day in the life...

Everything is amazing and no one is happy

2009-11-22T16:48:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving coming up I thought I would share this video. We have come a long way baby.

You are sitting in a chair in the sky!

Better late then never...

2009-11-16T22:24:00.000-08:00

It has been requested that I share some pictures of my gobblins decked out in their halloween goodness. I dare not let down my followers, especially since this request came from the beloved mother of my husband.

So now as we creep up on Thanksgiving jump back in time and imagine running into these guys on a dark fall night.

Elise wanted to be a vampire. If you notice the blood dripping from her mouth and a pesky spider that is climbing up her face.

Trevor, well I am not sure what this is. I think he was calling it a phantom. He swore it was from a movie. Not any movie I have ever seen--but then again I have never seen any of the "scarey" slasher films out there. Scream was the scariest, not Nightmare on Elm Street or any of the Jason movie. I am a big scaredy cat.

Then we have a sweet kitty cat to round out the costumes. Love that she had no interest in scaring anyone!

We ended up with too much of this! Must hide it, now. Pants are getting tighter on some of us.

no excuses...

2009-11-02T13:25:00.000-08:00

I realized as I was looking over my pathetic excuse for a blog that I only posted four times in the entire month of October. How are you all keeping this lively and interesting. Me, well I am stumped.

Life was so much easier when my Mother in Law was the only one who read my blog. If I had nothing, I would just throw a few pictures of the littlekins up and she would be happy.

black sheep

2009-10-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

We all have that one relative that pushes the envelope a little, wouldn't you agree? The one people tilt their head to one side when talking about. Sometime tongue clicking or shaking head motion will follow. I know you understand.

Mine is Grandpa Gus, a surly old fellow that claims he was kicked out of school for eating the books. Lied about his age to join the merchant marines at 15 years old. Tattoos, oh yeah he had bunches before they were even remotely cool. My how I wish I had taken a picture of them... He had a giant eagle on his chest, arms and if I recall it was on his back too. My favorite tattoo of his was a question mark right above his pants waistline. When I asked him why he had chosen that he smirked and told me "so the ladies will ask about it". He married 4 times. Even with his tough exterior he still had a soft touch.

This picture he carried in his wallet for probably 60 years, his father and him on his motorcycle.

My Dad bailed him out of jail many a time because he just could not seem to remember not to drive his car after he had been drinking. Drinking, he did far to much of that!

When I was 5 he tricked me into eating his Copenhagen chewing tobacco because it was candy, I am embarrassed to say I fell for that more then once.

He liked to watch my eyes light up as he would tell me about being stabbed in the mess hall while at sea. Then when I grew and had kids he liked to watch their eyes light up too.

He died a couple years ago after living a hard life, he lived longer then I think any of us thought he would. In the end he stayed with my family for a period of time. My, how my kids loved having Grandpa Gus here. He watched the Discovery channel all day, was always looking for a cookie or candy, and believed no one made better coffee then Hills Brothers.

One day he finished off a jar of the kids Gummi Vitamins because he thought they were candy...Dementia, yeah he had that too. He spoke Swedish like his mother before him and loved teaching us the Swedish words for things in the house. Not all rated G either words either.

One little quirk he had was ketchup on everything... the only things he said he would not use it on was cantaloupe and ice cream.

Why do I write this today, so I do not forget him. Remember your crazy, push the envelope relatives, don't let their memory disappear. They are part of the fabric of you. He is the stuff stories are written about. He lived his life on his terms. I am really nothing like him other then the fact that I tend to put BBQ sauce on much of what I eat. I still love to think about him though and what kind of life he lived.

She only plays a doctor on tv people

2009-10-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

Do you think it is an advertising "intentional" that someone many of us recognize as a Medical Doctor on TV is the voice of a campaign claiming medicinal benefits to eating yogurt?

I spent the entire commercial thinking is that her?...no it isn't... yes, I think it is...no, they do not think we are that dumb to associate her as the voice of brilliant medical advice.

I cannot even tell you for sure what the brand was, so I guess in that vein the ad was not completely successful. I can say that it was her, and she says yogurt is good for you though. Feel free to buy any brand though, cause I am not sure who she works for.

I imagine it has some psychological brain/pocketbook link they are headed after in the 30 something female age group.

Am I overthinking this? Maybe she just needs a little extra cash cause making $200,000 per episode is cutting it a little close to the bottom line? Just maybe?

I&$#%&#$(&@#($&#(@Q$&(@#

2009-10-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

Starting to sweat because it is 11 weeks till the big day!

11 weeks till I have to pull all the stops out and make it memorable.

11 weeks till Santa comes down my tiny chimney and fills the stocking with magical fun!

What are you secrets? How are you going to go BIG without breaking the bank? How are you going to convince your little ones it is magic without missing a mortgage payment. We have been fortunate to pay cash for the holidays the last few years. I hope and pray we can pull it off again.

Tips people, now I am asking for tips! How to get the biggest bang for your buck.

these tennis shoes taste terrible

2009-10-06T14:16:00.000-07:00

How many times have we said something and then wished we had the capability to travel back in time 45 seconds and resist the urge to spew such stupid words from our mouths. Face it, it happens to all of us. Like the time the first time I kissed a boy and felt the urge to say "I love you" even though I probably only liked him, a lot. Like the time someone asks you if something makes them look fat. They asked the question, they already know the answer or they would not ask. Don't take the bait, stay out of it.

I work as a travel nurse. Always in a different place. Never time to click with the other staff because I live in my car like an out of work dot.com worker. Yesterday, I worked somewhere I have not worked in about 5 months. Staff has rolled over, as it often does in my line of work.

As I was sitting at my desk for a moment trying to catch up on my charts I got drug into a conversation. A conversation I wish I had stayed out of it, because it resulted in eating my tennis shoes.

Nurse 1: I am feeling really hot. All of a sudden I have a headache too.

Nurse 2: Maybe, you are pregnant.

Nurse 1: Hmm, I could be. It is possible that I might be pregnant.

Myself: (totally felt compelled to interact here) Really, do you think you are pregnant? How exciting. (trying to be upbeat for Nurse 1)

Nurse 2: (LAUGHING NOW)

Myself: What, why is that funny?

Nurse 1: because I am 9 months pregnant.

Myself: melting into my chair and probably 5 shades of red darker. Praying that somebody will need CPR right now so I could escape.

What do you say in that situation?

"Oooops, my bad. I just thought you were fat."

Laughing and saying nothing was about all I could think to do.

There is no way to recover from that one, is there? Wish me luck, because tomorrow I have to go back there and pretend none of it ever happened. I will know God still loves me if she goes into labor tonight.

It's not like she did anything anyways, she is 9 months pregnant. That totally explains why she sat around answering the phone all day.

P.S. I totally could not have gotten away with the "golly gee, no way I would have never guessed, you just don't look it".

how many is too many?

2009-09-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Last night while I was reading emails my daughter was watching HGTV.

Anyhow, somehow she saw a commercial for the TV show "Twenty years and twenty Duggars." A biography about the Duggar family who in 20 years have increased their family size to 20 people. I believe that is including the 2 parents but I also heard a rumor their is another baby and now a grand baby on the way.

Well, as she is watching this commercial, out of her sweet little 10 year old mouth, what do I hear...

"They need to get a hobby."

She nailed it, huh? She has no clue why I found her wisdom so damn funny.

At some point you have to find something else to do with your free time!

Not now Jim, let's play scrabble.

Are we alone? Is this a little beyond the "let's have a big family" line of thinking? If I had had my way I might have had a couple more curtain climbers but when you are creeping up to 20 kids wouldn't you want to start sneaking birth control pills in with the prenatal vitamins?

I'm just sayin'

play dates

2009-09-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

Today as my son walked in the house after school he had a request.

Not wondering what he could have for a snack or if he could play wii.

Nope, my sweet 3rd grader wanted to invite a friend over to play, tomorrow. After determining tomorrow would not work but picking another day that would work. I asked who he wanted to come play. Expecting to hear any number of boys names, I was a little surprised to hear a girls name fall from his mouth. He also wanted to make sure his twin sister would not be able to "hi-jack" his play date. Then came the kicker... "can she spend the night?' Poor little love, he has no idea why his crazy Mom thinks it is not appropriate for his friend to sleep on his top bunk and have pancakes with us in the morning. So sweet and innocent -- that is going to change someday, isn't it? The word play will get dropped from "play-date" then he will just be dating. The playing will also no longer include legos and Nintendo games.

No rush my little man! No rush!

If you have read my blog for any length of time you may remember this...

This is not a completely new request.

and yes it is the same girl.

eavesdropping like a good mother should

2009-09-16T17:04:00.000-07:00

As I sit here reading a couple blogs I am eavesdropping. Shhh, I do not think they know I am listening.

The neighbor girl, a 7th grader, is telling my daughter when she grows up she is going to be a "ghost hunter". She is heard saying that she will move to Rhode Island and hunt spooky things. Her parents told her that she will need to go to college just in case the ghost huntin' thing does not work out.

Now to think about it, I do not recall seeing Ghost hunting classes on my college class list. I think her career choice might have something to do with watching this show.

Heck, I would be a ghost hunter if I could look like her when I did it. I wonder if cleavage helps hone in on the spirits?

new moon?

2009-09-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Will you see it? Bella annoys me and Edward is a little too anemic looking for my taste, but yes I will see it.

Deep Fried what?

2009-09-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to the County fair and saw what there is to see. Our County is a large diverse population of hip suburban folks, rural country folk, and then there is a bunch you may see that look like they just may have pulled up in their van they live in "down by the river". (Anytime I can throw a Chris Farley in there makes me smile a little.)

It is a short one, enjoy!

So back to the fair. You have all been, I am sure, but I thought I would share something we saw. Makes me wonder if this is an American thing or if other parts of the world have the same fascination with deep fat fryers.

I will share a closer look at the menu.

I asked the kid behind the counter what his favorite menu items were. He said he loves the fried Twinkies for Breakfast and the Krispy Creme Chicken sandwich for lunch and dinner. Yummers, huh? 315 cholesterol reading at the age of 20, maybe?

My Nephew could not resist, he is 13. An age that begs to be just a little bit adventurous. They happened to be out of the deep fried alligator, so he had a deep fried twinkie. He let me have a bite, it tasted like a donut, but don't tell him that. That is far too boring!

pushing up daisies

2009-09-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Excuse my absence but I have been the victim of a crime. Senseless and sticky . The "perp", well the name was Jones. He left me alone and without a means to reach out for help. As I now struggle to scrub the chalk outline from my life, I finally am able to put my story to computer screen.

You see it was a day much like today, well it nearly was today, it was Sunday. A lovely day, a day people love to just enjoy. That is exactly what was happening until Jones came along. One of my "Littles", as my dear friend Linda likes to call her children, was attempting to answer the corded telephone that resides next to our cherished and loved Mac computer. In their haste, a glass holding a Sour Apple JONES Soda was deposited on the keyboard of the computer. FOR SHAME!

Rather then rush and quickly try to stave off damage a phone conversation ensued. Then said child attempted to leave said mess for someone else...I am sure later "Not me" or "I don't know" was going to be blamed for the carnage. The man of the house loves that computer almost as much as I do though, and I think he smelled his future visitations to The Drudge Report and his fantasy football website were being threatened. Words were said, stomping happened, we thought things would be ok-- until an attempt was made to ~~resuscitate~~ type something...anything. The keyboard is dead, the mouse, while she appears to be on life support at the moment. I am afraid at any moment I will need to quickly plan a double funeral.

Monday I visited some of the blogs I could get to without typing anything. Simply using my poor, sick mouse for selfish reasons. I know, I am a deplorable human being. The challenge came when the kids wanted to cook something specific and I needed a recipe to use as the framework. It was not easy, but using my favorites folder and some fancy clicking they got to eat their Norwegian pancakes that they wanted. I felt like a hero for a moment until I remembered to fall out from that little "Jones" problem. Thank goodness the Man of the House remembered we had an ancient keyboard to at least assist until our replacement moves in. Now the waiting begins.

Now what to do with the old one?

Maybe this?

Or this?

Looks like a Chia keyboard to me.

It seems wrong that as I sit here using my Apple computer that the keyboard I am using says Microsoft on the right corner. Thanks Bill, for bailing me out. Damn you deliciously good Sour Apple Jones Soda. I was just commenting how good you would be with a splash of vodka! A marriage made in soda heaven.

I forgive you Jones Soda.

blogging Rocks, product reviews come disguised as presents.

2009-08-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

Recently I was offered the chance to review Blue Sky Scrubs . No requirements were made that I had to only say nice things-sharing my true opinion was encouraged. As I sit here though, I cannot help but hear my Mother saying, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". I promise to be honest with y'all, ok.

