The Fun Sucker

Time To Reflect

2009-01-30T15:53:00.003-05:00

I have been back from Chicago for a little under a week. That is more than enough time for me to reflect on why I went up North. I have realized so much about my life and life in general. I want to share this with you.

I learned a lot about my Nana, and about the type of person she was and still is in the hearts of her family. I want my children and my family to say the types of things that were said at her memorial. I am so sorry that I wasn't able to be as close to her living wise to see her on a more regular basis because my cousins who were spoke so many heartfelt things about her that I was sad I lost that connection with her.

I realized that life is precious, I knew that before but it just hit me. You need to live and not just exsist. By that I mean I have taken a really good look at my own life, and in doing so realize that I have given up on or passed up on some great things. Maybe it is my mid-life crisis, or I should say wake up call, but I miss family. I do have my family here that consists of my mother, 2 sisters and brother but I miss the bigger family I had growing up.

I was thrilled that I got to see my cousins, I got to know one a lot better than before, laughed with the rest and had our fun while remembering my Nana. She would have been so proud of us all.

I realized I missed my Dad and my Step-Mom alot more than I allowed myself to think about. Seeing them just drew it out more. I learned that my awesome family can put away some wine!!! And I learned that I loved trying a new beer. I can now say I went up North and had a Fat Squirrel (and now want more)!

I realized or learned so much on this trip. The circumstance was sad but the outcome was wonderful. An eye opener on how I need to make changes to some things and make them better and above all live.

Thank You Everyone

2009-01-20T17:43:00.002-05:00

For all the kind words on here and by email about my Nana. I know I have been neglecting this blog and I aim to remedy that as soon as I get back from Chicago. Will be leaving Friday morning and getting home late Sunday. Look for regular updates to start after the beginning of the new week. And thank you again your compassion means a lot to me. Keep me and my family in your prayers, especially for my flight (I am not a good flyer lol hitting the bar at 10am woohoo)

My Nana

2009-01-07T19:31:00.003-05:00

I received word at 10pm on January 5, 2009 that my Nana had passed away . I am sad, but I know she lived a great life, a life that I only hope I can live. With 4 children, 15 grandchildren and somewhere between 19 and 21 great-grandchildren (I have lost touch with a few cousins, sadly) that woman is loved!!!!. And she remembered every single one of us at every occasion. She was always active, traveling in for weddings and such. Family was always important to her.

I will be traveling back home to Chicago to say goodbye, but she will always be in my heart and I will miss her greatly. I only have one regret, that I didn't get to see her much in the last two years, so please don't let that chance pass you by if you can take it with your own grandparents.

I love you Nana.

Happy 2009

2009-01-02T15:37:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year!!!!

I really hope this year is a tad bit better than last year :) This last year me and my family have had to go through losing our home, 2 foot surgeries, major reconstruction surgery on my mouth and a few other minor things, but we are fighters and have pulled through.

This year I am going to be enjoying my children more, as a mom. Homeschooling them I feel sometimes they are just seeing me as their nagging teacher and not their mom, a fine line we seem to cross often.

Having the two older kids has been so helpful with the baby but alas, all good things must come to an end, the newness of their baby sister has worn off and they have now entered the "run and hide when baby is awake" phase.

Big A (my middle daughter) wants to go back to public school with all her friends. I will see about that, we will be moving back over to where we were before by October so I may put her back in there, it was a great school system.

Josh is Josh. While he is not your typical teen he has the attitude for it. I look at him sometimes and just shake my head because he never and I mean never thinks he does anything wrong and through the years of trying to show him that he does do wrong, I just don't think he gets it, and sometimes that scares me. He like most teens is counting down the days til he can move out on his own, and I won't lie, sometimes I count them down too :) But I am in no hurry, as I don't quite think he is ready yet.

My brother has seemed to have broken all ties with his family and even though that is his choice something is not sitting well with me about it. But he is an adult and there is not a damn thing I can do about it. His loss...

The Dirty Shirt has been a blessing in disguise for me. It has given me something of my own to do, instead of it always being about everyone else. I have enjoyed it and it has given me so many opportunities to meet wonderful people, work with some great companies, and explore new products. And it's all about me!

Today I am having one of those "Why do I even bother" days. I really try hard not to let things bother me or get me down, but today I have and I don't like the feeling. As I tell my kids I get tired sometimes of being the cheerleader pepping the family up all the time, because if I didn't I don't know who would.

Hubby and I need to get away for more than a few hours and just be. I am trying to plan something like that but we'll see.

On the brighter note, I am looking forward to 2009 and what it will offer me and my family. I hope good things but I will be prepared to pull on my cheer leading skirt if not :)

I wish you and your family and year of health, happiness and prosperity in 2009!!!!!!

Now I Know What They Really Think of Their Baby Sister

2008-12-24T06:08:00.003-05:00

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday, have fun and stay safe, and may Santa bring you everything you wanted and more!! I leave you with a picture my kids messed with and I thought it was funny, and now I know just what they think of their little sis lol

Okay so here is what happens when the older two kids get bored and play with my camera...

I Got A Prize

2008-12-15T16:26:00.005-05:00

I got my new (well not mine but Abby's) onesie from Baby Fish Mouth that I won via Happy Panda today and she is so cute in it!!! Thanks BFM & Happy Panda :)

Gear Live's Awesome HP Mini Giveaway

2008-12-07T08:24:00.003-05:00

Check out the amazing HP Mini package giveaway from Gear Live. Their HP Magic Giveaway winner was awesome enough to give back to the community, thus invoking a second giveaway. They’ve got an HP Mini 1000, along with a bunch of software as well. Here’s the prize package:

* HP Mini 1000 (Windows XP)
* Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 with 3 licenses
* Microsoft WIndows Live
* Corel VideoStudio X
* Kung-Fu Panda on Blu-ray disc, and DVD

I have my fingers and toes crossed for this one, but you should go check it out and enter too :)

Love This

2008-12-04T19:49:00.003-05:00

My dad sent me a great poem that I had to laugh at because it is so true :) Enjoy!!

Cleaning Poem

I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering'
And I had to answer 'yes.'

He told me to get off my fanny
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my work..
I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click, I did, and oops I found
A real absorbing site.
That I got SO way into it.
I was into it all night.

Nothing's changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.

Ashton's Fantasy

2008-12-02T20:33:00.001-05:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Abby at Autism Walk

2008-11-21T10:16:00.002-05:00

Hey there family and friends! Here is Abby for all those wanting to see how big she has gotten!And at the end she sees a bubble and tries to chase it lol

OMG this is HILARIOUS!!!

2008-11-18T09:41:00.001-05:00

I can't stop laughing about this and those that know of the Motrin incident will laugh your butts off!!!!

Awards Everywhere :-)

2008-11-16T15:28:00.008-05:00

I have fallen a bit behind on the awards and for that I am sorry. I thank my blogging buddies who graciously bestowed upon me and my new blog all the following awards:

The Superior Scribbler Award above was given to my by Kristen from La Dolce Vita. Thanks Kristen!

The above awards were all given to me by Firefly Shop. Thanks :-) !!!!!
(oh yeah, and I grabbed an eye candy award too (heehee) for your pleasure)

The 5 women I would like to pass all of the above awards on to are:

Jen at Posh Point of View
Claire at Single Mom Meltdown
Toni at It Is Nap Time
Allison at Mommy To 2 Princesses
The Neurotic Mom

Promoting Blog Peace

2008-11-14T07:31:00.002-05:00

I am joining many wonderful blogging women to support Blog Peace. Check out Toni's post below and pass it on!

Now come on all you blogging queens let's join together and let everyone know we won't stand for drama, we won't stand for blocking people from our sites, we won't stand for being immature, we won't stand for bashing other blogs...because we stand for BLOG PEACE!

We come here to have fun, to win stuff, to learn about others and thank God that someone else's child is not ours when we see him/her doing something naughty! It's a place to be yourself and share who you are with tons of people and brighten other peoples day.

