Saturday, December 31, 2011

935 Showing of Breaking Dawn

I haven't been to a movie at any time in a very long time.  But the last time I went to a 9:30 showing I was dating someone. And it wasn't even D.

But my mom really wanted to go see Breaking Dawn and hey, who am I to stop her?  tee hee

It was a great show.  And L got to come along (we also went to the last one together--during the day).  It was so fun.  Our theater is really comfy too.  The chairs lean a little back with really nice cushy seat and head rests and there's plenty of legroom.  Plus the way it's set up you never get stuck not being able to see over someone's head.  Definitely not like the theater I grew up using.  Anyway--it was a fun time!

The movie was good too.  Except now I have to wait for part two to come out.  Boo.

Tonight is New Year's Eve.  D and I have no party plans.  I'm hoping the kids go to bed at a decent hour so Little d gets back to her school routine.  She has to start back Tuesday.  Not looking forward to that!

Hmm.  I guess I could have some resolutions this year....get in shape?  Sure.  Hopefully lose that last 15 pounds that drives me nuts!  Hmmm.  Relax more and enjoy life.  Uh.  Have more patience!!  NOW!  ha.

I definitely have a to-do list.  (But I'm not sure it qualifies as a resolution.)  It goes a little something like this:


  • get scrap room organized 
  • decorate the house (this is dependent upon us selling the old house and getting some moolah to buy new furniture.)
  • get the tile work done in kitchen and bathroom
  • get vent hood installed in kitchen
  • get pot filler faucet installed in sink
  • turn Little md's room into Little md's room
  • do some landscaping
  • plant a successful garden
  • do some meal planning, freezer dinners
  • build a couple of bunk beds
  • re-wax the floors
  • get bookshelves finished in hallway and living room
  • get glass front installed in kitchen cabinets
  • do all the touch up paint
  • paint the front door
  • new wardrobe  (this is dependent on me getting back to at least 115)
  • be a successful CTMH consultant...
I'm sure there's more.  I'm going to revisit this whole list in the future--at least that's the plan.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Eeesh.

I can't believe how much I am wanting to get back into CTMH.  I mean I was seriously pissed at the company when I left.  I guess I got off on the wrong foot by thinking that I would get a 50% commission since that's what a friend told me that's what Mary Kay's commission was.  I was thinking 'wow, stamps are almost $25 a set...that's about $12 a sale.'  Um, wrong.  The commission was 22%.  Tax was 8.75 in the city, shipping here was 6+%.  That's a commission of about 7%.  Not alot of incentive to push the products.

Ah but anyway.  There were other things too.  But the truth is...the clear stamps were awesome.  Light years ahead of rubber stamps.  A recent foray to a Stampin' Up workshop reiterated that to me.

So here I am, planning, researching, and 'pinning' ideas for workshops.  And here's something.  In my researching, I looked back through my past posts labeled CTMH.  I had some kinda neat workshops.  I wish I could have had more customers who wanted to buy the products.

I am thinking I will do things differently this time around.  I am going to do smaller workshops--meaning less projects per session.  I am also going to try to be more of a seller.  My partner in crime (my school mom BFF) is a graphic designer and she is fully on board.  I have appointed her my marketing director!  Also I want to be able to do workshops here at the house.  This will make it easier on my schedule.

I am getting excited about it.  I have quite a long list of things that need to be done first.  I have to organize several areas of the house.  My first project is the girls' room--just because it is a hot mess in there.  Next up the office/scrapbook room.  Okay truth be told that is even a hotter mess, but I can't focus on that stuff until I have the girls set up.

I almost forgot the other thing.  I am thinking about opening or starting up my other blog.  I have another blog that I started LONG ago, but never posted in.  I had originally thought it would be a place to sell handmade products by the women in my family, but etsy kinda took off and really that's the only place people would go to by handmade stuff so I decided to just hold off on that idea.  I also thought of doing some fictional writing there, but I didn't do that either.  ANYWAY.  My point is if I use this other blog exclusively for CTMH I can link it to FB or Pinterest without worrying about all the personal stuff that is in THIS blog.  

Alright now I'm just babbling.  Off to search the internet.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas-licious

We have been having a lovely Christmas break so far.  Saturday Santa visited our house and the girls received My Twinn dolls and various other goodies.  Little md got a Toy Story couch and tool set.  My parents gave the kiddos (a ridiculous amount of) toys included little remote cars and makeup.  My mom has this crazy notion that she needs to spend the same amount on each grandkid even though I tell her they will never know how much is spent--silly Mimi.

Sunday I took the girls to POC for Christmas with the big Hawes clan.  It was a nice day and my uncle bought a bouncy house for the kids to play in.  They loved it!!  D and Little md stayed home because md's cough.  Although he was doing much better by the time we left.  Note to self:  re-gifting for Chinese Christmas must be acceptable??

Monday we had Christmas here with H and L and Little Miss Perfect.  I think I am going to rename my niece Little a.  Because sometime close to Valentine's Day we will have another Little Miss Perfect, and I can't be using two of the same monikers here.  And the new Little Miss Perfect will be Little e.  Have I mentioned how extremely excited I am to have TWO little nieces.  (Okay I know technically I already have two nieces, but since they are D's brothers kids, it just is different.  These two belong to my brother.)

This year with this group we drew names and picked a theme.  The theme was LIVE.  Thank goodness there were no small pets given!  The gift had to somehow tie into the LIVE theme.  For example both L and I gave each other books because paper came from a tree and that's alive--and because we are both cool like that.  H and my dad got power tools because they come to life when you plug them in...you see where I'm going with this??

Today we are chillaxing.  Well, some of us.  D is at work.  My dad and H are working outside on water well stuff.  I am planning on cleaning (myself and the dishes and laundry) when the water comes back on.

I am hoping to start on reorganizing the house soon.  I need to makeover the girls rooms.  Hopefully getting a new bunk bed type system.  And since I am really contemplating started CTMH again, I need to to figure our the scrap room.

Ok off to search the internet for bunkbeds...

Thursday, December 22, 2011

More Glitter Nails and An Apron

Seriously lacking in creativity in the title of this post.  On the upside you know exactly what you're getting.

Yes I am still obsessed with the glitter nails.  I did pale blue today with the tips sprinkled in chunky silver glitter and then a dash of fine silver glitter.  It looks very pretty in person.


As a followup gift for my mother in law I made a handprint apron of the kid's hands.  It turned out adorable.  Well their prints are adorable, my fabric paint writing is not as cute.


Okay I'm done for now.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Ballet Cuties

I decided to upload a few pictures of my adorable ballerinas.

Little d is getting so big.  She's just now getting her two front teeth back in and she's in the process of trying to grow out her bangs.  We'll see how that goes...  Here she is minutes before their little recital.


Little m did wonderfully.  This is the first time she's been in front of strangers to perform.  I was so proud of her. She acted like she's been on stage all her life.  Reminded me of Little d's first Christmas school program.  This is a picture of her right before her performance.


I made their red, green, and white tulle tutus after seeing this tutorial on Pinterest. I mostly followed the instructions.  Not to tough.  They looked absolutely adorable.

On a side note, after my doctor appointment today I ended up with a steroid shot and antibiotics.  Fluid behind the ears and possible bacterial infection causing the prolonged laryngitis.  Yea me.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Christmas And Coughing


It's that time of year again. I am actually not to stressed right now. I've already completed the inlaw Christmas. Which is infinitely easier with Little d being able to take Dramamine. Plus we don't HAVE to spend the night over there since we can actually travel during the day. And since it always falls on a school weekend, that makes me super happy.

I have gifts bought and I just need to take a few minutes to sort organize and wrap them. This weekend I caught up on laundry and am catching up on dishes.

The down side of this last week is that I have some type of cough/laryngitis thing going on. I pushed through last week and now I think it's catching up to me. I literally collapsed on the couch this afternoon attempting to shake off extreme fatigue. Here's how last week went...

Monday I attempted to fun all my errands and get all the supplies I would need for the week/parties. I think I was mostly successful.

Tuesday Little d had her little Christmas dance recital that was so adorable. I actually recorded it and posted it on YouTube, but I don't think I'll link to it here, just on FB. BTW it took about 8 hours to load the two minute video.

