PIECES

That is how I think my mind is constructed. Pieces of brain matter stacked, unstacked, rolling around, put on hold, empty, asleep, keenly aware, overworked, in need of a sugar fix, mixed-up, set on fire, multi-tasked to submission. Kind of like being schizo, only much more middle aged- wifey. My reasons? Here are some of the my current realities:

* My oldest son has a serious sports injury (pulled an arm muscle) that prevents him from even holding up a book, much less writing, doing homework, drawing or doing chores. Injury occurs while wii bowling. Now we have to explain said injury to his teacher and his baseball coach.

* My daughter is the Queen of Stubborn but she is no match for me :)

* My other son (the middle child) has been on his best behavior as of late, and it is also true that I probably notice him less :(

* I used to be a power feminist, but now if someone would consider me a trophy wife, I would consider that a compliment.

* I always said I would never have plastic surgery or get tattoos, yet I did lots of both. Oh yah, and I never thought I would need an oncologist either.

* I have been wondering what exactly "going to hell in a hand basket" means and is it worse than just going to hell plain?

* I have noticed we no longer get turkey turds all over the pool deck in the spring because we now have two German Shepherds. But now we have german shepherd turds instead.

* Speaking of the pool. I have at least 5 bathing suits, but I always need a new one. You know the fantasy one that is comfortable and cute and make you look 20 years old again.

* Your cat can and will screw up your Wii yoga session. Thanks Melissa.

* You can be an atheist with kids in Catholic school. Maybe there is a support group for that.

* And along those same lines, you can make a purple Jesus out of clay for a class assignment in the name of "it is called creativity Mom!" Did I mention that ivory/beige and brown clays were all available?

* Middle son is petitioning for a "rise" in his allowance and his argument includes "Show me the money Deep Pockets." Need to find second grade reading regarding the recession.......

* I can absolutely assure you that force= mass x acceleration because no force is moving my mass......

* I don't think the new parochial school would approve of one of my favorite youtubes of all time

And that is all for now folks. Play safe and sane out there!

Discovery

I. just. left. him. there.

OK confession... I put him in the microwave for a little bit and then put him back in the freezer. Some Rescue Hero. Can't even take on a Desperate Housewife. Or a fourth-grader's curiosity.

Multi-Tasking Manga Master

For those of you begging me to come up with some non-kid material~ tough. My School is Back in Session Break is not for another week.

Looking on dear five year-old daughter's desk this morning, I see she had out her mini-manga drawing book that Santa put in her stocking. Santa was not sure she would like it. But he wanted to be fair since her brothers got the same kits. She was the first to try it. Here are the included instructions. Her sketch is on the left.




I think she did pretty well, especially considering she used a ball-point pen. I told her how impressed I was and she said "Oh, that. I just did it real quick while I was sitting on the pot."

Talk about a casual artist......

Hope Your Wife Is In Good Shape

The kiddos are happily eating their pancakes, eagerly awaiting present time. I noticed the following note next to the fireplace:

Dear: Santa Clause
I have been a good kid this year. and I would also like to know how youre reindeer and wife are doing? Rudolph still got his nose bright for Christmas. Does Rudolph ever get his nose polished? Well, hows your wife? Is she in good shape? And health is doing good right? I'd really like these questions answered Christmas morning.


Sincerely, Scott

P.S. hope you are in good health and shape too.

No rest for the weary Santa. You had better get back to him on this :)

Merry Christmas all of my bloggy friends. Thanks for your friendship and support all year!!!

Simple Enough

Right? Taking the annual holiday kid photo for the Christmas cards.


Obviously I have parent heimers after an entire decade of kidhood. I was minimally prepared. Somehow each new session I think it is going to be easier than the last year.........
I did manage one good photo after small amounts of blood, sweat, tears and minor threats.

My back up plan was to use an old and somewhat embarrassing photo of the kids. So they can put it on their list of things I did wrong when they are in therapy. Some of my favorite contenders...

Merry Christmas from the Karate Kid Photokiller

Seasons Greeterings

Hark the Railroad Angels Sing.....

