We interrupt this school day for a STINKY situation....

First of all, be thankful that there is no "scratch and sniff" option on Blogger, otherwise I'd be tempted to add it just to give you a whiff of what we were up against on Monday. Well, it didn't start on Monday. Last Sunday I noticed a wierd stink in the laundry room and asked my men to investigate. Turns out under our fridge was ***DISGUSTING DETAIL ALERT!!!***a dead baby mouse. Thankfully, I was in the back curling my hair and never had to see the thing. Again, another moment when I'm thankful beyond words to have a great husband and a house full of boys!! I thought the solution was resolved, but Monday morning, a horrible horrible smell was back in full force in the laundry room. I had the boys look under the washer and dryer, but they didn't see anything right off. I think they were quite disappointed that there was a much bigger dead mouse or snake or something lurking under the washer and dryer.



My plan was to stick like glue to our schedule for the morning to get all of our schoolwork and jobs done around the house. But I just COULDN'T do it. The stink was debilitating. I couldn't concentrate! So, I asked Jonathan and Jeremy to move the washer and dryer away from the wall to see what we could see. My plan was to have Jeffrey and Josiah just continue on with their schoolwork. Yeah, right. Like they're going to sit and do math and handwriting while large appliances are moved around, flashlights and tools are pulled out. So it was all hands on deck for the investgation!

Notice the bandanas and kleenex up the nose on all of us. It was really the only way we could stay in the room. It was a wonder that our eyes didn't water so much the we couldn't see! After a little investigating, we discovered the the stink was coming from the drain in the floor under the washing machine. Jonathan went outside to where the drain empties from the house.

Then Jonathan and Jeremy rigged up a way to stick the water hose up through the dryer vent and down the drain inside to wash all the junk (and again they were hoping for something dead!) outside. It was quite an ingenious system really.

Here's Jeffrey putting the hose in the drain inside.

Then they rigged up a "saxophone swab"-inspired rig with a plumbing snake, coat hanger and an old rag, to "swab" the inside of the pipe in case there was something there that the water wasn't getting out.

Then we followed up with baking soda and vinegar...

Here's the fizzy coming out the drain. There was actually quite a bit more "gunk" that came out before this picture was snapped.

We rinsed it out again w/ water. Then another soda/vinegar and more water. I mopped the floor w/ bleach and water and the boys moved the washer and dryer back. And guess what....no more stink! We never saw anything obviously dead come out, but there was certainly something rotten or moldy or dead or SOMETHING! But, oh happy day, we don't smell it now! And it hasn't come back!

It was one of THOSE nights!

Last Friday night, on the spur of the moment, Michael and I decided to go out to the movies to see the new GI Joe movie. After he got home from work, Michael was looking on the internet and watching the trailer of the movie. We joked about going to see it and then telling the boys if they could or not. Jonathan said "You guys go out, we'll babysit". Well, as staunch "matinee-ers" (or cheapsakes, as the case may be!) we shutter at the thought of what it would cost to go see a movie on a Friday night. I mean WHO pays $9 a ticket to see a movie???!! But then, I remembered I had two free movie tickets, AND a coupon for a free small coupon. So, after checking w/ Jonathan and Jeremy and confirming that they wanted to babysit, we headed out. The boys were really WANTING to babysit. Does that mean they were wanting $$$$?? I'm sure that was certainly a factor, but Jonathan said that he really likes babysitting. So, we took off. The movie was fine...actually the movie reminded me that I almost NEVER go see those kinds of movies. Lots of cars blowing up, turning over, buildings blowing up, shooting, etc. And MAN was it loud! I told Michael on the way home that it was too much visually. Too much stuff going on. Turns out, that's the part the he loved! I'll take the "chick flicks" everytime....

Anyway, while we were at the movies, Michael got a call from the boys asking (ready for this??) where the new box of dishwasher soap was so they could run the dishwasher before bed. So sweet! I mean it's what we do every evening....close the chicken coop, feed the cats, get the coffee ready for the morning, start the dishwasher...I just didn't know how much the boys saw or noticed about that. We were talking on the way home (which was about an hour later than planned b/c Michael lost his phone in the movie theatre and we had to deal w/ all of that) about how great the boys are. Then, when we got home everyone was asleep in bed, the house was picked up and this note was on the microwave...

It reads "Night mom and dad. love you. J4 PS We did a devotional". Is that the absolute sweetest!! They did a devotional, like we do almost every night when we're together. They did it WITHOUT Michael and I!! I tell you, some days I just about burst w/ pride in those boys! This was one of THOSE nights!

The fun day continues...

So, after the fun time at the Dallas Cowboys training camp, I took the boys to the San Antonio Children's Museum. Believe it or not, we haven't been yet. And after going, I'm wondering what took us so long!! From now on, we're taking company w/ children here when they visit! It was so much fun! The first room we walked into was a bubble room. There was a tire dipped in bubble solution that you could raise to put yourself inside a bubble as well as two big tables filled w/ bubble solution and all kinds of wands.

Josiah inside the bubble.

Jeffrey as "the boy in the bubble".

Jeremy giving it a whirl.

More bubbles.

In another part of the museum, here is Jeffrey as a large mama bird.

And Josiah seeing how he "measures up" to David Robinson. Man that guy is TALL!!!!

There were also things to drive....a plane..

a front loader that even dumps real rocks...

and a covered wagon. There was a prarie part of the museum that was set up with an old grocery store, a place to dig in sand for wagon parts buried in the sand...

"milk" a fake cow...

and sleep like a ranch hand.