I am a Nurse, when I am not at home wrangling my kids. Although when I work it seems like a lot of what I do at home -- just MUCH bigger kids. Patients whine, they cry, they occasionally throw tantrums, they lie, they hug. I recently have even seen one of my patients on the cover of a national newspaper for committing a heinous crime. That was quite a surprise with my morning coffee! I think I am safe from the HIPAA police since I did not share the crime or patients name, as much as I wanted too...

Anyhow, comfort in my field is crucial. I kind of feel sorry for those of you that have to wear clothes to work...my work uniform is as comfortable as my pajamas. Seriously. The product I get to review is a new, fancy pair of scrubs. I ordered them and they were on my porch within 2 days. Packaged like a present from your favorite Aunt. Tissue paper, a box with a lid, and embossed card! Gorgeous! A little more then I usually would spend-but also better quality then anything else I own.

See I told you, FANCY!

They even threw in a ponytail scrub hat bonus. Megan offered to model for me.

I like the style. This particular fabric is a little too Amish schoolgirl for me though. They did have tons of great crazy fun fabrics I love though.

I am not sure about the stitching on the pockets though...looks a little like the Christian fish thing to me. On darker fabrics it is pretty prevalent. It works on the light colors though.

Yep, that is a close up of my breast. See the beauty of scrubs...loose and comfy! Totally androgynous, wouldn't you say?

My one complaint besides the fish on the pockets is the lack of pants pockets. I am a hoarder at work. I keep many of my work supplies at arms reach in my cargo pockets of my pants. Scissors, no need to go find them--I got a pair. Mini notebook to jot down something before it leaves my head--yep I got that too. Pens--yep got a few, seems when I put them in my breast pocket they fall out every time I bend over. These pants, unfortunately lack pockets other then the ones that are on my butt. Have you sat on scissors lately? I do not recommend that. I still love them, it just makes them a little less then ideal.

Do to my recent surgery the most action my scrubs have seen is this--

When I do go back to work my Blue Sky Scrubs will fall into rotation nicely.

do I look hysterical to you?

2009-08-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

I eluded to the fact that I had spent some time in the hospital recently. I was vague--intentionally. Mainly because I have had narcotics running through my veins and putting any rational thoughts together were... well, beyond my abilities.

So today I sit here, having only had one vicodin with my morning latte. Fairly cognoscente and feeling minimal pain. I thought I would share something I learned in nursing school that is now relevant to me. It involves Greek history in some ways and just how much we have learned over the years.

This might be time when my couple of occasional male readers can the hit the back button and head back to where they came from. They may not find the following facts as funny as those of us with "birthin'" parts.

Interesting tidbit here, the surgery where you remove a woman's uterus is called a hysterectomy a marriage of the word for hysteria and "ectomy" which means to remove. Coincidence? The Greeks and their root words, hysteria is derived from the Greek word for uterus! Seriously.

It seems in the days of old, the uterus was a mysterious thing. When women started to act a bit wacky they referred to that as hysteria or being hysterical. Plato actually believed the uterus was an animal that lived in women only to become pregnant. If it did not become pregnant it could become a rogue assassin traveling around the ladies body making her into a head case or "hysterical".

My how we have progressed.

My little procedure was not done to relieve my hysteria-I will probably have episodes that would make Plato shake his head every once and a while. Endometriosis was a major contributor in my case, it was kicking my ass. I am glad to be starting fresh even though, now when they do a bladder scan, I was told they have to tell the machine I am now a man. I have missing "girl parts"now, you see. Lucky me?! Good thing I do not have any body issues with my little surgery.

Can I share another little root word trivia.

The word orchid comes from the Greek word "orchis", testicle. They named an entire group of flowers after male anatomy! Women are crazy and men are flowers.

Hmmmm... Go figure!

recovery sucks!

2009-08-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

I gotta tell you recovering from surgery is no fun!

I am on a self imposed hiatus. Partly because, back in June I thought it would be smart to take a math class this summer...even though I was spending a week camping with boyscouts, a week vacationing with family and then having surgery 10 days before the final was to occur. So now as I hobble about cursing myself and holding my stomach - I also need to study my arse off to try to pass this thing so as to not tank my GPA. It really limits the amount of narcotic cocktails I can serve myself!

Wish me luck. My final is Thursday. I think by Friday I will be back here hollering about something.

-----------------

On a side note, yesterday my other half and I snuck off to watch Julie and Julia...I think I am in love! Now I need to find her books so I can also become a good cook like my favorite good cook! Between her and Julia my family could eat better then we definitely should!

Happy Birthday to my favorite Blogger...

2009-08-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

Well she is my MOM, you know. Love ya all-- but without her I would be a nada! I feel blessed beyond words to have the Mom I do.

Stop by and wish her happy birthday!

She deserves a bunch of these today!

And hugs by the millions!

A feast prepared by the greatest chefs in the world!

I will be returning to blogging soon. I recently spent a few days in the hospital and am just not back to my good old self yet! I have missed visiting you all so much! Please excuse me as I am going to take a narcotic cocktail and take a nap! See ya soon!

does this stimulate you?

2009-08-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

So, I disappeared on ya. Did ya notice? Probably not... see we had this super secret plan for my Husbands parents 50th Wedding anniversary. It involved a trip down to the Bay Area of California and then a few days at Lake Tahoe. I could not udder a word of it here because occasionally my Ma-in-law pops over and reads about some of my crazy antics. DARN! So I up and left ya, all 5 of you that come here regularly. Thanks for coming back!

Anyhow, while we were in Tahoe we decided a trip to Reno was in order. Play a slot or two, check out this "Hot August Nights" thing going on, walk the streets looking for derelicts to hassle...you know the deal. We took Little Man with us so he would be able to say he had been to Nevada. One more State in his tiny list of places he has been. Something for him to write about when he goes back to school. I imagine, even though we only spent 20 minutes in one casino, it will read something like this.

"For summer vacation I went to Reno and had ice cream while my mom played slots. My Uncle won big money but Mom and Dad only lost their money. I saw a lot of old ladies my Dad said must have been kicked out of the Brothel, whatever that is. They looked like they forgot to put on their bras and needed to brush their teeth."

That my friend, is how you win the Mom of the Year award!

As we were walking I happened across a sign that shows Reno's take on the Stimulus plan might be a little different then Obama's.

Hey, whatever works. Right?

do you know what a miracle looks like?

2009-07-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

Let me show you!

Funny how you make friends in the most unreal ways. My blog friend Debbie at Talking Trash has held an actual MIRACLE in her hands, she is her Granddaughter. Sweet baby above Bella could not wait to meet everyone and showed up at the party better then 4 months early. Check her out. There is word on the street that she is actually going to be headed home soon, how lucky for her Mom and Dad.

Part of today's festivities are that I also am supposed to post a baby picture, let me tell you what a heartbreak that is. My computer had a terminal illness in 2006/07 that terminated many of my images...heart breaker I know. Best thing is I have the original subjects so I will just have to figure out how to get them off my old external hard drive. Thank god for that.

The best I can offer you is a baby picture of our dog...crazy huh?! Because let me tell you my babies were darn cute too! Someday I will get those on my computer and make you come look at them, ok?

So if you don't mind I will sip on a pretty pink cocktail and enjoy this "virtual Baby Shower" for the little Preemie-Dona known as Bella!

Want a corona with that prescription?

2009-07-26T23:20:00.000-07:00

"Huh?, What are they thinking"

Well, This Time I had my camera so I could share it with others and see if I am just a crackpot or is this weird?

Del is an Doctor of Osteopathic medicine. Wouldn't you think the beer sign and corona flags might take some of his credibility away? Then again you can go to the doctor and have a drink all at the same time!

I do not know. Maybe I have just been spoiled by having my doctors in medical facilities and not bars...I am such a snob that way!

In all fairness to Del, I think he may have a door on the other side of his building, but I am not sure. His observational skills definitely are lacking because his sign is right above the door to a freakin' bar!

Find me Friday

2009-07-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

I am partaking in Ali's "Find me Friday". She is the sweetest girl that just lost the most amazing pup in a unfortunate turn of events. My thoughts are with her, funny how we become so attached to our animals. My family suffered a heartbreaking loss a couple weeks ago of the most amazing cat EVER! I think we are just finally starting to hold ourselves together a little more. It sure hurts though.

So back to the point of this post-

So recently we tool a Ferry ride over to the Washington Peninsula to visit the newest cousin in the family! While the ferry was docking we noticed this on the piers.

Can you see what it is?

Look at this one...

or this one...

Yup those anoying birds that try to steal your food as you are having a picnic on the beach. As it turns out baby seagulls are spotted and very cute. This Mama had 3 we could see in her nest.

I am going to share a few more so bare with me, once I started looking I had a few more I wanted to post

Our Gracie Bleu that mysteriously disappeared 2 weeks ago.

Trevor's helmet with Trevor hiding beind it. When I tell you he is da bomb, I mean it!

What a crazy hat Megan is wearing in this picture from a couple summers ago. Looks a little like Davie Crockets raccoon skin hat. But is it a hat, nooooooo.

Nope it is just Aunties Havenese Puppy Jack Jack. All this cuteness and he dances too!

no cake for me, thanks

2009-07-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

When I was in nursing school I had a valuable opportunity to visit an actual cadaver lab at the Bastyr College. How amazing it was to see the actual operating system of a real human body. Those images live with me even still. Although not in only positive ways. After that experience I developed a huge intolerance for certain foods. Things that look a little too much like the meat we all carry with us all the time. Certain things I will not eat at all. Other things I can eat-- if I do not prepare it and have to handle the uncooked product. One of my friends from school is a vegetarian even still after that experience.

I am finding I have this thing in my head that once I have a negative image associated with something it is hard to want to ingest it.

Which leads me to this, certainly I cannot be the only one with this idiosyncrasy.

But really, who would make a cake that looks like this?

A kitty litter cake?!

I know it is a cake but I think I would hurl if somebody offered me this as a token of my Birthday celebration. I feel bad posting it on my blog for you to see, but I promise it is a cake...would you eat a piece?

I found this photo on one of my favorite recipe sites All Recipes

But if you want the recipe for this cake just click on the words kitty litter cake below the picture. If you make it--you are sick and disgusting, just so you know! But please take no offense to that because I really tend to like sick and disgusting people, they make me laugh a lot.

Dust yourself and get back on that pony

2009-07-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

I previously shared that I had injured myself just a little bit. If your squeamish better leave now! There is no blood but it is a little ugly.

Here is how it happened-

The other half was monkeying around with the little trail/dirt bike he has. Giving the kids rides and having some good old fun! I heard some words of confidence in my riding abilities-mind you before he purchased this bike I never drove anything with two wheels faster then I could peddle! I had boyfriends before with motorcycles but never did more then sit on the back and enjoy the ride.

I gave it a whirl...I was having fun!

I even got up my confidence and went a little faster and further then I have before. I was a natural!

NOT

I would like to travel through time to talk to who ever designed motorcycles.

Why is the throttle right next to the brake?

Because maybe some moron, who has no business sitting her arse on one, might in a moment of panic confuse the two.

It could happen!

When you start to fall you should not have to remember that the gas is next to the brake! I present the proof that I forgot. I would NEVER post a picture of myself in a swimsuit here but with you I will share my road rash!

day 3--love that shade of purple, how about you? Yup, it is giant, I suppose swelling is to be expected. Damn! Knee sprained too-ouch!

Lessons learned

Always wear a helmet, I am glad I did not have a headache to go with my limp
Throttle is on the right hand grip...oh yeah, the brake is around there somewhere too
Fall down far away from the rest of your people, that way no pictures will exist of actual fall-so glad!
Make sure the kids see your giant "owies" so next time they have a tiny sliver you can remind them how tough you are-then offer to amputate their foot. That always works!
Always get back on one more time after a fall-who wants the last time you did anything be the time you wiped out. I did and am glad-it hurt but I am glad.

** correction: my husband has advised me the brake I was supposed to use was by my right foot. Apparently the one by my hand is a secondary brake for the front wheel. I think his telling me this has now assured I will never ride it again. At least my car only has one brake for me to make it stop! **

Peek-a-boo!

2009-07-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

I am taking part in Blessed Country Moms new Friday Peekaboo Friday--Mostly because I injured myself and I need a day to recoup before I join the living... Just wait for the story-it's a doosy! In the mean time enjoy my peek-a-boo picture of my Mega-Moo.

a rainbow to brighten your day

2009-07-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

My eldest made a little bit of art for you all. Enjoy... she promptly ate it so the picture is all I have left.

tip for using a pay shower

2009-07-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

When you see this sign your math skills are very important!

