Happy Birthday Trevor

Seems like yesterday I was doing this

And he had that funny hair. Look how cute his belly was!

And then he was turning one

And two

Three (this began the Spiderman Phase)

Four (still likes Spiderman!)



When you turn five Power Rangers are cool



There's a Batman in all that blue goo! He wanted Hulk but they didn't have one.

Happy 6th Birthday to my little man!

Chloraseptic The Wonder Drug

My Mother In Law just called me. She wanted directions to Chuck E Cheese for Trevor's birthday party tomorrow.

She says: You sound sick!
Me: croak, yeah I've been sick all week.
Her: are you doing anything for it?
Me: yeah I took some medicine, you know just over the counter stuff.
Her: well you know Chloraseptic always works wonders for me.



OMG! I swear everytime she talks about Chloraseptic I think about the Dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and his Windex. I swear she is seriously like that with the Chloraseptic. She thinks it cures everything!

I personally can't get past spraying that shit in my mouth!
It's like the air thing when you go to the eye doctor.
Just creeps me out!
And it doesn't work.
It's just GROSS!

In case you don't know what I'm talking about:



It's about 4:48 when the Windex comes in lol.

Book Giveaway

Remember earlier in the week when I said I would give away a book?





Congrats Gloria!! I'll be sending your book out soon!

Thursday's Taxi Service

The expression on this dog's face just cracks me up!

I could use a pick me up today too. I'm sick. sick. sick. It's probably because the other day Trevor was being sooo cute and giving mommy kisses while we were waiting for Jessica at the ballpark. I remember all of a sudden thinking OH SHIT! He's sick!! But by that time it was too late. Thanks kid!!

No real excitement going on here today. Almost have the laundry caught up HURRAY!!! Going to work on some eBay stuff a bit I think. Kids have a full day of school today (anyone else hate those early release days??) so I will pick them up at school, then go pick up Jessica to take her to practice. I guess today they are going to get their uniforms and she's prepared to fight it out for her favorite jersey number lol. She has had the same number for quite a few years.

I should probably go to the store while we are in town since the only things left in the refrigerator would probably kill you if you ate them. I can't believe how fast we go through food around here! I really need to get back to doing the coupon thing so I can get a stockpile going again. I have so many coupon inserts saved up, I just need to get them organized and get busy!

Ash Wednesday

Today while I was waiting for Jessica to get out to the parking lot I watched every other kid she went to school with walk by. There were quite a few with the tell tale sign of Ash Wednesday on their foreheads. I did a little chuckle to myself because well obviously I'm not Catholic. If I was, I probably wouldn't be titling posts with the F bomb in them. But then again my soon to be ex-sister-in-law is/was Catholic and she did all kind of naughty little things (and big things too).

Anywho, the whole cross on the forehead reminded me of the time when I was quite a bit younger. I worked downtown at the local office supply store (before Staples & Costco put them out of business). We had a lot of art supplies along with knick knacks, cards, and misc crap.

So I'm waiting on this nun that would come in all the time to buy her Gesso and other paint supplies. The nuns around here don't do the full habit thing, just a small blue handkerchief looking head thing.

I'm waiting on her and notice she has something on her forehead. So being the nice person I am I tell her. She gives a little chuckle and says "I know it's Ash Wednesday". I'm like oooooo ok I so dumb now!

That and the incident when I asked some guy if he was sick because he sounded like he had larengytis (but he didn't) pretty much cured me of asking/telling people random things that were wrong/different with them. You could walk through the store with a huge length of toilet paper on your shoe and I wouldn't say a WORD.

Well anyways, that was my introduction to Ash Wednesday.

New addiction

I think I'm becoming an addict. To what???

Bad Fucking Day

This morning was the worst fucking morning ever. But I'm still married and my husband is still living in the house and I didn't key his car or throw all his clothes out in the yard (contemplated both) so, hey, it's all better now. Right??

:::echo:::

But on the upside I bleached my entire kitchen and got the living room cleaned up. It'a amazing what I can get done with I'm stressed out.

Went to Jessica's practice game this afternoon. Got there right when she got up to bat. She struck out but at least we were there to see it lol. She played 3rd base and catcher, one inning each. They had to switch off with the sophomore team because of lack of fields or something. It was just a practice game though so whatever!

Here she is up at bat.



Going to have to dig out the chairs and put them in the car for the next time we travel somewhere. I wasn't expecting there not to be any bleachers so we sat on the damp grass. The boys played with a football and Trevor's puppy dog that he carries around. They were covered in little bites at one point. Not sure what the heck was flying around out there but apparently they were tasty little boys!

Oh look what I found on my camera card!! My "Scene" Jock girl lol. She cracks me up the pictures she takes of herself.



Just watched The Biggest Loser. WHY OH WHY do they have the freaking drama thing with changing the teams.

