And that's why we were late...

The HotY just called me a little bit ago and said the girls told him we were late for swimming lessons yesterday - which we were - but by the time we got home last night I had forgotten about it. Now it isn't unlike me to be late for some things but for appointments, lessons, etc, I'm usually on time. Not that I haven't been rushed to get there on time, cursing every 40 mph driver on the road when the speed limit is clearly posted at 55 mph, but that's another story. Anyway, I had allowed ample time to get to swimming lessons, I really had. I started getting things ready about 4:25 - that's 35 minutes to get to the pool on time BUT THEN the phone rang and it was a good friend who I haven't really chatted with in some time - so I finally had to say I had to go but I would call later. It's 4:35 - I still had to find leotards. I tore out of the house and jumped in the van to pick the girls up from daycare. They were ready - I wasn't - they told me I was not there on time (when did this sassy thing start and WHO taught them to tell time?) I was like all "oh we'll be just fine" until I looked at the gas gauge and noticed it said we have four miles to drive until EMPTY. Running out of gas may have been part of my past but with a van, busy city traffic and two five year olds in booster seats in the back - running out of gas is no longer an option! So I made a detour to a gas station - a gas station unfamiliar to me as I picked the closest location with easy exit options since we were heading into 5 p.m. traffic - it wasn't my usual gas place. But I got to the station, pulled up to the pump, swiped my card hoping it was going in the right direction since there wasn't a picture or even an arrow to tell me if I was doing it right, said no receipt and started pumping. I put my $10 in (hey we were behind schedule) and went to put the nozzle back and that gas flipper thing would not go down. I always just nudge it with the nozzle and presto - it flips down - but this flipper thing was having none of that. I gingerly nudged it with my fingers (I hate to touch those things - it gets gas on your hands - YUCK) still no go, I tried the nozzle nudge again - NOTHING. Grrrr. Finally I just pushed on the darn thing - HARD and it clicked down. I hung up the nozzle and darted back into the van. I drove out of the station wondering if soon a cop would be following me because maybe that gas flipper thing didn't want to go down because my card didn't work right and the gas hadn't really been paid for and I didn't have a receipt to verify I paid for it and now I might actually be doing a drive-off - from the gas station. I drove past the station slowly just in case someone was going to come running out and flag me down but nothing happened so I figured I was safe. Once I was back on the main road I did one more glance in my side mirror to make sure there weren't any cops hard on my tail - which there weren't BUT what did I see but my gas cover thing open and my gas cap hanging out and banging itself into the side of the van. DANG IT! I'm one of those people - one of those people you see driving down the highway oblivious to the fact that they forgot to close their gas cap. That was me - IDIOT! Soooo luckily the light for the highway exit turned red - I jumped out, screwed on the gas cap, closed the door thingie and jumped back in the van and then answered the 20 questions about why I got out of the van and how did I make the light turn red so I could get out and what's a gas cap and where is our usual gas station and what happens when we are late for swimming lessons. It was very enjoyable - HA! We FINALLY got to swimming lessons - 15 minutes late for a 30 minute class. Well at least they got to do the back float and get the dive sticks. Oh and just to make the day complete - from swimming lessons we were to head directly to gymnastics - which was good, I mean I had their leotards and everything but what I didn't have was a brush for the wet hair or panties for the wet bottoms. NICE. I made them put their leotards on anyway, finger combed their hair and begged them not to tell anyone they weren't wearing panties -- for once they kept quiet :-)

So there, that's why we were late for swimming lessons and I've pretty much stopped obsessing about the gas drive-off thing because if my card hadn't worked I'm sure I would have seen my friendly, local officer of the law by now - right?

UGH...

I am in a creative rut - probably because my work room is such a MESS. If you saw the room you would totally understand why I capitalized MESS because it is no little mess it is a HUGE MESS. Ugh ugh ugh!!!

Yes, I'm procrastinating by writing this. Procrastinating cleaning up the mess, procrastinating working on custom orders, procrastinating... I always know when I am totally overwhelmed or not sure what the next step to take will be because I procrastinate. It's not an effective use of my time. I suppose now that I've identified the problem I should probably do something about changing - SIGH.