Who's with me, who out there in bloggy land is tired of the blog bullies?
Who out there is tired of the mean girls in the blog world?
~And I will be the first to admit I was a mean girl to one blogger in the past and I am so very sorry for what I did~

Who wants to stand up and say
"We want blogging to be fun again",
"We want blogging to be about friendships?",
"We want to not have to look over our shoulder and wonder if we are going to be blogged about".

Let's stand together today and say to everyone out there in blog land "We Promote Blog Peace" and we want everyone to just get along.

Watch Out She Bites

2008-11-11T09:47:00.003-05:00

Funny I never thought I would hear those words coming from my mouth about my daughter. A dog maybe but not my precious Little A. But that is exactly what I am having to tell people now. I know all kids go through this phase (well maybe not all Big A was never a biter but Josh was) and it too shall pass. I know she doesn't do it out of anger on a regular basis she usually latches her teeth on someone cheek when she is trying to be affectionate. She may think she is giving kisses.
I really am not sure but last night was a bad one.

See Josh picked her up to kiss her and the next thing he is screaming (and Josh doesn't usually do that) He couldn't pry her off his face. At first I was trying not to laugh and then I saw that she really was latched on to his cheek. Finally after prying her away from and sticking my fingers into the corner of her mouth (dangerous job indeed!) We made her stop biting. Josh had welts in the shape of a little "O" on his cheek. But she is so cute he forgave her :-)

Does anyone have a "biter" too? Any horror stories with that? Please share with me so I know I am not alone!

Welcome To The Fun Sucker

2008-11-09T14:56:00.001-05:00

Hello, just a quick update to say hello to all my friends from around the blogging world. The Dirty Shirt will strictly be a product review and giveaway blog after the first of the new year and I wanted a place to share my pictures and my life with you all so I started The Fun Sucker. And before you are taken aback by the name (lol) it is the nickname my children gave me awhile ago and it seems to have stuck....go figure. To them I was put on this earth to drain every ounce of fun from their lives as I can.......and who knows, maybe they are right :-)

So please get comfy, follow this blog too and let the craziness begin!!!!!!!

I have uploaded previous blog posts from The Dirty Shirt to make it seem less empty.

Networking

2008-11-09T13:35:00.000-05:00

Below are my social networking places. Please feel free to add me and I am looking forward to meeting new businesses and friends.

Socializing

2008-11-09T12:50:00.000-05:00

These are the awesome mom blogging communities that I am a part of. Check them all out!

This is one of my favorite communities. The two women that started this place of Poshness are very kind, caring people. Clarissa and Jen really take the time to get to know the members and to help out in any way they can. Being a member there makes me feel like I don’t get “lost in the crowd” like I do at some other places. And while some of the members here are in other groups with me I feel like I have gotten to know them a little better. If you too want to be a Posh Parent please check them out and sign up I would love to welcome you into the Posh Parent family

Beautiful! Fabulous! is an awesome community of women who believe in Beautiful and Fabulous things. The women running this place are also caring women who make sure that no member goes unnoticed and they are chock full of information on everything from the best clothes and shoes to advice on various topics. So if you want to be Beautiful! and Fabulous! then head on over and sign up right away, you don’t want to miss out on anything!!!!!

Mom Bloggers Club (or MBC as it is so fondly known as) was the very first community that I joined when I started blogging. The women (and man) who are a part of this community are very dear people. They helped me out, showed me around and introduced me to a whole new world. I knew the internet was huge but the scope of that hit me after exploring through everyone’s blogs. So please check out MBC to have the best experience to add to your blogging

Posh mama is a community where all women come together to showcase their stores, shoppes and talent. This place was the second place I ran across when I was new to blogging and I can’t thank the Top Posh Mama herself for taking the time out of her day to acknowledge that I was there and thanked me for being an active part in the community. That made me want to be that active in all my other groups. So if you want to be a Posh Mama head on over and check them out

Reviews And Giveaways

2008-11-09T12:42:00.000-05:00

Check out my Product Review blog The Dirty Shirt to see all reviews & giveaways! Below are just a few that are currently running:

momAgenda Giveaway here
Basket of Indulgence here
Nola Meadows Giveaway here
Serah’s Handmade Soaps Giveaway here
Show Me How Giveaway here
Carolyn’s Kitchen Giveaway here
Happy Panda Baby Giveaway here
See Kai Run Giveaway here
Zoobies Giveaway here

About Me

2008-11-09T12:16:00.000-05:00

I have quickly become a sort of PR person for myself, trying to get my name as a reputable product reviewer out there for others to see. I have made some great connections already and looking to up the "ante" so to speak and include product reviews on tech toys including cell phones, cameras, laptops and video recorders. My reviews are on my blog at The Dirty Shirt

Learning my way around the social networking crowd, and enjoying all the people I meet. Will work on networking on a larger scale by next year where I hope to travel to some major blogging and networking events.

Specialties:

Writer for my product review blog The Dirty Shirt
Contributor in The Posh Parent parent network

This is me, my online identity. In the online world I am all over the place. I am on Facebook, LinkedIn and Myspace as well as a ton of social networking sites, blogging communities and so much more. I am a social butterfly, who takes blogging seriously, loves to meet new people and sees just how much talent there is in the world. In the online world I am a carefree person. I open up (maybe too much) on my blog The Dirty Shirt (where you are now) and love to get comments on my oh so funny posts (lol) Now if I can just find that one person or company that I can join up with that can make use of my socialness I would be oh so happy

This is the real me. Jennifer. I am a 36 year old mother of three children ages 15, 9 and 16 months. I homeschool my two oldest kids in the 4th and 10th grades and I love being their teacher and experiencing the joy of learning all over again. Well most of it anyway

I have been happily married to my husband for 10 years and have been with him for 14 years. He is my rock and without him I think I would be lost. We have a beautiful family and everyday is an adventure.

I am an active social networker. I discovered blogging about 5 months ago and have been addicted ever since. I take pride in my blog and tend to keep it more G rated with the occasional NC17 rant or post thrown in every now and then. I am a member of a plethora of blogging groups.

I am a product reviewer for a few family and mom groups as well as searching on my own for awesome products to review. (Have one? Send me an email at thedirtyshirtblog(at)gmail(dot)com and I will get you on the schedule) I love this aspect of my blog because through it I have run across products for my family that I didn’t know were out there.

Through my blogging and social networking I have met some wonderful women who I have forged great friendships with. Again without blogging I would probably have never met them.

Are You A Posh Parent?

2008-11-02T11:32:00.000-05:00

If you are a registered member of The Posh Parent I would like to ask a favor. Please head on over and vote for my Little A in The Posh Parent Cutest Baby Dancing Contest, that is if you think my Little A is a cute dancer Guess it would help if I told you her name is Abby she is the top entry.

If you aren’t a member, then wait no longer! Head over to The Posh Parent and join in the best parenting community!

I Love Kristen's Custom Creations!

2008-10-29T11:31:00.000-04:00

My friend Kristen from Kristen’s Custom Creations has the best hand stamped jewelry around!!! Her designs are awesome and the ideas she has when creating custom pieces are amazing! I first met Kristen at Mom Bloggers Club and became familiar with her jewelry line when she created a custom piece for MBC that I just had to have.

We became fast friends and I was recently a Featured Reader on her blog La Dolce Vita. During that month I was entered into a contest to win a custom piece and guess what????? I WON!!!!! I was so ecstatic. And look what she made for me:

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!!! She has done another awesome job, and I am so happy with it. It is the only piece I own with all my kids names in one spot, and I can’t thank her enough!!

So stop by Kristen’s shop and pick something up for Christmas for yourself or a loved one. She also has beautiful pieces that represent Autism, Breast Cancer, and Resolve.

Kristen, to you I say thank you for your kindness, friendship and jewelry. I am so happy to have found you and your shop and I hope that you prosper in your business!!!!