Do not confuse it with 1 minute 25 seconds

1.25 minutes =1 minute 15 seconds

Not a huge difference unless you are showering with your

daughter, bring only 3 quarters and are planning to rinse your
hair last. If you do that, you just may end up rinsing your
hair in the ice cold bathroom sink. I'm just saying.

That extra 30 seconds would have been so nice!

Catch ya later!

2009-07-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

I am taking my kidlets camping till Thursday with 250 cub scouts. Wish me luck! Hope for sun! Pray for me-I will need it!

Try not to have too much fun while I am kid wrangling.

Has it been that long already?

2009-07-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

My invite came but I am avoiding the party.

I hated high school. My boyfriends were older or attended other schools, most of my friends were at another school.

Why do I need to go back and try to pretend to be something I am not?

How many of you attend your reunions?

Cake and Ice cream for all!

2009-07-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my neighbors to the north!

It has never been a secret that I as long as I have been grown I wished I was Canadian. Really! It is not that I am a scrooge and hate America I just think Canadians rock it like no one else. I love to vacation there so I can be extra friendly and say "ay" more then I should, since I am from "the states", as they call it.

This in fact is my dream car for the last several years. Can you see the roof. LOVE IT!

I suspect it may come from my wanting to be different and what other way to be different then to come from somewhere else? I was even told by a family member that nothing was stopping me and I could move there. I forgive him--he would miss me. I know that, he knows that too!

I make no apology for wishing I was a Canuck!

With that I must give a big holla out and say Happy Birthday Canada! Your present is in the mail!

Did you read my last post...

2009-06-30T22:17:00.000-07:00

because you should if you have not...

today my daughter had a friend over. Not one of my favorite friends. In fact one of my least favorite friends. She is indulged and constantly told she is beautiful at her house. She reminds my daughter regularly of her (my daughters) faults and inperfections. Her mom recently was in a pageant of some sort... I really did not pay attention to that part because what sane women over 20 is in a pageant?

Anyhow...out comes the Wii fit. Little Princess says to my daughter -- "why is your Mom fat?" when she saw my little wii avatar (really you should read my previous post and see my wii avatar if you have not).

I swear the truth hurts coming from an 8 year old. First my Nintendo belittles me then her!

UGHHHH!!!! I am working on it OK!

I am a true believer in beauty comes from the inside. I do not believe this is an excuse to let your outer body head to hell--but a shallow inner self creates an ugly exterior. I am genuine and kind unless you are a totally fake pagaent Mom-then I might seem a bit cold and stand-offish. We all have flaws, right?

My wii calls me names...

2009-06-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Do you have a Wii?

My Wii calls me names. Does yours?

I used the Wii Fit last night---little bastard. First it jabs me by saying it forgot my name. After all it has been 16 days since I last used it-my bad. Then it weighs me...never a good thing at 9:30 at night. First it makes this little sound when you stand on it...kind of like you are squishing the board. Then it informed me of my weight and BMI...then in a little tiny voice it says... "that's overweight". Holy Crap you think I do not already know that. Thanks a hell of a lot! At one point during my strength training she called me a "couch potato".

Maybe it is good because it ticked me off so much I got a pretty good workout in.

Wanna see my fat little person... It took my cute little avatar and made her fat. She is in the middle wearing red & white yoga pants. I personally would never wear white yoga pants! White it the color of cottage cheese...You do not want make it too easy for people to imagine fat legs.

Sorry the secret is out, the other half could stand to lose a few too! He is the one in blue, the kids look good though. Today they did not want to play outside so I told them they could use the Wii fit game... I think they ran holes in the floor. Could not help but laugh at the excercise they did not know they were getting!

Here is a picture of the real me without my white yoga pants and with my darling oldest daughter...why am I showing you this? I never share pictures of little old me...why because my Wii pissed me off!
White yoga pants...who wears those?!

!

Goodnight Angel

2009-06-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Mary Farrah Leni Fawcett (February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009)

The reason that the all-American boy prefers beauty to brains is that he can see better than he can think.
- Farrah Fawcett

Many 40-something men will be sad today. I am sad a little too. Sad that she died of a cancer that was probably treatable but possibly ignored because it was not beautiful like her. Do not ignore troublesome symtoms because they are embarrassing.

If you have a concern or symptom that last longer then a couple weeks--see your doctor. Then if your are dismissed but your symptoms continue...become a pain in the ass! You need to drive the bus that is your medical care.

Enough preaching from me, now I am off to find something extra irreverent for tomorrow to make up for my sermon today. It's just cuz' I like you though!

A mothers work...

2009-06-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

I am currently dealing with a parenting dilemma that has probably been around as long as Mom's have been popping out kids.

How do you get them to do anything?

I have 3 kids. One is pretty eager to help but seems to be ultra easily distracted and at times gets that sour look on her face when I ask a little more. I have one that likes to help but somehow seems to always end up in a chair with a Nintendo DS attached firmly to his grip. Then there is my 3rd--she will use more energy to not do anything then to just do what is asked. Ask her to clean up...she will hide all the clothes under her covers and cheerfully tell me she is done. UGHHH!

What is a Mom to do?

No, seriously, I am asking you what is a Mom to do?

How do you get your kids to be productive members of your household. We tried the allowance, earning extra money for more contribution, loosing priveledges for not doing the chores, chore charts and lists, screaming, yelling, and tantrums (at the age of 38- I can still throw a mean tantrum).

Now I am thinking we will once again head back to the weekly chore chart and pray it works. The hardest part for me is to be firm with the consequences. Sometimes it is just easier to let them play and do it myself! I hate to let them think life is always fun--we all have jobs to do.

I told one child today that chores are like jobs. What will she do when she grows up and has a job. She cheerfully informed me that you don't "have" to get a job...GREAT!

Maybe I need to change my focus and get the dog to start helping me out. He craves my approval more then all 3 of my kids combined!

No this is not my dog, I wish it was we would already be half way home to getting this house on the road to spic and span!

Kate - Jon + a camera crew = 8 confused kids

2009-06-22T22:09:00.000-07:00

Well, we all knew it was coming right? Splitsville for the TV family of 10. Announced tonight that divorce papers were filed. So sad for all those little kids.

I think it is a huge mistake to put your entire life in everyone's living room. To have your family scrutinized under a microscope. I have watched the show off and on. My kids love it, probably because that house has even more kid chaos then ours does...imagine that. But that Kate, I tell ya, she runs a pretty tight ship. Not a lot of room for anything other than what she plans. I am not surprised the way she carried her husbands testicles around in her purse that sooner or later he was going to grow another pair. The sad thing is they have all this very uncomfortable tension between them. They plan to continue to film their TV show-really?

My plee to them is this...Screw the contract with TLC, screw the media. Pull the wagons around your children and shut the rest of the world out. We do not need to see this. Take care of your kids and figure your life out. I imagine over the years they have changed a lot and probably are not compatible but for the love of God and all that is holy--Protect your babies! Divorce privately not in the public eye. Your kids do not need to watch this later in life. This is not quality TV-this is America Rubber necking at your trainwreck of a marriage.

Whew, thanks I feel better now....

Oh and one more thing... am I the only one that thinks Kate's recent hair do is a little nutty...for some reason she reminds me of Max Headroom?!

Wordless Wednesday!

2009-06-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

Notice anything different in these two pictures?

Am I the only one?

2009-06-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

Have you seen it?

The plot focuses on Grace Hanadarko, a smoking, heavy drinking, and promiscuous Oklamhoma City Homicide Detective. In the first episode Grace meets up with her "last-chance" Angel when after one of her drinking binges she runs down and kills a pedestrian with her Porsche. In desperation she calls out for God's help, and a scruffy, tobacco-spitting man who calls himself Earl appears. Unfolding his wings to reveal his divine origins, Earl tells her that she's headed for hell if she does not change her ways.

It is a little on the edgy side. Cable TV pushes the envelope so much these days--who needs to pay for HBO? I am thrilled because while all the other channels are on repeats this show premiers tonight for the third season. So it has sex, drinking and violent subject matter, Angels and humor. Holly Hunter is smoking hot! She gave birth to twins 4 years ago at the age of 47! UGHHH, I have no excuse!

Check it out if you dare!

And then they were 8

2009-06-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

As some of you know I have been blessed with a "buy one-get one free" pregnancy. Although very little is free when it comes to a twin pregnancy and then 2 preemie babies. But that is another story on another day! My second pregnancy was not easy to come by and initially the doctor warned me about becoming too attached to that second little heart beat. It seemed one baby was significantly ahead of the other. Why that is we will never know. I am glad I got attached because now they are both 8 years old...One is still significantly ahead as far as size goes but I just know my little guy will catch up sooner or later.

Happy Birthday Trevor and Elise! It sure has been fun having the joys in double time! The crying and potty training in double time, not so much. Mom loves you more then you will ever know!

There is no irony here that they are both in trees in these pictures. They have always climbed EVERYTHING! I think it may be partly due to being a twin. Perhaps only one was a climber to begin with, the other one had to learn to climb to keep up!

Life = Risk

2009-06-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

If this doesn't make you think...pinch yourself and watch it again!

Super video someone shared with me, Thanks Dan! Now I need to share with you.

Who doesn't love a puppy?

2009-06-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

Last summer we decided to get a dog...more accurately a puppy. Are you shaking your head in disbelief already? In a moment of idealistic insanity we decided we wanted to give our kids the experience of a puppy. To let them watch her grow and have her grow up with us.We were warned by many, but we may have been a little cocky to think we could handle a puppy(might have uttered phrase "piece of cake"). Like new parents that think their kids will be perfect...we knew we would have the perfect puppy! I now know -- I was absolutely off my rocker.

It is hard to fall in love with something that empties its bladder anywhere it wants, craps where it feels like, chews on your most valuable or favorite possessions, jumps on everyone that comes into range, runs away to find new friends if she escapes the yard, tries to eat your cat like a chew toy. It has been a tough road with our little Tessa.

The potty training is finally handled but only because we taught her to ring a bell to go outside. How cute you say??? She rings that bell ALL THE DAMN TIME! She rings the bell even if the other door 15 feet away is already open. She rings the bell if another animal is sitting on the deck wanting to come in. Bunny munching grass in the yard...rings the bell. Dog barking outside...ding-a-ling. She is the keeper of the door.

Our current problem with her is the massive destruction she leaves in her path. She is a puppy, we know. No matter how much she drives us nuts-- she is our dog and will stay here. I just need to vent a little about her...it might save me cursing at her later tonight when she rings the bell for the 13th time in 2 hours.

So, back to the reason I am writing this. Recently I was standing at my deck window and saw several shoes in the yard along with something black that upon closer inspection was this...

My sunglasses...the ones I really liked to wear. I am not a sparkly girl but for some reason I liked these girlie glasses. Clearly the coffee table is not a safe place to keep anything.

On my way to inspect the object I twisted my ankle in one of these...
Here are four of the holes in our yard, it was hard to pick a hole since I have DOZENS to choose from.

The other thing she likes...

But apparently they taste awful!

She also seems to have limited memory because 2 days later the remaining flower was nowhere to be seen.

More of her work...

Yup, our deck with a newly modified hole. I guess it will work as a place to toss your bottle caps? Gotta try to stay positive here.

Grow up soon little girl because I am starting to think an old dog is the way to go!

Tessa our year old 1/2 English Pointer 1/2 Satan puppy

You wanna know the real kicker... My neighbors will think I am crazy before to long. I had a dog trainer tell me not to scold the dog but to scold the object. Maybe it is a load of hooey. Please tell me if it is. Because lately I have been in my yard yelling at shoes, holes, flowers and now sunglasses. My neighbors are going to think I have lost it, heck maybe I have!

She must know I am talking about her--as I write this she is laying quietly in her crate. She is not even chewing on anything of mine...yet.

To bad my future dog sitter reads this blog...she might be conveniently busy if we go on vacation.

2009-06-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

Helllooooooo, anyone come here anymore?

I have been away from my computer. I found it to be a big time killer so I had to scale it back a little. I still have been visiting...just a little less.

I am working at writing something titillating or scandalous but seem to be lacking the material. Time for a trip to the big city or to trick my kids into saying something off the hook. I am working on something - what I am not sure but something!

What are you up too? Moms how are you going to entertain your kids this summer? Trying to plan activities so we can limit the Disney Channel sponsoring our summer vacation!

hold the meat~

2009-05-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

Every year the kids get to pick their favorite meal around their birthday and they help make it. We were a couple weeks late but Megan got hers tonight. Beef flank steak in home made soy ginger marinade with scalloped potatoes and "squeaky" beans. Squeaky beans are simply fresh and crunchy green beans.

Elise and I had a conversation that went like this during dinner...

Elise (who is almost 8 years old): I am not eating that, I am a vegetamian. I won't eat "aminals".

