Did you think I was going to talk about the Gregg and Michelle show?

We are trying to potty train Coop.  He is so funny.  We are on the fourth pair in the last 2 hours.  Gregg has no patience for this.  Noah “potty” trained without a single accident.  So the bar was set high for Cooper.  I had to explain to Gregg that Noah has always been “special” and we can’t conmpare the Coopster to him.  This morning Cooper couldn’t decide which pair he wante to wear.  HE put his Elmos on then set his Spidermans on the ottoman for later.  The next time I saw him he had his Spidermans on over his pants.  He looked so silly and he wouldn’t let Gregg take them off.  Well that is until he peed in those two underpants and pants.  Now he is just in underwear as Gregg is getting sick of changing him. 

Cooper has found another use for his underpants.  The little peek-a-boo opening in the underpants makes a great pocket.  He has stuck many thing in it so far this morning.  I have been following him with the Clorox sanitizing spray.

Cooper now has found that he doesn’t have to stay in bed when we put him down for the night.  I have caught him sitting in his rocking chair reading a book.  We always read 2 books before bed and sing a song.  Well it seems he has decided he needs more stories.  I love walking in on him sitting there in the chair with a big book in his lap.

Thank goodness for little boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Noah has inherited his love of movies from his father.  I enjoy movies as most of you have seen from my post a few weeks ago.  The problem is I don’t like going to the theater.  I like to relax at home and watch a movie.  It’s not very relaxing going to the movies with a 2 1/2 year old.  Noah can do it just fine but not Cooper.  Noah took us to see the Waterhorse and that Wonder Emporium movie.  Both were OK but I think I will wait until Alvin and The Chipmunks come to the dollar theater.  (:

It was a quiet night on the path last night.  It was way too cold for anyone to play outside.  We didn’t even get a poker game going.  Just about one child in each house has the cold/flu.  We just stayed in and had game night.  Noah had to learn to lose with grace.  He was not happy when Cooper won the first game of Backyardigans.  Gregg had to talk to Noah about winning and losing.  I ws laughing to hard on the inside when Noah started crying.  The poor thing.  It’s hard learning life’s lessons.  Noah won the next game and showed grace.  I won the Chutes and Ladders game and taunted them all.  Oh please, I am just kidding.

Poor Taggert had to go to the hospital last night.  Troy took him over to S and W and he was treated right away.  Poor thing has croup.

God I love that kid!  Now let me start by saying I love Noah too but this post is about Cooper.

It’s no secret that Noah and Gregg are thick as theives!  There is a pecking order and dad is number 1.  So I am taking Cooper!  LOL  Again this is not a Cooper vs. Noah thing because they both have traits that I love.  Noah is one witty kid and there are some great stories.  I will tell some of those nex time.

OK so Cooper is my cuddler.  He is so lovey and squishy.  Well this past week he has been getting himself out of his crib.  I mentioned earlier this week that he got up around 6 am and came to my bed.  I couldn’t sleep with him because he is a big time snorer.  Well he has been a little sick since Monday night so for the last two days I have let him climb into bed with me.  Today was by far the cutest and worst.  He crawled into bed and fell right asleep.  Unfortunately my insomnia was in full gear last night and I was up from 3-5:30ish.  I had just fallen asleep.  Coopy fell fast asleep and surprisingly so did I.  I think his breathing helped lull me to sleep.  Then he rolled over and faced me and started snoring.  His nose is so stuffed that he snorted and snored like an old man.  I couldn’t fall back to sleep and was getting a little upset when all of a sudden Cooper threw his little arm around my neck and tucked me into him.  Oh his little face was so cute.  He was using me like a little stuffed animal.  I just laid there and stared at his soft face.  I gave him a few tender squeezes and kisses and just memorized his face.  There is something so sweet about a sleeping angel.  I fear that I may want him to come into bed every morning.  I laid there nose to cheek and felt his little hot breath on my cheek.  I tried to get back to sleep but I wasn’t exactly in the most comfortable position so I tried to move him and I think I kind of woke him.  He sat there and patted my hair and rubbed my back.  Whatta Kid!  The first thing he always says to me is, “Good morning mommy!”

Ah I love that kid.

 I thought I would write this as to clear up questions and concerns some of you have regarding our Jungle Java and the competition.  I feel I have written this a few time but still get asked about it in the comment section so here goes.  I think I may cut and paste on of my old comments too.