Oh I forgot most of my spare time Mon-Wed was taken up making deer/hog sausage with my dad. It turned out great, but the processing was W O R K. The grinder had issues! But now we have meat for a while. I digress...

Wednesday, Little m had her dance recital and was also so adorable. It too will be uploaded, maybe by tomorrow morning...

Thursday, pretty much all day I spent making these:

{for some reason blogger is only showing html so I don't know how to move that photo at the top to this spot right here. awesome sauce}


Which were adorable and time consuming. Plus my mom helped by pretty much getting the party craft project (a paper plate wreath) cut out and bagged for 36 students. Yes did I mention that the other first grade class didn't really have room moms, so my partner in crime and I did both classes' party.

Friday, we had the school party at one and then came home and got ready for the Girl Scout Caroling and Christmas party. Both were fun for the kiddos. And a relief I think for the adults that everything seemed to go off without too much of a hitch. (Excluding the drama that one mom caused over the three dollar cost.)

Saturday I cleaned all day long. I did four....that's FOUR....loads of dishes and who knows how much laundry. Being that busy all week means that chores fell WAAAY behind.

Meanwhile I have this cough going on. I am not running fever, but it is annoying. And pretty much lost my voice on wednesday and it's not returned. Little m was up most of the night with her own cold, and Little md spent a good deal of the night restless. That means guess who was dead ass tired today. I did manage to get two loads of dishes done, and another load of laundry. (Are you keeping count that that is 6 dishwasher loads of dirty dishes in 2 days. And guess who is still not finished??)

Oh my Little d is whining about me typing and not rubbing her back to sleep...off here!!!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Guess what I forgot to post about last time?

My tenth anniversary. It was December 1st. I was literally sidetracked when something shiny caught my eye. (remember the glitter nails hehehe)

ANYway. Guess what I am contemplating? Re-joining CTMH. Ugh, I know. Eating words right this freaking minute. It's just I think I could do the workshops here at the house. And I clearly don't already have enough going on.

We put the tree up tonight. We are using colored lights this year (our white lights finally bought it, and we had 10 brand new boxes of colored lights on hand). I also bought some really cheap glittered plastic ornaments. Read: unbreakable. It is not the prettiest tree I've ever put up that's for darn sure. :) Next year maybe we'll get a new one.

I think I've done most of my Christmas shopping. I said most.

Wait did I just gloss over my anniversary again?? I guess it's because we celebrated with the Dallas trip so it doesn't feel like it just happened yesterday. Ten years, though. That's a milestone. Can you believe that I made it all this time married to this man and didn't know until just today that he loves candy corn? I guess he's trying to keep it fresh...hehehe!

Ok...I am too tired to post more, so I'm just gonna close for now--

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Glitterrific


I am currently hooked on Pinterest. Please someone schedule an intervention. NOT.

If you are familiar with this website you know that glitter is featured prominently. I realize now that I am a fan of glitter. Glitter letters on burlap Christmas stockings. Glitter on shoes. Glitter on glitter. Aaaand glitter on fingernails. Here's what I'm wearing now...baby pink.



A couple of weeks ago I saw a pin of a set of nails painted with Mercurial nail polish by Lynnderella. Let me see if I can find a link to the nail picture...ok click HERE to see the phenom nails. So I made a decision to try to get some nail polish. No. Don't even try. She's closed shop until next year.

Next stop. DIM (do it myself...duh) I tried it on my toes first. I did one at a time. First I painted with gray polish. Then I immediately sprinkled it with silver glitter. Then I gently pressed the glitter at the tip so it wouldn't hang over the edge and I gently pressed the top of the nail to make sure the glitter was stuck into the polish well. After I did all the nails like this, I painted over them with a thick coat of clear.

I absolutely loved it. The online polish cost $12 a pop (and the minimum order is five bottles). I used my OPI polish (but any brand would work). And the silver glitter was cheap craft glitter (89 cents--according to the label). I was so thrilled (and psyched to be wearing it to the Dallas game) that I couldn't wait to try even more colors.

Here's what I found out. The polish is not indestructible. By any means. It chipped away fairly easily, but it was also easy to fix. In the hotel room I simple painted the chipped tips with gray again and hit them with the glitter again. You couldn't even tell there was a touch-up. Also I really would like to find a super thick top coat. I am going to try to stop sometime at my local Sally's Beauty Supply and see what they have.

I thought that maybe a fine glitter might work better. Against chipping and also so that the nails don't feel so rough. Today I dive-bombed Hobby Lobby. I got Christmas presents, craft supplies for school party and ..... wait for it.... GLITTER!! The pink you see in the picture is a fine pink iridescent craft glitter over a baby pink Revlon polish. The picture really does not do it justice.

I can't wait to try mixing glitter for a custom Christmas mix.....stay tuned!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Gotta go back to school again!!!!

Any fans of Grease out there? That's where I stole the title. I hate most of all the day back to school after a vacation. I miss Little d. I hate getting up early. I don't like anything about it.

Today I should be doing dishes. And grocery shopping. And cyber shopping. I am not doing any of the above. I did make some phone calls this morning. And I worked a CCD thing.

Calls: Paid a far overdue medical bill of $22. I swear we didn't receive the other notices. Also checked on the major Christmas present order (they sent an email that something was wrong, but the order has already been processed so the email was in error). That's 20 minutes I'll never get back.

CCD thing: I am subbing for a class of 4th through 7th graders while the real teacher is out mourning the loss of her husband. For starters I don't know why you would put 4th-7th together in a class. Second they are heathens. In every since of the word. I actually kicked a boy out last class because he would not stop hitting and talking to another boy. Hitting. Girls hitting boys. Boys hitting girls. Boys hitting boys. Boys playing DS. Seriously disgusting behavior. So I wrote up a contract for them to sign this morning. They will sign it or they won't stay in class. If they break the pledge they have to get a parent to sign a note or come sit with them in class whichever I deem appropriate. Uhg. Just disgusting.

Okay I'm going to do a load of dishes. Just disgusting also.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

THE Game!

Well I can say that going to the Dallas game on Thanksgiving was one of the most exciting times ever!! I had an absolute blast!

We left around 1245p on Wednesday and after hitting traffic, didn't arrive at the hotel until almost 7p. That is a loooong time in the car. Fortunately D and I were cracking each other up and having fun the entire time. We superquickly got ready and headed out to eat--we were starving. We drove about two seconds down the road to Saltgrass. If you have never eaten there...oh my goodness. D talked me into ordering a filet mignon. It was too die for. Absolutely the best steak I have ever eaten. And they served it with these super thin onion rings. Ugh. We were so stuffed!!

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel (waffles were great) and then hung around for a while and got ready for the game. We left the hotel at 115p and got to the stadium around 130p. Our parking pass put us about fifty feet from the front door. (I don't know how close, but we were really close.) After a brief pat down, and search, we were in....the...most...awesome.... stadium....ever.









We had amazing seats behind the goal post.


There were scantily clad cheerleaders.



There was fire.




There was a W in the Cowboys column!!



Seriously. Best Time Ever!



Monday, November 21, 2011

A little about the littles (part one)

I haven't talked too much about the daily stuff going on with the kiddos. I think I'll try to take some time to talk about each one in detail. Let's start with little d:

She's in first grade and reading above grade level. Her favorite subject is math. But she loves music also.

She is shy around adults and strangers. Her word for it is nervous. One time she said 'mom, you know how I get nervous around them and talk soft.' I thought that was so cute how she recognized that she talked soft.

She is so beautiful. Except for her snaggle tooth. LOL. I know I am not the only parent that has dealt with that situation. She refuses to pull a tooth and it's just HANGING THERE! You can see the top of the tooth actually hanging off...and it's been that way all week! Seriously. I told her it needs to come out before she goes back to school for sure! Yeah-cause I'm totally in control of that.

She loves to do art projects. Right now she is cutting up magazines for a collage on a poster board. She came to me to ask for the supplies--so it's completely her idea to do it. She still has a great imagination.

She's also a deep thinker. Her questions sometimes give me pause. So far I've not been too stumped, but she hasn't ask about the birds and bees yet. Yikes. That would be a hum dinger.

