2010 - is this the year...

Is this the year I finally get my act together and start taking control of my life. Is this the year I stop procrastinating and start making choices that help me? Is this the year I stop acting like a spoiled child and enter the adult world? Is this the year I really become the wife and mother and daughter and sister and friend I know I should be? Is this the year???

I've spent several nights not sleeping and thinking over the past week and what I think is I am not really all that crazy about the person that I am today. I feel like my life is out of control. That I am just passively watching the days pass by instead of making choices and living. That I don't give the love and respect to the people who deserve it. That I am selfish and spend entirely too much time thinking about myself instead of the people around me. Seriously, I guess you could just say I'm sick of myself. But again, is this just a passing phase where my actions are in the forefront of my consciousness and by this time next week I will have forgotten what kind of person I think I am? Or is this the year that I will actually make changes and get out of my comfort zone, confront demons and live? I know what I want to happen, just not so sure of the action plan...

SEVENTEEN...

My baby is seventeen. If that isn't something to shout from the rooftops I don't know what is. Alex had a fabulous birthday. He smiled more today than any other day this whole year. Teenage angst - ugh. I noticed he got a little teary eyed while we sang happy birthday to him but he quickly brushed away the tears with the back of his hand I pretended I didn't see it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this boy - even on his worst door slamming, big attitude days I'll keep him. If you are new to this blog and want to know more about what a gift Alex is you can read here: All About Alex

So now the kids are all snug in their sleeping bags underneath the tree (their yearly tradition), I'm quietly clicking on the laptop, Christmas music is quietly playing on the radio and the snow is softly falling outside. I really hate to leave this bucolic setting but the laundry and last minute wrapping awaits.

Merry Merry Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the love and blessings of the season fall unto you and may all your most heartfelt prayers be answered (and that my friends is as religious as I get - it's a private thing).

Good night. Sleep tight...

The time is near...

It is almost time for the celebrations of the season to begin. It is hard to believe that another year has almost come to pass even with the tumultuous changes and possible new beginnings (which I didn't ask for). Although my job will soon be changing I'm still in denial. Let's hope that the new year will bring renewed enthusiasm and a dose of reality (yes, I do deal in reality - at least some of the time).

So before I go much further I want to say - "Oh My Gosh I am weepy today". You have been forewarned. Maybe it is melancholy Christmas music (seriously, if I hear that shoe song one more time I'm going to forever resign myself to crying all through Christmas). Okay, so now that is out of the way, moving on...

The tree is starting to fill out with presents. Have I ever mentioned how much I love our Christmas tree. Every year I think I should have a party just so I can show off my tree (hey, there are just some things that I can't be modest about). So now that I have a set a great big expectation for everyone about my tree you can now come over and be disappointed :-) It's not 9 feet tall and it isn't movie perfect but I still think it is pretty.

Okay, I just realized I have more shopping to do.

Merry Christmas to all - oh and don't hold your breath waiting for our Christmas card - there may be a slight delay.

TTFN...

I really didn't mean it...

I really didn't mean to let this blog thing kind of drift off into obscurity. It's just that life - well it's been busy. I know I know we are all busy - but really it's true. I've been busy. I'll try to be better in the New Year - really I will.

Today is the HotY's birthday. Another 12 months, another year older, and STILL not yet 40. Come on man, grow up already, you're making me feel old! The perils of marrying a younger man - even though the husband gets older he'll never be older than his wife - consider yourself warned.

So just a quick post with some fabulous advice. I'll write more SOON. Really, it will be soon. REALLY!

TTFN...

The HotY thinks I may overuse Really a little too much. REALLY??????

The DOG stays - at least for now...

Autumn survived her stay at the kennel. We brought her home on Saturday - after doggie proofing of course (doors closed, toys off the floor, butter in the refrigerator...). So far so good. She and I had a moment on Sunday but since then things have been good. Really good, today I was having a very bad morning and Ms. Autumn would not leave my side. She just kept gazing at me with her chocolate brown eyes and giving my hand the head nudge for just a few more pets. No nipping, no begging to play fetch, no trying to steal the kleenexs from the box behind me - just simple dog love and companionship. Callie, the perfect dog, was never one for these quiet moments - she was a very reserved dog - she usually kept her distance. So see Autumn - Callie wasn't better than you at EVERYTHING (don't think I don't know that when we say Callie all you hear is "MARCIA MARCIA MARCIA"

TTFN...

It must be Thanksgiving since...

I've been to Sam's Club to purchase potatoes and dinner rolls

My car was nearly hit in the parking lot by no more than three other cars (remember Sam's is just steps away from Walmart and we all know how those people drive).

I've peeled, cooked, spilled and mashed over five pounds of potatoes.

My children are whining because they can't find the turkeys they made in school.