McDonalds really isn’t our competition.  My kids like McDonalds too but if I am going to have to sit around while they play I would rather do it somewhere a little more upscale and clean.  That and I don’t like eating McDonalds nor do I want my kids eating that stuff.
The JJ caters to people who want a place to “visit” and a large safe environment for kids from under 2 and up to about 11 years.  I think in McDonalds the minimum age is 3 years so that kind of kills it for the parents that have kids of differing ages.  I watched one poor mother struggle to keep her 9 month old in a high while trying to keep her eye on her 3 year old who was running around the playscape.

Oh and we do birthday parties.  I don’t know if I have ever seen one done in a McDonalds but that is another BIG draw for our business.  We do big parties and have special rooms.  We have three private party rooms in our JJ.

Here is one of my longer comments when someone asked me to give them 3 good reasons why someone would want to visit a JJ instead of a McDonalds.

First of all it is only $6.50 for kids over 2, $3.00 for 1-2 and free under 1. That is a lot cheaper than what most pay here in TX. It is $8.50 to play at the gyms here. Now to answer your other question. 1) The food is healthier and better for you than McDonalds. 2) It’s cleaner and MUCH bigger playscape. It’s more than just one slide and a tube to crawl in. 3) There is an area for the smaller children to play separate from the big kids. When Cooper was 2 he wasn’t able to crawl up those climbing things at McDonalds or even the bigger playscape at Jungle Java. That made it very frustrating because he would just stand at the bottom and whine. At Jungle Java he can play in a structure that is built for his size and I don’t have to worry about him getting pounded by a bigger kid. 4) Number 3 leads me to our next reason. Adults can fit in the play structure too. I am fortunate that I am 110 pounds so I can fit in the McDonalds playscape, most people can’t or would want to(dirty….believe me). Jungle Java’s playscapes are big enough that anyone can crawl in them….even Gregg. You can join in the fun with your kid or easily retrieve them if they are in trouble or need you. 5) You don’t have to join them and you don’t have to worry. JJ has surveillance cameras and we have a locking door so no one can escape. 6) We have free WiFi. So you can get some work done or just check your email while you let the kids run . I saw a lot of moms doing this while I was there. 7) We have a nicer environment than a McDonalds. 8)8 You can only enter if you have a child with you. So you don’t have to worry about some lonely man sitting in the playscape area drooling while watching your daughter or son. 9) Here in Texas some McDonalds playscapes are outside and some are inside so you can always site climate control. Big issue here in TX. There are more reasons but I will leave it to just those for now.

I’m sure there will be more discussion because I have learned at least one thing doing this blog…people really like to look for the bad in everything.  I’m not even talking about the JJ.  I could say the sky is blue and I am sure someone reading this would post and tell me that actually it is really a little more greenish today!  LOL Seriously!

Man it is cold here.  The high is 45.  Not much of a Friday Family Fun night tomorrow.  Last week we played in my house.  It is cold but it is cute how the people here over react to it.  It’s funny because everyone who is here moved in when we did.  Only we moved away for a year to only come back.  Now they are all accustomed to the heat and their blood has thinned.  It’s funny because even Tiffany who came from CA is chilly whenever there is a dip in temp.

Even our friends in Atlatnta are a bit chilly now.  Oh I can’t wait til it lifts.  Our friends in Philly were having a hard time.  OUr old street was shutting down because no one could get up the hill. 

Oh Philly was so cute with all the elevation.  I don’t think anyone knew that there was such an elevation.  But oh my I always said whenever we went up and down our sub my ears popped.  today I read on our local message board that people could not get up the hill.  This is so steep that they had to park down where the townhomes were and crawl(almost crawl up) to our houses.  This is a VERY steep slope so I am sure peolpe had a hard time.  The horrible thing is that one of the  Street Sweepers actually ran into one of the cars that were stranded on the street.  It still is such a beautiful sight but I must agree that I prefer the warmer temps. and all that go with it>

Gregg is done with radio.  He has always said it is a dying medium.  When we were planning on going back to detroit he had thought of doing an internet radio show with some venture capital.  We never pursued that as he went to work for CC.  Well now that he has some free time he has decided to do a live show on the internet.  He is going to do a 1 hour show every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12-1 central(1-2 eastern).  That just happens to coincide with the kids daycare schedule(lol).  This way he can enjoy all he loves about radio without dealing with any of the bullshit.  If you don’t like it don’t listen.  He has sponsors who CHOOSE to advertise.  I think Gregg should charge a nominal fee for the podcast.  I do that on my Zune for everything I like.  It’s super cheap like .79-.99 a podcast or I pay a $35 annual fee and get unlimited downloads.  Why not do it for a radio show.  I mean you could listen to what the stations want you to listen to or you could pay .99 cents to download something to listen to.  Plus if you don’t like the first one you don’t have to buy any more.  Or you can select the ones you want to buy based on what they are about or who is on them.  Sounds like a plan to me.