I enjoy the time we get to spend alone together in the car home from school or to and from CCD. It's these times that she asks me questions and tells me stories. Then and bathtime. Or bedtime. Actually now that I think about it, bedtime is her favorite time to bend my ear. And I usually let her for a while because she can be stingy with her information at other times of the day. I have stopped trying to get anything out of her on the ride home from school about what actually happened at school that day because unless she's in a good mood, she just gets irritated with the peppering of questions.

Fortunately we have similar tastes in music. Katy Perry for instance. I don't let her listen to a few of the songs obviously, but we jam to others. Lemonade Mouth, Selena Gomaz, and a few other Disney productions are in our rotation.

She once got in trouble for talking at school and has been the perfect angel ever since. I had her parent teacher conference the other day and her teacher remarked about how quiet and reserved she is. Then she told a story about how when they were playing a spelling game on the carpet, Little d finished her turn and then did a little dance and was singing 'I did it' or something of that nature. The teacher thought that was just the cutest thing. She got really great remarks and grades--no worries there.

I should close for now to attend to the littlest of the littles who needs a cuddle with mommy--he's leaning over the gate making hugging motions to me....

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Scrapbooking, Lasik Update and Dallas game

A former workshop attendee invited me to a SU! (that's Stampin Up! for those not in the know). And guess what? I'm going. I am too excited!! Here's how bad it is--I don't even think I have any scrapbooking adhesive on hand. How pathetic is that?!?

It's a card WS and for $20 I can attend. Cool. Here's to hoping I can find the time to post pictures.

What's even better? I'm going with my BFF. We never get to hang out--in fact we hardly get to talk during the school year. She works as a special education aid. And she's super busy during the school year as well.

______________

After my checkup on Friday, my vision is 20/30 and 20/20. Which means I am legal to drive, but I still am not seeing as clearly as I was before the surgery (with glasses of course). I am way better than pre-surgery without glasses. It's due to my eyes being dry (from some of the drops and from the surgery too I guess). It should improve over the next few weeks. At least I certainly hope so. Because not seeing peoples faces across the room is waaaaay annoying.

______________

D is taking me to a real live Dallas Cowboy game on Thanksgiving. I am beyond excited. It's to celebrate our ten year anniversary that's coming up December first. Little d is out of school for the week (I heart this school calendar) so I feel like it's okay if I'm away for a couple of days. We have never taken a vacation since the kiddos were born.

A quick funny. One of the school moms I'm friends with said in all seriousness (when she heard we were going without the kids) "What are y'all gonna do for two days? I guess you could shop..."

I thought to myself, 'Yeah. Two days in a private hotel room? Shop, yeah that's it. First grown up vacation since the kids were born? Shop, um hmm seems like the perfect choice. Celebrating ten years together? Yeah....shop, I mean since we'll have no interruptions or no listening for little feet steps?'

Out loud I said "Yeah I don't know." I didn't have the heart to tell her that shopping is not even my second choice...

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Shall I actually start posting again?

So. I am really missing the old blogging me. I went back the other day and read a couple of old posts. I was so fun then. Or at least it seemed like I was. I threw in a few jokes, there were pictures to add to the stories, there was scrapbooking. Oh yes there was scrapbooking. (PS Blogger? If your listening...scrapbooking is a real word so stop underlining it in red squiggle.) Huh. "squiggle" passed the spell check.

The problem with all that is that it takes serious amounts of time. Editing photos. Re-working paragraphs. Finishing a complete thought.

The upside is that everything important gets captured.

I hate that I am missing so much. I mean if I wrote every day or every other day even I would be cataloging all the cute stories and milestones of the kiddos. All the crazy humorous crap that happens to us as a family.

But if you look at this blog over the last year, it's like we didn't move to a new house, it's like we fell off the planet. We didn't...by the way. We just got busy. Or rather I got busy.

So I am going to try to step it up. I am challenging myself to write more often. The posts may not be riveting or even worth reading to anyone else. And judging by the feedjit traffic it doesn't really matter, because no one is reading :)

To finish off this post I am going to attempt to give a brief timeline of my week.

Monday: Up at 530 get ready get little d ready get to school by 715 back home take care of kiddos hopefully get to go get groceries leave at 215 to pick up little d back home by 3 stop kids from fighting until bath time at 630 dinner and bed routine until 9 hopefully i get the other two asleep by 1030 so i can crash before 11.

Tuesday: same overall schedule except afterschool take little d to dance from 4 to 530

Wednesday: little m to dance from 4 to 5 then leave to take little d to CCD (where i also help with a class) at 6 and get home around 8

Thursday: try to get cleaning done and laundry and make sure little d has studied for spelling test

Friday: thank the Lord above that the week is over (except for girl scouts, birthday parties, inlaws requirements, church, and any other thing that comes along)

Of course I didn't list the stuff I do to assist with CCD, Girl Scouts, Room Mom, Cookbook Committee...

D was my own personal chauffeur this week as my vision was fuzzy. Around Wednesday (on the way to CCD) he said he couldn't get much done. I said what do you mean. He said I've been driving you all week. I said...now you have a taste of what I do all week...

:)

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Lasik for dummies

Okay I don't know why I titled this what I did. Poor google-ers out there.

I finally had Lasik done. On 11-11-11. Little d was off from school and it just worked out perfectly. I have to admit that it is a little freaky to know that a laser is searing flaps of your cornea off and then reshaping your eyes, but I made it through. It helps that my brother, husband and sister in law have all had it done. And my sister in law is the pre-op nurse.

And yes I can now see without my glasses. :)

Now I don't have superhuman eyesight, but I think things can still get better over the next weeks and months. The eyes seem to be healing wonderfully and I am dutifully following my post op orders. Friday I go back for a followup where they will check my vision.

Today I bought my first pair of sunglasses in at least 10 years. That was kinda a big deal for me. D was with me so that made it even more fun. Oh and they are total Dolce and Gabbana knockoffs. I mean I think they are...at $15. But they have fun rhinestones on the sides!

My new obsession by the way....Pinterest. Holy cow. I am on it all day. And because of it (or in some cases in addition to it) I am obsessed with cowboy boots, glitter nail polish, and food that is made cutesy.

I hear screaming. Must go attend to the littles.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Just gonna random type....

Just about two seconds from putting little d down for the night. So this is one of those i can't believe it's been almost two months since i posted no time for capitals posts...


All three kiddos did wonderful at the docs office today--d and md got checkups and all three got flu shots.

School year is rocking along. Both girls are in dance. Little d in ballet tap and jazz, m in ballet and tap. I promise you have not seen anything cuter. And one day I will post pictures--honest.

Went to the local chapter of the pink heals tour (pink fire trucks).

Fall festival was fun--or at least active. Girls both got their face painted by a professional--again pictures someday. I cringe at the thought of how close we probably came to contracting pink eye from the community makeup...

I am not only room mom, heritage cookbook commitee member and girl scout troup assistant leader, but also part time CCD teacher.

Which if you are keeping track means Thursday evening is my only real night off. AAAAAANNNNDDD that's stretching it.

"little d get your teeth brushed!!" for the 25th time.

This weekend I am:
Friday: field trip chaperone
Saturday: trip to inlaws
Sunday: cleaning entire house and making caramel apples...

Gosh. I need a break. I know--I'll go the Dallas Cowboy game on Thanksgiving.

No seriously--I'm going to the Dallas Cowboy game on Thanksgiving. Fur Reals. Tickets bought and hotel booked.

Sigh. Off to the whirlwind again....

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Busier than ever...

I have come to the rationalization that life will not slow down. There were some brief moments of slow during the summer, but now that school's back in session the hurry begins in earnest.

This lazy labor day weekend, we are fighting off the first set of sniffles for the new school year. All on the mend thankfully. Today is a birthday party for a school friend. Tomorrow cleaning for the week of Little d's birthday party.

And speaking of busy, Little md just made a present for me. The smelly kind. Hehehe.

Maybe I'll be back later with another post.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Demons

I guess we are all chased by some demons. Whether we let others know about it or not. Over the summer I faced a couple.

Since Little d was about nine months old she's been getting carsick. I've posted about it before, so I won't belabor the details. But it changed my life. Instead of David and I travelling to long distance birthday parties or weddings or whatevers, we stayed close to home. Or one of us would go and leave Little d at home. I made enemies with my ex-sister in law and my mother in law over it. Which to be perfectly honest, probably would have happened anyway.

