big hugs

I just want to wrap my kids in a hug, and not let go...
How do I respond with anything but hugs when during family prayer, the boy thanks his Heavenly Father for not having to go with his Dad this weekend?

Princess came up with the stomach flu at 3am. She made it to the bathroom, yay! But not to the toilet, yuck! So we stayed home today.
I'm feeling kinda useless, cause she doesn't want to snuggle like she has. She is growing up, but that leaves me with nothing to do! She still isn't old enough to leave home alone to do any more running than her brother to school, I can't touch the Christmas tree until she feels better, and the house is clean.
Sigh.
This in-between stage kinda stinks all around!

plummin problems

So on Saturday I adjusted the shower head and a connection sprung a leak. Then, while doing the dishes this evening I noticed the faucet needed a new washer cause it was leaking some. After dinner, there was water on the floor. I investigated and found some sort of little leak coming from the vicinity of the garbage disposal. I decided a trip to the hardware store was in order as the kids would learn plumbing for their FHE.

We got plumber's tape, but the guy wouldn't give me a washer as he didn't know what size it would be and blah, blah, blah, take it off and come back in with it. I got home and couldn't get the stupid thing off. Looks like daddy will have to come to the rescue with that, as well as the whole garbage disposal thing... that wonderful thing is another of my crazy fears... a dark hole with spinning blades makes me shudder!

So down to one project, the shower. I get the part off that needs re-taped, put more tape on, get it attached. I then have to re-attach the shower head. It wouldn't go! I finally got it on and twisting, when my hulk-like strength sheared off the middle piece! I then groan and cheer cause I hated that stupid old shower head anyways, it wasn't the one I wanted, I received it as a gift from an idiot who I guess couldn't read a stupid circled advertisement anyways.

On with the evening... a trip to Wal-Mart to get a new shower head! After some debate, the kids and I chose one we can live with for a while! We got home and got it on without any problems, and the boy took a celebratory first shower!

Now to still try and get that washer out of the sink... hopefully I will remember to make a kid turn off the main water when I get it to budge!!!!!

long time no post

I know, I know, long time, huh? Busy Summer, hard work, lots of tired. But since I was so rudely kept from napping, I shall share!

I went to lie down on the couch, and smelled the unholiest of smells, that can only belong to the cat. I look over the couch & into the plant, & see that said cat has been using the plant as his personal poo place. DISGUSTING!!!!!

What's worse, is that the kids use the plant as their rock collection display site. And I have no gloves (snap) to put on to rescue the rocks. But I do have baggies. So I baggied my hand, stuck my nose waaaaaaaaaay down my shirt (my own stench being better than that), and began rescue operations. The boy helped me take the plant outside to the curb, as it was in a HUGE pot, where it will sit until trash day or an unsuspecting neighbor takes it!

The rock collection is now sitting in a bowl of bleach waiting for the dishwasher to finish, where they will be sent through with extra soap on the anti-bacterial cycle.

I'm still shuttering.

If it weren't for the change of seasons, my even larger fear of mice, & the girl's attachment, this cat would be looking for a new home!

glowing girl

So yesterday the girl began planning her baptism. She tried on my dress, as that's the one she's getting the actual baptizin' in. She had the biggest smile as soon as she put it on! We then had to plan the rest, get things figured out. Now all we have to do is get the date set!

hot & tired

So, my AC is now on an every year recharge. I wish I knew that before I was hopeful the other night and turned it on. My bad foot was throbbing (wonderful weather!) and it was hot and humid, so I turned it on. It ran for an hour, and the temp in my house didn't drop a single degree! When I opened the house back up, a storm was blowing by and it cooled off quickly! Oh, well, now I just wait for someone to have time to charge it!

I thought I was going to sleep for the night at 7:30 tonight. I was wrong. I woke up almost a half hour later and now I am wired. Yay!

Other updates, I hung a shower curtain and blinds last weekend. Maybe I'll finally recover the kitchen chairs this weekend, otherwise I will play with electricity!

thanks, Thanks, THANKS

So I went to celebrate a favorite friend's birthday, and when I came home, my yard was mowed! A wonderful night! I don't know who it was, but I sure am thankful!