My Dream Camera

2008-10-26T11:29:00.000-04:00

So yeah, while surfing around my favorite websites for tech stuff I happened across the most beautiful (can you say that about cameras?) camera, the camera of my dreams. I fell in love instantly and the more I read about it the deeper that love went. I would like to introduce you to my new love (shhh, don’t tell the hubby) the wonderful Sony Gray Cyber-Shot T700 Digital Camera

Isn’t it amazing? I mean seriously look how sleek it is and so nice. Gah!!! I have to have this! See recently my camera (won’t name names and point fingers) crapped out on me. It has been going downhill fast and funny thing is it isn’t even a year old. That’s what I get for not buying from my favorite company. And with a baby that is ever changing I need a good dependable camera to capture those moments before they are gone.

Here are just a few of the specifics on this beauty:

Portable Photo Album
Smile Shutter Technology
Face Detection Technology
Double Anti-Blur Solution
Intelligent Scene Recognition
In Camera Retouch
Image Management

And so much more!!!! I am so impressed with this I can’t even tell you. So, Santa, if you are listening, or should I say reading this, I have been a REALLY good girl this year, and this wonderful camera is at the top of my list.

All Settled and Fun Stuff

2008-10-11T11:28:00.000-04:00

Yeah we are finally all settled in our new place Took almost a full week but we managed to get everything unpacked and put away. We still have stuff to buy and things to organize but at least now we can function. Little A has already fallen and split her lip (and I almost passed out from too much blood) and found out that she can’t throw her head back during a fit because she won’t find carpet anymore she will find a hardwood floor. She is having a problem adjusting. Too many new things at once I guess but man I am missing so much sleep I look like a zombie.

Speaking of zombies, my husband and I were able to sneak away and join my sister and his brother (they are married too) at Universal’s annual Halloween Horror Nights. Let me just say I hate scary stuff but we have been going since the very first one and its a tradition. I do not go into the houses because they scare me too much but my favorite thing to do is sit and have a drink or two and watch all the people walking by get scared from the “monsters” jumping out at them. I fell victim to at least 4 that came from no where and had me screaming (and spilling my drink! grr!!) It was fun but boy did I pay for it afterwards. We went to bed at 1am and Little A woke up at 3. But it was worth getting away for a bit.

So many exciting and new things going on with me here and in some of my communities. Will post more soon but stayed with me as things really get rolling. Lots of great reviews and giveaways coming up, plus all that boring stuff about me lol

I'm Back!!!

2008-10-06T11:27:00.000-04:00

Whew thankfully the major part of the move is over. What a pain in the behind, now we just need to make this place more normal. Big props goes out to my hubby, who knows how much my computer means to me. After busting his butt all day and picking things up he actually cleared a path to my newly set up desk and got everything connected for me while I was attempting to get our bedroom in order. What a surprise that was. Sadly though I fell asleep in the room so I didn’t know until today!! LOL But it proved to me that he cares about what I like doing

No injuries related to moving, except my brother. He came back to the new place with a fat, bleeding lip and I imagined that the refrigerator came flying down the ramp and hit him in the mouth or that maybe a box corner caught him in the face. But it wasn’t any of that, nope, it was a wrestling match between him and my son (like how did they have the energy for that? why would they do that? ugh boys) So yeah, they were wrestling and my son accidentally elbowed him in the face, which put my brothers tooth through his lip and into my sons arm. Yep he came back bleeding too. LOL I swear……

So yeah I am back into the swing of things, will be at computer on and off for the next few days while I get this place in order but I have alot of catching up to do. Look for 2 reviews coming up and an exciting giveaway will be posted later today, it should perk you up

This Weekend

2008-10-03T11:25:00.000-04:00

The time has arrived….moving day!!!! Can I just say that I am beat already and really not looking forward to today and tomorrow. But I must continue on, for if I sit still for just one second I won’t move again! Special shout out thanks goes to my Little A for allowing me only 1 1/2 hours sleep last night, this should be a fun day Love you Little A (muwaaah) Kids….whatareyougonnado?

So I will more than likely not be around this weekend. I plan to get everything over to the new place and hook stuff up this evening and Saturday morning. Hope to be back up no later than Sunday but I just don’t know how things will go. I will be sure to get cards dropped, social networks visited and get the ball rolling on exciting giveaways and reviews as well as my “big news”. Stay tuned

Everyone have a wonderful weekend, and if your having some wine please have a glass for me it might help me relax a bit

Back From My Much Needed Break

2008-09-29T11:21:00.000-04:00

Ahhh I soooo needed that mini vacay! My husband and I had a blast and were very happy to be alone. He took me to the Hard Rock Hotel @ Universal Orlando. And yes for those reading my blog it is just right down the street from where I live but actually staying there was great! We went to Universal Studios and got fast passed on every ride (one of the benefits of staying on property in one of their hotels is to be able to jump in the fast pass (front of the line) line and by pass the wait).After going on everything once we went back to the room for a nap (had a bad night with Little A the night before and only had 2 hours of sleep) but of course with it being a hotel I couldn’t sleep as our neighbors had loud kids (just my luck lol). We had a great dinner at their pool bar (get the steak quesadilla’s if you ever go, they ROCK!!!) then back to the room to get ready to hit CityWalk. Here is a picture to show what a beautiful day it was:

Goodbye.....

2008-09-18T11:20:00.000-04:00

This is a letter of goodbye, I am sad to see you go. You have been with me through thick (not so much) and thin. I must let you go, I have held on for far too long. My hopes and dreams will not be met at this time. But never fear, I WILL get another you someday in the not too distant future (hopefully). You were my favorite pair of jeans but after the birth of Little A I just can’t squeeze my booty into you anymore. I have cried over this fact but I will rectify it!!! So it is with great sadness I say adios to you, my wonderful blue jeans. May you find a new home at my garage sale…..don’t look back…..it’s painful enough…….goodbye……i will miss you…….

See the pain I am going through packing? LOL!!!!!!

One Of Those UGH! Moments

2008-09-13T11:19:00.000-04:00

Well it’s official. We are finally moving. Found a new place in the area and now it’s time to pack.

UGH!!!! There it is, my Ugh! moment. Looking around my home I realize that we are pack rats. I say we, but if my hubby saw this he would say "It’s all you baby!" and I agree it is. But watching pieces of your life get thrown away in 15 (yes I said 15) xtra large yard trash bags makes me want to cry.

We are losing some space in the new place but the backyard is ginormous!!!! So that makes me happy. Makes the kiddos happy too because now they can run themselves ragged. But now I am faced with the icky task of packing up this house and looking around all I can say is "I don’t want to."

So why am I sharing all this with you? Because I may be a little slow with card dropping (which has been eating up ALOT of my time anyway). I will always respond to comments made on my blog but it may be done a little slower. Just for the next few weeks. We will be moving on Oct. 4th so it’s time to get my booty in gear, end this chapter of our lives and begin writing a new one

Never Forget!!!

2008-09-11T11:16:00.000-04:00

The Necklace Incident

2008-09-07T11:14:00.000-04:00

Okay so on Saturday my hubby and I try to just relax and enjoy the day. He grills steak on the grill we have wine and chill. I was laying on the floor playing with the baby (she was using me as a jungle gym climbing all over the place).

Now I have a necklace that Big A picked out for me for my Mother’s Day gift when she was 4. It is a very thin gold chain with little grooves in it. Well during our play time it got caught on the carpet. It started choking me when I tried to pull up but not wanting to break it I just layed there.

Hubby comes in the room and asks what I was doing (Little A was done playing with me and had moved on) still laying on the floor and for some reason (probably the wine) I started laughing hysterically. With each laugh the necklace pulled and when I could finally catch my breath enough between the laughing fits I was able to tell him that I was stuck. And guess what he did……..

What any man would probably have done. He went and got the camera. (NO pictures will be shown here due to the not so attractive angles he was taking them at.) INSTEAD of helping me he was laughing at me and snapping pictures. The nerve….

When he had had enough of his fun he finally helped me by reaching back and unhooking it. He helped me up and then asked if I was okay. Finally he asks lol!!!! It was funny and every time I picture it in my mind I start laughing all over again. Have you ever been in a situation where your hubby just laughed at you? Please share!!!!

Must Find The Switch.....

2008-09-02T11:10:00.000-04:00

to turn my mind off at night!!!!!!

