Pranked!!

These are the following pranks that were played on me yesturday. I wasn't sure if I should get angry or laugh about it. But here it goes,

After making sure that I was awake EARLY to get dressed for church and do my makeup, and hair, my kids still weren't getting dressed or eating their breakfast. So now it's nearly 7:45 and I had to give them some "TURBO BOOST" only it didn't really work. ( I didn't really give them anything) I had my four younger kids ready and took them to church, while my oldest daughter swore she had nothing to WEAR!!! So since I was completely ready to go, and my husband was still getting ready he stayed behind with her and they showed up just minutes later. How did he do it. She was so STUBBORN with me and I was ready to "KILL" her. (Not that I really would)

During church when it was time to take the Little Monster to NURSERY I didn't even try. I was way exhausted from the night before, and heck from the last 4 months, that I didn't care if he went or not. So I stood out in the hall with him for a little while and just tried to RELAX, well someone forgot to REMIND me that it wouldn't work. Finally I took the Little Monster into the room and started playing "bean bag toss" with him, and he started to like that. Just a few minutes later T-Man came into the room. (He's going to be in sunbeams next week, so this is his last time in nursery. They were bringing all the older kids to the Nursery room after they did singing time in Primary) So I thought I'd be able to go, and I WAS RIGHT!!! -- Okay not so much a prank here.

After church, I'll try not to go to fast here. I wanted to make some spaghetti sauce to possibly take down and share with extended family elsewhere. I realized I was one tomato sauce can short of being able to make the sauce. I did however, have a huge can of whole tomatoes. So I got my blender out, and poured the can in, and added a can of tomoato paste. Everything was going great. I picked up the pitcher by the handle and all of the sudden RED STUFF EVERYWHERE!!! I'm not kidding. The blender controls were covered or rather saturated in sauce, on the counter top, under the microwave, down the front of the cupboard and the inside, (I didn't shut it before I started -- oops) , on the floor. IT WAS NASTY!!! I wanted to scream so LOUD!! But figured it wouldn't do any good. So there went my attempt at making sauce for everyone to eat. But instantly I remembered I froze some sauce from the week before and pulled it out to add to the one can I already had opened. Needless to say I didn't want to share that at all. We might try it for dinner tonight.

Then I went to make some 7 layer dip, and wanted to venture putting black beans in it too. I went to the sink to rinse the beans and drain off the water. In a handheld strainer. I walked the step in a half from the kitchen sink to the spot on the table where the start of the dip was sitting in the pan, and the shoes I was wearing "SLIPPED" on the floor. I started to FALL, and scraped my arm on the table and the beans in slow motion, all flew up in the air, and landed all over the kitchen floor. (I got mad at my shoes for that one) I think it's time for new ones. I've been slipping a lot lately.

Then I went to make a phone call and didn't get the reaction I was hoping for from the other end. Or rather was surprised at the reaction I received. So that put me in a tailspin of a fragile mood for the rest of the day.

Then of course, I have the normal, fit throwing from Little Monster. Keeping me awake all night. And draining me of all my strength and energy.

Now all I'm asking myself is how do I TAME THE WILD ANGRY BEAST INSIDE THIS LITTLE GUY? ( Do they prescribe sleeping "pills" for little ones? )

Friday Ramblings

Day after Christmas and it's a FRIDAY!!! Know what time that is???

That's right time to get out some of my thoughts on various random "THING and/or STUFF, and/ or PEOPLE"

So I'd like to get mushy for a minute and BRAG on my HUSBAND!!! For Christmas he surprised me with a "GIRLS NIGHT OUT KIT" a few envelopes sealed one inside the other. There was two "made up" movie tickets to go see TWILIGHT -- because I still haven't been able to see it YET!!! And there were two "DINNER PASSES" -- good anywhere cash is accepted. So he included $40.00 to go take care of this Girls Night Out!! So he prearranged this with my sister in law coming up from Arizona and we're going to go see this movie and grab dinner. Now I wonder if I could talk Amy into coming as well so that we could all go and do this. I love hanging out with these TWO AMAZING AND FANTASTIC LADIES!!! I'm glad that they can put up with me and my habit of "TALKING TOO MUCH!"

But my husband also hid inside the TREE a box, a jewelery sized box. What was inside. A new bracelet!!! It's so BEAUTIFUL!! You know he can be quite crazy during the year, but has a way of "smoothing" it all over at the important times. Thanks Sweetheart!!!!

Dishes --- anyone want to come and do mine??? I'm still working on them from yesturday and the day before -- I got lazy and didn't do that much yesturday because I was EXHAUSTED!!!

LITTLE MONSTER ---- He never likes to SLEEP!!! Do they prescribe sleeping pills for babies?? Because he needs something!!! I'm not getting sleep and therefore I'm getting CRANKY!!! I can only do this for so long, and now I think I'm starting to experience "DEPRESSION" -- maybe it's time to make a big 180 and start working out 6 times a week to get the endorphines pumping through my body. Huh???? He still isn't talking, and only screams at me when he wants something, can't get him to go to bed at night, he just gets CRANKY and FIGHTS his sleep all the time. AGHH!!! What's a mom to do, when her 20 month old nearing 21 months doesn't sleep???? HELP!!!

STREP THROAT!!! My oldest daughter has it yet again, and has had it since Monday!!! SAD!!! But now we're on antibiotics once again, and hope to nip this in the bud real SOON!!! Who's the carrier??? I just hope that no one else has it!!! I'm already not getting sleep and I don't need anyone else coming down either. Guess I should go get them swabbed tomorrow, or just wait until MONDAY!!! What am I to do???? THe life I lead is often CRAZY and very much not the way I PLAN it. Oh well.

New Year -- Coming up around the corner and a time for new beginnings and new goals, I set some last year and have to say that I was unsucessful with all of them, there were 5-6 different ones. So this year, I'm going to set a new goal every month that can be worked on, and then add to it the next month. My dad gave me a good place to start, so I'll probably take his advice, and start with the HOUSE!!! It needs to be seriously DECLUTTERED, and then ORGANIZED. So I'll go room by room, and then hopefully by my birthday I'm in a better habit of getting the cleaning done, and the clutter will all be gone, and the kids will be doing REGULAR CHORES. And be up to grade level as far as CHORES go.

