Something other than snow...

So Valentines day fast approaches. Actually, my son's birthday is coming up soon. That means cupcakes for school. An adult party on the 10th and a kids bowling party on the 24th. He's excited and I'm shocked he's turning 7.

Well since he was in preschool at age 3, almost 4, there has been a tradition here in this house that continues and includes my daughter. For Valentines day the schools have parties. They give out valentines and tons of goodies. EVERY mom/dad sends in a bag of candy. ( And we just got rid of our Christmas candy! *rolls eyes*) So besides birthday party purchasing trips I get Valentines and such.

What the tradition is that each kid needs a Valentine box. Well I decided from day one to be more creative than the average box with hearts on it. It was a bit of a boo boo since the kids want to keep doing it but it's fun none-the-less. The first year my son was in preschool we made out of a huge plastic container with a lid from the bulk store that had pretzels in it, a space ship. We wraped it in aluminum foil, put wings on the sides (if that's what you call it) flames out the bottom and even a hatch with my son's picture like he was an astronaut. He loved it. The next year he wanted a gingerbread house. Don't ask me why, he just did.

So last year my daughter started preschool and she wanted a castle that was pink and purple with towers. Toilet paper rolls came in handy and an old victoria's secret box too. LOL Don't worry I covered the name and it looked more like a castle than a box from a lingerie store. ;-)

And my son made a car out of a box. So this year is here. I got my kids their valentines: my daughter got My Little Pony ones and my son got Avatar from Nickelodeon. If your boys are my son's age it's a great show that has a young airbender saving the four nations (water, air, fire and earth) and intwined are tons of morals and messages. We watch it together when it's in season. Anyway, this prompted my son to want to make a Fire Nation ship. We did that last night. He is so excited because it looks like it and I even put one of his valentines on it of Prince Zuko (the fire nation prince) standing on top. I'll take a pic later when my daughters is done.

My daugther wants a house. We will start working on it tonight but my son and I are also building a toothpick house out of 100 toothpicks because tomorrow is the 100th day of school and they celebrate it. *rolls eyes* Anything to get me to send in tons of food and make things. LOL.

So I have been a crafting diva lately. Hubby suggested I send my daughter in with the sandcastle I made for my little sister's shower last spring. But it's huge and delicate. I'll post a pic of it too because I'm quite proud of it. :D

Northern Driveways

This is the last one.... I SWEAR!

I enjoyed watching At Home Daddy's video of his kids in his warm, southern driveway. This is a response to that video that I enjoyed. It is what we in the frozen and snowy north do with our driveways during this time of year.

Today

I'm 'You Tube' Hooked. LOL

Here is this morning, a link that is since it would paste in.

Snowy Tuesday Morning

Fire One!

My daughter and hubby in the snow saturday.

Family fun in the snow!

It was suggested to me by Long Island Dad, that I recap my snowy sledding weekend. I've already bored you with my exciting shopping so here is my snow filled weekend.

Despite my tummy issue hubby, the kids and I had a wonderful weekend. We made the most out of the snow we had. Saturday it was in the 40's and so not so very cold. Snowmen were best made in that kind of weather where the snow sticks. My parents gave the kids a snowman making kit for Christmas and they gleefully used it for the first time that day.

Snowball battles were a fun, laughing affair. My son landed one between my glasses that had my hubby laughing his butt off (that is until he got hit in the face. Yeah, that's right buddy! Funny until you get it right?)
We used our snow tubes down our small hill. Next time we'll visit the field behind my parents house and tear up their big hill. Mommy taught son the fine art of running, belly flopping onto the tube and getting that momentum to totally utilize the hill. (not good for my tummy but I survived) He was a quick learner and we had a blast.



Sunday was much cooler and we got fresh snow of about 2-3 inches that hubby began to shovel. I grabbed a shovel to help some and my kids grabbed theirs. Boy I wish I had the camera for that cute scene. They only lasted about 5 minutes but you'd think my daughter had shoveled a mountain by her 'oh mommy, I'm so tired' statement. My son moved from shoveling the driveway to realizing he could build his snow mountain faster now that he had the shovel.

Then my son and I tubed again. My daughter quickly joined and then hubby had finished and went down a few times. At another side section of our yard there is a double dip hill that I ran and jumped onto the tube and it was awesome. My son tried it and was hooked on it! We were finishing up when my daughter decided to roll down said hill and my son, despite seeing her, proceeded to fly down the hill. I jumped between them and tried to keep my son from running over my daughter. He missed her and all I mananged for my trouble was a boot to the forehead and hubby asking "why'd you do that?" *sigh*

Hot cocoa was a hit, none-the-less. I hope this upcoming weekend we can rinse and repeat this past weekend. Fun fun!

I will blog about the snow today with a video (I'm trying the you tube stuff) and a video of

Monday morning sprint!

Mission today:

Take cocker to get groomed. She's looking like a wholly mammoth.

Drop daughter off at parent's house so I can go to my son's school for his physical education's fitness fest. This should be interesting. I will have to partake in the phases he does in gym and I think one is rope climbing. I'm in shape and have mommy arms but I don't know if I can do that and don't want to make an a#& out of myself. I'll update you on how I fared. (side note, my son wanted me to bring my daughter because we are to go against our kids and as he said it, "I could take her." Such love.)

Pick newly groomed prancing puppy from groomer.

In between the battle with the hamper and dirty continues. As does the job hunt. We found new ways we want to spend money (at National X Home Improvement Store, damn them!) and so the push is on.

Our taxes will be simple to finish when we get the last form in from a bank. We know whte number they are sending but waiting for the actual paper. A healthy refund is coming but half is going to the trip to Destin Florida in April for BIL's wedding. Hubby told me of another family wedding in Atlanta in September but assured me "we are not going." Phew. I'd like to take a family vacation WE pick. Haven't done that since Disney World in 2005. *sigh* But we do have an offer from a fellow attorney and his wife to use their beach house in the gulf coast of Florida so we are going to ask for a week in August. (and the house would be FREE! I know. I can't believe it myself. LOL)

So my 'to do' list is up on the erasable marker board and I'm off and running! Happy Monday everyone! I'll check on all your smiling faces as often as I can! TCOY!

A shopping day out for the fam damily

Today was our monthy big trip to "Big Bad Bulk Store." We go other times for a thing here or there but once a month we go and 'bulk up'. hee hee.

Sunday is the worst day to go to this store for many reasons:

#1 Now that the Steelers aren't playing husbands around town have no more excuses for avoiding the bulk store.

#2 All two income families that fill my town don't have time during the week since the store closes relatively early.

#3 This store has various stations around the store to offer samples. Many people (my parents included) make this their lunch. I kid you not. And at each section people swarm like sharks around chum and it makes passing through with oversized bulk store carts more frazzling than ever. The difficult thing is that the samples are so delicious to the starved shopper you are probably going to buy 5 extra things you don't want to buy.

So we meandored through the store with one kid per cart (which is needed for what we 'bulk up' for.) We drooled over things I want and things hubby wants. From HDTV's, to stainless steel canisters and many other things. Tell me why I need 3,000 straws? Why? Because my kids go through them like toilet paper (which btw you can buy 36 rolls of them there for cheapy cheap.)

Big money later we are putting the goods into the car as the snow swirls around our heads. What we discovered was that Wolfie's trunk can hold MORE than the 2002 Jeep Liberty we just finished our lease up on. Wolfie! a Jetta!!!

We get into the car, turn on the heated seats (Angel loves her buns toasted. Hahahaha.) Then we went to the party store to look for invitations for my son's 7th birthday. (7th? Holy crap! Where did the years go?) While buying the Hot Wheels invitations my daughter announced she had to use the little girls room. But this store doesn't have a public restroom. Of course.

