And then there were three

Our house has been a bit off balanced the last two weeks and it continues on this week as well. This is because my parents have been taking each of the kids for a week to spend some one on one time with them at their home. First to go was Hoss, this was the first time he actually got to go all by himself. He had lots of fun and lots of milkshakes. I really missed him and the house was very quiet while he was gone. It was also a lot more clean. I soon realized who my two main mess makers are. And when he came home, he looked like this.


Next to go visit was Z. He actually bumped K. from her chosen week but since he was off from school on Spring Break she really didn't have a chance. He to enjoyed lots of milkshakes, movies and made lots of friends at their house. He spent lots of time playing basketball when he wasn't eating. I swear that child gained five pounds last week. The house was quiet and off balanced during his visit as well. But when they returned for the Easter weekend it was all good again. I had a few days with all my kids back home in their own beds like they are supposed to be.

But then K. had to get her visit in and so she hopped in their car when they left and got her first turn at Grandmama and Pappy's house all by herself. She will be a bit more work for them since she is still the youngest and I hope my parents make it through her week without to much trouble. If not, we will just meet at the halfway point and just shorten her trip a bit. My K. can be a bit clingy to her grandmama, kind of like this.


But it was something that both the kids and grandparents have been wanting to do. So we seized the opportunity while we could. I'm sure it will take me weeks to get them back into reality once they are all home again. Baby A. isn't going for a turn. She's still a bit to young for me to let go just yet. But someday she'll get to go. But for now, they are all noticing the difference it makes when just one of them isn't around.

Photo Hunters

This week the theme is metal and I had to look a bit to find one. But I did managae. We took some time out this week to visit the botanical gardens. While there the kids couldn't resist climbing up on this big metalish looking frog fountain. Where they proceeded to spray water everywhere causing anyone with a camera nearby to run. After all what's more fun than that?







So there's my take on this weeks theme. For other views on this week's theme visit TNCHICK.com or PhotoHunt

Wordless Wednesday

Camel Calisthenics



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Spring Break This Week

This week is spring break along with Holy Week. So that means that I am going to try and spend a little extra time with my children and try to get the most out of Holy Week. I will be a bit sporadic at best.

Wordless Wednesday

Her first pair!




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Movie Meme

Updated with the Answers

Okay I figure it's been long enough and I can give my answers now.

Only three movie quotes left, can you figure them out. I've added a few more hints.

I saw this movie meme that Lauren did over at Baseball and Bows and thought it was fun. So decided to do it.

Here are the rules:

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for everyone to guess.
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
5. No Googling or IMDb-ing. That's cheating, and that's no fun!

So lets see if you guys can figure out my choices.


1. I love this movie, It's The Bourne Identity. I love the character Jason Bourne and if he really existed I'd probably have to leave my husband in search of him. Well unless Hubs wants to come since he likes this character also.

How could I forget about you? You're the only person I know.

2. Amber guessed this one right. It's French Kiss, I love this movie and could watch it over and over and never get tired of it.

(I couldn't pick just one quote from this movie so I had to include my two favorite quotes. )

I like you. But I don't like the way you say with your face all scrunched up, "you're French, aren't you?" And then I don't like how you say, with your eyes all squinty, "all men are bastards."

You'll be one of those grumpy old men sitting in the corner of a crowded cafe, mumbling to yourself, "My ass is twitching. Your people make my ass twitch."

3. Yay Kellan guessed it right. It's Under the Tuscan Sun. This movie is guaranteed to make my husband leave the room.

There's something strange about these trees. It's like they know.
And they know that we know that they know.
They're creepy. Creepy Italian trees. Of course, the baby's going to like them cause it's going to be a creepy Italian baby who goes around saying things like 'Ciao mama' and doing that weird backward hand wave thing. Life is strange. !

4. Nicole guessed this one right. It's Shakespeare in Love. Another film guaranteed to get my husband to leave the room. But how could you not love the beauty of this film.
You are an eager boy. Did you like the play?
I liked it when she stabbed herself, Your Majesty.

5. Lauren guessed this one right first. It's Steel Magnolias. I just love this movie, they have so many favorite quotes to choose from.

Oh! He's a real gentleman! I bet he takes the dishes out of the sink before he PEES in it!

6. Kellan got this one right also. It's meet the Fockers. Nothing says funny like Robert DeNiro and a rubber boob.

I'm wondering why you run around with a rubber boob strapped to your chest!

7. Every year I watch White Christmas over and over. I never get tired of it.

I want you to get married. I want you to have nine children. And if you only spend five minutes a day with each kid, that's forty-five minutes, and I'd at least have time to go out and get a massage or something.

8.Jen guessed this one right. It's Rocky. I don't know why I like this one so much but I do. Guess I have a lot of pent up emotions and want to beat a side of beef or something.

You're gonna eat lightnin' and you're gonna crap thunder!

9. This one is My Blue Heaven. It's Steve Martin who is a mobster put into the witness relocation program. It's an absolute riot. Go rent it now and enjoy a few laughs.

I never touched a gun in my life. That and that alone forever doomed me to middle management.

10. Amber got this one also. It's The Pacifier with Vin Diesel. This is one of my kids favorites and I can't help but laugh along with them. Besides who wouldn't dream of having a buff nanny like that around.