Me: Really, you know vegetarians don't eat pepperoni pizza either

Elise: That's alright, I'll eat veggie delight pizza. I'm not eating milk or eggs or fish either.

Me: hmmm, no cheese on your pizza or ice cream huh?

Elise: (deep thought)

Me: Tomorrow I was planning to make hot dog* roll ups.

Elise: UGHHH, I am going to be a vegetamian the day after tomorrow.

Megan and I could not help laughing at her quick recovery. Not yet 8 and already putting off healthy lifestyle changes for later in the week! That's my girl!

*On a side note I have to mention that, although I am not Jewish, I take advantage of their strict food guidelines and only buy Kosher Beef hot dogs. I may spend more, but the absence of snouts and tails makes it all worth it!

2009-05-25T23:10:00.000-07:00

My lovelies have returned!

They were tired, dirty and grouchy-- but they are back. Funny how you look forward to the break and then miss them when they are gone.

Tell me it won't be that way when I stop having a period?! I won't ever miss that, will I?

Happy Tuesday, enjoy your short week!

Memories or the lack of

2009-05-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

I choose to think about memories today and the odd ones we have. Some things it would seem we should never forget, yet we do. Other things live with us forever for some unknown reason. Recently I was talking with 2 people that should have many of the same memories I have. Yet we all remember completely different things. Some memories they have, I would have sworn I was not even there for. It was like hearing a story for the first time. My mind just did not register the memory like theirs did.

Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it. ~Michel de Montaigne

It's surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ~From the television show The Wonder Years

And this I believe to be so true and perhaps my favorite...

Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things. ~Pierce Harris, Atlanta Journal

VGNO- Party for us bloggers!

2009-05-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day weekend ladies! Word on the street is sunny here, hope the same for you wherever you are!

Tonight I will be drinking

BLUEBERRY MOJITO-

Mojitos are my favorite cocktail!

Blueberries are full of antioxidants . Will that help to counteract the rum?

4-5 sprigs of mint (mint tops)

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

1/2 ounce simple syrup

4 tablespoons blueberries, divided

1/4 cup white rum

1/4 cup club soda

Place mint sprigs, lime juice and syrup and 3 tablespoons blueberries in a highball glass. Muddle with a muddler for few seconds, holding the glass at its base. Fill up with cubed ice, white rum and soda. Stir and serve with a sprig of mint and remaining whole blueberries.

I will need it because my day includes playing hooky with my kids and doing some of this...

The kids want to go on a hike today.

Every Memorial Day weekend My Dad & his Wife take all the Grandkids to go have a total kid weekend. So I will do this

Wave goodbye to my lovelies while wearing my white tuxedo

and look forward to this

I Hope I have enough coffee because I plan on laying around and drinking it for a large chunk of the weekend. I plan to make it to the gym as well but that seems a bit counterproductive to the whole relaxing thing-the greater good I suppose.

Enjoy your time ladies! This hopefully marks the beginning of a wonderful summer.

Visit Ann for more people playing tonight

They grow up so fast

2009-05-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

LIFE magazine, 1942

Yesterday Trevor announced that he wanted to play spin the bottle.

Today he came home with a girls phone number in his pocket.

Tomorrow he will probably ask for the car keys.

Boy, 7 is the new 17!

Once we told him that spin the bottle had to do with kissing he changed his mind. He did put the phone number in a safe place though!

Sorry Buddy, Mommy did not mean to poison you

2009-05-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

My little boy has what is considered a potentially life threatening allergy. He is allergic to peanuts. Peanut allergic reactions can range from mild to fatal. He falls somewhere in the middle.

I discovered he had this allergy when he was about 11 months old. I now know it was probably not a good idea to feed him peanut butter cookies, but in my defense they were home made and de-lish-e-oh-so! After all Moms tend to make their favorite cookies, and mine definitely are peanut butter!

The initial reaction happened something like this...

Put chubby little baby Charlie Brown in his highchair-that is who he looked like. I'd load and actual picture but after the massive PC crash of 2006--I do not have one! At the time we were living in a temporary home while our home was for sale. After all, what kind of moron wants to try to sell a house you live in with your 11 month old twins and a 3 year old? Not me. Fortunate we were, because my grandmother had a rental they were getting ready to flip that we could borrow for a few months.

Fussy baby needed a snack so Mom can get something done. Fresh peanut butter cookies will do the trick, who knew you weren't supposed to give babies peanut butter...NOT ME! I know, I know...this was before my adventures in nursing school.
I am way smarter now! Did I just see my Mom smirk?

Fussy baby becomes swollen baby...hmmm, quick thinking on Mom's part. Look around and wonder what he is reacting to. Old lead paint falling off the ceiling, spring time pollen, dust, something in the cookie? Either way, remedy came in the form of a dose of benadryl.

I wondered and wondered all day and night...what could it be?

My solution was this...next day move highchair to someplace with less paint falling down and offer him another cookie. Guess what? I don't have to tell you do I? Well it was not the paint that made is eyes swell it was the peanuts...I do not think I have made peanut butter cookies since then. Sad for me.

That story leads into the tag line for my post...

Yesterday, when I made the kids lunches, I nearly killed my son. I gave him his sisters peanut butter sandwich... I go through this every morning. I make his sandwich first so I do not cross contaminate any of the containers. I then put his sandwich in his lunch bag before I start the others.

I double and triple check myself. I am a bit OCD about making sure his lunch is safe. What happened? I am not sure, I think I just made a mistake. Lucky for me he realized it immediately and spit his first bite out. He had no significant reaction. Lucky me, that would have been really a tough thing to live with. I can laugh now but man, what would I have done? God smiled on me and I am grateful!

Today they all got tuna fish! After all, the last thing I want is for him to think Mommy has it in for him. Imagine the call I would get from the school nurse, "Hi Trevor's Mom, we had to use his Epi-Pen today because you gave him a peanut butter sandwich in his lunch. You do remember he is allergic to peanuts, don't you?"

How long do you think it would it take CPS to get to my house?

fashion courage and the ultimate gift

2009-05-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wake up and think that maybe this is the day you want to start a new fashion trend?

Do you think this one will take off?

I love going to Dead shows for so many reasons. You can wear anything. People applaud you the more insane your attire is! Our weekend with the heads was a blast with only minor damage...darn sunburn.

The Venue was the The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, WA. Get it- George is the name of a city in Washington state. Pretty creative huh? However, corniness aside the view is nothing less then breathtaking.

The above picture was taken while The Doobie Brothers were playing. Neither my sister or I are fans so we took the view in from much higher up. It was pretty empty when they played...maybe they don't have many fans left?! I did learn something though...apparently they aren't even really brothers! What the hell? All these years I figured they were actually brothers. Man, next thing somebody will tell me Doobie is slang for something and not really anyone's name at all...nah couldn't happen.

Our reserved seats were pretty close so my view looked something like this...

Bob Weir is 62 years old and if you ask me he looks a little like a mad professor but I would not have missed seeing him! I just loved sitting and watching him play. I could not help but smile, but then again that might have had something to do with the herbs that were being enjoyed around me. The air is pretty fragrant at these shows...intoxicatingly so. I did not have kids with me so I was allowed to not worry about a little second hand smoke and sat there and smiled!

Phil Lesh, yup he is 69 years old but that is a wicked cool bass guitar. He also took about 15 minutes to talk about organ donation and how his life was spared because someone gave him the ultimate gift of a new liver after years of fighting Hep C. I have to agree my childhood best friend is alive and well today because someone gave him their heart when his no longer worked well.

Please consider organ donation and make sure to express your wishes to your family. If they do not know you want it, it just might not happen. It also opens the avenue for discussion about their end of life wishes as well. I know it is not a fun thing to consider. I hate to say that is it crucial but that is what it comes down to.

I am not sure where this soap box came from or how I got on it. I suppose it is just something I am passionate about and would like to convey the need to share your wishes.

Thanks for visiting me!

P.S. No new piercing or tattoos...this time.

Another VGNO--party Blog style

2009-05-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

Gee, I wonder how many of my family blog followers I have lost with all this talk of blog parties and Gene Simmons? What started as a little family blog to update the family as to what is going on in our neck of the world has become Mommy's outlet...sorry guys. I will still mail you Christmas cards, OK?

Tomorrow morning I will be getting up and going to see The Dead with my sister. We will camp and play like we are young again. All the living members will be there so I am quite pleased to be able to see them again, who knows it could be the last time. I promise I will not get any piercings this time!

This week at Ann's she is talking sweets. This is perfect because my cocktail tonight in honor of VGNO looks delish! If I was not dreaming of summer time I might have one in real life but alas only a virtual drink tonight.

There's nothing like a Cherry Garcia Cocktail.

What you need:

1. A blender, food processor, or a martini shaker
2. A half a cup of white Irish Cream
3. 2-3 spoonfuls of Cherry Garcia
4. Half a shot of Smirnoff Black Cherry vodka

Pulse the blender until you can liquify the ice cream. Pour ice cream into martini glasses and enjoy. The chocolate bits will fall to the bottom, but you can use a spoon to eat them.

Happy weekend Ladies!

i went, i saw, i bought my kids art...

2009-05-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

Nope, I was not lucky enough to buy the KISS inspired Mona Lisa picture! Another lucky Mom got that one from her son---maybe next year mine will push the envelope like that.

Painted by Leonardo da Vinci

I can certainly see the likeness, how about you? Wouldn't da Vinci be proud that 5th graders are creating art inspired by her? Do you think he would mind she has the face of Gene Simmons?

I am still annoyed that they even tried to pass this off as a fundraiser. Today they offered that if I was unable to make it last night for a minimum donation, I could purchase my kids school art projects. Last night I took every piece displayed and took it home...possession is 9/10th of the law, right? I made a stinkin' donation, because that is what we do...but it still pisses me off!

Wonder what in the heck I am rambling about...read this.

I ♥ this little Face!

2009-05-12T00:33:00.000-07:00

This weeks theme is "laughter". It certainly is a tough picture to get at just the right moment. I think I got the picture, just unfortunately with a cheapo camera. It looked way grainier then I would have liked once I cropped it down...

I love the look on her face. How perfect is this -- today is her 1oth birthday!
I ♥ this little Face!

Happy Birthday Meg!

When life gives you lemons...make lemonade. I played up the graininess to make it more so. I tried to fix the color.

Note to self...do not take a cheap camera to Disneyland just because it will fit in your bag. You will regret it!

For me?

2009-05-11T23:10:00.000-07:00

This took so much longer to compose then I ever thought it would.

I have been honored to receive a blog award. Thanks Audrey! She is an incredible writer that is sharing her journey with us about her fight with stage 3 cervical cancer. A battle she will conquer and then write a fabulous book for other people facing the same scary journey!

This award is not free, I actually have to share some personal facts with my readers? Do I still have any readers? I have not blogged regularly enough lately, I may have lost all of them...please don't leave. I will do better, I promise!

Okay. 10 Things You May Not Know About Me:

My computer is a Mac! LOVE IT!
The first time I pierced my nose was in the parking lot of a Grateful Dead show in 1994. I think he was stoned. Sometimes I still wonder why it got infected. :)
I was once a best man in my best friends wedding. Yup! The bachelor party pretty much sucked!
My first car was a 1972 Chevy Nova my parents bought it because they thought it would keep me safe. The irony is I ended up hitching rides with so many strangers because it was always leaving me stranded late at night! It was a total P.O.S!
I might have a wee bit of a crush on John Stewart from the Daily Show.
I cannot seem to fall asleep without the TV on, terrible I Know! Frequently it is the fella from the previous item that I fall asleep watching.
I hate sleeping in hotels, to many Dateline episodes I guess.
When I was 19 my best friend/room mate and I found a tattoo parlor in the phone book and went for tattoos on sudden whim. I find it interesting how many tattoo parlors are closed on Sundays...I think it is less about the day of the Lord and more about the Saturday night sleep off. Ask me if I would get the same tattoo again... Nope! I tell that to my kids a lot. Hopefully they will learn from my error. I love tattoos---just not my tattoo.
I have had the same Cell phone number since I was 22 years old--16 years.
My children are obsessed with how many blog followers I have. If I have befriended others. If I will post things or not post things. They did a big happy dance recently when one of my favorite blogs I read, became one of my followers as well. I think partly because they get a huge kick out of the picture on her header...check her out -- She is awesome, but we just call her Sticky.

I am passing this all on to --->

Marci from Marci's Musings

Sticky from Not too sticky

The Good Cook

Right on Mom

Talking Trash

Jan from Jan's Place

Airing my Dirty Laundry, One Sock at a Time

Amy Kate from Little House On the Quarry

To my above mentions do not feel pressured to do anything. If you want just post the little picture on your blog somewhere and pat yourself on your back feel free. Just know that I think you ROCK!