"oh woe is me, I have a different trainer, the world is ending"

Get a freaking life people!! You are there to lose weight, the other trainer knows what they are doing also and you will probably benefit from having a different work out plan. Suck it up already. I swear half the show was about their changing teams drama. Makes me wish I had Tivo so I could just skip past it all.

And seriously?? Bob CRIED.

I keep telling Scott that Bob has to be gay. He keeps saying no but after that he was agreeing. Going to have to look up if he's gay or not lol.

::off to google::

Jessica just gave me a shirt to wash. Needs it tomorrow morning.
Yeah it's 9:30

PM

Did I mention I got Trevor's cold?

That reminds me, I took him to the doctor yesterday. She says he has asthma, no more bronchitis. Gives us a prescription for cough syrup and another inhaler.

Okie dokie no problem.

Go to Target (see I changed pharmacies finally, no more bitching about Wal Mart!), drop it off, go shopping and buy my million things that you can't get at Costco (GRAPE jelly anyone??).

Get back to the pharmacy and she tells me the cough syrup the doctor prescribed is for children over 16. She put in a call but they hadn't called her back. So ok she starts to ring up the inhaler.

$125

Are you fucking kidding me?? That is with insurance.

UM NO. Not paying that. We have enough random inhalers hanging around the house from Jessica & Me the kid isn't going to die.

So she said she'd call about that too but I never got a call back about anything today.

Maybe Target doesn't have very good service in their pharmacy.
I bet Wal Mart would have called me back.
But they have lines.
BIG ONES.
And one hour waits for meds.

So I guess I should call tomorrow. But really he seems better today and not much coughing.

But my throat hurts so I think he just gave it to me.

NICE.

Sick Kid, Softball and the usual Taxi service

Trevor is home sick today. He's coughing his poor little head off again. He has a doctor appointment this afternoon. If he gets a prescription again I'm going to ask for one that is NOT three times a day. I'm a lousy mother when it comes to three times a day medicine. When do you give them the on in the middle? If you give it to them after school then you have to wait forever to give them one before bed and I'm NOT going to go to the school to give it to him or wake him up in the middle of the night. Let's also hope that they don't want to send him for a chest x ray because I have no idea how much I will end up having to pay for THAT with our crap ass insurance.

So today was the big day to find out if Jessica made the softball team at the high school. And she MADE IT!! WOOOHOOOO I'm so excited for her! She's supposed to have practice today but the weather is shit so I'm thinking maybe it's not going to happen. If it's raining they have practice in the gym at 5:30 for catchers and pitchers. I'm hoping that's the case since that way she can ride the bus home and save me ONE MORE TRIP to town.

Melissa has GATE today after school too. I called her friend's grandma and asked if they could give her a ride home. &&& fingers crossed so I don't have to hurry to get there.

So I haven't done shit around the house today. I'm out of laundry soap so I can't do laundry. Just about out of dish soap. Out of bleach so can't work on the grout. Can't work outside because it's icky. Sounds like a good enough excuse to just sit here until it's time to go to the doctor!

Book Club for February

The book club selection for last month was "The Babysitter" by Diana Diamond. Here's a review of what the book was about from Amazon.com

From Publishers Weekly
Some people can't help serving as mirrors of other people's failings and fears, and babysitter Theresa Santiago plays just that role vis-…-vis her WASPy employers in this tautly paced thriller. Although the title suggests the story is about Santiago, Diamond (The Trophy Wife) actually paints a vivid family portrait of political superstar Gordon Acton, his pedigreed wife and the couple's two bright and photogenic children. Acton is campaigning for a Massachusetts congressional seat, and it looks like he'll win. With his political profile in mind, he asks his wife, Ellie, to hire a Hispanic mother's helper. Ellie does so, but reluctantly, believing that the young woman will be ostracized by the mostly white population of Cape Cod where the family plans to spend the summer. Ellie hires the babysitter despite her misgivings, and Theresa turns out to be the perfect helper aiding Ellie with her doctoral thesis and winning over the children and even many of the snobbish and racist members of the Actons' club. Yet from the start it's clear that Theresa isn't exactly what she says she is. It's hard to know what is fact and what is fiction, especially when the Actons begin to suspect that their babysitter may be blackmailing them. Diamond has built her thriller around issues of race and class, and she asks: If the rich use the poor, is it so bad when the opposite happens? The political point-making is a bit heavy-handed at times, but that's a minor complaint when weighed against Diamond's thoughtful exposition and careful plotting. (July)and thriller writer."

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

We had 7 people at book club today (one missing) and 2 people didn't finish the book. They had a hard time getting copies because it is out of print. Of the remaining 5, everyone liked the book and thought it was a great, quick, read.

