New Years Eve

Happy New Years Eve my friends!

It was always a question in my mind what exactly the words ARE to the Auld Lang Syne, so I looked them up and thought I'd share. Trust me, you do NOT want me to sing them anywhere NEAR you! lol



Auld Lang Syne
by Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine;
we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne

We two hae paidled i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne

And here's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne


So I'll raise a cup o' kindness friends and toast a blessed New Year to you all!

Bring it ON....

So wow, Christmas was fast and furious in this house. First, Jackson would NOT go to sleep on Christmas eve. I finally had to send my parents to bed and we went to bed and turned off all the lights for a hour. THEN got BACK up to set everything out and go BACK to bed. Only to have 2 glazed over eyes glaring at me at 5:45am saying "mom, mom, lets get up. I can't stand it anymore and want to open my stuff before Nathan gets up". So we all got up and enjoyed Jackson's surprise and excitement for what seemed to take all of 10 minutes. That boy can TEAR through some presents!

About that time, Nathan woke up. Time for a second cup of coffee and a second Christmas morning. Nathan was a little more low-key at first. Then he warmed up to the idea that SANNA KASS came and brought Pressies.

Overall we had a wonderful Christmas. The boys were happy and I think the Old Man and his bride were taken back a few years just watching the boys.

All the prep work, the stress over getting things done, getting the right things, and wrapping the things, and so forth is done. WEEKS of prep over in less than a hour. But I will say, well worth it again this year!

So now all the Christmas decorations are down, packed back up in their secure home. We now move forward to a New Year.

I love the New Year. We're not big wild party people that go all out or anything, been there done that. No, I love New Years because I get to start a fresh clean calender. I don't "do" resolutions because lets face it, we all TRY to be better people in the New Year. But we really should work on that all year round. Not just January.

I always get the bug to clean out and toss and move things around for New Years. A fresh clean slate like my fresh clean calender without a bazillion things written on it. So that is my project for New Years and the weekend ahead. We're going to tackle Jackson's room which is now somewhere stuck in the "tween" stage. Still a lot of little kid stuff, and ever growing big kid stuff.

So as you toast the New Year (or if you are like me, wake up and realize it is a New Year), reflect a little bit about the past year, but focus on the wiped clean slate calender of your life. Don't think about all those little squares getting filled up with commitments, think about filling them with fun, life, and love.

Happy New Year my friends.

Laughing at Christmas

So I am sitting here relaxing. I know, crazy right? First - I don't relax, Second - it is 4 days to Christmas! No gifts are wrapped, but my stockings are hung by the chimney with care (and packing tape). No really, we have stocking holders.

My tornado is sleeping. Jackson is on his computer. Bryan left this morning for a whirlwind trip up to New Jersey to be with our dear friend Eric as he buries his father Tuesday morning. My heart is really with him, as I would be there as well if it wasn't so close to Christmas. Now, we prepare for the Holiday with added prayers that Bryan's flights aren't messed up by the horrid weather up there in snow land, and he makes it home safe and sound by Christmas eve.

On an up note...

I am enjoying the quiet and thinking back to one of THE funniest Christmas eve services I will ever remember.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, we always went to the Christmas Eve Service at church. It was our time to breath, reflect, and feel the warmth of the Christmas spirit. We always enjoyed Communion that night as well. It felt as if we were renewing our faith, renewing our lives for the new year. A fresh start. I always loved that. One year, and forgive me, I can't remember the year, we all stretched out along the pew. My Granny (the Old Mans mom) came with us every year as well. Now, in our old little church on regular Sunday morning communion, we used to get the wafers that were passed down each row. But Christmas Eve were literally broke bread. A load of fresh cooked bread was passed own the pews for each person to pinch off their piece and partake in a quiet communion. We all did as we were supposed to and when the loaf got to my Granny, she kinda "bit off more than she could chew" and broke of a huge hunk of bread.

We all kinda started snickering, but the pew began to shake with ALL of us trying to contain our laughter and flat out hee hawing as she looked at her bread, broke off a small part and stuck the rest in her coat pocket. I am sitting here with tears going down my face thinking about the whole image right now. Literally every one on our pew had the shoulders shaking, the looking down pretending to be praying but really had our eyes closed to keep from looking at each other and losing the battle over the giggles. I have never seen my family completely LOSE IT like that since.

My dear Granny, God rest her soul, never knew that we were laughing at her... or with her.. and she never once thought anything about that hunk of bread. But I guess in her way, she received her bread that was broken for her... and today I am sure she is looking down on all of us and giving us a big belly, shoulder shaking, full on LAUGH over our daily antics, and loving as us as much as we love her.

Merry Christmas Granny, we love and miss you and I'll say a little "Kanna Kause Kome" for ya on Christmas Morning.

Introducing the Miller and Rhodes Santa....

and 2 very adorable yet Shy looking girls!

Thanks for sharing the picture with me dad!

Christmas young and old

For those of you that read my blog as well as my Old Man's blog, you'll know that the Old Man has been triggering some GREAT Christmas past memories. Every time I read one of his, I am inspired to write about the same things, just fast forwarded a few years.

As a kid growing up (and well lets face it Im still working on the growing up part)... I had some fun times at Christmas. I thought maybe I'd just write a few down to trigger my own memories and maybe help you find some of yours.

- Every Christmas eve, we went to the Candle Light Service at our church. I always ALWAYS loved this night. Up until we went to church, it was nothing but running here and there, and doing more than humanly possible although my mom made it look easy. But Christmas Eve was always when we all sat together on a pew of the church as a family. We all took a deep breath when finally relaxed for the first time in weeks. We all listened to the service or the choir performance, and we all lit our candles and sang Silent Night. As a much younger child the ending of the service was always "cool" because I got to hold the forbidden candle and it just lit up the whole church and I had that AWE feeling. As I grew older, it started to mean so much more. I started listening to the words of the song, basking in the beauty of the warmth of all of those candles, and without fail, we'd have tears by the end verse. I miss that warmth of that service.

-After the church service the bustle was back on. We would run home and change clothes, mom would have more food than we ever needed and friends would come over to hang out (mostly in high school). Mom would go down in the basement and we weren't allowed to get near that door. She would be down there for HOURS wrapping presents for everyone and from everyone and trying to remember where she hid some things and who they were for. My mom was and still IS the queen gift wrapper. Poor woman would come limping up the stairs in pure exhaustion when they were done... only to be faced with a late night of laying out Santa stuff once we went to bed. Yes, even when we were in high school and I do believe college, santa came.

- Christmas morning brings to mind a few things. My granny would sleep with my sister, and my Aunt Louise would sleep with me. Lauri and I would be awake before the sun, but we'd wait until we heard granny saying "Sanna clause came" and mom and dad would wipe their fuzzy eyes and try to focus after being up 1/2 the night. Everyone would get up and get coffee, and turn on all the lights, and Lauri and I would stand at the end of our hallway peeing our pants with excitement and anticipation. Sometimes, I even got sick to my stomach from butterflies from the wait. I love that feeling. To this day, when I wake up on Christmas morning, I get the SAME butterflies and jitters waiting to see my own children witness the awe of Christmas morn.

- As for trees, well my mom is still to this day the MASTER of all trees. Oh us girls would try to help but really it must have pained my mom to see our work. One year, Lauri and I decided we would decorate the tree while mom and dad were out. We started decorating it and out of nowhere the dang thing fell right on top of Lauri and all the ornaments fell off. We did what any kid would do, we propped it up in the corner and went to our rooms. Mom and Dad came home to not only an UNdecorated tree, but one that was no longer standing upright and pretty. Oh man we laughed about that one for years... and still do.

- Santa. The main man. For years (and honestly I can't remember how many or when it was) we would drive up to Richmond, VA to Miller and Rhodes store to have breakfast with Santa. This was THE most amazing thing we ever did. We'd go sit at tables and Santa would literally come down the chimney (but only after we heard bells and reindeer paws on the roof) and he'd sit at his table and we'd all eat. He would even stand up and point to children in the crowd and call them by name AND where they lived. Imagine - being that child sitting there in total amazement and hearing "Well there is Lauri and Julie Jackson from Lynchburg Virginia" yes, we heard it and I am really surprised we didn't faint. After breakfast you go stand in line for the photo op of the year. We would talk to the Snow Princess before hand and tell her our names and when it was our turn, Santa would hold his hand out and say "Well come on up here Julie" WHAT? how did he know that? (we later found out that Ice Princess and Santa were wired and while Santa was smiling for the camera with one kid he was listening to our names in an ear piece). I was always the shy one and you can tell it in the pictures. Man what an incredible memory that is. I"m sitting here smiling just thinking about it.

