HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ok 2009 is a few short hours from ending....ahhhh....new beginnings....sometimes this is good, but I have to say that '09 was not a "bad" year for us. We had 3 major things, ok, 2 major things for the family and depending on my mood, 4 major things for me...take your pick...

We got my beloved Ginger.

I got my beloved iphone.

We got our beloved new home.

Gracie turned 10. Yep, 10.

Logan turned 7. Yeah, I know, 7. (he'll be 8 in a few short weeks)

***sigh***

I saw Rob Thomas in concert. Really. Need I say more?

Moving on to 2010. Wow. 2010. Sounds so, I don't know, sci-fi?

Here's to making it great! B:)

Busy Busy Busy

I know I have said this before, but I AM BUSY! And right now, I l.o.v.e. this kind of busy....so I thought I would share my schedule just for today...ready. set. go....Wake up 6:45am...Heck, the kids are still asleep and need to catch bus for school by 7:30...WAKE UP, GET DRESSED, don't forget to BRUSH YOUR TEETH...6:55am, turn on Christmas Tree lights (cause that's how I roll) and make another effort to get Logan out of bed (btw he is up at the crack of dawn on the weekends without help, hmmm)...7:05 Grace is having trouble with her contacts (usually doesn't require my help at all, but because we are running late, hmmm....) Anyways...contacts in, go get breakfast (ummm, yeah it is ALWAYS a pop tart, I am not June Cleaver and have never claimed to be, judge not!) LOGAN!!!! are you dressed yet, it's 7:20....crap, dog (my beloved Ginger) biting on my slippers, forgot to let her out this morning....7:25 dog pottied (outside thankfully), kids are at bustop (right outside our front gate, thankfully)

7:35 - hit the shower, no coffee yet....
8:15 chase dog around house, try to catch her to put her in her special kennel for the duration of my short workday today...
8:30 still chasing dog while answering phone call from out of town hubby
8:31 tell hubby what my morning has been like all while still chasing dog
8:35 off of phone, caught dog, found keys and in the car
9:00am at work....work...work... work, busy time of year for me at work while everyone else stares at me like I am an alien and I don't know what time of the year it is and then make their best effort to tell me that I should SLOW down and try to enjoy the season, hmmmm....I am and expert these days at self control...

11:30 meeting with not so bright salesman who apparently can't read our NO SOLICITING sign...more self control....
12:38 blogging about my busy day:)

2pm kids will be home, they will get 10 minutes to rest and put their backpacks away while I let the dog out and then....

Because I l.o.v.e to be busy, I will be off to the craft store to pick up fabric pens for a project in Logan's class tomorrow (I am his room mom), buy cookies for his party, put together goodie bags for his party, make snowballs for his party, buy teacher gift from the kids to the teacher for his party, and then go to his Christmas performance at 6:15 ....

Fun, eh?

Not to mention, I get to do what I l.o.v.e. over again on Friday for Grace!

I think I'll set my clock and get up on time...

Holiday Giveaway!

No, not something of mine...(trust me there isn't anything I have you would want), but go to this blog and check out this classic piece! Enter her giveaway!!!!

http://isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com/2009/12/impromptu-giveaway-stella-dot-necklace.html

Joys of the Season

***Edited to join a party at Thrifty Decor's place! My pics are not the best, but I love the way my house looks right now

Hey all! I warned you that I would be posting a lot this month, so catch up!

Anyway, I have been looking around my house and I think I might have misinterpreted the way my house now looks. I wrote that it looks a lot more cluttered with the Christmas decor, in essence it really feels a lot more COZY! Yeah, that was the word I was looking for...I don't think that pictures can really say all that, but you know I am gonna post them anyway! Ha! I came to this conclusion about 11pm last night while I was sippin' on some wine and fillin' out the Christmas cards, all while watching White Christmas...don't judge. You know you have done this. Maybe not the wine part, but replace that with hot cocoa or your drink of choice! Although, doing it this way takes a wee bit longer cause about 1/4 of the way through... the wine kicks in and the bed starts calling...get my drift? Merry Christmas.

your wish is my command

Some of you have requested pics of "the house" and I am not one to dissappoint! So. Your wish is my command....this is the outside after (maybe during) we painted it from yellow to Dolphin Blue...no it's not purple. Don't laugh Carrie. We put on shutters (black ones) and I can't find the pics of that...but guess what? when I do, I'll post 'em! How's that for gratification!!

The kitchen (yes that is a crock pot and it is in use, do believe it's a tri-tip-soon-soon-to-be-burritos), the living room, and the dining room (the rug is not pink, don't know why it looks like that in pics). So there you go...little by little decorating and living, decorating and living. It's been 5 months. It looks a lot more "cluttered" with the Christmas decorations in place...I'll post those pics later! ;)

Snow???

Hey all! Guess what got forecast? No. Really. Guess...SNOW! Now, to some of you that is not amazing, but to all of us Californians that live in the Valley know that this does not happen...ever...So imagine our excitement if you can, cause we generally have to drive about 2 hours, up the winding hills, get car sick and by that time, who really can enjoy it. Yes, it will melt as soon as is hits the ground, but we don't care...it's SNOW!

I am especially excited, cause if it happens, my nephew Luke, will get his wish! He's too young to understand why we don't get snow here every winter and now this might confuse him even more, but I bet his eyes will be wide with the thrill of it!

Do you remember when you first saw snow?

T.I.M.E.

No. This is not a "plug" for TIME magazine, but you could probably guess what it's about! I miss having time to yardsale, go to goodwill, and yes, even time to cook right now would be good...

Believe it or not, the holidays do allow me more time than I usually have. I slow down. I don't want to miss anything. I try to take it all in...sometimes in my mind and a lot through the lens of my camera....I don't want to forget.

I love being "in charge" of our appetizers at our family Thanksgiving dinner (I inherited this one, cause one of you, you know who you are, moved away. I am not complaining... just miss you.)

I love our Christmas Tree Lane. I prefer to walk down it, but some years we drive. I love decorating for Christmas too...everyone is gonna help this year because we have sooo much more to decorate!! Sparkling lights just do something to my soul that takes me back to all the best memories of my childhood...Know what I mean? The smile on my kids' face and all those of my nieces and nephews while they enjoy the season in the best way they know. I love the reason for this season and I think that helps me slow down and take the T.I.M.E that He deserves....