The dog is at the kennel (she wasn't happy - it was her or turkey dinner - we have our priorities - she would have been able to nab and eat a 20 lb turkey before we knew what happened).

I'm getting excited about seeing my family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

TTFN... I'll let you know if we end up bringing the dog home from the kennel. Right now it's not looking good for her. I'm really enjoying not having to hide the napkins, push food to the back of the cupboards, open the door without stooping over to catch a running dog, and keeping the bathroom doors open. She better hope I get really lonely for her tomorrow :-)

Sometimes it is just so surreal...

Do you ever have those moments in your life when you go "hey, wait a minute, how did I get here, when did this happen to me?" The kind of moment that inevitably strikes in the middle of the night - at least that is how it happens for me. There I will be, standing in the dark bathroom, and it hits me - this is my life - this is how it all turns out - huh, when did this happen? I mean really this house, it belongs to me. That guy sleeping in my bed, he's my husband. The angelic, (at least angelic in the dead of night), children, they're mine. WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? Last time I looked I didn't have any of this stuff. I was the child sleeping in the bed. I was the one assuming that all my needs would be taken care of by the woman standing in the bathroom in the middle of the night. I wasn't a grown-up. When did I become a grown-up?

I'm not saying I don't like being a grown-up, I just am not sure when it happened. Deep inside I don't feel like a person who has a house and family and responsibility. It's confusing and very surreal. So I go back to bed and wake up in the morning and totally forget about feeling like I was living in two dimensions.

Maybe I should not have read the Time Traveler's Wife - just think if that were a true story...

TTFN... oh and try to remember to go to the bathroom before you go to bed - it will save you from all kinds of twilight zone kind of thoughts that may keep you awake the rest of the night.

Oh yeah, I forgot...

I'm doing a giveaway:

Glitter Me! It's a giveaway. For every three friends that join the Glitter Me Fan Page I will enter your name for this sign: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19582189
Simply leave a comment in this thread with the names of your friends how have joined. Entries will be accepted until November 25.

And the mother of the year award goes to...

Despite my best efforts my mothering skills have been a little lacking lately. It isn't that I haven't been trying I just haven't been watching the little details (did I mention this is the story of my life - small print - what small print???)

ANYWAY, first there was the day of dance camp the girls participated in which concluded with a mini recital of their new dance moves. I didn't see said recital because I failed to read the part of the info sheet which said "come at 1:00 for the dance review". I walked in the door to two crying children who were heart broken because their mother was not in attendance at the dance party and EVERY OTHER MOTHER IN THE WORLD WAS THERE. It was all very dramatic and I felt like the worst mother in the world. On my way out the door another mom touched me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear "I missed it too". At least I wasn't REALLY the only mother in the world who did not make it to the show.


The following week the girls had a father/daughter dance. To prepare for the event and create a surprise for daddy we went on a little shopping trip and bought pretty party dresses and sparkly shoes. They were so excited. About ten minutes after leaving for the dance the HotY called, this was the conversation "you know the girls look very nice but did you know it was a hoe down?" Ummm no actually I did not know it was a hoe down. I failed to notice that little detail tucked at the bottom of the invitation. BUT I heard they were the best-dressed girls at the event :-)

Sooo all in all it hasn't been a stellar couple of weeks although I think I did redeem myself with a trip to the big mall in the big city. It was all about kids all day long. I haven't given up on winning that mother of the year award yet...

This will make sense...

to some of you and to the other's - just skip it. It has to do with work and I have found that the best policy, in terms of blogging and work, is that the two don't mix. Which is why I make very few direct references to the topic. BUT I found out today that I will be BLUE for at least 14 months and then it is anybody's guess. So there you go. The limbo part of this episode of life has concluded for the time being.

In other news. I hate Halloween. Just for the record. My kids have been fighting over candy for the past four days. My idea of just letting them eat their fill until they were sick and then throwing the rest out was not met with agreement by the HotY. So hey Mr. Crabby, do YOU have a better idea??? I'm waiting.

Do you get the idea that I am a little irritable tonight? Sorry. I'll try to get over myself soon.

That's it. Nothing left to say.

Stay tuned for more shiny and bright posts in the near future. I know they have to be in here somewhere.

TTFN...

It's 4:03 and I can't sleep...

Okay so it isn't really 4:03 but it is 1:03 a.m. Close enough. Have you heard that song by Shinedown - (If You Only Knew). I like it - and that 4:03 line - it's my favorite in the song - I have no idea why, it just is.