I would like to offer this award to any new bloggers that have not gotten an award for your sidebar. Have at it baby, it is yours...let me know so I can come read your 10 things!

Girls night out blog hopping...

2009-05-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Wow, is it Friday already? I would say thank goodness but I have had the whole week off so every day has been laid back. It was an unplanned vacation, one of the problems with going to a strictly on call schedule...sometimes nobody calls. Looks like next week should be a little better, yeah for the paycheck!

Happy Girls Night out, I am going to be participating later tonight. All this talk at Ann's working out fired me up to head to the gym for a couple hours. Then I will come home and promptly blow the work out by drinking one of these...

A Dirty Mama
After all it is Mothers Day weekend

1 jigger Brandy
fill glass Half-and-half
1 jigger Kahlua
1 jigger Vodka

Virtual calories add up to nothing right? Good thing, because according to supercocktails this little baby packs a mighty 420 calorie punch...ouch!

Who know maybe by the end of the night I will look like this...

This is still one of my favorite stupid movies! Something about Mary in case you missed it, I think my Mom might have hated it...Guess she won't be getting it for Mothers Day this year.

And just for the fun of it take a peak at this...

I am afraid if my Mom had made sushi when I was a child it may have tasted something like meatloaf. No offense to my Mom--I just don't think she has ever made sushi.

Happy Mothers Day to all you Moms out there. Enjoy the day you are supposed to relax and be waited on. It usually does not work out that way here-- but here is to hoping!

I ♥ Faces, week 1

2009-05-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

I ♥ Faces is a photography site focused on the art of capturing faces and their various emotions. This week the theme is hats...gotta have one.

I love to cruise through the gorgeous photos and dream of a nice SLR camera...one day I tell you, one day! This week I am going to try my hand at it, just for the fun of it.

This picture is of my niece, Avery. My sister actually took the picture of her with her Nikon SLR. I fell in love with it. Her picture was pretty all on its own. I digitally manipulated it a little for a little more punch. I sharpened it, and boosted the color and cropped it down. I hope it meets your expectations sis! This is a collaboration submission, and since I am late and it doesn't count anyhow-who cares!

I do have pictures of my own kids but this is truely one of my favorite "hat" pictures on my computer. Since we all love this little cutie it seemed like the perfect picture for today.

My adult photo is one of the cast members at Disneyland from our trip last summer. Ahhh, makes me want to go back! It is a little darker then what I would like but not bad considering I took it with my daughters point and click... again I tweaked the color, sharpened and tried to get out some of the fading in the lower left corner.

I have to say that I love Picnik! I am inches from paying for their premium service.

What are they thinking?

2009-05-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

My kids are all in a public elementary school. A school that apparently must not have any money at all. None. It must not, I swear.

They have come up with the most insane fund raising idea. I kid you not. Hopefully you agree with me and do not think I am the insane one.

You see, we pay property taxes. A large portion goes to education.

We go to school fundraiser auctions and spend more money to support our kids school.

We have bought magazines, wrapping paper, books, candy, kitchen storage containers and many more items that had it not been a school fundraiser, I would not have spent money to own.

I supply Kleenex, baby wipes, pencils, paper, crayons, and any other item they call on me to send in with one of my 3 children.

This one takes the prize though. Next Wednesday they are trying something new.

It offends me.

I have been writing this blog in my head from the moment I heard the plan. I have half a mind to complain.

Next Wednesday they are having Art Gallery Night. What is that and why does it have me so fired up? I know, that is what you must be thinking. Let me explain it to you.

They will be selling the kids art work. Yes, the art work my kids have been working on. They want the parents to come and look at the kids art displayed in an art gallery setting and then buy it! Yes, I need to buy my kids art if I would like to have the pleasure of displaying on my fridge. Apparently only the parents can buy their own kids art-good news in case any of mine are a future Picasso. So of course we will have our usual "white horse" donors to the rescue. The rest of us will try to scrape up some cash to buy some of the art my 3 kids have created. What about the kids who's parents cannot attend? What about the parents like us that have multiple kids, how do you buy it all? How crushing will it be if I did not buy the piece that they thought was beautiful? The biggest question I have--what will they do with the unsold merchandise? Will it make its way home sooner or later?

I suppose if we were not in a economic meltdown perhaps it may be just a slightly bad idea. Considering that people are loosing jobs and homes, maybe this is terrible idea.

To make matters worse, they are totally pumping the kids up like Barry Bonds on 'roids. "It will be so cool that your parents can buy your art." They even had a period over a week where they did art every single day. I love it when my kids bring home special things they have made me. I feel like it is one of the glimmers in this public school machine I look forward to. I feel bad for the parents that cannot at this time "afford" the luxury of owning their kids art. My husband said I should not go out of protest. The problem is that will hurt my kids more then the school.

So next Wednesday, my checkbook & I will be attending "Art Night". Hopefully I will buy all their favorite pieces!

At least they were nice enough to let the kids pick one item to take home free of charge...kind of a teaser I suppose. The first one is free, the next one will cost ya! Geez!

Tag, your it!

2009-05-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged - for the first time by Jan over at Jan's Place. You can call her Jan, I call her something else...Mom.

This should be easy, my task is to record ....

" SIX UNIMPORTANT THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY " in no particular order of unimportance

a pedicure
a perfect cup of espresso, espresso con panna for me
clean floors, no muddy paw prints or bits of paper
chocolate, the good kind. None of the waxy stuff here!
taking a perfect picture
the smell of clean laundry

Consider yourself tagged if you read this and feel up to sharing your list! Funny how sometimes the little things are soooo nice!

“Setting a good example for children takes all the fun out of middle age.” -William Feather

2009-05-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

We have a bit of a Birthday season in our family...in less then 2 months we have 11 birthdays. This year we will have 12 since we get to celebrate the birth of a new member of the Spring Birthday Club. We are all very excited to meet the little guy so you won't hear me complain at all!

I would like to take another minute to wish my other half a happy birthday. You have seen a lot in your long life! Thanks for sharing all your wisdom with those younger than you. We sure appreciate it! Can you tell I am younger? You can bet I will not let him forget it either!

We all love you, even when you are goofy! Like in this picture taken while on a trip to Alabama for a car race. I was not there, but if I had to guess I might think you had a few drinks first.
Am I right?

I am going to hear about posting this picture...glad he does not know the first thing about blogging or he would remove it. I like it because he looks so happy. I try to not think about the fact that he was thousands of miles from home. Hopefully that did not contribute to his happiness.

A night out with the girls~ Virtually that is

2009-05-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I think I will play tonight. Somehow with a pandemic going on I got the day off. Not sure how that happened but you can be darn sure I am not answering my phone if my boss calls!

I think I will have a mint julep as suggested by our hostess and enjoy the 70 degree weather we are having. You know, vitamin D is suspected to help prevent some respiratory illnesses. All the more reason to sit in the sun and enjoy a gorgeous day. Might have to pick up a bottle of the vitamins to additionally supplement since we live in land deprived of sunlight on a regular basis.

Tonight Ann spoke of potluck disasters. She was even honest enough to share her own. How nice, make me feel like I am in good company. I had one experience as a newly wed at a neighborhood BBQ. I brought a plate of fresh strawberries with a cream cheese dipping sauce. I think now that I missed the part about adding something to make it sweet. I happened to be behind some girls as they tried it and commented, "this stuff tastes like crap..." That was the last time I ever had that happen. Since then I regularly use a proven set of concepts, ones that never let me down. I also am the woman at potlucks scooping up huge servings of "crap" to spare the feelings of some poor soul that made a bad potluck contribution.

I went to a silent auction a few years ago for the kids school. Someone had submitted a home made decorated wood purse/container that no one was bidding on...well darn it all if I did not win that too! It still sits here on the piano reminding me to think of others feelings. All in all I think it was $30 well spent. If there was even one bid I would have just let it go, I just hated the thought of that person going to all that trouble and having no one want it!

Happy VGNO ladies!

Tamiflu anyone?

2009-04-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

What a week, wouldn't ya say. Makes you wonder who above Obama pissed off. He got a war, a wacked econonmy and now a pandemic. Really, you could not make this stuff up if you tried. I know this because I have been sitting around thinking of something to write and nothing is nearly as intriguing as this pile of crap we are sitting in right now!

I had the pleasure of working today in a large medical faciltity. Swabbing noses, passing out masks, wondering why in the heck you would come to the doctors office for a wart to be frozen off when the World Health Organization keeps saying "pandemic". I personally might wake up, listen to the radio and say...maybe next week I'll get this looked out. I think it does not take a degree in Rocket Science to think that all the sick people are going where? yup, that is right--the doctors office ya doorknob!

I am just a little nurse but really have a gripe with the news media. You would think AIDS suddenly was transmitted via casual contact and came with an automatic 7 day death sentence. People are freaking out!

Calm down, wash your hands, avoid sick people if possible. Drink your fluids, get rest. Take care of yourself. We will get thru this. It will suck if you catch it. But rest assured most people will survive. Already in the US this year we have lost about 13,000 people to the plain old regular flu...13,000 people! Influenza A/H1N1 has claimed nothing even remotely close worldwide.

Oh and I have one more request...

Leave them out of it!

It is tough to be a pig 2009!

Don't even get me started on Egypts' solution to the problem.

I need to take a minute to say something...

2009-04-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We love you Papa! You are a super Step-Dad, Father-in-Law, and Papa. You are the master of a little game called Monkey Cage, you are very prompt at filling wine glasses, the King of Trivia, and somehow seem to have a link to almost everyone. Things are never boring when you are around. We are lucky my Mom found you!

We all adore you and we wish you a happy, happy, happy year.

Honeymoon?

2009-04-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...I have been MIA of late. I am being out blogged by everyone in blogland. It was a long week that involved more working then I typically do. I bow in awe to Moms that work full time! I just cannot wrap my brain around how everything gets done. Working 4 days this week, with evening activities and home work time leaves the house looking like we have been vandalized!

My husband took Elise fishing with him for opening weekend of freshwater fishing at the family lake cabin. Amazing how changing the family dynamics like that seems to create a honeymoon atmosphere. My remaining Posse and I will hit the pool for a swim, hopefully they will oblige me some gym time and then Mexican has been requested. I will then try not to eat all the chips undoing any good I did at the gym...guess I should skip the margarita. Except that this is a honeymoon, right?

Have a lovely weekend where ever you are.

Sisters fishing a couple years ago at the cabin. Yes, we love tye-dye!

They dyed these shirts themselves-I love them! The girls and the shirts.

Might have to send her out to get some real fishing done.

Really, the boat was anchored to the dock in shallow water. I am a life jacket nut-- 1 scary near drowning incident as a child left me freaked out about my kids drowning! That is a future blog for my Mom to share...years if screaming in the shower must have been fun. I hated water as a child.

If they are lucky they will catch something bigger then this!

Megan insists this fish went on to live a happy life. He was put back in the water and swam off...hopefully not to a watery grave. You just have to take a picture of your kids 1st catch!

clarity

2009-04-21T15:04:00.001-07:00

I have had a lot of noise in my head lately. Wondering about choices. Questioning my actions. Trying to forecast my future when I realized something. It is not brilliant or a secret. Maybe you even have had this light bulb go off above your head too.

It's not too late.

I still can be a great Mom.

I still can do all those things I have given up on.

For so long I have been living like I already failed. Ridiculous, I now realize. How much time do you waste when you give up before the race even has started.

I have been dealing with guilt. Feeling like I am not as great of Mom as all these over the top Moms you read about in blogland. Fresh cookies, home made crafts, fancy bedrooms, lot's of activities--June Cleaver stuff. Some days I am tired. It affects my parenting and how attentive I am. Maybe if I own that and accept that I will be a better Mom that way. Besides, I think a lot of these Super Moms are not nearly as perfect as they appear!

I asked all three kids last night what I could do to be a better Mom. They all said "why do you say that, we think you are a great Mom". Maybe my standard is higher then theirs?

When I pushed my son a little more saying, "well, you know sometimes I yell and get upset". His response was, "well, sometimes we do stuff we aren't supposed to". OK, I feel better now.

Thanks for listening to my rambling, I did not cry!

Baby-steps.

I'm fine thanks, how are you?

2009-04-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

As I was sitting here looking on Amazon at great kids shoes for super prices, today only. You should check it out if you need kids shoes.

Amazon Bargains

I heard my 7 year old son who is playing matchbox cars with his older sister say these words...

The inflection was the same, he sounded like a miniature Joey. Should I be worried?

I have not watched Friends in years. It is not something that he would have heard here. Where did he pick that up?

I'm doomed aren't I?