Don't misunderstand. I will be busy, but it is so much more than that, it's the kind of busy that no one minds. So, be patient, my blogs will almost come daily (maybe twice daily) during the Holidays! Oh and if I forget....Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! B:)

Fun Weekend?...Oh Yeah, Baby!

This weekend was about celebrating my birthday...nope not gonna spill on my age, but I will give you some insight on how I celebrated. Ok - so I would love to blog about everything I did this weekend, but my main focus was attending the Rob Thomas concert is San Jose. It was a.m.a.z.i.n.g. He was fabulous...but beyond that so were the bands that opened for him...ummmm, Carolina Liar AND Onerepublic! Stinkin' fabulous...I went with my friend Kristin and I gotta say, hands down, best concert experience to date. Really. They sure know how to ROCK and she and I definitely did that. Check out these pics!

Rob Thomas (kinda blurry, I know....but I have 169 photos and there is bound to be a good one in there, right?) anyway, his special guest, ummm yeah - Carlos Santana...I could have died....legend, really....

This is Carolina Liar - Yeah, they opened the show and then let us "hang" with them between sets...Amazing! Genuinly, nice guys. Polite. Manners...and, of course, they ROCK!

This is Kristin and I before we got all c.r.a.z.y. BTW our shirts said "I'm With The Band" - Carolina Liar guys looovvvveddd that...so did we!

Kristin and I with OneRepublic in the background....doin' their thing...umm, yeah...ROCKIN'!

Had to show off a photo of our COOL shoes and ROCKIN' pedi's...cause that's how we roll!!!

I could try to post about everything that I did this weekend, but I don't think it will all fit in this one post. Here's a hint! I took 169 pictures. No, that's not a typo. 169. Had so much fun, I could pee my pants!!! ROCK ON!

Muffins With Mom

Muffins with Mom was moved to the beginning of the school year this year and we actually made it there in time to ENJOY ourselves. Don't we look like we are enjoying ourselves? There wasn't a mad dash for a muffin, or a juice, or even for the coffee. We took our time. We even had time to chat with friends....of course these days are very few and far between...so, when they do come along and I get a picture this blissful, I will be sure to post about it! B:)

ps. scanned this pic....extra white...did not edit....to bad....oh well....you got a picture....be happy

***Better Late Than Never??!!??*** re-posted

*** Re-posted to join party at Skip to my Lou ***




So my friend, Shea, put together a Crock Pot Monday Party.....Yes, I am a little late but trust me you won't be sorry....two ingredients and you are lovin' me.....

Shredded Beef Tacos or Burritos!

Oh fuuurrrr real! I missed this yesterday but hey - here ya go..

1 tri tip roast (frozen cooks all day, thawed cooks for 2 to 4 hours all on high)
1 jar La Victoria Salsa

I usually put this in the early morning and its ready to shred about dinner time and then it is the best shredded beef tacos or burritos....yummmmmmm

There you have it - better late than never!!!!


****We love this. We enjoy it every couple of weeks! ***

New Blog Name???

So I am trying out something different....did you notice? Changed the name of my blog! I think it fits {me} better...cause you can't forget that it's all about me!....LOL...Ok seriously, I will be completely torn away from blogland this weekend....soccer, soccer, soccer....But you know I love it...soccer that is...not being away from my addiction...bloggin' that its....Have a great weekend. B:)

***UPDATE*** Nevermind....it was taken already. :(

Fall, Autumn, Harvest, Whatever?

So, I am less than enthusiastic at decorating for Fall, Autumn, Harvest, whatever, and I don't know why. I should be jumping at the chance with a new house to decorate and all, but I am not feelin' it. Might have something to do with how b.u.s.y. I am with the school's soccer club (yeah, I took that on. I. run. it). Serious exhaustion setting in, but that is also one of the things that I absolutely adore about this time of year and yet...not feelin' the joy. Could also be that it's still, like, 110 degrees here and I loathe the heat. (yep been here all my life and am still here and still hate the heat) Ok, so it's not 110 but it is still in the 100 degree range, fuuuurrrrr real people. Maybe my *early for the season* cold is not helping either...hmm, need a cough drop by the way....

I thought I would start with my blog and see if that helps set the mood. I am going to see if a pumpkin spice latte will help and then from there I am out of ideas....any help out there?

Oh yeah....Happy Fall Ya'll!

Heads Up!

LADIES!! Here is a Heads Up for you about a BLOCK SALE that I was just informed about. If you live in my area you know these are hard to come by! So, here is what you need to know: Peach/Alluvial area, Sept 12.....Fun Fun Fun. I might be helping out at one of the yard sales in that block sale so come on and buy!

On My Own

I am so excited to get to participate in Rhoda's Thrifty Treasure's. (I don't know if I am linking correctly - we will see if she has to delete me!) See, I have been involved in moving and packing, moving and unpacking a.l.l. summer long! Uhg! But we are moved and the kids are back in school and healthy, and all is well....(I am knocking on wood here).

Anyway, I had to fly solo when I went treasure huntingn on Saturday...my sister was busy, my mom was busy and my aunt...well yeah, she was busy too...but I was going through withdrawals and need to go...so, I went...alone...all by myself...you can sing that one if you want...I do. BUT, LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!!





Ok this sewing table, mind you I have been stalking blog land for sewing tables, $20. I have seen them online for as much as 99.99 - yep, just about peeeeeeed I was so happy. :)




This (still in the plastic) canvas that measure 36x40 (My sister and I have a special project in mind for canvas') $5, oh yeah, come to mama....very happy cause when I talked to the seller she wanted $10, I said I would think about it and she immediately dropped it to $5...oh yeah, come to mama!


Sorry about the pic on this, I tried to fix it, but....Anyway I loved this purse ($1). It was at an estate sale that the poor guy was trying to empty his mom's house and the tears were just streaming down his face...won't forget that....