There were lots more other fun exhibits upstairs, but when we headed downstairs, I was blown away! There was a HUGE grocery store for kids to "shop". I was so impressed with the healthy focus of all the foods and the things on the walls!! There was no junk food at the store....well, there was ice cream, but WHO considers THAT junk food?? And of course, the store was an HEB!

Check out that produce section!

Look at this cool sign over the bread "aisle".

And though it may be admitting to my near-"hippiness", I have to say this was probably my favorite thing at the museum. I've never seen anything like it! It was a vending machine filled with ONLY natural and organic products...way cool!! Of course, we got some stuff out of it!

And look at these signs in the produce section! It's AWESOME!!

Then at the "Kids Cafe" area near the grocery store there was an entire section that showed kids how to make balanced nutritious meals and signs like this one encouraging them to drink lots of water....

I was so thoroughly impressed with the healthy-living focus of the museum (as if you couldn't tell.....I told you, I'm wierd!)

Also downstairs there was this fun puzzle of the USA to put together. One cool thing about this puzzle is that the puzzle pieces are in the actual shape of the state. It was great and the boys did great putting it together.

Jeffrey driving the trolley near the entrance of the museum.

After the museum, we met Michael for lunch since we were downtown. We ended up at Pizza Gut... um I mean Pizza Hut, a couple of blocks from his office. It turned out to be a very fun lunch. The restaurant was very uncrowded. Love that! They also had a Ms. Pac Man/Galaga game that you could play for 50 cents. Michael challenged the boys to a tournament. The fun ensued! But it didn't take long for the boys to cry "foul" when they realized how good Michael was at the game. Growing up in the 80s pays off!! :-)

Jeremy's intent on the game.

Josiah waiting his turn.

I love that guy!!

And I LOVE days that we get to spend together just hanging out and being a family together!!!! Memories!!!

*By the way, Michael actually DID show up at work this day, we just got to enjoy him for part of it!!

Are you ready for some football????

Last Wednesday morning, Michael took some time off of work and took the boys to the Dallas Cowboys training camp at the Alamodome. (I went shopping at Whole Foods...everyone was happy!:-) )

Michael got this football for Josiah at the training camp! Needless, to say, he loves it!

How about that shopping cart!!

The motor to the cart. You can do some serious shopping with this baby!!

Here's some photos from inside the camp

Jeffrey and Josiah said they liked best watching the kick off return teams. Jonathan and Jeremy enjoyed watching the offense run drills. Josiah said (with a hint of disgust) "Tony Romo got aaaaallllllll the glory!" It was a hoot! Michael quickly reminded him that he also gets aaaaallllll the blame when things go wrong!

It was just the beginning of a very fun day....stay tuned for more!

It HAD to happen....

A couple of nights ago, Michael was going to drive down to get the paper and asked Jonathan or Jeremy if they wanted to go. Jonathan said he would like to. Then Michael tossed the keys to Jonathan and said "C'mon lets go". You should have seen the wide eyes in the kitchen!! And it wasn't just MINE! Jonathan had to pick his jaw up off of the floor and then try to not RUN RUN RUN to the CRV. Play it cool, ya know. Have I mentioned before that I'm so glad to have such a great husband! This I add to the long list of things that the boys wouldn't do if it was up to me. It's not about my sense of denial of the fact that they are old enough to do things like shave and drive (well, not totally) but more of the fact of "Is this OK?" "Is this against the law?" "Is this safe?" Oh, well, that's why I'm married! And Jonathan was thrilled at this chance!!

At about this point (after about 100 times of me asking (or begging!) Jeffrey and Josiah to "PLEASE step back away from the car!!!") Jeffrey flipped the rear seat in the van so he could sit and look out to watch the action. He plopped in the seat and said "Now, THIS is going to be entertaining!" to which Josiah responded "Jeffrey, c'mon he's just a beginner, cut him some slack" It was so funny!

Well, they made it to the mailbox AND back!! With no damage to anyone or anything....

Love this pic!!

So afterward, Michael asked Jeremy if he wanted to go and drive. Jeremy's emphatic answer "No way!" He's just afraid of making a mistake....we need to work on that one! And later that evening, Michael informed the boys that he has no intention of the boys driving anywhere other than to the mailbox and back for a very long time. We were telling them about the crazy amount of money that it costs to insure a teenage boy, much less TWO teenage boys. They had no idea. And truthfully, I have no real idea either, I just know it's gonna be LOTS! So for now, the longer we wait the better!! That evening while we were doing our family devotional, Josiah was praying and prayed "Jesus, please give us the money we need to pay insurance for Jonathan and Jeremy when they drive." Guess it doesn't hurt to start praying NOW! :-)

It is FINISHED!!

August 1st ended one entire year of the boys not having soft drinks of any kind, and almost 8 months of no fast food. We drove back home from Memphis in time to make it back to Wings and More to end the fast. Michael handed the boys their reward at the restaurant and then let them order their drinks! You should have seen the smile on their faces when they told the waitress "Dr. Pepper" when she came for drink orders!

Now the trick is to not order Dr. Pepper everywhere! They were all pretty amazed at how little Dr. Pepper it took to satisfy them! We've decided to buy a small six pack of Dublin Dr. Pepper (DP made in Dublin, TX w/ Imperial Cane Sugar instead of HFCS) for home and make it last a month or so and still not order sodas at restaurants very often.

They also decided to do another fast after being off for a month or so. And this time they've decided to up the challenge...not sugary drinks at all (i.e. no lemonade or Hi-C, etc.). I'm so impressed! Way to go guys!!