Welcome - VGNO

2009-04-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

Hi all, this is my first time playing at VGNO! I am so looking forward to having all the drinks without the empty calories. In my dream world I will be drinking one of these. They are a lot of work in real life so much easier this way!

I know a lot of folks out there are still dealing with snow...so sorry! It seems like maybe (knock on wood) we will have sun, finally! This drink is the perfect light drink to sip by the pool, enjoy at a BBQ or heck mow the lawn with! It just works. Enjoy and happy weekend!

Cuban Mojito recipe

1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Juice from 1 lime (2 ounces)
4 mint leaves

1 sprig of mint
Havana Club white Rum (2 ounces)
2 ounces club soda

Place the mint leaves into a long mojito glass (often called a "collins" glass) and squeeze the juice from a cut lime over it. You'll want about two ounces of lime juice, so it may not require all of the juice from a single lime. Add the powdered sugar, then gently smash the mint into the lime juice and sugar with a muddler (a long wooden device pictured below, though you can also use the back of a fork or spoon if one isn't available). Add ice (preferably crushed) then add the rum and stir, and top off with the club soda (you can also stir the club soda in as per your taste). Garnish with a mint sprig.

Librarian Alter Ego

If your first name begins with letters A - E, your first name would be: Bubbles. Follow the chart to see what your Librarian's Alter Ego name is.

First Name=
A - E: Bubbles
F - J: Cookie
K - O: Pepper
P - T: Honey
U - Z: Pebbles

Last Name=
A - E: Featherbottom
F - J: Ivanabee-Queen
K - O: Rhea-Listik
P - T: Anitacocktail
U - Z: Mona-Lott

What is yours?

Look around, maybe you will like something you see...
My son wants to be a pirate...or something like that
I tend to cry for stupid reasons
I was blessed with twins
I have lustful thoughts about her
My daughter is the charitable sort, when it comes to the Disney Channel and Hobo's

Questionable career choices...

2009-04-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

Trying to have conversation at the dinner table is sometimes like pulling teeth.

How was your day?

fine.

What did you do?

nothing.

Did you learn anything new?

no.

We have started asking them questions that require an answer that they put together in there little minds. More then one word. We are late at figuring this out, I know.

Last week Michael asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. Megan wants to be a photographer and geologist. Elise wants to be a veterinarian. It came time for Trevor to answer and he said he wants to be a pilot.

I understood he said pilot, since I speak Trevor and Elise fluently. They both have a very interesting East Coast accent. This is curious since we live solidly on the West side of the country. I am wondering where there speech therapist grew up, maybe they picked it up from her?

Anyhow, everyone else at the table thought he said PIRATE.

In this current climate that might not be a solid career choice. Elise asked what a Pirate does. Michael did his best, "ahoy, matie. ARGGG" pirate impression. Trevor and I are watching this. Trevor just keeps saying. "No, a pilot, a pilot", still sounding an awful lot like pirate. A few days later my Mom asked the kids the same question. She thought he said pirate too. I think he better pick a back up career unit his L's quit sounding like R's!. Anyone who asks him that question is going to wonder what kind of derelict we are raising!

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you finally grew up?

After High School I went to school briefly to explore being a cop. Can you imagine that...I would be dabbing my eyes all day long! Those criminals would never take me seriously. "Yeah the cop that picked me up today, she had a tissue shoved up her sleeve like a little old lady".

Why I could not be a police officer

Isn't it nice to see that ship captain was finally released/rescued from the real Pirates. You should have seen the look on my kids faces when they realized that pirates actually do exist. I did not have the heart to tell them they do not look like Johnny Depp though.

The gift

2009-04-12T21:34:00.000-07:00

I just looked at the date on my computer and remembered something. It was 8 years ago that I went into labor at 25 weeks with our twins. It was a busy day, I remember. Trying to run errands and get some last minute things for Megan's upcoming 2nd birthday before I was stuck at home like a beached whale. I spent the day not drinking enough fluids and going from store to store like a delusional woman!

That night, I remember feeding Megan dinner and feeling this tightening that was not normal. Michael was on swing shift at the time so at night it was just Megan & Me (funny, I just thought that sounds a little like Marley & Me~she was much less trouble). That night is a bit of a fog. I think it is the minds way of protecting us, forget the things that are big stresses and are not important in the long term.

I ended up in the hospital. I remember after I got into my room the nurse was checking for dilation... she reached in and pulled her hand back out pretty quickly. Telling the other nurse, "I felt a head". I was 4 cm dilated and only 25 weeks pregnant. Part of me did not believe this was happening to us.

Can't be.

Not Now.

Too Early.

My world came crashing in around me that day. The talk of viability, health impairments, possible lifelong disability, transfer to a bigger hospital, extended NICU stays and a future without our babies clouded my head.

After steroid shots for lung maturation and a lot of monitoring my doctor let me go home on strict bedrest with medication to hopefully hold off an early delivery. My Mom was a gem and took FMLA and offered a lot of help with a busy 2 year old. Michael's Mom came to help watch Megan and get us through the evenings as well. Both our Moms were huge blessings to us during that time. Not sure how we would have survived without them.

It felt like the clock had stopped.

I twiddled my thumbs.
I counted contractions.

I yearned to get out of bed.
I watched a lot of daytime TV.
I got a shower every other day.

I dyed Easter eggs in bed with Megan.

I spent a lot of time laying on my side.

Occasionally at night when our helpers had gone home and Megan was snug in her bed...I would sneak downstairs and raid my own kitchen. I was pregnant after all, those craving can be all consuming!

Somehow we made it to 35 weeks. It was a miracle many have told me. People everywhere were praying, our families supported us, my husband managed to be a Mom and a Dad for 10 weeks. We were a burden on everyone, yet they were all still willing to help.

Then they were born. Trevor was 4lbs and 9 ounces and had eyes that people were compelled to tell me, frequently, were gigantic. Elise was 5lbs 2 ounces and blessed with more proportionate eyes and was just as cute as a little girl should be. They were overall pretty healthy and only spent a little over a week in the hospital after they were born.

I think of this today. I try to remember what could have been and how happy I am to have healthy kids that will be 8 years old in just a couple months. I am far from a perfect Mom, some days when I am getting frustrated with my kids and am dealing with my own demons - I need to remember the gift I have been given. Some Moms only have memories or dreams of their babies and what they should be. I have the whole package! I am one of the lucky ones.

Easter already~

2009-04-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoy this day with your family happy and healthy, and without that Cadbury egg hangover that sometimes comes by Easter evening.

Our Easter dinner is a bit non traditional this year. We are having homemade sourdough waffles. Crazy huh? Breakfast for Easter dinner. A yummy dinner but not very Easterish. I just am not feeling very up for anything big and complicated. That is a little out of the ordinary since I normally love to cook. Just not today. I am in a funk and just cannot seem to find my way out of it. Since it is just the kids and myself tonight waffles it is.

Did you cook a big Easter meal?

Emotional WHAT?

2009-04-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

I am a crier...not the bawling, blubbering, sobbing sort of crier you may be thinking of. I am the sort that gets tears in my eyes when something touches me in some way, it does not even need to be sad or especially emotional. Maybe I am not a crier more of a wet eye kind of girl. Not always convenient, frequently down right inappropriate.

I am fortunate to be able to keep it together when I am working although there are some times as I am taking care of someone I feel that little tug that comes before I sense my eyes are starting to look moist.

I hate this defect! I have even looked into a name for this awful condition. Do you know what they call it? It is called "Emotional Incontinence". Great, that alone is reason enough for me to reach for the tissues and call Dr. Phil. If only an adult diaper would solve this problem!

Since I am getting all personal with you let me share something else. This year my kids were all sick during parent/teacher conferences.

What did I do you ask?

I made my husband go to the conference so I could stay home with the kids.

Why?

Not for the reason you may think. It was because Trevor and Elise's 2nd grade teacher makes me cry. Can you believe it? I can be brought to tears by a 2nd grade teacher telling me how good or bad my kids are doing at school.

I think I might make her uncomfortable when my eyes start to glisten. That one unpredictable parent that might lose it at the drop of a hat. It is never more then silent tears in the eyes, but we all know they are there. I am hoping she is extra nice to them at school just because she thinks their Mom must be a train wreck at home!

CRAZY...maybe you should move on now, find another blog to read because I must be nuts! Just back out of the room, I may not even notice. Don't take it personally if I shed a tear.

I would love to find something that keeps this in check. It is not even like I am sad. I just get teary for no reason. It seems to be worse with people I do not know well, anxiety? Hell if I know! If they find a cure I will call my doctor everyday crying until they offer it to me. Actually my doctor might not be a hard sell, she makes me cry too!

Do you have a physical/emotional trait you just hate? Anyone need a tissue? I have plenty here.

The big reveal~

2009-04-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my oldest daughter had an orthodontist appointment. She was told last time that she would probably be getting her braces off next time she came in. She was very excited because she is already planning the celebration that will follow removal of the dental appliances that torture her. She wants Carmel Apples, corn on the cob, taffy, and anything else that makes me yell "no you can't have that, you will break a bracket!"

Here is her before picture...in the parking lot on the way in for the big removal

and this is what she looks like now~

She is still smiling though.

Her party is on hold for at least 4 more weeks. There was a bright spot in her day. She had a tooth the Doctor has been trying to get her to pull out for 2 months. The other tooth was growing in under it and it was wreaking havoc on his work. Her orthodontist really wanted it gone...He pushed and prodded with no luck, only tears. I figured least I could do is offer a large reward for that tooth. How does $10 sound, but it had to be out that day. Well, it sounded good to her too, I had that tooth in my hand within 4 hours. I told her no double dipping though. It is my tooth now, she can't try to sell it to the tooth fairy as well!

the day we all knew was coming...

2009-04-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

Today was a seriously rough morning. We went from the luxury of sleeping till 9-9:30am, Having a nice brunch and lazing around in jams till noon. This morning held shrill alarms clocks and Mom saying "come on, hurry up, you're going to miss this bus." The stress was almost more then they could handle! These kids had a major spring break hang over!

Here is the proof...

"Man, I sure am going to miss pancakes and my DS"

"Helping Mom cook is way better then learnin' and stuff"

"I love having jammie days...why am I dressed so darn early?"

They look really sad in all this photos, wouldn't you say? Funny thing is I did not ask them to look this sad. So either they were terribly disappointed to go back to school or it was just too early for Mom to be hassling them with the camera!

I don't have the heart to tell them after they got on the bus...I hauled my butt back into bed for a little nap...till about 9am. Boy they would be so bummed!

Worse for the little darlings is that after I was recharged myself - I took garbage bags into all their rooms and had my way with them...This would be the time I would insert and evil laugh and put my pinkie to my mouth like in Austin Powers.

Let's see how long it takes them to notice if anything is missing.

The buzzkill is that tomorrow I will have to go back to work too. Guess that means my spring break hangover will be in full swing by then as well! Not sure if I will share that picture... I am sure it will look similar only I will have a coffee cup instead of a back pack but my face may be just as sad!

Hey, I just realized this is my 100th post...
What do ya think of that?

Sunday Quote

2009-04-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

So self explanatory but sometimes I still need to be reminded to make the right choices in life. The ones you can be proud of as you lay on your death bed. The ones that take you out of what was convenient and easy and become something so much more. Going above and beyond the call of duty. If we all did this regularly I think it might be a different world we would live in.

Here is how this works...
Post a new post on your blog with some of your favorite quotes.
Then go over to "A Daily Dose of Toni" and post your link in the mister linkey.

Then go check out all the other cool bloggers that are joining in Quotable Sunday, check back all day as people are posting throughout the day. Have a great Sunday!

I love hearing from you and like to visit you as well!

Spring break without the body shots and wet t-shirt contests

2009-04-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

I could so get used to this. I vote to extend spring break until the end of the month! Sleep till 9:30am, coffee in jammies, read a few blogs, more coffee, check email, take a walk and torture the kids with more pictures to be taken of them, wash a few dishes, more coffee, catch an episode of something on the Disney channel with the kids, banish the 8:30 bedtime and watch food network with my little foodies, read book with the kids. This is way better then working!

My oldest daughter asked my husband why he had to work during spring break. He told her that grown ups don't get spring break. She looked a little puzzled and said "but Mom does". Gotta love it. Yup, I sure do! I am not too old for spring break, you heard it here first! I will spare you the wet t-shirt shots though...being the Mom of 3 kids did major damage to my future as a wet t-shirt model! Well, that and my unhealthy love of carbohydrates!

So, thanks for working Honey, so I can spend the week doing nothing and hanging with our kids. If only I did not have cramps that make me think my ovary will be exploding out of my body like a projectile missile any minute, it would be perfect! Gee, I guess I am not 19 anymore!