Loved this Pier One vase - everyone needs a little POP of RED. $2, Scrolly Shelf $2 (thought that was a little pricey but I have the perfect spot for it and I knew it as soon as I saw it. And then in the background is a little "gold leaf." And I have a project for that too! (.50)

Cute Cute Cute - both $3 - did I mention that they are Cauuutte

Now these have a little bit of history (although it doesn't involve me). The seller wanted $10 for the big one and $5 for the little one, I asked if she would take $10 for both and she said $12, I said sold and then she told me that she got them when she was in HOLLAND on a foreign exchange program....who knew? But they look fabulous on my huge porch! A little bit of history never hurt anyone, eh?


What do you think? How did I do? Let me know? Missed my peeps, but thought I did ok....On My Own. B:)

No Parties - Just Because

So I know I have missed some blog parties this week, but I have been busy trying to ge the kids back to school and then deal with one of them coming down with the flu...yeah, the first day of school...kinda stinks. For both of us. Anyway - as promised, here are some pics of the house. Of course more will come, but you get the idea...

Guest Bathroom

Need to get a bigger mantle, don't ya think?

This kitchen window will be great for the herb garden I have planned in my head!

Coming down the stairs, this is the look into the dining room

The Master Tub - this is before we moved in.

The Dining Room - before we moved in

The Kitchen (sorry not a great pic), before we moved in

The Porch

The House

Our home is in the process of morphing. We are having it painted as I type. So those pics will come later, but it has great "bones" and we are so happy to have moved and have all this space...What do ya'll think?

WE ARE MOVED!

To anyone who is interested (cause I have said this before), I LOATHE PACKING....but for whatever reason, I don't mind UNpacking. That was, until I realized, it was going to take me 7 years! Yeah. I have way too much stuff. I have already sent 6 HUGE boxes to Goodwill, but not before I called my sister, my aunt and my mom over to go through it for their shopping pleasure.

My husband is trying to be patient, cause, you see, my boxes are all in the garage (the manly domain) still and I am slowly making some headway. But every time I feel a sense of accomplishment, there is still ANOTHER box...I am determined though, that by the end of this week my new home will be box free or at least marked for Goodwill.

So, about the new house.....LOVE IT. And I don't know what it is, but I can't wait for Christmas to decorate and enjoy the rain and cool weather on the porch!

I promise, I will post pictures with the next post....and it won't take me a month! LOL

Patience

I know you all have been waiting, and quite patiently I might add, to see the pics of the inside of our new home. However, I have been busy! Celebrating my Gracie's 10th birthday (Happy Birthday Baby Girl!) and I also have been super busy packing the house (yuck! I l.o.a.t.h.e. packing), helping sell fireworks for our local soccer club (come by and see me this Saturday, Willow/Peach), working (of course my mind wanders to our new home - a.l.o.t.), trying to pick our new flooring (we have been at odds (the husband and I) over color and quality - ummm, on a side note I will win, I always do, but in a way that makes us both happy!) I also have had to pick paint colors and get bids from painters for the inside and outside of the house.....I am sticking with yellow for the house and changing the shutters to white instead of hunter green! and I am also left to patiently wait for escrow to close so that I can go take some fancy schmancy pics for ya'll....thanks for your patience, mine is quite thin right now!


Have a great 4th of July and don't forget our troops and all they fight for! God Bless America :)

hopin' around blog land

So I was hoppin' around blog land and connected to a blog I love from my sisters site http://allthingsllanos.blogspot.com/, and came across one http://granvillehouse.blogspot.com, and she had a blog about using shutters INSIDE the house as headboards, wall decor, mantel pieces, etc., when I scrolled down and found a little something that I thought I would post about as well....this is what I found:

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little moreand thegetting it done a little less”(Anna Quindlen, Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11; emphasis added)

Just thought it fit for these moments that I am going through right now... **sigh**

Note to Self....

Ummm, yeah, when buying an existing home....are you listening? cause I sure could have used this advice about two weeks ago....make sure you have it written into the contract that the seller agrees to MAINTAIN the home until escrow closes....Yeah, we didn't do that and now, uhg. *sigh* We knew we were going to have some work to do on this new home, but now we have a ton! Deep breath....we can do it....other things may need to take a back burner, like; bloggin, playin, sleepin, eatin, workin....Oh wait, take that last one back, gotta work. Have to pay for the new house!! He he....anyway, all my previous homes (2) have been built from scratch so I haven't had to deall with anyone elses "dirt."

Wow, people can be dirty and have an Idon'tcarethatthisisyourdreamhome attitude, they still are not cleaning it. Note to self (and anyone else out there interested) get it in the contract.

A Professional Mom......

So all of you know, well, most of you know that I work and I have two kids and have been married for the last 14 years....I came across a blog a while back and have been stalking her regularly. She was asked this question at her last "have to go be a good wife on the arm of a good man at his corporate function," "what do you do?" She was almost afraid to answer that she is a stay at home mom, who gave up the corporate world to be a homemaker.....this was my response.....

"Oh what a question! You see people see me almost everyday with my "mom" hat on and yet they see me everyday with my "professional" hat as well. I am living in the minority dream and that has no racial connections. You see, I am a stay at home mom, a professional helping to run a very successful corporation and I am a wife to the same man for the last 14 years. Of course, I didn't start that way.....but the long and short of it is that I wanted to be a professional. I loved my job and then I had our first child....loved being a mom but was torn about whether or not we could afford for me not to work. So I vowed by the time our second child came along that it would be my choice to work or not...along came the opportunity for me to work from home for a short time, then I was allowed to take my kids with me to work until they were of school age...perfect (for me)! I think we all can only do what we believe to be the best for our families and ourselves. When I was working from home I found myself a slave to my every inner notion of being a good mom and in turn over did it. Not that I turned into the wicked witch of the west. But I definitely was not doing my kids any favors. I am a better mom when I am feeding my need to be accepted as a professional, child rearing, loving wife. I didn't like fading into the background but I have learned how to do that when my husband needs to be in the spotlight....and he has learned to appreciate my juggling act. So I do very much so believe that it is what works for every family and their personality....Don't be afraid to be proud of what you are doing, and shout it from the rooftops if you must (or you can blog about it)....you are very much like my sister, it is her greatest joy to be a parent and would never dream of juggling the way I do....it is also, not to slight myself, my greatest joy to be a parent. My children, of course, come first - way before my job, but.... My job just helps me keep that in perspective."