I'm never gonna be able to remember your names because there's not enough time so you're Red One, you're Red Two, you're Red Three, and you're Red Baby.


Have fun and let me know if you play along!

Photo Hunters

This week the theme is different. So I thought I'd show a picture of three of my children. All with very different personalities, likes and dislikes. They have been out playing in what was left of the snow. The snow we got in Texas this past week is also very different from the norm. We very seldom get snow so the fact that we have so much of it in March is definetely out of the norm and different. So there you go, two very different things.



So there's my take on this weeks theme. For other views on this week's theme visit TNCHICK.com or PhotoHunt

Not your typical Texas day

It's March 6. That usually means that for those of us in Texas, spring is here, or well on it's way. And last weekend it was a beautiful 70 degrees outside. But since it is Texas we get fluke weather sometimes. And it appears that this is one of those times. We actually have snow for the second time this week. My children are in snow heaven. I even pulled out the old snowsuit my oldest used to wear while we lived in Finland. It's a bit short for Hoss, but he is nice and warm and somewhat dry so he doesn't care about the high water look so much. Instead all they can do is play in the snow.



And for us in Texas, especially in March, this is proving to be a regular blizzard. Look at how much snow has fallen on my angel in the last two hours. I don't think it's snowed this fast and this much in years.


Okay all you true snow bunnies, you can stop laughing at how excited we are over what to you looks like a dusting of snow. I can hear the pleading for Hot Chocolate aleady.

Wordless Wednesday

Mom, it's stuck!





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Look Who's Forty

Hubs turned 40 on Sunday. And there is no way that I could let it pass quietly by. Even though we are still unpacking, I decided to call a few friends and have them come celebrated Hubs getting older. So I thought I'd share a few pictures of our good times.

Even though he's old, I still held him responsible for the grill. But he had lots of chaperone's to make sure he didn't forget to take them off the grill.

And since he had some great friends, he had lots of teasing about his age. No matter what his argument was, he was still older than 99% of the guests there. And we reminded him at every opportunity.


After our geriatric grill master finished our dinner. We had to sit around and visit for a long while. At least as long as the kids would let us. They were begging for cake. So we decided to light his candles. But not to worry, we kept a fire extinguisher close by just in case it was needed. Hubs took it all in good fun.



He has promised to pay me back when I turn forty. But since I know his memory is slipping I doubt he will remember it when the time comes.


The only two guys not picking on Hubs to bad were our good friends Greg (he turns forty in two weeks) and Mike (black hair in the picture below) who has already reached that milestone.




It was a fun night with the three F's, friends, family and forty year old Hubs. It ended a bit earlier than the parties in our heyday, but since it was a school night and we really are all old now, nobody complained.

Doing the Dishes

Since moving to our new home, doing the dishes just got a bit nicer. I still have way to many dirty dishes to even want to talk about though. We still have a great dishwasher which I couldn't live without either. (Well maybe technically I could but I really don't want to risk it). So while none of this is any different than what doing the dishes was like at my old house, my perspective has changed a bit.

Now when I am stuck at the sink washing those dishes that can't go in the dishwasher (Whether it's because it's full and I forgot to run it or because it's full and I need to unload it whatever the case may be) I have a window to look out of. And for the last six plus years I haven't had a window to look out while I'm doing the dishes. And now that I have a window I can fully appreciate the view that is something besides dirty dishes.

So I thought I'd show you the view. But to make it authentic, I decided that it needed to show the actual view from my sink inside the house. So that meant that I had to move all those before mentioned dirty dishes out of the way. Then I had to drag a chair over to the counter so I could climb up on it, in order to pull up the blinds, and since I was already there I just stood on the counter to get a higher angle (something my kids would get in big trouble for). Then I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures.

So now you can see what it is that I'm looking at when I do those piles and towers of dishes.


It's beautiful isn't it? It almost makes me forget all those dishes are there. Well at least until I look down from the window into the sink. But then I try to look away again as soon as I can. Anything to avoid those dishes a minute longer.

Congratulations

I just have to share with my few readers the excitement I have right now. My friend Nicole just had her fifth baby this morning. It's a beautiful baby girl. So go wish her and her husband Travis a big congratultions.

One room left

I am proud to say that we only have one room left with boxes. It's our office. But it's filled with boxes of things that I can't put away until we get some new shelves put up. I'm thinking I can actually have Hubs start hanging things on the wall this weekend. Then I can finally relax a bit. I truly hate having things in boxes and not in their right place. But since I had to have the majority of the house put back together for the cleaners, I had major incentive to get it all done. And now because I just LOVE LOVE LOVE Elsa and her magic Dyson I can now enjoy a clean house tonight. Yay for almost being done with everything involved with unpacking. Yay for having my house Elsafied.

And I'm sure your saying yay that such a petty and non substantial post such as this is now over.

To my fellow shoppers

To my fellow shoppers at the grocery store today.

Yes, that was my youngest 22 month old daughter you heard screaming through out the aisles. Yes, it was me that did not pick her up out of the basket like she really wanted. Yes, I am mean enough to let her have a temper tantrum for at least fifteen to twenty minutes. You see, I was trying to finish my shopping as quickly as I could so that me and my three children could leave that store. I really couldn't carry her at the same time as trying to shop and push the cart. And no I really didn't feel like letting her walk, since I was in a bit of a hurry and a tad bit frustrated with her behaviour. So if my screaming child disturbed you while you were talking on the phone or otherwise just looking through your coupon book it really was just unfortunate for you. And to my fellow shopper who actually had the nerve to comment on my screaming daughter, you are truly lucky that I didn't grab your cane from you and tell my children you were a pinata. I'm sure that would have stopped the screaming immediately. (Well at least until they realized you weren't going to provide any candy) My daughter is almost two, but you were well over fifty and definitely know better so shame on you.