We had planned on going to "National X Home Improvement store" and there were no places between point A and point B for a bathroom. *sigh* So upon pulling into the parking lot I was in action. I jumped out of the car, whipped open her door, adeptly unclipped her seatbelt, scooped her up into my arms and began to take off in my 3" heeled boots. Along the way I found a cart, deposited her in and ran into the store. We moved fast (without running) to the back of the store. Hubby and my son were behind somewhere and would catch up eventually.

I'm happy to say, we made it with dry undergarments. *wipe brow* From there we began to plot and plan new and expensive home improvement projects. You know, for after I get the job I haven't found yet. But we did buy two ceiling fans with lights for the kids room. They were on sale and we were happy. Drano and furnace airfilter later and we go to check out. A complete white out is whirling outside. It was beautiful, yet cold. Again the heated seats save me from freezing my tushy off. Then hubby put the two large boxes amonst the other huge boxes into the trunk and THEY ALL FIT! Never would the Jeep had held this much. Never.

So thus ended our shopping excursion. I'll spare you the exhausting trips from the car and up the stairs with the aforementioned big boxes.

My little girl...

My daughter and I are close now. Like two peas in a pod. My mom and I are close, our personalities are very very similar and for many years people would call me 'mini me' in regard to being her mini me. Now my daughter is referred to as the 'mini-mini me'. LOL

All I know is that my mom and I talk like mother/daughter as well as like friends. We laugh at the same things and correspond daily. She lost her mom when she was 17 (her dad when she was 15.) I am grateful to have gotten the opportunity to know her as more than just my mom.

I hope that one day, my little girl and I will be equally close and enjoy a wonderful friendship. Only time will tell and I certainly don't want my little 5 year old angel to grow up too fast.

These days I never know whether she'll wake up viewing me as the heroine in her life or the villian keeping her from what she wants. Yesterday her school was cancelled and she begged me not to cancel it. I told her that I had no control over the closing.

Today I learned I was the villan yesterday. When daddy talked to peanut (whom he hasn't seen since Tuesday other than sleeping in her bed) he brought up the fact that school was closed yesterday. Her reply? "Yeah," with a long face and pouty tone, "mommy closed it." And now she blamed me for her getting killed on her gameboy game. Apparently today I'm not the heroine. LOL

Rough night..

Last night I woke up to horrible abdominal pain and suffered all night with a heating pad plastered to me. (Rachel Emma, I thought of you and how you are always hurting and my heart went out to you even more. I said a prayer for you again.) I don't know if I have an illness or something else. It could be from all the shoveling.

Hubby got home around 9pm and we both sat like bumps on logs after the week we've had. He's still in bed and I'm up with my early riser daughter who likes to open my eyelids until I'm awake.

Jimmy Neutron is on and I can't tell you how much I long for adult news. LOL. When the boys wake we'll do breakfast and plan our day which will involve some sled riding.

Still going

We are still getting snow, about another inch or two and the roads were a bit slippery, according to my mom but look better now. But all my shoveling today was wasted. Argh! My arms are so sore I'm not going back out there until I have to (like tomorrow or if hubby gets home to help.)

The back deck has over 6" that I need to clear off but haven't gotten too before my arms give out or I'm too cold.

And if my sister sends another pic of the beach she is living by I'll scream! Thanks Apes.... You can have your nice and sunny 80's in January.... tell me how you like the humidity in July!!

Adult *ahem* talent post

In the spirit of Long Island Dad's post about sharing our *ahem* adult talents and because I saw the post on AtHomeDaddy's blog about not being the chef in the house. I make many many complicated recipes for both dinner and

I got this recipe from http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/ because I needed a quick, easy recipe that my daughter (the very picky eater would even eat.) All you have to do is cook the chicken (or even buy precooked chicken if it suits you) throw the items together and bake for 1 hour.

Chicken Macaroni Casserole

1-1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (important!! Don’t cook the noodles!)
1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
1-1/2 cups cooked chicken (cut in sized pieces of your choice, I have cubes)
1 can mushroom stems & pieces (you could skip this if you want)
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (10-1/2 oz.)
1 cup milk
½ tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together all ingredients. Pour into ungreased 1-1/2 quart casserole. Cover and bake for 1 hour.

Serves 4

The only issue I have found with this recipe is that some of the macaroni noodles at the top can be hard so you can pick them off if it’s an issue

2 hour delay and closed

My son's school has a 2 hour delay this morning due to the temperature being only 7 degrees and the roads being slightly tretcherous. That means my daughter's preschool is closed.

It was funny watching my son walk into the family room at 8:05 this morning and say in a surprised and worried tone, "Mommy! Did you forget something?" I smiled and said, "No honey. You have a two hour delay." His face broke out into a full out smile. What a week for this kid. Although he was home from Monday-Wednesday due to illness he was still home. Went to school yesterday and a delay today. sheesh. I did get his report card finally yesterday and all A's. It seems, though, that his listening skills are going down hill so we will have to work on that. But how do you get a highly energized, overly sensitive child who is distracted by a pin dropping to focus better and listen when he's trying his hardest?

My daughter, however, found out her preschool was cancelled and cried. "Please don't cancel it Mommy." I told her, "Honey, I didn't cancell it. I had nothing to do with it." She replied, "I didn't even have a chance" through tears.

I'm off to get them breakfast. That 2 hour delay hasn't been changed to a closure so it's morning as usualy but just delayed. :D

If I'm tired....

I have no idea how hubby is still moving. It's 10:16pm and he's still at work. The partner in the firm he is working with on this case finished depos around 9pm and they have to prep for more depositions tomorrow. He sounds tired, the kids are wondering where he is and I'm tired too....

The thing that worries me the most is that it's icy out. *sigh* Tomorrow is Friday.

On the upside, my son got his report card. All 'A's'. He just needs to learn to listen better (which isn't news to me. LOL)

The random thoughts, observations and questions while Angel shovels snow:

Snow is heavier than it looks

Why is my dog trying to bite my shovel?

I hope thanking my neighbor for snow blowing my sidewalk (all 30’ of it) this morning will prompt him to do it again.

Why does everyone around here drive like they have never seen snow before? I mean the white Expedition in front of me at the preschool parking lot needs to understand that while there is such a thing as TOO FAST while driving up hill on a snow covered drive there is ALSO such a thing as driving TOO SLOOOOOWW. It is possible to go so slow that you never make it up the hill lady. And the fancy large vehicle that you are driving doesn’t mean you are Jesus walking on water. You will slide down the hill, and you will damage my beautiful and oh-so-stylish and sexy teal mini van!! Oh wait. Hmmm new car? Yes… on second thought. Slide away!!!

Sore elbows get even sorer as you shovel your 1800 sq foot of driveway out.

MP3 players are awesome for shoveling. They almost drown out the *scrape, scrape* sound that is all you normally hear.

My arm really is starting to hurt, maybe I could save the rest for later today…. Ewwww is that “Animals” by Nickelback starting to play? Yes!

Why is it just as you are about to stop shoveling and take a break that an upbeat song has you pressing on with gusto?

And why does the upbeat songs end before the last few runs with the shovel and you know NOW you shouldn’t stop.

A pony tail would have been good to wear. Then my hair wouldn’t be in my face rendering me sightless and then it gets all frozen and crunchy. So much for fixing my hair today. *sigh*

Why is my dog limping? Owwww snowballs are attached to her paws…. I’ll let you in Amber.

And tell me why, just as you finish up clearing all the walkable hard surfaces of your property do you get another squal?

Boy I need to get back into shoveling strength.

Thus ends the first good snowfall in the 'burgh area this season.

Late night....

Hubby has another late night... the natives are restless (yes my son is getting better....SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!!)

The snow hasn't stopped and I'm here until around 8-ish without hubby. I got rid of my headache that was threatening to sneak in... I didn't eat lunch...duh! So I had an early dinner and the animals need to be fed. *sigh*

I'm off to throw food at them. lol

I like money, I keep it in a jar. I have some, I'd like to add more..that's where you come in

I am on the job hunt again. I really need to find something that fits my schedule (which is damn near impossible. *sigh*) Too bad Company Inc. isn't closer. I would so enjoy you as my freaky co-workers!!