Deck the Halls with a Little Harmless Cross-Dressing



Not a Creature was stirring, not even a pissed off mouse (who's entire class had to be mice in the school play, much to his chagrin)

I'm Dreaming of a
Green-Haired Christmas

In the Christmas Spirit Already on the First Day of School

Jingle Bells, My Hair is in Swells, Mom Get the Brush

Silent Night Camping With Kids~ NOT!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

PEACE BE WITH ALL OF YOU DURING THIS CRAZY ASS HOLIDAY TIME!!

It's Never Too Early for a Christmas List

At risk of sounding materialistic, and not teaching the true meaning of Christmas, we have officially started the kids' Christmas lists. And as we all know, birds don't get much for Christmas, so starting a Christmas list in October does seem wrong on many levels. But the reality is dear husband and I were desperate for some down time and needed something for the kids to do with enthusiasm. In their rooms. By themselves. For a good hour. Writing up their Christmas lists (and really the relatives will start asking soon what they need/want) was just the ticket last night. Two of the three turned theirs in today. I guess we should have discussed a budget beforehand......




First, dear five-year old daughter, who must have had some help from older brother for the first 16 items. Yes, 16.





1. Nintendo DS


2. French Manicure Nails


3. Haircut set with Makeup


4. Hot Pink Cell Phone


5. Give All the Kids Toys


6. Shiny Shoes


7. Five Books


8. Toy Pony (thank goodness it was "toy")


9. Barbie Doll Stickers


10. Toy Wiener Dog (thanks Jan)


11. Toy Kitten


12. Remote Control Parrot


13. Remote Control Helicopter


14. Toy Ghost


15. Crown + Wand + Fairy Suit


16. Camera





and then she thought some more and wrote in herself:





That is "FAKE driver's license" for those of you not used to deciphering 5-year old spelling. I think she did pretty well.

I think I can take her extra passport photo and glue it on an old gift card.......







Dear 7 year old son had at least 30 items. A round up:

cheat book for Nintendo DS, ipod plus songs, art stuff, artist's stuff, fool's gold, sling shot, remote control motor boat and car, crystals, valuable coins, toy ghost, toy zombie, gift card, water gun, nerf gun, camera, bike helmet, pokemon cards, cloneship lego star wars, bionicles, droid ship, marsh mellow gun, books, action figures.

So there you have it. Still waiting for nine year old son's list. It should be a doozy.

Momwork

I guess I didn't know that Moms got homework. This is in addition to regular mom work. I understand the schools have a limited budget. And I appreciate all the effort teachers put into projects for my kids. But it drives me nuts when a note comes home Tuesday that dear son needs to bring a package of dried apples (always handy) in on Thursday morning. Which means I HAVE to go to the store on Wednesday. This screws up my "I only got to the grocery store once a week" creed. Hmmm.... I am beginning to see where my eldest's inflexibility may have come from.........


And if I don't hand everything as per requested- I will get a bad mommy grade.







I wish I just got a list at the beginning of the year with all of my momwork so I can get extra credit for getting it done early. It probably, with three kids combined, would look like this:

Marge's Momwork

* 10-12 snapshots of each child and family, pets, etc. (which may or may not be mangled, cut up and/or returned )
* 2 liter soda bottles- empty (chug-a-lug)
* birthday snacks for a class of 30 (nutritious, no nuts and something they won't think is gross and throw around the room) x3
* party napkins for 30
* juice boxes for 30
* 3 boxes Kleenex
* 2 inch binder
* ruler
* ice cream toppings
* sign a million papers
* collection of 100 something (buttons, cheerios, etc.)
* dried apples
* makings for a giant panda diorama
* 5-6 shoe boxes, some decorated
* 2 dozen hard-boiled eggs
* cake mix for the cake decorating contest
* hard candy for the carnival
* old holiday cards
* poster boards, markers
* report covers
* pine cones
* red glitter
* trombone (got a call from dear son at recess, he needed a trombone by 2:00 that day)
* music for trombone
* about 50 miscellaneous items- TBA (of course)

I am thinking my mom only got stuff for my science projects. She didn't know how easy she had it. So if you see me hightailing it to Von's with teacher's note in my hand, wave hi and make me smile. I maybe will smile back :)

Sad but true....