Okay I better get back to it. I just needed to step back for a minute and take a breath. I may be here again before the night is over - it really depends on how this cleaning thing goes :-)

TTFN...

The only other sign of wild life we encountered...

on our trip to the zoo were the butterflies during our visit to the Butterfly House. There were butterflies everywhere.



The kids were very disappointed that there weren’t any butterflies landing on them until Alex started tugging on my shirt in an urgent way and saying “mom mom mom” and when I looked there was an ugly, brown, big, moth-like looking butterfly sitting on my shoulders with wings closed.



My kids went nuts. The butterfly was a Blue Morph and the thing about this ugly butterfly is that it isn’t an ugly butterfly at all but really one of the most beautiful butterflies in the Butterfly House for when it opened it’s wings they were the most beautiful shade of glistening jewel-like blue. Who knew the beauty that the plain, brown, moth-like exterior was hiding.



We never did get a picture of this beautiful butterfly with wings open (the picture above is one I found in Google Images) as there were only a few of this species and they were all busy flitting about. Well all of them except the one taking up residence on my shoulder. And that butterfly did not want to leave – seriously – I shook my shirt, the kids blew on her, I shook my shirt some more and yet she hung on. Finally the HotY gave a big gusty blow and she flew off showing us her brilliant blue wings. Really.

So here’s the thing – if you’ve been keeping track you already know I’m quirky so I’m just going to put it out there – I think Ms. Butterfly picked me on purpose and she is my reminder that all beauty is not apparent and it really is what is on the inside that counts and makes a lasting impression.



So as I begin a new journey to bettering my health and strengthening my body I’m going to remember the butterfly that opened her wings and showed her beauty. I know, I know sometimes I can be so over the top but I really do believe that butterfly picked me – and I didn’t have to use my Super Special ESP to make it happen :-)

We're going to the zoo zoo zoo...

well that is the song we were singing yesterday anyway. We decided, on a whim, to take the kids to an amusement park/zoo in the Big City for the day.

And THIS was the only animal we saw



The lack of animal viewing was all because of these - amusement park rides. Once the kids saw them in the park the zoo animals were forgotten. Well until it was too late to look at animals of course – then they were all sad they hadn’t seen the animals. – ahhh there is nothing like disconsolate children to end a day :-)


Lauren was a little reluctant to ride on anything at first but then lightened up and embraced her adventurous side.a>




Of course she who loves to live on the edge was all over everything. I was impressed with the way she followed the traffic rules while driving the electric kiddy cars - she did keep running into walls and curbs but at least she obeyed the stop signs. Driver’s Ed should be a fun experience.

Once we got home and the kids settled into bed we watched a little TV, The HoTY gave it up about 11:30 and went up to bed and I had every intention of being there shorty but then it started - Terms of Endearment. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen this movie but I get sucked in every single time I happen to land on it while channel surfing. The ultimate chick flick. And of course I went to bed sobbing – I KNOW! It isn’t like I don’t know how it’s all going to end – but from the moment she has her kids come to her hospital room until the end of the show I am sobbing like a baby. I can’t help myself. It’s so sad and no matter how many times I watch the ending is never happy – SIGH – but I keep hoping.

All in all a good day was had by all and everyone slept until 9:30 this morning - WooHoo!

Okay, that’s it. I’m out. Tonight I’m going to bed – early. No sad movies. Seriously!

Sale in the Shop!

Sorry for the shameless self promotion. If you are offended move along - I'll be back to my normal whining and complaining tomorrow :-) If you are still here take a look - all signs are 25% off my current pricing (price listed reflects the sale price). If you are interested in seeing more please click here: Glitter me!

And as always your ideas and suggestions are always welcome.

And the sun shone on everyone...

The weather over the 4th of July holiday weekend could not have been better. It was perfect. Sunny, warm, fabulous!

We made the Pioneer Woman 4th of July cake.