Delays aren't always bad

As I mentioned before (when I said I hurt my elbow....owwwieee, it's swollen btw) hubby and I were discussing a stressful financial issue. I actually held him back from leaving to discuss it. He was flustered because he left later than usual. In the end this delay was a good thing. On the drive into town he encounted an accident that happened probably not 10 minutes before his arrival to the interstate being closed. They only close the interstate for fatality accidents. He sat for over an hour before turning around and coming home.

He's working from home until lunch time, when the highway will probably be cleared. As it turns out my delaying him probably kept him from being a part of that accident.

Elbow wack-a-doo

This morning we were getting ready and discussing a stressful financial issue. blah. While walking from the shower/commode section of our bathroom to the sink/tub section through the doorway I had my arms up to move my hair around. Unfortunately I wasn't paying close enough attention and walked into the doorframe..... with my right elbow......hard!

I crumpled to the floor in tears (natural reaction to gut wrenching pain.) I can barely use this arm. *sigh* I'm off to get my daughter to school. Stupid stupid stupid Angel!

Early....

Hubby got home early. Early is relative, he was home at 7pm. And he decided to bathe both kids (he's with the boy right now) so he could have time with them, and it gives me a break. ahhhhh.

And an early evening to watch our shows together is a nice thing indeed.

He does...

My son does have strep throat. 15 minute drive, 10 minute wait in the lobby, 10 minutes of waiting in the room and he has strep. Then a drive to the grocery store to drop the prescription off and a 20 minute shopping wait and back to pick my daughter up at my parents. I'm glad to be home. I'm chilled and getting ready for some homemade beef veggie soup! Yum!

Thanks for all the well wishes for him. He'll be better soon. Only time will tell if my daughter gets it. *fingers crossed*

Lonnnnnnnnggggggg days

I have been dealing with long days with just me and the kids. A lot of you SAH'ers can relate with hard working spouses. Hubby is in a big trial stretch the past couple of weeks. Last night he didn't get home until 9:15. The kids were already in bed, dinner was waiting. When he pulled in, though, there was (apparently) a rottweiler standing in our driveway, not moving. We have a neighbor up the street with two. He is a scary man and we have speculated why he has the dogs, seemingly no job and still has money (but I digress.)

My cocker wanted out to do her business but this dog has been known to attack other dogs. *sigh* so I had to call the cops (which accomplished nothing more than a drive through our street.) The dispatcher wanted to know if I wanted to see the officer. *Ponder as I stand in my fuzzy pink jammies.* No, not necessary. Big disruption, nothing accomplished and I just hope the crazy guy doesn't realize that the cop car he saw when he was calling that dangerous dog was called by us. eeeek.

To add to my fun couple of days is that I think my son has strep throat. He's home again from school today and in about 20 minutes I'll be calling the pediatrician to get an appointment. My only solace is that my hampers are near empty, my house is neat and clean and I made a fresh, delicious pot of homemade veggie soup.

What I find in the night

Every night we check on the kids. Every night we pull the comforter back to pull the sheets up, remove the toys from the bed and such. Last night when we pulled back my daughter's sheets this is what we found. We laughed our butts off. See there.... on her feet? Flip flops. One size too small. Ahhhh *snort* funny.

Favor take 2

Over the weekend I asked for a favor from you all for my BIL's band Margin Art.

Please see this post for the favor. If you can do it, thanks. If you don't want to, I understand. Either way, thank you!!!

Margin Art music competition....

Sunday night

10:15 pm.... both hampers empty and clean clothes folded. I shall mark this on the calendar. :D

.....


11:02.... clothes in the hamper. *sigh*

Roller coaster ride...

This weekend had its ups and downs, it's twists and turns. They were all things that can be managed, as always, but made it one that you can say "yeah I had fun" and "Yeah it was tough."

We started with dinner out Friday night and a pitcher of margaritas, which hubby and I found out that we are light-weights with those. I was, apparently, quite funny (according to hubby.) The evening found some friction between hubby and I which continued Saturday. It got to the point when I had to avoid him. *sigh* Then we left to sign up my son for baseball before joining my parents for dinner and some games. THAT lifted my spirits. My son had a blast and I know I had fun. I think it helped hubby to chill out.

Sunday morning my son woke up complaining about his throat. Then he spiked a 101.4 fever and laid around all day, poor thing. So if he has a fever tomorrow he won't be going to school. My daughter got mouthy but on the bright side she picked up her toys quite well so that's good.

So you see, up, down, up, down, up, down. I'm a bit nauscious. *chuckle*

Congrats.....

Congratulations to my friends who are Chicago Bears Fans. (like DramaMama and her family) Having your team advance to the Superbowl is a fantastic and fun thing to have happen. *sigh* I remember last year when the Steelers did the same thing and then won it, the hard way.

Now I'm off to see who will play you at the big game. Enjoy the excitement. Enjoy the celebration because it is an awesome thing!

A good night had by all

We signed my son up for baseball today. He's excited.

Then we went to my parents house for a full turkey dinner. It's the only day this week we had as a family and we had a nice night with delicious food and a rousing game of 'Uno Attack'. My parents lost to hubby, me and my son.

My mom is amazed by my son's math abilities. He's advanced for sure. I know that in school these days I'm amazed how 1st graders are doing some elements of geometry. But what is amazing is that while all the other kids were doing addition my son had already moved from subtraction to multiplication and does it in a snap. So tonight, while adding up his points from his hand he took 10 cards and added them all up to 77 points. My mom was shocked. Hubby and I just smiled. I knew he was like that. He has been doing math since age 2. We would do simple math in the tub with toys. I do the same things with my daughter. That and using big words and defining them to them. I was told I used large words as a child properly and so my kids continued that trend.

So a good time was had by all. Well my daughter was very very cranky. She hasn't been herself for a time now. I seriously think she's getting her 6 year molars. She's acting just like her brother did when he got his. *sigh* Teething. It's still an issue.

A HUUUUUUUUGEEEEEE favor....

I have a huge favor to ask all my wonderful, stupendous blog friends.

My BIL's have a band. I posted about it before. About a week ago I heard about a band contest and called them excitedly. Every band wants to make it big but these are my Brother-in-laws! So they got their packet together and entered. If they make it to the semi-finals they get to play in front of industry reps and label people and such. If they won they would get a chunk of money, a signing deal and many other things.

The first round started today and in order to get into the semi-finals they need to get tons of good votes. GOOD VOTES!!! Like 10's!!!!

I will post a link to the site here. The band name is Margin art.

Please please please vote. You can only vote ONCE. And a #10 vote is what we need! I will love you forever if you do this for me!!!! Click on the link and scroll down (they're alphabetical) to Margin Art. You can listen to their song, they write their own. They have been inspired by Green day and many many others. I would be so excited if they did well. (they were in the MTV college band competition and made it to the top 50 college bands in the US but needed more votes.......)

Please comment and let me know you voted so I can give you my thanks!!!!

http://www.wxdx.com/pages/hardrock/ajax_rating_bar_v1-1/index.php

Voting ends Friday January 26th. Thanks!!!

*** oh and if you have time.... please give ALL the other bands a 1 vote. ***

The purge hinderer

She is nothing like the Ghost Whisperer or the Horse whisperer.

What she does is find bags and boxes in the basement of things we are trying to get rid of. She does this when mommy is on the treadmill and daddy is lifting. She finds the toys I removed due to the kids getting too old for them. Excitedly she says, "Hey! I want this!" The toy she left neglected for over a year.

After our workout she brings the Blues Clues phone that she liberated from the donation box and begs and begs for new batteries. Against my better judgement I replace the batteries. Now she's crying because she says she 'hates' the toy.