I know this doesn't give the details of what I do or how I am able to do this, but I do think that every mom should be proud of their position in society....it's what makes this world go round....

Just thought I would share and see what ya'll think....

New Home Pics

So I am going to only show you pics of the outside until after we move in. I have pics of the inside but it is decorated by the current owner and not really my style. Besides, I am trying to keep you in suspense....Now just to let you know how perfect this is for us....we never looked at another house. In fact, we weren't even looking at this one, we were just driving and saw it was for sale and thought we might just take a look and voila! It's soon to be ours....escrow closes in 28 days.....not that I am counting....but I AM counting....I am sooooooo excited!!!!

So this is it. What do you think.....???? Can't wait to put my ideas that are crowding my head into our new home.....B:)

***Breaking News****

On the edge of your seat aren't you? First let me tell you I was a little premature in posting last week about this announcment cause this almost didn't happen and we still have a little way to go before it's done but.....WE ARE MOVING!!! Never thought I would say it....never thought we would leave this house....we weren't even looking....thought our next move would be to the coast...We are only moving two miles from where we are now but it is going to feel like we are on the prairie. Can't wait to post pictures for you all to see but for now we still have to close escrow and concentrate on selling our current home....The kids are taking some heat from their friends, though they are not changing schools, but they are scheduled to go to a different jr. high and high school. We will cross that bridge when we get to it.

We did not think the seller was going to take our offer....it felt like it was taking forever to accept...even though it was about a week long process...but when they did, they called and we signed.

So to the details....lots of windows in a great house that I already have a lot of plans for, two story, wrap around porch, 4 bed, 3 bath.....two and a quarter acres, pool, circle drive, lanscaped.....

More details to follow.....

UUUUEEEEEHHHHHHMMMM!!!

BIG announcement......Coming soon.....check back next week.

Bragging Rights

So, I am not into telling anyone what we have or how we got it. But I do, I guess, brag about my kids every once in a while....so here I go again. Grace has turned into a phenomenal soccer player. She had two games yesterday and they were so intense and she really made herself part of the team and team as a whole were fabulous. They were passing, they were calling for the ball, they were helping each other with directions. So what makes all this soooo amazing? Number one, my daughter is quiet and pretty much reserved. She doesn't get aggressive or over excited about a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g. Except when her brother turns the channel on the T.V. during Icarly. Also, making this a great thing is that all of these girls are 8 to 10 year olds. Amazing.

Now, let me rewind. About a year ago I didn't think she was going to play anymore. She has been playing since she was three and I thought....ok...let go of your Mia Hamm or Brandy Chastain dreams. I had come to terms with her not playing anymore and was a little heartbroken. Soccer was my sport. I played since I was 6 and just recently decided my knees and ankles can't take anymore. So I coach instead. Anyway - she came to me about 2 months after the end of our Fall season and told me she wanted to play in a Spring league....I almost fell on the floor. Without getting over excited, as I sometimes do, I said, "Sure honey, if that's what you want." Now, inside my heart is racing and I realize my dream for her is still alive.

Yesterday, she showed some incredible talent for moving the ball and connecting with her team, that again made my heart start racing and I couldn't contain my excitement. I got a little loud with my cheering and she gave me that "don't embarrass me" look. I calmed myself and even tried to stay seated in my chair. Didn't last long. But I tried.

Got up this morning and stalked my blogs and found that Stepford Dreams is considering putting her 17 month old in some kind of organized sports program and wanted to know if that put her in the crazy mom category for wanting that. So, I thought about it and put myself in check, asked myself if I am one of those crazy mom's that wants bragging rights and wants her kids to be phenoms at sports.....quietly, HECK YEAH!.....But it has to be what they want first....As long as I think like that, I am pretty sure they will do well.

K.A. - The Winner

That's right people! I called this from the beginning. And it's not that I thought the other contestants didn't have talent....I just really feel something when this guy sings! He is amazing and I can't wait to go buy his album.....My only complaint...he is too humble and doesn't consider himself deserving....what a bunch of bologna! He needs to celebrate. This is his moment. Phenomenal. I am keeping this American Idol recording so that when I am in need of an incredible concert...it will be at my fingertips and one remote click away.

Kris Allen - American Idol Winner 2009......need I say more? Nope. But I do have one last thing......congrats to the guy-next-door and goodbye to the guy-liner! B:)

Proof

TAH DAH! Proof that I am truly addicted! I am watching a re-run of The Tudors, blogging about a "thrifty" find that was purchase from Goodwill and then transformed into something I am proud to display in my home! What do you think? I know the pics are a little out of sorts, but be patient... I am a rookie! The one with the shade is the final product. The lamp, the shade and the bulb: total cost $6. I am loving being thrifty!!!Cute . Eh? B:)

ps. thanks to Southern Hospitality for the inspirations and encouragement without even knowing it! You can find her at http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/

Addicted!

I have some new addictions people.....I think I might need some kind of "step" program to help me.

I can't get enough of "The Tudors," "Castle," "Bones," "Prison Break," "American Idol," the Goodwill store, Blogging, reading blogs (especially the creative ones). This isn't the complete list since some of my shows are going to be having their finales this week. Whoo. Thanks goodness or I won't have anytime to sleep! Come on....you all know what I am talking about....these addictions are driving me batty. I mean, I literally was in a bad mood last night and the only thing I could think the cause was from lack of sleep. My DVR and new thrift passions are killing me....I think I need a nap right now....but I have to go get me kids from "early release day."

Did I tell you I have issues with early release? Maybe another time....Anyway, I am supposed to be working, but I thought someone might have a cure all for my weird addictions......

Civic Duty

So guess where I have been ALL week? Can anyone say JURY DUTY!? Come on, say it. Oh! Yeah, juggle the kids around and find someone to take them to school...great! found my good ol' brother...oh, wait. Logan doesn't feel good..."what's wrong buddy?" "My tummy hurts." "You don't want to go to school with your cousins today" "No."