I may have flashed the roofers

Yesterday I got my new roof. While taking a bath during the process, my doorbell kept ringing and someone was pounding on my door. I get out because I figure the roofers set my house on fire or something similar. I then can't find my bathrobe. After searching and searching, I finally find it in the girl's room. The doorbell is still going, so I don't even try to look for the tie. I answer, and the guy tells me I need to get my car out of the garage, because they need to put the dumpster in. So I go and get the car out, I can't see at all (I didn't have contacts in, and didn't even think to get my glasses), there is wet hair matted all over my head and in my face. I see that I am blocking traffic, with the dumpster truck and my neighbors. I park the car on the street, and try to get out. The wind is blowing, and I am trying to keep my modesty, and shut the door, and scamper back in the house unnoticed. That didn't happen. I was keeping my head down, but glanced up once to see all the roofers on edge of the roof looking at the mess I was, and neighbors driving by gawking. All I can say is at least the kids were in school, and the roof was done by 1pm!

allergies

So I'm having allergy issues... I can't breathe!!! In the mornings I sound like a Disney villian. I am hacking like a carton-a-day smoker as well. And the cottonwood fuzz hasn't even begun to blow through the air.

Oh, baseball league that I don't want my son involved with. I emailed you with that information, and you didn't even seem to find a concern with it. If my son sets foot on your fields for a "practice" again, especially without proper protection, you will find yourselves defending your stupidity!

conversations with the girl

when you read the title, say it in your head like "deep thoughts, by jack handy"

me: (checking out my planet status) "why don't any of the guys I send messages to write me back?"

girl: "probably because they think you are too hot for them!"


I LOVE THIS GIRL!!!! SHE IS WONDERFUL!!!

serious weather damage

Last night we had a major hail storm... 2 inches on the ground when it was over! It clogged the gutters, and kinda messed up my house. The metal exhaust vents on the roof are dented, as are the gutters and AC. My deck lights are toast, just like my topsy-turvy, and my screens all have holes in them. So, I may be getting a new roof! We will see next Thursday... And my laziness paid off! I hadn't put out the deck chairs or grills yet, so they are undamaged! My neighbors lost shingles, their shutters are shot, as are those with vinyl siding. It was hail like I'd never seen! I saw a few tennis/baseballs in the consistent golf balls! Amazing! Unfortunately there is no zing to your fillings like I thought when you eat the hail, but it's worth it to try!

One day with temps over 80, 2 days near, a damaging storm.... I am DONE cooking! Summer meal schedule is here! Sandwiches or cereal, you decide! Darn, I was just reminded about the chore chart dinner... I guess I will be cooking at least one meal a week.

worst/best april fool

So the girl gets in the car from school and says, "the nurse checked our heads and said I have lice." I try and catch my breath, say, "REALLY?" and start searching through her bag for the note. Then she starts laughing, says April fool, and tells how her teacher said it was the best one ever, and how she was right. Her teacher was right! I was ready to call my mom and tell her I was going to be at the hoohaa hotel and she was going to have to come take care of it. A mother's worst fear. Man the girl's teacher is good...

interview results

So after one round of interview, and a shadow, I didn't get the job... they went with someone with "more experience". EEEsssshhh. What is SO frustrating is that before this career venture, the only job I didn't get that I applied for was a office person at a furniture warehouse (I made the change too well on the application). Errrrrrrrrrr... it makes me want to kick or throw something (wonder where the girl gets her anger issues), guess who will be cleaning her garage if she has time?? It is probably for a reason, like my kids don't need to be at kids club with the kinda creeper, or I need to choose another career path..... hmmmmmmm...

planet update

So yesterday I got the message from a guy "You look a little like Loni Anderson, have you ever seen Stroker Ace?" I burst out laughing. Cause really? I'm sure I've been waiting for that comparison/compliment all my life. (Sorry, I just had to pick myself up off the floor laughing again)

I'm also thinking that if Loni is where you are at in reference, you are most likely way too old for me.

new job? maybe...

I have a 2nd go round at a dentist's office today! Yay! We'll see if they like me enough to talk salary, start date, and all that stuff.

On another note, what is too much viewing of these old creepy dudes on the planet site? I think I have been on a little over a month, and I'm starting to think I may block those creepers that have viewed me 2 or more times a week. Hmmmmmmmm...

Lastly, the boy had another axe-ident last night. The axe went to the trash. We then went to the girl's soccer practice and I smelled his "handsomeness" the whole time in the wide open air! Gag.

axe-i-dent

So the boy just used his hand me down axe like febreeze in his room! Why? He has no clue why, he is just a boy.

Just Like a Deadbeat Dad

So this week I was to get my income tax return. It was promised to get to me by March 17th. I have been anxiously waiting, having set some aside for food storage (a fabulous site shelfreliance.com), some for an antenna for my roof, and some to get the rest of the stuff to finish my basement bathroom (thanks Ciara!). The kids were excited to have the time to do this today, cause Soccer games were cancelled (even before this snow).

