Miss Mannie ready to strut her stuff
Maggie post tap dance
my darling littlest girlfriend, Grace


ONE WITH THE WAVES
That's what I was today. We hit the beach with some friends and the waves were unbelievable AND the water wasn't unbearably cold. So that meant I was up for boogie-boarding. I haven't laughed so much in ages. Even my friend's son said "you are going in?" Ha -- I showed 'em. Well, I showed 'em what a Mom of four looks like boogie-boarding during her once-a-year attempt.

Anyway, I was trying to post 'a month in review' of photos but blogger is being picky about uploading so for now I give you my three of my favorite girlies. So, more pictures soon.

Random thoughts for Monday..........

1) The OLYMPICS are coming; the OLYMPICS are coming! I have loved the Olympics as far back as I can remember. Swimming, track & field, gymnastics - love it all. I'll even try to watch some men's Water Polo b/c I saw them at the local pool two weeks ago. Easy on the eyes, they are.

2) Still watching So You Think You Can Dance --- incredibly disappointed that Will is gone. He is an amazing talent and will go places so I can't really complain. My top three ---- Joshua, Twitch, and Katee. Anyone else think they made Katee look like Amy Winehouse for that wicked-cool door dance last week?

3) It's the end of July and that means FOOTBALL starts today. WOOT! And that means we are one step closer to the NFL season as well. I loves me some football.

4) Now that we are into our lazy days of summer, I have been getting little procrastinated chores completed. Two bags of old papers/mail/junk-to-sort, done! Sorting the multiple kid bookshelves, done! Cleaning off my dresser....well, almost done!

The boy has got an addictive personality. When he latches onto something that he loves; he runs with it. Skateboarding, football, baseball, and now FISHING. He is down right obsessed with everything fishing. It started with a couple of small fishing adventures. And then he saw Collin check the local fishing report so he would know what kind of fish were hitting.

Now, Sean checks the fish report daily. Sometimes several times b/c he knows that they have morning, 1/2 day, and afternoon charters. I have even gotten him a journal to record the fish count b/c he was using every post-it note we owned to record it. And I have to listen to his journal notations daily. He sort of sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher to me but I've got the 'uh-huh', 'cool' responses down.

And with the beauty that the internet is he has discovered fishing videos on YouTube. It is quite hilarious. When he isn't outside running around like a maniac or playing sports, he is begging me to watch fishing videos. Huh? He is certainly channeling his red-neck roots if he is watching this, right?

On the bright side, he is learning a ton about fish/bait/technique and his penmanship is getting a little daily practice.

He has always loved the ocean and loved reading all non-fiction stuff on it. If he doesn't grow up to have a career in marine biology or oceanography I will be shocked. Gotta run -I have to go and watch a video on Flounder gigging now.

WHAT TIME IS IT?

And the answer is.......FOOTBALL!
This week Sean is doing a mini football camp of drills and skills to prepare him for the start of football practice (next week). What a blast he is having. And so are we. The coaches started with the chant 'Football - IS HERE'; 'Football - IS HERE' and that just roped me in. I really enjoy watching the boys learn; hustle; and sometimes trip over their own feet.

Some of the coaches are ex-NFL players and a few are current college players. Today they had three of the USC starters there to help. They had a short autograph session at the end of session. Sean was beaming with his Joe McKnight signature on his brand new shiny Nike cleats. He got another signature on the back of his shirt, #56 Alex Parsons; he's HUGE and intimidating, and a local boy who used to play in our league.

Such a cool experience. A casual, low-key camp that is helping foster his love of the game. He really loves the game. Help me remember this when my lean, 66-lb. boy is being squished by the 90-lb. little dudes.

For the record, we caught him trying to sleep in his cleats when we tucked him in bed.

Took me a while to put this together but the kids think it is cool and I hope you do too.....

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

For the record--- I tried to waterski, but that was a no go; we didn't catch any fish except for the one sick one we happened upon while it was trying to beach itself; we all slept in one tent (including the dog) and used the small one for changing, clothes and food storage; in the picture of Sean by the tree, he isn't going to the bathroom - he is collecting one of his 328 pine cones.

There are loads of things that are disposable these days. It's all about cleanliness and recycling and convenience.

I'm here to say that I used both cloth and disposable diapers over the years and while cloth was great on the baby's skin and saved some money; disposable is certainly easier (especially when you are out and about --- carrying wet/soiled cloth diapers around just isn't fun). Now that our family is beyond the diapering stage, I have one wish for something disposable. DISPOSABLE clothing!!!!! And I'm not talking about this or this.

My friend, Amy, has been telling me about this for years. Most of her children are older than mine and while I knew I always had tons of laundry, I had little kids and that meant little clothes. They are still relatively little, but FERPETESAKE --WHY do they wear so many clothes? in a day? a week? Seriously, I folded 12 pairs of underwear in one load of Amanda's clothes (and I often will pull clothes from random hampers to make a full load so her clothes are done maybe more than once a week.) I'm glad she is changing her underwear and all, but cut me some slack Peanut.

So, you can probably guess what spawned this post. It's the never-ending clothes shuffle......who's outgrowing what/school sales are starting/pull a box of saved stuff from the garage/organize/blah, blah, blah. ACK! It makes my head explode. We have been blessed with amazing hand-me-downs from friends and family over the years so that has helped keep the cost down, but I really think disposable would be easier.

It would save me lots of water and duct tape for my head.

So my AWESOME friend, Nicole, decided that she would have my kids over to swim while I hit Costco.....ALONE! Did you read that; I said ALONE. :)

I got a cart and enjoyed my hotdog and Mocha Freeze in peace. Grabbed some new pjs; glue sticks for school; new beach towel; and then I conquered the list. Holy guacamole. I had ONE cart completely maxed out without one square inch available. It was piled high and I carried the Oxi-Clean at the end b/c there was no room and the cart was too heavy anyway. I knew it was bad; people were staring. And they weren't staring b/c my kids were behaving badly b/c I was ALONE, remember.

The cashier even said 'I hope you have a black membership card b/c if you don't you are losing money.' I was quite smug when I handed her my card, coupons, and rebate check. I exited with two carts b/c the packing folks aren't as efficient as I am. AND I lucked out by running into a friend with her kids in tow; she sent her 8th grade son with me to load my car. Sweet.

I have decided on two things: 1) next trip I will get the barge instead of the cart and 2) a bunch of flowers; milk; and gatorade are the best trade off for shopping sans kids!

EXHALE..........
we've been out of school for about a month now and just today I finally feel like I can take a deep breathe and exhale. We literally have been on GO! since the day after school let out. The camping trip to Bass Lake was awesome (slideshow to come, I promise) and now that dance recital is done/baseball is done/VBS is done/swimming ends tomorrow/and Sound of Music rehearsals are done the rest of summer seems exceptionally slow-paced and mellow. So what if we have football starting soon, I don't have to go if I don't want to. So what if we have SofMusic shows to do, it's not every show nor every weekend. Tutoring sessions drop-off & pick-up...Meh, no biggie.