So if you have school age kids, and they have homework and chores that you'd like them to do, and little time to do it all -- how do you go about it. Suggestions are welcomed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I want to wish all of my readers a MERRY CHRISTMAS, and here's the picture we sent out this year along with scanned copies of the letter. I'm still working on getting these out to close friends and family, and if you read my blog and haven't gotten yours yet. I don't want to spoil the fun, but it's coming. And I feel this picture truly depicts the personalities in our family and how CRAZY and FORGETFUL some of us, mainly me, can be. BE SAFE AND GOD BLESS!!!

NOW FOR THE CHRISTMAS LETTER PART:

The back side of my Christmas Letter this year. I got this idea from sister in law who has been doing this for several years now. And it's a tradition I want to take on, as long as I have material to work with.

Friday Randomness --- 16 THINGS

My friend Alyssa tagged me with this, which is perfect because I have no idea what I want to blog about right now. Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.





1. I really do enjoy shoveling SNOW!! Except when it starts snowing right when you are finishing up. It really is a nice workout.

2. I've been married for 10 and half years on Christmas Eve.

3. I enjoy making birthday cakes. And being really creative.

4. I love to play sports. Especially BASKETBALL!! I haven't done anything like that for almost a year now, I need to get started again.

5. I'm so a cat person. Even though I have a dog. Because once the dog is gone, after that we'll just have cats. The dog is seriously like having another person in the family, and more work to take care of her, than it is to tell my kids to go to bed ( which is not an EASY task by any means).

6. My favorite color is blue, always has been and probably always will be. Although I do like a lot of colors.

7. I love to READ!! But lately haven't had any time to read anything, need to change that too. Time for a trip to the library.

8. I hate HOMEWORK!! I have three school kids and they all bring homework home everyday (just about -- sometimes they'll get lucky and not have anything) but my kids hate doing their homework, so then I have to "encourage" and "persuade" oh heck -- I'm NAGGING, and SCREAMING to get them to do it after asking kindly for the 100th time. Plus I feel it gives them no time to do the "chores around the house" that I want them to do, and they are always getting to bed late because of homework. AGHHH..... okay enough of the complaining (for now).

9. I don't really like driving!! I do it, because I have to, but if my husband is in the car I'd much rather prefer him to do the driving.

10. I have 7 siblings in my childhood family. I'm the oldest, and have the most kids on either side of my husband or my families.

11. My birthday is in April -- I've always liked the month, and wish it could be APRIL ALL THE TIME. Well almost all the time.

12. I grew up in California near DEATH VALLEY in a little town called TRONA. And don't care to ever live in California again, to live at least. So needless to say, I HATE the HEAT!!!

13. Some of my interests include : learning new skills, baking, blogging, staying in touch with friends (someday after my kids grow up I'll have a life again). ** Working out when I find some time. Playing the piano.

14. Things I'd like to learn more: digital scrapbooking, photography, sewing, and getting ORGANIZED, how to get kids to do chores without the whining. Learning to play the piano better -- I'm such a NOVICE.

15. I'm very forgetful. Mostly with where I put things at. My cell phone, address book, keys, the remote, someone's phone number. Thus it goes back to being ORGANIZED. How is it that I missed that lesson as a youngster??? Oh yeah, I probably never learned it as a youngster.

16. Betcha couldn't tell but I'm NOT perfect. But I do enjoy this blog, because it releases a lot of tension when I need it, and I can keep track of all my thoughts, and happenings so that when my kids ask questions later I can ask them.


If you want to do this then go for it!!! I don't know who really reads my blog so I don't know who to tag. If you don't have a blog then email me, with your response.

Random Pictures

This boy always puts a smile to my face.

T-Man playing with our neighbor Adam in our front yard.

The visit to Santa Clause -- so it didn't work so well. Little Monster wasn't thrilled. But Sleeping Beauty was having a good time. (the guy in the santa suit was her primary teacher, and she knew it -- so she thought it was too FUNNY) Sunshine, and T-Man were too scared to go and sit on his lap -- therefore they aren't in the Santa picture this year. Oh well. Can't win them all.

SURPRISE VISIT!!! Grandma and Grandpa Hill were in Utah to help drive my sister Ashley back to California -- so I had them sit together in front of the Christmas Tree with the kids so it was like they were here for Christmas. By the way Little Monster HATES to wear clothes. He's happy to run around in just his diaper. And I'm lucky that he'll leave that on.

Before and After

Okay so I'm not the best photographer but, I wanted to remember what my hair was like before and after. This is the big Hair SURPRISE.

BEFORE:

SURPRISE !!!!

AFTER:
Yes, I've gotten another perm, and this is only Day 2 so I'm still within the first 48 hours and can't wash my hair until tomorrow!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!! Now I don't feel so Prehistoric and UGLY!!!

S-N-O-W PRANKS

Okay, so seriously now. I think someone is trying to play some pranks on me. I'm thinking that someone has a hidden camera placed somewhere watching me as I have one .... ADVENTURE... or so after another.





Yesturday: I dropped my boys off at the sitters house, so that I could go get my hair cut. (Which I love by the way!!!) But when I got into the car to head to the salon, my wheels slid right into the gutter. Provo's gutters here aren't the greatest. This was one that was sloped down and there was no way in heck I was getting out on my own doing. I tried for 10 minutes trying to "unstuck" myself from the gutter. Everytime I tried to get out I would make a little headway and then just slide back down. I walked home and grabbed some wood planks to place under the wheels -- you know for traction. I grabbed a stack of them, and walked back around the block to my van. Strategically placed the wood under the "trouble" tires and proceeded to get in my car and try it again. NO LUCK!!

Just then a MIRACLE HAPPENED!!! A neighbor came by to "RESCUE" me, she had lived in Alaska for several years, and knew some tricks, that I didn't know. She came along and within 5 minutes had me out of the gutter and back on the road.

