeks, trying to sell up to their goals.

And the goals...jeez. Each of the monsters has to sell 46 wreaths to have their fees paid, and if they sell 51, they get a "free" waterpark weekend, paid for by the troop. So our goal is to sell 102 wreaths by October 27.

To that end, we've been out every night this week for at least an hour, selling door to door. I don't like going out before 6:30, because I don't like interrupting family meal times, and by 7:30, it is too dark to continue.

Today is Wednesday. We've sold two days and combined the boys have sold 10 wreaths. Yee-haw! Sigh. We'll be heading out after dinner again.

Until later...

Friday!

I woke up to 40° temps in the house this morning...at least it felt that way. Fall has arrived in the Hinterlands with a vengeance. I'm planning on actually breaking out the long pants for work today.

The monsters have had a good first week at school.

Bugaboo really likes his teacher, which is a wonderful thing, given how horrid his teacher was last year. There hasn't been any problem with homework yet...and yes, I know that there have only been two days of school for him, but he's coming home and reading his book...probably more than is assigned. That makes my heart happy, as I've tried for years to get the monsters to read for pleasure. Bugaboo is enjoying patrol too, and he's standing there like a new recruit, at attention and very focused. I wondered how that would be, but then it IS only the first week!

Mr. A seems to be enjoying his classes too. He's got French this semester, and they had to pick names...why their own names aren't good enough, I'm not sure, as it just seems weird that you need a different name to learn a language, but then I'm not the teacher. Mr. A picked out Samuel. He wanted Raphael, but someone else got to it first. Homework for Mr. A has been light, although last night he had three subjects to get done, and only got to two before practice. He says he'll finish the other in Study Hall tomorrow. We're going to have to buckle down a little better I think as the year progresses, so he gets it done at home.

Today is another day in the trenches for me. I've got a feeling that I'll be bringing home work this weekend, but we'll see what happens.

Until later...

Thursday in the New Year

It's Thursday here...okay, it's Thursday everywhere...and that means that it is a busy day for the Nonnie household. I've got to get things together to send to the monster's dad's for the weekend, get homework checked, follow up on chores, the whole gamut.

Tonight is also practice night...for both of the boys. I'm so glad that they're both practicing at the middle school. It's hard to get them to two different places at the same time.

Bugaboo has been loving football this year. I think it is because this is the first year of tackle and his body size makes for an excellent tackle. He is actually a crucial part of the team, and I don't know if he's ever felt that way before this year.

His first game is on Saturday. I'm hoping it will be a good one for him. X has to work on Saturday (all Saturdays for that matter) and won't be there. I'm both happy about that and a little sad. Happy because X won't be yelling at him from the sidelines. I hate that. Hate it. He does his best, and while it might not be the best that X wants him to do, it's good enough for me. He'll improve as the season progresses I'm sure. I'm a little sad, because X won't be there to yell at him. Waffle much? Why yes, I do. I'm sad about that, because it has always seemed to me that Mr. A gets the bulk of X's attention and Bugaboo is left with the crumbs. It'd be nice if he had his dad's attention during these games.

Mr. A is playing fall ball this year. Not with the team that he played with this summer, but a conglomeration of that team and the "A" squad. It'll be interesting to see the boys from the "A" squad and see how Mr. A measures up. Given how competitive Mr. A is, I'm guessing he'll do some improving this fall, so he measures up, should there be any gap.

I'm hoping that work is quiet today, so I don't end up with a lot to bring home...but we'll see. As it is, I'd best get myself motivated to leave for the day.

Until later...

September!

It's been a busy summer here in the Hinterlands...I've not had a moment to spare what with baseball and everything else that the monsters have been involved in. That meant that Notions went by the way-side for me, but that's okay...family is much more important.

With September comes the start of school. The monsters will be home from their dad's at 8 tonight, and life will get back to normal. Mr. A starts school tomorrow, but Bugaboo doesn't start until Wednesday.



Also with September comes a return to MPMs for me. So without further ado, here's this week's menu.


Monday ~ Monsters not yet home.

