Little Boys' Bathrooms, Ewwwww

What's the deal with boys bathrooms?
I just got done cleaning my little ones' personal bathroom.
Gross, disgusting, UGH!!!!!!!!!
How is this possible from two of the cutest boys ever?
I've been dreading it for a while now. Soccer games were cancelled for the day and I felt the next best thing to do with my open, rainy day was to clean house.
I'm sure, like the mystery of the great Sphinx, no one can figure out why they pee everywhere BUT inside the toilet. And don't get me started on trying to unclog a drain in one of their sinks! Usually, I always have hair in my own personal drain, but there was NO TELLING what I pulled out of their's today.

I've got a really great friend who can clean some mean house. Several times she's come to my rescue when I'm in a bind. I suppose my ingrained, lower middle class values makes me think I am a real slacker for not cleaning my own house, though. It sure doesn't stop my husband from having a "yardman". Also, I'm pretty sure my friend has seen worse conditions in her line of work, but I get embarassed of my dirty house.

On another note, I'm officially a "Soccer Mom". I don't have minivan, but I think the SUV will do. The boys are enjoying it. Diego did have stage fright for his first game, but eventually he got out there and had fun. Dylan reminds me of my husband. He's not the fastest one out there, but he has endurance.



He looks so serious!



He HAD to wear his shin guards outside of his socks.

On another note, I will keep my ranting to a bare minimum. I don't want to mention names or point fingers. But I do want to document a personal belief of mine. Children are precious. Parenting is a gift.

As a teacher, I see so many kids disregarded by their own parents. I know teens can be a real pain, but it makes me sick when I see parents not doing their job. I completely understand being busy. I get that! Keeping your kids #1 in your life can be a struggle when your working full-time and taking care of home. But this week, I have seen some BLATENT disregard for kids' well-being and I just want to ask those parents, "What makes you think ignoring your kids is OK? What other THING, PERSON, JOB, WHATEVER is so important your child can't possibly be first?" In my book, absolutely NOTHING (besides God himself) holds value over my children. No party, no person, no drug, no job, NOTHING.
I don't think it is one single bad decision that allowed them to become so separate from their kids. Poor parenting is a multitude of bad decisions, that just keep piling up, one right after another.

OK. I'll step off my soapbox and go back to cleaning my house, which will just be dirty again by the end of the week..............

Friday Night Aftermath

Guess what time it is? 

Guess who's still asleep? 

Guess what time they went to bed?

This was snapped at the "late" hour of 7:20 a.m. My little ones were still fast asleep, enough so that I could quietly crawl out of the bed and grab my camera. I even got to go downstairs, make coffee, let the dog out, and enjoy the beautiful morning in soft silence.

This is the aftermath of Friday night football. 

The boys have attended games with me in the past, but last night was special. They got a little more freedom than usual.They got to roam the W.O. Barnes stadium all by them selves. Granted, I was selling yearbooks by the concession stands and clocking every instance they ran back and forth. This is definitely a step forward in the Martinez household.

I know I'm too overprotective with the boys, but I can't help it. I was raised by this man for God's sake.

Tony White, March 2010, pretending to be a dinosaur.

My dad was freakishly obsessed with what was going on and where we were at ALL times.(He still kind of is.....) Honestly, I don't know how we ever got through the teenage years with him and no cell phones. As a teen, I tried to pull the wool over his eyes and push my limits. But I was deathly afraid of what would happen if he had found out. Just look at those fangs!

I could do a blog over my Dad alone. Don't even get me started on my Mom. However quirky and eccentric they are, I love them for just that. I wouldn't be who I am, or where I am, today with out Dad's overprotective "you can't go out after dark without a man or you'll be raped and killed" attitude. 

I guess now as a parent, I'm only just beginning to fully realize how much they actually love(d) me.

Thanks guys.

First and Foremost

So, it's 9:52 on a Saturday morning. 8 years ago, I would have probably just been getting out of bed. But today, I'm wide awake and have been since about 6:45. What's the difference? Two little boys, one 5 and one 7. My husband took them this morning to his job. (We're both in education, so adding a couple of new kids to the mix pretty much goes unnoticed.)

I had a date with my personal trainer at 11:30, but she cancelled. No big deal. But it has left me purpose-less. I suppose I could still go to the gym, and I probably will. It's the sheer fact that I don't HAVE to that has left me wide open. Sitting alone in this giant house of mine (and it's giant compared to the 999 sqft. we came from) always makes me contemplate how much things have changed, how much I have changed since I had these two babies.
I know, I know. They're not babies anymore. This is Diego's first day of Kinder and Dylan's first day of 2nd grade. They look relatively happy, and they were for the most part. As the week progressed, it become harder to get them out of the bed and dressed. We managed.

I kept encouraging my middle sister to blog. She's darn right hysterical and has such an unique outlook things. Life is giving her some hiccups right now, so I thought blogging would help her out. So far, so good. Check it out if you get a chance. The Redhead's Perspective. Definitely worth the read. And for what it's worth, she looks just like me, only much prettier! When people ask us if we're sisters, I always tell them I'm the younger one. She quickly corrects me. I like this picture of her in her Mr. T jewelry.

As I encouraged her to blog, I uncovered my own passion for it, but just never could seem to find the time. I have several friends who blog constantly and am jealous, especially since my kids are older. I never kept up a baby book on them. I'm wondering if that's a mistake I'll have to live with? But I thought now would be a good time to start documenting their milestones, especially now that their both in school. I won't get to post everyday, or maybe even every week. But I am going to try and do it at least once a month.
This will be a challenge the next few months. I'm finishing up grad school at Tarleton. I am taking 6 hrs. this fall and my comprehensive exams in November for December graduation. When I'm done, I'll have a master's degree in Educational Administration. It will be my first master's on paper, but my second in my mind, since I like to say I'm the reason my husband actually has his.
Words never seems to be a struggle for me. I think I've written enough, now. I guess I better try to get to the gym before the rugrats return.