Ummm, for those of you that don't know.....he BEGS me almost daily to go play with them. So this is unheard of for him to say no.....



Great, lets call Grandma. Grandma could be classified as a saint...for real...she cancelled her appointments with her clients to come and sit with Logan AND she played about 8 games of Candyland with him...sainthood her she comes.




So I was finally off to the courthouse. If you ever think about going downtown...don't. The only reason I EVER go downtown anymore is for baseball games....Go Grizzlies!.....anyhoo. I get parked in the underground parking....my claustrophobia sets in....run up the stairs....ahhhh daylight....see homeless guy playing the flute and the poor guy is awful, so sad...go to the jury room...."Um am I in the right place?" "No, go get your car, park in the FREE juror parking lot six blocks the other direction, get on the trolley, get off at the second stop. You need to be in civil court."



Now, at this point all I want to do is go back to bed and try to start my day again. Anyway, I go back to the underground parking....the homeless, awful flute player is still playing and note collecting any tips....the claustrophobia sets in...I speed out of there (thank goodness I was parked less than fifteen minutes or I would have had to pay $3. Yeah, $3 for anything over fifteen minutes, $9 if you stay longer than 2 hours, ridiculous!) I make it over to the FREE parking lot and I make it to the trolley. I get on the trolley with a guy who thinks he needs to educate me about the swine flu. Really. Then there was a lady who drove all the way from Reedley and said she was going to get in trouble with the judge cause she is late. Here I am almost 45 minutes late and I am thinking, uh oh. Well, thankfully the bird flu guy got off on the first stop (remember I am getting off on stop #2). Myself and the Reedley gal got off the trolley at our designated stop #2 and proceed to walk across the street and into the court where of course there is a metal detector. Do I make it through? Fat chance. "Mam do you have any belts on?" "No" "We are going to have use the wand on you" "Excuse me?" "To see if you are wearing any weapons"



Now if you had seen what I was wearing you would have thought "no way." But they get out the wand. Apparently my bracelet is made of stainless steel. Who knew?



I made it to the jury room. Late. Orientation is over. All orientations are the same. No big deal right? Orientation is important later....stay tuned....Anyway, I text a few people who are going to help pick up Grace from school. I text the husband and let him know what's going on with Logan and then the Judge comes in.




He explains something about a questionnaire...blah, blah, blah....the clerk passes them out and we are supposed to fill them out....who you know, how you feel about the judicial system, basic stuff....after you turn it in you are free to go for the day, but be back at 9am SHARP. Wonder if he has ever road the trolley system? I digress....I fill out the questionnaire, trying not to laugh at some of the questions. Finally get to the last page and woohoo....I am done. Out the door I go and back to the trolley stop, get picked up, get dropped off....In the car, making phone calls and checking on Logan with Grandma..."he's fine," she says. Parking attendant asks for my jury pass, don't have one, get lectured about how I should know that's how they validate parking for jurors and that's why I should pay attention during the "ORIENTATION!" So, instead of barking back at him about how I am just trying to do my "civic duty," I stay tight lipped and try not to blow a gasket.




Home at last, I pick up Logan and take him to work....he seems fine....work was C.R.A.Z.Y. busy. Although, it's like that a lot! Which is a good thing, I know.





Back at court the next day: I loathe the trolley. That's all I am gonna say about that. I wore pants. The day before I wore capri pants and a blouse, oh yeah, and the stainless steel bracelet. Anyway, I don't make it through the metal detector again. Seriously. Then they make me lift my pant legs to make sure I don't have a knife or ankle gun. Really. I am wearing sandals. (Good ol' Cali weather) You can laugh here, but as I walk through the detector and pull up my pant leg the other officers are laughing at me. Apparently they thought it was funny that the "new" guy thought I was suspicious looking enough to warrant a pant leg check. Ha Ha very funny guys.





Back in the jury room. Roll call. Please rise. Enter: the Judge. He proceeds to have everyone sit and then asks if there is anyone who wants to be excused for a hardship. Hardship...does not having a babysitter qualify? Can't hurt to ask, right? So I raise my hand along with about 20 other people. He takes us into the jury deliberation room and one by one we get to lay out our excuses for him....luckily, I was the second wanna ditch jury duty loser person. I plead my case and felt kinda weird cause I felt like he was gonna yell at me that I was a liar and trying to avoid my civic duty. But, he was calm cool and collected and appreciated my situation and told me that I would be dismissed but would like me on one of his summer jury's.....So line up the babysitter. Wow! Can he do that....time will tell....



So for the record, uhemmmm......this is how my plea went...."Judge. You said yourself that this if going to be somewhat of a lengthy trial and probably 6 weeks or so long. I could probably juggle my kids for about 2 weeks to different friends and family members, but not for 6 weeks. My husband works out of town A LOT."



His response that I mentioned earlier was not what I was expecting, but YAYHOO! I got dismissed.



So off to work I went. Not paying attention to what day of the week it is. THIS PART EITHER WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH OR GASP.....maybe both....I had told my kids that if I got out of court early I would be picking them up from school, if I didn't I would have either Grandma, Auntie Meg, Kristin or Laurie pick them up. So again remember I forgot what day of the week it was and mind you Wednesdays are early release day at their school. (I have a total beef with early release days, but I will save that for some other time.) Sooooooo you can probably guess what happened....yep! I forgot to pick up my kids early! I was truly working along, getting a ton of stuff done and my cell phone rings and it's my dear, sweet friend Laurie....."Ummm is everything ok? Your daughters teacher called me and asked where you were and if I am picking up your kids!"



I DIED!!! What a great loser mom moment I had.....correction loser mom week!



Needless to say she was kind enough to take my kids to her house and I picked them up from there. But my day was far from over. Baseball and Soccer all in one night coming up.