I also was sliding all over the road, taking the kids to school and I've almost ran into a school bus going through a round about circle. This seriously needs to STOP. So if you are my prankster please know that I've had enough of this stuff. I would like to enjoy the rest of my Christmas Break without incident. Please, I'm begging you. I don't have time for this nor the SANITY left to take it. Look at me now, I'm talking to a computer screen because I feel someone "inside" here might be responsible. Take these pranks and go onto the next victim, I refuse to be your guinea pig anymore.

Then to top that off, I had one of my kids leave the van door open the next day, and well, it started to SNOW!! I wasn't aware of the fact that they left this door open, and well -- you guessed it -- another PRANK!!! There was snow all over the inside, the floor, the baby's carseat -- I just had to LAUGH!!! So I take the "ice scraper" and I'm now cleaning the inside of the car to get rid of the snow in it. I tell you this is ridiculous. Enough already.

Friday Ramblings.....

Christmas Cards: ARE REALLY FUN!!! I love sending them and I REALLY LOVE GETTING THEM.. The pictures included with a card are my favorite part. I also am a NERD and love reading the letters that are sent. Especially if I haven't seen you for a while. So if you're reading my blog and feel guilty because you haven't yet sent me one..... what are you waiting for -- go put it in the mail. I won't hate you . I promise.

Holiday Goodie Exchange: I hosted one this year and loved it. I went to the one my sister in law Amy held and LOVED IT!!! I did get some new recipe ideas and I'm anxious to try them. One of the recipes includes cake mix and MINTS. Chocolate and mint YUM!!!! So if you really lived close by you might be lucky to partake of my goodies this year (Pictures will come as I make these things this weekend.)

1. Peanut Butter/ Chocolate Fudge

2. Chocolate Peanut Clusters

3. Chocolate Haystacks

4. Dipped Pretzels/Graham Crackers

5. Peppermint Bark

6. Chocolate Chip Cookies/ Reece Pieces Cookies

Okay so now that I got your mouth watering here are the new ones that I'm going to try this year ----

Cake cookie with mint on top

Toffee Butter Crunch (made with almonds)

Okay that's quite a list. The good thing a lot of these recipes don't take too long at all to make. Plus sampling is always a PLUS!!!

NO HOMEWORK: I love Christmas Break for the fact that my kids don't have school and that means no DAILY HOMEWORK!!! Except I'll make sure that they still read. I also love that I don't have to get them by a certain time and if I can sleep in a little because Little Monster is still asleep than I CAN!!! Who doesnt like to SLEEP IN on a NON SCHOOL DAY??? OH YEAH, the KIDS

Christmas Carols: LOVE THEM. I used to go caroling when I was in High School, but it wouldn't be much fun right now because the kids don't know many of the songs yet, and if they do they wouldn't sing, so I'm looking forward to that when they get older. Of course, I can't sing now!! I sound like the penguin from HAPPY FEET. So don't ask me to sing now, because you'll wish you hadn'twhen I'm barely done.

Hair CUTS!!! --- Just got one yesturday. LOVE IT!!! But I got it in preparation for what is happening tomorrow. And it does have something to do with hair. But I'm not telling till tomorrow night.

Wrestling -- My family is wrestling on my KING SIZED bed, and all the sheets are off, the blankets everything!!! It's all the kids versus DAD!! So they are trying to push Dad off the bed while he is trying to get them off the bed. Once they are off they are OUT!! Dad is winning so far. Cheap entertainment -- I LOVE IT!!! At least they are all having fun, and the only rule is that they have to make the bed when they are all done. My husband is so GOOD with the KIDS.

LAUNDRY --- Have I mentioned how I HATE IT !!! Because I do. Speaking of which I have about 7 loads to go and fold. They're staring at me and I'm SCARED. I better go attack them before they come during the night and suffocate me. YES IT'S THAT BAD.

Christmas Countdown: I can't believe that there is only 5 days left until Christmas. Well I guess there is a little more then 5 but WHO'S COUNTING??? Geesh

Crazy times in the snow.

I wish I had my camera with me today, because I couldn't believe it when I saw a few different kids with scooters in the SNOW!!! Like seriously do these people think they'll get much use out of their scooter, like is it really going to get them home that much faster. Or is it just some kind of habit that they just walked out of the house and grabbed it on the way. I mean, come on, it's like trying to push a shopping cart or a stroller through the slushy gross snow, and do we think it's that easy. I DON'T !!!

It's times like this when I wonder if this problem is the parents for not allowing it, or the child was just not listening in the first place. I kind of wanted to LAUGH, when I saw this kid while waiting to pick mine up from school, and he was wearing a backpack with his coat but was also PUSHING this scooter through the snow. I wonder how much longer it took him to get home that normal.

Oh wait, I get it, that was his workout for the day, so when he got home his parents wouldn't make him exercise/workout, and he could go straight for the video games.

All I know is... once it snows and there is snow and/or ice the bikes are put away, and the scooters, and they don't come out again, until the weather is good, like in the 60's again.

But along with odd scenes like that one, I also witnessed one girl lagging way behind the group she was "walking" with. The reason why, I guess she can't eat a snowball while walking. She was clearly holding a big lump of snow in her gloved hands and was taking big licks, or bites or something. Which is a common thing among children, heck when it's actually snowing my kids are always trying to catch the snowflakes in their mouths. I even have one daughter that used to go up to parked cars and lick the snow that sits on the car. What do you do?? Well, I'm grateful it wasn't yellow!!

And with the nice snowfall that we've received this last few days, it really is starting to feel like Christmastime. I've always wanted a "WHITE" Christmas ever since I was a kid, and to me a white Christmas is where you wake up to a fresh fallen layer of SNOW on Christmas Day. I've experienced that once in my life so far. I still wake up first thing and run to the window and check to see if I got my WHITE CHRISTMAS. When I grew up -- we never had a white Christmas. Heck you would get outside types of toys and actually be able to go outside and play with them, it'd be so warm still. So I guess there are pros and cons to each situation. But as long as I have my family with me, I'm sure it'll be great no matter what the conditions are.


Some other weird snow stories: well, my favorite memory is from when I was dating my husband, and he picked me up over his shoulder walked to the side of the yard we were at, and laid me down in the SNOW!!! How uncool is that. Well, actually it was quite COOL. But to make matters worse a roommate came over and rubbed snow in my face, and then I think a few others might have joined in.