I have gone on to long, but my childhood was a Christmas dream. We had great family time, we had a reflective moment on the true meaning of Christmas with our church service and the excitement that can only be described have fabulous.

Nothing could be finer in my life, than to create that magic for my kids, and watch them take in the beauty of the season.

Heading out of town...

this morning to drive up to "The Old Mans" house and see some family. I am SO ready, its been WAY to long since we've been up there. I can't wait to see mom and dad and then Saturday we're driving up to Boone to see my sister and her family. Again, its been WAY to long since I've seen her and her family.

Everything is mostly packed, Jackson was up at the crack of dawn to finish getting his stuff together and Nathan keeps saying "Mee Maws Ouse" and asking for Paw Paw pretzels! So as you can see, we're all very excited!

I hope everyone has a spendid weekend!

Here comes Santa Claus....

Right down St. Simons Island, GA!

So we set aside some important Sunday time for our 15 minutes of fame with Santa. I knew going in to this that the chances of some GREAT pictures of Nathan with Santa were slim to none. I had high hopes for Jackson though! Together - forget it!

So anyway - we went over to the beach, met up with Santa and his photographer and had about 15 minutes of just us time to do what we could with photo ops. Here are a few shots.

Family shot (windy day doesn't agree with mama's hair)


I like to call this Nathan's CHEESE grin. (or I know that crazy man in the red suit is behind me)



This one I love. This one is my favorite, just Jackson and Santa walking down the beach.


and Nathan and Santa sharing their own little moment together over a toy.




and finally, a good ol Santa picture with Jackson



Granted, that's a lot of pictures to share, but hey that was just a few of the ones that were taken.

We're in full Christmas mode, ready for the man in the red suit (as long as Nate doesn't SEE him) and ready for some family Christmas cheer!

TermiNATER is back...

It has BEEN a week with my darling youngest boy. First - my disclaimer - I am really a good, attentive mom. I don't normally just ignore my 2 year old and let him run amuck.. he seems to do things right in front of me.

Ok now with that said, I'll tell ya about his antics in the past 3 days.

First - the baby powder. Nathan has a thing about emptying and dumping cups, containers, whatever. Some day I'll get in to how he emptied an entire bottle of "wrench" dressing over his waffles while I was switching the laundry... but I digress..

He went into his room the other morning and shut his door. I, like any good mom, got up while on hold with a client and made sure he wasn't in his Bubba's room which is forbidden. He was in his room, what can he do. I was on the phone for a while and finally finished up the call and went to check on my darling. I opened the door and was greeted with the overwhelming smell of baby powder. As well as a total CLOUD in his room and a "snow covered" floor. And an adorable 2 year old smiling with pride over his latest accomplishment: moving his little table over to his dresser, climbing on that to reach the baby powder, opening the powder and well... emptying the bottle. I kid you not, there was a fog in his room. I, again, being the great mom that I am, grabbed my camera and laughed my butt off because really what else could I do? After take the photo proof to show his father, I got the vacuum out and began what ended up being a long process. I vac'd, dust flew, I vac'd more, more powder flew. It was a big white cloudy mess of Nathan's version of snow.

For your viewing pleasure...




That's not a fuzzy bad picture, that's powder flying in the air.

Fast forward to this morning. Dear husband was golfing, Jackson was playing a video game and I had to shower. So Nate took a shower with me, I got him cleaned up and dressed and went back to get myself together. Apparently he got a hold of a Q-tip on the sink counter. He was standing right there and was cleaning his ear (he does this a lot but has always just rubbed around the outside of his ear). Next thing I know its IN his ear and he is screaming bloody murder. I run to him, take out the Q-tip and look at his ear. Nothing is spewing out like the Exorcist, so I console him for about 20 minutes, he gets juice and life is fine.

We ran errands, we ate, we took Jackson to a party and came home and put him down for a nap. I had to go back to get Jacks and Nate was still sleeping so Bryan stayed home. When I get home Bryan says "you know he has blood in his ear". Total panic sits in my stomach... he's going to be deaf, I am sure of it. I debated on the ER room. However, Nate could care less, he's not in pain, he can hear fine, he's not seeming off balance and he's happy as can be. I called my neighbor who is a nurse, in near tears of course, and she said he most likely perforated his ear drum. I wanted to throw up. She said that there is nothing they can do for this, that it has to heal on its own so not to bother with the ER unless it starts bleeding horribly or draining any other various liquid. She said to call his Dr first thing Monday morning and they'll check it and refer us to an ENT if need be.

A Q-tip. A split second of me drying my hair.

So it has been a week. Tomorrow we're going to have pictures done with Santa on the beach. I am thinking of asking Santa for a good pair of glasses for those eyes on the back of my head that all moms are supposed to have. Apparently my vision has gone bad.

Yeah, it has been a wild ride this week.

Unteaching kids to talk...

Is that possible? Remember a while back, for those that follow my musings, I posted about worrying about Nathan talking? Well the switch has finally clicked and he is talking up a storm. He tries to say whatever we say and is putting 2 and 3 words together in simple sentences. His associations are amazing. Just the other day he wanted a Pretzel and Cream Cheese, so he simply asked "mama, keme cheese and pezils".. I commented "Gee Nate, we need to get meemaw and paw paw to bring us another big thing of Pretzels from Costco" and proceeded to hand him a few pretzels. He said "Tink eww paw paw" lol Just cuteness.

However, sometimes its not cute when he repeats what he hears. I, much to my moms dismay, kinda have a bad mouth. I get frustrated easily and drop the "S" bomb. I drop something and drop the "S" bomb, you get the idea.

Nathan has learned this as well. He'll drop a toy and say "Oh SIT", he'll be trying to put something together, get mad and throw it and say "Oh SIT"... OK at first it was funny, Jackson and I would laugh and say "Nate, don't say that" so I tried to stop saying it. I've done well, Nathan, though, hasn't caught on.

So, in your vast knowledge of raising kids my friends, how do you UNTEACH a kid to say some words? I keep hoping he'll just forget it but to this point he's quite fond of the word. I guess it makes him feel better to just get it out - after all he spent MONTHS of frustration just screaming because he was upset. Now he has the power of the Shit word.

Laugh it up, go ahead, I made this bed, right?

Turkey is done, on with Christmas...

Ever notice how poor ol Tom the Turkey gets ignored? I mean really stores go from Halloween to Christmas! Jackson asked me this year "why don't they do anything for Thanksgiving?" I told him.. "babe, people just go NUTS over Christmas".

I love Christmas. I love the music, the decorations, the Christmas smelling candles, the trees, the gifts, the kids excitement and the joy we see on their faces. I love the services at our church around Christmas, the Advent Wreath lighting, the stories of Christmas and its true meaning. I love the sharing of stories, the cards from old and new friends, the calls we make because we are thinking of someone at this time. The memories triggered, the memories made, and those yet to be made. The time with family, the fellowship and the love.

See? I love it all. I love every aspect of Christmas EXCEPT the one that should matter the least but seems to have taken over as the most... shopping. I don't enjoy shopping ANY time really, but I truly don't enjoy it during the Holidays. The crowds of people, the grumpy people who have about as much Holiday spirit as the Grinch, and the greed. I love getting things for my family and friends because they MEAN something to each person, not because they were on clearance. Do you get what I am saying? Its all about the meaning of the gift, not the price tag, the deal you got or just simply having something under the tree.

I guess this is kinda eating at me after the tragedy at Walmart on Black Friday. I mean a man, a YOUNG man, lost his life for merely standing in the walmart ready to open the store for the biggest shopping day of the year. I wonder if he was excited about "craziness" and being there. I wonder if he was the type of man that maybe LOVED Christmas and thought this was a cool temporary job assignment. I wonder.. I wonder.. I wonder...

What on earth Walmart had at SUCH a good price that these greedy stupid people trampled a man over. Not so much as a care in the world that the man was down.. they just kept on shopping. It really sickens me to think about what that mans last thoughts may have been. Our minister talked about this in church this morning and really got me feeling sick to stomach. I mean after all to me Christmas is the season of joy and celebration of Jesus' birth. I guess it all just hit me just how bad our society has become with greed and selfishness.

Wow this kinda turned in to a bad post. But honestly my point is, that in another week Hubby and I are taking a day off and doing our shopping for our wonderful boys and family members. I am EXCITED to do this because I love each and everyone of them and want to see that joy on their face. I also know that with each store that I step into, no matter the crowd, no matter the bad day the cashier may be having, I'm going to smile and be appreciative for the life that I have, the family that I have and the friends that I have.