I am the type of person that needs to go to bed about 2 hours before I will fall asleep just so I can run everything down in my mind and turn it off. I had insomnia before Little A was born, her not sleeping through the night for the last 13 months hasn’t helped (and pray for me please tonight is the first night with no formula lol) and I feel it coming back on.

Last night was no different. Went upstairs at 8:30 to just catch up on some tv and relax (baby was sleeping at this time) My son comes in at 9:15 to say good night and says the following in a small conversation with me. "My girlfriend", (a big ugh on that one) "can’t wait to move out of her house. She can’t stand her mom." (What????? Is it possible that my girls will grow to hate me?!?) I say "She isn’t moving in with us, that’s for sure." He says, "Oh I know we will be moving out when I am 18 so we can have our own place. I want to be able to party." At this point I can feel my heart beating in my chest and my blood starting to boil. I try to calmly say "You can’t be looking forward to partying, you are too young to do that." Meanwhile pictures of horrible things happening start playing through my mind (I am also a paranoid mom lol) He then says, "Don’t worry I have no interest in drinking I will probably smoke though." Now he tells me this as he is leaving my room.

When he closes the door tears well up in my eyes. See I am having one hell of a hard time letting go. I have slowly started trying, but man I never thought it would be this hard. And of course he left me (and my mind) with 5,000 new things to think about, which allowed me to go to sleep at 2am, just in time for the baby to wake up. UGH!!!!!!

I have got to figure out a way to just stop worrying and let go. I need to find a way to get sleep. I look like the walking dead. Massive black bags under my eyes. LOL So fun!!!!

Watch Out For The Flying Bottle!!!!!!

2008-08-27T11:09:00.000-04:00

Okay, whoever said getting a child to drink real milk instead of formula was easy? Please speak up so I can invite you to my home and you can see first hand just how NOT easy this step in parenting a baby is.

My typical morning starts out like every other morning. I give Little A her breakfast, usually Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal and some other type of fruit. Afterwards, I clean her up and set her in the living room with her toys and she always wants a bottle (weaning from that will be my next fun (NOT!) story for you all)

Here’s where I think I am being all smart and sneaky. I make a half and half bottle (half formula and half milk) I shake it all up and walk into the room. As soon as she sees me she lowers her head and glares at me with her eyes half open. I quickly hand her the bottle (lest my arm gets ripped off for how fast she grabs it) she tilts her head back, puts the bottle in her mouth and BAM! it happens.

The bottle is flung within a millimeter of my face, her eyes turn red (I swear to you they do) and she opens her mouth and screams at me, "How dare you try to pull a fast one on me?" Well, ok she doesn’t really say that it’s more like "Gaa gaa goo goo ga ga!!!!!" But she screams none the less. And then we begin our day of me trying really, really hard not to give in to her and just give her all formula. It never works. I get a headache from her crying and it breaks my heart. She is my last baby and I want her to stay a baby (did I really just say that?)

Well wish me luck I am heading back into the baby bottle zone to have our afternoon fight, because I just can’t get enough milk/formula showers in a day!!!!

Look At What I Won!!!!

2008-08-26T11:08:00.000-04:00

About a month ago I signed up for a giveaway to win a Baby Sherpa Diaper Bag Backpack. And guess what!!!! I won it Thank you so much to Baby Sherpa and to ‘BenSpark‘ over at Read To Me, Dad for hosting the giveaway that gave me this awesome backpack. I LOVE it!!!!!!! It is all packed up and ready to go theme park hopping with me You have made this mommy so very happy!!!!! This bag ROCKS!!!!!!

Life's Like A Box of Chocolates...

2008-08-25T11:06:00.000-04:00

No not really because they melt. It’s more like a book.

Hubby and I were talking about how we are going to be starting a new chapter in our lives and it really got me thinking. My book would be an interesting one I tell you. But it starts off slow gets really good in the middle and has no ending as of now.

The middle (my life for the last almost 14 years) has been the best. Sure I have had my ups and downs, who doesn’t? The best part of course is my hubby and my children. Every year is a chapter and this chapter will end a little sooner than expected due to our move. This evening we will be going to see what could possibly be our new home and I am nervous and excited. But I am happy that soon I will be able to put this past year behind us and start a new chapter. It’s been tough with the highs of having Little A and the lows of losing our home but we are strong and we have made it through the tough times. Because we did it together.

So who knows maybe one day my life story will become a book (lol I can dream can’t I?) But it would be an interesting read How would your book read?

Ok Fay...Go Away!!!

2008-08-21T11:05:00.000-04:00

Ugh I hate rain, yeah I know it’s good for the grass and all that jazz but man 3 days straight of rain just really sucks!!!! And the dull, grey skies are doing nothng to help my mood. The kids are going stir crazy, and I am almost willing to put them outside in the wind and rain lol

All this rain has brought the froggies out and I was reminded how much Big A dislikes them. When she was little hubby showed her a giant frog that was stuck on the wall near the doorknob for the front door. We had just come home from dinner and it was dark out. She couldn’t see it too well so she got closer which I guess spooked the frog and made it jump right on her face. I mean the dang thing completely covered her little face. She started screaming and running around in circles trying to get it off of her. Finally after a minute or two it just jumped away, but to her it seemed like an hour (or so she said lol). I laugh about it now but my heart broke because it scared her. Now I won’t even go near one for fear it will do that to me too

On another note looks like we will be finally getting our act together to move within the next month or so. I will add that to my list of things to do. Hubby just finished the "BIG" project that he has been programming for for over a year now, so the stress is off and he can now focus on our move

Getting ready to head on over to Posh Point of View for the launch party for Nola Meadows Studio Join me in helping Jen have a great start to a great business

What A Day

2008-08-18T11:04:00.000-04:00

EDIT: The storm has turned so all we will be getting is rain for 2 days (and thats a big EWWW but better than last night’s outlook) I think Allison "hoped" it away from me

Ah the first day of school has come and gone. I am so happy that I homeschool my kids. They start at 8 a.m. and end at noon. 4 hours thats it, then I can focus on all the other things I need to do throughout the day, like prepare for the possible hurricane……

I think we got all our fly away stuff off the back porch and we have removed all the trees (not the trees I meant the limbs) I got all my running around done before the first bands reached us (it just passed) I am wiped out.

And I saw the aftermath (like 2 minutes) of a weird car accident today on the way home from the library. The two men involved were okay and standing talking to the cops. But apparently the driver of a mustang missed a curve in the road and crossed the median (thankfully no car was coming at the time) and hit a man on a riding lawn mower!!!!!!! The front end of the mower was demolished and the front end of the mustang was laying next to it. Geez!!!! You cant even be safe on a lawn mower

Anyway, all my Florida blogging friends please be safe over the next few days

Good Movie

2008-08-16T11:03:00.000-04:00

Big A and I watched a real good, funny movie tonight. I was suprised it was so good but any movie that can make me laugh like crazy and then make me cry is a good one in my opinion. It was Disney’s College Road Trip.

When Big A popped it in I was like okay I can get through this, but oh my gosh did I enjoy it. And oh my gosh did it make me ball. I have found out that I am sooooooo not ready to even think about this time in my kids life. Funny too because right at that precise moment my son was late coming back from being out, Big A was crying and Little A was sleeping in my lap. The range of emotions going through me was intense.

But I am all better now (all cried out (good song from the 80s btw) lol) and am here to say if you haven’t seen it yet go ahead and get it now. You won’t be sorry. And if your anything like me then make sure you have some kleenex nearby

Time To "Hunker Down"

2008-08-16T11:01:00.001-04:00

Well it’s that time of year again. We are not in the direct path of this storm but we will be in the dreaded "right front quadrant" of it and I don’t like being there, it’s where all the nasty weather is, like tornadoes. It’s also the time of year where I have to act like storms don’t freak me out because then I will freak my kids out (try telling that to me who as a kid was constantly shoved down in the basement because of tornadoes in Illinois)

Now another thing is we always lose power over here in our neighborhood from normal storms. For a fun way to look at this….What am I gonna do without Internet?????? Think of all the blogs that I won’t see, all the cards I won’t be able to drop. lol

Gonna shop for the supplies (ran out 2 years ago, I am slacking) then come back and clean fun, fun!!!!