I remember being in college my second year, and the street that I lived in was quite the hangout for our ward members, because the road would be so slick that they managed to start running in a path that would be so slick and they would slide for the length of a few house. I never actually did this, but it was sure entertaining to WATCH from inside my house I lived in. They even got so bold as to try some tricks, like human bowling, and then running and sliding on their butts, instead of staying on their feet. Sliding down and then jumping over someone laying in the way. IT WAS CRAZY!!!

I also had a roommate get asked out using the SNOW!!! It was crazy. Because I remember walking home from a class to my apartment in the Dorm and saw this red stuff in the snow. But not until I got upstairs did I realize what it said. Of course, it was asking her out.

But my all time favorite part about the snow is drinking the HOT CHOCOLATE afterwards.
And my all time LEAST FAVORITE part of the SNOW. DRIVING IN IT!!! I didn't really learn to drive in the snow until I moved to Provo. So I was already married with a few kids basically, and only left my house when I really had too!! But after having to drive kids to school, I've had to overcome my fear of driving in the snow. But it still makes my heart POUND when I start sliding, and am never sure if I'll stop without hitting something. YIKES!!!


But of course, I can't forget about making SNOW MEN with the kids, or sledding. Both of which my kids really enjoy. We have yet to go and do those things this winter, but I'm sure the time, and the right kind of snow will happen, eventually. And with the right kind of players, snowball fights are pretty fun too. But clearing off the car isn't !! So it isn't fair that I have to park in the weather, and my husband parks in the garage. He doesn't even get up earlier to go clean off my car so I don't have to. I mean come on, I have five kids I need to get in the car and then drive across town to drop the ones off at school. What am I to ever do??? Well at least, he helped a little when he bought me my new Ice SCRAPER!! This is like deluxe and is kind of an early Christmas present. It has an extension handle on it, a squeegee so I can get the window clean, and an angled head so I can easily clean off the top of the van with a little more ease. So I just might be okay this winter.

What are some of your favorite Snow MEMORIES ???

Oh Heck, I'll do it anyway.

My Senior Prom : My Junior Prom:

Okay so I'll just post both of my Prom Pictures.

A Trip Down Memory Lane. To post or not to post.

First off I have this really lousy picture taken with a really bad camera back in college. But these are my BEST FRIENDS!!! I still stay in touch with them to this day. I know that I can count on them for anything. If I need someone to talk to, or vice versa -- we can always count on each other. I love you ladies!!! Thanks for all our fun times together.

And going back a little further to High School. I was in 10th grade in this picture and yes at one time I was a cheerleader. I LOVED IT!! The only problem, I loved playing the sports more, so I eventually quit, (well other forces were also at play) But I had fun while it did last. I need to find more pictures from me in high school. So I wonder if any of my classmates have any ---??? I'll have to hunt them down and find out.

And I put up a post a few months ago about my first love. I got a copy from my grandma -- because she kept one in a book for me, matter of fact she has all my school pictures I think. She even has my newborn picture too. Well this "first Love" picture was one of my Prom pictures so I think I'd be safe to post it. What's your thoughts??? Should I post it or not???

EFM (Especially For Mom)

I totally loved this poem, I think it really touched my heart and "cleared up my head" a little too. So this is for all you mom's out there, I stumbled upon this while doing some searching.
The Night before Christmas for Moms

It was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode

Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,

While visions of Nintendo 64 and Barbie, flipped through their heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,

With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.

So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,

Which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,

She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.

He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.

"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."

"Your gift was especially difficult to make."

"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."

"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she asked, "What good is that?

Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat.

"The mother's twin. Same hair, same eyes,

Same double chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust," She'll mop every mess.

You'll relax, take it easy, Watch The Young & the Restless."

"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream come true!"

I'll shop. I'll read., I'll sleep a whole night through! "

From the room above, the youngest began to fret.

"Mommy?! I scared... and I am wet.

"The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part."

The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune,

as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.

"You the best mommy ever. " I really love you."

The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."

The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal."

"That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."

Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear,

"Only one loving mother, is needed here."

The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed.

"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.

I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,

When they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.

Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time.

"With the clone by his side Santa said,

"Goodnight. Merry Christmas, Mom, You'll be all right."

-Author Unknown

Friday Ramblings ....

So I kind of REALLY like to RAMBLE about things that I find DUMB, DORKY, or sometimes USEFUL AND FASCINATING.

THROW BLANKETS --- the kind you have around in the cooler months to cover up with in the living room/family room (because we only have one room so it's a combined purposed room). I always use to cart the blankets away out of the room because they just looked tacky in the living room before. Until I discovered that my friend Esther actually had some in her family room, but the difference was --- she had hers in a wicker basket. A cute little storage place to keep them when not in use, and then they stay right there in the room, for all to enjoy. I just need to get a basket now, and pull out all the throw blankets so we have them for that purpose.

Clean LIVING ROOMS --- - Okay confession my living room is actually CLEAN right now. With exceptions of a few piles of Christmas Cards and other papers around the desk it looks pretty darn good in here. It hasn't been like this since SEPTEMBER!!! I've always got some box full of who knows what, and piles of JUNK, that seem to assemble themselves in a big heap on all flat surfaces in this room, and then when the little monster wants to sit somewhere he dumps whatever might be in that spot and pushes or dumps it to the floor. So then we have JUNK all over the floor. Well NOT ANYMORE!!! I'm putting my foot down, and I'm going to be ANAL about this living room. I'm no longer going to place loads of laundry in here to be folded if they won't be done within 15 minutes of being put into this room. Good rule of them for me because I'm bad, oh man, I've already broken the rule, and they are my clothes!!! Better go put them away right now.

Holiday Goodies --- YUMMY!!! Fudge is my favorite, followed by all things peanut butter!!! Heck even my fudge is made with the peanut butter and chocolate swirled chips. Maybe I should be asking for the Wii Fit for Christmas. I just can't say NO to anything that soothes that craving of mine. I know it's probably not the best thing for me, but hey, all things in moderation right??? If I hardly eat them during the rest of the year, around Christmas isn't going to kill me off too soon.

