An Iowa Mom

Placing All Bets

Big Daddy is on his way home from being out of town for a good part of the week.  He just called and said the most romantic, sweet, kind, loving, generous and out of this world comment to me.

And I'm going to share it with you.  Because I'm all private and reserved when it comes to our relationship. 

Aren't you dying to know what he said?  The sweet nothings he whispered through the cell phone and into my ear?  The words that made my heart flutter and butterflies to take flight in my once flat tummy?

He said ...

"Tomorrow ... we're going ... {brace yourself} ... POOL SHOPPING!"

Oh yeah.

All the nagging, complaining, pressuring, begging, eye batting, threats have finally gotten through to him.  He said the words.  He took the first step.  And nothing out of the ordinary even happened while he was gone to guilt him into it.  Well, nothing that I told him about anyway.

And now, because I'm all appreciative, glad and satisfied that he is willing to go LOOK ... and TALK with someone about the possibility of someday purchasing a pool ... I'm going to ask you to take bets ...

Yes, bets.

How many of you think that we'll leave the pool place with a pool and date to have it installed ... and how many of you think that Big Daddy will stick to his guns and just LOOK and TALK and dangle the stinkin' thing in front of my face until I'm sick?

Really.  I want to know what you think.  You guys are usually very accurate, and I want to get a feel for what I'm in for.

Unless you think I'm a spoiled brat that eventually gets everything she asks for.  If that's what you think ... then keep your comment to yourself.  Big Daddy reads this blog and I don't want him to get any false misconceptions about his loving wife and mother to his children.

Deal?

We're going tomorrow in the early afternoon ... of course, I'll be sure to let you know the outcome. 

Unless I can't see through my tears.

Soul Mates, It's True!

I don't know if you all can remember back to the week before last, when I was searching for a new camera, because mine bit the dust and I can't live without one.  Never mind the fact that I always find it too much trouble to pull it out and snap some photos when I should, but I'm trying to do better in that department.

Anyway, after making my decision with the help of Mark, I decided to start working on Big Daddy.  I gave him a ring and nonchalantly asked if there was a Best Buy between where he was and where he was going.  He confirmed there was and I pleasantly asked him to stop in there and call me, because there was a camera I was going to beg and plead with him for the next couple of days to purchase for me, and I at least wanted him to see it.

He said he'd call.

And he didn't.

So, being the persistent bitch that I am, I call him again.

He says he forgot.

I got mad. (Remember, I'm a bitch like that)

No joke, about 10 minutes later, Big Daddy rolls into the driveway.

With a camera.

The exact one I wanted.

And I never once mentioned to him which one I had decided on earlier.

I'd say that's love.

Soul mates through and through.

And for those who lost faith in Big Daddy over the whole chair thing ... I'm sure it's restored now, right?

However, any bets on how long it actually takes to get my chair?

Always A Price To Pay

Last weekend, our schedule was full.  And by full ... I mean, FULL.

Jake had a double header in Muscatine on Saturday and well as his first flag football game on Sunday afternoon.  Drew had his first soccer game Saturday morning and his flag football game on Saturday afternoon.

Big Daddy and I would be going in opposite directions the entire weekend. 

And then the rain started. 

And it rained and rained.  And then rained some more.

Soccer was canceled.  Then football.  Then finally baseball.

We were given a gift.  A gift of a weekend.  It would have been a crime to waste it.  Right?

So I suggested Big Daddy paint the kitchen and living room.  The colors have been picked for months.  The new curtains and rod for the living room were waiting patiently in the garage.

He moaned.  Then groaned.  Said "no" about 15 times.

Then I did what every woman should do when their husband says they won't paint when they really really want them to.  I fell on the floor, kicked my legs and flailed my arms, opened my mouth as wide as I could and tantrumed like a 2 year old.  Wait, more like a 3 year old.  I think the art of this tactic should be taught in a premarital seminar that every wife-to-be must attend.

I just happen to be lucky that I've had so much experience with these types of tantrums, that I've got it mastered.  Down to a science, actually.

And Big Daddy painted.

Then he hung my new curtain rod.

And the curtains I've had purchased and waiting to be hung don't work.