The kids did the decorating and took their jobs very seriously

-



well some of them did anyway...

Now if I could just get the rest of the summer to SLOW DOWN! I'm already seeing ads in the paper for Back to School sales. I shred them - there is plenty of time for back to school shopping. I'm still trying to find a pair of flip flops that don't flip or flop too much! I don't want to risk tripping you know :-)

TTFN...

FINALLY!

After weeks and weeks of threatening to go I finally did - I finally made the trip to the grocery store. I HATE grocery shopping. I don't know why but I just do. It is such a waste of 90 minutes. All to get a cart take groceries off the shelf place in cart, push cart to check-out, take groceries out of cart and put them on the counter, place groceries in bag, place bag in cart, push cart to car, take groceries out of cart and put in car, park cart in cart parking space, drive car home, take grocery bags out of car into house, take groceries out of bags and put into cupboard. By the time I'm all done I figure I've touched each item at least six times. See - IT IS A WASTE OF TIME, well except for that pesky eating thing. But then if I could conquer that and the groceries my life would be bliss :-)

Hope your corn is knee high by the 4th of July :-)

Am I just weird...

Okay, so this is the thing. There was a turtle that lived in the pond in our neighborhood. Every once in a while this turtle would take a little trip - across the road. I don't know why the turtle crossed the road - maybe he had a girlfriend who lived across the street or maybe the grass was greener on the other side of the pond but whatever the reason every now and again he would cross the road and it wasn't a speedy deal since he was a BIG old turtle. He'd lumber along and the HoTY being the wonderful father that he is would patiently wait for our children to finish watching the turtle cross the road. Seriously, this is a true story :-) Anyway, one day last week I saw this lump in the middle of the road - it looked so bad I couldn't even look. I thought it was particularly nasty - well you know - ROAD KILL. Then the other night in bed the HoTY said someone had hit and killed the turtle and it looked like it was deliberate as the turtle wasn't in a spot where someone would have been driving (i.e. - NOT the middle of the road). It made me sad. And still I passed that bump in the road each day wondering what it was that had been hit, but again not looking close enough as it looked so gory. At the end of the week we were all in the car traveling the road past the road kill and the HoTY said "there's the turtle". It was the lump that I had been passing all week. I felt so bad for that turtle. Not only had someone hit him but he was destroyed. And now every time I pass that bump in the road - I get tears in my eyes. I KNOW! All for a turtle I didn't even know. So thank you Mr. Turtle, where ever you are. You led a good life - hanging out in the pond, crossing the road now and then, and filling my children with happiness, wonder and curiosity. I'm sorry you are gone.

I told you I'm weird...

And that turtle at the top of the page - that isn't my Mr. Turtle but his relative Mr. Turtle the Third. provided via my friend Amy. Click here to read her turtle story (it has a happier ending I promise)

Amazing but true...

there are those that may find this hard to believe but I really do not like being a worrier. I wish I could just sit back and think Que Serra Serra and smile sweetly just like Doris Day. But alas it is not to be. I can find a million things to worry about on any given day. For instance, the kids are going to stay with my parents for the weekend. I was all excited, doing my no kids happy dance around the kitchen and then it hit me. Oh My Gosh, my children will be without my guiding light to see them through each day :-)

It's not like I don't think my parents will do a good job of watching them, I know they will, but really, they don't know my kids like I do. I mean what if they fall in the pond or get tangled up in the hammock or pack a knapsack, climb out the bedroom window and join the traveling circus to work as tight rope walkers? It could happen. Although as soon as I have relinquished control I will be fine. Most of the worries will dissipate. Life will go on. It's that anticipation thing. I'm terrible at that (do you notice a reoccurring theme here? And no I DO NOT have control issues - really I don't just ask anyone). As long as I can get through the rest of the week without thinking up new worst case scenarios I'll be good. So I'm hoping I don't get any chain emails threatening death and destruction if I don't forward to 58 of my closest friends or news clips of someone drowning on dry land 24 hours after being in a swimming pool or the most current traveling circus schedule. I'm trying to cut back on this worrying thing!