But unless you think I'm just a mean stressed out, hateful woman I would like to thank the other mom's that were out shopping at the same time as me. Your sweet encouraging smiles that showed me we have all been there at some point were appreciated and I thank you for that.

Found

I have finally found the missing dance shoes. They were in a box hiding in the boxes in the garage. A very safe place indeed. Now K. is very excited to be going back to her dance class tommorow. After two weeks of quiet tapping she is ready to make some noise.

Cost Breakdown and reality check

I've mentioned how our family has been fighting one thing or another this past winter ever since Christmas. So I thought I'd break it down a bit. I'd just like to add that I'm very thankful that we do have insurance which generally covers most of the basic things and then some. But still we do have our share to pay. Over the last two months we have had about thirteen or fourteen office visits which is right around $280 in co pays. Add in the cost of various prescriptions both preventative and antibiotics and you can add in at least another $250 plus. Now for some of you that $530 total over the last two months may not seem like much but for us it is.

But it has really hit home for poor Z. since it now means he will have to wait just a bit longer for that flat screen he wants so badly for his room. I don't know how he got the idea in his head that he needed one. After telling him how much we have spent on keeping this family somewhat healthy this winter he sadly admitted defeat at getting one anytime soon. He is still pretty hopeful that this spring will prove to be a better season for him. Oh, to have such optimism.

Lost in the Boxes

Well we are offically in our new home. I can proudly say that we are all sleeping in our own beds again. Our pantry is now restocked and the kitchen is pretty much organized. The office is half way done along with the master closet. That's all the great news.

Now here's the reality of the rest of it. I have no idea for the second week now where K.'s dance shoes are. She keeps going to her tap and ballet class barefoot and doesn't think it's fun anymore. I think the kids have some quiet activities to keep them occupied while I try to unpack, but I don't know what box they are in. I think they are in the same box with the baby wipes and diapers. I have yet to find a heavy jacket for the kids so I can only hope the weather stays mild. I have only found half of the medicine cabinet but I'm not to worried about that, Baby A. should find it for me when I'm not looking (she's helpful like that). We are surrounded by boxes everywhere.

I must admit to being a bit discouraged at how much we have done and yet still seeing so many boxes left. But between all the sick kids we have been dealing with during this move, I have made progress. But I am sure that I will soon be able to see the floors again and maybe one day be able to park in the garage, once we get rid of all these boxes.

Wordless Wednesday

"Leaf Love"




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To Much Happening

I have a lot to do this week since we are moving. Also, Hoss has strep throat and major problems with his asthma right now and Baby A. isn't doing much better. I will be sporadic at best in the blogging world but hopefully will be back full force sometime next week.

Photo Hunters

This weeks theme is heavy. So since we are in the middle of moving right now I decided to save myself a bit of time and go through some of my old photos. Here is a picture of my youngest this past fall. As you can see, she was determined to pick up the "ball", but it proved to be a bit to heavy for her. She sat there straining, huffing and puffing for quite a while. Such a determined young thing. And mean mommy that I am, I just sat there and took pictures instead of helping her.



So there's my take on this weeks theme. For other views on this week's theme visit TNCHICK.com or PhotoHunt

I spilled it

I am trying to win a Wii. Not for me mind you but for the kids (Hubs is included in this category). Well Ree over at Pioneer Woman is having one of her famous giveaways but she wants us to share an embarrassing moment.

Well I can't very well share it with her and not share it with you guys. After all, it's always more fun to have a really embarrasing moment and then have everyone point and laugh at you.

So without further ado, I'll share one of my many embarrasing moments. Hubs and I are recent Catholics. We joined the church about three years ago. At that time we both had to do our First Holy Communion. This is where we eat the communion wafer (Body of Christ) and drink the wine (Blood of Christ). We had been instructed to be very careful not to drop the wafer so naturally I was very nervous about this. But I handled it just fine. No shakes or slip ups there.

But then I moved over to the wine. I don't know what happened, I really don't. I went and reached for the cup and it all seemed just fine. I put the cup to my lips and prepared to take a sip. Then it happened. I spilled the wine (Blood of Christ) all down the front of my white blouse. I just froze, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't move and I couldn't hand the cup back to the Eucharistic Minister. And I most certainly couldn't let the priest see that I now had all of God's Blood down the front of my shirt, let alone the 200+ people that were there for Easter Vigil. As I'm standing there I am wondering what was the Father going to say to me or do. Will I be doomed to a million Hail Mary's for this? Well the Eucharistic Minister assured me I was okay and prompted me out of the way. At which point I found my feet and rushed back to my seat.

I can still feel the embarrassment creeping up my face years later. And as for me spilling or dropping anything since then, it hasn't happened. I'm extra carefull now.