I am completely lost, dysfunctional, sorta depressed...all because my digital camera has gone to digital camera heaven- again. I can't blog, I can't wordless wednesday, I can't take a ridiculous number of pictures of the kids or the cats.

I was a first time camera widow about 6 months ago and now my latest one died. As in DEAD. Cost more to fix it than get a new one. Arghhhhhhhhh. Going to get a better/more sturdy/ more like my old Minolta 35mm but digital. Because of the dreaded BUDGET, have to wait a few more weeks. Anyway, if anyone has any recommendations for a new one, I am all ears. Camera must be able to withstand sand and roller coasters. I can tell new camera can't wait to meet me and it's new destiny......................

Another sad but true fact is our dog Nikki is at her End of Days. Lately she has been having a lot of trouble getting up off her dog bed. She is almost 14 and really has not been herself since we had to put her 14 year old "sister" dog down a year ago.
Major, our major goofus young dog, gave her a gift today. He found a dead baby bird (tiny, fell out of it's nest I assume) and he brought it over to her and put it on her dog bed. The baby bird looked like it was sleeping (i.e. not chewed up) and Nikki wagged her tail as she smelled it. Of course I am inferring here. But there is no other way this little bird made it onto her bed by itself. Major is so sweet, in a disgusting dog sort of way. It is weird how they must know some things..... he has never passed up the opportunity to chew up some dead animal before.....

I am listening to the kids blasting "Under My Rock" by Spongebob and Patrick.

The housing crisis has hit home. My 5 year old dear daughter has a homemade sign on her door that says "Sorry, HOUS UNAVILIBL" Of course, I would post a cute photo of this sign, but *sigh*

The last sad but true fact for the day is I don't wanna make dinner, but I have to- waaah!!

Things I Have Learned Recently- Part 3

You can make a capri-sun purse. How is that for being green?

You can have two fashion seasons: UGG boots and flip flops. Oh so comfy, and you can be the envy of fashionistas everywhere!

If you eat 6 cups of watermelon including the rind, it is comparable to taking a Viagra. (Information compliments of my hubbie)

According to male, teenage , foreign-exchange students from Sweden, my dear hubbie looks like John Travolta. I am checking into a look-alike career for him as we speak. I wonder how cold Sweden is in the winter.....

My cat Melissa thinks dry Grape Nuts are just as good as dry cat food. Crunch, crunch.

It is possible to take one 6 year old boy to a BBQ party and come home 3 hours later with same six year old boy who has accomplished: playing numerous football, soccer, dodge ball and basketball games with 5 teenage foreign exchange students (half of whom do not speak any English), a new knee scrape, a new arm scrape, a new ankle scrape (all separate occurrences), dog wrestling (2 different dogs), block building, bike riding, scooter riding, muddy feet, muddy shirt, wet shirt, wet shoes, missing socks, muddy and wet shorts, silly string hair, silly string ball wadded up in muddy shorts pocket, lemonade and brownie stained face, pinata booty and wagon ride down a steep hill initiation. This kid does more in three hours than I do in a year (or two!)



My other son wants to open up a "baby food only" restaurant and call it Gums-R-Us


According to dear daughter, your day can be defined as "the greatest day ever" if you wake up and your toe nail polish is still on. I just love her philosophy......

Smitten

My improg word of the week is smitten. Hmmm...my smitten list....

Going for the rhyme first.....

I am smitten with my new kitten. His name is Patrick and he is a terror. In a cute way of course. Much like my next smittens.....






I am smitten with my three kids. No explanation needed here. Oh, you know I can't resist....
They are occasionally terrors, terrifying or terrified. And so am I.










I am mostly smitten with dear husband, but he is on another list today......

Why do men have no clue sometimes? I wish he would just read my mind already, LOL.

OK, he just called. He is reading my mind. Speaking of terrible, dear s-list husband just called to tell me that a couple we know were both severely injured in a bicycle accident. I think I will go straight to get over it mode.

I am smitten with my new cell phone. I had been carrying around an old phone (a whole four years old- a real dinosaur). Now mine is almost as good as our 17 year -old baby sitter's phone.