I also have no idea why I can't sleep. Or maybe I do. There are just so many things going through my mind right now. There is still that work thing which I'm just not going to talk about. And then there is fall and rain and school and kids and bills and groceries and friends and family and death and fate and seredipity and LIFE. Today, in the midst of it all, I just put my head down on my desk and said ENOUGH and now I can't sleep. See how that all tied together :-)

Typically when I can't sleep one of the standard tricks will do - counting sheep, reading a really boring book, saying the rosary, bugging the HotY - but tonight none of those worked. I'm just so antsy I want to take a walk around the block or something so here I am - working my fingers trying to calm down. It's not working, I'm still antsy. Grrrrrrrrrr. I'm going to be really tired tomorrow.

It's 1:21 now - I'm going to try to sleep...

TTFN.

Will you be my partner...

Sooo, the HotY and I went to a concert on Friday night. Bowfire (click on the name to see more about Bowfire). We really had never heard of them before but the HotY wanted to set up a date night so he purchased the tickets and we went. I'm soooo glad we did despite the fact that I had been getting a little crabby about going (I mean really it snowed 4 inches on Friday - in OCTOBER - you would have been crabby too). We were lucky enough to have seats in the 2nd row and it was fabulous. I love the violin, and all of its string related close family members so the concert really was a pleasure. And sitting so close to the stage was a very fun experience.

And then there was THIS guy Bogdan Djukic. Holy Bananas. If you click the link it will take you to a small bio and picture of him - but really - that picture does not do him justice - trust me! What was captivating about him was that he could move! Did I say Holy Bananas before because seriously - Holy Bananas. He had some kind of Brazilian, Argentinian, Latin American, Greek thing going on and it was - well HOT! And when he played the bongos you could see he was dying to break into an all out Samba (and really a bongo playing violin master you just know the guy is good at multi-tasking). So I decided he is the one I want to be my partner when Dancing with the Stars begs me to join their show. I just know we'd win :-) Hmmm I wonder if I did a search I could find his phone number "ummm, hello, Bogdan, you don't know me but I've seen you dance and I want you to be my partner on Dancing with the Stars. What do you think? Are you in?" It could happen - seriously it could.

TTTN... and always try to get in the first few rows you never know what you might see.

I don't really know...

the other day the HotY asked me if I was abandoning my blog - and I'll tell you what I told him - I don't really know. I mean I like writing. I like sharing. I like hearing what you all have to say but lately it seems like it has been such an effort to write. I don't know why - maybe it is because my life is in limbo right now. Maybe it is because things are busy but certainly not interesting - well they are interesting - but not universally interesting. You know? Add to that the fact that I just have not felt chatty lately (I know - but it's true) and you get a neglected blog. That's it. I have no other excuse. It's just too much trouble to be interesting and engaging and entertaining right now. Pathetic, I know. So, for now I'm not ready to commit to saying I'm done with this blog - I'm just on a little break. (Yes, it's true I have a problem with quitting things. Good, bad or indifferent. Sometimes it is a good thing and sometimes it is just prolonging the agony. It's a crap shoot)

TTFN...

My mom is having surgery tomorrow. Please keep her in your thoughts. She has been dealing
with an injury to her leg almost the entire summer and she needs to get healed soon. All this staying at home is really hampering her shopping time :-) Love you mom - everything will be fine.

How much is that doggy in the window...

TOO MUCH - TOO DARN MUCH!!!! If I ever mention I want a dog again - EVER remind me there is not a deal good enough to entice me to say "hey let's get a dog".

Recent events in our home involving one NAUGHTY puppy have made me question the soundness of my judgement.

Yesterday:

One chocolate cake - consumed by a DOG

One Longaberger Basket - shredded by a DOG

Various assorted crayons and socks - demolished by a DOG

One living room table - chewed by a DOG

One homeless dog - saved only by crying children

Okay so we'll keep her but yesterday she was really wearing out her welcome.

And no, that is not a current picture - she is bigger, much bigger - but I had to find something to remind me why keeping her around is a good thing :-)

TTFN...

It was THE social event of the season,,,

for my daughters and the students of their school. The Spaghetti Dinner/Silent Auction fund raiser. The anticipation in our home was already running high by 9:00 a.m. There was the countdown until the time we would leave (not until 5:30 p.m.) and much speculation about which silent auction baskets were the most desired (I had already ruled out rebuying the basket I put together). The Webkinz basket with the love monkey and the Halloween baking basket were the two key targets. I'm happy to say both girls had their wishes come true. Alex wanted the chocolate basket but really just for the one giant Hershey bar. I didn't bid on that basket but I did stop and get him his very own giant Hershey bar at Target for a lot less than that chocolate basket would have cost me :-)

It was a fun night. There were many activities to keep the kids happy and occupied, a chance for visiting between adults, and good natured competition over the hot baskets. I'm happy to say that my own Girls Just Wanna Have Fun basket was one of the most popular baskets at the event and brought in a nice donation for the school. (I mean really put an entire set of sparkly gel pens, some fun make-up, a feather boa and a crown together and what girl could resist? - My work has been completed :-) I meant to take a picture of the basket before taking it to school but I ran out of time.