Sweet Dreams

You may recall how I was lucky enough to head out of town a few weeks back. A friend and I hopped in the car and drove the four hours to Austin. We left Friday afternoon after school let out and ended up driving through rainy weather most the time. But since I wasn't the one driving, it didn't really bother me. Except for the fact that as a passenger I get sleepy. I didn't used to be this way but I seemed to have picked it up somewhere along the way. Now being a good passenger I didn't actually fall asleep. Instead I just yawned a bit, well okay a lot and talked about everything that came up with Linda.

When we finally arrive at the hotel, it was cold and rainy. And we were hungry. But since Linda didn't want to get out and drive around anymore we decided to just get some snacks in the sports bar that was in the hotel. And it worked out fine. By the time we had eaten and finished off the drinks we ordered it was getting a bit late. (For me at least because you see I turn into a pumpkin at 10pm everynight) We went back to our room and got ready for bed since we had to be at our conference at 8 the next morning. While washing our faces and brushing our teeth we noticed there had been a leak in the ceiling at some time and commented on how bad the roof was stained. And that was that so then we went to sleep.

Silly me thought that by being four hours away from my children, in a hotel room, would mean that I would get an entire nights sleep without interruption. I was wrong. I was very worried about snoring...either from me or from Linda. You see we hadn't ever shared a room before so it was all new territory. But I had warned her so she at least was prepared for some noise during the night. I was not. So there I am sleeping as soundly as I can and I assume that Linda is doing the same.

That's when I hear this amazing crash and rumble. I jump up and it's completely dark. I'm automatically thinking it's Linda and that she has somehow fallen and hurt herself. But it wasn't she is still in the next bed looking just as startled as I am. So brave girls that we are we turn on the light and go off in search of what that awful noise is that woke us up at 5 a.m. We didn't have to go far. When we got to the sink area we saw that the entire area was a mess and everything was covered in water. It turns out that the stained ceiling we noticed earlier had collapsed.




Why would it collapse just like that? Well whoever had gone in to fix the leak before had just put a big bucket up in the ceiling and then put the ceiling tile back in place. So when this big bucket filled up with water and began to overflow, it got to heavy for the ceiling and it all came crashing down.

So there went my chance at a good night of uninterrupted sleep. Instead I had to deal with wet makeup and clothes and even worse than that wet carpet. We did call down there and get a new room but by that time, sleep was elusive. We did get a free breakfast while we stayed there and they discounted the room that came crashing down from our bill. But still, I think I would have preferred the sleep. As for the guy who put the bucket up there in the first place, I think he needs a lesson in gravity.

Wordless Wednesday

"Just like Pappy"



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My Soul Mate

I just love my Hubs. He's normally such a quiet sort who will only cut up around those that know him best. But don't be fooled, he does have a fun side that you will see in him every now and then. Take for example the day Hoss came home from preschool with some googly eyed glasses a few months back. I had already been playing around with them with the kids but Hubs decided to join in the fun. And I was quick enough to get a few photos.

Here you see my hottie of a man all googley eyed over Me...



Then I put the googley eyes on and found some redneck teeth to go along with them. Then I struck my best love struck over you pose and Hubs snapped a picture.



So now you can see why Hubs was so googley eyed over Me... I'm quite the looker in this picture. In fact Hubs thought it was so great he took another picture of me on his camera phone. Just to have with him at all times. But for whatever reason, when he showed my beautiful picture to his friends at work, they all cringed.

Some guys don't know a good thing when they see it...that's all I can say. But thankfully Hubs does. Nothing like googley eyes and redneck teeth to make you fall in love all over again.

Only if your Hot

A Conversation with Hoss:


Hoss: Mom, when I get big can I go jogging and running and doing exercise in the neighborhood outside without my shirt on?

Me: You want to run outside without a shirt on when you get big?

Hoss: yeah, Can I?

Me: Only if your Hot and handsome.

Hoss: Yeah, I will be.

Can you feel my redneck pride in my son rising up in my chest.

What are they teaching him?

***UPDATED*** With his teacher's response.


Z. gets home from school today and since he hasn't been feeling well I ask him how he's doing. He says fine but that he has a lot of homework. So off he goes to start working on it. A little while later he comes out and ask me and Hubs if we know how to do Mexican Division? Both of us just look at each other and try not to laugh and say what, since we were expecting a joke? And he says do you know how to do the Mexican division? So this is how the conversation played out.

Me: What do you mean by the Mexican division?

Z: You know where you do division and it looks like your playing hangman.

Me: Well I know how do a kind of division with a box that looks kind of like hangman. But I call it long division. Let me show you. And I do.

Z: No mom, that's different than Mexican Division but it's kind of the same. And he takes the paper from me.

So he shows me a "new" way of doing what I know as long division with some tweaks here and there. It's definetely not the same way I did long division but it comes up with the same answer. I just can't get past the name it was given, "Mexican Division". Z. isn't any help since he just said he thought that must be how they do it in Mexico.

I know this may upset some of you but I truly do find this whole thing funny. And I can hardly wait to get the answer from his teacher as to why it's called "Mexican Division". And just to be sure I wasn't old or anything I googled Mexican Division and nothing came up. So now I really am anxiously awaiting the answer from his math teacher as to why in the world it is called Mexican Division? And I did tell Z. that I'm sure that it's not called Mexican Division because that's the way they do it in Mexico.

Alright for those of you who are actually still curious as to his teachers response I'd thought I'd share it with you.