We sat in a little room that looked like it was maybe a garage at some time. (All the houses where I live are very unique-no tract homes for us!) The room was painted like an outdoor cafe. The bottoms of the walls were a stone like wall paper I believe (I think I saw some seams) and the top was painted a nice light blue. The wall I was facing had several framed paintings on it. The wall to the side (actually the door to the outside wall) had big stone pillars painted on it, a shelf over the door with something on it but I can't remember what). I can't remember what the wall behind me had, the wall to the other side of me had a counter and it was all painted so cute like an outdoor market type scene. The ceiling had fabric draped like an outdoor awning (I did think to myself that would be a pain to keep clean!) The floor had big tiles and every other one had small stones on them. It looked like the actual tiles were made like that but I'm not sure how it was done. We all sat at tables with plastic chairs which added to the "outdoor" feel.

The hostess served green apples sliced with toothpicks in them and Swiss cheese. Red, White Zin wine, Raspberry Italian soda and water to drink. After we talked a bit she brought out some yummy little egg roll looking things that had cream cheese and raspberry OR cream cheese and Caramel in them (and coffee). Oh they were so good! I am going to go check out the Grocery Outlet where she said she bought them from and see if I can find some (and I hate that store so that's saying something lol)

I have a hard back copy available of the book. The dust jacket has a little wear and a small rip. If you would like it, just leave me a comment. If I have more than one person I will draw a "winner" on Friday morning.

Our next book is (my mom's pick)




I've seen the movie, but Mom says the book is nothing like the movie. I'm hoping she is right because I didn't like the movie!

Sunday Tidbits

I'm sitting here in my nightshirt. I just realized that this may be the last time I can wear it. It's soft and threadbare. There is a HUGE hole under the right arm. It's not so much the nightshirt I will miss when I have to throw it out. It's the memory that it is one of the last items of clothing I own that my Grandma bought me. Maybe I can wear it one more time...

I just looked at the seven day forecast.

It's

rain
rain
rain
rain
rain
rain
rain

OMFG I'm going to kill myself if it really rains for the next 7 days.

Today I have my book club meeting for "The Babysitter". I'm excited about going to the house that it's at because the woman is an artist. I know she has murals all over her house. ::tiny squeal of excitement:: I wish I could paint! I can barely paint a wall one color though. Sucks.

So yesterday Jess and I went and saw "He's just not that into you". I'll expand on that later. After that her friend met us at the mall so 3rd wheel mom went with them and she got her hair cut (looks cute, no pics yet, I'm sure she'll leave her camera laying around somewhere so I can show you). I paid and bailed since I was really only there for the wallet anyways. Gotta love being a walking wallet. They ended up staying at the mall all day and seeing another movie. I went and picked her up at around 11 at night. That was a LONG day at the mall.

While she was there she met a boy that she goes to school with. He was there with his two girl cousins so they all hung out for awhile. She found out that he is an atheist. Apparently he is in a band and has burned crosses before. I asked her if she thought he just said that for shock value. She said she had called Pastor Jason (her youth pastor that just got LET GO for some reason they aren't sharing) and talked to him about it.

It amazes me how faithful she is and how strong she is in her beliefs. I don't think I've ever been that way. And seriously I still wonder if there really is a God. I never would have said that about 5 years ago. But the older I get the more I doubt. And yet, my 14 year old is strong in her beliefs. In a way I think maybe it's because she is young and impressionable. Not yet hit with all the bad things that can happen in life.

On another note, the tooth fairy finally remembered to come for Melissa last night. She has lost 3 teeth in the last few weeks and puts them all under her pillow every night. She gets up in the morning and complains that the tooth fairy forgot AGAIN. This morning she got up and we heard her shout "FINALLY!" Too funny!

Scene/Emo/Punk?

I just spent way too much time adding my bookmarks to the side of my blog ----->

If you are lazy like me and read in Google Reader you have to click and check it out. Make all my hard work worth something PLEASE :O)

What do you think? You like?

So since I'm being nice to hubby today I just ate a second breakfast :burp:

I had had a bagel and then Trevor wanted some milk so I asked hubby to run to the little store to get some milk. He came back with bacon and wanted to make us all breakfast.

So I just ate 2 waffles and 2 pieces of bacon.

On top of the big huge Costco bagel.

I should be good for awhile or at least until the carbs run out settle in my muffin top.

So far I've gotten a tiny snuggle this morning for being nice yesterday. Breakfast doesn't really count all that much since he likes to make it every weekend. Wondering if I should ask him out on a date later.

----------

Jessica wants to go get her hair cut so I guess that is my agenda for today. She has all her "scene" hair cuts printed out and ready to take with her. Hopefully they don't mess up her hair and I have to listen to her cry for a week.

Do you all know what "scene" is?? You might mistake them for the "emo" (you know what that is right?) kids but I'm told the difference is they aren't "cutters". Um yeah, ok that works, I guess.

Old school definition. PUNK=Scene

Yeah I guess that is what my kid is. So far she doesn't hate me because I won't let her get her face pierced ANYWHERE. (ears don't count) I keep telling her if she pierces her lip/nose/chin/eyebrow/tongue she will wake up with me on top of her taking it out with the pliers.

Think she believes me?