DrAfTy OLD houses: That's what mine is!!! It was originally built in 1893 and then updated in 1954. When we bought our house back in 2001, we didn't realize that our house was that old until we were in to sign the papers at our closing. But that didn't deter us from still buying. But with age also come PROBLEMS and ISSUES. The main ones being Plumbing, and Electrical!! And the DRAFTiNESS of this place. But we're hoping in a few more years that we'll be able to do an upgrade on this house, and add some bedrooms and at least another bathroom if not two more. At the same time we'll have our Kitchen redone as well. Then I'll hope that I have a nice dining table and chairs and have a more updated look to this house. It does have character!! Even if those are considered to be it's flaws. We have the CREEKY floorboards, that I swear are going to bust through one of these days. Hopefully not, but who knows?? ? This is a picture from last year, but typical of what the front yard looks like during the day in the summer months. The wicker furniture isn'ton the porch anymore but this is what the outside looks like.

At least I'm confident in knowing that it's a house we can afford and it's a humble dwelling and it's what my kids have called home for the last 7 1/2 years. It'll be 8 years in March!! The yard is pretty bad, but I think it was early spring still, and the grass was having issues. And living where I live right now is such a blessing because I have my own "Lawn Care" person living right next door, and he mows the front yard, waters all my flowers during the summer, and he fertilizes the lawn, and when he's really ambitious he even edges the sidewalks. He always does the driveway because we share it, but he is an awesome man, that just wants to do good for others. My kids adore him, and have brought to him a sense of family. Which brings me to my last point.

Date Nights: I realize that the special ALONE time with just the two of us is so NEEDED!!! To keep our relationship STRONG and IMMOVABLE!!! We've managed to have a date of some kind for the last two weeks and we'll go again later tonight (Friday the 12th of Dec) My neighbor and lawn guy, is going to hang out with my kids for a few hours and watch movies with them and have a pizza party. While DH and I go Christmas Shopping for our kids. We still need a game plan and we don't have one yet. Better start getting ideas ... oh man where did I put those Christmas lists at???

This was from our Anniversary this last June!!! Our 10 year mark. That was def. a DATE!!! It was an overnighter without KIDS!!! YIPPEEE!!! Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa!!! I can start to see a light at the end of our tunnel on how often we can get away without kids all the time. Part of the time is GREAT to be with them, but we still need ALONE TIME!!!

I LOVE THESE PICTURES !!!!

I LOVE THESE!!!!

So I just ordered my pictures for my Christmas Card this year and this is what they are like. It was a combination of a few pictures and the help of my friend Christina. SHE'S AWESOME!!! Here were the other pictures that I sent her. I was using a tripod, and the self-timer and T-Man thought the picture was already taken, and well ..... enough said. He was actually running to look at what had been taken.

Picture #1 Picture #2

Picture #3 After the Head Swap. Picture #4 After : This one was with a SEPIA TONE --- This one in color ---- And this one in color with words. And in case anyone is wondering what the heck is up with the Little Monsters shirt -- I apparently didn't button the shirt right to begin with. But hey, it adds some personality and shows what we are like on a more day to day basis. But I could also attribute that to Sleep Deprivation.

So in the words of KIP from Napoleon Dynamite "I love technology, almost more than you, you see. I love technology." Okay maybe not quite a direct quote but something like that.

Thanks again, Christina.

My new invention .....

After spending some time with some amazing women tonight. I discovered that I have a great "idea" for a new invention. But your curious??? Well, first off -- it might just be a seasonal item, sold mainly in the fall and winter months. And the target market would be females 18 and up.



Battery operated, and yes the batteries would be included. This item would aide the protection of women from possible attacks from deranged people, that have nothing better to do than be MEAN!! But this product would also provide some warmth. Which can mean a form of comfort. I'm sure it could come in just about any color possible and would come waterproof. (since it would be battery operated)



Any Guesses Yet???



Well, I'll come back to this in a second, but right now I want to point a problem that I often encounter and then tell you the solution that I came up with.



THE PROBLEM??

It's winter!! It's COLD!! And as a WOMAN I have certain areas that tend to tell me it's too COLD!!!

LIKE MY ARMS --- THEY GET GOOSE BUMPS that seem to make a permanent home there, and don't leave until Spring. My FEET!!! Are always cold, and that's where snuggling in bed is a good thing. My husband has lots of body heat, and laying close to him -- my body seems to inhale all the heat he's giving off. Eventually I get warm again. But then there is the region of the body, that when it gets cold -- observant people can tell you ARE!! Unless you are wearing a big baggy shirt. I'm talking about the chest area. Any woman can probably tell you that when she gets cold, the there are like a serious monstrous goose bump on either side that have a hard time going away. So to compensate for the extreme cold I try to stand with my arms folded in front of my chest and then I try to keep warm there.

So any other guesses about my solution and the invention mentioned above???


An electric bra!!! It would be the ultimate winter time gear. Don't you think. It could keep you constantly warm and no one would ever wonder if you are COLD again. Unless you get goose bumps on you arms, or worse, ON YOUR FACE!!!

So what do you think?? Do I have a winner here or what????

So this bra would be designed to keep the chest warm, and have the battery located in between the breasts, and then there could be a way to program it to shock anyone that tries to "harm" or "hurt" you or "try to take advantage" of when they have no right to. I think this goes right up there with the tree that will grow money.



Okay so maybe it's a bit BIZARRE. Okay A LOT BIZARRE. But it sure was fun to talk about and think of the possibilities. This just goes to show you how crazy one woman can be when going sleep deprived and reaching states of deliriousness by dinner time almost everyday. Hey, if I didn't have conversations like this with others once in a while I'd seriously have to commit myself into a mental hospital because I couldn't vent out any of my frustration in fun and creative ways. Although I bet you wouldn't personally buy an item like this (for one I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap) I bet you had a great laugh, and now you feel better for having read this and laughed about it.

But if you fall in the percentage of people that will read this and think how dumb I must be, COME ON!! I know that you've had times where you've been silly and came up with off the wall stuff that made absolutely no sense at all but was FUNNY!!!