Z. is correct; we are learning "partial quotients" which is how they divide in Mexico. It helps make division easier for the students who can get stuck very easily on the traditional method of long division. It is where the students break apart the dividend by using multiples of 10, and subtract those pieces from the whole.

Mmmm...okaaay! Since I technically never learned math IN Mexico (just the border town across the Rio Grande) I truly can't 100% contradict her on this one. But I really do kind of want to. ;)

Because I'm really at a loss here

I'm to tired to think of anything interesting to write about. So this is what you get instead. A quiz on the kind of American English I speak.

Your Linguistic Profile:

55% General American English 20% Dixie 20% Yankee 0% Midwestern 0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

I can understand all the scores except the 20% Yankee one. I'm not a Yankee and haven't even been further north than Virginia. So how in the world did I score a twenty percent there? I'm curious as to how you guys score, so if you take the quiz let me know.

So then I'm looking at other quizzes to take and I come acorss this one called "What's my Girl Smell"? Well how could I resist that one. I've always been curious about what my girl smell is ya know and here it is:

Your Scent is Mango

Sultry, sweet, and mellow You enjoy every moment of life!

What's Your Girl Smell?

Mango...never would have guessed that one in a million years. No I was thinking more of the soap smell, wearing the same shirt the kids wiped thier hands on yesterday smell but instead I got mango. I don't even care for mango's that much but apparently it's my smell. Who would have thought it?

So there you have it. My thoughts are not working today so instead you get worthless quizzes and what I think of them. I'm sorry about it, really I am.

What are they trying to tell me

I'm driving in the car this morning and K. looks at me and says so sweetly "I like your Zebra shirt". So I look at my red and white striped shirt and just say thank you sweetie.

Then this afternoon, Hoss is in the kitchen and says "Whoa, Mom, you look just like a zebra".

What is it exactly my kids are trying to tell me. I'm feeling very self conscious in a zebray kind of way. And I'm just not sure I will wear this again.

Basket Gremlin Strikes Again

It happened again today. That darn basket gremlin stuck me at the grocery store. Normally I am able to keep most of his mischievous purchases out of my basket. But today for some reason I missed what was put in the basket. And since I had the help of three of my kids to put the groceries onto the cash register belt, I missed them there as well. When I was unloading my groceries at home. I found an abundance of extra cookies and crackers. I also found an extra box of juice bags. But since we go through those so quickly I really don't care about that one to much. But unless you think that gremlin was only after junk food, I also found a poked in kiwi. But that little guy wasn't actually in a bag, he was found left alone in the basket while I was loading the car. Still not sure how he ended up there since he wasn't there while I was paying. All I can say is that those darn gremlins were definitely moving faster than I was today.

Photo Hunters

This weeks theme is old fashioned. And there is nothing more fun to do as a child than swing. So here is a picture of my kids having some old fashioned fun. Big brother Z. is winding up little sister K. so she can spin around is circles until she is dizzy.



So there's my take on this weeks theme. For other views on this week's theme visit TNCHICK.com or PhotoHunt

I'm a spring/summer gal

I am officially here to declare myself a warm weather person. That means that I'm tired of the cold. I'm ready for the warmer weather to start back up. I'm ready for spring. And it's not like I even have a lot of winter weather to deal with living in Texas. But I am tired of being cold during the little cold weather that we do have. So here you have it I'm no longer going to deny it. I'm a spring/summer girl. But if you ask me in August when it's hotter than heck, I may just declare that I am a cold weather person. Guess we will just have to wait and see.

The First Tooth Fairy Visit

Hoss lost his first tooth on Monday. He was eating an apple and it pretty much came out then. He was torn between laughing with excitement and eagerness at the idea of the tooth fairy along with fear that it would hurt to actually get the tooth all the way out. So I just had him open his mouth and told him that I didn't think it would hurt at all for it to come out. And during that time I was able to pull the last little bit to get it, Hoss didn't even realize I had it until I showed it to him in my hand.

He was even more excited the next morning when he found some money under his pillow. Now if I can just come up with a good reason for the tooth fairy to keep his tooth maybe he'll stop asking me why she kept it. Here he is in all his toothless glory.

Wordless Wednesday

Anticipation



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Had a Blast

I had a wonderful time this weekend in Austin. My friend and I drove down there in no time at all. Lots of good conversation and a few laughs. We both learned so much from our weekend course. I can't wait to start trying out some of what I learned. I wish I had more time to go into details of all that was taught but even now I'm sure I am forgetting stuff as I sit here. All I can say is that if you ever get a chance to go to any of the courses with RMSP then by all means do it. You will not be disappointed.

Now I really should go off and take care of some of the things that need to be done.

My Foot Warmer

It's been colder than usual lately. Which means that my feet have been colder than usual. Even with my thick socks and slippers they are cold.

In fact about the only time my feet aren't cold is when I can sneak them underneath someone sitting next to me. Hubs really doesn't like this much and the kids never sit long enough for the chill to completely leave my feet. Which leaves me with one choice. Our dog Gigi. This dog just emits body heat like you wouldn't believe so my feet warm up pretty quick if they are underneath her. The only problem is that in order for my feet to remain warm and snug under her, I have to also pet her. Normally this wouldn't be a problem but Gigi is one of those dogs where if you give a scratch, she expects a belly rub. And then next thing you know she'll be trying to sleep in your bed with you. Now that's just not something I can do.