We were in Hot Topic the other day and the woman ringing us up (who happens to be our neighbor-small world) tells us "and if you want any piercings, this guy (points to guy bagging the stuff) does piercings too"

OMG hold you tongue lady!! She just got the word PIERCING out and I was like

NONONONONONONONONONONONONONO

and you know what?? They had the nerve to laugh.

I'm sorry I'm OLD and don't think things poking out of my child's beautiful face is cool, tight, rad, awesome

Am I dating myself here??

Anyhow. I guess I should go take a shower and take my kid to get her hair punked out some more. She went to bed at 9 last night and is just FULL of energy. Odd for a teenager.

Lunch time crazy ramblings.

OMG just saw this on cuteoverload.com too funny!



Looking for a good Weight Watcher's Recipe Site? I just got a link to this, looks like some yummy stuff!

GO HERE

This is me when I was little



(kidding!)



Oh I think I need a drink...

Think so?

Trying to be...

So I decided today I need to try and be nicer to my husband. I'm not MEAN to him, it's just I feel like we never talk. Like EVER. Unless we go out on a "date" which usually we see a movie and you only do so much talking. So I'm going to try it for the weekend. Think I can make it?? I've started out by sending him a text message to call me when he went on his lunch. The phone rang about 12:00 and I got all excited about executing my new plan. Yeah. It was my brother. Darn. So it was about 1:00 and I'm thinking WTH?? I can't even make a plan to be nice and have it work out. So I sent him ANOTHER text asking if he wasn't taking a lunch today. Then he called me not too long after that.

Him: So what's up??

Me: Nothing. So what's for lunch?

:::convo about lunch food::::

:::covo about crazy customer at his work:::

:::convo about Jessica's tryouts:::

Him: ok well I'm sitting in parking lot

Me: Ok bye!

See, it wasn't that hard. Of course nothing about ME came up but hey it's a start right??

A busy day

Yesterday the sun was out. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs

THANK YOU GOD!!!



It's been raining here on and off (mostly on) for about 2 weeks. Our driveway is a muddy mess. I cleaned all the mud off the inside of my car the day before when we had a few hours of sun. I HATE the mud.

So since the sun was out Jessica, who has been having try outs for the freshman softball team actually HAD try outs.

The kids and I decided that we'd hang out on the little playground while she was practicing. I packed some snacks and took my book and made sure we all had sweatshirts.

When we got there there was one little girl and her mom playing on the playground. I could tell that she was in awe of how rough and tumble my boys were! Yes they are a whole 'nother creature from cute little baby girls!

I tried to read my book but couldn't really concentrate on it. After awhile I told Melissa to keep an eye on the boys for me and I snuck over to the farthest bleacher where I could see Jess.



She just feels me with so much pride when I watch her play softball. It really is her element. I'm totally looking forward to watching her play high school ball!

After practice we went over to Big 5 to pick up another pair of sliding pants for her to wear at practice. She has lost a bit of weight since last year so her pants are all too big.

Then we walked by Hot Topic (since our Big 5 is in the mall) and got her 2 new pairs of jeans since she needed some of those too. One pair was actually marked down which was great since that doesn't happen often there. AND we filled another frequent buyer card lol. So next time we go in we will get a discount.



Trevor was having a bit of a melt down that he wanted to get "something". God I hate when the kids do that. I'm not going to buy some little piece of crap just so they can say they "got something". So he whined all the way over to the food court where we finally talked him into getting some food because I wasn't going to get him ice cream for dinner. I think he was just exhausted from all those hours of playing outside.

When we got home Melissa and Trevor were so surprised to find out that mommy had cleaned their room. They didn't seem to notice that mommy had taken out 6 bags of toys and 2 bags of garbage. We aren't talking little bags either!

I'm taking the toys over to my friend's house today so they can sell the stuff at their church yard sale they have once a year to make money for their women's group to go to a christian camp.

So today we will probably do the same thing as yesterday for softball practice. I'm thinking maybe I need to get something more substantial for a snack since the kids act like they are starving to death after school.

Spring Picture Day

Today is Spring Picture Day. Rememeber when we were in school and you only had to stress about picture day ONCE a year? Yeah not the case anymore. Nevermind the fact that I haven't even hung up the pictures from FALL picture day!

So this morning I got Trevor up early because he fell asleep last night before he got his turn for the shower. Why was it so important for him to take a shower?

Well it seems that everyday at school they get a stamp on their hand. The new trend is for them to take their hand immediately after being stamped and putting it on their forehead. So everyday my son comes home with some kind of target on his forehead. CUTE.

So anyhow, he got his shower, gets out and it's still there. So I broke out the rubbing alcohol and scrubbed it a bit and it's pretty faded now. So hopefully he won't look like he has a target on his forehead in his pictures.

He's been growing his hair out a bit (big sister talked him into it) so we gelled it a bit. We'll see if makes it until picture time!