I declare the rest of the summer to be filled with beach days; visits with friends; and lots of relaxation. Which definitely includes watching So You Think You Can Dance.

And, ice cream, preferrably Breyer's Chocolate Crackle!

Egads! (isn't that a great cartoon expression?) Well, I sorta feel like I'm living at a cartoon/zany/fast-paced speed. Let's see in the last three weeks --- we've had two dance recitals; out of town guests (waving to the Poynots; we MISS you!); numerous baseball games; several play rehearsals; tutoring for Mag; swim lessons; 4th of July; more swim lessons; Vacation Bible School; and WAY TOO MUCH food on-the-go. I'll admit I love fast food (mostly) but the thought of eating drive-thru or in my car makes me want to gag. I honestly would rather starve.

Of course, I have tons of pictures. But no time to upload them and share the joy so you'll have to use your imagination until I can get back to you. Here's a picture from our camping trip to Bass Lake; it will have to hold you over......

SUMMER IS.............
swim lessons and
lots of time at the pool
THE BEACH
several bottle of sunscreen
Vacation Bible School
summer book club at the library
long days of playing outside until you can't see the ball anymore
awesome fresh fruit and endless watermelon



Angels baseball games
Smores
the Circus
Ice Cream! and Popsicles!
never-ending beach towel laundry
sand overflowing the lint-catch in the dryer
What does summer mean to you?

SLEEP -- it's something I've always been fond of. I would love to nap daily if I could. I love to sleep in. I just love sleep. My sleep patterns have changed over the years and adjusted to whatever life has brought.....newborn non-schedules; sick children; staying up late to catch up with the DVR.

Every since I became a Mom, I have been pretty strict about napping and bedtimes. As you can imagine, with each additional child the nap schedule changed a bit but overall bedtime was maintained and rituals were a reality. I really, really wanted my kids to be good sleepers. Sleep trained so to speak. We still have the occasional middle-of-the-night stealth child who decides to make his/her way to our bed but for the most part we are beyond co-sleeping.

Sean has had night-terrors since he was little. If you have never experienced one, it is so hard to explain. For him, being overtired/exhausted seemed to be the trigger -- I could almost count it down to the minute of him being put down to sleep. One hour later, we would hear unusual crying; take off running to his bedside; find him sitting up in bed screaming with his eyes open. The lights are on but no body is home, literally. Thank goodness his episodes were short in duration and he could (& still can) be calmed down with monotone repetition of "you are safe; you are in your bed; go back to sleep; you are all right". Beyond that, he is a good sleeper. So are Maggie and Ian.

But now we are having sleep issues with Amanda. It all started around Nov./Dec. 2007. Her waking episodes were much like Sean's night terrors except that she would be up and walking around her room. She could be resettled with the monotone banter relatively quickly. I thought it was stress/anxiety related because she was excited but anxious about being in her first play. The play came and went. Now, months later, she has progressed to sleep walking. She will look like she is completely awake; she will come downstairs if I am still up watching TV (or updating my blog). She has a certain 'look' to her and she doesn't communicate even though she will get a blanket out of the basket and get comfortable downstairs. If I catch her at the top of the stairs, I can send her back to her room softly and she will turn around and go back to bed. She looks wide awake but has no recollection of any of this in the morning.

I'm getting a little concerned. This past weekend while camping she literally started unzipping the tent to get out while sleepwalking. Collin stopped her twice. I'm a pretty heavy sleeper. I wonder if she is sleepwalking more than I know about. Would she try to leave the house?

Good sleep is a good thing. I appreciate sleep and I want her sleep to be restful. What is causing this? Can I do anything about it?

LOVE is the 1st day of summer.............

THREE.........

How many days are left in school?
How many roles the girls & I are vying for in a local theater production of Sound of Music?
The current baseball tournament Sean is playing in, in as many weeks.
The age that I despise and am thrilled that I don't have children to get through.
How many times will it take for the restoration company to finally get my kitchen nightmare cleaned (not there fault it it is taking mulitple trips) and ready to be remedied?
How many chapter books I want Maggie and Sean each to read over the summer (at a minimum)?
How many nights are we going to camp (or should I say attempt to camp) in a tent with the dog?

Over the last few months, I've been following the amazing story of Tricia and Nate. (the link to Nate's site is over on the right as well) It's truly a story of faith, miracles, and love. Today on his site, Nate linked to a fellow CF patient and her dad's bike ride to raise money for CF. I urge you to go over to Nate's blog and watch the video that Eva made to promote awareness for CF; grab some tissues and watch her amazing story.

Also, say a prayer today for Tricia since has to have a surgical biopsy today.

Today, I feel very blessed to have four healthy children.

A good day....

I went to Catalina with the girl scouts today. They selected this as their 'cookie money' trip. I had never been. Catalina is AMAZING; I'm trying to figure out when Collin and I can get over there sans kids. The weather was perfect and it was like paradise. I'll try to post some pics soon.

Sean's all-star team won again today; 19-2 in the 4th so they mercy-ed them. (just like yesterday 13-0) Tomorrow they have two games so it will be a Sunday at the ball field for us. The tournament is in a nearby beach community so the weather should be just perfect.

I think I'll top this awesome day with a latte and call it good.

How is it possible that my kids have EIGHT days of school left and then we'll be moving on to 5th, 3rd, 1st, and pre-K. EEeeeeekkk! The last couple of weeks have been full of busy-ness and insanity. A little update -----youngest to oldest......

I think he's growing again . He is crashing in the late afternoon no matter where he is and he still goes to bed on time. How can he grow when his diet is mostly cookies that he sneaks out of the pantry?
I went with the kindergarteners to the local zoo. The kids are just so cute and excited by the little things. Just being away from school was a treat, but add a few monkeys and feeding the goats and it's a party. All I can say is that my ears were ringing when I stepped off the bus. Bus drivers are a special breed.
Sean's all-star baseball team won the Memorial Day tournament for his level. The normally have six inning games and they won in the bottom of the 9th! It was the most amazing youth game I have yet to see. They start another tournament this weekend.
This girlie is just getting too big too fast. This is her and a friend. I took them out to lunch & shopping. Matching outfits; sunglasses; and 'best/friends' necklaces. Pure fun.


And lastly, the biggest kid got a new toy.