I've spent hours and hours stressing over how to get her to and from things. Over calculating minutes in the car and sleeping times and dozens of other things that no one else ever gives a thought to. I know carsickness is not the end of the world, but somehow it became my arch nemises, my own personal demon. And I spent countless hours making sure it didn't happen--not on my watch! D seemed much more nonchalant about it, but he was a good sport to humor my fanaticism.

Then last year I bought a box of Dramamine--chewable for kids. I thought that it was for kids 6 and up and finally Little d was old enough. Imagine my surprise to read the label that had dosing for kids 2-6 also. Anyway. There never seemed to be a right time to use it. Until this summer. Our POC trip.

The arrangement was this. I would drive down with Little d and Little m. (Little m has absolutely no problems in the car.) D would drive down with my mom and Little md--whom we have yet to test out on car trips while awake. I waited until after lunch to give Little d her tablet. Then exactly one hour later we set out. She was sleepy before we left which I took as a good sign that the medicine was in her system. After about 15 minutes of driving she would look like she was dosing off, and then she would wake herself and say "mom turn on the radio" or "mom sing Twinkle Twinkle" as if to keep herself awake. She had asked repeatedly if she would get sick if she stayed awake and I told her that I was very sure the medicine would help her even if she was awake.

My daughter and I talked and visited the entire trip down. One whole hour with her in the car and awake and not throwing up. By the time we reached POC I was ecstatic. In fact beside myself with joy! This was a day that I had waited for for so long. I pointed out landmarks and got to hear--for the first time--"mom, are we there yet??" And I loved every minute of it. Little m fell asleep and drooled the whole way down...

***********************************

Something else that I conquered in POC was going to Memaw's house. I haven't been in the house since she passed away. My grandfather lives with my mom and dad, and we needed to go get a recliner out of the house for him while we were in POC. I went up with D to load it up. It was kind of weird to be there, but not as emotional as I thought. Of course here I am writing about it a month later, so the feelings aren't as strong as they were.

I had a dream about her the other night. She was playing the piano at a wedding and I was desperately searching for a camera to take a picture. I was so happy to see her again and to get a second chance to see her play the piano. I kept thinking I need to take a picture of this because I never did it when she was alive. I woke up with a mix of happy and sad.

I still haven't been in Grandma Hawes' house. I think that may be hard too. I probably won't find out until Christmas...

****************************

I have a new demon now though. I'll have to write a post about that soon.


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Swing of Things


Namely the swing of my toe against the door frame leading to a "beautiful job" of breaking my toe. That was over two weeks ago and my foot still swells, hurts and is purple in places. Supposedly it will be healed by week three and I can stop taping my toes together everyday.

So you shoulda seen me shopping the mall for Little d's school clothes last week. Or doing laundry. Or stepping over the baby gate and hearing (and feeling) my toe pop again.

This post is going to be like all the rest of late. (Like the entire last year.) Meaning--rambling and not even remotely entertaining. But I need to document somehow and goodness knows I'm not scrapbooking. (I mean, how could I? When the office is still not set up.)

We came back from POC. I tackled not one, but two demons on that trip. In fact I started a whole post for it....which is still in editing.

We finally got a new table and chairs for the kitchen. Now we can all sit around the table together. And it's glass topped so I can clean fingerprints--and let's be honest, faceprints--off of it several times a day. But it was my pick and I do love the way it looks in the kitchen. Wait---I may have a picture for you.... well no. I guess I don't have one on the computer. Anyway.

School is starting soon. In 10 days to be exact. I am so depressed about it. Little being gone again. I hope and pray that her classmates and teacher are good matches again this year. We were so blessed last year.

Little m is completely potty trained. I am not sure if I mentioned this before, but I guess it still amazes me that it ended up being so easy.

Little md is growing like a weed. He eats big folks food now, rarely does he eat baby food. And he's even started sporadically sleeping through the night. Wish I could say the same for the girls. Little m does better than Little d--can you imagine??

Last night we celebrated my parents 40th anniversary here at the house by cooking a Thankgiving style dinner. It was delicious. Mom and Dad had to go back to POC with Poppy, but my bro and his little family stayed to swim. {We bought one of those little above ground pools when we got back from POC this summer and it really is nice because all of the kids can stand up in it, and the grownups fit too!}


I am spending my time this last week of summer cleaning and organizing the house. I need in the most desperate way to be able to start this year of school differently than last year. Last year was a completely chaotic mess, with us out here at an unfinished house and D working nights. Just miserable. This year we are at least all together and secure in our home. But it would be nice if the dining room was not filled with tons of leftover stuff from our old house, and office was set up and organized so I had room for paperwork and scrapbooking. Paperwork-so the kitchen counters weren't filled and scrapbooking-so I could find a little de-stressing this school year.

I started back on WW again. This first week I'm down three pounds, so I'm feeling energized about that. I'm hoping my foot heals so I can do some working out as well--although housework counts too.

D is off this week. Yeah!! His job is going through a changeup and I am hoping everything works out. He works for Dow Chemical Company and the unit he works at was bought by a Brazillian company. So technically he'll be working for Braskem. I think that's how it's spelled--anyway--we don't know how this change will effect his 401K, or insurance. Hopefully they will get that info to us before the changover in September--or whenever it happens.

I could talk about politics, but really things kind of speak for themselves don't they? I mean if the economy wasn't so far in the toilet it would be comical, right? Spend more than you make and then just get a bigger credit card?? Makes perfect sense to me!

I haven't been on the computer much these days--three kids require a lot of time!! :) But this morning I sat (to rest my swollen foot) and I happened to click on this blog I've read since before Little d was born. It first intrigued me because the blogger and I share a first name, but she writes so well, I was hooked. I check in every once in a while and over the summer I have maybe looked in once. She slowed way down on updating so I didnt' check that often.

Anyway-today I looked and am shocked beyond belief. Her family was in a head on collision in July and her husband was killed instantly. I felt it in my gut to read the story. She suffered broken ribs and one of her small sons has a broken leg. It horrifies me. It makes me want to hold on to D and never let go. I am not strong enough to cope with that. I mean I guess I would have to be, but how on earth?

In honor of my Mom and Dad's 40th anniversary (tomorrow), here's a picture of them last May at a wedding. I am so proud to call them my parents.


Have a good weekend!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Vacation!!

Tomorrow we are bound for POC. I know it's going to be a blast. I don't know how we are going to fit all of our crap into two, yes two, vehicles! Should prove fun...

In other news I found a swimsuit in--get this--a size 8. That's practically skinny. Or at least it fakes not bulge-y with strategically placed ruching. (That sentence wore me out--I hope it's easier to read than it was to write.)

Okay I have too much to do to get ready...can't hang out here!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Pilates for Dummies

I am back on WW for real. I have got to get back to my normal size. Bathing suit shopping=horror of horrors! I decided to step it up and start exercising also. I did the treadmill once, and then I've been DVRing a Pilates workout. It is hard folks. Not for the beginner.

I am thinking about going back to free weights and my own toning, and then do the treadmill too. I just don't have the strength for Pilates yet. Although I have to say working out with Little d and Little m is too fun! They are better at it than I am! Little md tho--he mostly tries to sit on our back and bounce or throw toys at us.

Our summer is strolling along. Swimming in the kiddie pool in the evenings, s'mores, grilling, being lazy. And on Friday we're heading to POC. I can't wait!! We haven't been down since before I was pregnant with Little md! I have big plans for our week there. Swimming in the 'rents pool, beach, ice cream shop, eating stuffed crabs, (did I say I was back on the diet??) reading, vegging out, loving the smell of salt air, fireworks, picnic at the church with the whole big Hawes clan, generally being back home...I can NOT wait!! I'm like the little kid "I'm too excited to sleep!!"

Gotta go--duty calls!


Monday, June 20, 2011

Extreme Couponing NOT!

Much as I would like to be one of those crazy endorphin loving coupon clipping lovelies...I am not. For multiple reasons. And here they are in no particular order.
  • I will not be diving into ANY dumpsters to retrieve a coupon (or hundred) for a product my finicky eaters may or may not eat.
  • There are no stores here that have double coupon days. At all.
  • Every coupon I've ever seen has DO NOT DOUBLE.
  • Every store I've ever shopped at or seen a sale for says LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER.
Today I went to my two regular grocery stores. Sam's Club and Walmart. At five o'clock. Because I'm a glutton for punishment.