Melissa's hair has started going from straight to curly so we've been straightening it when she wants it to look nice. She got up a bit early too and we had her hair done in no time.

So my kids got up about 10-15 minutes early this morning, Trevor took a shower, I did Melissa's hair, and somehow they were ready to go 20 minutes earlier than usual. So weird! Bet we couldn't get that to happen two days in a row.

Phone Drama

We were in the McD's part of Wal Mart yesterday because all the kids just thought they were going to die of starvation while we were out and about. Jessica got up to get a refill on her drink and put her phone in her back pocket. She came and sat down, then pulled out her phone and the screen was broken.

::insert instant tears::

Nothing makes a teenager cry faster than not having their cell phone. And in this day and age a cell phone is nothing without a screen to see text messages on.

Being the thrifty Mom I am I had cancelled the insurance on our phones two months back. We went over to the phone store and we can't do the upgrade until August. We started looking at new phones but someone was having a bit of the "woe is me" attitude and her little brother was bouncing off the walls and Mom was feeling really stressed so we left.

So she has my phone and I have the broken one. I'll just get a cheapy pay as you go phone or something for now. I'm not into all the phone bling anyways but I'm kind of sad about my tetris game I had downloaded on my phone lol.

Teenage Fun

What do you do if you are a teenager,

you live in the country and you are BORED???

You have your friend come over to hang out.

Still bored??

You decide to get dressed up.

And go hang out with some neighborhood boys..

And find a BIG mud puddle

And have a great time playing in the mud!

Then you use all your mom's towels to get cleaned up

Lucky for mom

you leave your camera card hanging around

so she can enjoy

You being

YOUNG

and having

FUN!

Because my family is all home on a Monday

I must find something to entertain myself before I scream at everyone.

::Insert evil cackle here::

The Google Game

1. Type in “[your name] needs” in the Google search.


Julie needs . . . YOUR HELP!!

You can come help clean anytime you want..

2. Type in “[your name] looks like” in Google search.

Julie looks like . . . she's gunna die.

I know I look bad but geez

3. Type in “[your name] says” in Google search.

Julie says . . . By Orange Blue

Apparently that's a song!

4. Type in “[your name] wants” in Google search.

(whatever) Julie wants . . . Julie had to have

haha

5. Type in “[your name] does” in Google search.

Julie does . . . not work with computers.

Nope she plays on them all day.

6. Type in “[your name] hates” in Google search.

Julie hates . . .the world below.

I'm assuming this is hell and not southern California.

7. Type in “[your name] asks” in Google search.

(Nurse) Julie asks . . . about aoritc valve surgery.

Hmm might be fun to dress up as a nurse. Not sure about the surgery part, I'd probably pass out the first cut.

8. Type in “[your name] likes ” in Google search.

Julie likes . . . to garden in the summer and spend lazy days at the beach

Only if it's not too hot. Then I have to go swimming.

9. Type in “[your name] eats ” in Google search.

Julie eats . . . a Whole Fish

Does shrimp count?

10. Type in “[your name] wears ” in Google search.

Julie wears . . . is on facebook.

and everyone else she knows.

11. Type in “[your name] was arrested for” in Google Search.

Julie was arrested for . . . check fraud.

well I did write a check at Costco but it's good! I swear!

12. Type in “[your name] loves” in Google Search.

Julie loves . . . books!

yes, yes she does! The one under this was "Julie loves to be naked"....

Your turn!

Weenie Roast

A man and his wife were working in their garden one day and the man looks over at his wife and says: 'Your butt is getting really big, I mean really big. I bet your butt is bigger than the barbecue.

With that he proceeded to get a measuring tape and measure the grill and then went over to where his wife was working and measured his wife's bottom.

'Yes, I was right; your butt is two inches wider than the barbecue!!!'

The woman chose to ignore her husband.

Later that night in bed, the husband is feeling a little frisky. He makes some advances towards his wife who completely brushes him off.

'What's wrong?' he asks.

She answers: Do you really think I'm going to fire up this big-ass grill for one little weenie?

Night at the movies

Last night Scott and I went to go see The Grand Tornio. It was by far the best movie I've seen in a long time. Although if you are easily offended by racial slurs it's probably not the movie for you. I think part of the reason I liked it so much is because my father in law is SO much like the main character that Clint Eastwood plays. Quick to judge and label like so many people of the older generation. That said my FIL is great friends with the Hispanic people across the street. He has also been known to get his gun and head out the door when he hears something going on. Hopefully it won't bite him in the ass some day. All in all I didn't feel raped of my $39.00 we spent for the movie tickets, popcorn, pretzel bites with nacho cheese sauce (my dinner, healthy!) and 2 large cokes (that Scott had to have) like I usually do when we go to the movies.

It keeps on rolling!

The end/begging of every year always seems so busy.

It all starts on October 18th for Scott's birthday.

November is Thanksgiving

December is Scott's Dad's birthday on the 8th he was 80 on the 8th of 2008, kind of cool.