The toy will be back in the box as soon as she is gone. If I don't find a place to donate the items to the cycle will repeat itself over and over again.

She is the purge hinderer.

Margarita Mama....

I didn't feel like cooking tonight. I have been uninspired with my meal prep given the late nights for hubby. So tonight we used the last gift card for a restaurant that we were given for the holidays. They burn holes in our pockets when we have them. LOL

We went to "On the Border" and given the weeks we've had we ordered a pitcher of frozen margarita's. The food was delicious, the kids were fantastic (behaved better than awesome and that has nothing to do with skewed viewpoints due to margaritas) and the drinks? They went straight to my head.

Needless to say, bathtime was quite fun for the peanut and I as I giggled my way through it. I think once in awhile I need that. LOL

snow and eeekkk

We had some more snow squals again today. Of course one of the heaviest squals happened when I had to go to the busstop to meet my son. It was wild and cold.

Monday is report card day. EEEkkk. I had no idea. Thanks to another mom I know it now.

Now if we would just get enough snow to completely cover the grass and we will be sledding this weekend!!!

Oh, and hubby won a BIG arguement today and is so excited. His client went from owing big bucks to owing nothing! That helped his mood!

TGIF.... kind of

It's friday. My son is so excited. He loves fridays. It means the last day of school for the week, it means family tv night with snacks and cuddling on the couch.

But these last couple of weeks have been harder than usual. Hubby has been working his butt off and has so much work to do, depos, trials and other such stuff that he is more than stressed. His secretary isn't cutting it and he is about to snap. He leaves before the sun rises and doesn't get home until after 7pm each night. He's wound tighter than a drum each night and it's not easy for him.

I try to make sure I do extra stuff and while I offered to bathe both kids (he usually bathes one of them) he declined because he says it's his time with them. Then he muttered, "I don't get any time with them."

I feel bad. He works even more at night in his recliner with his laptop and huge files. He will probably work this weekend too. One good thing was last night, before drifting off to sleep he whispered, "Thanks for talking to me and helping to take away my stress." Those words meant that I was doing what I should be doing. I just hope that Friday goes back to being Friday for him again soon. 70 hour weeks are getting to him. That and his newly treated high blood pressure isn't under control. Recipe for disaster? I hope not.

Another moment with the peanut [?]

Yesterday I picked up my daughter from preschool. As always I asked her about her day and what she did. I ask her specific questions having learned with my son that they quickly forget the entire 2-1/2 hours they spent and all they did unless you pry it out of them. We were talking and she said out of the blue, "I want to go to Disney World."

(No Mike, she isn't reading your blog. LOL But she does remember going in May of 2005.)

Me: "I know honey. We'll go again in a few years."
Peanut: "Where IS Disney World?"
Me: "It's in Florida. Near the East Coast of Florida. Uncle Bill and Aunt April live on the west coast of Florida."
Peanut: "Yeah, 'cause Texas is too hot."

What?

*sigh*

Tear jerker.....

his morning I stopped by my parents house to swap some things. My dad is retired and ran me through the house showing me his new desk that his new IMac sits proudly upon. I didn't have the time to spend there like I normally would since I was on my way to pick up peanut from preschool. I think we'll visit them this weekend with the kids, the kids love it. LOL.

But while I was there my mom and dad showed me things quickly and one of those things was the cover of my sister's wedding DVD. Since getting in the photos and dvd
it's been talked about a lot. LOL. Just as he was showing me the DVD cover (we aren't allowed to watch the DVD until my sister views it first, but that's fine) a song came on the radio. It was a song my dad loves. It was the song that he requested the dj (who happens to now be my sister's new in-laws) play for him and my sister to dance to at the wedding.

Now I can listen to country music here and there but I'm not a huge country fan. But as he turned up the song my mom said, "Your father says this song is for all his girls." And when I looked into his green eyes there were the start of tears in them. I composed myself, hugged them both and ran out the door in a hurry.

I came home and found the song and listened to it. I cried. It's a real tear jerker. *sigh*


***note!!! I had to remove the video in this section because it irked me that it would start playing without my wanting it to. I have had enough of things not listening to me!!! So here is the link to the song... I'm sure you're sick of the song already. LOL ****

http://www.musicjesus.com/song_39731_Heartland-I_Loved_Her_First.html

*sniffle* Thanks dad.... I love you too.

***note to all the dad's (stay-at-home or otherwise) with little girls...... we will always love our daddies (even at 34 years old.) Sorry for the tear jerker this morning.

Some more pictures and the REAL cuties....

I promise this will be the last post about the wedding. I'm sure it's far more interesting to me....lol. So there will be a bunch of pics here to peruse. I am just so excited to finally have the disk that I bought so bear with me. Hee hee. I couldn't get them in the order I wanted (curses the small compose window!!)

My sister with all of her nieces. Far left is the grooms niece in the front (yes the little one) is my daugther, on the other side of the bride are my older sister's girls: is in theback and is in the front

Left to right: My hubby, the Groom and his Turkish friend. In front, my son Monkey #2

From left to right (back) Groom's sister, Brides friend, the grooms other sister, the bride (and my sister me (aka Angel), my older sister. (front left to right): My daughter, my niece, my other niece

The bride and groom

My family (added to the crew previously listed is my 90 year old grandfather, my mom and my dad

My children were extremely well behaved and even danced like little maniacs. Sadly they didn't make it through the whole reception and we had to leave at 11pm with my daughter asleep in her daddy's arms. (there is video of that I think.) Now we wait to see the video. I hope I don't sound horrible giving my speech. My sister and I both cried. *sniffle*

*Note #1: to those of you who haven't poured over my whole blog (what up with that? I don't write that much *sarcasm*) I set the bride and groom up on a blind date (I worked with the groom way back when.)

* Note #2: These photos were taken BEFORE my husband used the ocean floor to cheese grate his face. Many months and large physical therapy bills later and he is doing better.

Wedding pics.....

My little sister got married at the Outer Banks of North Carolina in September. I just got ahold of the pictures from my sister's wedding. I plan to put more up but these are the first few I'll put up for now.

The first one is of me with my daughter before the wedding (I fixed her hair myself *pat to back* and it turned out nicer than the other flower girl's hair and the other mom's paid over $45 per flower girl to have it styled.)

The second is of me walking down the aisle. I was the matron of honor.

The last one was of me, my little sis (the bride) and my older sister (on the right.)

Shopping and thoughts about jeans...

I went to Kohls today with gift cards from the holiday. I like to wait for the return rush ends and the winter stuff goes on clearance. Because of that I got three pair of levis for the price of one and three sweaters for the price of one. Am I cheap? No, I just can't pay full price for something that I could pay less for if I'm just a little more patient.

But what bothers me more than anything is that not all jeans are the same size wise. From one manufacturer to another from one style to another not one size 3, 5 or 7 are the same. I know that is even true for my son's levis. I bought him two of the same 502 jeans, one was made in Malaysia and one in Indonesia. Same manufacturer and same exact style and size. One was smaller. What the heck?

So hubby bought me jeans for Christmas. He bought me a pair of jeans that were called "Angel's" because he thought it would be cute for me to wear jeans with my name on it. It's the same reason he loves me to buy from the Angel line at Victorias Secret and loves my bag from that store that says "Angel." He bought me the size I wear (I won't say for fear of you knowing LOL) but they were too small. Since losing weight since the 1st I could button them and I figure I would have fit in them soon but I couldn't have a pair of jeans in my drawer hoping I would wear them.

I returned them and couldn't find new ones in the line. But I did find some Levi's and 'So' jeans in the same size and smaller that fit. So what size is right? I'm not sure I really want to know. I do know that I feel good when the smaller number jeans fits me. LOL I guess I'll enjoy the ignorance.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

Today's weather was a fun mix of sunshine and then snow squals. The snow flakes were of the huge, fluffy variety and it was beautiful. A lovely break from the damp and dreary rain.