Yeah, well Brock O'Bama is pretty much a deadbeat dad in my book! Why even promise a date to have my refund to me, only to ignore that date, and now no promise of anything. Maybe he has "better" things he needs to spend my money on, again, just like a deadbeat.

I checked the "where's my refund" site again, and, just like the deadbeat he is, Brock is saying he'll get my money to me by March 30th. What's the likelyhood that deadline is going to be met?

The Good St. Patricks Day!

By: the girl
Illastrated by: the girl

Once apona time I had the greatest St. Patricks Day we hurd the lepercon run down the stairs we ran down too so we could find him finaly but we did not but we did find gold all over the place. We got candy too so if you have a lephercon treat it nice so it does the same to you. The End

To you lephercon
P.S. your awesome sign here________________

I have left the spelling/grammer as is. The leprechaun did sign! As you know, his name is Seamus. He also drew a 4leaf clover and wrote thanks!

our leprechaun has a name!

His name is Seamus. And he brought the kids lots of cool stuff!

daylight savings!!!

So I changed all the clocks forward an hour (except for the car, but that's another story... stupid atomic clock), AND checked the smoke detectors, all at once! How did I manage that? I loaded the dishwasher, set it for 2 hours, waited a while, and ran a bath. The water was steamy hot! And I sat in the bath until it got cold, and topped it off with even HOTTER water (thanks dishwasher!). I guess I had too much steam, cause when I got out, the alarms started going off. I turned on the fan, closed the doors and plugged my ears. They work, I can say I followed the news' recommendations. Have you?

pickin up fellas

So, I went to Lowe's this afternoon to try and find some tiles on clearance. As you probably know, I am paranoid of tornado season and would like a finished bathroom in my basement. I have some tile that I found on clearance before, but it's not enough, so I am still looking.

Anyhoo, I noticed a fratty type guy that kept following me at a distance. Hmmmm, I figured he would talk to me, but NNNNOOOO, he was a scardy chicken fraidy cat. Oh well, he was shorter than I am hoping for, but still, a hey would have been nice or he shoulda not been so stalky.

poll

So I am working my way into maybe taking up a person's offer of a date from the "planet". However, if I do, I will surely want to post the experience! So do I go private so as not to offend? Hmmmmmmm.... such decisions!

realization... right?

So as I came up from blow drying my hair upside-down, I had a thought. Maybe I should think that the guys I deemed creeps for not having a picture are really more "phantom" like. Hmmmm... this is what fasting & blood rush to the head causes me to think! I just don't think I can be gullible enough to romanticize it!

vents

I totally enjoy getting calls from collection agencies for my former inlaws. Ranks right up there with the collection calls for my ex. So fabulous!

With the singles site, put a picture! And try not to be/look older than my dad. Both seem reeeeeal creepy and suspect.

The snow needs to totally melt already! It's going, but not fast enough!

For a good vent, I saved over $35 at walmart today! However, when I'm checking out makeup is NOT the time to be checking me out, you weirdo!

conversations with the girl

This conversation goes like so:
girl, "I want that thing that that guy had at Church on Sunday."
me, "huh?" (we had ward conference, so I really have no idea who)
girl (holding her nose for some reason), "That thing that guy had."
me, "in sacrement?"
girl, "no, that thing that guy had in primary."
me (she saw the same presentation I did, so I began guessing), "a map?"
girl, "no"
me (cringing as I ask), "a fannypack?"
girl, "no"
me (sighing happily), "a small roll of toilet paper?"
girl, "no"
me, "some carmex? it's in the drawer. didn't you know we had some?"
girl, "no, the other thing, the thing wrapped in a towel."
me, "a liahona?"
girl (with a finally, you idiot sound to her voice), "yes! i asked him where he got it, and he said it was a secret, but i need one."
me (rolling my eyes), "i'll put your meemaw on it."

new member

So last night, with a little help from some friends and my sister, I joined LDSplanet. So far, no boyfriend. With my assistants looking over my shoulder, we flipped through pix. It was a fun family-home-evening type of thing, with them making comments on people's pix as well. Especially the guy who had a picture of "some old guy from TV" as his picture (Mike Ditka). I am having fun making up rules on the fly. One being, no picture, not gonna get any response from me! Kinda goes with my people puppet/clown phobia. Feel free to check me out! fabublonde is my handle (doesn't that make me sound like a mother trucker?)!

Facebook is next! Who wants to help me with that? I also think I may need a photo shoot before I join that hot mess.

The boy is eating the smelliest cereal ever! That would be waffle crisp. I can smell it in the living room corner, and he is in the opposite corner of the kitchen with it. It has the weirdest fake syrup smell. And it doesn't go away! Eau de WC sticks on a kid until the box has been finished and has left the house. Gross! Now he is breathing it on me!

woo hoo!!! guess what???