And Christmas of course.

New Years

Mom's Birthday is January 14th.

Scott's parents anniversary which we actually FORGOT this year. I can never remember if it's the 22nd of January or what day. Somewhere in there. This year was 61 years and we totally flaked out on it and forgot. Last year we had that party. Weee fun.

Feb 8th is my birthday

Then today, Valentine's day (Whooohoo got a card on time this year!)

Next comes Trevor's Birthday, which is the 28th. Which means I have 14 days to figure out what we are going to do because I can only focus on one thing at a time.

He's in Kindergarden this year, which means that if we invite anyone from class we need to invite the whole class because I'm not rude like SOME MOMS who send invites to school and invite some kids and not others. So we need to decide if we are doing the whole class or no class. I'm going for no class. Unless I can fimd something that is not too expensive for everyone. Hmmm what do you like to do for little kid's birthdays? It's hard to plan anything outside since it IS Feb.

what to blog, what to blog??

My life has been so EXCITING lately. Seriously!

I've had several lunch dates. Yesterday I went to lunch with my Dad. When he called Monday to tell me he forgot my birthday (no shit!) I told him he owed me lunch. So we went yesterday to the awesome deli/hof brau that is downtown. I got a french dip, but had lunchers remorse and wished that I had ordered the hot turkey platter. That looked so much more yummier. Lunch was nice. Turns out my step mom got laid off from her job working at a nursing home. Guess she was wrong when she said that medical is the only way to go right now. Sucks for her but now she's tearing apart her kitchen to combat her boredom. That woman seriously never slows down.

After lunch I went off to a thrift store and got a few things. I picked up a pair of Levi capri pants for .99, can't beat that deal. Hopefully they fit me since I haven't tried them on yet.

I had arranged for my mom to pick up the little kids from the bus so I wouldn't have to make several trips to town (I was already on my 2nd since Jess had to be to school early for a field trip). I didn't worry about the little kids at all since mom was taking care of them. I went to pick up Jessica and her friend to take them to softball tryouts. We were almost there when my neighbor called me to tell me she had picked up my kids at the bus stop and wanted to know where to deposit them. TG for nice neighbors! I told her to go ahead and take them to my house since I knew my mom would be there shortly. I only cussed at my mom a little bit. Really. How hard is it to get to the bus stop when you KNOW what time to be there because your daughter told you THREE TIMES 3:15 not 3:20??

So I tried calling my mom's cell that she doesn't really use. She gets annoyed because she has to keep charging it, so she doesn't even bother using it. Of course she didn't answer. So I called her little house out by me and left a message telling her where the kids were and then called Melissa and told her to call me when Grandma got there.

A short time later my mom called. She had been driving in when the bus was driving out. The bus driver had waved at her so she thought that the bus driver had the kids and was waving to let her know?? So she turned around to follow the bus but lost it somewhere. She drove to the school and the school called the bus and the bus driver said she didn't know where the kids went because she doesn't know their faces to their names. I think my mom was kind of freaking out at that point. So I guess she drove to my house and there they were.

She's telling me that she WAS there since she passed the bus. I told her you have to be there BEFORE the bus gets there not after lol. She didn't quite seem to get it. A short time later my brother calls me all scared because the school called him to tell him that they had lost his kid! NICE! I told him they were ok. Still wondering why they never called me to let me know they lost mine too.

Anyhow, no one was really lost so I guess it's all ok. Mom needs a decent cell phone and a cell phone for grandparents book.

I went on with my day and went to Goodwill to check out the goods. Picked up a few things and then it was already time to pick up Jessica from try outs. It's raining today so hopefully they will cancel them today and I won't have to drive all over.

Lookie What I Got!

These little awards are so nice to get. I got it from

Tonya who is a SUPER MOM in every way gave it to me. She has a couple different blogs, is running the household while her man is overseas fighting for our country and still has time to do crafts and tons of play dates. Oh and she has twins plus a teenager. She needs a margarita award.. hmm maybe I should make one lol.

Kreativ Blogger Award Rules
Upon receipt, the recipient is to list six things that make her/him happy before subsequently passing forward the glee to others.

6 things that make me happy:
1. New Scrapbook ribbon
2. Scrapbook retreats
3. Sex
4. Hanging out with my friends
5. My kids
6. School for my kids

Sending this award onto:
1.Cherry's Jubilee is the BOMB! AWESOME ideas with cheap finds. Oh I see she already has the award but I guess she can have 2 lol. Go check out her stuff!

2.Go check outGordostyle's darling scrapbook room! It's pink, need I say more??

3.Need some inspiration? Go to kwernerdesign. She does some great color inspiration challenges (although I have yet to do one!)

4.Little Birdie Secrets has tons of fun things on her blog.

5.I wish I could be as awesome as Thrifty Decor Chic. She comes up with the best ideas!