So there you go. Now you know exactly what I did this weekend. I know - the excitement of it all :-)

TTFN... Oh and as always if you click on the pictures you can see them larger.

I wanna know...

why, even when I am dead tired, I cannot make myself go to bed early. I think about it. I dream about it but I can't make myself do it, at least not in the summer. But I want to - I really do.

why, no matter what time I get up in the morning, I still end up getting to work at the same time. If I get up early I get there at 7:00. If I get up late I get there at 7:00. It's all relative I guess. But still...

why the HotY is insisting on IM'ing me every five seconds while I am typing this (yes, yes, it is sad but true, although residing in the same house we are usually in different rooms and so he resorts to IM. Fine I do IM also but it is usually to say "hey, come here" Not a fan of the IM)

why I am working tomorrow when Amy and Heather are heading to the big city for shopping and fun. They have both told me it isn't too late to change my mind. Never say never - right?

why, sometimes, no matter what I have to say or what I write the words flow and other times it is just sooooo hard. Nothing comes out right. Nothing sounds good. Everything is disjointed and seems like I am trying too hard. Why can't it always be easy? Okay fine, I know why it can't always be easy, but that doesn't mean I can't wonder about it.

why I am continuing to write when it is so obvious that I have nothing to say. Which leads me to you - why are you still reading. Don't you have things to do? Go, I wanna go to bed :-)

TTFN... Amy and Heather - have fun - I'll be missing you :-)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun...

I volunteered to put together a theme basket for a silent auction to benefit the girls' grade school and decided to do a "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" basket. While doing some quick errands while Lauren & Syd were at dance I picked up some things for the basket (a feather boa, a picture frame, a cute wooden sign, glitter pens and a crown shaped chipboard album). Miss Syd and her over eager curiosity couldn't help but snoop into the bags and was sure that such treasures must be meant for only her. I explained that no those items were NOT for her and were intended to go to some other girl whose mommy might buy the basket. I might as well have told her life as she knows it is over. There was pleading and crying and promises of a room which would never be messy again, and then the final proclamation that NO ONE has ever loved dress-up and crafts as much as she does - NO ONE! I didn't give in (aren't you proud of me) and have ruined my daughter's life (I'm sure this is just the first time of many). Girl Drama - I don't think I'm ready for this. I mean not that this is the first time it's happened but it is increasing. When does this peak - please don't say 21 because that might make me cry!

I know I have been doing a lot of writing about my kids lately. It's an easy topic and right now I need easy topics. There is a lot of stuff going on and I just can't talk about it which is making me feel very - I'm not sure what it is making me feel but I will say it isn't good. Hopefully things will start to sort themselves out in the very near future. Don't you hate it when people are all elusive and secretive? I hate that but sometimes you just can't spill your guts - it just isn't in the best interest of anyone. So thanks for putting up with the never ending kid stories. I know not everyone is entertained by this stuff but it does give me something to talk about.

Oh and as for the "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" basket I'm going to be making a trip to Claire's boutique for some glittery goodness and the big prize will be a pink MP3 player (anyone know of any good deals on a pink MP3 player?) BUT if you have any other ideas bring it on - I'm aiming for the tweens so seriously, if you have any ideas let me know - I'm running out of good stuff.

TTFN...

So much for that record...

At the end of the 2008-2009 school year Lauren had the honor of receiving a certificate for excellent attendance since she did not miss a single day of school. She won't be receiving that honor this year. This morning, five minutes after school began, Lauren threw-up, which is really strange as she isn't a thrower-upper and she was fine this morning. I spoke to the school nurse and found out she had fallen on the playground and really scraped up her hand which she said hurt so bad it made her throw up. Okay I can buy that - but even though she wasn't really sick she still had to come home - throwing up at school is an automatic get out of class free card. The HotY stayed home with her and nursed her wounds.

So it was just Syd at pick-up from school. Since the HotY was home with Lauren & Alex I took advantage of the freedom and Syd and I did a couple of errands before going home. While riding in the car I had a great time visiting Syd's world. She told me all about Lauren throwing up "mom, she came in the room, looked at her owie and threw-up - I guess SHE won't be a nurse". I couldn't help but laugh. Syd was very matter of fact about this - there is no question - nursing is not in Lauren's future. Syd has also informed me that Wyatt is "no longer on her mind" she has moved on. That's a relief as Wyatt is now a 7th grader and that is a complete world away from 1st grade. Then she said "do you wanna know who is on my mind - Gabriella - she's my best friend. Her mom is going to have a baby - I think we should go watch" I said "watch what" to which she replied "watch her have the baby". Well of course Syd would want to go watch. She'd want front row viewing - the girl is nothing if not curious. I told her I didn't think we would be watching but she thought if I called Gabriella's mom and asked her if we could watch she would say okay. Yep, I'm sure she would :-)

When we got home Lauren was full of questions about Syd's day. What they did in gym (we ran the 400 mile dast (I believe this was the 400 meter dash) around TWO sets of cones). What they had for lunch (pizza - the LITTLE pizzas) and if she brought any work pages home (she forgot). I love listening to their conversations and am continually amazed at how much they are growing up. Add that to the fact that I now have a Junior in High School and I'm feeling OLD!