Now, remember I said Logan had an upset tummy on Tuesday. Baseball is Wednesday (note to self: Wednesday is also early release from school) and he said he wasn't sure he wanted to go....here I go, workin' on "mom of the year"....I load him up with some Pepto and tell him he has to go to either to baseball or go sit with me out at his sisters soccer practice.....nice, huh? Anyway....off to baseball he went and I told his coach (who also happens to be a family friend) that he wasn't feeling well and that if he doesn't want to play for him to call me and I would come pick him up. He had the best game ever.....and, I missed it. Karma? Maybe, if I believed in it. Long story short, I took him to the doc on Thursday, just to be sure his cough and tummy ache wasn't too concerning.....Doc said he needs an inhaler. Hmm. Short term. Hmm. Just until he gets over his BRONCHIAL IRRITATION. Hmm. Mom of the Century....here I come.



Did I mention that I forgot to go to my daughters Honor Roll award ceremony on Monday?........How about how my friends find it hilarious to tease me, relentlessly I might add, about me forgetting to pick up my kids?......they knocked on my car door window this morning and said, " hey don't forget what time the kids get out of school today, looks like rain." Roaring laughter. Nice. They love me. I think.

All of this chaos ensued over my schedule being disrupted because of my Civic Duty......

It's Friday, and I have never been one to celebrate TGIF....but, seriously.......T.G.I.F.

Grace

Cheer tryouts were today for my 9, almost 10 year old daughter. Didn't go well according to her. All her friends made the squad she wanted to be on. She has spent the better part of the evening in tears. She is finally asleep. Not so sure that the pressure that she puts on herself is altogether healthy for her. I don't think I really understood how bad she really wanted to make the competition squad. She did make game squad, but she is feeling completely left behind. Tough life lesson here. Life is full of disappointments, but it's how you deal with them and then move on that helps to shape your character. Pretty difficult for a 9, almost 10 year old to comprehend. *sniff, sniff*

On a side note: I did tell her that I would be willing to pay for private lessons (dance, gymnastics or whatever) to help with her skills so that she could gain some confidence for next year. Her response; As long as it doesn't interfere with Vacation Bible School......I just love my little Grace....That was not the answer I was expecting, but it was the right answer.

Stepford Moment

Ok, so. Have you ever done something and then 2 or 3 days later realize that what you had done could fall under the "stepford clause?" Well, yeah, I had one of those. I recently went to a Pampered Chef party (yep, love PC and will go to everyone that I am invited to. Hint, hint.) But the afternoon before I was to go, I chipped my toenail polish. Yes. You read that correctly. A toenail. They are painted purple right now and I l.o.v.e. them.

So I went searching around my office for a purple sharpie. You know the permanent markers. Anyway, I found my assistant to have one and I was so excited and then filled in the toenail where the paint had chipped.

Ummm, anyone laughing at me here?

She (my assistant) couldn't believe what I had done. I proceeded to tell her that when you live in Stepford chipped polish is not acceptable. And then I thought about that and was like yeah, this marker worked great! And it totally did the trick.....and now I am thinking.....how shallow am I? I mean really I am worried about my toenail appearance? Do we or do we not have more serious issues to consider in this world.

It totally took a "Stepford Moment" to put my perspective back in check.

Determined

Well I am not sure if I have ever been described as having determination. I know that is not a quality that we all strive for. We often overlook it for other descriptive things like, honesty, compassionate and trustworthy, and the countless other words that are constantly used to describe the people in my world. And I use the term "my world" pretty loosely considering that my world really only revolves around my kids. Anyway. I digress. I guess I should explain.

I have read countless blogs, emails, text messages and first had accounts of how sooooo many people went to see NKOTB. Now I tried to get my "old" posse together to go see them, but I don't think anyone took me seriously. I truly love to go to a good concert and they were the first concert that I ever saw. Incredible, not floor seats, but we made our way to the floor and seriously, we could have tasted the sweat that was pouring off of their foreheads. Do you get my vibe? It was truly great. Loved it. Wanted to go see them again. Didn't want to go alone though. But I tell you I will have the utmost determination to get to the next concert that I am even remotely interested in going to. I mean when is Rob Thomas coming back? I have got to see him. Or Casting Crowns, Matthew West, Nickelback.....and ok I admit it, I probably would even take Grace to see Miley Cyrus. I know, question my parenting here, but my love for music is genetic and both of my kids are music freaks! Love it!

So needless to say, I am annoyed with myself for not taking the opportunity to see NKOTB more serious. Determination. That's whats going to get me to the next concert that comes my way. (of course it has to be someone that I want to see!)

A Mommy's Great Sadness

***SIGH*** Ok so this really broke my heart today. It was definitely tough to take.

Here goes. We had just gotten home from school and had not even closed the garage door, had not even piled out of the car yet when I hear the familiar voice of one of the neighborhood boys calling for Logan. We'll call him Kid1. He wanted to come in and play with Logan. I was in a pretty good mood (read: was) so I said sure. Now this happens with Kid1 alot. He comes over helps Logan eat the house out of all the snacks and usually stays for dinner. I don't really have a problem with this, I remember being a latch key kid. But maybe a visual aide will help you all realize the kind of person I am dealing with. How does Eddie Haskell help? Well, I am no June Cleaver, but I try. Anyway, I digress.

They play the Wii, Kid1 gets bored; they play guitars, Kid1 gets bored; they play in the backyard and I have them let the dogs out of the dog run so they could play and guess what? Kid1 decides he doesn't want to play outside anymore. They come in and start chasing, teasing and generally irritating my puppy. Well, she is naturally going to nip at their heals when they are running around my house wanting her to chase them. Kid1 decides my puppy is mean and starts yelling at her to stop biting him, all the while he is laughing and still running from her. Hmmm. Que mom. "Leave my dog alone. Now."

So the boys decide they want to go play in the front yard. Sure, no problem. I tell Logan to stay out front and not to go into Kid1's house. His parents were not home. "Yes, mom."

Enter Kid2, another neighborhood kid from the cul de sac. He knocks on the door and in the most polite manner (Eddie Haskell #2) asks for Kid1. I said both the boys were headed out the garage and he said "Cool, thank you."

Ahhhh, Grace and I have peace......2 minutes that's all I needed. The garage door opens, Logan comes back in and closes the door very quietly. I think he was trying to sneak back in so I wouldn't notice. But of course, with my keen sense of hearing there was no sneaking. So I asked him what was wrong and he said they were going into Kid2's house and that he wasn't invited.