TTFN...

Highlights of a summer day...

Finally, the rain has stopped, the sun is shining and a new era is born. Okay, that's a little dramatic but there has been a lot of rain - seriously!

Here are some candid pictures of a summer day in June as seen through the eyes of the HoTY.

Enjoy.

WOW!

HOLY BANANAS. I just have to tell you about this because I'm so excited. MY SIGNS ARE IN A REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS NOT EVEN MADE UP IN MY IMAGINATION ON-LINE STORE - ASHLEY TAYLOR HOME! I almost feel like I'm famous or something - well until I look at all the other awesome stuff that Ashley has for sale in her boutique and then I feel like Cinderella at the ball before all those little mice and birds created her ball gown.

Seriously check out some of the stuff. I'm seriously considering getting a chandelier for the girls' room. I'm thinking of this one or this one (click on the link and then let me know which one you like).

Okay - that's it. Just had to share my excitement

Is it Friday yet???

I am really ready for the weekend this week. I'm not entirely sure why, and really the week has gone relatively fast - but still Friday seems like it has been a long time in the making.

I went out for some drinks with friends and co-workers after work. I flipped the straw out of my margarita no less than three times. And really if you have ever had cocktails with me that really isn't unusual - as a matter of fact it was probably on the low side. You see when I have a cocktail I talk (I KNOW - but really it is MORE talking than I typically do) and when I talk I feel the need to use my hands. And when I'm waving my hands around I really can't be responsible for what happens. So now you've been warned - you don't have to be surprised when we go out for drinks and a margarita somehow lands in your lap!

Sorry, but this is all I've got today - oh wait I forgot - I got HONKED at after work. All the days when I have refrained from using my horn and I GOT HONKED AT! Yes, I deserved it - but still.

TTFN...

OUCH!!!

Okay remember that pedicure I had on Friday? The pre-movie pampering? Well I'm paying the price. The chick that did my feet took one look at my calloused heels and proceeded to whip out one of those razor blade things and started shaving all that dry, nasty skin. Now I'm not saying they didn't need it because really my heels were pretty bad but holy bananas. Today my heels are so sore I can barely walk. I'm not kidding! Of course it probably didn't help that I was gardening over the weekend and standing in the dirt in my bare feet and then putting on flip flops and having them slap against my heels all day long but man I never expected something so good to cause me so much pain. I'm covering my feet with that Watkins salve stuff tonight in hopes that things will feel a lot better in the morning. Wish me luck. I'm like a walking disaster - first my arm now my feet.

So about the movie. It was good. I think I was a little jaded because I had read reviews criticizing all the product placement advertising so I spent a great deal of time noticing that (oh be quiet - I'm still glad I looked for the spoilers). I won't tell you how it ends so I don't let the cat out of the bag for those who are still wondering but I'll just say I believe in fairy tales :-) So I loved the movie but it is really one of those that I will savor once I have the DVD of my own to watch and enjoy. KWIM?

Oh and we never did make it out to dinner. The darn pedicure and manicure took 2 hours. The place was packed and they had us soaking our feet for so long I was beginning to turn into a raisin. But still - worth it - except for the part where my girl started crying - TWICE and then had to excuse herself to change her shirt because she had spilled her bottle of disinfectant on herself - but other than that - it was worth it - really it was.

TTFN...

Tonights the night...

when all my questions will be answered. Does Big REALLY leave Carrie at the alter? Who dies? What's with Charlotte and Harry? Is he still waxing his back? And do I still think Smith is hot (because seeing him as the boyfriend of the gay guy on Brother's & Sister's kind of spoiled it for me)?

I'm all ready for my "girls gone wild" night with Amy. We are starting off with manicures and pedicures (I think Amy is just going for the toes but I'm living on the edge and having the full treatment) followed by dinner and then the movie. We may even have a drink or two afterwards. I know - it's beyond exciting :-) But I am looking forward to it. The last movie I saw at the theater was Shrek III and really it wasn't nearly as good as Shrek and Shrek II.