Anyway……….things are moving along with the JJ.  We are in the final planning and blueprint phases now.  We are meeting with the contractor and architect Thursday to finalize plans and get the final blueprints and permits done.  I hope to have that whole process done by the end of the month but more than likely it will be the first week of Feb..  Then starts the construction.

It was chilly today and I think it is suppose to be chilly for the next few days.  brrrrrrr  It’s going to be in the 50’s this week and finally going to get into the 60/70 by Monday.  It gets to just about freezing in the am.  We have been burning the fireplace every night now.  Thanks Gregg for installing it.

My mom is planning a visit in a week or two.  It has been a while since she has seen the kids.  My god I think this may be the longest she has been away from them.  I know she is dying to see them and Noah can’t wait.  I think she last saw them when she settled us into Austin in August.

Coopy is now crawling out of his crib.  It started last week but now it is a daily occurence.  He is stealth like when he gets out of his crib now.  Before I could always hear him hurl himself out.  Last night he scared the shit out of me standing by the side of my bed.  I didn’t hear a thing then he was standing there looking at me touching my face.  I put him in my bed and gave him his medicine.  He had a runny nose and no doubt a cold from starting a new school.  but once he fell asleep he started snoring and I had to get him out of bed.  I didn’t want to start something I couldn’t finish.  I carried him back to his bed but he told me he would be back down later.  He was back at 6:50.  Oh he used to wake then only to fall back alseep and not yell for me until 7:30-7:40 but now he just gets himself out of bed and comes to me waking me yelling, “i so hungy.”  It’s too cute so how could I not get out of bed?  We ordered him a toddler bed and it should come in in about 2 weeks.  I would have gone right to a big boy bed but he always wants his crib so I thought it wise to lull him into a toddler bed first.  It is a nice cherry finish so it should look nice with his furniture.  His furniture company(ragazzi) went out of business but then someone bought it and is starting to reintroduce furniture and they no longer carry his style.  And they only have stores in the Dallas area and I don’t see the sleigh bed.  Damn Canadiens!!!  It is such a good thing that I planned ahead and ordered all matching furniture except the bed.  So it shouldn’t be too hard to find a cherry sleigh bed.

Wow it is raining.  What a nice sound.  It rained a few days ago early in the AM and I forgot what a peaceful sound that is.  Of course having three dogs it is better when it doesn’t rain so they don’t track in mud.

This is a 9 minute video we mad when we took a trip to the Lukenbach and Fredricksburg.  Ahhh the wine country.

Today was another busy day.  We were out running errands today.  I finally got the last of the pulls on the cabinets.  Tomorrow I start painting the kitchen.  I have to remember to take a before and after picture.

I went and applied to be a substitute teacher.  It won’t be for long but now that there are two of us to run the Jungle Java I thought it would be fun to get out.  I always wanted to teach now that I have children of my own.  I feel I have a different perspective now that I am a parent myself.  I haven’t taught since having Noah.  It is going to be different this time. 

You see………

Last March 1st Gregg and I decided that we wanted to leave Philly(gregg hated that job so badly) and go back to Detroit to open our Jungle Java.  I called my district and revoked my leave of absence and told them I would be returning to work.  I had been on leave this whole time just in case…….  I was all set with a 6th grade math postion at Power Middle School when Gregg started getting the call from Austin.  I was excited at the prospect of moving to Austin but knew they couldn’t match what Farmington was paying me(top of payscale, masters, and 11 years seniority).  Gregg even told him that they wouldn’t be able to come up with the money and Mac said he had to talk with Gregg.  That is when we decided to lay it on the line.  Gregg made sure he told Mac EVERYTHIING he wanted to do and what he was all about he even told him to research him so that there would be no surprises down the road.  See…the Philly people let Gregg go 1 1/2 months after our plan to move back to Michigan only we were hoping to have the job until August(surprise!).  We didn’t need the Austin job, we already had a plan and was 3 weeks away from executing it.  Gregg got a serious low ball offer and I told him to forget it let’s just go back to Michigan, it killed me to say that.  But then Mac came back and matched Texas style what I would have made in MI(except he didn’t get the summers off).  It still was a bit of a set back since we would have to give up the $2,000 a month we were collecting from unemployment.  That $ and my teaching money would have been nice.  Gregg took unemployment because he said he had paid into for all these years he might as well collect.  Anyway we decided to take the job.  We felt confident that this was the right move.  They wanted to change the station.  In his words the station was “boring.”  Well here it is exactly 6 months later and now Gregg is out of a job.  I can’t discuss why as you may know but suffice it to say.  I am angry.  Here we thought we were safe by laying on the line and saying this is who I am take it or I am moving on.  They took it but then had buyers remorse.  I don’t think they kept their receipt…………..