***sniff**

This is not the first time that they have done this to Logan. He is always so eager to play with them and sometimes he will even risk getting in trouble to play with them. If they want a snack they send him home to get one or he can't play with them. He gives them sodas when Greg and I aren't looking or they won't play with him. When he starts beating them at basketball....they decide that he isn't good enough to play and make him sit out. And he takes it. He just wants to play and if that means being patient with them and waiting until they are ready for him, that's what he does. Totally pisses me off.

I want to go down to the cul de sac and rip their moms out of their e z chairs and say "what the heck" "pay attention" " your boys are tyrants" "do they get treated that way" So I thell Logan that it will be a long while before they are welcome at our house. All I got from him was and downward glance and a "yes, mom." Broke my heart. Hugged him and told him I was not mad at him and that he has a lot of friends that aren't mean to him and that we will have some other friends come and play this weekend. Another "yes, mom" is all I got. *sniff*

I mean come on, they are learning this somewhere. I called a friend who lives down in the cul de sac and she said Kid2 used to do the same thing to Kid1. So what gives? Logan does not deserve it.

Makes me crazy and fills my heart with sadness for my sweet, trusting, has his own faults, little man. ***sniff***

Focus, Focus, Focus

So I am having trouble focusing so I thought I would take a trek around some unfamiliar blogs....ok, so I have seen a couple of them before and have added them to my "peeps in review" but I most importantly need to say what I have learned from them. People are obsessive! I thought I was bad? Come on people! Without throwing anyone under the bus.....Blogging (with instructions on the "how to") about organizing your pantry? Labeling your laundry room? Really? I barely have time to do the stinkin' laundry and most of the time the husband gets to it first! Then I saw the finished products of the "how to" section and now I am infinitely jealous of her pantry, her play room and yes, her laundry room. Wow! I guess I need to find a way to focus and get my work done so that I can find the time to blog a "how to" on getting it all done and then some. :)

What now?

Ok so, I havn't posted in a while and right now I am feeling like I need to. I had my feelings hurt and I don't think I handled it well. I lashed out and now I feel even worse. I feel like I need to sit back and put myself "in check." It was wrong to do what I did and without naming names or throwing anyone else under the bus, I think I have caused a rift. Making amends is not something I do easily. Ask me to hold a grudge, no probelm. Ask me to apologize, who me? Yeah, do you see where I am going with this. Guilt and shame.

Calgon! Take me away!!!

Anyone remember those famous words! Well I do and they sure are ringing true this week! So much going on I won't even try to blog about it....But what I really want to be doing is using my new sewing machine and working out the kinks as a new, very grateful (thanks mom), completely excited, yet overwhelmed crafter. Yes. I call myself a crafter. I have soooo many projects in my head and not all of them have to do with sewing. But jeeze, really, when do you all have the time.....I am so exhausted by the end of the day (kids, work, homework, meals, dog) I am left in a big heap of bones in a bag on my bed staring at my sewing machine and whispering, "I haven't forgotten about you." How sad is that? So not only do I want Calgon to take me away, I want it to be farther than the bath tub, and for about a week so I can do some sewing, maybe some scrapbooking too.

Ok. Selfish me is done. I'll continue with my work, go get my adorable children from school, get them ready for their events tonight (cause they both have to have something on the same night), be extremely excited that the husband is coming home tonight, in the midst of all this not forget that Ginger is a puppy (cute as can be cause she got a bath last night) and can't open doors so she has to be taken out to potty; and do it all again tomorrow while still contemplating the whole Calgon thing.

Winner Winner Winner

I am the proud of owner of the scrap bag that my sister gave away on her blog. And no it was not rigged. But it might seem that way only because I just got a brand new sewing machine today and I also won the scrap catcher.....someone thinks I'm special! Can't wait to use them both and make more of these wonderful ideas that I see my sis post all the time! Trust me I will put them both to good use! Yippee!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - WELCOME TO THE CLUB!!!

Well, finally, we can say WELCOME TO THE CLUB.....the 30's! Happy Birthday to my Favorite Sister!!!! She is truly a beloved sister, confidant, extra shoulder, and super mom to 4, count them 4, of my nephews and niece! Love them all. Much Love.....B

Whew!

Just call me "RoadRunner!" and don't forget the "beep-beep!" Cause if you are in my way today you might get run over! J/K - I am only posting this cause my sister, aka Carrie, thinks that I would have time to post pictures on my blog today and then in some mysterious manner "tag" someone else to do the same. As if anyone reads my blog besides her. It really is my outlet. Whether, exciting, sad, funny, frustrating, or just plain dumb....I blog about it. Anyway, I digress, my day is over packed, yet again. Got the kids off to school and me off to work and I have to pick them up early from their "Good News Club" because Ginger has a vet appt at 3:30, mind you not to terribly crazy yet. Then I got the phone call last night that Logan starts baseball practice.....today. Seriously, thanks for the warning. Ok. No so bad. Oh wait, baseball practice is at 4:15, you do the math on my time frame to get the puppy to the vet and back in time to get Logan to baseball. Practice goes until 5:15. Here's the kicker. I have to get them (Grace, Logan and Ginger) home after baseball, feed them dinner, check their homework and take Ginger out to potty before I have to leave at 6pm to go to the "You are Changing" movie preview that the 4th grade girls are going to see next week and that I would in NO way allow Grace to see it before I have a chance to edit it or exnay it altogether, comprende? Ok you do the math and let me know if I have time to post a picture.....maybe tomorrow. Whew! :)

Frustration!

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Ok, I'm done. Just needed to vent. Thanks. I feel better.....kinda.

Young at Heart

So let me just say.....I am young at heart and stupid in the head. My three day weekend alone with my Grace was great, don't get me wrong, but I did a really uncharacteristic, crazy, dumb, get your head out of the clouds,thing. I took her to Sierra Summit, put her in ski lessons and then took snowboarding lessons for myself.....now, tell me that wasn't crazy. I hurt everywhere. Sunday night I couldn't walk. Monday, I hobbled. Today, it hurts to grip a pecil and sign my name. Wow, I did the splits for the first time since High School. I have a bruises that I never felt coming. But......I had sooooo much fun! I laughed at myself and my Grace took to skiing like a fish takes to water. She was so amazing. Skiing circles around me when I was on the ground trying to catch my breath. She made it look soooo easy. Of course, she is 9, I am a lot older than that, but man was it fun. I highly recommend trying snowboarding....will I go back? For sure because my head doesn't communicate all that well with my heart and my heart tells me to do it again! Am I proud to be "young at heart?" .....Yep! Love it!

