This is So Not Okay

Ten years ago this month we started building our house.  And we I say "we", I mean my husband, his father, and our builder.  Not really in that order.

From the very beginning, people told us we would probably have trouble with mice.  Apparently living in the country is strike one, and living in the middle of a wheat field is strike two. I'm sure there is a strike three that I am not aware of.

Against all odds, we have been here 4 months shy of 10 years and have not had even one mouse in the house.  Not even ONE.

Well, I take that back.  A year or so ago my husband opened the door leading into the garage, and a brave little mouse ran into the house right in between my husband's feet.  He chased that thing down, caught it, and got rid of it in less than 5 minutes.

That has been the extent of our mouse issues.

Until now.

Our youngest son came hauling up the stairs the other day insisting that he saw a mouse run behind something.  We did some searching, but came up with nothing.  He still thinks he was mistaken, but in reality we caught one that night. 

My husband discovered their little entry way near the air conditioner.  He secured it right up, but we aren't sure how large of a family moved in before we closed off their mousey door.  So now I have these lovely things.

I know that a lot of people have to deal with this, but honestly, this is a new thing for me, and it grosses me out. 

Not only that, but these critters are incredibly rude and do all of their snacking at night.  It is great fun to wake up to the sound of a loud SNAP.  Even better is when it is not a clean kill and you wake up to the mouse flailing around trying to escape.

It is in that moment when I do what any good wife would do -- wake up her husband to tell him that the mouse trap just snapped.

Three down....hopefully none to go.

Just to be clear, my youngest still does not know about this little mouse issue.  I'm pretty sure he would be turning every room upside down and inside out to find them.  Then he would want to catch them and keep them all as pets.

No thank you.

No thank you.

No thank you.

Although they are better than snakes...

You caught what?

Tonight when I walked into the house, my son's first words were, "Mom, do you know what a silverfish looks like?"

"A silver fish?"

"Yeah."

"Um, sure, I know what a silver fish looks like."

"Great," he said, "I think I caught one. Look in this jar and see if this is a silverfish."

Wait...what?  "You caught a silver fish in a jar? When?"

"Today. Here, look."



Ahhh...A silverfish.  Not a silver fish. Who knew.

"How in the world have you ever heard of a silverfish?"

His reply, "From Minecraft.  And the bug book great grandma gave me."

Of course.

"Mom, do you know what a silverfish eats?"

"No, sorry, I have no idea."

His brother chimed in, "Why would you think she would know that?"

"Well, I don't know.  I thought maybe she interacted with silverfish in college or something."

Seriously...those were his exact words..."...maybe she interacted with silverfish in college...".

No, son, sorry.

No interaction with silverfish.

I am such an uncool mom.

It Takes Me Back

I seriously do not know where the time has gone.

I am not sure how my son is already 12 years old. I think I have said that every year since he was...about 3.  "I cannot believe he is already ____ years old." In the blink of an eye, I will be old and gray and the number that fits in that blank will be the age I currently am.  

That is scary.

My son is in 6th grade this year.  When we had a chance to win tickets to the KC Chiefs game that just happened to be on his birthday, it seemed like the perfect gift.  He loves football (really, all sports), and we don't usually spend the kind of money it takes to go to a professional game. Apparently God thought it was a good idea as well...or luck was just on our side...because we were the holders of the winning number.

He was ecstatic (which for this wild-and-crazy child means a really big smile) when he found out we were going to the game. 

My parents joined in the fun and bought them shirts for game.

Long sleeve shirts...which made sense at the time since the game was on October 26.

 

Little did they know it was going to be nearly 90 degrees.

Someone should have reminded me to pack sunscreen. #MomFail

We got to the stadium a tad early.  There really were more fans at the game than what this picture suggests. 

This was the first time at Arrowhead for all of the guys in my family.  It brought back great childhood memories for me. 

I have loved NFL Football since I was a kid.  It may have had something to do with the fact that one of my good friends' uncle played for the Los Angeles Rams. I had no claim to fame, but as a kid, when you know someone who does, you start to think you are big stuff.

My dad had back surgery when I was in 6th grade, so my parents' best friends got stuck taking my brother and I to KC for the weekend for the KC Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams game. I had two goals: 1) get Nolan Cromwell's (aforementioned Ram's safety) autograph, and 2) get Eric Dickerson's (Ram's running back) autograph. 

Goal #1 was not so difficult since we were staying with Nolan's wife at the hotel.  Family connections are always nice.  Goal #2 was also accomplished, and I am fairly sure I can still scrounge up the magazine he signed for me.

Odd as it may be for a 6th grade girl, I was on top of the world.

I had a really hard time not thanking my dad for having to have back surgery.

I'm pretty sure I shed a few tears when Eric Dickerson left my beloved Rams to go to the Colts the following year.

But time marches on...my players left...I grew up....the Rams moved to St. Louis...

and I became a Chief's fan along with my family.

6th Grade for me - Chiefs vs. Rams

6th Grade for him - Chiefs vs. Rams

28 Years Later....Same Stadium

He loved every minute of it. 

His brother...well, I think he watched the cheerleaders more than he watched the game. The cheerleaders and the giant TV screens - thank goodness for those.

Happiness is ending the day at Culver's.
 

If you've never gone, you need to fix that. Right away.

And then go run a few miles.

Unless you are my kids.  Then you will just fight all the way home to burn the calories.  And then sleep.  Sleep is good.

Happy Birthday, old child!