YOYO ~ I'm not sure what's in the fridge, but I'll be eating it.

Tuesday ~ Mr. A's first day, football for Bugaboo

Pizza ~ Mr. A's pick. It'll be homemade sausage and pepperoni.

Wednesday ~ Bugaboo's first day

Chicken nuggets and fries ~ Bugaboo's pick

Thursday ~ Football & Baseball Night

Spaghetti

Friday, Saturday & Sunday ~ First School Weekend

Just me for the weekend. Bugaboo has a game on Saturday, Mr. A has a double header on Sunday. I'll probably eat whatever leftovers are in the fridge.

So that's what's up for this week. Stop by this week's MPM to see what others are planning. Who knows? You might get some good ideas for yourself!

Until later...

Last Week Of School

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

~ B.F. Skinner

So this is the start of the last week of school for the monsters. Overall, it's been a good year, but each has had their personal highs and lows. We'll see how much of their education survives this summer.

And with the start of the summer, there are changes to our lives. The boys will begin their summer living arrangements on the 8th. That means that they live with their dad from Sunday evening until Friday afternoon. This was the compromise that we came up with when we got divorced. This keeps the boys from jumping from house to house during the school week, but causes a lot of loneliness on my part. Oh, I can't deny that the first week or so, I'm excited that I don't have to cook for two endless pits, that I don't have to harp about chores or homework, but by Week 3, I'm ready for them to come back home where they belong.

This being the last week of school, also means the end to huge planned meals. Cooking for one isn't always fun, but I'll be attempting it.

This week's menu is as follows:

Monday ~ Scouts for Mr. A

Alfredo Bake We didn't get to this last week, so it's on the menu again.

Tuesday ~ Baseball Night

Monster's Mexican Meatloaf

Wednesday ~ Baseball Night

It's lasagna tonight...I'll post the link when it gets posted.

Thursday ~ Baseball Night

YOYO - You're on your own!

Friday, Saturday & Sunday ~ First Summer Weekend

My plans are to go to my parents' place and give the monsters their birthday present...yes, I know that their birthdays are two and three months away, but I think that this gift is worth giving to them early. So with going to my parents' place, that means I don't have to cook! WhooHoo!

So that's what's up for this week. Stop by this week's MPM to see what others are planning. Who knows? You might get some good ideas for yourself!

Until later...

Wii Belong...

♪♪♪Whatever we deny or embrace
For worse or for better
Wii belong, Wii belong
Wii belong together♪♪♪

Ha! There I go again with pulling the songs outta my arse when it comes to post titles...

Last week as I was happily minding my business running through the various blogs I check daily, what to my wandering eye should appear? Not a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, I'll tell you that! No, Mir over at Want Not had listed a Wii package that Circuit City had for sale on their web page (as in, not available in stores). For way too much money, you could get a Wii console, two remotes, two nunchucks, Wii Sports and two other Wii games.

I caved.

The monsters have been begging for MONTHS...pleading desperately for me to buy them a Wii. I contemplated it for a short time at Christmas, but turned from the dark side and purchased other "things".

Then my mom started in on me..."Buy those precious, perfect grandsons of mine a Wii! I wanna play it." LOL!

And like I said I caved.

The monsters have birthdays a month apart from each other at the end of summer, so when I cave in this manner, they share the item as a combined birthday gift.

"Wait!" you say, "If their birthdays aren't until the end of summer, and you bought it now, how are you going to keep it quiet?"

Well, that's the thing. Remember my mom? And her pitiful whining telling me that I should buy the monsters a Wii? I sent it to her house. AND...AND I gave her permission to open it and play it now.

The Wii shipped Friday. It's currently in the same state as I live in. My parents should have it later this week. I figure that they'll spend all weekend bowling or golfing.

♪♪♪Whatever we deny or embrace
For worse or for better
Wii belong, Wii belong
Wii belong together♪♪♪

Do you suppose Guitar Hero Encore has any Pat Benatar? Of course, I'm more of a...



than a Guitar Hero, if truth be known.

Until later...