Last Three Day Weekend

2008-08-14T10:57:00.000-04:00

So here we are 4 days away from the start of school. Looking forward to it even if it is more work for me. Big A is looking forward to learning more and I think J (son) is looking forward to school just being completely over lol. Little A has taken to standing on her head now, I have no idea why but boy does she like it and she thinks it is so funny and usually ends up laughing her self off balance. Whatever floats her boat

Trying to learn CSS here and there (which omg is not easy) cause I wanted to add some stuff to my site but I guess that will have to wait. LOL a few days ago I posted about not having much to do and feeling down and now I got tons of stuff going on. One of which will come about in a month or so. I am super excited about it. Pkayfit gave some advice that said "something will cross my heart" and I have to say it did. Big A and I were working on something together and it hit me. The rest of the story will come when I launch our idea, if I tell you now it won’t be a suprise

Thank you to all my blogging buddies for coming here and reading my musings. I have met a ton of super women through the blogging world and you have all touched and changed my life for the better I hope you all have a very good weekend.

An Alien In My Home

2008-08-13T10:55:00.001-04:00

It looked like my son, even smelled like my son. But I know it can’t be my son because he is…….. CLEANING!!!!!!!

My brother-in-law snapped this picture with his cell phone because he too couldn’t believe that my son was doing dishes. It is a very rare thing to see in my home. Funny thing is he doesn’t want to make his hands all pruny so he wears gloves. Or maybe that is to hide the fact that he is an alien……. We may never know…….. I love to tease my son lol

A Huge Thank You

2008-08-10T10:54:00.000-04:00

I want to take a minute to say a very big thank you to the following ladies who gave me advice when I was in a funk. Please take the time to visit their sites you will love them

Again thank you all. You gave me alot to think about and be greatful for. It’s nice to see women helping others when times are low. Good sticking together

Little A Is Walking!!!

2008-08-10T10:53:00.000-04:00

It started with her just trying to stand up and then I called to her and she looked up at me and smiled and then she let go of the chair and walked 9 steps to get to me. I cried I can’t believe she is already doing this. She is growing up so fast. Love my little angel

Gearing up for school to start again. This year I am introducing lapbooking to the kids. Big A is all excited about trying something new. She loves scrapbooking so she thinks this is an awesome concept (yes she even used the word concept lol) So I now will be scouring the net to find some lapbook ideas. I am excited to do this with her. Of course the son looked at me like I was crazy saying "I ain’t (I know it’s a word but it drives me nuts when he uses it) cutting and pasting anything. I am not 2." To which I just laughed at him and walked away. Still has to learn that what I say goes LOL

Do You Ever Feel?

2008-08-07T10:52:00.000-04:00

Do you ever feel that you haven’t done enough in this lifetime? I am not sure how all this will come out but I guess I have been in a funk today. My son is almost an adult, Big A is becoming her own person now and it’s just me and Little A. All of that has hit me like a truck. Of course the hubby is there too but I am happy and content in my marriage the only thing we need to work on is spending more time together. I guess what I am worried about is losing my identity, my mom-ness (I know thats not a word but it fits lol).

Like for instance, there are so many talented moms I have been running across lately, and it makes me wonder where my talent is. I can’t sew, I am not all that creative, sure I have been known to have bursts of creativity but nothing major, and aside from my blogging friends I am kept pretty busy and lack that "adult interaction".

I have always said that my talent is being a mom, but many women share that with me, that doesn’t make me unique. I need to reflect on what makes me..me. And I need to find something that I can accomplish so I can step back and be proud of myself. Don’t get me wrong I am proud to be a mom its been my whole life for a very long time. I wanted to be that way back when I would take care of my dolls.

I would like to hear from others who may feel the same and maybe we can offer an ear and support. I am blessed to have what I have. I know there are others hurting right now in ways I can’t even imagine.

Oh Where, O Where Did My Pancake Go?

2008-08-06T10:51:00.000-04:00

Oh my gosh reality came up and smacked me upside the head!!!!

Now it’s been 8 years since Big A had her first tantrum, but she had the most perfect (yep I said perfect) tantrums I have ever seen. We called her tantrums the "Pancake". When she didn’t get something or got mad she would quietly fling herself face first into the ground with her arms and legs spread out and just lay there. If we were out shopping we would just pick her up and it would be over, if we were at home we would just leave her there and she would eventually get over it and get back up.

Little A is the COMPLETE opposite. When she is mad she will let me know, and when she throws a tantrum she rolls all over the place. She hasn’t yet had one in public so I am not sure how that will go, however, my hopes that she too would just pancake eventually were completely dashed last night.

She had a 15 minute scream fest in our living room complete with throwing her head back and forth, rolling everywhere and pulling her little car walker on her head. We just sat there watching her with our mouths hanging open. Hubby grabbed the video camera and caught the last 5 minutes of it which captured her throwing her hands back and grabbing the handle on her car and then she pulled it on her head (duh!!!!).

The best part is while she was still throwing the fit he played the tape on tv and she got quiet right away. She was looking at the screen like "Who is this person and what are they doing?" Then on the tape she screamed so loud that it scared the "her" watching and she started to cry. I picked her up to comfort her (it was a different cry that the fit throwing one I know she was really scared lol) and she passed out in my arms.

So, again I sadly ask, "Oh where, oh where has my pancake gone?"

Playing A Video Game and Ran Across This

2008-08-04T10:50:00.000-04:00

First let me set my frame of mind up for you all. I have recently been having trouble with my 15 year old son. Nothing too extreme just the typical I am a teen now pulling away from the mom stuff. Breaks my heart that the kids are growing up so fast and I have been trying without success to hang on to his youth. As with typical teens he complains and doesn’t want to do his chores, hates homework (which sucks for him seeing as he is homeschooled lol) and wants to see his girlfriend (his what?????) all the time. And he likes to consider himself an adult SIGH

So fast forward to my game playing. I am playing an awesome RPG game on the Sony PSP that I am just loving. It is called Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology a Namco Bandi game. Well, as I was playing there was some conversation between two of the players that just struck me on a much deeper level than just playing a video game should have (although I am extrememly passionate about gaming) Below is the snippet that really spoke to me.

"No matter how old, someone who sees the world as a prison and wastes their life complaining is just a kid. And no matter how young, someone who knows how to free themselves is a real grown-up"

I showed this to my son which he didn’t get until I explained what it said to me. Do not go through life complaining especially about things only you yourself can change. I have been in pretty crappy situations before and I was the only one able to pull myself out of it and free myself. I certainly didn’t just sit there complaining. And always know that things may be tough for you now but there is ALWAYS somone else who is worse off.

So thank you to whoever wrote the conversation between those two characters. It said alot to me and I hope it speaks to others as well.

My Favorite Meal

2008-08-03T10:48:00.000-04:00

It is Pepper Steak….and it’s DELICIOUS.

You can add anything more you would like but to satisfy the picky eaters in my house this is what works for us

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds strip steak (the kind used for stir-fry (usually 2 packages) or 2lbs. of beef flank steak cut in 1 inch strips)
6 TBSP soy sauce
2 TBSP cornstarch
2 TBSP brown sugar
3 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
vegetable oil
1 red pepper (I use 2 cause red is my favorite) cut in 1/2 inch strips
1 green pepper cut in 1/2 inch strips
1 medium onion cut in 1 inch strips
2 cloves garlic (or 2 teaspoons minced garlic from jar)

Prep work:

*I prepare the marinade first, then cut the beef, and then do all veggies.

In a large mixing bowl combine the soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, sesame oil and pepper flakes. Mix well until everything is combined. (hubby likes things a bit hot so sometimes I add a dash more Red Pepper Flakes)

Cut meat ( I usually cut the stir fry pieces in half, easier to manage on the fork) and add to marinade covering completely. Set aside.

Cut all veggies, place peppers in bowl (large enough to add more stuff to)

Heat a Tablespoon of veggie oil in wok (or large pan) add peppers. Cook until crisp tender (about 4 minutes)

Remove from pan and place back in bowl. Add a teaspoon of veggie oil and half the meat mixture. Brown until done.