Before my son's bus arrived the sun disappeared behind a cloud filled with snow. These are some pics from just before I walked out the door. I had to throw down the first salt of the year (but it still only needed a broom to clear it.) We only have about an inch but it's very cold (not as cold as Dramamama's area in Chicago but cold.)

BTW.... these were taken around 3:20 pm in the afternoon!!

A beautiful day...

It has been a beautiful and productive day today. I have had more than a few chuckles with my daughter, who is most amusing today. I have the first floor cleaned but no lunch thus far! Opps. No wonder my tummy is a grumbling. LOL

The sun has peaked out in between the heavy flurries (right now no sun just wild flurries, which are breathtaking.)

I hope for all my blogging friends to be enjoying their day like I am!!

Am I weird?

I know I said that there was a moment when my kids made me break down but I got over it quickly enough. And I know that sometimes my 6 year old is a bit of a handful but as his bus drove away this morning I had a sadness in me that I have every Monday or day after an extended weekend. I missed him already. While I love the time alone I miss him when he's gone. Am I weird?

All I know is that I feel like my kids are a part of me and when they are away I don't feel whole. While I enjoy the peace and time to myself I only feel whole when they are all back home. My mom used to say when we all got home that 'all her chicks were back in their nest.'

And he makes it harder by looking like a little angel when he was sleeping. But I had to wake him, feed him and get him dressed. I hope you have a great day at school, honey! *sniffle*

Tests..... I can't stop. LOL

You Are Bart Simpson

Very misunderstood, most people just dismiss you as "trouble." Little do they know that you're wise and well accomplished beyond your years. You will be remembered for: starring in your own TV show and saving the town from a comet Your life philosophy: "I don't know why I did it, I don't know why I enjoyed it, and I don't know why I'll do it again!"

The Simpsons Personality Test

The boy is home...

After Saturday I was worried that my house would be pandamonium. But it hasn't been, it has been delightful. After getting some things done (and I still need to do more) I spent time with my kids, reading books and such. I hope to get more housework done so we can play a few games, like Trouble.

Then my son wanted a snack and I had just made a cake. He got done with that and some hot cocoa (hey no snow doesn't mean it's warm here. LOL) When he got done he said, "I'm so full I'm like a bear in a honey factory." Where does he come up with this stuff?

flirt test

You Are a Super Flirt

You love to flirt, so much so that it gets you in trouble. In almost any situation, you find yourself flirting - even when it's inappropriate. You tend to embrace all flirting styles too.. from coy to sexy to playful to serious. And if someone flirts back, you'll crank it up even more!

What Kind of Flirt Are You?

A new test.

I took this test and I know just finding out what kind of weather I am picked me up. I fail to understand how it could be considered weather though, isn't it a result of rain and the sun? Hmmm

You Are a Rainbow

Breathtaking and rare You are totally enchanting and intriguing But you usually don't stick around long! You are best known for: your beauty Your dominant state: seducing

What Type of Weather Are You?

Rain, rain go away....

It's Monday. Blah enough, right? But it's the 4th day of rain.

Okay, it's still FAR better than the ice storms some of you in the country are seeing so I won't complain too much. But I'd rather this all be snow right now. Tomorrow it's supposed to turn to snow but that means all this rain will, undoubtably freeze. But tomorrow my son goes back to school.

Having snow today would have filled the day nicely with snow ball fights, sledding and building a snowman but mother nature pays no heed to public school schedules and so I am pent up with the kids for the 4th day.

The natives are getting restless. I will have to set them up with some crafts soon to ease the beasts. But first, I must go. It's feeding time.

Clean basement & attic makes for a clean mind

Today was the 'finish up' day for the attic project. We moved about 13 rubbermaid containers of holiday items up into the basement (another lifting day for Angel with those but I skipped working out to spare my short body. LOL)

In the basement we moved things out of the future full bath to under the stairs and purged a ton of stuff! We both feel we accomplished a lot. On top of that we visited Costco and Bestbuy. A productive day for us here.

The children are more in tow and that makes mommy Angel happy. A cake is cooling and the evening is winding down. Another weekend with hubby home is done.

Frustration and exhaustion

It has been a day. I can't post about all the cute things and glaze over the tough moments of being a parent.

Today has been a tough day.

After all the morning fun hubby decided to get plywood for in the attic so we can put all our holiday containers up in the attic instead of the basement. You see we have projects we want to do and there is always a project to do in order to get to said project like:

#1 Finish the basement. In order to do this we need to rid most of the clutter, part 1 is get items in the attic and part 2 is organize the garage.

#2 New shower. In our master bathroom we have a corner shower. We are not overly tall or large people but this shower is tight. And what I don't understand is that our bathroom is large enough (even with the windows) to have a larger one. In order to put a new shower in we have decided to reuse the old one once removed. When we finish the basement we have the rough ins for a full bath down there so we thought, why waste it, right? It's only 4 years old, the house. So we would remove it and put it in the basement.

So you see, one project has to be proceeded by another one.

Today we did the attic flooring. (tomorrow we put the containers up there.) During this time I had to hand hubby huge hunks of plywood through the opening in the ceiling. This involved climbing a ladder with my hands holding onto the wood. I did the treadmill and lifted weights today also. So after 9 large pieces of wood I was wipped out. Add to that lifting myself off the ladder and into the attic 4 times to help figure out how to place them.

Why 4 times. Someone had to keep an eye on the kids too.

So when I get done I shower to get the fluff fiberglass off me for safe keeping and then find my kids. They had destroyed (I kid you not) every room in the house. There was stuff everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

I started getting miffed, then really miffed then just plain angry as I became drill sargent mommy to get them to put things back where they belonged. I try and not yell and I always try to walk away and take a deep breath before getting too upset. But everyone has a breaking point and I snapped when my son repeatedly talked back to me after several warnings.

My son ended up in bed for a time out and my daughter cleaning up her mess (since most of it WAS hers.) By the end I left the toy room and their bedrooms and made my way through the house to the rest of the mess. I slipped into the laundry room where I broke down in tears.

We don't get time off, we don't get to walk away from work and I don't have anyone to wisk my kids away now and then for a piece of sanity. I suppose I saw my breaking point. Usually it's hubby losing it and me holding things together. Today he held things together. He then lectured the kids about not taking me for granted and if they loved me they would #1 put their things away and #2 they are to never talk back to me.

May tomorrow be better. Monday they don't have school so.... I hope our bad day is behind us.

Mighty Mustache Man

Today my son decided to be like daddy. Armed with a washable marker, his imagination and his dress clothes....."Mustache man" was born. (he called himself that, not me.)

It was too funny not to capture and post.

Side note: Hubby has dark hair and a goatee. *giggle* Is he trying to be daddy? *smile*

Exercise and family

With our MP3's and early morning eyes hubby and I trodded down to the basement while my kids were eating their breakfast. While I walked on the treadmill hubby lifted weights and then we swapped. I went upstairs with the kids to do sit ups and other exercises. With the dog, the cat and my two kids literally almost on top of me I did that. Then my son did sit ups and push ups and told me about a 'fitness test' he had in gym class at school. He said he did 34 sit ups in 60 seconds. At 6. I was impressed and told him so.

My 5 year old daughter begged me to help her do sit ups and I did. She couldn't without help.

But what we have done, in addition to teaching them the importance of a balanced diet that keeping fit is important.

Funny Funny Zen funny

I got this from hubby. The are all funny. Well one isn't as funny but here you go:

Zen sarcasm

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me,for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't bepromoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple ofcar payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a darkside, and it holds the universe together. This one is for the folks at Damn You Dan, the Star wars fans!!!

18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works. This one makes me want to give hubby a dirty look but he didn't write this so I won't. *giggle*

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. That is sound advice. LOL

My little peanut...