Hope you all take the time especially when your stressed to find a reason to laugh it seriously HELPS. That's why I married my husband, because he makes me laugh. Most of the time.


Just for kicks I googled "electric bra" and found this.

Electrical bras?
I asked a question "what can I do/but to protect myself
and others?" and 1 guy said an electrical bra that does something when the
wearer is in danger... was he being serious? are these for sale somewhere?...if
this is true, how do they work and where can I buy 1 and r they safe to
wear?suggestions wud b fab
2 years ago

Additional Details
2 years
ago
ooooohh... someone just answered and said it's a techno bra that vibrates
silently and sends an alert to the police when the heart rate increases.....what
if ur heart rate increase because ofsomething else ...like ur running to catch a
bus???!
p>

Looks like there's been talk of a bra like this one, so I guess it'll have to sit on the back burner. On to invent my next big money maker.

Deck the Halls .....

I ran upon this from a friends blog and really liked it so I wanted to do it to.

Here goes:

Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate. I've never even tried Eggnog. Don't really want to either. Sounds like it would taste bad.

Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree? My parents wrapped everything and labeled it from Santa when I was a kid. So when I came to know about Santa -- I was highly depressed because everything was still labeled from Santa -- I didn't like it. So in our family we wrap the presents that our from DH and Me and then pick one gift for each child to be the Santa gift. And it isn't wrapped. We want them to think that everything already pretty much comes from MOM & DAD instead of Santa. So that's what we do.

Colored lights on tree or white? Depends on the decorating scheme for the year. I've done colored and White. But a few years ago, the kids really wanted to use our colored lights and we've just done it now for 2 - 3 years. I think it adds more color to the room.

When do you put your decorations up? Right around Thanksgiving or as close to it as possible.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? What do you mean that's all I eat around the holidays! But I guess Deviled Eggs would be my favorite anytime of year dish.

Favorite holiday memory as a child: This is sad, but I can't remember anything really. Although I do remember the Christmas's when my grandparents would come by with the gifts for us that they just put inside of big black trash bags. So when we thought we were done opening presents they came over and we got to open more. As a kid that was always GREAT. There wasn't just one gift there was like 5 - 10 different gifts inside each plastic bag and there were 8 KIDS!!

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think about the time I turned 10 - 12 my Dad had me go with him on a "field trip" and he told me about it, and I got to help that year and be Santa -- so when all the other kids had gone to bed, I got to stay up and help place the Christmas Presents for everyone else. I was pretty sad, when I was putting out the presents but not one of them were for me. So I was surprised when I woke up the next morning and there were a few other gifts placed out that weren't there when I went to bed.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? As kids we never did. And DH and I haven't figured out if we want to do it with our kids or not. I guess we better figure it out soon, because the oldest is already 9 1/2.

Snow! Love it or dread it? I've always loved having a WHITE CHRISTMAS!! Meaning that you wake up to fresh fallen snow. Not the snow that's been there for weeks and freezing over the driveway making it slippery to drive on. But I too, don't like driving in the stuff. I'm more used to it now that I've been driving in it for 10 years but it never snowed where I grew up as a kid.

Can you ice skate? No -- kind of scared to.

Do you remember your favorite gift? Well my favorite one living at home with my parents was my school jacket and class ring (didn't happen until high school) I also loved the bedding set that they bought me which I now use for my kids. The comforter was so cozy soft and cool. And it was BLUE!! Since I've been married -- my husband bought me a rocking chair when we found out we were expecting Sunshine. So that was Christmas 2001.


What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending time with family and making memories. When I was a kid and even now, of course, we'd always watch the "New MOVIES" we got on Christmas Day and it was always fun. I love getting together with extended family and playing games, and getting some adult time in. We have had one Christmas where my family was all together for the first time since I moved out and that was pretty fun. My brother dressed up as Santa and the kids loved it. I even sat on Santa's lap that year. And so did my GRANDMA!! That was really fun. I don't know when we'll all be together again for Christmas but I'm sure it will be a MEMORY in the making.

What is your favorite holiday dessert? I always make Homemade vanilla ice cream and have it with either hot warm brownies that I've made or Hot Apple Pie. Although I did break my hand when Sunshine was born (Christmas 2002) Because I was trying to make ice cream. I was actually trying to get my sugar jar down loaded with Sugar and it was heavier then I thought and my hand was smashed between that and the cupboard that someone had just opened. "WE HAVE TALL CEILINGS" Like 12 ft. So I have pretty tall cupboards. I went the whole weekend not knowing that I had broken my hand. We also blessed Sunshine that weekend at church and I had a hard time holding her at 3 - 4 months old. It was my right hand too.

What is your favorite tradition? Driving around looking at Christmas Lights. Was as a kid, and is now.

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? It used to be getting, but I now, like to come up with the best ideas to give to those around me. And seeing how much they light up from it.

What is your favorite Christmas Song? I can't name a favorite. There are so many good ones. But the most recent one I really like is "Christmas Shoes" -- don't remember the artist. But any of the songs that help me feel the "spirit" of Christmas I totally LOVE.

Candy canes! Yuck or yum? Peppermint - not really but the other ones aren't too bad.

Ever recycled a Christmas present? No

Don't Be A Scrooge! Tag 7 friends to Deck the Halls...

I want to tag, Amy M, Amy R, Lorie M, Cassie B, Christina B, Anyone else?? Feel free just let me know you've posted so I can go and check yours out.

So my problem ....

** READ AT YOUR OWN STOMACH's RISK.

So the other night I was getting ready for the date with my husband.

Place: Thanksgiving Point

Time: 6:30pm

Date: Thursday Dec. 4th

We had a babysitter lined up, a previous co-worker of my husband. She was so THRILLED to get to spend time with my kids.

The PROBLEM: Well before we left to go to her house, T-Man threw up all over himself, and the living-room floor.

DO I STILL GO ?

or

Do I STAY HOME?

What would you have done??