I think all total we spent close to $700 dollars. Now some of that was not grocery. Like the charcoal and lighter fluid, and the printer ink cartridges. But still. Groceries are getting higher and higher.

Ah, but I did have two coupons. I saved a grand total of...drumroll, please...$2.00. Yes two dollars!! It covered the tax on our Whataburger dinner.

Beat that TLC.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Cheery Cherry!


I don't think I've ever worn four inch heels before. And I'm not sure how well I'll wear these, but I am going to do my best-est! You know what's really crazy--aside from wanted to buy an entire wardrobe around these shoes--they make me want to create a card. Something summery with cute little cherries!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Summertime!

I don't recall loving the summer season so much even when I was a kid in school, but having the summer off now seems utterly blissful!

Little d graduated!! From Kindergarten, of course. It was a great day! I didn't even get all blubbery and cry through the three minute ceremony. I kept it together. But I am just so proud of her. She learned so much this year and accomplished so much. She became a little lady who can go hours in a new surrounding and do just fine without me.




A huge weight lifted off of me as we drove home from her graduation. The realization that we have about ten weeks of sweet freedom was amazing! No more worrying about her for hours a day. No more worrying about getting her to school on time or what she was eating for lunch or if she was going to get a stomachache from not going to the bathroom on schedule. Ahhh--sweet freedom. (Oh don't be mistaken--I still will find plenty of things to worry about.)

Things are blooming around here. Despite the lack of rain. And guess, just guess, who is potty trained?? That's right. Little m. I woke her up the first day of summer vacay (that's how those in the know say it) and said 'Guess what? It's summer time that means no more diapers! Except for night night time of course.' And she took to it no problem. And we've had very few accidents. Most of which are right in front of the toilet because she couldn't quite make it in time. So I am thrilled with this little summer development as well.

Little md is eating more solid food. He's a good chewer. I love to watch his little mouth crunch and munch! He likes cereals and graham crackers and noodles and, without a doubt, cookies! Oh and grapes (peeled and cut) and strawberries. He doesn't talk much, but he can understand so much and get his point across pretty effectively.

I personally am going to call this the Summer of My Dentist Vacation. I've discussed my teeth to death on here, so the why is obvious, but not only am I doing my periodic tooth fixin', now my daughter is doing it as well. Little d's mouth has several cavities. A couple big enough to need caps. I can't even discuss how upset I am about this. I find little consolation in the fact that the dentist said we were 'doing a good job of cleaning them.' Genetics do suck sometimes...

On a lighter note I just ordered these. How lovely are they??

I am way into heeled sandals with shorts right now. I'm letting my hair grow out. I am hooked on OPI nail polish. I am not losing weight fast enough. I want so badly to be 112 pounds again. Or 115, I'm not choosey with it. I thought that next week I would be setting up my scrapbook room, but now D is working 5 days of overtime, so...no.

You know what else...the mirrors are finally hung. It only took nine months. Thanks Dad!


Monday, May 2, 2011

Huh...I do still have a blog.


Last night they announced Osama was killed. I think he deserves what he got, but I don't think he had much power. Who knows? I wish it would have happened under Bush's watch. THAT would have been fun. As it is now, Obama is taking credit for it. Which is hilarious considering it's the only thing he's taken credit for during his presidency. Everything else is Bush's fault.

Let's talk about local news. How 'bout those gas prices??

Okay NOW let's talk about local news.

We are renting our other house to one of my cousin's who really wants to buy it in one to two years and I am soooo thrilled to be done with that. (And by done I mean mad clearing and cleaning for the next two weeks so they can start moving their stuff in.)

23 days left of school. Or is it 22. Either way BOO YA! So happy to be in the home stretch!

Weather. Wind. Wind wind wind wind wind. And that's all folks. No rain in sight. My garden is getting more and more whipped.

Mitchell turned the big ONE. I made a most cute cake. See? I totally found the idea online.



And I have a most cute son. See?



We saw the pink fire truck.


One of our friend's from the local fire department started a chapter of the Guardians of the Ribbon. Check out the national website here. This is a picture of me with a grumpy Little m, a sun blinded Little md, my parents and my poppy. Unfortunately, Little d was in school on the day they did the debut.

Off to take care of .... everything! Oh and Little md is giving KISSES now!! TOO CUTE!


Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Speaking of circling the drain...

Well the kids had all recovered from their pre-Spring Break ear infection/coughing junk. So I thought we would have a few weeks reprieve. And we did. Two weeks to be exact. Then the respiratory crap started again.

Little d was treated for flu after her strep and flu tests came back negative. PS Tamiflu upsets her stomach, turns out. So then we had the whole anti-nausea suppository fun as an appetizer to the dose of Tamiflu twice a day. Thankfully she stopped running fever in four days and finally started wanting to do something other than just lay quietly on the couch.

Little m had a light case of whatever it was.

But Little md. Saturday night we had to take him to the ER because he sounded so horrible. The doc diagnosed viral croup. He got a dose of oral steroid and breathing treatments. But Monday our pediatrician looked at his chest xray and said he had a touch of pneumonia. So now he's on antibiotics too. He is doing better. Still sleeping alot and not eating as much as normal, but he's fever free and his cough is no longer so deep in his chest. And no more of that horrible breathing that makes me ever so thankful my kids don't have asthma!!

Poppy is in the hospital--blood in the urine. Hopefully he'll be out before the weekend. My mom is getting over her terrible cough after a second dose of (stronger) antibiotics. She may have had a touch of pneumonia too. And me and D, pulling up the rear with irritated throats and annoying coughs.

I have decided to do a farm theme for Little md's birthday. I can hardly believe he's almost one. Just two weeks away. He's been walking for so long now, he's nearly running. I have to mention the cutest story.

He loves to dance. Bobbing his head and bending his knees in time to the music. The other night Dancing with the Stars was on and he watched intently as the professionals did their exhibition noting, apparently, the dips. Then when the singer came back on he resumed his dancing, but this time he would lean way over as if he was dipping as well. So adorable! I just love him! (Oh and today I swear he said 'moo cow'!)

Guess who's not potty trained yet?? That's right. Still a diaper girl our Little m. But also still a book reading fiend. As in "read this to me read this to me read this to me read this to me..."

Little d is doing so well in school. (You know when she's not home running fever.) She got an award for meeting her 50% goal with the AR program. I'm not even sure what that means, but she got a book to keep and was super excited! In her class they are hatching REAL! chicken eggs and about to have cocoons to watch as well. You all know my obsession with raising chickens, so I'm thrilled and quite a bit jealous that Little d gets to watch eggs hatch! A story about her... One morning we were driving to school and discussing how dirty boys bathrooms were...I don't know why...and I offered an explanation.

"You know little boys sometimes aren't very careful with where they are aiming when they pee."

She thought for a moment. "What, are they...guessing??"

A true LOL moment. "Yes maybe they are!"

On the Weight Watcher front. I have not had the time to track lately, but the last few weeks have gone something like this...0, 0, -3, +2, -1.

Off to do laundry---

Must go take care of laundry.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Circle the Drain

One of my favorite songs by Katy Perry is Circle the Drain. Okay I have no idea what the title is, but that's the jest of it. So after my little conversation with the Close to My Heart rep today I thought...I think this company is circling the drain.

Several weeks ago I got an email stating that if I didn't order something by the end of February I was going to be dropped from the company. Now to begin with I had already been dropped to Junior Consultant because I wasn't ordering $300 worth of stuff every quarter. I stopped ordering enough to keep up when my sales dropped so much and attendance was way down at my workshops. I chalked most of that up to two of my regulars becoming consultants under me and hard economic times.

Anyway, I thought it over and decided maybe I would go ahead and order one thing to remain with the company. I thought maybe I'll just keep the options open in case life settles down enough for me to start up the workshops again. I mean now I have the space to do them at my own house! I then literally forgot to make the order and remember on March first. I thought, oh well, moving on. I was a little sad, but then I thought--you know what my life is full to the brim right now, so I'll focus on that.

But surprise! I got another email from the company on March 4th that said I had until March 31st to make a purchase. And I started to consider it. On March 15th I got an email that said--and I'm paraphrasing here--"toodles, seeya, we don't want any more money from you!!" Or something to that effect.