Isn't it lovely? Did I mention that my old phone met it's demise by the hands of dear daughter and an adventure over a balcony?? I still have the same # people, so call me already!

Life Is Not Fair Kinda Funny

I am participating in IMPROG MONDAY. Basically with improg, you blog about the word of the day. Please check out the improg site for more information. You will see there is also an improg Friday, but I have a problem with biweekly commitment at this juncture..... :)
Everyone is welcome to join the fun!

Improg word today is fair. Surprisingly, for a Monday morning, my somewhat youthfully old (see Your Brain on Menopause) and confused brain (why are we thinking so early???) spits out two meanings for fair. The first one is fair, as in county fair, which is quickly discarded. Why you may ask? Because I am a dentist and county fair=missing teeth= can't stop staring at missing teeth= why don't they get their teeth fixed?= they are on drugs= they are running the rides on drugs= why did we bring the kids here again= @&%$!#$^$@!!= alright, let's not think about this anymore. As in never!!

The second meaning is fair as in fairness. As in life is not fair. Well, I could go on and on about this. But if I really wanted to go down this depressing road- I would read one of my breast cancer books or think why they made the stranger safety video my kids are watching right now or look at the latest news. So I am going with Life Is Not Fair Kinda Funny.

LIFE IS NOT FAIR because......

* my husband has his own home office with official desk, nice desk chair, new desktop computer, ability to close door and lock it
* I have an old laptop, no printer, no privacy (in the middle of the living room which is open to the rest of the house), one of the dining room chairs, an old table
* I have a daughter that at age 5, without my knowledge or consent, wrote on my Summer Kid Project List (which was in my desk) "clay tawers" I am not really sure why Karen's Mom's Freezer Paper Project and the tie-dye t-shirts were not enough projects for her this summer. I am not even sure what clay towers are. But I am sure that when I see her after the video, she will let me know. It it is not really fair that my daughter is so funny, smart, loving, creative, cute and motivated- but the other mothers will just have to envy me ;)
* my kids caught a cold, from some kid at school, on the very last possible day they were in school and could possibly catch a cold from someone there
* now that the laptop, desktop, boat, pool cover and something else I can't remember are fixed.... the camera just broke
* it is so much easier to spend money than save it and so much easier to gain weight than lose it (see above camera just broke, and I still like cake)
* my brain has fallen and it can't get up
* my son was talking about how he knows "how to find portals" and my poor brain was trying to figure out how this relates to the field trip I had just asked him about (note: it doesn't, try to keep up mom)
* after returning home from the beach, I discover pockets FULL of decaying dead crab parts in dear son's jacket...............some big parts, hundreds of tiny parts, all stinky parts. I really hate dead, stinky crab parts and checking pockets at the beach would have been oh so convenient.......
* I need to find a Blogger Rehab Program or start my own. It's summer vacation time people! And I am officially on duty to preserve and protect and restore order as necessary!!

So there you have it folks! Happy improg!

Some More Things I Have Learned

1. Take one hot concrete step. Get one pair thin pants and one pair nylon undies. Combine pants and undies. Sit on step and bake at 95 degrees for one hour at your nephew's graduation. Yield 2 hot buns. Burnt buns to be exact. Exactly 2 red, burned butt cheeks. Ask your husband to rub aloe lotion on and serve.

Recipe compliments of my sister ;)

2. If you SWEAR TO GOD that you will only go in and buy the baby boy gift for your daughter's pregnant teacher and not a bunch of clothes for your daughter at The Children's Place....well ... you are going straight to hell.

3. There is only one style of bra, in the entire Victoria Secrets store, that does not have padding. And it is $45. Let's see- plain bra with no padding, twice as much? What is up with that?

4. If you buy a manga cartoon kit for your boys, you won't see them for 2 hours. how convenient at times.... They will draw cartoons that combine killer bees, rock stars, pet stores and ninjas. All in the same strip.

5. You can and will be corrected on the lyrics while singing "Laugh Cuckaberra, laugh cuckaberra" by your five year old.

6. She sings better than you.

The Marge News Report

In recent developments....

1) My "m" key is on this fritz. So annoying!

2) I a going to the dup on Tuesday.