Place cooked meat mixture into bowl with peppers. Add a teaspoon of veggie oil to pan and the rest of the meat mixture. Brown until done. Add to pepper bowl.

MAKE SURE YOU SAVE ALL THE JUICES FROM COOKING IN THE BOWL TOO (The veggie oil use tends to be a little on the high side but it is so you have all those juices)

Add teaspoon veggie oil to pan and place onions in for 3 minutes stirring constantly. When semi transparent add garlic. Cook 30 seconds and then add entire contents of bowl.

Mix until everything is combined turn heat down and cook for 5 minutes (just long enough to heat everything back up)

Serve over rice (we use Jasmine rice, mmm mmm good)

ENJOY!!! Let me know how you like it if you make it. It’s our top favorite dinner (and it has been years that I have been making it so I do not remember where it came from)

Babies Are So Fast!!!!!

2008-08-01T10:44:00.000-04:00

***WARNING - IF REFERENCES TO BABY POOP GROSSES YOU OUT DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER***

I am in total shock at how fast Little A is. Here is what happened….

I am at my desk which faces away from the living room. Little A is getting cranky as she missed her afternoon nap so I stop what I am doing, walk over to where she is to see if she has a bottle. She doesn’t so I tell her I am going to make another one (like she knew what I was saying) And I go into the kitchen right around the corner from where she is.

Now making a bottle of formula takes what? 1 - 2 minutes tops. Ok in that time she was one really sneaky little thing.

I come back around the corner, to see my little angel standing there with no diaper on and some strange looking crap (literally) smeared on the floor and the wall, along with a big puddle of something on the floor. UGH!!!!!!!

I say WTH and call for my son to grab her and hold her still, I run into the kitchen for paper towels, Big A runs upstairs to laughingly tell her Dad that Little A was playing in her poop (to which I promptly tell her that it isn’t funny, not one little bit). After cleaning it all up I threw (not really but I certainly didn’t hold her against me) her in the tub and gave her a good scrubbing. After getting her dressed for night night she very quickly fell asleep.

Life’s hard when you create poop art. It can wipe (haha) you out

My Favorite Picture

2008-07-29T10:41:00.000-04:00

During the birthday party my sister was taking pictures with her new Canon camera (which I love by the way) and she got some awesome pictures. This one has to be my all time favorite picture.

Let me just say that the whole time my hubby was throwing the baby up in the pool I was freaking out (good thing that camera didn’t have a microphone lol) I have to say that even though I didn’t like it I am glad he was doing it so I could have this picture

Here is the close up of Little A. She was having so much fun. I hated to be such a worry wart (or as my kids call me "The Fun Sucker") Anyway it was all worth it to see her smile and to have this picture.

Happy Birthday Big A & Little A

2008-07-28T10:34:00.000-04:00

We had the girls birthday party this past weekend and it was hectic but we had a very enjoyable time. Big A got a ton of Camp Rock stuff so she is very happy (and I like seeing the Jo Bros around lol) She had a small accident though when she spilled the BBQ sauce from the crock pot on her hand. She was miserable for a bit but then when I mentioned opening presents she perked right on up lol. But she had fun swimming and hanging with the family.

Little A had no clue what to make of all the people and the noise levels in and out of the house. She too had fun (after I let her take off her "1" crown which she didn’t like) She got a ton of stuff. Her favorite though was the tissue paper she got in all her gift bags lol Seriously I really believe to just buy a empty box and she would be happy.

She did get an interesting gift though. I found a packet of Tylenol Sinus medicine and a cough drop in one of her gifts. I looked at the wrapping and saw that it was from my mother. Everyone started laughing while my mom explained that when she was wrapping the gift she knocked her purse over and the medicine landed in the box apparently. LOL We all got a kick out of that.

The grand finale was of course to let the baby play in her cake. Wow did she ever make a mess. She had purple icing everywhere. She was shy at first and looked at me like "Umm why are you putting this cake in front of me"? Then she started digging right on in there. When we started to laugh she started clapping which sent icing everywhere.

The weekend was a fun one and it was great to see some friends we haven’t seen in awhile. And for all those wondering how my "wine" was, you know the Bottle O’ Bitch, it was very good. Personally I think it would have tasted awesome with turkey. I don’t know why that came to mind but I will try it again at Thanksgiving time and stick to my Cabs and Merlots for the sipping kind :-) Thank you to those who have wished the girls a Happy Birthday I appreciate it :-)

I like cleaning house as much as....

2008-07-24T10:33:00.000-04:00

lima beans and I don’t like lima beans!!!!!!!!

Ugh the dust I have in my house. I am cleaning for this weekend’s birthday party for my girls (they were born the 29th and 30th, 8 years apart) So theres this big shindig on Saturday, problem is my house was a mess (thats what happens when blogging takes over actually its Entrecard, I blame that lol).

So between now and Sunday I will be popping in to say hi (and dropping for all my Entrecard friends) and will have lots to blog about. Especially since there will be drinking and some karaoke going on and I always have alot to say about that. I love karaoke, unlike cleaning which I should get back to so I can rest

Little A and Her Babylegs

2008-07-21T10:31:00.000-04:00

Yeah!!! Finally got Little A’s Babylegs the other day and she absolutly loves them. She actually gets mad and points at them if I forget to put them on.

Of course when I try to get a picture of her in them she takes off. So this picture was the only one where she is standing still. I love these things myself as they help protect her knees from scrapes. They are also a flashback to the 80s for me as I was a legwarmer wearing gal lol.

I got 2 pairs so hopefully I can get a better picture the next time she is in the other ones.

I'll Take A Bottle Of Bitch

2008-07-20T10:29:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I finally found my wine. My hubby says "Since when do you bottle your bitch up?" lol

Haven’t tried it yet (I hear it’s all the rave) so can’t wait to get to it. It is also a new "type" of wine for me as I have never had a Grenache before. May pop it open next week….. or sooner if I can’t wait. Will let you know how is

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!!

2008-07-18T10:27:00.000-04:00

Today we celebrated my Grandpa’s 93 birthday. 93!!!! And he is still in good shape. The life he has led has been a good one. And he refuses to think he is old. He told me that it was his 34th birthday and then he joked that it made him younger than me.

Today his great-grandchildren surrounded him with love. He really holds a special place in Big A’s heart. He taught her how to play the organ, just like he taught me. I feel bad because we haven’t been a bigger part of his life. He loves his great grandchildren and would love to see them more.

I am so happy that we were able to spend a portion of his day with him. He means alot to me and the kids and I am so very happy he was able to meet my Little A. So here’s to you Gpa and I hope you have many more years

Me And My Vent

2008-07-17T10:25:00.000-04:00

This is me. No, not the real me. But a version of me (this one is my Wee Me) This is however where I want to be. On a beach with a drink in one hand and my DS in the other (although my current game is on the PSP but I don’t want to change the image lol)

I know I am not the only one wanting a vacay. I just came back from a 3 day at Disney but we do that all the time. (Disney is about 20 minutes from my house) I want to do a beach vacation. Sanibel would be nice if we couldn’t leave Florida, but I dream of Hawaii.

Of course that would mean I would have to actually fly somewhere. And between my fear and the cost of things these days all I can do is dream. But I am putting it on the list of "Must Dos".

I am in one of my "funks" with having to deal with a raging hormonal teen boy, who ever since he got his license is all "Mom can I drive now?" and his problems (as if lol), Big A needs glasses and she should have had them all along , so now I feel like a terrible mom because I didn’t know she needed them (Big A is not a complainer at all and just for this one time I wish she had complained.) I mean really how am I supposed to know what is going on with her if she doesn’t tell me? She will have a headache or stomach for hours before she makes it known to us. But I feel horrible about this. And my Little A….ah my precious baby. She is so much like me that it was funny in the beginning but now not so much She’s my little fighter

See this is what is so great about blogging. I vented (sorry) and now I feel better. Now whoever visits The Dirty Shirt will read my vent and join me in a good hearty laugh I mean really after reading back through this, these aren’t reasons to be stressed when so many others are worse off.