P.S. If you wouldn't mind my little fellow would love some more traffic on his awesome aerial acrobatic photo. He thinks it is so cool people he does not even know think he is almost as cool as Tony Hawke. Who is Tony Hawke I asked...I am "so not cool" I was informed!

Link here --->Trevor mid air

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

This one if for the Grandmas

Trevor wants you to see this

2009-03-31T08:02:00.000-07:00

My son has begged and pleaded for me to post a picture on my blog. A specific picture. He really, really, really wants to share it with all of you. I think, he thinks it makes him look daring, courageous and fearless. I think I am lucky that my very slow but capable camera actually got the shot he wanted.

If you feel so inclined maybe leave a comment for him. I know he will ask if anyone liked his picture. Thanks in advance for helping me create the future daredevil that seeks approval of others around him. Isn't that how most boys are wired? I am sure some girls are as well, just not my girls. I am sure I will regret this if he starts base jumping later in life. I will know where it all started. That one day he jumped off the sign... he was flying for just a second and it was so fun!

Is this cool or what-

2009-03-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

Click the image to see it bigger

Maybe you have seen this before. It is like word soup. You go to this great sight Wordle and can type in whatever cool words you can think. If you cannot think of cool words you enter your website address and it gets your words off your blog for you then *POOF*, like magic you get something like this. All those words came off this blog. I checked~I think the swearing is minimal.

LOVE IT!

I made a second one just using the kids names and their description from my sidebar. Now that is my desktop background on my computer.

You must first display your Wordle at the desired size, then take a "screen shot" or "screen capture". Here's a link to a web site that gives instructions for creating screen shots on various kinds of computer take-a-screenshot.org.

Hey, lucky me...I WON!

2009-03-29T12:37:00.001-07:00

My Mother and Mother-in-Law will be so happy. Many years I have been hearing little comments about why we have never gotten professional photos of our family. The timing is never right. You know how it goes. Always too busy. Fifteen more pounds to lose. I would have to buy some new clothes. Have you seen some of those boring pictures that all look the same...yuck! Never extra money to pay for the pictures. But guess what? I entered a give away at a fabulous blog that I regularly visit. They were giving away a 2 hour photo shoot with a great local photographer , Tots and Tails. You know what? I WON! My kids are a little bigger then tots and I think we will leave the tails out of the pictures. She does gorgeous outdoor photographs. I am so excited. The time is now!

The blog I follow is called Little Birdie Secrets . I love that they talk about the very same craft stores I go to because they live not that far away. I dig the super ideas they give me-even though I do not have time to craft as much as I would like. They inspire me to find my crafty self again. Just check them out...and read their most recent post--it talks about me being a BIG winner!

Thank you Little Birdie Secrets and Tots & Tails!

tree envy

2009-03-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted a tree house. Since I was a little kid. I do not recall ever having one. My Dad was real handy, he built the house we lived in. Yet still my sister and I never had the joy of an awesome building above the ground to play in, camp in, pretend in. What gives Dad? Prime opportunity missed!

When we bought our current home, located in a more rural area, I remember looking at all the trees for a perfect home for a tree house. ZIP, NADA, NONE! Not one tree on over 1 acre of land that could hold a tree house. My kids need a tree house! My neighbor has a perfect tree. It is even already cut down at about 15 feet. It is ready to be made into a home in the sky...he has no kids. Again, what gives? That tree mocks me from across the fence. Damn dead tree stump!

I think this is my solution. What do you think my neighbor will think. Will it make his tree jealous?

Steampunk Tree House
The tree is 30' tall, 30' wide and weighs 8 tons. It was crafted from recycled and reclaimed materials by 60 artist from the Bay area. I know I cannot afford this particular tree house. Although I thought it was interesting that you can rent it. You need to have room for a crane to reassemble it though. They even went to all the trouble to haul it to Burning Man.

My ideal tree house would be wood and have a lot of branches that the wind could whistle through. A place to escape the chaos of a home and all the chores that live there. A home away from home. An escape. A get away.
What do you think?

Where was I?

2009-03-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

Apparently when I am distracted my kids are working on developing their future skills as an abstract photographers. I happened to be sitting at my computer this morning and found a file of 460 pictures on the "photo booth" of my computer. I will share a few since I cannot think of anything witty, intriguing or scintillating to share today.

Think it is rough with 3 kids, how about 6? I love that they all look really happy in this picture.

Very dramatic

How did she know I really needed a picture of that littlest pet shop?

Ode to Gwen Stefani
B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Nintendogs anyone?

Which is better ? 4 eyes and no mouth or no eyes and 2 mouths?
I am torn.
Wait, how about 2 belly buttons. I have a picture of that too!

I think I need a nap, what do you bet when I come back to my computer I will have 100 more pictures!

P.S. One of my little blog followers noticed one of the BEST pictures was not included...here ya go Trevor

just some fighting arms

recovery is bliss?

2009-03-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

Well, another school day has come and gone with a sick child still home...sick. I have not been to work in...let me look at the calendar...12 days. Thank goodness I had some days off scheduled for a fun mini-vacation-that worked out well. For 12 days I have been home dealing with sick children and been sick myself. I also have had a sick husband although he resists all suggestions so the dealing part is minimal- he is pretty good at quarantining himself and just plowing through.

The good news is that, I think, by tomorrow (knocking on my desk now) they will all be back at school. This is perfect timing because I HAVE to go back to work on Wednesday. At least a break from all this you may think. Those who may not know me personally may miss the humor I have to find in this situation. 12 days at home taking care of sick kids---tomorrow I go back to work and take care of more sick people. I will again be dosing them with Motrin, giving nebulizer treatments, taking temperatures and trying to assure them this truely will not last forever- even though it feels that way. Oh, the joys of being a nurse during the cold and flu season. At least they will pay me for my time - the bummer is I can't do it in my jammies.

2 thumbs up for healthy kids!

progress?

2009-03-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Well, 2 out of the 3 made it to school today. My little man and I are having a sick day. He currently is attempting to heat our home with his body heat alone. He woke up from a little morning nap at 103.6 degrees. A little Motrin (my new BFF) and a nebulizer treatment should help him out. I hope he takes another little nap so I can lay around and watch twighlight all by my lonesome.

I did get a laugh out of this, maybe you will enjoy it as well.

Stumbled across it on I Need A Martini Mom but she was honest enough to admit that she swiped it from Write On, Yo. Either way it gave me a little laugh on this morning when I feel like nothing much is funny. Love the E*trade baby--this is a cure for the usual boring dialogue he spews.

lather, rinse, repeat

2009-03-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

Previously we had sick 1 & sick 2. We were desperately trying every antibacterial/viral method to prevent seeing an appearance of sick 3, sick, 4 & sick 5. Well color me excited because we went for the full meal deal. I even ended up with a repeat of sick 2 being sick again with another bug of sorts. So I now sit here sweating like a hooker in church and praying that any minute the pharmaceutical concoction I put together will work.

Wish me well folks. I need it!

a week in the life~

2009-03-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Today we are on day 7 of a sick child at home. Some days, like today, I was even blessed enough to have 2 kids home sick. OH JOY! ~it is really hard to convey sarcasm in the blogging world-I hope you picked up on it.

I felt bad when I started to consider how lucky the first child was and how unfortunate it is to be the 3rd sick child in 7 days...

Day one- lovingly dote, cook soup and take temperature frequently
Day two- still dote, still frequent temperature verification
Day three- less frequent temperature...apparently she has a fever that lasts 100 years. Motrin has become my BFF.
Day four- come on, you will be ok for 1 hour, I really need to go to the store. I will buy you popsicles...I promise.Here have a little Motrin before we go.
Day five- what have I done to deserve this?
Day six- looking good. I think you can go back to school tomorrow. Mom is smiling on the inside and outside. Wait is that the phone ringing? "Yes, hello school nurse. What I need to come get oldest child, fever you say? You are joking. Really? CRAP!" Ok, maybe I did not actually say CRAP to the school nurse-- if I do not embellish a little that part is really b-o-r-i-n-g!
Day seven-walking out the door for the bus with 2 of the 3 kids. Suddenly with door open young son says, "can you take my temperature?" You guessed it! Did I just start the cycle again? I again would like to ask "what did I do to deserve this?" I believe in karma and for some reason mine is damaged! Today these sick kids seem a little better then 1st sick child was. Maybe that is why when one of them put their feet on the french doors she actually had to wash the window afterward. Does that make me the meanest Mom on the face of the earth? Well technically it was her Dad that made her wash the window...but I did not object.

Yep, it really pays to be the early bird and get sick before Mom becomes a walking zombie. The perks are better and Mom is definitely nicer!

Now that I am getting a sore throat, who is going to take my temperature? Why did I ever teach those kids to share?

Gotta run, I need to go take some temperatures and find my bottle of Motrin...for them. I need something stronger for myself!

my new love interest

2009-03-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

I wish I loved doing laundry. I wish I loved mopping the floor. I wish I loved cleaning my kitchen till it sparkles. I wish I loved going to the gym and pushing myself beyond my normal limits. I wish I loved cleaning toilets and tubs. I wish I loved vacuuming.

Nope, I love sitting with friends and drinking coffee. I love reading blogs of people I do not even know. I love r-e-l-a-x-i-n-g. I love eating ice cream even though I know it really is not good for me. I love naps. I love reading magazines. I love a cup of coffee and the morning paper. I love cooking, which usually involves messing up my kitchen. I love watching Chuck with my husband. I love a long bath and a good book. I love shopping. I love going to the theater. I love being crafty. I love a quiet evening with a glass of wine after the kids are sleeping.

So now, I sit here doing this...

when I really should tackle this...
plus the load in the dryer and one waiting in the wash!

Well, I guess I need to go now- 5 people sure dirty a lot of clothes!
I think I might make a cup of coffee first though...I wonder if we have any ice cream? Hey, I think one of my new magazines just came in the mail...

I need to work on getting some new more productive things to love.

I think I could love her-
Does that count?

think outside the box...find a new purpose for everyday items

2009-03-18T15:22:00.001-07:00

sometimes when you have one of these...a wiped out sick kid

You have a surplus of these lying around.

Thank God it is not a rectal, because apparently in a pinch it also works well as a stylus!

Random acts of kindness

2009-03-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

We have a weekly ritual in our house. Thanks the the DVR we record Survivor to watch it Friday night...commercial free. We all pile onto our incredibly shrinking sofa. It must be shrinking because we don't all fit like we used to. We would love a nice big sectional but maybe our shrinking sofa helps keep us all close. It certainly had something to do with the picture I am about to share with you.

I was sandwiched between Trevor and the arm of the couch when I had the pleasure to see this. Thank goodness- due to this blog- I usually have a pretty good idea where my weapon of mass torture is. I was lucky enough to get a picture of my two sweet daughters lost in the moment. The older sister tickling the younger ones hand.

I feel blessed.

One of my Lucky charms

2009-03-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Sending you a little luck of the Irish today.

A Mother's Love Is A Blessing
An Irish boy was leaving
Leaving his native home
Crossing the broad Atlantic
Once more he wished to roam
And as he was leaving his mother
Who was standing on the quay
She threw her arms around his waist
And this to him did say

A mother's love's a blessing
No matter where you roam
Keep her while she's living
You'll miss her when she's gone
Love her as in childhood
Though feeble, old and grey
For you'll never miss a mother's love
Till she's buried beneath the clay.
From the song of the same name by Thomas P Keenan

Meet my friends U.P. Chuck and Ralph

2009-03-16T00:04:00.000-07:00

Our weekend was eventful in the most unpleasant ways.

Sick 1

Sick 2

We are desperately trying to avoid Sick 3,
Sick 4, and lastly Sick 5!

I would have loved to share pictures of Trevor after he burst the capillaries in his face but he vetoed the pictures, feet are all he will offer you. He is sick, so I felt I should respect his wishes. Even though he is darling with all those little red spots all over his face. He bounced back by Sunday. Poor baby-Elise looks like she got run over by a bus still. It is dicey whether she will make it to school tomorrow-which means it is dicey whether Mom will make it to work. Guess we will just wait and see.

Wishing you all well and reminding you to maybe pick up a bottle of hand sanitizer when you are at the store. This junk is noooo fun!

confused~

2009-03-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

My flowers are bewildered!

job training for the future...

2009-03-14T23:51:00.000-07:00

I think I may have found a future profession for some of my brood. I have noticed when I pull the camera out for photo ops they have started shielding their faces. So after putting some thought into how this could work for them I came up with one thing... celebrity!

I guess I need to consider my future career as a sneaky paparazzi stalking my victims...I mean subjects!

I found this photo on the internet...I will have to show it to Trevor so he can whip one up and quit using his clothes and hand to hide his face!
Sponge Bob out of legos=AWESOME!

Trevor hiding his face with his hand

Turtle maneuver, insert head in jammies at first sighting of camera!