6. Today's Creative Blog is a blog about blogs! It's the best place to find the best creative blogs out there!

7. Oh and I almost forgot my sweet friend Barb! She sent me a cute little tea cup cozy thing in the mail today. She is the master quilter!! Go see her here at Tink's Quilts!

My sad sad lover

Oh my lover....where have you gone??

A lot of people think you are "acting"

I really hope they are right

I'm scared you are not

Because this is really sad!

I'm afraid you are going to end up like him.

The Meter is Running.

Yesterday I went to lunch with my Mom and my Aunt for my birthday. I know, I know. My birthday was Sunday and I've been going out all week. Gotta love it! We met up at Olive Garden where I ate my weight in Shrimp Primavera, breadsticks, salad and appetizers. I was so full I totally skipped dinner and am finally a little bit hungry at 9 this morning lol.

After lunch I came home for a few minutes and then I had to go pick up the little kids at school so that I would have time to get to Jessica's school and pick her up to take her to softball try outs. We made it 5 minutes late thanks to the TON of traffic. Sheesh. Threw them out, then I thought we'd just sit at the little playground at the ball park. I walked with the kids over there and by the time we got over there I decided it was way too freaking cold to sit there so we walked BACK to the car and went to McDonalds. The kids all got Happy Meals and I read my new book club book.

My ex Sister In Law came and picked up my nephew while we were there (so nice we have cell phones now a days so you don't have to worry about how someone is going to know where you are). We stayed for about another half an hour until Jess called that she was done and then headed home. She said that she did pretty good at the try outs so here's hoping she makes the team. They are doing try outs all this week and all next week too I think. The part of that that sucks is that the try outs are all the way across town from the high school and they don't provide transportation. Which means I have to drive 12 miles to town, pick up the kid, then drive probably 12 more miles to the other side of town to drop her off.

The Mom Taxi is back in business.

Valentine's Heart Shape Pouches

Aren't these just adorable? I got these in an email from Better Homes & Gardens. I think I need to make a few



Heart-Shape Pouches

Hanging heart pouches can hold any type of treats, from a cluster of posies to a handful of candy. Here's how to make them. Trace two same-size heart shapes onto pretty paper or card stock; cut out. Cut more hearts in graduated sizes from contrasting paper, and use spray adhesive (made for sewing) or a simple running stitch to attach to the front of the pouch. See additional instructions on next slide.

Sunday Night Birthday Dinner

Sunday night my Mom invited us to all go over to my Brother's house, and she would make us dinner over there. She made spaghetti and brought salad and chips and dip and CAKE! I wish I could show you pictures but I don't have any. They are all on my Mom's camera. I'm going to see her today so make I can steal them off her camera :)

I'm not a huge fan of spaghetti (or many other pasta's) but I know she picked it because it was a cheap meal to feed a crowd. We had our family (5) plus my Little Brother, his girl friend (who didn't eat) and my nephew (who didn't eat), Baby Brother and his girlfriend, my cousin Al who is on leave from the air force (getting relocated from Japan back to California), and my parents.

So we get there and I asked my Little Brother what his girlfriend's name was again because no one introduced her to Scott. Still can't remember if it is Lane-E or Lan-E. One of those. Anyways that was the only time she talked to me the WHOLE night. Or to anyone for that matter, except for my brother. She is one weird duck. I REALLY hope she doesn't last long. They were like in their own little world together the whole night and my usually fun brother was a total dud and he even ended up going and falling asleep??? before we all left. What the hell is it with people that host parties for us falling asleep? I actually called my mom the next morning and told her we need to find him a new girlfriend. I'm not usually like that but I REALLY don't like her.

Since Little Brother and the skank were all into eachother, my Baby brother and his girlfriend and my cousin, Scott and I spent the night talking. My cousin is a Republican and was talking about all his views on everthing. He was totally annoying my Baby Brother but it was kind of funny. I really like talking to him because he discusses things in a way that really lets you carry on a conversation.

Oh and Baby Brother's girlfriend and I talked about how to get rid of the skank when they weren't in the room too.

So we had started drinking when we first got there, having some whiskey and coke. Ummm sooo good. Then the whiskey was gone, and then the coke was gone so we ended the night drinking Bicardi and 7 up, which is actually really good. But I was also about 4 drinks in by that point so probably anything would have tasted good lol.

Before the night was over my other cousin dropped by. The one that is missing the tooth. I swear it is SO hard to talk to someone that is missing a tooth. Right in the front. On top. Plus he's just about always drunk (and jobless) so he's not a big person in a coversation unless it goes over to drinking, women, or cars.

Scott left with the little kids since he had to go to work early Monday morning and Jessica and I were just going to walk home when we left but it was so freaking cold we got a ride home from the toothless cousin. That is after we moved some of the garbage in his truck so we could fit in there.

All in all it was a great birthday although my REAL Dad never called (he called the next day, LOSER). I had so much fun hanging out with my cousin Al and my Baby Brother and his gf.