OK, put in a couple of m's for AM and DUMP. (See #1)
My son's third grade field trip is in need of adults. I am looking for my rubber boots today.

3) Kittens fart.

4) I do not know how to take a photo with my cellphone. I do not know how to send any phone photo to anyone else either. Apparently, my four year old daughter can do both.

I was sitting at my desk when my cellphone beeped. Text message. I don't know how to text anyone either. Message from my sis "Cute." How did she know I was? LOL, I call her to tell her she is losing her mind and she tells me I just sent her a picture of our new kitten. Oh, dear daughter.............

I think I can write a Dr. Seuss-like story:
I do not know how ......I do not know how .......daughter says "WOW, how can you not know how?"

5) The entire state of California can be rainy and stormy for Memorial Day Weekend. Oh ya, we can have tornadoes and hail storms too.

6) There is a need for all the broken jewelry and little beads and what not that I have accumulated. Please consider donating yours to Buttons and Dollars. My friend Hayley has a great post with contact information on her blog.

7) We have four bluebird nests in our menagerie of bird houses this spring. We also have at least two king snakes hanging out near the play structure. We hope they all play nice.

8) FOUND (when I cleaned out all the cabinets): pickles that were best by April 2004, twenty tubes of dried up frosting, thong underwear (worn for exactly 10 seconds) and a note from my then 6 year old son that said Mom, I need to speak to you up to my room right now. From your son. I found tons of other junk too. Want. To. Stop. Buying. Crap. Now.

9) If, by chance, a jelly bean rolls unnoticed under the griddle on your cook top, and you cook on the griddle for a week before you notice.....................well you are screwed.
Burnt, melted, stuck-on-there-forever screwed.

10) There is such thing as a drive by hissing. Just ask Melissa. I decided this is much better than a drive by farting. See #3.

11) My husband can do a dead-on Homer Simpson voice "I've got three words for ya Marge.................go... to........ the...... store! " (insert Homer laugh here)

And yes, I need to go to the store- see excuse #5, and reason why I don't wanna #8.

I guess I still need food around these parts....
But I have lost my appetite, reality #3.

Mine Got Talent

OK, we are not signing up anyone for a reality show or Martha Stewart Living. But I slowed down enough recently to be really impressed with the skills in this household.
Of course my skills, I still struggle to ignore ;)

First up is oldest son, otherwise known as The Experimentator. We have a standard Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy. If we do have to go into his bathroom for something, we do it quick. Or else we may see the crusted counter and mirror. You will thank me for not photographing the crusted floor. He does "clean" his own bathroom for allowance. I am proud he has the ingenuity to try new things.

But I am not sure what his Calamine, Benadryl concoction was made for. I don't even see said concoction. It is probably in his sock drawer........Not to self: turn to the manual Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I am slightly worried, however, as it is the start of poison oak season and we may now be low on supplies............

Second up is younger son, the artist. He has good three-dimensional spacial awareness. Even when he eats. It ain't pretty (the eating) but it is interesting. We caught him "after hours drawing". Funny how he chose to draw on his futon, on his homemade Sponge Bob box, next to the recently purchased "Boss Toss." You load up a plastic boss (notice tiny little plastic bosses) in the gun and shoot him/her out. Somehow he lawyered me into getting it because Boss Toss doesn't have bullets, so it is not a toy gun. He doesn't understand that to really enjoy the Boss Toss, you need an actual boss. He still thinks it is fun.

Oh and he has a big desk with a lamp that is perfect for drawing. But I must say his volcano looks pretty good- so who am I to criticize his method? He is also sky jump boy from previous post below. He was doing double back flips. He was 3 stories up! I was too tired and cold to be fretful. No I take that back, I am a cool mom!


And here is dear daughter. AKA Squirrel. More on that later. She is practicing to "be a mommy." She loves to "take care" of her baby. Notice she tattooed her name on babies head, added a few stickers for good measure and then put her in a giant pull up. If I was that baby- I wouldn't be making a peep! She is also helping her dance teacher pick out the recital costumes. At 4 already a fashion consultant.


And I recently discovered my other boys are fabulous broiler pan cleaners. No more soaking in the sink for 2 days. Now I can just put it out on the back porch and it is all clean within 30 minutes. Just a little rinse and I'm done. Thanks guys!