Baby Won't Sleep

2008-07-16T10:24:00.000-04:00

Ugh I need a break. I know I am not the only one that feels that way. But man I am not as young as I used to be lol. Big A stopped taking naps at 1 but at least she was sleeping through the night by now. My Little A is almost 1, stopped taking naps and wakes up 3 times at night. I feel like a zombie. She is so different because the later she goes to bed the more times she wakes up at night.

Funny thing is she laughs at me. I will say "Honey you need to go to sleep" and she will look at me and laugh. And all I can think of is how my Mom keeps telling me that this child will be my payback for how i was as a child. We used to have a VHS tape (I am dating myself here) of all the silent films my parents took as we were growing up. There is one where my Mom puts me in my crib and all you see is my mouth opening up to scream (glad it was silent lol) But Little A so does that.

I am constantly scouring the net for ideas to get her to sleep through the night. I have tired everything I could find. And it’s not like she is up screaming and crying the whole time. Nope she wants to play !!! It is like she can function on no sleep. And I think she knows that I can’t lol

Now don’t get me wrong, I so love my baby and am so happy to have her even with the 15 year age gap to my oldest but I really am not as young and energetic as I was when I had even my Big A 9 years ago. Little A is gonna give me a run for my money, and I am very happy to compete

P.S. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated, maybe I haven’t tried it yet……..

2008-07-14T10:23:00.000-04:00

my son went and grew up

Today he got his learner’s permit so he can drive now. I got teary eyed watching him get his picture taken and I am totally petrified for him to be on the road. Ugh. I haven’t had time to wrap my head around the fact that he is almost 16 years old!!!!! (Oh and still very lazy, he wouldn’t get up to get a shirt on for me to take his picture lol) Where does the time go? I swear you blink your eyes and they go from being a baby to an almost adult.

Good thing his dad is taking him to learn too because my son and I are so much alike that I think we would not come away from this experience happy campers. So I am keeping my fingers crossed and here’s to hoping that the car will be ok :-)

I Admit It!!!!

2008-07-11T10:22:00.000-04:00

I am a purse-aholic. I have a good collection going at the moment and am wanting more. My husband thinks I am nuts (maybe I am) but I swear if we ever won the lottery I would be in purse heaven. I say win the lottery because my hubby is like "$325.00 for a purse…..hellz NO" lol of course I don’t get them but boy would I love to. The price sucks I admit that I agree with him there. But oh how I long for new purses

I know I am nuts!!!!!! BUT I take great comfort in knowing that I am not the only one out there who loves purses, so there

Ever Have One Of Those Days?

2008-07-10T10:21:00.000-04:00

You know the ones where you really should just go back to bed and pull the covers over your head? Well today was one of them for me. Had a bad night last night and I hate when that happens. I got that blah feeling that only a babies smile can overcome, and it did. So much so until after about 15 minutes of rolling on the floor making my daughter laugh I pull something in my elbow. Doesn’t hurt just very uncomfortable.

But not as uncomfortable as I was when I sat down a few minutes later in the middle of her toy pile (because she thought it was funny) and sat on a spatula. A SPATULA. What in the world was a cooking tool doing in the middle of my babys toys? Of course no one could tell me how it got there, so I am left to assume (and you know what happens when you do that) that my 11 month old climbed over her gate and crawled into the kitchen, wrapped her blankie around a drawer handle, pulled herself up and grabbed a spatula then repelled down and back over her gate and over to her toy pile to hide it.

She thought it was funny. Oh the fun little ones can have. I miss that sometimes. But she and the whole situation made me lose the load on my shoulders and enjoy the rest of the day

Sorry For The Break

2008-07-08T10:20:00.000-04:00

Gah I hate being away from blogging for more than a day. Both girls finally seem to have gotten over the rotavirus crud that swept through the house. I swear I have seen enough poop and puke to last me a lifetime (lol sorry if thats TMI).

A small update…. I am in the process of redesigning and redirecting my blog. Should be within 2 weeks that it will change. The redirecting is going to take my blog more toward my kids and family life. Anway back to blogging…….

Sharing With You All

2008-07-04T10:19:00.000-04:00

I ran across this on a blog that touched me so very much I wanted to share it with you. Please go Here This brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart so much.

Rest In Peace Larry Harmon (Bozo The Clown)

2008-07-03T09:25:00.000-04:00

I am not sure how many people actually know about Bozo but he was a fond childhood memory for me. His show has been missed by me for quite awhile. I have always wished I could share the show with my kids. Rest in Peace Bozo.

Now Playing...

2008-07-03T09:22:00.000-04:00

I have to tell you about a new (well new for me) game called Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure for the PSP. It is a MUST NOT MISS downloadable game by Mastiff LLC available in the PLAYSTATION Store .

I love artsy, cutesy video games (don’t get me wrong the life-like 3D games are cool too but give me an old fashioned cartoony game anyday) and this one gets a thumbs up from me. I love the cartoon characters and their voices.I can’t help but smile everytime Parin talks.

I love the main weapon in this game too. It is a drill and you can find different elemental attachments to add to the attack. I don’t want to give away too much so check out the site and play the game. You won’t be sorry you did!!

2008-07-01T09:21:00.000-04:00

So I was in my room last night and Big A came up and said "Mom, I have figured out my kids names" To which I replied a very loud "HUH?!?" (she is only 8 lol) I started to tell her that she was waaaaaaaaayyyyy to young to be even thinking about that when I suddenly had a flash back to my youth (not sure about the age though) and I remember saying that my sister and I would marry brothers and we would each have 4 kids and I had a list of names but nothing concrete.

Well my sister and I DID marry brothers and I came up one shy of the amount of children I wanted. So I guess my morale of this story is that you can have what you dream about when your a little girl………let’s just make it that she doesn’t get that dream for a very large number of years yet

Birthday Morning

2008-06-28T09:20:00.000-04:00

all is quiet when out of no where the baby starts screaming which wakes my middle child who is super excited to go to a friends birthday party today. She wants a countdown every 5 minutes of when we are going to be leaving. I have 5,000 things to do to get ready including getting my son out of bed, feeding the baby, bathing the baby, blog, and get myself cleaned up (at this moment I look like I fell out of bed, and I feel like it too). Oh yeah and run a few errands before we actually go to the party. But I am SuperMom so it will get done

Can’t wait to see my daughter on her birthday in a few weeks. Then she will want a countdown of when everyone will be coming over. Don’t they sell programmable countdown clocks somewhere? That would save me a ton of time lol.

After the party its my wind down time. Steak and wine and catching up on the DVR shows (including SYTYCD) Ahh I love Saturdays, its the one day where my husband and I can just chill out, float in the pool and let all our cares slip away (they don’t really go far).

Hope whoever is reading this has a good weekend

Oh My Gosh....CHOCOLATE!!!!!

2008-06-27T09:19:00.000-04:00

Well ever since I was pregnant with my last daughter I have craved chocolate. I never used to like it all that much but I was hoping that craving would stop after the baby. But noooooo it had to carry over to now and lately my chocolate craving has been bad. Chocolate muffins, chocolate chips and chocolate pudding. Can’t get enough of it lol and the real funny thing is I am getting mad at the wii fit for saying I haven’t lost any weight……well duh!!!!!!!

So starting next week (hey the weekends coming up I always indulge on the weekends) enough with the chocolate and I will begin a heavy duty wii fit bonanza. Stay tuned I may have a wii machine that has pissed me off for sale

A Blah Day!!!

2008-06-25T09:18:00.000-04:00

Woke up and the weather was good but quickly turned into a blah kind of day. You know the kind where you just want to stay in bed curled up in a little ball under the covers. Wish I could………

So I am in the process of getting the girls birthday parties together. Big A wants a Camp Rock party and I told her that the movie was too new and they probably wouldn’t have any decorations out yet. LOL Just as I said that I get an email from a party place and guess what…..they have them. So Camp Rock it is.

Little A will just have a cake that she can bury her hands and face in. She won’t know too much about what is going on. I can’t believe she will be one soon. Seems like just yesterday…….