So as you can see, every night about the time my feet are freezing, I'm faced with the same dilemma. Do I let the dog warm them and then have her pushy dog self try to climb into our bed later in the night or do I just deal with my cold feet on my own and sleep without the dog trying to sneak into bed with us. It really is a trivial problem to have I know. And any true dog lover would just let Gigi warm her feet and then sleep in her bed afterwards. The thing is I am more of a dog liker than a dog lover. This means that my like has it's limitations which means I am doomed to suffer from cold feet. Until I get this look from her every night. It's kind of like this one in which her expression says...


Hey let's make a deal, I warm your feet in exchange for sleeping on the soft bed. So then I warm my feet on her and later that night I shut the door so she can't come in. And then I feel guilt for about two seconds and then I fall asleep. Until the next night when we do it all over again. Gigi isn't really a good negotiator but at least she keeps trying.

Wordless Wednesday

"Ice Poinsetta"


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Driving the Roller Coaster

One of the many things that I truly dislike is a roller coaster ride. They just make me sick. Hubs and the kids though, they just love them. So whenever we go to Six Flags or any other amusement park I always pass on the big rides and just look forward to the kiddie rides which I am able to stomach.

But I've discovered another roller coaster ride that I just love. Since I live in a fairly large metroplex area we have lots of bridges and overpasses that go up pretty high. And like me as a child, my kids love it when we go on the highest one. But they have taken it a step further than I ever did as a child. They pester me nonstop until I tell them we are about to drive up on the big overpass at which point they all stick their arms up in the air and start telling each other excitedly, we are almost to the top...hold on here it comes. Then once I peak at the top and we start to descend, the screams and laughter break out and for them it's just like a roller coaster ride (well okay I'm sure my nine year old Z. doesn't really think that but he participates just the same). So here I am driving in my minivan chugging along anywhere from 60-70mph depending on how late I am, and it's complete roller coaster chaos in the car. Anyone looking in our van would see one thirty something mom speeding down the road trying not to laugh. While at the same time four pairs of arms are waving around in the air and four mouths are screaming in roller coaster like joy.

For me it's the best of both worlds, I get a part of the excitement of what my kids experience when dad takes them on a real roller coaster but I never actually have to get on one. Instead I can stick with the smaller rides that don't make me sick. What could be better than that?

Four Days and Counting

I have four days left until I get to enjoy my last Christmas present from Hubs. And I am getting so excited.

I will head out Friday evening just me and another friend and we will drive our excited selves down to Austin. Where we will both then spend the remainder of the weekend cooped up in a hotel conference room attending one photography class after another. Yes, I know this doesn't sound like fun for some of you. But for me, this is BIG stuff. I'm hoping to come away from these courses with just a little bit better knowledge of what I am capable of doing with my camera. Because at this point it's all user error.

So that gives me four days to work my tail off. so that when I get home after a brief two days, the house won't be falling down around me. I can dream can't I?

Oh My..

Some days I just feel like I go from one mess to another.

A. is currently on her third top of the day and it's barely naptime now.

Touch the Clouds

I took the girls to the park this morning since it was a nice day. While there we spent a very long time on the swings. But as K. is begging me to push her higher on the swings I got to thinking about how all the kids love to swing. It must be an age thing because both boys before K. used to say the same thing, push me high enough to touch the trees and then they move on to push me high enough to touch the clouds.

How many times during the past nine years have I heard that one request? I really don't know, all I know is that it's a lot. And I know I will hear it for a few more years to come since A. isn't far behind her sister in that department. And every time I hear one of them ask me to push them high enough to touch the clouds, I am able to envision all my children's faces at the same age asking me the same thing.

It's really a sweet memory that I tend to forget about until the next time I'm at the park. And each time I really stop to think about all their little faces begging for more it puts a lump in my throat.

Wordless Wednesday

The first winter bulbs to appear.

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My Winter Blue Toes

What do you think was it a bit to wild and crazy for an old gal like myself?

Hubs wasn't to excited about my blue toes but since it really is only me that sees them this time of year I thought why not? I was just disappointed that the girl that paints on all the designs wasn't there otherwise I would have added a cute snowman to them as well.

I can't believe I said that

There are just some things that come out of my mouth and I can't believe I actually said them. Or that I really needed to. I seem to be saying things in this category more often than not lately. Let me enlighten you on my latest I can't believe I had to say that moment.

I am in the bathroom putting my makeup on. Baby A. comes in to help like she does every morning and reaches for my makeup brushes. I take one look at her and have to say "A, you can't use my makeup brushes until your boogers are gone". To which she replies....Noooooo!

Some days I really wonder how I ever got in this position.

Pee Faster

I was on the phone last night with my brother. During that time of complete chaos where I am finishing making dinner, setting the table and getting food in front of my starving children I attempted to carry on an adult conversation. That really was a bad choice on my part. Why would I ever think I should be able to talk on the phone while my four children are still living at home.