My daughter cracks me up on a regular basis. It's not that my son doesn't anymore it's just that my daugther is at an age when the funniest things come out of her mouth.

Yesterday, while driving her to preschool, she was yelling from her carseat in my 'oh so sheek' teal mini van. I know, stop drooling it's a sexy car. *chuckle* What was she yelling? Let me try to quote her...

"Hey lady! That's a green light! Move!"

As we got to the turn into her preschool I had two cars in front of me. The lead car was turning into the preschool but the one in front of me wasn't. When the lead car was turning we slowed down. This caused my daughter to yell, "Lady! There isn't a light at my pwestool (that's preschool in peanut talk.)"

Both times I said, "[insert peanut's name here], why are you yelling. We aren't in any hurry, this is normal for driving. When a car slows down, we slow down. There are rules on the road. I'm not yelling, you shouldn't be."

Finally the last time she yelled that at the preschool I said, "Why are you yelling? We had to slow down, honey. It's part of driving." Then a thought struck me, do I do that? Do I yell as I drive but don't realize it? So I asked her. Kids are honest, she'll tell me. "[insert peanut's name here] does mommy yell like that?"

"No. But daddy does."

I busted out laughing. Oh when I told hubby about that you could hear the vacuum of him inhaling in shock. Yes, honey. I told you to calm down in the car that the kids pick all that up. *wipes brow, phew* it wasn't me. *chuckle*

*****

This morning I was helping peanut in the bathroom getting dressed. I just got her pants on and she said, "Yeah! Thats what I'm talkin' about sweet mama!" I laughed so hard I almost fell over. Later I gleened from her that that was said in the movie 'Barnyard' which we rented over the weekend. She only saw it once and yet she quoted it. Silly girl. Hee hee.

ohhh! That reminds me, I have to return those movies. Crap and I was just at that store this morning. *sigh*

Give my cat a what?

So now I have my cats meds. I have to give her a pill. Now how do you give a cat a pill, you ask? OH they showed me. Even demonstrated on a cat. Then the cute young vet came out to tell me again even though I'm sure he heard the tech tell me how (*blush* flattered*)

Wish me luck. She has all her claws, will I be a bloody stump by next week? *sigh*

Angel's tax tip...

I'm not an accountant. I do our taxes but only out of wanting to be self sufficient if need be. My SIL works for Sprint and sent this to us awhile back. I thought anyone who owns a cell phone might be interested....

Sprint Nextel customers came up winners last week, as the U.S. Department of Treasury said it would stop collecting the Federal Excise Tax (FET) on many telecommunication services. This means that our customers soon will no longer have to pay the 3 percent line item that appears every month on their wireless and long-distance invoices. It also means that customers are owed refunds for the taxes they have paid since March 2003.

As you may have read on i-Connect in January> <http://mypinpoint.corp.sprint.com/portal/dt?PinPointTabContainer.setSelected=Home&last=false&display=view&contentID=PortalContent/SprintNews/20060110_17025>,> the FET was first enacted in 1898 to fund the Spanish-American War. While that conflict ended after four months, the government continued to collect the FET more than 100 years later. In recent months, a growing number of federal appellate courts have ruled that the tax does not apply to many modern communications services. On May 25, the federal government conceded that it can no longer defend collecting this outdated tax for long-distance, VoIP, prepaid or wireless services. Local telephone service will continue to be subject to the tax for the time being, but the Treasury Department will press Congress to repeal this part of the tax, too.

FET refunds will come directly from the IRS. Companies like Sprint Nextel simply collect the tax and pass it directly to the federal government. The IRS has begun to develop the process for customers to apply for FET refunds next year on their 2006 income tax returns. Taxpayer instructions will be published by July 31 (2006). Customers inquiring about the> refund process should be directed to look for more information on the IRS Web site (http://www.irs.gov/ ) at that time.

Little social butterfly

Yesterday when picking my daughter up from preschool I got to talk to a mom I had never talked to before. Her son apparently talks about my daughter a lot. This isn't the first time I've heard that. There are twin boys whose mom told me that. My daughter is a little social butterfly. She hasn't met a child she didn't instantly like or talk to. She walks up to girls in dresses and tells them how pretty they look. With boys she walks up and says whatever pops in her minds right at that moment.

No one is off limits to her. When I take her to school she kisses me and is off. I wave bye and smile. I hope no one crushes that amazing ray of sunshine that is my daughter.

Follow up and the boy monkey.

I had a busy day of running errands, washing floors and a little bit of shredding. I am behind. I have been taking it too easy, since I'm feeling kind of bad and I shouldn't.

Monday I was supposed to hear from the darn vet with the blood work results. But no call. Yesterday I had planned on calling but was cleaning the first floor and so I lost track of time. Today I called the school and got my daughter signed up so that I can fill out a packet for her for Kindergarten. Then on the way to pick her up from preschool I phoned the vet. My cat indeed has hyperthyroidism. It's weird, thyroid issues run in my family. My first two years of marriage I was very very sick and found out I had hypothyroidism. It explained the mood swings I had, the lack of libido and the exhaustion. Once on the medication I felt great and then...wooops! I was prego with my son. Who knew hypothyroidism caused temporary infertility. I thought we were just lucky. LOL Well, we were lucky because the boy is a blessing.

My mom has hypothyroidism, my grandmother on my dad's side and my grandmother on my mom's side had hyperthyroidism. Now my cat? Weird stuff. So I have to run up to the vet (25 minute drive into the boon dockies) to get her pills. How do you give a cat a pill? This should be fun.

My son had a bad day. He has been having issues where he says he hasn't been picked at school. He wouldn't elaborate but today was another one of those days. He was distraught. He did talk to me and I gave him advice. He listened to my advice. I hope it helped. Most of all I listened and held him on my lap. His angry state disappeared and he's in a better mood. If nothing else I lightened his load. *sigh*

Thanks LID, and other stuff.....

Because today we have snow. Yes, snow. The four letter word I urged Long Island Dad NOT to say but he did. He tempted the snow god and now we must pay. It isn't bad yet but it's friggin' cold out and my blood has become thin like a southerner. I'm not good with extreme temperatures. I think to repay him I should pelt him with snow balls if I ever see him. If anyone lives near him please lob one his way for me, thanks! (I'm teasing you bud! hee hee.)

On the upside I have been weighing myself every morning since Jan. 1st. I have a target of 10 - 15 lbs to lose by the end of February maybe mid March. My hubby's brother is getting married in April on the gulf coast of florida and so bikini season will come early to this girl. ugh! So I started my 'moderation' diet. I can't quit things like chocolate or ice cream cold turkey, never to indulge in them again. If I did that I would fall off the wagon and it would be not so good. LOL. So I believe in 'everything in moderation' I indulge in a snack to curb the craving but not a big portion. I have cut my portions in half (which got way out of hand over the holidays) and even pick a smaller plate to trick my mind. I hate admitting how much I weigh but if I do maybe I'll reach my target quicker. So January 1st I was at a gut wrenching 122.4#'s. Yikes! Now folks, that might not seem like a lot but I'm only 5'-0" tall. It shows up quickly. I can wear some large girl sizes I'm just not tall. If I put on a lb it goes out and I have less lineal feet to hide it in. When I was pregnant I looked like a toothpick with an olive in the middle.

So anyway, I have begun exercising as well since portion control only goes so far with 10-15 #s to lose. Ten days later I weighed myself this morning. 119.4#s. Yippee!!! Now I tend to fluctuate here and there so it will be slow going but I lost the 3#'s I put on during the holidays and I'm pre-holiday weight so I'm off and running!

My target is 105-110#'s. That is the middle of the range acceptable weight for someone of my height and bone structure. To anyone out there also looking to trim down.....good luck and keep up the good work!

Waking up on the horror movie side of the bed...