Yesterday, I thought about it as I was packing up my scrap room at the old house. I was boxing up paper and stamps, scrapbooks and projects and I thought, you know. I ought to go ahead and place an order. Why not? I could just order one thing and see what happens.

So I tried to log in this morning. No go.

I called the consultant number and found out that she 'didn't know why I got that second email' because 'only the first one was valid' and she's 'heard of this happening before.'

Really? You have a flaw in your system, but you won't honor your email offer to me. That pretty much sums up my entire experience with CTMH. So my closing words to her (after she offered for me to send a copy of that email to headquarters to see what they would do after telling me in a previous case they sided with the company not the consultant) were....

"No, I am totally done with this company. Thanks."

And I have to say....and I mean no disrespect to other consultants and wish them all the best...after seeing the last catalog, and the competition on the internet in this industry, I don't think CTMH is going to be around a lot longer. I think that most of their business is consultants buying as a hobby. I could be way off, but I think they may be about to circle the drain...

Friday, March 25, 2011

A rodeo!

{First let me note for weigh in Friday I broke the plateau and lost three pounds this week!!! Sweet!!}

This morning Little d had her Rodeo at school. The kids are grouped together and get to do little activities like horse shoes and barrel racing. 'Barrel racing?' You say. Yes, with her stick horse of course. That she cutely named Polka-Dot. They also got to "brand" a picture of a cow with real branding irons dipped in paint. It was such a neat day that they planned. They have been studying Texas for a couple of weeks, so this was a little hands on study of our great state.

Little m and Little md had a follow up doctor appointment for their ear infections. So we cut short our rodeo watching and took them in. Little m is terrified of the doctor. She fights every single part of it. And we've been talking to her and trying to get her to see that if she cooperates everything will go more smoothly. Like for example opening her mouth to say ahhhh so he doesn't have to put that stick in her mouth! And something finally clicked yesterday and she did! And after he checked her throat (without her gagging and nearly throwing up) I said "good job--you did it!" She got this little smile of accomplishment and I swear I saw the light bulb go off over her head.

So we went for ice cream afterwards to this spot called Dairy Treat. I think it's been around since the fifties or before. Their ice cream is so good you can write home about it. Or blog about it. Or risk an intestinal fit of dairy protest for it. Anyway, Little m chose strawberry (no surprise there she has a strawberry milk IV hooked up most of the day). And Little md got his first taste of ice cream. He kept making mmmmm--mmm noises. It was so cute! And Little m said "my belly loves this!" So I said "Is it worth a trip to the doctor to get more of this ice cream?" She tilted her head thoughtfully, wrinkled her nose and replied "Hmmm, no."

Oh well.


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

March Madness!

Well the past two weeks have involved three trips to the pediatrician, six ear infections, two orders for breathing treatments, three kids and a husband on antibiotics and a partridge in a pear tree!

Little d missed a week of school. This week she is on Spring Break and thankfully all the littles are getting better.

Skip ahead to me not posting for a while and now she's back to school. Spring Break is over.

I feel like we were living under a rock for a couple of weeks. The last day of d's break was the only day I let the kids outside in the rockin' wind. They flew kites and then we planted some seeds. Tomatoes, and strawberries that D got from Tractor Supply. Green beans, carrots, squash, beets and three varieties of flowers that came from Uncle T's hardware store in POC. His seeds were two years out of date so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they sprout. Although if they all come up I may have no choice but to till an actual garden...

I'm really excited at the thought of growing my own vegetables...and I don't even like beets. I also want to plant some red, yellow and orange peppers....

Speaking of vegetables: I, for the last two weigh-ins, lost zero. But the good news is I didn't gain any weight either. I think this is what they call a plateau. Which is fancy for flat. Like my chest. HA!

Little md: I think we can officially say he's a walker. Instead of walking from chair to chair, he now stands in the middle of the floor and takes off. He can pretty much traverse the room in one try. Amazing, still to see my baby learn. Even though he's number three, it's still just as miraculous to me. He's also cutting four teeth on top. Pretty much all at the same time. Crank-o-rama!

Little m: Wants me (or anyone for that matter) to read to her every waking hour of the day. And I try my hardest to oblige. She is still...my gosh still....in diapers. But with them all being sick, I didn't push it over Spring Break which was my target date.

Little d: Was so excited to go back to school...not my kid that's for sure! She has been doing so well. And she needs, as in desperately, to pull those two loose teeth in her mouth. But she is terrified of blood. She still has a crush on that boy in her class. She decided to give up talking about him for Lent. "Not thinking about him--Mom, just talking about him."

D and me. Or is it I? Anyway, we started the huge and time consuming task of cleaning out our old house so we can hopefully sell it in the next few months. Fingers crossed D gets to actually be off during his seven off instead of forced into overtime. Although we do use the money he makes on occasion...

I have decided to bloggerly track something. There are things unfinished around this new house. And there is one in particular that irks me. The mirrors are still not hung in the bathrooms. Still. We have lived in this house for 7 months. We'll see if they are hung by next Christmas. I'm not going to mention it to my husband again. :)


Saturday, March 5, 2011

Weigh in Friday--a little late

One more pound down.

I'm starting to try to find a theme for Little md's birthday. It's right around the corner. And speaking of the little guy...he's taking steps now. The other day (and a couple of times since) he's taken up to six wobbley little steps all on his own. He absolutely loves to stand right up in the middle of the floor. I absolutely love the look of pride and accomplishment on his face when he does it.

Gosh I hate when D works nights. I hate when he works days too, truth be told. But nights really suck.

Today is Poppy's 92nd birthday. We're having cake for him tomorrow. Ninety two. That's a lot.

I just finished reading Water For Elephants. That's before I knew it was about to be made into a blockbuster starring "Edward" and Reese Witherspoon. Anyway. It's going on my favorite books lists. I really enjoyed it. Maybe I should do a favorite books lists on my sidebar. Yeah. When I have time...

out for now...cranky baby.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Commencing Phase Two!!

I may not have gone into detail earlier about why I joined Weight Watchers. So here's the lowdown...

Back when I was so miserably out of shape with my third pregnancy, it seems I spent a great deal of time looking forward to getting back into shape. Now I was not hating the fact that I was being blessed with another life. It's just that the third pregnancy was particularly hard on me. I was extremely tired and stressed, probably due to the looming project of building a house, or maybe the fact that I was 35 years old, or maybe even because I was chasing two children around. I had no energy and my home was getting further and further away from clean. I daydreamed about someday looking (and feeling) as good as I did in college. Come on! A girl can dream!

I thought about two things mostly. My body. And desperately wanting it to be honed and healthy. And my face. I was tired of the brown patches of pregnancy and the tired eyes with dark circles and the lackluster complexion and the start of the finest of lines.

I decided that as soon as my body was no longer needed for growing and nourishing this third lovely child I was going to turn the focus on myself. Instead of being a living breathing baby making and growing and feeding machine, I was going to become me again. Only a stronger, healthier, and younger looking me. As I said...a girl can dream.

My hope was that I would by six months post partum be well on my way to losing the almost 60 pounds I had gained. That's funny on so many levels.

Level one. I didn't know that I would spend the first three weeks of Little md's life trying to not claw the skin off my body from a horrible pregnancy induced rash.

Level two. I didn't know that sending a child to school for the first year would cause such a total upheaval of anything resembling relaxation.

Level three. I didn't know that trying to keep up with housework in my new abode would demand nearly every waking hour. And speaking of every waking hour....

Level four. I didn't think Little md would be still be waking to eat several times a night at ten months old. This type of prolonged ridiculous exhaustion is soooo num minding...uh I mean mind numbing.

Level five. I certainly didn't prepare for not losing any weight while breast feeding.

I found myself in January weighing in at 140 pounds. Heavier than I have ever been sans baby on board. I was tired. Miserable. And still wearing the occasional article of maternity clothes. I decided to do something. Weight Watchers seemed like something I could do. It was online--no meetings. And my mom was going to sign up with me, so I had a buddy!

WW sets goals for you. I mean I set my final weight goal of 112, but they will let you know when you do 5% or 10%. Anyway. I decided that when I reached the half way point (which worked out to 14 pounds) that I would treat myself to some type of reward.