Pimping my recipe for an apron

According to Kelly is having a giveaway for one of her super cute aprons. She's asking people to post their favorite recipes. Our families favorite is probably the lasana I make. It's from the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. You know the red and white plaid tablecloth looking one?? The page is probably the most splattered page in my cookbook.

Lasagna

3/4 pound ground beef, ground pork, bulk pork sausage, or bulk Italian sausage. (I use 1 pound ground beef only)

1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic
1 7 1/2 ounce can tomatoes, cut up (I use a regular 14 or whatever size it is can, the whole thing)
1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed (optional) NEVER USE IT
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
5 ounces lasagna noodles (6 noodles)
1 beaten egg
2 cups ricotta cheese or cream-sytle cottage cheese, drained (I used 1 small tub cottage cheese and just dump the whole thing in there)
1/2 cup grated Parmesean or Romano cheese (I use Parm and prob use 1 cup)
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 8 ounce package sliced mozzarella cheese (I just buy the balls and cut them up)

Heat Oven to 375 (insert degree mark here lol)

For meat sauce, in a large saucepan cook meat, onion, and garlic till meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain fat. Stir in undrained tomatoes; tomato sauce; tomato paste; basil; oregano; fennel if you use it; salt and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes; stir occasionally.

Meanwhile, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain.

For filling, combine egg, ricotta or cottage cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan or Romano cheese (I usually forget and dump all the Parmesan cheese, thus needing more later lol), and the parsley flakes.

Layer half the cooking noodles in a 12x7.5x2 inch baking dish. Spread with half of the filling. Top with half of the meat sauce and half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese atop.

Bake in a 375 oven for 30-35 minutes or till heated through.

Let stand 10 minutes. Serves 8

Make sure you get some french bread or sourdough bread to go with it, YUM!

Saturday Birthday Dinner

Saturday night we went to our favorite local Mexican food restaurant. We've been going there since they opened which is over 10 years because I remember walking there from work when I was pregnant with Melissa. Jessica's friend came with us.

They had taken a picture with Trevor but apparently deleted it, which I am not happy about, since now I have no pictures of Trevor when we went to dinner.

The restaurant appears to not be bothered by the recent economy. We had to wait about 20 minutes to get a table for 6. So that, is good news!

Jessica and her goofy friend brought me presents. A hand drawn card with us all as stick figures. In the picture I'm yelling NO! And they are chasing a boy. Yep. They are goof balls lol.

Jessica wrapped up one of her crowns for me to wear but said I had to give it back.

Megan gave me a Christmas present that someone had given her. What a bunch of nuts!

Goal for next year: no double chins!

The Perfect Man

OMG THIS is THE FUNNIEST thing I've seen in a LONG time lol.

Happy Birthday To Me & Gary Coleman

Well it's 11:02 as I type this. So in 58 more minutes I'll technically be

35

ouch.

How can I be 35?

Seems like yesterday that I graduated from High School,

got married and started popping out kids.

But

I feel a bit smarter (sometimes at least) than I did back then.

Things I would tell myself if I could go back in time:

Do NOT quit going to college so you can work more hours at a job that will lay me off in a few months.

Do NOT rent that stupid triplex with the psycho neighors (really, you should go back and check out rental properties in the DARK)

Do NOT get married at the age of 19. DUH think about it!!

If you insist on getting married go to freaking RENO and party it up!!

DO NOT allow your REAL Dad to walk you down the aisle when you get married when your STEP DAD is the one that paid for the whole thing. (God I still feel HORRIBLE about that)

I wouldn't necessarly say don't get pregnant right after you get married, because I wouldn't really change that at all. BUT be more informed about child birth and don't let them tell you what to do!

Kick the freaking ass of the nurse that kept pushing you to give Melissa a bottle in the hospital. That STILL pisses me off.

Be more outgoing.

Do more.

Get out more.

Don't settle. EVER!

I'm sure I'll think of a lot more things to tell myself in 10 more years from now.

That's all I can think of for now.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me.

And Gary Coleman, where ever you are little man,

I hope you are Happy because I'm pretty sure you are older than me.

Valentine's Bookmarks

I finally made it back to the land of the living to finish up the bookmarks I gave away. Just in time for Valentine's Day!

It's soo not funny, but it kind of is!

This is my $434.00 entertainment for the weekend.

He's thoroughly pissed off that he cannot go outside and that he has to wear the stupid bell on his head and keeps hitting things when he goes to walk.

I am just hoping he decides to use the litter box and not let's say my shoes or something. He usually does all his business outside. I tried taking him out on the dog leash but he SO did not think that was funny.

I'm guessing he's going to get back at us for laughing at him as soon as we doze off. He's going to start scratching on the glass door. I just know it.

A Winner!

Did you remember today is the day I am

drawing for the winner of this book??

Here is all your entries!

(I think I should have used a smaller bowl)

I had the male version of Vanna pull out an entry for me

And the winner is...
Congrats!!