TTFN... and if you think of a new career for Lauren, now that nursing is out of the question, let me know :-)

Two down - one to go...

The girls started school today. They were so excited to get started they were begging to go early. I was so excited for them to get home this afternoon I was hoping they would be let out early (what can I say - we have problems with anticipation). Of course when I asked for the details of their day they weren't sure they could remember - until I stopped asking. Funny how it works that way.

Syd's big news was her sighting of Wyatt (you didn't think that story had ended did you - if so, you must not know my daughter) and how glad she knew he was to see her. I have no doubt it was true - you can't question that kind of confidence :-) (I am still so sad there is no smilie emoticon on Blogger - what is wrong with these people???). Anyway... Lauren had a great day and is very excited to be sitting in the front row. She also let me know there is another set of twins in the class this year - they're different though - they talk a lot (I'm only reporting it like I hear it...).

After school pick-up I decided to be super mom and baked chocolate chip cookies. My super mom efforts need some improvement. I pulled out the ingredients, read the recipe, thought about doubling the batch (as long as I was going through all the effort) and then changed my mind. Or I thought I had, until I was in the middle of the recipe and realized that although I had followed the recipe for the eggs, vanilla and butter I had doubled the amounts of sugar - UGH - sooooo a double recipe it was. THEN, I don't what I was thinking but as I was mixing the dough I put the bowl down (it's one of those KitchenAide stand mixer lever dealies) while the mixer was going - and then I put it back up - still not turning it off and then just stood there and thought WHAT AM I DOING??? I'm not a dumb girl - really I'm not - but - well, at times I can be flighty. Ask my brother, who sometimes asks me how someone so smart can be so dumb. Although really, it's not dumb, it's just - distracted - or flighty. There are times when my distraction can become almost chronic. My flighty ways have even earned me a nickname among my immediate family and NO I'm not sharing - truly there is no one beyond the sacred inner family circle who knows this nickname. Not Roxann, not Amy, not my kids. Only recently was the HotY given this super secret information. Seriously. I KNOW - people are always surprised by my ability to keep a good secret - I don't understand why - but there you go - I CAN keep a secret :-)

So there you go a flighty post about my flighty ways and the first day of school. I thought it was a natural fit. I mean really, the kids are "flying" the nest.

TTFN... harsh morning sunlight does not good photos make.

I had plans...

big plans. Plans to tell you all about going to watch Kansas perform on Sunday at an outdoor concert. Plans to talk about my 40 mph frontage road. Plans to share some new music. Plans to contemplate the upcoming first day of school and the end of summer. Plans - lots and lots of plans. It was going to be a really really good post - really, it was! BUT you know what - I'M TIRED SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TIRED! Seriously tired.

So guess what you aren't going to get any of the riveting scoop - at least not tonight. Okay fine, I'll post a couple of pictures from the Kansas concert (yes, yes, yes, they are of my kids) and I'll share the link to this rockin' song (no, no, no, it is NOT some sappy love song - I mean that fact alone should be enough to take you to the link and make this a great post - trust me - you'll like it - I promise. Have I ever steered you wrong before? I mean sure that was that Taylor Swift incident but I warned you before I even let you take the trip to You Tube so you have to believe me on tonight's song - history has proven I'm trustworthy :-))

Okay. Here you go. Posting the pictures and song link will take way more time than I was planning on spending here tonight - but for you - I'll make the sacrifice.

Pictures:






Song:

Here you go - Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

TTFN and enjoy the song - really listen to the song. REALLY!

Something about James...

Have I ever mentioned James, our friend and adopted family member?

It is because of Alex and the many wonderful things he has brought to our lives, not the least of which has been the opportunity to meet some extraordinary people, that we know James.

James was hired as a caretaker for Alex for after school care and has ended up as a part of our family. Alex adores James and I think the feeling is mutual. They've listened to hours and hours of music, gone to countless movies, taken numerous swims, jumped on the trampoline and eaten at McDonalds more times than I even want to know and they both come back from the adventures with smiles on their faces. Unfortunately for us, James wanted to continue his education and left to attend school. Alex was sad, I was sad, the HotY was sad and the girls were sad. James' last day was not a happy day in our household. BUT James, being the kind of guy that he is, kept in touch, taking Alex out at least once a month and IM'ing me whenever he sees me on Facebook (we won't talk about how often that might be...).