I'm so, so, so SAD. A restoration company is in my kitchen clearing a disgusting amount of slug from under my cupboards. There is apparently a leak/problem with the garbage disposal and the mystery smell is revealed. The guy just cut into the back of my under-the-sink cupboard in an effort to get EVERYTHING cleaned out. The plumber guy is coming early next week to get to the bottom of the problem; the cabinet people are coming out on 6/10 to tell me if we can salvage the cut-into cupboard and quote us on new kickplates.

In the mean time, I'm back to having NO sink and we will be using paper plates/paper cups & plastic utensils.

Words can't describe how sad I am. Trying to look on the bright side -- at least I have an oven that I can cook frozen Stouffer's and such in.

Now I'm going to bury my head in a pillow to drown out the sound of the guy's drill making yet a bigger hole in the cabinet.

I'm out of blog ideas for today, so I'm posting 100 random things about me & my crazy life:

1. I love watching my kids play sports.
2. I love watching my kids in dance recitals and plays.
3. I love being in plays.
4. The first play I was in was 'Winnie the Pooh' in high school.
5. Kathlynn is my best friend from high school.
6. I miss her terribly.
7. Patricia is my first friend.
8. We grew up as neighbors and were inseperable.
9. Her daughter is my godchild.
10. I was there when Jennifer was born.
11. I miss them too.
12. Growing up in/near New Orleans was a blast.
13. I HATE mosquitos.
14. I should have focused more when I was at UNO.
15. I was a UNO Starlette for a couple of years.
16. I tried out for cheerleading once in college and couldn't do a stunt to save my life.
17. I met Collin at a fraternity party at UNO.
18. He broke up with his girlfriends of four years that night (not b/c of me).
19. I quit UNO two semesters before graduating to move to CA with Collin.
20. I graduated from Cal. State Fullerton.
21. I have a BS in Child Development.
22. I taught kindergarten at a private preschool for two years.
23. I never imagine I would have four kids.
24. Collin and I had been together for 7 years when we got married.
25. We had a cocktail party in our room after our wedding.
26. I hated our flight to Italy.
27. I loved Florence the best.
28. I have no desire to travel that long on an airplane ever again.
29. Especially if I have to take my children.
30. I love to travel.
31. I love Hawaii.
32. I went to Hawaii for my high school senior trip.
33. I've been back twice since then.
34. I highly recommend Kona Village.
35. I love the beach.
36. Not a fan of the sand, but love the atmosphere/waves/etc.
37. I don't go in the cold Pacific very often.
38. I'm not a good swimmer.
39. I'm afraid of open water.
40. I have no desire to go on a cruise.
41. I think Tom Cruise is a complete idiot.
42. My favorite actor is Tom Hanks.
43. My Cousin Vinny is one of my favorite movies.
44. I don't like scary movies.
45. The last movie I watched with Collin was I Am Legend.
46. It was scary, but the perfect movie to scrapbook too.
47. I am a Creative Memories consultant.
48. I love scrapbooking and treasuring our memories overall.
49. I am way too far behind but at least I'm organized.
50. I'm going to scrapbook tonight.
51. I love making scrapbooks as gifts.
52. I'm learning how to take better photos.
53. I love my camera.
54. I wish I knew how to use it better.
55. Some of my dearest friends are from an online Mommy board.
56. I have met many of them in real life.
57. I miss them terribly.
58. I have some incredible friends in CA.
59. I don't know if we will live in CA forever.
60. I love the weather, but don't fit in in many ways.
61. I want to be a better Mom.
62. I buy organic milk.
63. I each too much fast food.
64. I wish I were comfortable with my weight.
65. I love coffee.
66. I love chocolate.
67. I have no sense of smell b/c of Zicam.
68. I'm really bummed about it.
69. I want to get my spider veins and varicose veins fixed.
70. I'm super self-conscious about that.
71. I want to get my teeth whitened.
72. I'm self-consious about that too.
73. I'm learning to appreciate the little things.
74. I love reading children's books to my kids.
75. I'm trying to read more for pleasure.
76. The last book I finished was Sundays at Tiffanys by James Patterson.
77. I highly recommend The Road Letters by Phil Ribaudo
78. My childhood favorite is The Monster at the End of this Book (Grover).
79. I went to an all-girls Catholic high school.
80. I worked at Wendy's for four years and got two scholarships from them.
81. My first car was a 1979 Plymouth Horizon (hand-me-down).
82. I currently drive a Suburban.
83. I can't park it very well.
84. I think I have ADD.
85. I am an extrovert, yet shy in some situations.
86. I volunteer at my kids' school.
87. I'm trying to learn to say NO more.
88. I love getting messages.
89. I usually polish my own toes.
90. I love Diet Dr. Pepper.
91. I've been watching Days of our Lives forever (probably 30 yrs.).
92. I can remember when they came to New Orleans for Bo & Hope's wedding.
93. I went to the World's Fair and had a annual pass thingie.
94. I love my DVR.
95. My favorite shows are Grey's Anatomy/Survivor/So You Think You Can Dance/Deadliest Catch/The Bachelor/Desperate Housewives/.....I'll stop now.
96. I probably watch too much TV.
97. My first dog was named FiFi and she was a chihuahua.
98. I didn't start taking dance until I was 12.
99. I like to cross-stitch and the only sport I can do remotely well is ski.
100. I'm adopted.

Such is my life in a nutshell.........

I'm just a bloggin' fool aren't I. I'm trying to get back in the swing of it; it IS really hard to get back into the groove when you become a slacker.

Rewinding a bit -- I took the kids to AZ for Spring Break. We went to the Botanical Gardens. The kids played this little desert detective game that keep them entertained and paying attention. The Gardens were really beautiful with lots of cool stuff to see. The butterfly garden was a huge hit; we could have stayed in there for hours. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day:


giant saguaro

butterfly on bottlebrush plant

LOVE is watching my all-american boy try to fly a kite for the first time.

Yes, I know it is in the DVR recording, but I am DYING to interrupt Sean & Collin's viewing of Friday Night Lights (the movie). It is 9:19pm afterall; Sean should be in bed but I am eavesdropping on the neatest conversations about football, bad parenting, etc. Don't they realize that American Idol is on right now?!&*%!
.........fingers crossed for David Cook! David Archeleta can take his lip gloss and go sing on a Disney cruise ship.

A Wicked Afternoon

Time spent getting there on a busy Sat. afternoon: 1hr.45min.
Cost of parking: $15
Random sandwich to share from hole-in-the-wall Hollywood Blvd. shop: $8
Program (that she hasn't gotten her nose out of): $20
Bottle of gold, I mean water: $4
Having your 10yo grab your hand in excited anticipation as the lights dim & the curtain rises: PRICELESS

I'm willing to bet good money that I'm the only woman in Irvine that cut the grass/ used the weed eater/ pruned the roses/ weeded the flowerbeds/ blew all the debris together for final clean-up. AND it's 85 degress outside.