I am hoping to get several new signs up in the Etsy shop over the weekend. Some wedding, some baby, some fun, blah blah blah (hey maybe THAT (blah blah blah) would be a good sign - what do you think?

Okay, I'm out. Time to change the band aid on my toe. I dropped the razor while shaving and nicked my toe (okay fine - I was shaving my toes - but admit it you do it too - it's not like I have to do it every week or anything but sometimes they need a little touch-up - so there now you know my dirty little secret - sometimes I shave my toes - really it's just a hair or two - but still...) Was that too much info??? :-)

Guess what...

Does the picture give you any clues. Yes, yes, it's raining again. Remember that song by Supertramp (and don't tell me I'm giving away my age because really you know I love music and I COULD have heard the song in my cradle). Just in case you need a reminder of that fabulousness known as 80's Pop here it is It's Raining Again. Listen, really.

I wasn't going to talk about the weather anymore but I couldn't help myself - it is supposed to rain for the NEXT TEN DAYS. Come on. I'm not happy.

Alex on the other hand is happy today as it is the last day of school for the year. My baby is moving on to bigger and better things every day. Now if the weather would just cooperate.

That's it - a couple of random rambles for the day. Oh and that umbrella - it belongs to Lauren. She doesn't know I borrowed it and when she finds out she will be unhappy but I couldn't find my own dang cheap Walmart umbrella so I had to resort to the little girl's umbrella complete with pink and purple flowers and the curved umbrella handle. I look kind of foolish but at least it saved my hair and really it's all about the hair!

TTFN...

But I WANT to know...

I know I have mentioned my dislike of surprises before, and really it isn't that I dislike surprises it is that I dislike suspense. I hate not knowing stuff. Sure you can call it nosy if you want but I like to think of it as curious, or patience intolerant or something much nicer than nosy. Nosy is more about knowing how my former neighbor Rob fell out of the garbage can and less about knowing what's next. I can live without the neighbor knowledge but that "what next" thing - that can really drive me nuts (is it any wonder I get caught up in "what ifs").

Seriously, I have been known to read the last page of a book first. I know I know but really it doesn't spoil anything for me because I love reading the book figuring out how it's all going to fit together to make up the ending. It is kind of like being in the mind of the author. And when I can stop myself from reading the last page (and frankly sometimes that last page tells you nothing) I still will read my fill and then randomly open pages and read a paragraph or two before putting the book away until the next night. Hey, it makes me happy :-)

So what is this all about? Well my friend Amy and I are going to the Sex and the City movie on Friday and while she has been carefully avoiding any information that may ruin the movie for her I have been actively searching for spoilers (which are slowly leaking out) because I need to know what is going to happen and it won't ruin the movie for me at all - it will actually let me enjoy it more because I won't be wanting to hurry things along so I can find out what happens.

Too bad there isn't a spoiler option for life because if there was I'd be all over it. What happens next? Where do I end up? What does life have in store for my family? What is Heaven REALLY like? At least I think I'd want to know what happens - unless it is bad news - I don't want to spend the rest of my life worrying. And if it is good news I'm not sure I want to fast forward through all the every day details of living just to get to the good stuff. So maybe I don't want to know EVERYTHING. But there are a few things I'd like to know - such as do Carrie and Mr. Big actually live happily ever after? Of course I KNOW the answer to that question but for Amy's sake I'll keep the details to myself...

Just what do I have to do...

I've tried blogging it out, shouting it out, stomping it out, yet my message to the world that the west frontage road by Walmart is a 40 mph zone is not reaching the right audience. The over 70 crowd who persist in traveling at a snail speed of 25 mph no matter how many speed limit signs they pass proclaiming FORTY MILES AN HOUR. That is FOUR ZERO. FORTY! Today, on my way to work, an old man pulled out in front of me from Walmart (like that surprises you) and right there - 200 yards from him hitting the road is the first sign of three along his journey - 40 mph. Yet does he speed up? Does he heed this advice? Does he even TRY to hurry it along? NO NO NO! Man I'm getting tired of this. If you are going to pull out in front of me please try to at least pretend you are going to drive like a real person because really one of these days I'm going to start using my horn and in this nice growing community horn honking is considered rude - but I'm not above it - seriously!