My daughter has a fantastic imagination (both my kids d0.) They would rather play with their imaginations than watch TV. I have no need to kick them off the sofa to go play, they do it themselves.

This morning my daughter seems to have slipped into a horror movie mode or something. She has been out of pullups at night for almost a year but still has the ocassional 'accident'. (bladder control takes time and training so I don't worry.) But of course after completely organizing the second floor and remaking the beds last night she'd have an accident. (of course.)

After doing some online banking I head up to her room to strip and remake the bed and continue the laundry train that I'm the conductor of (and never seems to have a caboose to, what's up with that?) She's sitting with a huge handful of costume jewelry in her hands and turns and says, "Oh Mommy! You scawed me. (because her 'r's' are like that and her 'k's' are like 't's' so bear with me. LOL)"

I apologized for scaring her and told her I was going to change her bed.

Naturally her reply was, "Yeah, cause if a werewolf comes I will grab them and shove bracelets down their throats." This stops me dead in my tracks. Did I just have a stroke or did she just say that? No stroke. She said that and she continues into a 15 minute discussion of werewolves. Here are some of the hightlights of the conversation (which was mostly one sided but with me saying "hmmm", "oh really?" and "What else?" Yes, I was egging her on.)

"Werewolves hate the light so when they come I'll catch them with my lightbulb."

"And you can make them Cream of Wheat and that will scare them." (she's on a cream of wheat kick and has eaten it for 5 mornings in a row.)

"Werewolves have sharp claws like hyenas."

And then somewhere in there she wanted a white kitty (which she pronounces 'titty' I know. I know.) from her shelf. I had given it to her and she spied a Ty elephant up there and asked for it. I told her she wasn't going to have me clear her shelf after I had just organized her room. She just stared at me. So I decided to slip into her imaginary world and said, "Besides, elephants will be of no use to you against werewolves." (This sentence made hubby laugh even harder.)

Her reply? "Okay. I won't talk about werewolves anymore." What? I'm so confused.

But after making her bed and gathering the soiled sheets she picks up a costume ring off her vanity and asks one final question, "Do you think werewolves marry other werewolves?"

Ohhhh peanut. You amuse me so.

Kicked It's Arse

Finished Last told me that productivity needed it's arse kicked, which is good because that's what I did today.

Despite my body fighting off an illness I cleaned my whole second floor. And not just any clean. Vacuuming along the walls and baseboards. Plus I put every tiny little toy I found along the way exactly where it belongs. On top of that I moved my son's bed to the inside wall. My kids are used to me moving furniture since I'm an Interior Designer. My son has been bugging me to move his bed. He remembers that this is the time of year I move the head of his bed off the outside wall.

So I moved and vacuumed and moved plus dusted. After that my daughter saw her brother's room and asked "Is my bed next?" I hadn't planned on doing that but she seemed excited. So after cleaning up the extremely messy toy room/4th bedroom I moved to her room giving it the same treatment as her brother's room.

It was worth it. When she saw her bed moved she screamed like it was Christmas morning. LOL. She was so excited and into the mood of things that she moved her little girl vanity (which is quite light) to another wall. I chuckled seeing that. Then I cleaned our bedroom suite.

Once that was completed I cleaned both the kids bathroom and ours. It took much longer than I planned since I did FAR more than anticipated. I'm just sitting down. My son got home and has CCD tonight so it's a busy night tonight. Instead of lounging around this afternoon I'll have to start dinner early.

This is not me complaining. It's me showing how proud I am that I got it all done. It's my job and it gives me great satisfaction at accomplishing it. Now I'm off to play with my daughter and her play makeup.

Productivity

I have a 'to do' list.

It's staring me in the face.

I have a sore throat. It hurts when I swallow.

So what is my objective? To get off my a*s after typing this and get the 'to do's' done BEFORE lunch time. Then I have the afternoon to nurse myself to good health, right? Yeah LOL right.

But as inspiration, the powers that be just made the sun break through the clouds we've seen for who knows how long and it's beautiful. I will grab the boost the sunshine has given me and run with it. Will I be productive? Stay tuned...............lol.

New movie added...

To my Quotable comedies list. "Talladega Nights" was watched in my home late late last night and it was funny (and not just due to exhusted delerium. hee hee.)

Long Island Dad reminded me of some of the funny quotes and so I felt compelled (see what you did Long Island Dad?) to make a special post announcing that the movie has been added to my list. You all know you wait with baited breath for an addition to my list. *rolls eyes*

So "Talladega Nights" is officially added to my list. Here are some funny memorable quotes, which is what makes it a 'Quotable Comedy'. (And I'm not trying to spoil it for those of you who haven't seen it. *cough* Lioux.)

10 Quotes from the movie:

1. Cal Naughton, Jr.: Shake and bake!

Jean Girard: Is that a catchphrase or epilepsy?

2. Jean Girard: Hakuna Matata, bitches

3. Ricky Bobby: You say you're French?

Jean Girard: Oui. [sounds like 'We']

Ricky Bobby: We? No, we are not French. We're American, because you're in America, okay? Greatest country on the planet

Jean Girard: Well, what have you given the world apart from George Bush, Cheerios, and the ThighMaster?

Ricky Bobby: Chinese food?

Cal Naughton, Jr.: Chinese food.

Jean Girard: That's from China.

Ricky Bobby: Pizza.

Jean Girard: Italy.

Cal Naughton, Jr.: Chimichanga.

Jean Girard: Mexican.

Ricky Bobby: Really, smarty-pants? What did French land give us?

Jean Girard: We invented democracy, existentialism, and Ménage à trois.

Cal Naughton, Jr.: Those are three pretty good things.

Ricky Bobby: Hey.

Cal Naughton, Jr.: That last one's pretty cool

4. Ricky Bobby: Well, Let me give you a saying from Colonel Sanders. I am too drunk to taste this chicken

5. Ricky Bobby: Where are you, Pepe Le Bitch?

6. Ricky Bobby: From now on, it's Magic Man and El Diablo.

Cal Naughton, Jr.: What does El Diablo mean?

Ricky Bobby: It's like Spanish for like a fighting chicken.

7. Ricky Bobby: If you ain't first, you're last.

8. Ricky Bobby: You can't have two number ones.

Cal Naughton, Jr.: Yeah, 'cause that would be eleven.

9. Ricky Bobby: Holding hands with a man makes me terribly uncomfortable.

Jean Girard: It's a sign of affection in many countries.

Ricky Bobby: Well, not here.

Jean Girard: It is not sexual in any way. My erection has nothing to do with you.

10. Jean Girard: Now it is time for the matador to dance with the blind shoe-maker!

For other quotes check out this link to "Talladega Nights quotes"

Late night....sore throat

Why do I stay up late on weekends? My kids still wake up the same time. Why do I do that to myself. I know hubby was ripping songs to his MP3 (which he filled already and is trying to figure out what songs he could lose so he could add some new stuff) so I did too. I'm up to 110 songs. I can't believe I put that many on. LOL. But then in a moment of brilliance we started watching Talladega Nights at 11 pm. It was 2 am before I was laying in bed.

I should have suggested he NOT put the movie in because I know his obsessive need to watch a movie from beginning to end.

I've had a sore throat these past couple days and it's worse today, no doubt due to me sorely lacking sleep. Am I looking forward to the routine of the weekday sleep schedule? I hope I don't have what Finished Last (Mr. Nice Guy) had. I know I can't get illness from blogland but I know he got pretty sick with strep (btw, I hope you're feeling all better now.)

Okay..... I'm off to cut my boys hair. Did I mention I'm a barber too? LOL

Technologically challenged...