James recently was hired for his first teaching job in our local school district -
5th grade. He will be a wonderful teacher - and lucky for us he will be teaching in our neighborhood school so he will be around and hopefully we will see him often. We are all so excited for him. It makes me happy to see him succeed even though I would still like to see his smiling face every day after I get home from work - but that would just be selfish. That and asking him to clean the house - selfish - not that I wouldn't ask but I'd KNOW I was being selfish (James, you know that was for you ;-))

TTFN... and consider yourself lucky if your kids have James for a teacher

ARE YOU KIDDING ME...

Seriously - this has to be a joke. Have you seen the new line-up for Dancing With The Stars? All I can say is YUCK!!!!! There is not one single "star" on this list that I can get excited over - NOT ONE - and that includes Donny Osmond, I never did like him OR his purple socks. PLEASE (now Shaun Cassidy was a completely different story - but moving on...).

In case you missed the big news here it is: DWTS September 24 line-up; entertainer Donny Osmond; singers Mya, Macy Gray and Aaron Carter; actors Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazar and Ashley Hamilton (son of George); models Joanna Krupa and Kathy Ireland; reality stars Kelly Osbourne and Mark Dacascos ("the Chairman" on Food Network's "Iron Chef America"); mixed martial artist Chuck Liddell; professional snowboarder Louie Vito; Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin; former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin and the 62-year-old former congressman from Texas.

Now see, don't you agree with me?????? Sad, so very sad.

TTFN... I'll just be over here, filled with disgust, trying to write a letter to the casting director of DWTS :-)

Have you seen my dog???

Seriously. All we do is chase the dang dog all over the neighborhood calling her name and stopping neighbors and strangers asking for a clue to her location.

Autumn BOLTS out of the door whenever she gets the chance - and with three kids in and out and in and out and in and out fifty million times a day lets just say we're looking for the dog A LOT! Callie, our first dog, was not a bolter. As a matter of fact she never left the yard - really. She was the perfect dog. Callie was a lady. Autumn is a party animal. I'm not kidding. The more people the better as far as she is concerned and there is nothing worse then not being with her "people". Sit down for a moment and she is bounding into your lap. Time to go to bed and she hops on the bed and snuggles her 30+ pound body right smack next to your butt. Try driving with a big dog glued to your side resting her chin on your arm. It isn't easy. And she doesn't move. Not if you push her, not if you shove her, not if you give her a nudge with your foot she.is.immobile. 30 lbs of dead weight. BUT she is turning into a very good dog. Now if we could only get her to stay in the yard and stop mutilating the Barbie population that lives in our home...

TTFN... oh and some day soon I'll provide visual proof of the Barbie carnage we've got going on - it isn't pretty but a least no one has been decapitated.

There will be NO MORE FREEZIE POPS…

Seriously. They are nothing but trouble. I really should have known that before I purchased the super economy pack at Sam’s Club (Syd is still lamenting the fact that I would not purchase the Orange, Root Beer, Seven-Up flavored freezie pops - but they were half the quantity at twice the price – I may be frivolous but I am NOT stupid). But, not knowing any better, I bought the freezie pops. It has become a huge regret.

My kids cannot open those darn freezie pop plastic tubes so I am continually opening them and spilling freezie pop juice all over my shirts (like this surprises you). Every child within a mile radius of our home knows about the abundance of freezie pops in our freezer. Last night the child visitors of our neighbors’ were ringing the doorbell asking for freezie pops (really). There are freezie pop wrappers everywhere. They can find the freezie pops but they can’t find the garbage can??? AND my kids continually forget to close the deep freeze door after the frenzy of foraging for freezie pops. So after finding the freezer door standing open ONCE AGAIN I have decreed there will be NO MORE FREEZIE POPS (well for at least the rest of today – have I mentioned our air conditioning is broken???)

TTFN… and if you are looking for freezie pops do not ring my doorbell, I stopped answering about 24 hours ago...

And now for the rest of the story...

More vacation photos - I bet you were expecting something big weren't you :-) No big news from me today. Just that big pile of laundry waiting for me to get off the computer (I read some poem about being grateful for the laundry as it indicates you have the means to clothe yourself and family - yep I'm grateful - just ask me...). Okay, here they are - more pictures.

The Party's over...

in more ways than one.

Did I mention I was going on vacation with my entire family (yes, that's my parents and siblings and my family and their families) we were a party of 15.

These family vacations always sound like a great idea in theory - and it was a pretty fun time but you know sooner or later someone was going to get crabby. Yesterday was my day. I got some news Tuesday which could drastically change life as I know it, all in the context of one email. I can't say much more right now as I don't have the full details but I'll give you this hint - right now you can color me BLUE.

And speaking of blue - swimming pictures - there is a lot of blue. Hey I know it's a stretch but I had to find some segway to moving on...