The other thing I am hearing, after taking a photo of a perfectly adorable moment, is that I cannot use it on the blog. For real, they have already decided they have creative license about this. GEESH! Too bad they actually read it...I would just sneak it on here anyhow! I will tell ya- you are missing out on some really great photography! I guess this all goes right along with the celebrity thing...getting bossy about what photo's they will sign off on!

Am I really the only Mom that tortures her children with the camera? They will thank me one day, don't you think?

Oh darn...now that I think of it I may know where they learned this from---

Guilty-that is me with my hand over my face during a weekend at the beach.
One of my children even took this picture.
Do as I say child, not as I do!

Please Mom, I want a brother

2009-03-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

We were driving in the car the other day. Just my 2 daughters and 1 son and myself. I was busy breaking their little hearts and crushing their hopes and dreams. I was explaining in simple terms that we will not be having any more babies at our house. Trevor and Elise are somewhat miffed that they will never be able to be a "big" brother or sister. I think because people around us are having babies every which way we turn they think maybe that good fortune will fall upon us too!

Trevor after thinking a while told me that we could adopt a kid...specifically a boy to even things up around our house. I told him that we probably would not be doing that either. Did he really want to share his Mom with another kid? Well that is a dumb question to ask a twin that has been sharing his whole life! Trevor and Elise have no problem sharing! Bring it on Mom, the more the merrier! He is also good at compromising. He told me we could adopt a 16 year old because then we would only have to take care of him for 2 years...

Yeah, I'll get back to ya on that one Trev...

toothless grins and the hat that taunts me!

2009-03-05T14:59:00.000-08:00

Trevor had a big night...he lost not 1 tooth the other night but 2. He lost both his top front teeth the same evening. WOWZA! He was hoping for a big pay out that night from the good old Tooth Fairy.

This picture was taken a couple days prior. All present and accounted for-including the hat that Santa should have left at the North Pole!

1 down...

Holy cow, 2 teeth out in one evening.

I have to say this picture bothers me a little. I have seen some gross things as a nurse but still cannot get used to mouths without teeth were they belong. YUCK! While in nursing school I did a set of clinicals at the Veterans Hospital providing wound care. Fresh amputees, no problem -- the gums where a tooth was recently residing...DISGUSTING! Crazy huh?

When I checked on him later that night this is what I found...yup, sleeping in that darn hat again. See the envelope above his head? Two teeth were in there waiting to be exchanged for cold hard cash from the tooth fairy. I wonder what she does with all those teeth? If I ever happen to see her that is definitely what I will ask her!

He got $4--I have been told the tooth fairy has a different pay scale for different kids. Megan says one of her friends gets $10 per tooth! Sorry kids--she must be running low on $10 bills by the time she gets to our house! I got quarters as a kid so paper money is a huge step up for them!

The tooth fairy teaches children that they can sell body parts for money. ~David Richerby

And they ate cake...

2009-03-02T14:34:00.000-08:00

Happy, Happy Birthday to my dear old Dad. Enjoy your last year in the 50's!

In his honor we had a little pre-Birthday celebration and ate cake!

A little inspection of the cake...no that was not a hair she saw!

A made from scratch cake, what did he deserve to deserve that? Perhaps the housing provided through my youth and overlooking a couple of late night sneak ins!

Yup, he got them all!

Dad and Lori a.k.a. Grammy. The next picture will show you one of her skills Trevor has figured out.

Tickles...he somehow gets her to give him the best little back or head scratches~

Have you ever played battleship with a 4 year old? She was very focused! I watched them play and though I am not sure she grasps the game completely she pretends to play it well!

Megan enjoyed a little scrabble on her cousins iTouch...not as much as I did though! If I did not have so many other things we need I would want to upgrade my iPod.

A little crazy Eye from Uncle Cory...he is always good for that. I think half of my pictures of Cory have a similar expression. I bet as a kid there are a lot of goofy pictures of him too!

Grandpa wearing his new ear ring...really Elise's bracelet but doesn't he look smashing!

Megan being coy...I love this picture! It does remind me a little of the movie Penelope, have you seen? It looks like she is hiding her nose. I can attest she does not have a snout!

Thanks Dad for giving us a reason to celebrate!

2009-02-28T14:20:00.000-08:00

Megan had her concert, we were all dazzled and amazed and the "mad" recorder skills of the 4th graders! They had a little African drum piece at the end and we were all entertained by what we suspect may be a future stand up comedian that did some very cool dance moves to the music. Thanks to Grandma, Grandpa and Grammy for heading out to see her perform. I have to say this is the last concert of this school year...Yahoo! Not that I do not love the concerts because I do! Really, I do!

We did notice that all the girls seem to have the same haircut I had as a 4th grader- Long straight and without bangs. No wonder I got grief last month when we made her get a haircut!

This is the first concert where they have asked us not to take pictures during the performance...what's up with that? I really was not that much of a problem last month at the 2nd grade concert. Hmmm, I had passed the camera to Michael but the shots were limited and without a flash...trying to be inconspicuous you know. The photos lack the usual panache we aim for.

And the Grammy goes too...

2009-02-26T11:49:00.000-08:00

This will wrap up our school concert season-

The 4th Grade Concert! Starring...
well duh? Do you need help with this one?
Ok, Starring The Fourth Grade!
Megan is thrilled to have her family rooting for her!

Image from the 3rd grade concert. I better find something different for her to wear!

It is tonight. We have notified the locals via telephono. The rest of you will have to wait for the pictures! Don't shed a tear if you miss it, I will be the annoying Mom taking pictures, unless I can get Michael to do the dirty work. He is taller and takes some mean pics'.

Another one under the belt and a flaming hat too!

2009-02-25T23:38:00.000-08:00

ahhh, shucks. I feel so spoiled. I was celebrated this last weekend. For what you ask? Well, all I did was get born. Not really anything I had any control over - but either way I was the one being celebrated. So, I say, Yay for ME! I never get to say that and it is kind of fun! Yay for me, Yay for me, Yay for me! Well, there enough for one year. Don't want to be too self absorbed.

I was given wonderful acts of kindness, love, gifts, lovely sweet confections, and the day off from all laundry and dishes! Yipeee! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all my family and friends that made the day a little sweeter. I appreciate it!

Pictured: Cousin Avery, Me, Aunt Chrys, My lovely sister Brea, Grandma G.G. as we have always called her, My Mom, and Elise and Megan
The "official" girl club. Only 2 Girls were missing in this mother/daughter picture. My Aunt Jill who lives in "Vegas Baby" and my Cousin Erin who must have been doing something thrilling or adventurous in Mexico where she lives.

This is "My" picture --meaning My Grandma, My Mom and My Daughter! How very two years old of me...mine, mine, mine!

Cheese...pizza that is!

I forget what was happening here. My Dad hassling Elise about something he thought was funny.
Secondary note about this picture. Trevor has been wearing this hat day and night for what seems like FOREVER! I kid you not, I have gone in and found him sleeping in it! It may meet up with some sort of "washing machine malfunction" in the near future. If so don't you dare tell one me! You and I can have a little secret.

Candy land! How cool that candy land was played at my 38th birthday party! Yep, there is that hat again! How does he see anything?

Avery took home many boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Hope she shared with the rest of her family. If not, they know where to find more of them. I still have a full trunk (talking about the car guys, not my backside--although yes that seems to full as well)!

Somehow we managed to coincide the evening with a day Michael's Folks were in town. Thanks for coming and sharing in the chaos.

P.S. I have had a revelation since I posted this. The reason I hate Trevor's hat is that it is the same style as Dumb Donald's hat on the Fat Albert show. You have to crane your head down to his eye level to see his eyes--otherwise they are hidden from view. At least Dumb Donald was smart enough to cut eye holes in his hat!

I would cut those holes now except that of course the hat is at school with it's owner! Where else would it be? Oh well, it did snow last night. I would hate to take the boys hat on a day it snowed. But seriously, after this winter , that hat may never be seen again! These pictures and the ones burned in my head will be all that remains.

A wrinkle in time

2009-02-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

I am not sure at what point I have to quit saying I am in my "mid-thirties" and have to switch to "late-thirties". Well, actually I am sure, it is probably sometime after I was 37 1/2 but I am in denial. Late-Thirties...holy hell on a cracker! That is so bloody old I feel the need to fold a tissue shove it up my sleeve, dye my hair a nice shade of blue, turn my blinker on and drive 10 below the speed limit! When did this happen? When did I become the woman I am? Somehow along the way I collected a husband, family, herd of living creatures, and a mortgage. At one point in my life I moved 12 times in about 4 years. Now the thought of moving residences is enough to make me lie in the fetal position and quiver violently.

I love my life and what it has become - I am just not completely sure how I got where I now am? It was subtle and I am afraid I may have forgotten some of the pivotal moments along the way. I have fallen into the trap of looking so far ahead that I miss enjoying where I am. Bringing home our first baby and feeling like the luckiest person in the world. The exhausted days when we had 2 newborn premature babies at one time. Babies learning to walk. A 2 year old with a broken arm at the same time we had those newborn twins. The stroller that was so long, I called it a "limo". Remembering that some days Mom cried more then the babies. I am blessed! Our family has been healthy, our love has been strong, our families have been supportive, we have been blessed! Thanks to those that have contributed.

Remember her...

I hesitate sharing this but am counting on one of two things

you also lived in this era and appreciate what it takes to have your bangs in a different air space then your body
you are too young to appreciate this - but I know that one day you will have a similar photo of yourself that makes you say "dear lord, why did I think that was a good idea?"

I sure spend a lot less on hairspray then I did in 1989! One bottle last me months now. Yes that is a Aiwa mini-boom box in the window, it probably had a George Michael mix tape in it. Admit it, your jealous!

This is me now, almost exactly 20 years later, taken last night by a 7 year old that stumbled across the camera and took a lot of pictures. This may be in fact the best one she took. Not because I look beautiful or flawless, but because the others are of the ceiling, the blinds, a failed self portrait and a top view of an oblivious dog! I will use this one for my now picture because she caught the Mom in me.

Older, rounder, less concerned about my make-up and hair and more concerned that teeth are brushed, lunches made, a chapter is read of the book we are reading and that hugs and kisses are passed out. I think I am ok with who I have become.

You should be happy with the person you have become too! It takes a long time to get there, just don't miss the scenery along the way. Someday you will wish you could snuggle those babies one more time, touch your toes again, hug your Mother, laugh with your Dad, tell your sister that you love her. Someday it will be to late.

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

*and to any of my senior citizen type readers that think I am off my rocker to consider 30-something old. Just think back to your forever age. That age in your head that you always see yourself as. Is it the same age you are today? I bet you wonder how you got where you are too!

Survived

2009-02-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my 7 year old daughter for taking this picture at the park Monday. Glad to say looks like this year will be just fine!

I'd buy you a K-car, a nice reliant automobile

2009-02-19T00:03:00.000-08:00

Trevor and Elise are in 2nd grade and have a project they are working on project at school titled--

If I had a hundred...

They have to finish 10 sentences that start like this "If I had a hundred ____, I would ...". All random items that they might have 100 of.

I picked up Elise's and about fell over laughing. My daughter is so sweet and wants to help those needier then herself. Her first question to answer was what she would do with a hundred dollars. My dear little one would spend every penny helping someone else. Doing what, you ask?

Photo Courtesy Norman Rockwell, 1924

Well my friends, if Elise gets a hundred dollars she "would give it to a hobo, becas thay can't woch t.v." Evidently she wants these "hobo's" to be able to be educated in all things Disney Channel. At our house we generally do not refer to people as hobo's-- I am pretty sure that is currently not a P.C. term but coming from a 7 year old I think the ACLU will have to cut her some slack. Either way I got a little giggle out of the idea that she could make someone's day a little better just by watching "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody". Maybe the next time I feel like I need a handful of prozac I should just watch the Disney Channel?!

Trevor plans to buy a "yot" so he can swim in the pool. I am pretty sure he is does not know what a "yot" is but it sure sounds good to him. Let me know if you see any of those $100 yachts, I might be willing to pick one up for later.

Happy, Happy Birthday today's your lucky day...

2009-02-18T01:19:00.000-08:00

We all wanted to wish our wonderful Mom/Oma a happy birthday! Hope you have a lovely day!
We will be thinking of you!

Just say yes~

2009-02-16T11:13:00.000-08:00

Don't they look delicious? Maybe you want a box or 10? This is definately a time when our big, sweet loving family comes in handy...at cookie time!

Did I mention they freeze well?

Happy Birthday to you, Cha Cha Cha

2009-02-15T15:08:00.001-08:00

We love you Grammie, Hope you have a super-duper, awesome,
fantastic-a-rooni Birthday!