Yes I am! I am stumped when it comes to mega bites and gigabites. I figure they are how much of a chunk you take out of a burger but I don't know the difference. Yet this challenged girl when it comes to todays technology perserveres. I trudge on. I let NOTHING stop me!!! Wooo hooo! Well, except when the laptop locks up and freezes. *giggles*

I figured out how to chat on chat rooms, then post stories and email pictures. I learned how to IM and then a blog....yippee (that's where you guys came in. *wink*) Then I tackled my kids digital cameras on my laptop (this past week) and today my MP3 players with 'ripping' songs. Something you don't want to have happen to your pants but definitely want to do to music for your MP3 player. And lastly, I got a myspace page. In doing so I found people from high school and college that I was friends with and some I hadn't chatted with in *looking up at the ceiling while I think back to what year......carry the one* HOLY CRAP! 14 years for someone from college? Could it be that long John? (that is if you are reading this since I gave you my blog addy.)

Phew. I am so psyched about reconnecting with my 'old' friends (and no I'm not calling you old because I'm not old either. I know for a fact that despite my calendar age being 34.1 years I test out on www.realage.com at 30.7 so I'm fighting age every step I can. hee hee.)

So I'm all energized on my technologically induced high with my recovering kitty sleeping beside me, puppy with her stuffed baby snoozing at my feet and hubby in his recliner 'ripping songs' onto his MP3. Aren't we a computer aged couple? LOL

Lighter note...

On a lighter note from my last post I have to say that, on a Saturday after sleeping in, my son wakes up in a wonderful mood. He isn't a morning person like his younger sister or mom (he's like his dad...lol) But this morning he is so funny.

He says so many funny things and I hope to write down some of these gems he says so I can record them for posterity.

This morning he was telling me about the special effects on the game he was playing on his gameboy game. I replied by, "You're kidding me!" His reply? In a serious tone he said, "Mommy, I never kid when it comes to games."

Then a few minutes later he told my husband that cereal, including the Honey Nut Cheerios he was eating, was made of wood shavings. Apparently a cartoon once said that and he has a photographic memory. Then my husband said, "No they are made of oats and other things. Here, read the ingredients." My son did read the ingredients and was upset to see that there were almonds in it. After realizing that he could deal with the almonds he and my husband discussed the honey part of the cereal.

He asked my husband, "How do they get the honey from the bees." My husband, jokingly said, "They gently squeeze the bees." After saying this absurdity I looked at my husband who laughed hysterically. My son laughed too. But quickly followed with, "Maybe they dress up like a bee and say..'buzz buzz' and the bees let them have it."

Somewhere toward the end of this discussion my son said, "But the bees don't get paid for this job. I guess they could get paid in honey." He cracks me up.

My kitty cat

It's Saturday morning and I have to take my cat to the vet in a few hours. It's not for a routine visit, she's been steadily losing weight and acting weird. She's eating the dog food, begging for human food (which she's never done before) and many other things. The vet (of whom I saw LAST saturday for my dog's well visit) wants to run blood work to check her kidney functions, to check for diabetes and for feline hyperthyroidism.

*sigh*

She's almost 11 years old. I worry and yet I also worry this will cost a ton of money. But they are family and we can't neglect them. I just hope this won't turn out to be the money pit only to watch her suffer and die. *sniffle*


**********Update*************

We took Eponine, my cat, to the vet and had almost $200 worth of tests done. Good news is she isn't having kidney failure. Her liver functions were testing high but the vet seemed to be under the same impression that I had, that my cat has hyperthyroidism. (I have hypOthyroidism, weird) But we won't know until Monday when the test comes back from her T4 test. She's lost a total of 3 lbs (1 lb in 5 months alone) so I'm glad we took her or else we were being neglectful. *sigh* Of the three things (kidney failure, Diabetes and Hyperthyroidism) she could have had I would much prefer the one she more than likely has. It means it can be treated and NOT with me having to inject her with needles, just feeding her pills (which I hope won't be too hard.)

Animals. They are part of our family, expensive but worth it. When hubby was in law school she was who I came home too. She was what helped me through it. I owe her so much for that.

So long, Fairwell, auf Wie·der·seh·en...good bye....

Today he announced his 'resignation'. The coach of my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers Bill Cowher has resigned after 15 years. 'Resigned' not retired. All the sports people firing questions kept asking, 'will you coach again?' and I found the question was unnecessary. I say he will. Why? Because of his carefully chosen word 'resign'. He didn't say retire folks.

In the end he will be missed but forever remembered in the hearts of the Steelers fans. Now the thoughts are on who will replace him. Pittsburgh has only had 20 coaches since I've been alive. This will be interesting.

See the link to the story at Yahoo if you would like...(or care. LOL).... "Cower Resigns...."

Cleaning jag and weird thoughts

With my decorations away I am on a cleaning jag. I'm fighting off one of my migraines (must talk to a doctor) and pondering the weird thoughts I have on ocassion.

My daugther had preschool this week as usual (which is wed-friday) and I drive across town to drop her off after sending my son off on his school bus. Then before lunch I pick her up again. In my drive I pass by my church. Outside they have built a new brick sign with the Parish's name on the top and under it is one of those digital signs or pixilated signs or whatever you call it. It has messages flashing on it or scrolling that can be programmed. Now I don't know how one works those things but an odd thought kept coming back to me as I drove by the sign each way.

It has a nice 'Have a Blessed Day' message followed by the mass schedule for the week. And that got me to thinking. What if the person in charge had a jokster moment and decided to alter the message for one hour one day and then flip it back to normal as if nothing happened.

I would find it kind of amusing if you drove by the sign and it said: "Run! Run for your lives! The end is here!" or near Easter it could say, "Special guest speaker: Jesus Christ. First 100 in the door get free IPods."

Okay, I feel better sharing my odd thoughts with you. Now my mind can move on. LOL

Rockin' BIL's

Hubby is the oldest of 8 kids. Yes, 8.

Hubby plays guitar (both electric and acoustic.) He has dreamed of playing in a band, he was in one in high school and recorded an album.

He has 3 younger sisters and 4 younger brothers. The two youngest brothers (21 & 23) have had a band for quite a few years. It's just the two of them and their friend M who plays base. A (who is 21) can play base but in the band he plays the drums, writes their lyrics and he does all the lead vocals. R (who is 23) plays the lead guitar and writes all the music. The call themselves "Margin Art" and play gigs. I would say they are in the same genre as Green Day. I told them I wanted to blog about them and they were cool with it. Above is a picture they drew for their band. The dark haired kid is M and the other two are my BIL's. LOL. It kind of looks like them. *snicker*

Someday I'll paste a video in of them and hubby playing songs in the garage for one party we had a few summers ago.

Anywho.... Here is a link to their 'My space' page. (I just signed up for myspace for the first time. I'm so lost. LOL)

Margin Art at Myspace.

Stores suck! Where is the Ibuprofen?

I went out for a few things yesterday. When I was leaving Kohls I saw they had out Valentines Day towels. VALENTINES DAY TOWELS!! Holy frieght train through life people! I mean holy crap!

Then I go to the store attached to the GC.... (but did I see Kintner? NO!! Oh wait! Wrong state...lol.) And on the shelves in place of the Christmas stuff that used to be there were garden things like sprinklers and bbq impliments. What? Winter just started! Sure the days ARE getting longer but if I watered my lawn RIGHT NOW it would... well it would probably freeze tonight. LOL. Sure it's in the 50's all week and unseasonably warm but come on people! Give a girl time to breath after pitching a forest full of wrapping paper and who is still packing away holiday decorations (boy am I slacking.)

So today, I go to the grocery store. In their floral department? Tulips. WTF is going on?! Did I sleep through winter and it is now spring? Did I slip into acoma? Am I really stuck in a twisted soap opera life? No. I just have the next few months planned out for me by Mr. & Ms. merchants. Well back off people! I need to breath! I'm not ready to age at light speed. I don't want this train to travel so fast! I'm enjoying the sunshine today....in January.... of 2007... today!!!

*sigh* Where is that Ibuprofen?