Yes, yes, FLIP ME A FISH!

Just about everyone I know (seriously, I only know of two other people who do their own lawn) has a gardener. Of course, I did it b/c I'm having a scrapbooking workshop tonight and I wanted the yard cleaned up a bit, but you can still flip me a fish.

JOY'S Edition of TV Talk
So I was wrong.......Parv wasn't a dead woman walking. She walked away with the money. I'm sooooo disappointed, but still can't wait for GABON. I'm hopeless when it comes to Survivor.

Now, What about American Idol? GO DAVID COOK! It should be a tight race next week. I don't think David Archeleta is the AI powerhouse type that will be a hit; unless they put him on Radio Disney and make him their next merchandise machine. He has a nice voice, but I'm not digging his appeal. I would listen to David Cook any day of the week. He is not Chris Daughtry, but he is so talented in comparison to Archeleta. David Cook can find a nice niche and run with it. I can't wait to see what he does for the finale.

Shows officially deleted off of my DVR -- Lost and K-Ville. Gone; bye-bye. I could never get into K-Ville and Lost had me barely dangling on to be interested so I just made the grand decision to erase,erase.

Up next on the DVR list -- So You Think You Can Dance! 5/22 -- must watch.

Grey's Anatomy and House are finishing up. And for the red-neck girl hidden deep within my soul, Collin and I watch The Deadliest Catch. We each have our favorite captain and watching these guys battle the elements for amazing crab is riveting.

All hail the DVR! What's in your cue?

Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there; we just got back from our annual camping El Capitan Canyon weekend. It was FABULOUS, relaxing, and just plain fun. I have tons of pics, but that will have to wait b/c TO-DAY Miss Maggie is 10! My biggest girl.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sorry I don't have any pictures on my computer from her toddler years to show you b/c she was just absolutely squishy. She still has the most amazing light blue eyes; she still loves anything to do with dance & drama (sometimes she creates her own drama, lol). She is definitely going to give me gray hair, but she is working on it. Her bond with Ian remains strong and recently they have started spending bedtime together with her reading to him. It is just precious and I don't ever want that to change.

Right now she is playing the viola and doing really well. We want to have her start taking piano b/c she definitely has an ear for music. Dance recital is coming up and this year she is doing an acro/jazz number and a tap dance. And her first resident camping trip is this summer. She will be gone for four days. It will be weird for both of us and probably harder on me than her.

As time continues to roll on too quickly, I try to appreciate the small stuff like the fact that she stills wants to be tucked in at night. Happy Birthday to my loverly.

Princess Bride. Monty Python. Caddyshack. The Godfather. Austin Powers. What do they all have in common? Well, if you are a movie lover (and geek) like me the answer is simple. MOVIE QUOTES!! My main movie to quote these days is PeeWee's Big Adventure. You see, it was all the rage for my best friends in high school. Kat could do a mean Pee-Wee Herman imitation; I am laughing just typing this and thinking about it. We imitated the bar/dance scene at all of the dances; walked around chirping 'la, la, la' for no apparent reason; and repeated "Shhhh, I'm trying to use the phone" until everyone around wanted to smack us I'm sure. There are so many downright hilarious scenes --- like this and this. How can I pick a favorite?

Just like music, movies bring me back to certain times and places in my life. I LOVED Grease as a young girl and now as a Mom I'm having a hard time letting my kids watch it b/c of the constant sexual overtones. I remember my Mom taking us to see Blue Lagoon in the theatre and two old ladies chastising her about it (lol!). Oh how I wanted to be on Fame or in Flashdance. Then Dirty Dancing came along and I wanted to vacation there so I could sneak out just like Baby. (don't laugh b/c you know you wanted to too)

So what movie quotes are your favorite movie quotes that you occasionally toss about? any movie that bring you back to your childhood?

Now I gotta go rent PeeWee's Big Adventure.

Quote of the day:
Ian to his 3yo friend "My Mom is allergic to noise."
I love that little dude!

LAME! It's my new word of the week. Really, it applies to so many things......

ME -- I'm lame b/c half-way through CA Adventure yesterday morning I realized my skirt was on inside out. Patterned and cute, just looked a little more hippiness with the seams showing.
ME -- b/c I couldn't get my act together to get a cake in advance for my son's 1st Communion dinner with friends. So we had cake on Sunday.
ME -- b/c I forgot my credit card on the kitchen counter and had to beg Costco to keep my cart while I ran to get the card & Amanda from school; which made me LATE to get Ian.
ME -- b/c it took me forever and a day to get the dryer vent cleared out and now it works like a charm. GO FIGURE, queen of lameness, laundry goes much faster when you aren't doing a double dry cycle.

Enough about me, many other things are lame too.........
Bad drivers = LAME -- thou shalt not honk at me when I am trying to turn left and there is traffic. I don't care if you are trying to turn right and squuuueeeeeze by my monster Burb. Get off your cell phone and wait your turn! And DO NOT honk at me. I was quite happy with myself when I turned and hollered "Dude, chill!" instead of showing him how beautiful my middle finger is.
Bad baseball parents = LAME -- if you are going to beam your kid in the batting cages during batting practice (on purpose) know that I WILL tell the people in charge. You are a psycho parent and are deserving of the King of Lame Crown.
Gas companies = LAME -- I get that they want to make a profit and all that other stuff but WHY is there such a varied price with the actual cost of a gallon of gasoline; even within the same company? Why is it that a gallon of gas costs $3.95 right off the interstate in the middle of nowhere/$3.50 in the middle of AZ/ $3.80 at the store on the corner/ $3.70 10 miles down the road. Answer: b/c they are LAME. Profit is one thing but selfish is another.
Stupid rules = LAME -- ex: the rule that the kids cannot be on ANY of the school equipment after school. Period. Not even to have a shady place to sit while waiting for your older sibling to get out (with your parent standing right there). They have to wait in the grass or sit at the picnic tables in the hot sun. Lame.

I promise -- I really try not to be grumpy. I'm just pointing out assorted lameness b/c if I didn't I would really go crazy. You really have to laugh at the insanity around you.

So the other day I was saying how scrapbooking is good for your soul. It still is. But so is shopping.

I like to shop but I wouldn't say I'm a shop-a-holic or an over-spender. I don't pay full price and I'm pretty practical overall. I mostly shop for the kids (of course) and like most Moms out there I hardly ever buy for myself (unless you are talking about a random apparel grab at Costco). With Sean's 1st Communion coming up this weekend, I decided to get myself something. Well, truth be told, I had to return a sundress that I had gotten when I took him to get his outfit on Sat. So I was really going to use the return credit to get something else. (details, details)

I started with this skirt and then I saw another one; so I got two. Then I came across this top to match the 2nd skirt. Then I saw these fun pants; not for this weekend, but I need some new bottoms. And these bermudas dress down the yellow top so of course I had to get them (the outfit looked great on the mannequin). And then I saw this dress; it's a bit of a stretch for me b/c I'm not that fashionable, but it's fun and different. Oh look, a cami tank for $4.99; I'll take one of those. And wow, basic shirts for $6.99....ah, junior section; so what, I'll just get a large.