Today I watched my 10 year old, Jackson, who doesn't like to speak in front of people and has ALWAYS refused to do school plays with lines for this reason, volunteer and stand up in front of a Sanctuary full of people and read scripture. The 4th and 5th graders were lighting the first candle of Advent this morning. It was short, sweet, and I was never SO proud of him. I sat there juggling Nathan around to keep him quiet for a few minutes and he stood up there beside the Christmas tree and the candles and I just thought to myself "now THIS is the Christmas spirit right here". Its not wrapped in a box with a bow, but its wrapped up in our hearts.

And I am so thankful for for my true meaning of Christmas. Which, in the end, outshines all the greed and selfishness in world.

French Kissing Life.

I love that song, its by Kenny Chesney. One of the lines in this song..

Don't really know what day it is
been rocking nine days in a row
All I know is its hurricane season
And any minute she's gonna blow.

Its kinda how the last month has felt. We've had a run of Birthdays, Family visiting, sickness that seems to last and last. I am finally feeling better, as are the boys and Hubby man is working his way back to health. It just kinda feels like I've been running on empty and moving in this fog of life. So today I feel better and I'm going to try to start taking each little thing ahead of us minute by minute.

French kissing life. Take it nice and slow and just as I can.

We have 2 days of school this week and then Jackson is out for Thanksgiving. We aren't traveling for the Holiday nor are we hosting any guests. So its just the 4 of us for Thanksgiving. Nobody is really in to the idea of me cooking (should I be insulted?) but we did have a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner back in October when my folks were here for Jackson's birthday. So we are honestly thinking, we'll hit the road around town and see what is open. So informal but you know what? We go and do so much I think we'd all be thankful for a good meal that nobody has to cook or clean up from. I know I would!


Then we face Christmas rush. I've not started shopping at this point, because well why bother when I don't know what the kids want. Well I could find lots for Nater-bug but Jackson is at a hard age. I was ALL stressed out about it but Hubby man has 2 weeks off before Christmas so we're going to take a shopping day and just get 'er done! So see, more stress that should be off my shoulders... taking it nice and slow.

Kinda hard to believe honestly that 2008 is wrapping up. Its been a fun year with Nathan coming in to his own little personality, Jackson approaching those pre-teen years and obviously already reeking the pre-teen attitude, and Bryan's job having ups and downs and me just getting on through like a champ with only a few breakdowns. lol

So I guess we're all kinda "French Kissing Life" - square on the mouth, and sailing on through our days of craziness, fun, family, and love.

Whats that coming out of your nose?

OK so Nathan is sick. Full blown, high fever, nasty funk coming out of his nose, coughing until he gags and pukes. It's fun times like these I love being a mom.

OK that was a stretch.

I hate when my kids are sick. Yes, KIDS, Jackson has just started with the stuffy nose.

Funny thing about toddlers when they are stuffy, they still can make you laugh to keep from crying.

For example..

Nathan is pretty good with a "tish eww" - and will get one if he sees the box, and wipe his nose, all the way across his face. Hello dried snot face.

Nathan will, if no tissue is in sight, come over to mom and use her perfectly good and soft sleeve, and say "ewww mommy. Bogish"

Nathan will cough until his eyes are watering and he gags and makes this lovely throwing up noise, and report "mommy das nastee"

I don't know why mom gets sick.

Jackson being sick is a little different. At the ripe old age of 10, he can blow his nose, but doesn't like to. He mostly likes to talk about how terrible he feels and there is no way he can go to school the next day. You see, if you don't blow your nose it stays plugged up and he sounds worse. Smart kid!

Jackson doesn't get to cover his nose/mouth when he feels a sneeze coming on, and this was evident in our recent photo session where he sneezed and it lingered and stretched from nose to shirt. PUKE!

I don't know why mom gets sick.

I have sprayed the house with Lysol, every room, doorknob, EVERYTHING. I have taken Nate to the Doctor and he's on an antibiotic, Jackson is probably soon to follow.

I woke up sick.

SO me and the boys are sick. Gotta love it (at least I don't use my sleeve or let it all spray when I sneeze and cough) ... good times.

Bryan is thinking the guest room is a fabulous room to sleep in.

Ok my story and Im sticking to it.

Wow its been a busy few days.

Back when we were a 1 kid family we used to have a little more dough, cash, money!! Now, with diapers back in the game, inflation, and silly spending, we've tightened up the belt again. We do this often. lol Just never seems tight enough.

Where is this going? Not a post about financial woes, or the crappy economy or politics.. I promise that.

We used to save up and pay people to do things for us. Bryan and I aren't really all that in to projects. Now don't get me wrong, we love having projects done.. but HAVING them done and DOING them are two VERY different things. Now that we're watching our Ps and Qs we're taking on some projects by ourselves.

3 years ago, when we got the astounding news that little Nathan was brewing, we immediately said FENCE. I could just not see myself waddling around with both of our dogs on leashes pulling me around the back yard to do their business when I was all fat and puffy. We also had visions of our newest addition toddling right down to the lake behind our house and going swimming... and sinking. So you can see where the fence was a must.

We priced them out and got what we could afford, a nice little 4 foot picket fence. The old man, gosh I can't even remember his name now, was a good old Georgia boy who was honest and nice and won our bid. We settled on a price, what we wanted and then we were off to Virginia on a little vacation to see family and friends. While in Va., Bryan got a call on his cell from a neighbor saying how great our new fence looked. Yup it was up and done in like 2 days and we couldn't wait to see it. Its been a GREAT investment, a GREAT peace of mind and a GREAT look to the yard.

However, 3 years of Georgia hot summer sun, heavy tropical storm and hurricane rain and wind, has done a number on our little picket fence. It went from a nice looking fence to a grey weathering "thing". We've been talking about how it needed to be stained for over a year now. Finally Bryan HAD to take time off or he was going to loose the days with work so we just jumped in to the project with both feet.

Bryan had prepped the fence a few weeks back with a power washer so it was ready. We just up and went to Home Depot and picked out a color we liked and went with it. So, we have been having some serious couple time outside daily for the past 3 days staining the fence with paint brushes. After the first day we decided to go buy and try out the Wagner spray painter. Its GREAT but just didn't spread the stain thick enough or evenly enough so we went back to hand painting.

Picket fences aren't the easiest thing to paint.. lots of little sides, cracks, and corners. But we worked feverishly to get it done between my working from home, Nathan's naps or lack of naps, Jackson's school, and getting the house "company ready" for family coming in this week.

It's been exhausting, brutal and we have discovered aches and pains in joints and places we never knew we had. My hands end up stuck in this curved position from holding the brushes for hours on end. Bryan's knees just hardly work anymore and we both fight over a hot shower and a heating pad every night.

All of that said... we've done it ourselves. It really looks fabulous and new. We can look outside the windows now and see our hard work has paid off and didn't break the bank. Self satisfaction in our hard work, our learning experience, and the time we spent together outside, with just outside noise and a few sporadic interruptions.

Our little picket fence is all great again, serving its purpose in keeping Nathan and our pups in close range and safe. Our bodies are somewhat battered but its that "good" hurt. We did it, and I'm quite proud of us!

Disclaimer: we are not 100% finished but we are so SO close!

ADDED PHOTOS... in the first photo you can see the dull grey boards that Bryan is staining.

I am not gone...

and hopefully not forgotten. I have been a real slacker in writing, reading, responding, breathing here of late.

I'm currently working tonight but will update all when I get a chance to come up for air.. so stay tuned!

Halloween 2008

OK not my typical long drawn out post today because I'm kinda reeling from all the candy still. Thought I'd make a few observations about Halloween these days.

Back in my day (yes, I just said that) we would spend hours getting together costumes that we pieced together with whatever we had. My dad, the old man, had some CRAZY fabulous costumes.. he even dripped candle wax on his face once to make him scary - and yes it was scary and DAMN I wish I had a picture of that! Anyway - you get the idea. In the day the streets were crawling with kids that were just happy to be running house to house to get candy. In my day the highlight was coming home and getting changed and dumping out our pumpkins for mom to go through all the candy to make sure it was safe.. and then DIG IN. I used to divide mine out bubble gum all together, chocolate all together, see I was anal as a kid too.

Fast forward to many years.

Jackson is kinda on the cusp of being to old for trick or treating, but he loves candy. Last night he was bummed because he had to go around with dad. Not his friends, who had to go around with THEIR parents.. but somehow his night was worse. But he got candy and he's happy with that. Nate - of course, was just happy to be outside and had a great time saying "Peese Canny Peese" - that was his trick or treat. So my kids had fun. Daddy took them around while I hung out on the front porch happily greeting kids and giving out candy, generously at first and then slimming down as we started to run out.