Today was the big day. I made it. 14 pounds. I was super excited. It has really been hard work. I miss just noshing. And soda. I really miss soda. Even if I only drink caffeine free stuff. The good thing is...I'm eating healthier. More veggies and fruit, less sugar.

Oh and here's a funny. I own two pair of jeans that fit. One is Levis the other is St. John's Bay (a JCPenney brand.) The Levi's have been getting looser and looser over the last few weeks, while the others are getting tighter. Or at the very least not getting looser. What is that about??

Back to my reward. I decided to pull out the issue of Good Housekeeping that I've been saving that lists their top rated skin care anti-aging products. And make a shopping list. As my reward. And as Phase Two of 'getting back my groove'...uh or whatever. 'The Plan'.

I decided to start with three items. A day cream with SPF for moisturizing, a night cream for repair and renewal, and an eye cream to help with dark circles and fine lines. Well the top three in those catagories were two Olay products and one Loreal. My HEB only had the Loreal, so night cream it is. I started using it tonight...

commencing phase two!!!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

How we spent D's birthday weekend...

The titles just get snappier and snappier. So to celebrate this year, I took D out to dinner Friday night after conning my parents into watching the monkeys. Which I am realizing I already posted about. ANYway...

Yesterday I tried to clean. Normally when I start to clean I'm like a whirlwind going on and on and forgetting to eat. But I am trying to fight off a cold, so it was more like go in one room start working...rest...rest some more...eat....do a little work...eat...rest...all the while sucking on lemon drops. But then I hit my second wind or something and used my new Bissell Floormate to clean the kitchen and the long hall. After I finally got the hang of it (in no small part to NOT reading the directions) I actually liked it. It's work, but like D says "is it harder than mopping?" And the answer is no.

And for about four hours the floor was spotless. Then I let the family back in the kitchen. Eggs, Dr. Pepper and Doritos ensued. I was careful to only spill water--I'll have you know.

Hehehe while I'm typing this I'm feeding Little md fruit puffs and he takes them on the tip of his tongue like communion hosts.

D took Little d to sell GS cookies door to door with her troop. He's been gone almost two hours. Hope they are having a good time.

Little m is munching on goldfish. I paused to watch her and she said "what? I'm talking to Lunie." Lunie (pronounced Loo-knee) is but one of her three imaginary friends. Jake and Jeremy being the other two.

I am still doing laundry. I think I started the loads a little over two years ago. Seriously. It is taking forever to catch up. I have three loads of kid's clothes alone! Then I decided to change sheets, so there's a couple of those plus all! the! towels!

I must get off here. Fruit puffs are no longer a good enough distraction.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Weigh In Friday!

Okay hold your horses there....three pounds down! I am now a 128...woohoo!

I also wanted to add to my last "rookie mom" post, that I still feel like a rookie mom. And I'm pretty sure that feeling is never going to go away.

I'm also realizing how important this blog is to me. I need to write more because goodness knows that I'm not keeping record of anything anywhere else. I mean not just to record each and every little cuteness and milestone of the kids, but maybe if something ever happened to me...here would be my voice. For them to read about and someday learn about me. I don't mean that in a conceited way. If something ever had happened to one of my parents growing up, it would have meant the world to me to hear in their own words what they thought about everything from politics to tampons.

Soooo I'm going to try to get back into blogging. Which should be easy peasy--just like that whole 'I'm gonna walk on the treadmill everyday' idea I had in January. Here's an update. I walked on the mill twice. That's two times.

Anyway: here's what the kiddos are up too...

Little d. Picture day today--was a vision in fushia and white spring butterflies. But not sequined shoes...because even after trip number two to the store, I didn't get a size that fit. She has a little (big) crush on a boy. The same one from the beginning of the year. She's not sure if he has a crush on her. She's in girl scouts--as a Daisy. And looks so cute in her little blue vest. She (okay D and I) sold quite a few cookies this year. We had the raspberry tea Valentine's Party last Monday and it was a success.

Little m. Still in diapers. Will she ever be potty trained? She not only keeps me on my toes, she keeps me in stitches. Between her expressions and the things that come out of her mouth!

Little md. Cutting a top tooth now. And he has discovered the dance. He bops up and down with bended knees holding on with one hand and waving the other in the air. And grinning ear to ear. It may be the cutest thing you've ever seen. Sometime he sings along.

As for me. I'm still exhausted all the time. And right this second I may be coming down with a cold. Lovely. But I went out to dinner with my hot husband and then cruised through Academy. Nothing like a hot date with the hubby to perk me up. Special thanks to my parents for keeping the monkeys tonight. I am a lucky lady!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Writing assignment...

About a million years ago I used to read blogs written by other people just to pass the time. Oh and because some of them were uproariously funny. Like Mama Kat. So the other day I clicked on her blog again to find myself laughing until tears appeared. I noticed one of her writing prompts was "you know you're a rookie mom when..." and I thought huh. I should totally blog about that.

Well. You know. Me and the whole spare-time thing. I knew there was NO way I would get it done by the due date. Nor did I really want to post and link to another blog right now. My blog is not really viewer friendly right now what with the fits and starts of posting. But I thought it might be fun to try it anyway. Been awhile since I posted anything just for fun. SO here goes...

You Know You're A Rookie Mom When...

The color of poop in the diaper surprises you. Because let's face-it can be just about any color under the rainbow for no reason whatsoever. Except maybe the little sneaks ate a crayon when you weren't looking.

You can't concentrate on a TV show with a kid screaming in the background. I admit I sometimes still have trouble with this one. I've found that sometimes you have to turn the volume all the way up to 18 to actually hear it well enough...

You want sleep more than sex. My mom reads this, so I'm just going to leave it at that. Except to say that sometimes it's still a toss up. But when you're a rookie mom--there is no 'toss up'. It's always sleep. Always.

You wash your hands after wiping your kid's snotty nose with a Kleenex. I know it's horrible to admit, but when you're on kid number three and you know they are all going to get snotty in the end...well the skin on your hands just simply can't take the extra stripping of oils. I mean you are already washing them after diaper changes and dirty laundry and washing dishes. Eesh.

You can't watch the news for fear of seeing a sad story.

You know when you are not making sense and can catch your mistakes. In fact I would say that when you slip so deeply into the oatmeal-for-brains region that your six year old tells you that you didn't buckle her in while leaving the school parking lot, you can officially consider yourself no longer a rookie.

And last...for now...you know you're a rookie mom when no one is calling you for advice. Or maybe I should say you know you're no longer a rookie mom when someone does call you for advice. And it is a pretty good feeling. {Even if you don't know the answer...}

Friday, February 11, 2011

Weigh In Friday!

Well today I weighed two pounds less than last week. So coolio.

I celebrated by eating Sonic tonight. Ick. It has been soooo long since I ate greasy crap-ola. Again I say Ick.

I hope I'm not coming down with something. I am so exhausted this week. Just beyond drained.

It's not a riveting post, but it's real.

Monday, February 7, 2011

A new dress for a funeral

Yesterday I went dress shopping with my mom. Tomorrow I will go to San Antonio for a funeral. My cousin passed away after battling colon and breast cancer for three years. Doctors gave her two at the time of diagnosis, so she beat the odds. But at 47 she was still way too young.

Every morning for the past two or three weeks, after I drop Little d off for school, I pray. I start out praying for Little d to have a good day. Then I've been praying for Sandy. For her peace and comfort. This morning I prayed for Little d as I usually do. But then when I finished, it kind of hit me that Sandy is gone. So I took a breath and prayed for those she left behind. Sandy's mother, {who has lost her husband--almost thirty years ago to a sudden heart attack, and her son--who committed suicide a year ago} and Sandy's husband who took such great care of her, especially in these last few weeks, but really the whole time they were together.

My dress is black and white and red. I bought a shiny alligator skin red purse to match and a red trench coat. I'm planning on looking together on the outside even if I'm not really feeling all that together on the inside.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Snow day!

Minus the snow.

Well the school closed at noon today. I could not be more happy to have the long weekend. It's supposed to snow, but we'll see if it does. I know one thing for shoe-wa....it is COLD out there!

Home made chicken noodle soup tonight. Yum!