The reason I am angry?  Well when I had to call the district to let them know I wouldn’t be teaching at Power Middle School I had to resign.  I couldn’t extend my leave because I had already revoked it.  I HAD to quit.  For those of you living in the shaky economy I gave up an $85,000 a year job(small% increases each year) with great benefits FOR LIFE.  I was tenured!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is why I am pissy and mad.

However when life gives you lemons make lemonade.  For those of you that think we always put a positive spin on things that is because there is a postive.  Things happen for a reason and here I am in one of the places I love the best.

Mom loves that I am pragmatic but doesn’t know where I get it!

Wow I am taking advantage of this time without kids.  Today I put pulls on all my cupboards and drawers.  I also ran a bunch of errands.  Whew, I am all set to paint the kitchen Friday.  I’ve had the stuff since August 17th when I did the family room.  It will be nice to have it all done.  Then I just have to do the kids bedrooms.  Their rooms always look so much better with a nice color on the walls.

I have to do all this now as it is starting to get busier here with the Jungle Java paperwork and such.  Gregg has been a big help and will be helping out a lot more.  It will be nice to have both of us working in the store and not having to deal with the bullshit that is radio.  Some of you have seen what a slimy profession this is.  I have to say it wasn’t always like this.  The good old days were back at WDFN when Peter Connely was the GM and Gregg the PD.  That is when the station flourished.  Gregg and Swindell  made some great radio moments and songs.  I remember when everyone looked young.  I have some great pics of Jennifer, Wojo and Stoney and man do they look young.  I remember that silly “garage” that they used to work out of.  This was before everyone got married and had kids(not that it’s bad).  Everyone got along even going for drinks around the corner from work.  People were dedicated to their job and getting the breaking news.  Even though there wasn’t another sports station in town.  You just don’t see that kind of committment from anyone any more.  The new radio kids want big gigs without paying their dues.  Bosses are looking to cover their ass and will fire any one to do it.  It’s just disgusting and surprising.  Gregg wanted to get out of radio when we planned to leave Philly but I made him take this job here in Austin because I wanted to be back in Texas.  I promised him he could quit as soon as the Jungle Java was built.  I thought Austin would be different.  It’s a smaller market surely there can’t be as much stress here.  Wrong.  Someone wise told me it is better to work for a great GM at a shitty station than a bad GM at a great station and boy were they right-as long as that GM is in Austin because we are NEVER going back to Michigan(except to visit).

Oh yeah!  By 2:30 on Monday when I was done cleaning the first floor I did a little happy dance!  Now I am looking forward to tomorrow.  Cooper was fine when i picked him up from school.  The teacher said he had to rub his back to get to sleep at nap.  Coop is unlike Noah in that he only wants to sleep in his crib.  Coop had tons of fun when we went camping in a tent in November but would not sleep in the tent.  I had to call Gregg to come and get him.  He won’t even sleep in my bed.  If I try to put him down(aka when I am lazy and tired) in my bed he wants to go upstairs to his crib.  Others have told me that he will get use to sleeping on the mat in a bit.  Coop even mentioned that he has a friend, Caleb.  I’m going to see if that is true.  They always talk a great game.  I never know what to believe.

I was cooking tonight when I thought of my greatest products.  I love that “press and seal” wrap.  I didn’t believe that it would really stick to anything but this stuff is great.  It clings to tupperware.  amazing stuff.  My all time favorite product is the Magic Eraser.  WOW!  I like to buy the extra strength one because it has a scour pad attached which makes it extra durable.  If you have used a Magic Eraser you know they can break down quickly.  This is the only thing that I can find that cleans Corian like no ones business.  One more thing.  When we bought Milford we guilt it ground up.  Shoot I selected the color of the grout.  I had the bathroom completely tiled.  Nowadays tile is almost obsolete.  Sure the walls are tile but they put this weird material on the floor of the shower.  I had it in Austin and in the house in Philly and again in Austin.  The Magic Eraser is the only thing I found that can clean this rumpy bumpy surface.  It is truly amazing. I have tried other products but they won’t even put a dent in the scuzz.  The Magic Eraser is a wonder product.

AAAHHHH it is nice to have a clean house 2 days in a row.  This preschool/daycare thing is really making me and my hosue feel good.  Tomorrow I clean the bedrooms and bathrooms and Friday I paint the kitchen.  Finally!