So my observations are:

When did kids get to lazy to walk to each house, since when do they require hayrides and golf carts?

When did coming up to someone and standing there looking at a person waiting for free candy become socially acceptable... I started not giving any candy until I heard TRICK OR TREAT.

When did teenage girls that can drive themselves to the driveway across the street, get out of the car they just drove, fully dressed like hookers, come up to me talking on their cell phones and holding out a bag for candy. Rule 1 - if you can drive don't trick or treat. Rule 2 - if you can't hang up the damn phone long enough to say trick or treat, don't trick or treat. Rule 3 - have some dignity girls.

When did it become politically correct for darling infants in strollers sleeping dressed in cute character PJ's have their moms or dads come up with a bag overflowing with candy asking for more.. when you know the kid still on the bottle can't eat it.

On the flip side...

The toddlers were adorable. My heart melted over a little boy 2.5 years old dressed as Mickey Mouse. He was in a wagon, which I find acceptable when your legs are so small and give out after a house or two. It took him a while to get up the porch, and he so proudly said "tik teet Ms." as in trick or treat Christmas. lol It was adorable so I had to ask him what he liked. He picked some M&Ms and smiled and said "tink two" and I just wanted to squeeze him. He got 2 packs of M&Ms.

Some of the older kids were really cute, and done up very well and had good manners. One dude, about 5 years old walked up to me and said "well hello there how are you this evening" - caught me Totally off guard. It was adorable. He got extra candy too.

2 Princesses had to stop by a second time to go potty. Yes we knew them.

So overall it was a successful Halloween and I'm just glad it done and over. Not to be a Grinch about it, but its just not what it used to be.


So there ya have it, our great Halloween adventure.

Here are my trick or treaters for the year. Jackson was Indiana Jones and Nathan was Mr. Bones.

Thelma and Louise...in NY

I've been so slacking in the blog department. Writing them, reading them, etc. I'm back though.. so watch out! lol

So Sherri asked me about my trip to New York. I'll share our high speed, to fast, crazy fun trip.

I got up at 3:30am on Saturday morning to shower and get ready to go. Cindy was picking me up at 5. Jackson set his alarm for 430 and darned if he wasn't up fixing himself some water when I came out into the kitchen. He wanted to say bye. Awwww. Dear Husband even got up early and started some coffee for me, but unfortunately I didn't have time to drink any. So anyway, flight up there was great - uneventful and pretty quick.

We got into NY and stood in the middle of JFK wondering what the hell we do now. Two country girls lost in the big city. We figured out the Air Tran and made our way to the Subway. We got on the subway and really had no idea where to get off because we had no map. We talked to a few other tourists with lots of luggage and obviously were in the same boat we were. We finally talked to a nice New yorker and he told us where to get off.

We got to our hotel around 1:00pm. Freshened up and hit the streets. We went to lunch at the SOUP MAN - famous for the ever so hospitable "no soup for you" if you take to long to order and tie up the line. Ever seen that Seinfeld episode? We were bypassed by a cop regular - and the guy said "sorry ladies, you to slow". I laughed and said "hey we're from Georgia, everything moves slower" - he laughed and we had a delightful bowl of soup! It was fabulously warm - which NY wasn't!

After that we walked and walked and walked. We went into some shops, we toured around and took pictures, we went to the "Top of the Rock" which is right at Rockefeller Center 70 stories up and has AMAZING views that go on forever of the city from every direction. It was breath taking. And did I mention cold?

We had about 3 hours to run around town and that we did. Funny story we walked about 4 blocks around town to find Rockefeller where they ice skate, etc. Remember that for a minute.

Around 4 we decided to head back to our hotel so that we could and shower and refresh again (remember, we'd been up since 330am) so we get up to our room and I look out the window.. which wasn't a GREAT view - but I looked right and WOW there was the very ice skating rink we were looking for and walked BLOCKS to find. We laughed and thought we'd keep that ourselves, but heck, you gotta be able to laugh at yourself right!

We went to dinner at a place called Johnny Utah's. It was right next door to the hotel and looked fine, good saloon/steakhouse. You have to go down these stairs kinda like underground to get to the restaurant. Cindy commented as we were walking in "hey maybe they'll have a Mechanical bull and we can ride it" and we laughed - it was just a funny image. Anyway I walked down the stairs first and turned the corner and BEHOLD a mechanical bull! No, we didn't ride it. But our steaks were mouth watering perfect and our waitress was fabulous. She told us to come back after our show and have a drink and even made us a reservation for 11:00 pm to sit at her table.

Off to the show we went. Mama Mia was FANTASTIC - omg we had such a good time. We laughed, we sang along, we danced, it was just worth every minute of the trip to see that show. If you EVER get a chance, see it! After the show we went back to Johnny Utah's and it was PACKED with 20 somethings drinking to much and riding the Mechanical Bull. We had ringside seats and lord how we laughed at those kids. We had a couple of drinks, dessert, and then decided, at 1:00 am it was time to call it a night. (I am now reminding you that we'd been up since 3:30 am the previous morning).

We were both very excited to get some rest, our legs ached, our bellies were full, we'd laughed and danced and laughed some more. However, neither of us slept well. Ironic right?

Got up again around 630am... showered, went to a fabulous little cafe for the best Eggs Benedict I have EVER eaten in my life, and back to the hotel, pack up, check out, off to the airport.

The flights back sucked. There is no nice way to put it. Our flight was delayed, the airport was so crowded, then we had about 6 minutes to connect to our connecting flight in Cincinnati so we pulled the running thru the airport jumping over people, chairs, children.. and got there JUST as they were finishing boarding our plane.

We got home around 9. Exhausted, but still smiling from such a GREAT TIME.

For 2 ladies pushing 40, we sure did a lot in a very little bit of time. New York ROCKED and we rocked it pretty hard for 2 old moms that never get enough rest or time being ladies instead of someones mom.

It was a GREAT trip!

Ten

The number 10, it means a lot so many different times.

When your baby is born, you could 10 fingers and 10 toes. You count every 10 minutes cat nap you can get. You count 10 diapers and 10 bottles for a day. Soon your baby has been in your arms for 10 days... 10 weeks.. 10 months... 10 YEARS.

My first born, Jackson, turned 10 last week. Its SO hard for me to believe. I mean wasn't he just a little tot running around in a power ranger costume even when it wasn't Halloween? Wasn't he just learning to talk, tie his shoes, ride a bike?

I am super proud of my 10 year old. He's a great kid. He does well in school, he has great friends, and he loves his family more than anything. I mean don't get me wrong, he's not perfection, but in my eyes he is.

So we've entered Double Digits here. Its kinda scary that I blinked and he's reached this milestone.

I'm sure most of you can relate in some way the nostalgia feeling you get when you look at your kid. I look at Jackson laying on the sofa watching TV and he is so tall, so mature looking, but I still see my first born baby. Curled up in our arms, wanting to curl up in bed with us just to snuggle, it just passes so fast.

So here is my tribute to my beautiful "baby" boy Jackson.

Thinking outloud..

Today I am thinking of my mom, dad, Aunt, and Cousins. Today they are laying my Uncle Pete to his final resting place.

My Uncle passed away last January. His wishes were to be cremated and have his ashes spread at the beach. Pete loved the beach. I just woke up thinking about him this morning, how we used to all go to the beach when we were kids and how he was in his element.

Something about the beach, and ocean, that brings calmness to so many of us in my family. We could all sit and watch the ocean for hours, a good book, the sound of the waves, and the sun, its a perfect serenity. You sit and look out at this vast body of water that seems to stretch forever until it meets the skies. You marvel at Gods creation. Maybe its the rhythmic sounds of the waves that reminds us of the gentle sounds in our mothers womb, maybe it reminds me us of how big the world is and how we are just a small part on this planet. I guess to me its humbling.

So today Uncle Pete will be laid to rest and his journey complete. I just picture him way out at sea, floating on the waves, smiling up at the sun, and being at peace with himself, his life, and with God.

And that somehow feels so right.

Rest in Peace Uncle Pete.

Family Time

So yesterday both Bryan and Jackson were home for Columbus Day. After a weekend of pretty much being at home, Jackson had requested that we go SOMEWHERE just to get out of the house. Our original plan was to go to St. Augustine because he's been studying Explorers at school and he wanted to go see the Fountain of Youth and learn more about Ponce De Leon. However, mother nature had other plans and we woke up to an overcast rainy day. Plan B... Savannah mall.