Little m's on Tamiflu. She's doing well though. I don't really think it's the flu, but we're following doctor's orders.

D's training in Corpus Christi got cut short! Yeah! He got to come home last night. So all my family is here in our toasty warm house.

So thankful today!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Despicable Me!

No, not the Pixar flick. I just realized that the last post I did was on my mom's birthday...and I failed to mention that! So, happy on the internet super-belated birthday mom!!!

In other news: On weigh in Friday I lost one pound. Which sounds dismal, but I was bloated for monthly reasons. So I'm not beating my myself up. In fact, I stuck with the program all week and didn't drown in chocolate and salty chips. Big accomplishment people...BIG.

Little md is cutting his second tooth and Little d has lost her first tooth and has another loose one. Oh the things going on with teeth in this house.

I am the proud (well let's reserve that title until we see how it works) new owner of a Hoover FloorMate. I compared the Bissell and the Shark, looking for something that would vacuum and mop, and ended up getting the Hoover. Just got it today--it's still in the box...we'll see how it works.

I did so much housework this weekend that I earned 5 activity points on WW.

We finally FINALLY have the muddy portion of the driveway poured. The concrete is still green, but hopefully in a couple of days we can drive on it...bliss!

Off to unload the dishwasher! Ooooh while I'm on the subject of hot water. Our hot water heater sucks! We have to 'reset' it periodically at the most inopportune times. And while I'm on that subject I never leave Lowe's happy. Okay. Now I'm done. :)



Sunday, January 23, 2011

A Calling

{I've decided to keep up with blogging.....because goodness knows I'm not scrapbooking, and how will my children know stuff that happened when they were so little?!?}

Yesterday I received some bad, if not unexpected, news. My cousin, who is in her forties, is close to the end of her battle with colon cancer. She was diagnosed with it along with breast cancer. She's had surgeries and treatments, but she was told at the time of diagnoses, that she had about two years. The last time I saw her was around Thanksgiving. She was in the area visiting with her mom and had to be checked into the hospital here. I went to see her. I could tell that she was not doing very well at that time, so I've been preparing myself for what is to come. If one can prepare for that.

******

I had sooo much housework to do this weekend that I almost cancelled going to church with my Dad, but then in the shower I realized that I needed to pray. So I decided to go. I am so glad I did. The priest's homily (sermon) was about being called to serve God. He told a story of how he was called to serve God when he was serving mass as a 7 year old boy in his African village. He said that his father couldn't raise him because he had no money, so he was raised by a Presbyterian man. But that the man allowed him to follow his calling. Anyway it was interesting to me because he said God's call to service comes in different forms. Like some may hear the voice of God or some may just feel led. But then he said some may just feel restless in their current life and not know why. And then it hit me like a lightning bolt. I've felt restless for a while. And mostly I thought of it as aggravation with things like an untidy house, or still not being completely moved out of the other house, or lack of free time to scrapbook or the extra 25 pounds that were not disappearing on their own.

But then I wonder--because I've always felt this need to do something to help people. I mean from the time I was a small child my career choices centered on trying to help others. I didn't want to be a famous singer, I wanted to be a lawyer--so I could get Matagorda Island back for my family. Or I wanted to be a pharmaceutical researcher--so I could find a cure for cancer. Or later I wanted to be a cop--just to help people. I've done tons of volunteer work, from the Adult Literacy Council to Rape Crisis Hotline.

uhg just uhg i've been typing on this post for days

Anyway. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but I'm just saying maybe that's why I feel restless--because I haven't done something for the greater good in a while. Although a good part of me argues that my something is raising three well adjusted kiddos!! So anyway. I don't know where all this is going. I didn't know where it was going days ago when I started this post. As they say it is what it is.

Oh and what the heck with my title?? Gotta close this one. Maybe I'll have something better later.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Weigh In Friday!!

Lost five pounds. I just may survive this weight watchers thing--said the lady who has been on it for one whole week...

In completely unrelated news...Little d is selling Girl Scout cookies and the Lemonades are total bliss! {and 2 points a piece}

Have a great weekend--I'm hoping to get the tree down...

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

We have an Advanced Reader on our hands!

Probably in response to my last post --you know where I said she was reading a little, on target for Kindergarten--Little d came home last night with a REAL library book. And now she informs me she is in the "AR Club". I don't know if all school do this or if it's a Texas thing, but it's a program where kids read books outside of class and then take tests for comprehension and get points for reading so many. I don't know all the details, but the BIG news is only a handful of Kinders were selected to start the program, and Little d is one of them.

I am so incredibly proud of her!!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Where are they now? {And an MLK tribute}

So it's probably been long enough since my last post for that title to make sense.

Little md is cutting his very first tooth. I think it's about time!! He'll be nine months in a week. It's the bottom right and I caught sight of it when D was changing his diaper last night. It's funny because people (okay-my mother in law) will always say that 'ohhhh {he}'s cutting teeth' as soon as they hit that four month old drooling period. Because it seems to me every baby starts drooling at four months, whether they are cutting teeth or not, I look for other signs. Anyway I just told my mom yesterday, I think he may actually be starting to cut a tooth. Ahh behold--he is!

He's also tooling around like nobody's business. He 'walks' along the couch. He can stand and sit on his own, and he loves making a beeline for something he's not supposed to get into. He's eating (baby) fruits and veggies and even likes (baby) ham. He's still drinking an insane amount of formula--taking three bottles during the night. Ehhh-whatareyagonnado? He'll sleep through the night when he sleeps through the night.

Little m. I've said it before, and I'll say it again--that child is hard headed. And yet to be potty trained. But I'll give her this...she knows what she wants. And if it's the pink cup after you already poured the milk into the green cup. Too damn bad for you. And she loves to change clothes. Every so often during the day she will make the proclamation "I need to change". And off she goes to dress herself. She's so tiny too. And she looks just like a little garden fairy when she runs around the house with her summer dress, bare feet and feathery hair framing her pink cheeks and impish smile.

Little d. Ahh. She's so smart. She's reading a little now--on target for kinder. She still is not a fan of school, but she comes home in a good mood and I'll take that! We had the best discussion Friday night at bedtime about race relations.

I should give you a little background. I've made it a point to not identify people as black, white, etc. I mean if I want to point out a black person on TV or something I'll say 'it's the guy in the green shirt' or something. In fact, Little d usually identifies people by their hair color. I remember watching the inauguration and Little d asked if his (Obama's) wife had already walked down the stairs and I told her yes. She said 'oh the black girl'. I said 'what do you mean?' Because I was shocked to hear her identify Mrs. Obama as black. And she said 'you know, mom, the one with the black hair.' Ah yes, that cleared it up.

Another time Little d said, 'wouldn't it be neat if we could color our skin different colors?' I asked her what she meant and she said, 'like pink or brown or something.' 'That would be cool,' I said. 'I only know one brown person,' she said. 'Who's that?' I asked. 'Pawpaw.' She said. I stifled a laugh. Pawpaw is very dark tan because he's worked outside all his life but to her I said, 'oh yeah.'

SO back to Friday night. With her being in school and this being the MLK holiday, they read a book about his life.

She said, "Mom today we read a book about King Luther or something."
"Martin Luther King?" I offered.
"Yes! That's it. Do you know him?"
"I know his story."
"Oh. Did you know he got killed? Not in the bomb, but later. Do you know how he got killed?"
"Someone shot him, right?" I said.
"Yes! He just wanted people to get along. Like the blacks and the whites." She said it like they were sports teams. She continued, "and Mrs. H knew him. Well like she heard about him when she was little. And you know mom it doesn't matter if you are a black or a white, it's about your character."
I was grinning. "Yes."
"I didn't know that there was, like a difference, like a black or a white." She looked a little confused.
"Well a long time ago people used to think if you were different, you weren't as smart or as... good." I tried to clarify.
"Yes and they had to sit in the back of the bus." She remembered more of the story.
"Yes. What does character mean?" I asked.
"It's like how you act."

Well done, Little d, well done.

So know I'm feeling all proud of myself that Little d had absolutely no idea that there would be any reason people would judge other people based on their skin color. Of course now, she thinks Pawpaw is a blackish. (Her words not mine.) I just love the innocence of childhood.

In other news, I started Weight Watchers. I have to get rid of this baby weight. Nine months is long enough!