Pure Sadness

Ok - I am sooooo sad right now. My computer that holds all and I mean all of my photos CRASHED! I know you all feel my pain right now. I am over a year behind on printing my digital photos and now ...... oh the drama. There is some light to look forward to.....My favorite brother in law is a computer genious and is going to do his best to try and retrieve them for me!:) But until then, I wait anxiously and completely blame myself because I don't know how many times I told myself that I was going to back up my photos on their own hard drive and didn't do it. Let alone print them out. This is totally what I get for putting my favorite, non selfish (cause it involves doing something for my family, yet releaves my stress levels at the same time), under rated hobby on the back burner of my life! If my favorite (no pressure here) brother in law can't retrieve them; pure sadness will ensue......:(

New Baby Girl?

So do you ever have moments when you question yourself repeatedly for being so over enamoured with your pet? Yes, I said pet. I got a new PUPPY!!!! Her name is Ginger and I call her Gingi, or baby girl, princess, puddin'. I think you see my guilt here. These (except Ginger and Gingi) are all the names that I call Grace too! I don't want Grace to feel like I have replaced her as my baby girl in any way, cause as you know she is irreplaceable, she is my mini me in sooo many ways and yet she is also her G'ma's twin in others. I have to show Ginger a lot of attention right now cause she is a puppy and we were all sooooo excited to get her and she has already had her own fair share of drama (vet bill, and illness) in my house so we know she fits in, but I can't help but feel guilty. She is after all a pet. Cute as can be though and loves to follow me around everywhere. Dare I say I haven't had a private potty moment since Grace was born and just when I thought I could, I get Gingi and now the private time is over.

Don't get me wrong, my kids have not shown any amount of jealousy, in fact, it's just the opposite. They can't leave her alone. They play with her every chance they get...after homework, after dinner, after baths and everywhere in between.

I don't know how to reassure my Gracie without putting it in her head, cause I don't know if this is just coming from me and my own guilt or if she has any animosity or resentment for the New Baby Girl?

ps. I already know that our other dogs, Sally and Buzz don't care for her right now.....I think they are jealous cause she is and inside dog and they have always been outside dogs. Drama.

Time is slipping....

Wow! Can't believe how fast time is literally flying by. I know we all say this a hundred times, over and over, but wow! It has been a couple of weeks since my last post so I thought I would get it out there (cyberspace) and let ya'll know what has been going on. Tried to plan Logan's birthday party....I am a loser mom....waited until the last minute (really because I was trying to talk him out of having yet another, Pump It Up party) and now we are having it this weekend (his actual b-day is the 18th of January) and we are combining friends and family together for this one.

We went to the coast last weekend, had a great time with our friends Shona and Danny and their son, Blane. We got to see my good friends Stacey and Brandon (used to be my neighbors here but moved to the coast about 2 years ago). It was crazy to see how their kids have grown. Mckenzie has matured so much and Zach is absolutely adorable. Always crazy fun with the Pauley's. The beach was 80 degrees, no wind and not crowded at all....perfect....loved it...need more weekends like that. Grace missed her friends and tried to mope around about it but then we remembered that her friend Sara was there! Whew, dodged that one.

Now we are back and planning a party for Logan (with all the fixin's), started Grace's science project with her girlfriends (this involves mealworms and the girls are truly girly, so guess who is in charge of this one), started and need to finish by Friday morning, Graces mission model (the quarter wraps up this Friday and she needs the extra credit)....hmm, oh and I still need to get Logan a birthday present. Any suggestions?

I really want to do some scrapbooking and I am trying to schedule a weekend in February, anyone interested? My house, all weekend, no kids (expect Grace and Isaac)......hmmmm, It has been almost a year since I sat down and worked on any albums, it's time.....but it keeps slipping away....

on a side note: I am supposed to fit in a dentist appt and coffee with my peeps! :)

Happy New Year?

Well, I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season....Happy New Year to everyone as well. My New Year was uneventful except for the nasty cold my entire family came down with while on vacation in Santa Cruz...Not much for vacation. The kids are back at school and feeling fine....me on the other hand...my symptoms will not go away. Cough like crazy, and it seems to have settled in my eyes and I look like I have pink eye (it's not) and I can't where eye makeup so I look pretty scary. Now that you are up to date on our health, let me tell you that Greg has not gotten anything! He swears by that Airborne stuff and apparently it works for him. Tastes awful, but he doesn't mind. Anyway, on to other news....

My sister had her baby and I can only say that he is adorable from the pics that I have been able to look at. And she is doing well after enduring her first and last c-section (tied her tubes too). She hasn't been able to go home though...she is staying with my parents right now due to the fact that her other 3 kiddos have this horrible cold/flu/rsv and she and the baby can't be exposed to it. Her family is on the way to recovery, but she doesn't want to take any chances with the baby getting rsv. I know she misses her kiddos and they miss her too, but the family will hopefully be reunited by the end of this week. I am also hoping to be better by the end of the week so that I can see/hold/smooch my new nephew in person. Hmmm what to do?

Well for now I will try to get rest and try and get healthy so I can stay that way for a while. That's kind of my New Year's Resolution. Get healthy and stay that way. I know everyone tries to turn over a new leaf every new year, this year it's my turn to say it and for the most part I have the mind set to do it. Wish me luck or whatever...cause for me, I pray that I can utilize will power and schedule the time to exercise and get the blood pumping! Yeah! I'm all over that! Wish I still had my gym membership so that I could go back to spin classes. Loved that. Yeah! Blood pumping! Yeah! Make me sweat! Yeah! Maybe I'll join again.....maybe not. But I do miss it. So, maybe.

Anyway....Happy New Year?