I grabbed a couple of pieces of random chunky jewelry (yeah, 80% off) and headed to the register.............total time 40 minutes! But I didn't have time for cute shoes, bummer!

I headed off with my new duds and one of those "here sucker, come back next week for $30 off" coupons. B/c THEY NOW I'll spend more than $30. Just like the sundress that started it all.

Let's play a game -- WHAT'S THAT SMELL????????? It's not the dog, it's not coming from the bathroom, it's not something I have burned in the oven. It's coming from my kitchen cabinets! Yes - my new, beautiful kitchen.

I first noticed a weird smell in the tupperware cupboard. I searched and searched to see if one of the kids had put a dirty bowl in there or if by some weird chance (I have a 4yo, remember) someone put a damp rag in there. The smell is a musty one that I can't put my finger on. Now, the smell is under the sink too. The problem is that I can't really smell it there b/c Zicam has ruined my sense of smell. I can't smell much of anything so the fact that I'm detecting anything must mean it is really gross. So, I'm thinking it a water/drainage issue b/c the lines for the dishwasher run along the back of the tupperware cupboard. If not, is there some critter back in there dead between the outer wall and the cupboard? Is there a leak that I can't see (I hope not!)?

Who do I call? Do I shoot for a leak detection company? Do I call the handyman who installed the pipes & drain lines? Do I call a company that seeks out dead vermin? HELP!

There is something about spending some time scrapbooking that is so therapeutic. It is good for your soul. It just is.

I spent some time at my workshop on Friday evening assembling a small paper album for Maggie's 10th bday and I did lay-outs for nine pages in Sean's album. Then on Saturday after baseball, I proceeded to organize more photos for the next round of pages for all the kids; ordered some photos for Maggie's bday album; ordered some photos to update the school albums; and looked at many, many albums with the kids. While dh watched I Am Legend on Sat. night (great movie to scrapbook with b/c I could look away during the scary parts & not feel like a complete dork), I completed the nine pages I had jumpstarted for Sean. When I told him that I worked on his album, he responded with "cool, thanks - can I see?" Treasuring their stories is why I do this and they truly love their albums. I couldn't pick something better to be passionate about.

The main question I get about scrapbooking is 'when do you have time?' Well, I don't have time. I make time. On Saturday, I had five baskets of laundry to fold. I always have laundry to fold or some random chore to do. Knowing that I could (& would) do the laundry on Sunday, I focused on my photos.

I have to focus on the positive, right? B/c if I focus on the fact that I'm up to summer 2005 in my scrapbooking I might die.

Let's talk Survivor why don't we. HOLY COW what a great season it is. The weather is pretty nasty; the beaches were incredibly different (poor pathetic fans); the personalities crack me up and the challenges have been pretty cool.

I will admit that our whole family watches. It's not your typical family show but we just love it and overall it's pretty harmless. Everyone has their own favorite(s) and it's all drama all the time. Maggie mostly goes for the girls (and the occasional cute boy); Sean immediately gloms onto the strong boys. Who would have guessed?

Now, last night we laughed out loud numerous times. First of all, Cerie being sent to Exile was perfect. What was she going to do --- go there and talk about people to herself? Ha! Go sit in the rain and sulk you non-swimming non-competitor. Then, Eric gets the 'deer-in-the-headlights' look around all the topless natives. I, mean seriously, grandma boobs, DUDE......eeeewwww! Poor sweet naive little boy couldn't handle the native beer & betal nuts. Come on, THAT was funny. Moving on to James waking the LAZY campers with his branch whacking and ax sharpening..........I would have thrown a coconut shell at Parverti for even looking at me sideways much less telling me to be quiet. Get up you lazy bums and tend your own flippin' fire. Now, the immunity challenge -- yikes! I would have lasted two minutes before I was whining about my arm being numb; b/c I'm wimpy like that. James spilling his water required a rewind it was so funny. And Jason is STUPID enough to cave after six hrs.; what on earth? And are they in 4th grade with all the crossed finger promises. Hilarious, just hilarious. Dude; I'll tell you whatever you want if you just hand over the chocolate & peanut butter. And finally, Ozzy. ::::shaking my head::::: I'm so disappointed b/c I really, really like him but I thought he was smarter than that. Cockiness did get in his way afterall. Eliza's bug-eyed surprise was the final laugh of the night. Parv is a dead woman walking.

Enough trash talk for this week.

I love my kitchen! I can't believe I lived for so long with 1/2 functioning electric burners/a stove hood that didn't fit and was FUGLY/drawers that were falling off the runners.

Here's a little before and after: we had already pulled out the cabinets over the peninsula and the circa 1970 light panels.........

to this.......
Voila!

Time for gardening again. Imagine my surprise when I went back to look up my post from last year about my annual gardening fest and it was exactly one year ago.

So I am officially done with planting now. The weather has been perfect spring weather and I've been trying to get outside whenever I can. (my deepest sympathy to all you snow bunnies out there) It's my little escape from the daily routine of insanity.

This years total: 1 pack of cilantro seeds; one beefsteak tomato plant (salsa anyone?); a 12pk. of marigolds; a 12pk. of Ajuga; a 6pk. of Voila; 1 gal. Scilla Peruviana (a pretty petite lavendar flower); and 3 1-gal. Cyclamen. I have mostly shaded areas with a few full sun spots. I'm hoping the marigolds will ward off the snails that like to eat my gerber daisies. I heard snail pellets are poisonous for dogs; and my silly dog likes to eat snails too.

Now, could someone please tell me what that orange plant is that is pictured above. It blooms like little cherry balls and then blossoms into these beautiful orange bursts.

In addition to the assorted pictures I owe you, I have also included Sean's bday surprise to meet NO Saints player, Reggie Bush; Amanda lost her two front teeth; and Ian has decided to be training-wheel free.

Enjoy......................

Good Times of winter/spring 2008

Label me the laundry princess! As my dear friend Amy would say, "well flip me a fish". That big empty space you see on the bed was piled HIGH with laundry and there you have it all folded. I have since added two more loads to the piles.

I'm sure I would earn the label laundry Queen if I actually accomplished putting it all away. Ha, one can wish.

Holy guacamole...........has it really been two weeks since I posted and hardly any at all in March. Well let me grab my calendar so I can give you a thorough update. My Mom brain smooshes all the days together and I can't remember what happens when.