I WON THE CHORE CHART!!! So, I chose smoked meat (was looking for not a whole slab of ribs, but decided on chicken instead), Mr. Dells hash brown casserole, fried mushrooms, and whatever for dessert. I am the champion!!!

addtitions to previous items

So apparently my bed can sleep 3, if one of us is a cat! Mackie has taken to sleeping on the other side of the girl, probably cause she sleeps all up on me, in my back.

More competitions have been added to the house Olympics. However, as the commissioner, I have closed Mt. Stairs, as the turn at the end is too hard to make, and the wall is right there. Too dangerous, and I would rather not explain it to the ER. I will include the Mt. Stairs events on our list though:

1. Hallway Hockey. How we have more than 1 stick is a wonder! At least the puck is Nerf!
2. Dinner table short track. How many laps can you run at top speed?
3. Kitchen floor figure skating. Complete with a few ice cubes on the floor to melt as you are jumping & spinning!
4. Living room curling. Shake a mop or broom as you blow out your mouth monkey like to show your strength/speed!
5. Downhill Downstairs. The only event on Mt. Stairs that is safe, as you run down at top speed.
6. Pizza box luge/skeleton. Good thing we haven't had pizza lately!
7. Laundry basket bobsled. The helmets chosen were their construction hats!
8. The plan for today is to create a Super G track around the outside of our house. What else are we going to do with the snow?

It is STILL snowing!! Will this winter ever end???

last night's conversation

Me to girl, "You need to start sleeping in your own bed. At some point I will get married again, and then where will you sleep?"

Girl, "Right here in the middle, cause he will be my daddy, not some boyfriend of yours. You can't have boyfriends sleeping in your bed."

I was floored. How smart is she? I LOVE THIS GIRL!

olympics

Are anyone else's kids playing olympics through the house? The downhill/downstairs has been a favorite of ours so far!

My vacuum has not been working well for some time. Today, the hose part of the vacuum wouldn't even suck up popcorn. I got frustrated, made one kid unplug the thing, the other get my tool kit and big screwdrivers. I unscrewed the back and stuck my finger in the tube. I pulled out an old crayon blocking the way covered with dust and hair. I then put the screwdriver in it and got out more dusty hair. I then stuck the screwdriver in the hose end, and got a few crumpled up papers, followed by fur balls. GROSS. But then my vacuum was working well, picking up popcorn and pennies! My floor is cleaner than it has been in months!

failed theory

So the boy's theory failed Sunday night. He thought maybe it was because his underwear was on normal, so that went on inside out, backwards, and on top of his pj bottoms (I insisted on a clean pair for this) last night. School did not get cancelled. So that theory has been busted.

another (hesitant) success claim

So far this school year, the boy has been successful with his inside out/backwards pj's the night of a large snowfall and cancelled school the following morning. Will this streak continue???

don't want to claim success yet...

But the chore chart is working! Or at least it has been for 3 weeks now. The girl won the first week, signing off on the most chores, and chose a dinner of tater tot casserole, and homemade cheesecake (that finally got completed on Friday due to meemaa's computer crash). The boy won the 2nd week, with the girl doing chores as I totaled to get her choice of broccoli with cheese added to his meal of shrimp and curly fries.
This week brought some disappointment to the kids when they came home from their dad's to find I had done a round of chores (sometimes the house needs a deeper cleaning than the kids can provide) and was winning. The boy told me he didn't think it was working, I told him to finish out this week, he did, and is back into it. The girl barely won this weeks, and the boy is happy with her choice of cheeseburgers grilled outside (will be fun dragging a grill out of the garage and doing this in the snow!), fresh broccoli with cheese, and tater crowns (NOT tots).
I'm thinking this is going to be a success as it gets the kids more responsible for the house, they know what is expected of the chores, and it gets up eating more together!

Check back in another month to see if it keeps working!

It's a good thing that I have always been on the almost dead side with my blood pressure. If not, the high end of normal I run with idiot issues would have given me a heart attack by now...

Why oh why do my poor kids have to deal with such idiots? At least it is only once a month. I can't imagine dealing with this mess on a every-other-week & Wednesday night basis.

happy thought

It is getting close to time for tulips and daffodils!!! Makes me smile!

why did the snow stay?

We chose a new background for the blog! Why is the snow still there you ask? Cause we decided to leave it until the snow quits falling and melts off our driveway! (this could take several months, as only half is poorly shoveled, and the other side is over a foot tall!) Our protest begins!

question

Would leggings, boots, and a belt make my leopard-print snuggy wearable in public?