SOOOO - all in all it was fun. There was sun. There were water sports and sandy beaches and cool breezes off the lake. There was shopping. There was nothing that resembled camping. The vacation was good - most of the time - except for those crabby moments - but really other than that - it was good - seriously.

I had intended to write more but I'm still in a fuzzy vacation brain state of mind. Tomorrow there is laundry and getting back to the real world. The party's over - SERIOUSLY :-)

Well, maybe I am a little bit like her...

I think I have mentioned this before - and if you know my mother you know it is true - but my mom can't stand things being the same for too long. She will wake up in the morning and decide that a room that was perfectly fine the day before needs to be repainted, or redecorated or rearranged or rewhatever. Seriously, she will decide to paint and have the job done before she has changed out of her pajamas. Me, I like to sit on things a little while. I HATE it when I don't think I have made the most perfect choice. That there may have been a better choice. That if I had it to do again I'd have made a different choice. Never mind that nothing has to be permanent, in my mind there is only chance - get it right or you're out (I know I know - it explains a lot). BUT sometimes, just sometimes I will do a major thing on a minor whim. Today was one of the days. I started out with the intention of REALLY cleaning the downstairs bathroom, as this is primarily the "guys" bathroom I usually let them do the cleaning - but their idea of clean and my idea of clean - vastly different. So while Alex and the HotY went to see some World War II B52 Bombers which were being showcased at our local airport I decided to tackle their bathroom. As I was spraying and wiping and disinfecting I noticed that the wallpaper was peeling in a corner. This is wallpaper which has been in place for approximately eight years. It's nice tasteful wallpaper - but wallpaper none-the-less and really, I was tired of it. So I started picking at that little corner and before you know it I had torn off an entire strip of wall paper. So I started on the next little corner - and BAM another strip of wallpaper gone. I was methodically working my way around the room, truly not thinking that much about what I was doing when the phone rang - it was the HotY wondering if I thought it was worth $850 to take a ride in a B52 Bomber - well of course it is not - Holy Bananas you had to call to ask THAT question??? So we got that business straight, I hung up the phone, took a step back and looked around the room. WOW, I had almost completely stripped all the wallpaper. And I did it on a whim. There was no pre-meditated thought involved. No second guessing. No wondering what the right color for the walls will be once the paper is removed. Nope, just tearing and admiring how much bigger the room looked without that green paper on the walls. This is just the kind of thing my mother would do, maybe I am a little bit like her after all - DO NOT TELL ANYONE!

TTFN... if you need me I'll be at Benjamin Moore trying to decide on paint - don't look for me anytime in the near future this could take awhile :-)

I'm glad THAT wasn't my mistake...

So that concert to be given by David Garrett in a small community near me - not so much. There is a theater by the same name in St. Louis which is where the concert is REALLY being held. Many of the on-line ticket vendors incorrectly listed the concert. OOPS! And I thought I could screw things up :-)

My girlies are with my parents for the next few days. I miss them. I always think I want a little peace and quiet but when that happens - it is not all that. We had a girls night out last Friday and I got a few cute pictures of them while we were eating.





I love those sweet faces!

Crazy busy with signs, and work and getting ready for vacation. Maybe that is why I can't write. I have too much to do :-) But you know this blog thing - it's a great procrastination device - but don't tell anyone :-)

TTFN...

Oh, and I'm on Twitter now (amgrimm1). I KNOW. I have so little to say - but it has to do with Etsy. I can't explain it but really the Twitter thing - it wasn't my idea - REALLY! Trust me. And I'm not advising you to follow me because if you think this blog thing is lame I won't even get into the banality of the Twitter...

How much is too much???

So I am not really a concert going girl - unless it is an outdoor concert. There is something about listening to good music under a clear sky with a warm breeze. But there IS a concert I'd really like to see - David Garrett - have you heard of this guy? I hadn't until just a short time ago and now I'm very intrigued. I love the violin - and the way he plays is beautiful. Look him up - even if you don't like the violin you'll be glad you did (well if you are a female anyway). Here's a nice clip of him giving a little background on his life. Anyway he is coming to a smaller community near me - but the tickets are almost $400 each. WHAT? WOW! That might just be too much - even for a girl who doesn't get that caught up about money. Oh and just for listening pleasure - listen to this. It is so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes.

So in other news, I've been out of sorts - I just can't get into a writing mode. I know it's all been a little flat lately - sorry. I'm trying I really am. Don't give up on me 'cuz you know that's my biggest fear (well after that fire thing anyway) - people giving up on me - seriously :-) Now you know my secret...

TTFN...