Well, let's rewind back to Sean's 8th bday (2/22). The Cadillac arrived safe and sound. The kids were beyond THRILLED to get a ride home from school in it. The 6th grade boys were drooling and wondering if they could touch it, lol. Everywhere the Cadillac goes it draws a ton of attention. The funniest comment so far... "that's a pimpin' ride". I'm not sure Gpa Z. would even know what that meant. Sean chose Disneyland for his b-day; so we spent a great day there and I'm proud to announce that Maggie is now no longer character phobic!!!!!!

We moved through Girl Scout cookie season; had Opening Day for baseball; and Maggie and I finished up with the play, The Promised Land. We were both sick for the closing show, but nevertheless enjoyed every minute. We are taking a theater break and looking forward to the Sound of Music this summer.

On Monday, 3/17/08, I had a little party here for Ian's bday. It was his first 'party' and he loved every minute. It was the perfect party ---- 10am-1pm; 7 kids total; bouncy house; sticker craft; pinata; snacks & cake. I kept it all outside and by 1:30pm there was no evidence that a party ever occurred except for the bouncy in the driveway. Ian had a blast; the big kids bounced for hours afterschool and it was all good. Even better for me -- as of this day the play was over; GS cookies were done; and Ian's party was behind me. ahhhhhh.................don't get me wrong, we are still waaaaay busy with baseball (Sean & Amanda are both playing, seperate teams/practices/game locations); dance classes; and religion classes. Sean is prepping for his First Communion this April.

My friend Sandee and her kids came for the Easter weekend. We had a great time. Collin took her son and Sean fishing on Sat. AM and they only caught one spotted bass. Oh well, such is the adventure of fishing. Sean was so distracted by his extra fans that he didn't get on base once during his Sat. afternoon game; he was sooooo sad and frustrated. Of course, this past Tues. he went 3 for 3 again, lol. He is currently batting around 700. Amanda's game was too cute for words and we laughed at the little ones running in all directions and chasing the ball.

My nasty cold wound up being a killer sinus infection; I'm almost over it. I finally got the last touch done needed to complete the kitchen. I got the grout steam cleaned and we are in the process of sealing it all. (blech!) The kitchen is officially done. I've been a planting fool but that is another post in itself. On Tuesday, I got my hair chopped off (and I love it); Amanda sprained her wrist on Wed. sliding down the inside of the banister. Tonight is the Talent Show at school. Maggie and two friends are dancing to the new version of The Tiki Room. They choreographed it; it's pretty cute. Collin would rather have nails pounded under his fingernails but he is going to watch the talent show tonight; Maggie's act is in the late 2nd Act so his wait will be a painful one.

Blogger isn't letting me updates pics. right now so I'll try to get a slideshow together of all these adventures. Next week is conference week at school - oh yeah.

The boy crashes.

This week, this is exactly how I have felt. Between the STOOO-PID time change and a nasty cold/flu that has hit our house, the bed keeps calling my name. Sleep is good; waking up at 8am when kids need to be at school in 25min. isn't. The tardy sign-in excuse officially read: "Mom is sick/she overslept". Naps are good; waking up from them and discovering that your 8yo got out of school 30min. ago isn't good.

I don't get sick often, so when wishing illness away doesn't work and the germs take over I crumble. And when the germs take over two of your four children along with you it just gets uglier. I'm not the best sympathetic Mom when my kids are sick, but the poor things don't stand a chance if I'm sick right along with them. The best I can muster is "here come lay down with me" or "last call for lunch, I'm going to lay down".

This is my LOVE Thursday. I love this amazing lady in the photo.

My beautiful friend is doing a beautiful thing......she is helping Shave the Way to Conquer Kids' Cancer.

Read below and please help her support this amazing cause.

"I'm shaving my head. Yes, you read that right. I'm going under the clippers during a St. Baldrick's Foundation event to raise funds for childhood cancer research. Since it's inception in 2000, St. Baldrick's has raised more than $34 million and grown into the world's largest fundraising event for childhood cancer.

While battling cancer children not only lose their hair, but years of their childhood, and sometimes their lives. In comparision to their struggle, shaving my head is a small sacrifice, and the money raised with make a difference for children with cancer now and in the future.

No amount is too big or too small. To donate online, visit www.stbalricks.org and click on 'donate' and search for me by filling in my first and last name (Sandee Skversky) under 'Find a Participant'. Then click on my name to complete the transaction. You can also donate over the phone by calling 888-899-BALD."

Spread the love; everyone can donate something small --- sacrifice your lastest Starbucks or your next trip to a fast food restaurant. Let's work together to help my dear friend meet her goal of $2500.

My friend Lisa posted this on a Mommy board that I read. It's like a little music lesson wrapped up in comedy. I think it's awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM



What isn't so awesome --- when your son delves into his parents' red-neck roots and decides to poop in the grass at the park. Yep, you read that correctly. And he wasn't playing doggy either. He dropped his britches right within eyeshot and I couldn't believe my eyes. He was proud of his offering; I wasn't so proud of being his Mom at that moment. If you think picking up dog poop is gross, try picking up almost 4yo park poop. Add that one to your 'ya might be a redneck' list of jokes.

Down in the depths of my throat there was a small tickle. So, I decided to follow the lead of my dh and the suggestion of AMAZING TRIPS: an amazing trip trick: staying healthy'>my friend Jen. I jumped on the Zicam wagon.

Yesterday I used the mint spray -- blech, tastes like Milk of Magnesia but didn't really affect my taste buds or anything. Today I decided to try the nasal gel to see if I could avoid the yuck taste. OMG!!!!!! What did I do???? Now my nose won't stop running; I can't stop sneezing; and my nasal passages are on fire. Now it seems like I HAVE a cold. It's been two hrs. and it still feels like I snorted jalapeno juice up my nose. If I could shove ice cubes up my nose I would. AND it is completely affecting my taste buds, so lunch pretty much sucked.

I'm going to try the gel on a q-tip like Jen suggested if I am brave enough once my nasal passages return to normal. If that doesn't work, I think I'll just continue with the the kids chewable Echinacea & with the cold away. In the mean time, I'm going lay on the couch and fight the urge to sniff.

I'm so proud of myself for actually posting on a regular basis so let's keep it rolling shall we.........Tagged by my friend Nicole..........

1. Typically what time do you wake up? 7:00 am- I typically roll out closer to 7:20 to get the kids up.

2. On a really good night what time are th kids in bed? 8-8:30pm -- it takes that long to do all the reading; tucking; prayers; and bedtime madness.