Well, I cleaned him up, changed his clothes, and within 15 - 20 minutes he was feeling lots better. I told myself that if Grandma and Grandpa had been the designated sitters that night we wouldn't have felt that bad, leaving and we would have gone anyway. So I said the same thing with the lady that was lined up. We did, however, bring a bucket "just in case". Luckily he never needed it, but as we returned back to the sitters after our dinner, we were informed that Little Monster had just tagged the floor himself .... and I was off running down to the family room. Poor little guy looked so Sad. Luckily I planned ahead, and for whatever reason had an extra change of clothes in the diaper bag, and changed him before we headed home. Not only did he throw up before we picked him up but he did it a total of 4 more times before he fell asleep that night.

Story doesn't stop there though. Sunshine came home from school on Friday the 5th, feeling okay, but by dinner time ( a few hours after she gets home) she started saying her tummy hurt. "Oh GREAT!" Sometime during the night she came into my room crying because she threw-up in her room. I got up and cleaned the mess which covered two different blankets. Did I say how much I hate cleaning these messes up!! THEY'RE GROSS!!!

She threw up a few more times the next morning, and stayed glued to her bed Saturday. Smartie Pants started saying her stomach was hurting after returning from a baptism with her dad, and sister and brother. *** DING DING DING!!!! Warning SIGN!!

Guess What?? Yep. Her too. During the night she threw up, luckily she managed to get it into the toilet. Mostly. I woke up Sunday morning to use the bathroom to find that she tagged the seat!! So I had to go fetch down my Clorox Wipes and clean off the seat, throw away the toilet paper, because somehow she got it on there too. But the one thought going through my head was this, " Of course, I have to go to the bathroom something bad, and now I get slowed down because I have to sanitize the toilet RIGHT NOW!!" -- if you know me, you know when I gotta go, I better go NOW!!

Luckily everything worked out okay. So most of today they have been resting and laying down, and whining here and there, and whining some more here and there, but hopefully this week they will be better.

But what I forgot to tell you was who started it. That's right Sleeping Beauty wasn't feeling good on Monday after Family Home Evening and didn't want more than one cookie that DH made for refreshments. A few minutes later while I was wanting to watch HEROES -- yes I WATCH IT!!, I hear the noise -- and again, and again. I get up to check on her and all over the bathroom floor. She didn't even make it to the toilet. All I have to say is, I'm glad I'm not prego because that was GROSS!!!

But all this on top of them all suffering from Strep Throat during Thanksgiving and now this.

But the reason I wanted to share this story is so my kids will know the things I went through in being their MOM!! To let them know that moms don't always get to to the things that they want, they have to take care of things that are GROSS, and NASTY.

________________________________________________________________

I also have to say that I had fun, getting ready for that date on Thursday. I wish I would have taken a picture of the two of us just before we left, but I forgot. So here are just a few pictures -- I'm not usually vain, but I really like how this turned out.

After I got my hair to this point, I gathered it in the back gave a little twist up and clipped it with a butterfly clip - or whatever you call those. And let the curls cascade down the back of my head. I had my bangs curled, but obviously here they weren't. And I was wearing a green shirt under a red shirt (the layered look) with a long flowy black skirt. Some day I'm getting my hair permed again, because I LOVE the way my hair looks while it's permed. Hopefully soon, I can do that again.

Pay it Forward Game.

What a great idea -- I found it on my friend Christina's blog.

"I'm participating in a Pay It Forward Exchange. Who wants to play? I will send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward Exchange. You will receive your gift within a month from leaving your comment. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. I can't guarantee it will be anything amazing, but who cares if it is FREE! Remember, you have to have a blog to participate(or at least 3 people who praticipate need to... haha) and must Pay it Forward on your site as well. Who's ready to play?"

I will send the first three people who comment on my blog and will play the game a special SURPRISE gift. I'll show pictures later of what they end up being. SO COME ON WHO WANTS TO PLAY???? Just let me know what your two favorite colors are???

Christmas in the Past

I remember one Christmas back a few years ago. Like Christmas 2002, I had three little kids Sleeping Beauty being only 3, Smartie Pants 2 and Sunshine 4 months ( I think). We had my husband's brother and wife staying with us, and she was expecting their first in February 2003. We let them take over our bedroom to sleep on a real bed, and we slept in our daughter's bedroom on an air mattress. It was such FUN!!! We enjoyed visiting with them, and then, sometime before Christmas Day, Ben --(my brother in law) and Shantil (his wife) heard little feet running around -- like at 3- 4 am. I guess Shantil actually heard it first because she had just laid down to bed after doing a bathroom run. And didn't want to get up, so she had Ben go check it out. He came out just in time to see Sleeping Beauty eagerly and crazily opening packages, hers or not hers, it didn't matter. So he saw her, and stopped her right away before everything had been opened. He kindly re wrapped and fixed the presents that needed help. Didn't bother waking us for this event. But told us about it the next morning. Chris and I were mad at the time, but now we laugh about it all the time. So from that day forward we were always a little leery of leaving out our presents early. So now we don't put anything under the tree until the Christmas Eve. Because a trick my dad once told me that I now implement with own kids. ** Talk Christmas down, so that they think they won't get hardly anything at all.

So to go along with that, if my kids don't see any presents under the tree until they wake up Christmas day -- it looks like a LOT of stuff when in fact there are just a few gifts for each person under there. Last year we did Christmas for $300 and a few freebies of fabric along the way. That was it !!! We had to be resourceful, and Chris and I didn't get gifts unless it was some home -made school project that the kids brought home. It was really hard for me last year, since I really look forward to Christmas every year. But I think I was looking forward to it for the WRONG reason.

We didn't get a bonus from work this year. Well not really. They have decided to let the employees have an extra paid day off between now and the end of January. So that equates to $200.00 for the day which is better than some lame gift that they would have given us. So not only does he get paid for not being there but he gets to be with us. So we're going to try and schedule a day before school lets out for the holidays to do our Christmas shopping for our kids.

Because let's face it -- I never have the money through out the year. Paying bills, and getting rid of debt and junk like that. High gas prices, and cost of food got expensive. So I couldn't manage to save anything throughout this last year. But I have something set up this year that I'm hoping will work. We'll see.