Now, DH is very talented too. He has in the last 12 months: coached 1 soccer team, one football team, head coached 2 basketball teams, taught 4 kids how to ski, took on head football coach for next year's team, played on a men's basketball team, played on a coed volleyball team and worked full-time. And he takes the kids to school every morning. Saint Husband requires prior approval for posted pictures- so I will get back to you on that one.

That is all for now. Everyone have a great weekend!

Mystery Solved

I like birds. I like birds. Did I say I like birds? I feel guilty that we cut down some trees to build our home. To make up for it, I have been feeding the wild birds, including the turkeys, relentlessly. This last summer, I added a hummingbird feeder to my circuit. Loved watching those hummers. They were bossy and sneaky. The feeding politics reminded me of the corporate world: one top bird, the rest scurrying around the feeder whenever they could, looking like they were doing something else if the boss flew in.




Anyway, I expected the nectar to go unused at some point this past winter when the hummers left or hibernated or whatever. Note to self: read up on all those bird books. But the nectar kept getting slurped up, and I never saw any hummingbirds. I figured they were just shy in the winter, so I mindlessly kept refilling the feeder. You know where this is going right????



Today Dear Son walks around the corner outside the house kind of licking his face and hands. I asked what he was tasting and he told me "that great hummingbird juice."

So there you have it. And I was blaming dear husband for the sugar highs. And this boy has two dentists for parents. They will probably write me up at the ADA.


On a different note, I overheard my dear daughter's bedtime banter with her dad. She said " Dad, I know you stole mom and you are not my real dad!" (He made her clean up her room.) I piped in asking "Where was I when he stole me?" She replied "MOM!! This is a CONVERSATION, so don't listen!"

Thanks Hillary

My 4 yo asked me what sniper fire was today. I guess I shouldn't listen to the news so much in the car. I was her age during Vietnam- but don't even remember hearing ANYTHING about that war. And my dad was in the Navy. But he was not in the war, thank goodness.

Today, something wonderful happened. I went to help out our local Cancer Resource Center. They are having their grand opening on Saturday. I would have loved to have a place like this when I was diagnosed. You kind of expect them to hand you your "To Do List" when you get your diagnosis. What to do, who to see, how to tell your family, etc. Uh uh, nuh uh. You (in the height of emotional turmoil) have to figure out everything yourself. Dr. Google didn't help either. Anyway, this new place for people with cancer is AWESOME. So much information in a soothing, beautiful place.

I met a man there, whose daughter died of cancer several years ago. He set up a foundation in her name. The foundation has many fundraisers. They help cancer centers all over the state of CA by buying them computers and libraries. He was there setting up the brand-new Macs. What love, dedication and generosity.

OK to lighten the mood, here is one of my breast cancer cartoons. I don't know if it is universally funny, but it really did ALMOST happen to me:




And finally, tonight my hubby decided to take the kids out to dinner unsupervised. He let them order some volcano/ice cream/hot fudge monster after dinner. Kids were on a sugar high at 8pm. They were upstairs giggling for an hour and then they clomp down the hardwood stairs (at 9:30!) looking like this:



It is now almost 10 and the sugar crash tears have begun!

Off to Seattle

Seattle is a great place. I should know, as I have been there 6 times in the past year. Tonight is trip number seven. Oh what a glamorous life I lead. Fooled you! I am going up there to participate in a cancer vaccine clinical trial. My glamorous day entails waking up at 2 am, driving 3 hours to the airport, flying to Seattle, catching a shuttle to the hospital where I donate a boat-load of blood, and some pieces of skin that I apparently don't need. Then I catch the shuttle back to the airport and make my way home. On the plane, I get to wear one of those fashionable old-lady arm girdles. So my arm doesn't look like the elephant man for the rest of my life.

Am I sounding bitter? Well crap, I was only 38 when this diagnosis hit me out of the blue. It has been a long 2.5 years. Literally every month, I find out people I know (online) are on their deathbed from this disease. I do get a little bitter about it. So my Cancerspeaks Store is a little funny and a little bitter- just like me. This design is me at my most pissed, cause it ain't pretty and it ain't pink:

But this is my last venture up to Seattle. This vaccine, for very aggressive and "advanced" cancers, may have saved my life. All of the people involved with the study are fabulous. And they could not be nicer, except for all those needles-LOL.