Oh and one other bit of news. I have created a convert. Amy has sworn to never again (translate - not for a really long time) visit Walmart due to recent unpleasant events which occurred at this establishment - not the least of which was the huge train of carts blocking her departure from the parking lot leading to her having to GO INTO THE STORE to ask someone to MOVE THE DAMN CARTS. At least someone is listening to me - now if I could only get those elderly patrons to turn up their hearing aids and put their foot on the gas!

TTFN...

The goodness of a long weekend...

don't you love the freedom of a long weekend? Sunday nights without Monday morning hanging over your head. Playing outside long after bedtime and not really caring. Knowing there is still one more day of free time before it's back to the same old same old. The long weekend - it's a fabulous thing.

I have really been yearning for a break from my "day job". It isn't that I don't like my job - I'm just tired of working. I know it will pass but for right now it is on my mind - constantly and it is making me crabby (I know what a big surprise) :-)

I actually had Friday off to take the dog to the vet and the girls to their well-child check-up and myself to physical therapy - which I ended up canceling since the girls' appointment ran long. I actually stopped wearing the brace this weekend. As far as I'm concerned it has done the job and it is time to move on and let my elbow move freely in the world. I see the doctor again on Wednesday and he may have different plans but for right now I'm going with the "I know best" theory.

That's it. Really just dropping in to say I'm here. I'll write more later to ponder the mysteries of the world - like why that guy on Grey's Anatomy who was entombed in cement did not have any family members around while he was on the brink of death...

TTFN

Did you think I forgot...

Did you really think that I would let too much time go by without discussing the Dancing with the Stars finale? I may have hurt my arm but my brain still works :-) And before we begin I do have to tell you that I STILL have not watched the tivo'd episode of DWTS where my Marvelous Mario makes an appearance - I KNOW - maybe something has affected my brain!

So about that finale. Kristy Yamagochi was the easy win - I don't know that there was any real contest even from the beginning. I do think she had an unfair advantage. She was used to performing in front of a crowd under pressure in skimpy outfits and she knows how to execute a lift. BIG things. But what she did lack was passion. I never saw any passion from her. I never had that much fun watching her dance. She never excited any emotion in me. So although technically good - emotionally - heh. Actually I don't think any of the couples had much chemistry between them this season. That was kind of disappointing. I think what really makes great dancing is the passion and chemistry. But maybe that's just me... So those are my thoughts on the win but let's talk about the really important stuff like why that Edita (is that how you spell her name) chick can only afford half a wardrobe. Have you noticed how she wears the skimpiest costumes week after week. Even during rehearsals she is barely dressed. Interesting. Although maybe if I had her body I'd flaunt it too :-) And then there was Tony and Marissa. I really liked them and I really wanted to see the chemistry but instead it was more like watching a brother and sister. BORING. Oh speaking of Tony - have you seen that movie with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez (I think it is called May I Have this Dance or something like that) anyway, did you see my guy Tony in that movie? He was one of the dancing contest participants - just a little useless trivia - feel free to use this in the future to impress your friends and family :-)

Okay I've got to go. My wrist is killing me. Have I mentioned how happy I will be to throw this brace out the window? It's cramping my style.

TTFN...

Oh Oh Oh - the name of the movie with Rich & Jen is Shall We Dance so there you go.

Highlights of a birthday...

It's that time again, time for two of my babies to take another step forward into the real world. It makes me happy. It makes me sad. It makes me nostalgic. I makes me share pictures. :-)

Birthday - One Year




Birthday - Two Years




Birthday - Three Years




Birthday - Four Years




Birthday - Five Years - 2008




Okay now if you excuse me I need to go find some little girls - their mommy needs a snuggle!