Not to mention that Big Daddy treated himself to a little somethin' somethin' for all the time and effort he put in.

Turns out he is pretty darned happy.

Me on the other hand, I'm left with naked windows, as well as being strapped to this house all day waiting for the DirectTV guy to come hook up HDTV ...

Oh, and a fireplace mantel that is driving me crazy. 

More on that later.

There's always a price, isn't there?

Standing Date

What would one expect for their very first wedding anniversary?  A romantic dinner out?  A bouquet of beautiful red roses?  A Domino's Pizza?

No?  No pizza?  Oh shoot, I guess Big Daddy and I got it all wrong then.  Darn.

January 16, 1999 we celebrated our first wedding anniversary.  We couldn't afford a baby-sitter for Jake.   A fancy meal out, followed by a romantic comedy at the theaters was totally out of the question.  So, we opted for a Domino's Pizza by candlelight.  And it was perfect.  We used the good china and poured our cheap beer into expensive glasses.  I couldn't have asked for anything more.  Well, I could have.  But I didn't.  (You're welcome, Big Daddy).

Yesterday, January 16, 2008 we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary.  We COULD afford a baby-sitter for Jake and even the other 3 kids too.  An elegant dinner out, followed by a show could have been easily achieved ... but again, we opted for the pizza by candlelight.  And it was perfect.  As always ... just as it's been for every year since the first.

The anniversary that Big Daddy and I celebrate each year is such an exciting and anticipated event for all the children ... and us.   From year to year, we don't change anything ... except adding another chair to the table and the pizza from Domino's to Casey's.  The children become giddy ... and I wouldn't want to ever even so much as dream of spending the evening in any way rather than the way we've been doing it for 10 years.

Don't mind a shirtless Molly.  I guess she got too hot in her sundress.  After all it is 10 degrees outside.

This particular evening we informed the children that we would ALWAYS spend January 16th together eating pizza by candlelight.  The oldest two in turn informed us that when they are married and have children of their own, they'd have to bring them along.

Fine with me.  As long as they bring the pizza and cheap beer too.

I've Been Replaced For A Newer Model ...

NO ... I don't mean that Big Daddy is leaving me for a nice, young, chipper, perky ... whipper snapper.  Though he's been known to say that he wants to die jumping out of the bedroom window of a 25 year old, with her husband chasing him.  I know, such goals in life ... and he's all mine.

What I meant was ... several years ago, when our family talked about traveling to Indiana to a Purdue football game (Big Daddy is a complete fanatic of Purdue), it would look something like this:

Last weekend Purdue played Iowa ... at Purdue ... so another fun filled football weekend at Purdue was planned and it looked like this:

I would love to tell you about it ...

BUT I WASN'T THERE.

I wasn't even asked to be there.  The least they could have done was ask me so I could decline.  Nope, not even close.  I was left alone here to act as referee to the sister slapping, girly squealing, hair pulling, sibling squawking cat fights that took place every 10.54 seconds.

And all I got when they returned was a memory card full of photos, showing me what a great time they had.  Stories of caffeinated pop, cookies, milkshakes, hot dogs, and how they've bonded.  How they are the manhood of our household now and nothing can come between them.

NO FAIR!

The girls and I discovered something about our relationship too.  That we are not compatible, we irritate the living snot out of one another, two of us love bagel bites and the third can not stand them ... and two of us can watch Cinderella 5 times in a 24 hour period in surround sound and the third can only tolerate it while pulling clumps of hair out of her head while rocking back and forth singing to herself.

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Today on Mom's Turn:  GIMME A BREAK!!

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My Big Daddy!!

Today is another special day here at our house.  It's hubby's birthday today and man, he's old.  Well, not really OLD, but older than me ... so I have the right to say he's ancient.  Right?  It's not like I risk him getting me back or anything ... I'll never catch up to him.  Ever.  Not possible.  Sorry babe, just a fact.

Anyway, I have a question?  Why do all men ask for the same thing on their birthday?    And ... it's not a cake!!

Happy Birthday Love Chop!

Perspective

I find my husband extremely sexy ...

when he's doing the things I want him to do!