But I digress, let me get back to my story, I really do have one. I finally had all the kids at the table happily (if not quietly) eating and watching TV at the same time (bad mommy I know, but I was trying to talk on the phone). When it happened. K. had to go potty. Nothing new there. The kids always have to go to the bathroom once dinner is served. I don't know why it's that way but it is. So K. gets up from the table and stops just long enough to grab the remote control and then she paused the show (gotta love DVR) so she could go potty and not miss anything. Well bedlam ensued and I soon had an uprising on my hands of all the other kids screaming that she paused it and they were watching that and it's not fair that she always pauses the TV when she has to go to the bathroom. So I did what any good mom trying to have a phone conversation would do, I walked into the bathroom and told her to pee faster and ran off with the remote control. I then had three happy kids and one unhappy girl crying in the bathroom that she can't pee faster. But she was almost done so by the time I got there to help her I really wasn't needed anymore.

Yep, my brother sure was lucky he got to talk to me on the phone last night. I've enlightened him beyond what he probably felt was necessary and I have reached a new level of mothering where I now order my children to pee faster.

My Commando Girl

I have a daughter who surprised me the other morning. I won't name names but it's the only daughter I have who still wears diapers. At least she was wearing one when I put her to bed the other night. When I heard her stirring in the morning I went in to get her and my sweet girl had gone commando on me. She had pulled down her pj pants and somehow removed her diaper. Then she slept that way all night long. And it was cold that night, my poor baby must have froze her bottom off. When I went in to get my commando girl there was a big wet spot in the middle of her crib sheet. At this point I was just glad it was only wet and nothing more. She was so proud of herself, I could see it in her eyes. So I scooped her up and redressed her in all the appropriate attire, then I changed her sheet. I hope I never wake up to that kind of surprise again. I mean I am all for losing the diaper but not really in that way.

My new BFF

I'm never far from my new BFF. My drops help me get through the days and night with hardly a cringe, cough or tear in sight. Honey Lemom your my new best friend, until back to the medicine cabinet I put you again.

To Paint or not To Paint

that is the question. Right now Hubs and I are trying to decide if we want to paint. When we bought our home six years ago we painted it completely on the inside. I just picked a neutral beige color and away we went with the paintbrush. Now we are thinking it's time to paint again. The decision is now do we change the color? I have always loved this color we currently have but Hubs hasn't really cared to much for it. He likes a lighter color (read into that white) while I prefer it darker. So now have to pick a color we can both agree on. And you would think it would be easy but it's not. Then I get to thinking, what about adding some new color. It would be easy enough to do but then if I don't like it then poor Hubs has to paint again and I'm sure he won't like that. As you can tell I am no Martha Stewart. So I guess I am going to be spending alot of time in the paint section getting lots of those paper things with paint colors on them.

Wish me luck as I try and make up my mind. Just think, none of this would have even been an issue if we hadn't gotten a new TV and opened up an entire wall in the family room. It just suddenly looked like it needed some new paint. Funny how one simple change can cause so much additional work. But at least I can blame that part on Hubs. I was after all completely happy with the previous setup until he went and changed it. Now it's going to cost him some serious elbow grease.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my friends and fellow bloggers. The past year has been a very fun one for me and my family. And as I look back at some of what I wrote about during the past year I realize something. We are BORING! Our family never did anything really big that could count as a milestone. Nope not us, we stayed home and didn't vacation anywhere. But even in all of our Boringness we still enjoyed ourselves. We revelled in all the small ordinary things like snotty noses and Popsicles. And even though I'm sure it's boring for millions of people for our family it was just right. And hopefully for you few readers that come around our boringness didn't do you in to much. I can't promise not to be equally as Boring in the future but I hope to improve on it a tad bit. So Cheers to you my friends and raise your juice boxes to a Happy Healthy and Fun New Year!

Glad to Humor Him

I have to admit to being to the doctors office five separate times this past week. Four of them were to the kids doctor. So this morning on my latest visit my kind pediatrician, who has a personality like my brothers, walks in sees me and just laughs. As I am pleading my case that I am really not one of those freak moms who likes to be in the doctors office just because, he reassures me that it's fine. Its just been funny for him to see me come in four separate times with a different kid in tow each time all in one week. So I'm glad that I am able to humor him. That is my job after all, to provide other people a brief bit of laughter at my expense. Especially when I can really see the humor in it also. I guess I can just be thankful that we only have four children otherwise we would be back there again soon.

Man of the Year

It has been quite the week around here. We had family in for Christmas so were all set to enjoy ourselves. But then it happened, the dreaded virus struck. First one and then another started to feel bad. By the time Christmas morning rolled around, only half of us were even healthy. But even those numbers couldn't last. From what I can tell only my Hubs has stayed healthy. Which is quite unusual in itself since he always catches what the kids have. My family went home and took with them a very unwelcome present. And this Christmas goes down in history as the germiest one ever. And my sweet Hubs is definitely up for man of the year. He's taken such good care of all of us and the house at the same time. After a week of feeling terrible I am finally coming out of the worst of it so can now only fully appreciate all he has had to put up with. He has even kept up with the laundry which is hard enough to do when your not dealing with a bunch of sick people. As well as taking down all the Christmas decorations so I wouldn't have to do it. Yep, he's definitely up for Man of the Year. Where is that write in ballot?

Photo Hunters

This weeks theme is light. So I thought of this great ice sculpture of a horse with a wreath around it's neck. You can see how the light is coming through the ice sculpture. Really breathtaking I think.


We saw this and many more ice sculptures at "Ice" over at the Gaylord Resort this past week. It truly was amazing all the different ice sculptures. They have this amazing Nativity scene in ice. I just wish those pictures would have done it justice. The kids had the most fun on the giant ice slide that they went down just before the exit. So if any of you are in the Dallas area, go check it out. It's a lot of fun.