We loaded up the Tot Rod and headed North to Savannah. We really do like the mall up there, good stores, fun place to walk around, a killer food court where everyone can eat what they want. Imagine our excitement when we found out they'd put a new kiddie play area in the mall over the last year since we were last there. Nathan was most excited.

So we grabbed lunch, we tooled around Bass Pro Shop, and we walked to a few other stores. Finally it was Nate's turn to run amuck. Jackson is a great kid chaser. Bryan went and got he and I a cup of coffee and we sat and watched as the boys ran wild. It was really crazy in this play area, when we first got there, it was mostly empty, but it was soon to fill up with mostly boys. Aggressive, let me go down the slide first boys!

We sat and watched, with Bryan having to occasionally chase Nate back into the play area because he would take sight of something and off he'd go. But overall, it was just fabulous to sit and watch them play. Jackson, of course, is to old to be in there playing but he plays off "watching Nate" great and had a blast as well. He even rode the "waste your quarter" rides with him.

It was a perfect get away day. Didn't really buy anything, didn't really waste to much money, just out of the house, change of scenery, watching our boys, and having a good family day.

Can't ask for to much more than right?

Wow I took a vacation.

Oh not a REAL one, just a blogging one. So last blogged, I was sick. Guess what, I am still feeling puny. Well I feel better but I'm still snotty and coughing and well eww ick nasty. A week mind you - this virus mess is a nasty one so beware! It doesn't go away near as fast as it comes on!

Anyway, so October brings to me a busy stressful time. What month doesn't right? Lets see, this weekend I'm getting my haircut and washing that grey right outta my hair. FINALLY! I go to this great hair girl but she's expensive as cuss so I have to save my pennies to be able to go. I'm long overdue! MUST RESIST TEMPTATION TO BUY A BUNCH OF UNNECESSARY HAIR PRODUCT! Then I have to purchase my oldest some Birthday presents. Get his invites done and out for his Birthday party which isn't until Oct. 25 but...

On the 18th I'm GOING TO NEW YORK CITY! Oh yeah baby that's right - mama is leaving town for almost 48 hours with no kids! no Dogs! NADA just me, myself and I, a camera, suitcase, cell phone, clothes, and a good friend! We're going to hit the streets and site see, we're going to eat a nice big meal and we're going to see MAMA MIA! on Broadway. Seriously I cant wait.

Don't get me wrong, I love my boys - all 3 of them - with all my heart, but I'm so looking forward to worrying about only one person. ME! That sounds selfish but I figure I give my all to everyone else 24/7 so whats a small 48 hours of pure selfishness. Well, after I buy gifts for the boys of course! LOL And call a few times to hear their voices.

So October is busy for me. I come home on Sunday, my folks come down on Wednesday, Jackson's birthday is on Thursday, and his party is on Saturday. Then we're on to Halloween.

But its all good. Its all family stuff and fun stuff and joyous occasions! Bring it on, stuffy or not, I'm ready!

When Moms Get Sick

Not nearly as exciting as "Girls Gone Wild" but hey.. its a catchy phrase.

So I am sick. I feel like that big truck that you pass on the highway that's way overloaded with more stuff than any one truck should carry has run me over. The whole 9 yards, stuffy nose where you can only sometimes get a small pop of air in when you breath, swollen glands, clogged ears, sore throat, cough from the devil. Sick.

I think its funny how when moms get sick, its like "oh that sucks" and its business as usual. Now don't think I'm going to go into a male bashing they can't handle it and are big babies when THEY are sick post, because I'm not. Bryan has been very helpful with the kiddos with me just wanting to go to bed.

But I will post a bit about how sickness in men and women are different. Well, at least they are here anyway. When Bryan get sick, I mean really sick enough to stay home from work, which rarely happens, he comes home, and stays in bed. Remember, I work from home as well as caring for Nathan. So when I am home sick.. work is still at home with me, and the other job is most likely trying to slice his own apple with a butter knife. (yes, this DID happen today) I think its not really the individuals, I think its really how women are wired.

Now, I have to go through my days, sick or not, because well we have a 2 year old that can't fend for himself. Sick or not, I have to get up and maintain a happy go lucky lets watch the Wiggles front for him. Once I got him fed and down for a nap, I decide I'm going to take a "sick day" from work work, and relax on the sofa. But first, I pick up the kitchen and do the dishes, and then I pick up a few of the toys Nate has all about, and clean up the dish washing soap he's gotten on the floor (its still a bit slippery gotta mop that up soon), take my pill and get some water and off to the sofa. FINALLY a little rest and relaxation! Its not rest though. Not "you are sick and need your rest" b/c while I'm on the sofa today I'm trying to complete a resume and application for a job. HA! I gave up on that and said "OK just gonna lay here for a minute" and I start to doze off but I can't really go to sleep because its almost time to get Jackson off the bus. So forget that plan.

I am by no means complaining about life in this post, so please don't take it the wrong way. I just think that I personally am no longer capable of turning off the do it all mom part of my brain for a "mom, honey, your sick, just take it easy, let Nate into the bathroom with a bottle of soap and have it so he will leave you alone" part of my brain.

I'm always thinking mess. I'm always thinking I should be making dinner, or making a grocery list, or figuring out how to pay the bills sitting here, or what we'll do for Jackson's birthday, or how much longer until Nate wakes up, or doing laundry, or dishes, or GASP working my paying job. Its just who I am.

So, when all is said and done, I do so hope my dear husband understands that when he gets home from work, I just want to get through homework, dinner, bath and bed and then crawl into bed, take some meds, and sleep. Sick people need rest to let their bodies get better right? Night is the only rest for this mama.

I guess that's why people say when they are sick they want their mamas.. cause mamas can do it all.

2? Really? 2?

I mean didn't I JUST have this baby boy? Wasn't it just yesterday that I heard my DR say "here he is he's perfect"? Wasn't it just the other day that we had his 1st Birthday party?

That is correct. My BABY littlest smallest baby is 2 years old today! WOW. Seems like time has flown by since he was a tiny wee one. I love those baby snuggles days, holding babies while they sleep.. oh that's the best!

But I gotta say, as challenging as Nathan makes this toddler age, its so much FUN. Yesterday we had his Birthday party and he was so funny. He loved having so many people here, running around with all the kids, and of course the BLOONS. (balloons). He has quickly learned that "party" means balloons. He wasn't quite in to the present thing again this year. He only wants to be outside, and once we got one thing opened he just wanted to play with that. But he's slowly enjoyed each and every present.

Nathan also got a fabulous Indiana Jones hat to match Jackson's and a whip (made for toddlers that is) and as soon as he opened it.. he went over and put it on Bubba's head. It was to funny.


Nate isn't like a lot of kids his age. We had a great fun cake for him, ice cream, chips and dip. He wanted "ollies". What kid skips out on cake for black olives? Mine does.

At the end of the party, however, we were fast reminded that Nathan isn't our calm reserved child. That is certainly Jackson's claim to fame. Nathan's claim to fame thus far is dare devil injury boy!

He was enjoying some ice cream on the sofa, I guess he was sitting on the arm of the sofa, I wasn't in the room. I heard a THUD and Bryan and a friend of ours kinda yell out "oh oh oh oh" and then that scream. You moms know the scream - the one that tears at your heart and just reaches out to you no matter how far away you are. I dropped dishes and ran. He's done an impressive flip over the back of the sofa! Unfortunately he is no Keri Strug, landing a perfect 10 on her feet. No, Nathan's fate landed him on his face, flat on the hard woods. He now has a perfectly fabulous BLACK eye.

Nate is Nate. He is a wonderful, loving, frustrating, funny, entertaining, and beautiful gift to our family.

Happy Birthday my baby boy!

For Today

OCD and NOT

OK so those of you that know me and love me, and well really knew me before Nathan came along, know that I am somewhat OCD. Not clinically over the top (well at least I tell myself that). But I like things to be in their place. I like things to be picked up, organized, labeled, and happy in their own little home. OK,now I'm starting to sound crazy. Like one friend, when she used to come over, would move pictures or magazine or candles, just get to me.. grate my nerve.. laugh when I put it back.

My point.. if your wondering.. is that I think I just realized why I sometimes have a hard time relating to Nathan. He's anything BUT OCD. In fact, he more gets pissed when things are in their place and moves them. Seriously, think about it...

If I close a door, he opens it.
If I open a door, he closes it... and sometimes locks it.
If I pick up the sofa cushions.. he takes them off.
If I pick up spilled stuff.. he dumps it.

If I take great time to give him the same exact green bowl that Jackson has.... but Jackson has more.. he dumps them all and wants a blue bowl.