3. How long have you been a mommy? Almost 10 years!!!! How did that happen?

4. How old were you when you became a mommy? 28

5. What is your favorite kids show? Word World (sooooo creative) & Backyardigans

6. What is your least favorite kids show? Sponge Bob and Fairly Odd Parents and the tween shows like Zack&Cody.

7. What is your favorite chore? I can't believe someone actually wrote that question- isn't that an oxymoron? making the beds (if I actually do it) b/c it makes all the rooms look much cleaner

8. What is your favorite meal to cook? Breakfast b/c everyone eats it w/o complaining

9. What is the meal you cook most often? I try to mix things up a lot but probably spaghetti it is quick and creeps up every two weeks or so

10. What is your kids favorite meal? going out........sigh

11. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kids? he reads to them a lot but he also makes a point to have date nights with them so they can each have some daddy time.

12. What are 5 things that make you smile when you are being a mom? I love it most when they play together nicely and make each other laugh. I love watching Maggie enjoy the things I did (dance/drama/music); watching Sean play sports; listening to Amanda laugh (she has the best laugh); and snuggling with Ian.

13. If you could take your kids anywhere in the world where would it be? That's tough! probably Hawaii b/c they have been BEGGING to go for a while.

14. When was the last time you went out with your kids? Friday night we went out for Sean's bday.

15. What is your favorite past time/activity to do with your kids? going to the beach

16. Name 1 thing you said you'd never do as a mom? ground my kids for ridiculous amounts of time completely unrelated to the crime. I would get grounded for "six weeks" b/c I didn't do the dishes ONE night. And then after a few days, my mom would always let me off. @@ I refuse to do that stupidity.

17. Name 1 thing you do that your mom did: cook!

18. What is your favorite quality that your mom has? she is still close with her brothers & sisters

19. What is your favorite children's book? Hmmmmmm, There is a Monster at the end of this Book (Grover from Ses.Street; golden book) --- makes me laugh everytime and it's the one book I remember reading over&over as a kid.

20. Advice for new moms? Scrapbook -- celebrate your memories don't leave them on a camera, disk, or hard drive

21. What is your scariest or most heartbreaking moment as a mom? when Sean was sick with Kawasaki disease.

22. What is your most joyful moment as a mom? Mother's Day b/c they usually try to do extra special stuff and keep it a secret.

23. When was the last time one of your kids said I love you? 10 minutes ago from Ian

24. When was the last time you told one of your kids I love you? 10 minutes ago to Ian

25. Your biggest pet peeve as a mom? aw, just one...............that my kids will inevitably spill something or make a huge mess of crumbs 15 min. after I mop the floor.

Now I'm tagging ---- Amy(foil hat), Janet, Jen(trips), and Deana

The best LOVE Thursday ----
Friday, February 22, 2008 is going to be a big day in our house.
Sean turns 8! Eight is hard for me; he seems like such a big kid now. Where did my bald headed little guy go? From the time he started crawling at 4-1/2 mos. (I have video proof) he has never looked back. He is one bundle of energy. In a nutshell, he is athletic, busy, physical, friendly, shy, inquisitive and most of the time hungry. He loves non-fiction books, collecting football & baseball cards, playing with Fritz, and doing anything with his Dad. He a pretty cool little dude; he makes me laugh and makes me want to pull my hair out with his never-ending sound making. He is his father's son, down to the request for cheesecake for his b-day cake. Happy Birthday to my sweet boy.............

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

and the topper of his birthday --- his Great Grandpa's 1959 Cadillac is set to arrive. He is anxiously awaiting his birthday ride with his Dad behind the wheel.

"I see them melting"
Trying to earn some fun-Mom points with the littles.......yesterday I decided to make some choc.chip cookies from scratch b/c what else would be appropriate for a cold, icky misty rain day. (work with me here, I know many of you are buried in snow and label me a weather wimp, but this IS SoCal winter) I even let them taste the creamed sugars & butter before we put the eggs in. That should get me double points.

Kill.me.now.
I don't know how I'm going to afford to feed Sean if he keeps this up.

Overall, he's a good eater. He always has been. I don't recall him hitting the picky toddler stage. He likes food. Yesterday for breakfast he ate -- 1 ham&cheese omelette; 1-1/2 english muffins; 2 slices of bacon and one sausage patty; 1/4 of a belgium waffle; and a slice of cantaloupe along with two glasses of orange juice. He is an eating machine and can eat more than I do, and often does. He burns every single calorie b/c he is solid muscle at 60-ish pounds w/o an ounce of fat on him.

He'll be 8 on Friday. Send grocery gift cards for his birthday.

Thank goodness Valentine's Day is over. I am quickly becoming a Valentine's Day grinch. The madness of getting valentines for four kids and getting them all filled out just to be exchanged for a bag of paper and candy just makes me insane. Case in point:

Maggie -- had to have two different kinds b/c the boys wouldn't want Hello Kitty @@ So now we have extra cheap paper crap.

Sean -- only obliged b/c there was candy trading involved.

Amanda -- liked doing it but was scoping out her bag as the week progressed to make sure she was getting lots of candy.

Ian -- he can't even write yet, ferepetesake! AND the preschool specifically asks you not to bring candy, stickers, etc. And I am apparently the only lame parent who follows this rule. He had no clue who everyone in the class even was (they are in three mini-groups) nor did he understand the chaos of distributing them in the bags. He is THREE; they are his valentines. He didn't want to give them away. WHY do they do this?

So it was Red-Dye Candy Fest 2008 here yesterday afternoon.

Now, I thoroughly enjoyed getting roses from my husband and going to lunch with him. He liked his wine book and lunch as well. The kids each got a small something from us. I made a nice pot roast with veggies/roasted potatoes/fresh fruit/crescent rolls dinner along with some red velvet cupcakes for dessert. THESE people are my valentines -- I love them. This the reason for Valentine's Day; to remind those you love how special they are.

Not the candy trading madness and clutter creating paper trade that it has become.
OK, I'm done.

So, we try to read to (and with) the kids as much as possible. It's not an easy task with four very different reading levels and personal tastes.

Maggie still enjoys being read to but she struggles to find a genre/theme/catagory that she enjoys. I get it; it's all my fault. I hated to read as a kid b/c it was such a struggle and she is cut from the same mold. She always asks (more like begs & pleads) with me to buy her books; yet she never reads them. I'm encouraging her to use the library to find a good fit THEN we will purchase to our hearts content. It's so frustrating b/c she will read a few pages of a book and immediately hate it. [I just want to note that I have no problem buying books as long as they are going to be read.] She did finish Diary of a Wimpy Kid recently and she is working on The Tale of Despereaux right now.

Sean remains the non-fiction reading king. He loves, loves, loves animal stuff; mostly oceanography but he'll read about most anything. He is working on Step 3 beginning readers. He's moving toward chapter books, but he hasn't seen much that he likes there. I'm hoping he'll jump into Magic Treehouse soon. He's a bit behind on his reading fluency, but he is improving.