So there's my take on this weeks theme. For other views on this week's theme visit TNCHICK.com or PhotoHuntw

Wordless Wednesday

His first game.

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Are you a Peeker?

It's that time of year when our houses are brimming with presents for our families and ourselves. Which brings me to my question, Do you peek into your presents? Now I must tell you right off the bat that I am a reformed peeker. I come from a very distinguished family of peekers (all extended though...see how I distance myself from them now).

Growing up I could find the presents that my parents hid within days of it being brought into the house. I would pillage through the closet, crawl through the attic and even unlock the camping trailer all to get to the unknown presents calling my name. Naturally my mom soon became aware of my little problem and decided that she would start to wrap the presents. Little did she know that it only slowed me down that first year.

I became so good at unwrapping and rewrapping presents that no one ever really believed that I had peeked. They would tape entire edges of the wrapping paper and then look for evidence of my peeking. They never could see it though. Yet whenever they quizzed me about what was in the present, I could always tell them. Right down to the size and color.

I had such a problem peeking that when I finally did finish peeking at all my presents I was sad that I couldn't peek anymore. So I did what any little sister would do. I started peeking in my brothers presents and then rewrapping them. And again my family didn't really believe me when I claimed to know what was in his presents as well. But one Christmas morning as I handed out presents to everyone I proved it once and for all. I was able to tell them not just what was in my presents but what was in everyone's presents under the tree. Yes as you can most definitely tell, I had a serious peeking problem. So I decided to peek no more.

And I didn't for a very long time. But when Hubs and I were dating I told him about my peeking problem. And of course he didn't believe me. So naturally he had to test me. Once again I had to brush off my old rusty peeking skills (which really weren't that rusty)and I proved to him how great I was at peeking. He had double wrapped my present thinking he was sneaky but even he was impressed that I had peeked and re double wrapped the present without a trace.

So here I am today, years after my last peeking challenge by Hubs and I can completely and honestly say that I am not a peeker. I guess I have gotten old and the challenges just weren't enough for me. Now I actually look forward to being surprised Christmas morning because that really happens all to seldom. But I guess that since technically I still wrap most of the presents I do know the majority of the gifts under the tree.

Christmas Tour

It's definitely looking like Christmas around the blogosphere. And BooMama is hosting a Christmas Tour of Homes. And since I love to visit other people's home I decided that I better show off my small bit of Christmas decorating that we have.

So let me begin at the front door where you will be greeted by Santa. If it's after dark then he has sparkling lights to show you in. But then again if the batteries are dead (which is often the case) you won't even notice the lights on the wreath. But you will see the pretty white lights on the house that Hubs puts up for me every year.


On my dining room table is my Holy Family. It means the world to me since it was my grandmothers. It was given to me after she passed away. I always love taking it out each year and hate to put it away. I never thought I'd love paper mache so much.


On our kitchen table is our Advent wreath. It's a very special one this year made from a paper plate and green garland and four small white votive candles. My three year old made it at church for us and she is so proud when we light it every night. So this is the one we are using. After all, it's not every year you get a new Advent wreath.

Next you will come into our family room. We have a small tree (it's small since technically I can put the star on top without a stool) covered in way to many decorations. But with four children all wanting to put them on the tree, every branch is prime real estate. We have all our stockings hanging from the mantel. And yes, I am a bit of a Type A personality in that they must all match. But they have the cutest snowmen on them. And although you can't see it in the picture my Christmas tree skirt also has cute snowman faces all around it.

On my mantle I have my Advent calender tree for the children to open each night. But since my children don't know what patience is, we always have issues about waiting for their night to open the box. So instead of opening a box every night it usually turns into an every four night event. Then all the kids get to open a box at the same time and no one gets left out. I don't know why it doesn't bother them to go days in between but it doesn't. I also have a few more of my snowmen on one end of the mantle.

On the other end of the mantle I have my Santa collection. I have gotten a few here and there over the years and now I think I may have a Santa addiction. But since it only affects me once a year I don't worry to much about it.

Next we will head into the kitchen where I really don't have to much to share. Except this lone little Snowman paper towel holder. It was given to me one year and I really like it. He's always sitting by the hot stove so it's a wonder he hasn't melted yet.

I also have my Christmas dishes in the kitchen. Every year the kids are anxious to start using them. So out they come and then all the food gets pushed aside so they can look at the pretty tree and presents on the plate.

Now BooMama asked us to share a special holiday treat with those of you who dropped by. And I must admit that treats just don't last long in this house. So sadly I don't have any pictures of recent treats to show you. But please know that if you come by you will get a lovely cup of tea or coffee. And if your super lucky you may even get a Surprise Snowball.

Surprise Snowball
40 Hersey Kisses
2 c. flour
1 c. Margarine
1 c. pecans, chopped
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Unwrap Chocolate kisses and set aside. Blend together margarine, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add pecans and flour to mixture, mix well. Chill dough mixture for about 10 minutes. Shape dough around each chocolate kiss covering completely. Bake at 375 for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and roll in powdered sugar while still warm.

Thanks for stopping by and just be warned that those Surprise Snowballs are addicting and messy to eat with all that powdered sugar. And if your interested in seeing some more homes then head on over to BooMama.