And I am fine. All tests are clear. All surgery done. All herceptin done. Oncologist said "I don't think it is coming back Marge." I want him to sign a t-shirt or something! For the first time in over 2 years I had to cut a fingernail instead of watching it peel away. My hair is still Kramertized, patience my dear, patience.

I am moving on (just this last little pit stop in cancerland) and I have even started a beautiful henna-looking tattoo on my 24" abdominal scar. See breast reconstruction site if you are wondering why my abdomen is affected. My once "hide that damn scar at all costs" is now a work of art. I love it! In a few months I will post a picture. I go in once a month for a session. It is about half outlined so far.
Now for the good news. Dear husband and I decided to make this last trip special. So...... my sisters are both coming down to stay with the kids (good luck to them! :) and hubby is flying up with me. We are staying the weekend together. We are going to do all kinds of grownup stuff (get your mind out of the gutter-LOL) : eat at nice restaurants, go see a Supersonics game, museums, read the paper (and some other grown up stuff) in bed.

I might have to bark an order at somebody. Just so I don't get homesick. My sisters spoil the kids rotten- so they are excited for the weekend too.
Catch up will you all next week- have a great one!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

A jaw bone I washed in the laundry. Crayons, rocks and marbles I expect.... keeping me on my toes these kids. I may have to rethink buying all those cargo pants. I am not hot on this kind of cargo. And I can't check all 10 pockets in those durn pants!

Some Questions I Have

1) Is Girl Scout Cookie season over yet? I hope so crunch, crunch.

2) Does anyone else have a gas tank that keeps moving to the other side of their car? That is pretty annoying.

3)What the hell is a super delegate? Are they getting swag?

4) Why does my cat prefer dog food and my dog prefer cat food?

5) Why do I wonder why my daughters room looks like this:

when my visiting parents see her room, they both say it reminds them of when I was little?

6)Are little boys allergic to pairs of socks?

7) Why have I been at the age where all the clothes for women look too young or too old? And I have been at this stage for YEARS?

8) How long does it take to properly train a husband?

9) How many cool people am I going to meet blogging? So many funny blogs, so little time.

10) I forgot my last question. Must have that stay-at-home-momheimers that someone was telling me about. Who was that again?

A Morning in the Life

6:20 am
Dear 9 year old son at my bedside "Mom, where are some boxes? I am putting all my favorite movies together and I need a box this big." Stretches his hands out.

Me (half asleep): "Huh?"

6:40 am
Click! Dear 9 year old son is back. "Mom, don't move. I am trying to take a picture of the cat."

Me (in denial): "Why don't you get ready for school?"

Dear Son: "WHAT??!!! I thought it was Saturday. This is the worst day of my life!"

7:30 am

In kitchen. 9 year old dear son seems to have recovered from the worst day in his life:

"Mom, you know why I like you? You are smart and you have lots of great ideas."

Husband: "What about me son? I am pretty smart too."

Dear Son: "Well, you are kinda smart Dad. You just don't like to show it."

7:45 am

Dear 4 year old daughter shows up for breakfast. She had been a little nervous about having a new babysitter the previous night.

Me: "So, how did it go with the new sitter last night?"

Dear Daughter:"Oh, it was great mom. She was no trouble at all."

7:50 am

Dear 6 yo son sits up to eat breakfast: "What? I have to eat pancakes? This is the worst day of my life!" A few seconds later... "Mom, I need a strip of carpet."

Me: "Huh?"

Dear Son shows me his science book he checked out at the library and it indeed says "strip of carpet" for an experiment in friction and velocity.

Mutter to myself : "I guess I need to put crawl around in attic and find the extra pieces of carpet on my list."

8:00 am

Dear Daughter comes down dressed for school: red and black plaid dress, purple cheetah coat with belt, brown and white tights, pink glitter ballet flats and hot pink suede pageboy hat.

8:10 am

Husband: "Well, we're off. Have a great day honey."

Me: "Huh?"