So once again, we're faced with a Christmas that is going to be more about the "reason for the season" than that of "going in debt" just to have "THINGS" -- and no I'm not saying that those things aren't nice to have, but with moderation and not going into MORE DEBT, that might be doable. With better planning on my part for this next year, maybe we can do things a lot differently.

... and the bill came back and I don't even owe $1.00

FINALLY !!!!

REMEMBER THIS POST followed by this one well I just looked at my mail from the other day a noticed a statement from my insurance company that says the midwive's office rebilled the insurance company using the main Midwife's name and now I don't owe ANYTHING!!! NADA !!! ZILCH!!!!

What a great Christmas Present!!! I thought we'd at least have to pay our $20.00 co-pay but we're not going to have to pay that either. Now I can truly say that persistence does pay off. Quite the headache, but well worth it.

This is a procedure that I had done back in August of 2007 and it just now has been settled the way in which it should have been done the first time.

Just a word to the unwise -- seriously know what you should and shouldn't be charged ahead of time, and really know if that provider is "in-network" or "out -of -network" by calling the insurance company with the exact providers name. Document everything, dates you call people, who you talk to, and what they said, it'll help you in the long run, I didn't write it down, I just told people what happened verbally and it's taken a really long time to get it worked out. But all worries laid aside, I'm not going back to that office to have anything done again, unless my insurance changes.

PUDDIN FUN

Sleeping Beauty was busy playing away at some computer game and didn't want to eat pudding like the rest of the kids did at the time. She was so focused on this game. Now if I could only direct that same focus on doing her chores.. Life could be grand!!

Smartie Pants pretending that she didn't want me to take a picture of her, but I managed to sneek one in anyway.

Sunshine was nothing but a HAM!!! She started doing her shaky but dance and had fun with her pudding.

T-Man with his PUDDING FACE. How do they eat to get such a mess all over?? I still don't understand.

Little Monster enjoying some nice chocolate pudding. I think he's mastered the art of everywhere but in his mouth.

Who couldn't be happy when they get to eat some chocolate pudding??? T-Man playing in the leaves one day and I decided to grab the camera and see what I capture.

It worked!!! I wanted to get a picture of the boys throwing the leaves up and then letting them fall down -- Little monster got so EXCITED when the leaves were falling on him. I should have video taped this. Oh well. I love how they can find the fun in simple little things. That's one area where I've been truly blessed. All my kids, have great imaginations -- some of them TOO GREAT.

A Mother's WORK.

A MOTHERS WORK IS SERIOUSLY NEVER DONE, but why do I get the heat when something isn't done??? If all people especially our family members knew this one tidbit of information -- I don't think we'd stress ourselves as much. Maybe. Okay maybe I'm just hoping I won't.

My husband sad, the house must be in pretty bad shape if I'm calling before he gets home from work to apologize for how bad it is. All I could do was LAUGH!!! IT's seriously like a tornado came through here and wasn't showing any mercy at all. I get right in the middle of trying to do some laundry, and I get the "where's this?" "I need that" "MOMMY!" And various other "mom" calls. That I don't get much accomplished.

I know how lucky my Mom was having her mother live 5 minutes away. She was always helping, and watching us when it was needed and never complained about it. My mom had 8 kids and I am the oldest. I don't know how she went through the 8 of us, and still can function as a person now. My sanity is going and it's going FAST --- I TELL YOU!!!

I need the same kind of help, but feel weird if it is anyone but my Mom, WEIRD - I know. But don't you always just feel more like letting your Mom, help out with "housework" that you need help with, or "babysitting" if that's the case, than someone not your Mom? Well that's how I feel. So since, I'm not as lucky as my Mom, I'm gong to need to be really inventive to get my things organized once and for all and keep it that way. A bigger home might help, but that's not going to happen so we have to come up with something simpler. I almost need the help of a professional "organizer" if they really exist because I'm clueless about how to store and organize all my stuff and that off my children's.

SOMEDAY!! When I grow up I want to be SUPERMOM!!! Have a place for everything and everything in it's place. But seeing as how I have 5 kids running all over the house, everything is usually not in it place and on the livingroom or kitchen floor instead. HELP!!!! Do I really need to fret over this, or am I being CRAZY!!

Maybe it's both. Who knows.

The 1st of December -- It's a MONDAY THIS YEAR.

All I have to say --- WELCOME TO MONDAY MORNINGS!!! IT HAPPENED ALL OVER AGAIN, why is that??? Kids don't want to get up for school, but they are up at the crack of dawn when there is no school--- why is that?? Sunshine just wants to throw fits ALL DAY LONG!! why is that?? Little Monster wants mommy to hold him all day and cries if he gets put down - why is that???

I have more of these questions and then some, but I guess the plain and simple answer is that BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN. I'm like the Murphy's Law MAGNET!! HELLO!!!

Now good things do happen to, but on MONDAYS everything that can go wrong usually does.

I know that there are seven days in every week. And at least one or two of those days usually turn out "worse" than the others, like kids are more misbehaved, you burn dinner or better yet forget to even make dinner. This or that breaks down, and you don't have a way to replace it. Or so much has to get done in order for Christmas to go smoothly. (Okay I had to throw that in, just because CHRISTMAS is now upon us.)

We all have the to do lists that include various things like

• school parties
• christmas cards
• type the letter up
• buy stamps
• get the picture printed
• work parties
• bake goodies
• church parties
• oh yeah, Christmas shopping
• and then the wrapping
• mailing off packages
• getting together with family
• figuring out the menu
• what traditions to do this year or ones to stop that don't work so well
• hanging lights on the outside of your house
• putting up a Christmas Tree whether it's real or fake (I'M ALL ABOUT THE FAKE ONES)
• Pick a family to play the 12days on Or some other kind of silent Santa surprise.
• Figuring out what each child is going to get for Christmas
• Making sure you don't overspend
• sending out thank you cards ( most of the time I forget)

The list can go on and on. So my question again, why is that?? Well, because we love our families and want it to be special for them. And we want to make sure that Christ is brought into the real meaning of Christmas and as the month goes on -- I'll try and share some stories that will help bring that spirit into your homes and families. Most if not all of these stories are from past issues of the Friend, that I really liked.

So as this time of year is now upon us, let us not forget the reason for the season.