Total opposites. We are really on opposite ends of the stick here. I guess he gets that from his daddy mostly. I mean Bryan doesn't care if things are "out of place" unless he really needs to find something and damn it, its not there, where is it. And I say "if you put it back where it belonged, it would be there when you need it".. come to think of it, I say the same thing to Jackson just about daily.

So I'm not really the crazy one, am I. Everyone else is crazy, and opposite of me, and well I'm just really glad...

That Opposites attract.


SHOUT OUT: Off topic, but I wanted to give my girl Marissa a shout out. She's an up and coming photographer in the UTAH area and her work is simply amazing to me! Her blog site is listed on my favorites.. but here is a link..

www.photosbymarissa.blogspot.com

Check her out!

A word from Nathan

I just wanted to tell you all how tough it is being Two. Well, technically I'm not 2 yet, I have a few more days but I'm close enough to be frustrated with these parents of mine.

Ya see, I can't exactly talk yet. I mean I CAN but I won't because I get whatever I need faster by screaming really loudly. You should see how fast mommy and daddy move when I shriek, especially when we go out to eat. They act all funny when I do say real words though and I'll throw one out there just to keep them happy.

Mommy doesn't always understand that I don't do things just to make her mad. I mean its very fun to see just how fast apple slices will fly through the air. Mommy said she was never giving me apples again but back then I called them "Bobbys". This morning I clearly said "Mama Bapples" and she got so excited she forgot her promise of never again and gave them to me. They fly very far.

Mommy doesn't see the fun in dumping cereal on the sofa either. Bella our dog loves to jump up there and eat them really fast and its a fun game we play. Who can eat more cereal the fastest. Bella usually wins though because her teeth are sharp and get awfully close to my fingers.

Sometimes I poor water on the floor. I do this a lot because I love Water and I know its good for me, I'm just not sure why its good for me. But anyway, when I ask for it nicely "mama wa wa peese" I get it and I take in the other room and dump it. Mommy gets up SO fast and talks Really loud at me. But I just smile and then she shakes her head and cleans up the water.

I do sometimes wonder why she always says "One of these days you are going to learn Nathan" because she hasn't gotten to that one day yet because she keeps giving me things to do over and over.

But the best part is that no matter what I find fun and mommy finds very aggravating (I have heard that word a LOT this morning), she still picks me up and hugs me and kisses and says she loves me.

So I can't be all that bad...

I am off to find those crackers I dumped earlier, and race Bella in an eating contest.

Love,
Nathan.

Popcorn

So yesterday I had to take the boys to Target to get some Prescriptions filled for Jackson's latest series of allergy attacks gone bad. We shopped around, got his meds (to the tune of $100 for just 2 things oh my goodness), and preparing to head home.

We walked by the ever to delightful smelling food court area.. with fresh hot popcorn just jumping out of the cooking pot all full of life and flavor, and lots of butter. Now, I can say to no to toys, movies, games, and candy, even soda's most of the time, but I am a REAL sucker for popcorn.

I blame this on my Granny. My dad's mom. Its her fault in conjunction with my Aunt Billie and my mom. They started this a long long time ago.

Ya see, when my sister and I were kids, my mom would have Granny and Aunt Billie come down to our house and she, being the SAINT that she is, would take them shopping for Christmas presents. Let me just get side tracked for a minute, my mom really is truly a Saint for doing this for so many years. She'd take them to HILLS (which isn't even around anymore) and they would look for gifts for my sister and I for the least little bit of money. Don't misunderstand me, they weren't cheap, they were simply Frugal... a sign of THEIR times.

Oh we'd usually get some new fancy panties or a gown or something like that, which was always great (albeit embarrassing to open on Christmas morning), but the part that we REALLY loved about all of this? They would ALWAYS get themselves some popcorn on the way out of Hills. Their treat after a long day of shopping. Lauri and I loved it, because we got the last 1/2 of the long skinny white bag of popcorn.. covered with oil spots and butter stains. It was the highlight of them coming for their Christmas shopping adventure.

Buttery, salty to the point it burned your lips salty, greasy, wonderfully yellow popcorn. Lauri and I would fight over the "half pops", you know those seeds that didn't fully explode. I still eat them out of my kids bowls when they are done. Of course I tell them NOT to eat them because it will break off their teeth. (one of those selfish mom things lol).

So while I don't enjoy spending most of my paychecks at Target for junk we really just THINK we need. I DO so enjoy buying my boys popcorn for $1.00 (and that includes a medium drink) just so I can have a few handfuls and remember running in from school when Granny and Aunt Billie were in town to grab whatever Hills popcorn was left.

Ahhh, the good ol days. (Did I just say the good ol days?)

Turn the other cheek...

Sometimes, I wake up ready to take on the world. Nothing will get me down, or make me yell, or even cry.

I woke up feeling like that today. Bring it on world!

Started off with Jackson still having a stomach ache, so he's home from school today. Mom, where is my PSP? Mom, do you know where my games are? Mom, can you get me some juice? Being the all you can be type of mom, I, of course, find it all, get it all, and tell him to lay down and rest.

Then Nate wakes up.

We go through our morning routine, snack, breakfast, get mad and throw 2 cans of Mini Ravioli because mean mom won't let him have Doritos for breakfast... you know the usual.

Then, God help me, the Internet went down. WHAT? But I depend on my Internet to work.. I depend on my Internet for adult conversations. I depend on my Internet to communicate with live people! lol

So I start picking up and checking the connections 100 times. I even called in to make sure and yup sure enough, I'm in a "down" area. Crap.

So I continue to loaf around the house picking up this mess and that.. and find that Nate has emptied a drawer of stuff from my little kitchen catch all basket in a toy box and at some time.. dumped water in there.. so I clean that out.. go to the kitchen and find that he's left his breakfast dishes of Waffles and syrup on the chair.. and paco ate it... and there is syrup everywhere.. so I clean that up..

I'm tired by 930.

So I turn the other cheek to his messes. For instance, he got a tube of chap stick out of Jackson's room. He was sitting in the rocking chair eating it.. Nope, looked the other way; turn the other cheek... Right now, as I type the monster has the kitchen sink on and is trying to fill up a gun.. mind you its not a water gun but hey he's not screaming or pulling on me.. turn the other cheek.

Jackson gets a soda.. turn the other cheek.

I've learned thus far in my time as a mom, that turning the other cheek is okay if they aren't endangering themselves. or the dogs.

Somethings just aren't worth freaking out over.

You can't be pleased....

one of my dear online friends said something to this effect in a post I posted on my message board yesterday.

See, this is what she meant.

I am with a child or husband or all of thee above always. Rarely do I ever have any time alone, quiet time, time where nobody is asking me for something or to do something or where something is. And I always say "Man I need some alone quiet time".

Yesterday, Saturday, I had Jackson at a friends house then a birthday party so he was gone until 8. Dear Husband was at a party for a coworker where they were watching college football, and Nathan was napping. He took a glorious 3 HOUR nap!

So I was doing laundry and picking up and watching our beloved Notre Dame take on Michigan. A big game. And well surprisingly (sorry babe) the ol IRISH came out kicking butt and looking dang good. I was kinda sad because it was so quiet here and Hubby wasn't here for me to hoot and holler and jump up and down with.. it was.. well... boring.

So, this is where Chele came in with very true words. I kinda laugh at myself. I crave time alone but when I AM alone I think Gee this is boring. Now, if I was alone in a spa with someone painting my toes and massaging my back, I think Id be happy.

But football is rather boring to watch alone. Nathan finally woke up and he watched with me and would scream and shout "ooooo ishies" which is "Go IRISH" for him.

So anyway - I guess when one is so used to being at 3 people's beck and call, chores, running, and always having someone attached to my hip... its hard to know what to do when nobody needs you...

if only for a little while.

A remembrance

Can't really muster up the energy this morning to post a funny.

7 years ago our lives were turned upside, and we were victims on the outside. My thoughts today are on those families that lost loved ones and those that were lost.

It seems unreal to me that it has been 7 years since 9/11. It seems unreal that it wasn't longer ago and at the same time just yesterday.

Alan Jackson wrote a song, "Where were you when the world stopped turning" and every time I hear that song, I am taken back to the fear, the stunned feeling, the NEED to leave work and be with my son and my husband.

I was at work that day, like any other day. It happened to be Hubby's day off from work so he was at home. Jackson was at home. I was chatting with a friend online who said "oh wow a plane hit the world trade center". I called Hubby and told him and he watched in horror as the day unfolded. He ran Jackson up to daycare, because being a police officer in DC, he knew he'd get a call to get in ASAP. That was the last time I spoke to him on the phone because all the lines were busy, cell phones weren't working.