Amanda is really moving forward with her reading. She is currently breezing through Bob books and trys to figure out words constantly. I am reading a Magic Treehouse book to her and she is really enjoying the short chapters. She'll be reading these before I know it. One of her current favorites is I Ain't Gonna Paint No More; so fun, and it fits her personality to a tee.

Ian just appreciates the reading time he does get. He loves all the classics (Big Red Barn, Sandra Boynton stuff, etc.) but his two favorites these days are: Ten Clean/Dirty Pigs and Baby Bear, Baby Bear What Do You See? Of course, you have to pinch your nose when you read the skunk page.

I'm not a big military buff. My dh being the typical male species will watch anything anywhere on military stuff. Most of his TV watching consists of History Channel or Discovery Channel or another military flick (title doesn't matter; he'll watch the same one over & over). Most of it is lost with me and I'm Charlie Brown listening to his teacher when he talks to me about it.

However, I do want to give credit where credit is due. If you ever get the chance to watch Band of Brothers, DO IT. Done by Spielberg & Hanks, it is gripping, realistic, and heartwrenching. The scene where the company comes across the concentration camp KILLS me everytime. It's not on the same level as most recent war films. It's intense like Saving Private Ryan and Pearl Harbor, but in no way do you get the 'men in uniform' look of Affleck

I need to go watch a chick-flick to get my life back in balance. Got any suggestions?

Lots to post about but first and foremost on my brain is sleep. Must. Sleep.
Basically I gave up liquid caffeine (coffee, soda -- still eating chocolate) for Lent. Do I really need to explain any further.

Well, by 2:15pm today I. was. dead. could. not. function. I stopped at home for a few minutes before heading to pick up Sean from school. With the two littles playing quietly upstairs, I crashed on the guest bed. There was no stopping it. I woke to my dh walking in to look for his library card. I made a mad dash to get Sean lest he think I forgot to pick him up.

I think I tricked myself into surviving until now b/c I had a caffeine-free Diet Dr.Pepper with my dinner.

I completely understand how comfortable this monkey is b/c that is how I felt this afternoon. It's going to be a long Lenten season.

In the news............
I AM still alive --- incredibly busy with life. Maggie and I have had a ton of rehearsals for The Promised Land over the last two weeks. Run-throughs start next week and then the show begins; it's actually easier when the show begins b/c it's a weekend commitment. Sharing this experience with Maggie has been so much fun; the rest of the family has all of our show songs ringing in their heads.

Sean got picked for kid pitch again this season. We are looking forward to seeing how much he has grown since last year. Yet another bat has appeared in the equipment bag; it's a little bit of de-ja-vu. Practice starts soon; me & my camera can't wait for opening day.

Maggie's first viola concert is tomorrow AM. She is so excited that she earned a spot in the front row. Of course, the occasion required a shopping trip and she looks so grown up. She loves to practice and isn't half bad actually.

Amanda's latest obsession -- learning to read. She is trying to read anything she can get her hands on. It's so cool to finally have a kid who LIKES to practice reading. She loves school. We are so glad that she had a bonus year. She is hoping to find her teacher on the ski slopes this weekend.

Ian --- he is almost 4! Next week I submit my final preschool registration paperwork. We have been there since Fall 2001 (when Amanda was born!) and we will officially be finished June 2009. It's been a loooooong stay and a wonderful experience, but I am counting down the tuition payments.

We are heading to the mountains this weekend. We will be joined by our Best Man and his family. With our recent storms, the conditions are great so it should be a blast.
That's the lastest edition of our news. Now if you need something to do in between these blog posts go check out lolcats.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Here's a little taste of a SoCal Christmas -- tree decorating, boat parade, Disneyland, etc.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Time for another installment of LOVE Thursday; it's been a while.
I LOVE being organized and the clean fresh feeling of put-away Christmas decorations (you aren't imagining it; the bottom three large containers are all lights for Clark) and an organized garage. Aaaaahhhhhhhh............

Isn't there some saying about 'things' happen in threes. Well, can I just take a TWO and call it close enough........

Friday night during my CM workshop I had turned on the stove to warm a little glaze for my dessert. Well, I got busy doing something else and forgot about it. Minutes later, smoke was pouring out of my newly, remodeled kitchen. I was moments away from a fire I'm sure b/c the glaze was completely black and smoldering. Pot went into the trash after it cooled.

And today, I smelled something burning this morning. Dh informed me that it was probably the waffles; however, nothing was in the toaster and it was unplugged. Hmmmmm. Later this evening around 7pm, we couldn't get our living room TV to come on. Weird; it was fine earlier. Hmmmmmmm, strange. Guess it's dead; it looked like the little power/channel disk on the top was stuck down so we figured we would need to start shopping for a new one. Dh is quietly happy I'm sure. Fast forward to 9:30pm after bedtime routine, I came downstairs to the tv popping every two seconds and smell of something burning. Dh thinks it was the 'power trying to kick on' with the stuck disk thing but I don't care. Had I gone to bed and not come to down to wade through more laundry we would have had an electrical fire.

SO the installation of smoke detectors is now on the TOP of the to-do list. They have been in the garage forever. (I know it is BAD that we don't have them but they got taken down when we had the ceilings done.)

In the meantime, I promise not to leave the house with the dryer on.

Comedy. Watching your 44yo husband try to learn how to put his contact lenses in. Pure comedy.

I told him I was going to video him and put it on YouTube, but he didn't think I was funny.

So here goes my 1st post of 2008 ------
started the year off right with a roadtrip to AZ last week. It was so wonderful and relaxing. I still played 'wife' to Sandee by meal planning and grocery shopping while she worked but it was so nice to just have no commitments or obligations. We vegged on random television shows in the evenings......making us realize that 1) we want to stay healthy and not weigh 800lbs. individually or collectively and 2) I could easily be considered 'schlumpy' or 'drowning in Mom wear' on the show What Not to Wear.

So what better way to end our visit than with a trip to the outlet mall in search of NON-Mom wear. I kept saying 'what not to wear' special or no? each time I came out of a dressing room. I purchased a pair of tan cords, a denim skirt, a versatile blouse/top (what word do I use that doesn't make me sound old?), and a pair of Bass flats that are soooooooooo comfortable, yet stylish. AND I didn't spend a thousand dollars doing it; all totalled it was less than $100.

Now I just need a makever for my hair! Please!

UGH!!!!!!!! So I'm not going to make it to 100 posts for 2007 (which would have been double 2006). Bummer. Oh well, I'll shoot for 150 in 2008.

HAPPY NEW YEAR -- welcome 2008! Hoping for more travel with friends; a healthy family; successful business; and meeting my weight loss goal. I'll take the first three and just enjoy chocolate if I can't have the 4th.