What about the tinker the tailor and the candlestick maker…

So I’ve been checking out wedding blogs lately (hey I never get tired of looking at pretty dresses and gorgeous jewelry) and I’ve noticed something - these weddings are over the top gorgeous, fully coordinated and EXPENSIVE. Doesn’t anyone throw together a wedding with six months and five thousand dollars anymore? Sure, the new wedding look is simple and understated yet elegant – but, trust me – not so simple or understated or cheap (but definitely elegant).

It takes a lot of time and money to put your initials on every solid surface within spitting distance, to pull a few flowers from the garden to make an “informal” wedding bouquet and to stand on the corner of a city street so a journalistic photographer can take a cool picture for your wedding album (I won’t even get into the goodie bag deal – lets just say the only goodie I ever took home from my wedding going single days was the best man).

(image provided by Zinke Design)

Don’t get me wrong. I love looking at these weddings. I love seeing the gorgeous brides in their Vera Wang wedding gowns and three carat diamond wedding bands showing off their custom designed table centerpieces and the candy counter treat table. BUT, where is reality? Where is the college loan debt? The rusting car and studio apartment? The borrowed veil and quarter carat diamond? The pimple on the chin and smeary mascara? The REAL people REAL wedding? Does it no longer exist? Is everyone marrying a doctor, a lawyer, a swindler or a saver? What happened to the tinkers, the tailors and the candlestick makers??? Seriously. I want to know. Where have all the real weddings gone???

TTFN…

Disclaimer: This blog was not written to offend any brides that have held or will be holding an awesome wedding. Seriously I love you - it gives me something pretty to look at. This blog was written in jest – and a little envy - but mostly it was written in wonder. How can there be so many fabulous weddings when there is so little fabulous money????

And if my reference to the doctor, lawyer, tinker and tailor sound familiar – well of course it’s all in a song

Say it with pictures...

we had a nice 4th of July weekend with my family at my parents. Swimming, s'mores, fireworks, camp fires, sun and fun all with running water and indoor plumbing. Please explain to me the allure of camping when you really can have it all in your own backyard :-) Seriously...

Here are some pictures to enjoy. Can't think creatively tonight. Stimulation overload ;-)

It isn't always a BIG thing...

Okay in the entire scheme of living, dying and surviving this is one of the most trivial things I have had to say in a long time - but sometimes you just have to take a minute to regroup and focus on the non-important things.

Last night I watched The Notebook. I know some of you are probably die hard Notebook fans, having watched the movie over and over and over again, but I have only seen it twice (including last night’s viewing). It isn’t that I don’t like the movie – I do – especially the scenes where they were young and romantic and living life in a simpler time. But there is SOMETHING that bugs me about the movie. It bugged me the first time and it bugged me the second but I didn’t know what it was until I was watching the end of the movie last night. It has to do with the casting of James Garner as the “old” Noah. Why would they cast James Garner in this role? There is nothing about him that resembles the actor (and I’m ashamed to say I don’t know his name – this is the kind of stuff I have my friend Amy for – she’ll know the actor) that played the young and blond and baby-faced Noah. I know people change as they age but this was a complete miscasting as there wasn’t even a passing resemblance between the two actors unless someone had some really bad plastic surgery along the way. So I find that disappointing. It makes the movie a little disjointed for me. I’m not sure who should have played the elderly Noah. Maybe Robert Redford or Michael Douglas. What do you think?

So there you go - my big concern for Monday, June 29, 2009. It’s been a pressing issue and I’m so glad I finally got to voice this major life disappointment – aren’t you glad you stopped by today :-)

TTFN… Who would play you in the movie of your life – young and old???

No, I have not been eaten by a dog...

for those of you who may have been worried about me as I have been absent since my last post.

THE DOG has been to puppy preschool and is doing much much better. The trainer assured us that she was not aggressive and her attacking me is a sign of affection. I had a chat with Ms. Dog and informed her I was not at all thrilled about her own special PSA's for me and we seem to have come to an understanding. She is still not completely cured from showing me the love but it is much, much better.


The girls are spending the next six day's with the HotY's parents. I miss them already although they called within two hours of leaving so Lauren could tell me about stopping for ice cream and stubbing her toe - full details. The girl is a chatter.

Sydney is still pining away for Wyatt. The other day she told me she wanted to send him a post card. When I asked her what she was going to write she said "Dear Wyatt, I love you. Syd". I said "what if you say 'Dear Wyatt, I hope you are having a good summer. Syd'" She replied by saying "okay okay okay, Dear Wytt, I hope you are having a good summer. I love you. Syd".

No post cards have yet been sent :-)


We spent Father's Day with my parents. It was a spontaneous, surprise visit. Alex loves to swim so he was in fish heaven and between swimming and playing in the dress-up clothes the girls did not want to come home.

I know - this post doesn't have much flow or humor or even self-pondering - but I included pictures so that's something - right??? I'll try harder next time - I promise :-)

Pictures - enjoy.