Work was surreal, we were all trying to gather around small TVs with bad reception, trying to find updates on the Internet but nothing was working. People with spouses that worked in DC, trying to call them, trying to hear their voices. My office was right near Dulles Airport in Virginia. I remember going outside to our cars to hear radio news because we couldn't get through to anything else. The airports were shut down immediately and there was no air traffic except for a few F-16s flying around. It was like being somewhere else. Finally, our office closed down and a dear friend of mine drove us home. I wanted nothing more than to get Jackson and get home and just hold him... and hear from Husband.

Neighbors gathered, our kids played without a care in the world and I was ever so thankful that Jackson was so young that he knew nothing of what was going on.

It was chaos with hubby working around the clock, and I was crazy just waiting for him to call and check in... and he always did when he got a free moment....

and to this day I realize how lucky I am that he called. So many people never got that call... so many people never got to hear their loved ones voices again, or feel their arms around them again...

So, today I remember the victims. Everyone has a story from that day. A feeling you get when you think about Where you Were...

May God Bless those that lost loved ones. May God Bless those that are now with Him.

Wednesday Rambles

OK so on my message board I'm kinda known for my "random posts" of just whatever pops in my mind. Since I'm drawing an incredible, kids reduced my mind to mush, brain fart.. I'm just going to be random today. I like being random sometimes. You know how sometimes you have a conversation with someone, then in your mind the conversation takes on a mind of its own and then you start BACK into that conversation and the person looks at you like you have grown an extra head? And if you are anything like me, this usually happens with my husband and he looks at me like I'm crazy and I get mad at him for not paying attention to my own thoughts.

Did you even Follow that?

So the door. The door has been fixed mostly. There is still another piece of trim work that needs to be placed, but overall it looks great and we MAY not even have to paint it. Here are the men in action last night.







So there is that.

Nate likes to eat Bobbys. Those are apples in his mind. However, he doesn't want them cut up and peeled, he only wants the WHOLE apple. 2 things are a must. The little sticker MUST be gone and the stem has to be twisted off or there is hell to pay and a full blown tantrum. Funny about how he eats them, taking big bites off of his bobby and spitting the peel out wherever he is. But, if you peel the apple first, he won't eat it. I love how an almost 2 year old mind works.

Jackson's 10th birthday is fast approaching, and I sent him an email asking him for some hints of what he may like. I got a LONG email with LOTS of things listed, half of which I don't even know what he's talking about. He told me this morning, in response to me saying "some of that you'll have to help me out with Jacks"... "mom, I know you're kinda old and need help, I'll have to show you pictures this afternoon"... gotta love it. Wise old kid.

Bryan is in the process of a potential job change, and while I 100% completely support him, I am finding it very difficult to deal with yet another Government agency hire. The calls to say "are you still interested?" the calls to say "ok are you interested in this? oh great ok well you will receive another call sometime with an offer".. Just get on with it already! I can't imagine what HE feels like when I'm a bundle of nervous energy.

Oh wait, he is a man, a good man at that, and probably is thinking "well nothing I can do but wait so on with life".. MAN I wish I could be more like that!

So that is my randoms for today. I hope you found SOME enjoyment in my lots to say about nothing.

Hubby stole my blog...

post for today and I seriously got nutten.

So if you want a recap of my day yesterday through hubbys eyes... check this out...

http://bryan-foreright.blogspot.com/

and here are the pics for proof!

Door


Guilty Party

Nakedness...

Ok so lets get one thing straight. I don't like to be naked. I don't like to be naked at ALL, not even in the shower. If I could I would shower with clothes on (Hey, maybe that's a good way to save on laundry) but anyway back to being naked.

I'm not sure when kids become aware of hiding their nakedness, seems Jackson was about 6 years old maybe. I remember him coming out of his room butt naked shaking his money maker at my parents one time when they were down here visiting. Now, however, he won't get naked and go to his bathroom to the shower. (his bathroom is 2 steps from his bedroom). He doesn't even like for me to see him in his underwear.

Fast forward to Nathan. He's decided that being naked is cool. He's figured out how to take off his clothes. Shorts, Shirts, and of course DIAPER. Yesterday while husband man was making dinner, Nate started stripping. Next thing I know I'm on the phone with my mom and he walks in the kitchen in all of his glory, proudly scratching his butt. It hit me... man he is ALL male.

Then he found great pleasure in jumping on the sofa and running all over the house naked. He's completely comfortable in his own skin. Boy did he get MAD when party pooper mom chased him down and put a diaper back on him. I had visions of him letting loose his earlier juice cup all over my furniture. Or even worse, yesterdays lunch pooped out somewhere that the we wouldn't see and OH LORD that just makes me throw up thinking about it.

Anyway, I just have to think that Nathan gets this from his dad. He doesn't seem to have a problem being naked. Is it a male thing? Do they get shy and then loose it again? Either way, I kinda think I may have to duct tape clothes on Nathan for a while.... or invest in a really good mop!

So there ya go - my house is becoming a sudo-nudist colony but I will not be joining in the fun! lol

Watch out..

My computer savvy Better half.. well Husband.. has taken on the itch to blog because everyone else is doing it. So I've added his link over there in my Favorite Blogs if you are interested, its Fore-Right.

Enjoy!

Momentary Lapse of Reason....

So today we went to Petsmart to find Bella some Weight Management food.. she's like her mama. We were also looking for some vitamins that are for hip/joint issues. I think her problem is that her ARSE is so big that she can't stand up, like I said she's like her mama!

Anyway, this man walked by us with a cart and I just HAD to look in the cart and saw 3 extremely adorable puppies. Purebred Shelties. We stop they hand me one and it was instant love. That little puppy snuggled up against my breast and just stared at me. We had 3 other customers come over to see them and they all commented how that little girl wouldn't take her eyes of me. It was total melt your heart, God I gotta have her, love. I changed her position and cradled her like a baby and she put her little paw up on my boob and continued to stare at me. I WAS DYING.

Dear husband was chatting it up with the guy about guns and work and church (only in Georgia do you talk guns and church in the same sentence) and I just sat there looking into these eyes. Granted Nathan was screaming his bloody head off.

I finally put her back in the cart and took Nate away and Jackson went over and held the same girl. He walked over to me and said "Mom, what should we call her". I WAS DYING.

FINALLY we walked off and I looked at dear husband with the best puppy dog love eyes I could and he said "No". lol He went on to remind Jackson and I that we have TWO dogs that we have enough issues with. I left feeling depressed, sad, and just forlorn over this darling little girl.

She looked just like this one.



Fast forward a few hours. I've spent a few hours cleaning and scrubbing the laundry room - you know scrubbing dog hair and dust off the baseboards, washing Bella's bedding, cleaning stuff out. Then I went outside with Nathan and washed both dogs (and got a darn good soaking myself) and dried them off. I've now chased them both around the house to try to spray their cologne on them. I'm tired of them both.

And I Thank God that Husband man was with us. What the HECK was I thinking, another dog, in this chaos of life I have already!

But damn she was cute.

A Mothers Love

Expecting a sappy blog today ladies?

Nah - its me, Jules, cynical self that I am.

A mothers love - is NAP TIME.

My life is whirlwind, although if you ask my husband or some of my friends Im the luckiest girl in the world to be able to work from home. Let me just give you a little peek into my day. Kay?

My alarm goes off at 6:00am. I hit snooze about 3 times and then I get up and go take a shower. Its a great shower, I can even shave my legs without Nate banging on the door screaming at me as if I'm about to cut a major artery. I get out, put on my face and hair... and take those first heavenly wonderfully fabulous first sips of the hot coffee my dear husband has placed on the sink for me while I'm showering. so far - pretty heavenly right!

I come out to the living area and say good morning to Jackson, my wonderful first born and I get a grunted "hey mom" or nothing at all. Feeling the love. I say good morning to my dear husband and ask "Whats going on in the world" and usually get the standard "ah nothing much". (BTW, he's been up for hours by then). He heads out to work.

I take Jackson out to the bus stop after telling him to get his shoes on like 3 times on a good day. Keep in mind, we're all walking around on tiptoes and whispering so as not to wake the monster that is still sleeping. Smile proudly as Jackson heads off on the bus and think ONE DOWN.

Still pretty good.

Come in, log into work, email, message boards, and get my 2nd cup of coffee. Sit down and speed type, speed read, and race against the clock for said Monster to wake. Nathan doesn't just wake up and holler out for me. Nathan has this really loud growl scream that I've often referred to as a Prehistoric Dinosaur alien calling to his mother ship to come for him. I roll my eyes, take a deep breath, and get him up.

For the next, oh, 4 hours, I attempt to work, call banks, work more all the while Nathan has mastered the pull on my arm until your skin falls off or bleeds because I need more cheerios thing. Of course he needs more cheerios because he's managed to dump the first bowl to make sure Paco and Bella are well fed. 4 hours of battle with the phone, my laptop, my coffee, his juice, his need to go outside, his need to be in my lap, his need for something in the fridge, his need to go in Bubba's room and stand outside bubba's door banging on it screaming BUBBAAAAA. I sometimes have lots of explaining to do to clients on the phone.

Then comes lunch. Most times lunch is uneventful, we get through it, we walk past it and step in it.

Then comes... a Mothers Love.. NAP TIME.

Nate goes down like a champ for sleep. I will declare it nap time, he'll get his blanket, his paci, and walk to his room. I kiss him, he says "dak" for dark and lays down and closes his eyes. I say "I love you baby" and tiptoe out.. close the door...
and..

do that happy dance thing like Erkel in the hallway because I have just bought myself at LEAST 2 hours of quiet.

What should I do first? Pick up the apple pieces? Clean up the spilled juice that leaked from the leak-proof sippy cups? Read a book? Do my nails? Start some Laundry? Think about the possibility of making dinner? No, I don't do just one, I do ALL of those and...

I sit back down on my bar stool and work more. Don't get paid if you don't work the hours.

Nate usually wakes up anywhere from 230 to 300 and I go outside to get Jackson off the bus around 245. I love when he sleeps past this because I don't have to fight to get him in. So Jackson comes in, throws his book bag down.. "how was school today bud" and its the "fine" and straight to the pantry. Then he goes to the sun room and plops in front of the tv. Nate wakes up.

Then its time ALMOST time to log off work and start that dinner I didn't start during nap time (or peruse the takeout menus and coupons).. start homework (which you all KNOW how well that goes over) and pull Nathan off of my legs (yes he loves that hang on mommies legs while you're trying to do something thing) and get him a snack - just like whatever Bubba has. If its not the same snack, life as we know it is OUT THE WINDOW and total meltdown.

I check the clock, its almost 430 when dear husband gets home. Thank God!

Hubby walks in and is truly like a war hero walking through the door with the kids. Nate drops whatever he's doing and runs at full speed to the door "DADA DADA" and then goes off in a long paragraph in a foreign language about his day. Jackson will sometimes waltz in and say "oh hey dad" and then the evening job starts.

Dinner, outside time (which is usually when I clean up the afternoons mess), bath, and AWWWW there is that Mothers Love again.. BEDTIME.

I don't mean to sound like I don't appreciate the fact that I am fortunate to be able to be home with Nathan and Jackson. I am not complaining at all. Just sharing for those that may not know or don't remember... Mothers Love Naps.

Yes, I am fortunate to work from home. I have SO many people tell me "oh how lucky are you, I would LOVE to find something like that" and I just smile and say "yes, I'm very lucky" and inside I'm screaming "you have no Freaken idea what this is like".

I AM lucky though. I am lucky I have a great network of online friends that I can have "conversations" with when I feel like I can only remember the words to Barney's theme song. I am lucky that I get to see Nate learn things, do things, and I get to kiss his boo boos when he falls.. and I'm lucky that hubby knows a lot about Geometry.

And I'm lucky that my Nater naps.

Im back... with homework issues....

Took a little break from blogging.. no real reason other than just hadn't had much inspire me to write about. Nate and I were both sick over the nice long weekend so it was just EH.

So, homework. Yup, I'm talking Jackson. Jackson is a great student, smart kid, and really tries and has managed to make all A honor roll every year. This year I'm thinking he may not. 4th grade seems to be real turning point where the tests aren't simply what you heard in class, they are use your brain and have trick questions on them. Not much fun for a kid who has maintained straight As with little effort.

Last night, after a 2 hour cub scout meeting I asked him if he had any homework. He said "nope, I did it all in school". Should have a been a warning sign. Later, dear husband asked him about it and asked to look it over with him. Jackson immediately caught attitude and the fights were on.

He'd done most of his homework - seems he needs CLEAR instruction that when we say do you have any homework that means more than just handouts that he has to write on. I started looking through his agenda and see he has a Quiz today. I asked him about it and I got "you didn't ASK me if I had a quiz to study for, you asked me if I had homework". See? Gotta love it.


So we get attitude. I take out his study sheet and we go over 6 definitions of reference guides. Dictionary, Appendix, Thesaurus, etc. He knows a couple of them.. and then I mixed things up and asked for examples. "We don't need to know that mom" well then just tell me why I would need a Thesaurus. "Its a reference book of Synonyms and antonyms". Right, but why do I need those. "Mom, just stick with the sheet".

How, exactly, do you make a know it all 9 year old realize that his quiz isn't going to be a sheet like he has with only those definitions. That he has to UNDERSTAND the words and what these things DO to answer trickier questions than what is a Dictionary. I'm kinda stumped.

Then when I say "Jackson, you need to know this, I know you can tell me these things" and that somehow is interpreted to "You think I'm stupid mom, why am I so dumb". (Jaw dropping to the floor) "Jackson, that is NOT what I'm saying, you know we are very proud of you and how well you've done" and to that "Stop yelling at me"

Makes me wonder if I'm actually IN the same room saying these things to my own kid.

I don't know.. maybe 4th grade is the turning year where kids really have to WORK for those straight As. I'm not saying Jacks hasn't had to work up until now, but I am definitely seeing a change in the work and assignments.

I am taken back to a time when my sister wasn't putting her best foot forward in school.. but was killer at social life! lol And I, being the younger sister, was hiding in the dining room stiff ling my giggles as she got the big lecture from my folks about "listening to the band". This MUST be my payback for those giggles.

So anyway - for anyone out there with kids younger than Jackson, just you wait. This is elementary school... I can hardly WAIT for middle school and high school.

Oh, and just so you know how a 9 year old boy thinks.. its MY fault (as in me, Jules, mom) that he didn't study earlier for today's quiz because I didn't look at his agenda earlier.

My eyes are going to eventually be permanently rolled into the back of my head by the end of this year.

Aliens have arrived...

So my family is infamous for going out to eat. I've already posted about my non-cooking self and well I did really good the week Jackson had to log his meals, but I haven't found the energy or time to go to the store and restock the freezer.

Meals with a toddler can be interesting. Its a 50/50 chance of a good meal experience or a frustrating "wrap my shit up and lets go" experience. We've had our fair share of both.

Nathan is very used to going out to eat, after all his first outing was out to breakfast when he was a week old. He knows the drill, after Daddy gets home and showers, he will sometimes go to the garage door and start signing "eat", the only sign he learned. So yeah, not that that is something to brag about, but the truth is he knows we eat out alot.

So lastnight we went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. When we arrived, it was empty (because we eat really early with him having a 7:00 bedtime). I let him wander around and pick a table to sit at while we ordered. He climbed up in a chair and was sitting beside his bubba "talking" on his cell phone. He got a few peanuts and I held my breath while he snacked on those and then our food came.

He got a hamburger and because Five Guys gives you enough fries in one order to feed all the soilders in Iraq, I gave him his portion of fries. Hubby asked me (while looking at me like I was nuts) if I was going to get a high chair. I told him Nah, lets just see how he does and if he gets rowdy, then we'll tie him down.

My little man sat and ate like a champ. He didn't try to stand up and dump the ketchup, he didn't try to get down and run around to other tables, he didn't so much as move a muscle except his eating hand. Between bites, he would put his hands in his lap and his little sandaled feet were crossed at the ankles. Jackson said "Mom, look at Nate's little feet" so Hubby and I both looked under the table and then of course Nate looked under the table like "what are ya'll looking at". He perfectly dipped his "fish fies" in his ketchup cup and ate the entire burger.

When the manager came over (ok yes we know this guy from his days at Moe's since before I was pregnant with Nate, so he's known Nate since he was born) to chat with us as we finished up our dinner. Nate had finished and he wrapped his "tash" into the foil and handed it to the guy and said "mmm tastee" and went about cleaning up his area and his own face.

I guess Aliens have come to our planet earth and were temporarily taking up hiding in Nate because afterwards we went to Target to get some things and he was back to being hell on wheels.

But man it was nice. I sat there looking at my 9 year old and my almost 2 year old and almost teared up as they sat there so nicely, eating, together, across the table.. not needing me to do a darn thing for them.

It was definitely one of those AWWWW moments. One of those moments when you look around to see if everyone else in the place is seeing how perfectly behaved your children are.

and then we went to Target and prayed we didn't see anyone we knew about the time Nathan attempted to clear the shelves he could reach. lol

Ahhh.. a nice dinner out.