Back from Vacation

2008-06-23T09:18:00.000-04:00

Well we have reached that sad time when vacation is over and we get back to reality. I was ready for it. The baby was good but had her moments and it’s hard dealing with a squirming baby (especially when it rains lol). But we had a real good time. Much needed I say.

Friday we just stayed at the hotel and it was alot of fun. So much to do and its always fun staying on Disney property. Saturday we went to Animal Kingdom where it was sooooooo hot and there were soooooo many people. We didn’t get to go on much and while in a show it started to storm so when we got out it was pouring. That pretty much decided that we were going back to the hotel.

That night Rob and I took the kids to a fancy restaurant for our Anniversary dinner. Best food I have had in a long time (well, besides Rob’s steaks & chicken) and it was a very enjoyable experience. The baby was good and the other two kids didn’t fight. The waiter was on top of the ball and very friendly. Overall a very nice time. Very relaxed now. Back to reality……

Now we have to buckle down and get going. We will be moving August 1st so I need to get on the ball here and get packing. And have Big A & Little A’s birthday parties in the middle. Oh well I can do it I am super mom right?!?

Anyway I am back and will be popping on here and there regularly again. Need to finish SYTYCD on the DVR so will post that tomorrow.

Vacation & 10 Wonderful Years

2008-06-19T09:17:00.000-04:00

I feel like a little kid right now. Tomorrow we go on our mini vacation to Disney. I always get excited going to Disney for a couple of reasons.

1- I feel the magic every time I go to any of their parks. I get those butterfly feelings in my stomach that tend to make me revert back to being a kid.

2- I love seeing all that magic through my children’s eyes. Little A will be seeing this for the first time and she has such a personality now that I am excited to see how she is going to react. She flips out when watching The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and sees Mickey on the TV, so I can’t wait to see what happens in real life

So on our mini vacation Rob & I will hit our 10 year Anniversary. In hitting that mark I am reflecting on what a good man my hubby is. I made a perfect choice in him and he has given me the one thing that means the most to me and that is a family. My husband and my kids are my life and I love them all greatly!!!!!!!!! So here’s to relaxing and enjoying ourselves and our kids and here’s to 10 wonderful, magical years married to my best friend.

Wow Life Can Come At You Fast

2008-06-13T09:16:00.000-04:00

Yesterday started out normal, well normal if you consider a baby waking you at 3am and not going back to sleep, normal for me. My sister usually calls everyday at 8am but my phone rang at 7:15. Turns out she was in the hospital and needed me to watch her babies so she could have surgery for a ruptured hernia. Well duh! I can watch your kids.

So I had a mini day care going here yesterday. My 3 and her 2, what a mad house. But I made it through with little more than a headache and thankfully my sister is gonna be ok.

But it made me stop and think. Life can really throw you for a loop sometimes. I mean you sit here and think of all the things you need to accomplish in a day and when something happens it all comes to a screeching halt. I for one really wish we didn’t have to pack our days full of things that need to get done, when you do life passes you by.

Ok enough of my ramblings. A saying I saw awhile ago is perfect for now. It is:

Your alive…… so live.

Rest In Peace Tim Russert

2008-06-13T09:15:00.000-04:00

I am deeply saddened by the news this evening. I only know him through the great way he delivered political news but he will be missed on the shows I have watched him on. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Time Flies By....

2008-06-11T09:14:00.000-04:00

Wow, as I sit here I am hit with the fact that my kids are really growing up and they seem to be going at light speed. Almost a year ago I had my Little A and it seems just like yesterday (heck my back still hurts like it was yesterday lol). My Big A will be turning 9 and it seems like just yesterday she was running around at the age of 2 asking for me to turn the light "on-on".

But the realization that really takes the cake is my son. My 15 year old son who just passed his driver’s test for his permit. I was so proud of him and at the same time I am petrified. Where did all this time go? I am amazed at what we have all be through and we all came out ok.

It’s times like these that I can’t help but sit back and reflect on the good parenting job Rob & I have done. And it hasn’t been easy, but I am happy, very happy. I love my kids, I love my husband and all is right with the world.

A Little Better

2008-06-09T09:14:00.000-04:00

Well that flu really sucked. I feel a little better (knock wood) and I hope to get my energy back soon. At least my eyes don’t feel like they are on fire anymore. This bout was real bad and I wonder if it is like this across the country or if it is localized to Florida, alot of people I have talked to here say it’s been bad.

My daughters are still sick just not as bad as before. My son was lucky and only got a cough for a few days so I have been making him stay away from everyone else. It looks like we all will be better before our Anniversary vacation. (knock wood again)

So I am back with the blogging program now. Stay tuned……

Sick As A Dog

2008-06-05T09:13:00.000-04:00

Ugh, I knew it was coming but I now have full blown what the kids have. I want to curl up in a little ball with the covers over my head and take my Nyquil and go to sleep, but I can’t. I have never felt this bad before (I probably say that every time I get sick which isn’t often) but my eyes feel like they are on fire. I have never felt that before. LOL

Will get back into the swing of posting more when I feel better. Now it’s off to the couch to listen to my daughter scream cause she isn’t feeling well. A mother’s work is never done…..

Sleep Deprivation

2008-06-03T09:11:00.000-04:00

Word:

sleep deprivation

Part of Speech:

Definition:

the condition of being robbed of sleep, in real life or in experiment, as opposed to being unable to sleep

Yep thats me I am sleep deprived. I am really, really tired and I don’t know how I will catch up on the sleep I so desperately need. It all started a few nights ago when the baby got sick. And as most of you know that once one family member has it everyone is going to get it. The baby can hardly breathe through her nose which makes her so cranky (hell it makes grown ups cranky too) and she is up every 15 minutes coughing like crazy I know her poor little throat must be killing her.

Big A, my middle daughter got it last night at 2 am (the baby ended up actually sleeping through the night for the first time in 3 days. Figures…) So she wakes me up and I ended up sitting with her in her room trying to make her comfortable for 2 1/2 hours. I finally dragged myself to bed at 4:30 am only to have the baby wake up at 6 (sigh).

So this morning I was watching Bunny Town with her on Disney channel and this mouse drives up in a little bus and for some reason I start laughing and I just can’t stop. My husband thinks I am going nuts and just looks at me, but I can’t stop. I ended up calming down 5 minutes later with tears streaming down my face. I so need to sleep.

I had a doctors appointment this morning and was actually looking forward to it so I could get away for a bit and not have kids screaming around me. (crazy because it wasn’t a fun one. Not that any Dr. appointments are fun lol) It was so peaceful in the waiting room with classical music playing that I dozed off not once but twice. The nice lady sitting next to me look at me and patted my arm and said "There, there you poor thing you look like you haven’t slept in weeks. You should go home and take a nap." Unfortunately for me I just looked at her and started to laugh (I must have looked really stupid to her) I don’t know why I laughed but again I couldn’t stop. At least I think everything is funny when I am tired and don’t run around in public yelling at people. But I never got to explain to her my predicament so if you are out there kind lady I am sorry for laughing but I am sleep deprived. Still am of this writing.

All I know is I hope to get a good amount of sleep soon and this whole sickness thing better be gone before my husband’s and my 10 year anniversary in 2 1/2 weeks.

BLAH!!!!

2008-06-02T09:09:00.000-04:00

Why is it every time I need a break all hell breaks loose? The baby is sick and I hate seeing her that way, my teenage son is being a butt and my middle child is needing attention. What I need is about 4 more hours in a day. And sleep….yeah sleep would be good.

I am working on 6 hours of sleep for the last 2 days and I can’t function. A short trip to the library had me angry by the time I left and no one seems to be able to drive right (or maybe it’s me that isn’t driving the right way who knows) all I know is that life is hectic at the moment and I miss feeling young. 3 kids later and only 37 (in September) and I feel like I have zero energy and the gray hairs keep creeping in. What was that one commerical…Oh yeah Calgon take me awayyyyyyyyyyyy

2008-05-31T09:09:00.000-04:00

The only relaxing day in our household. We like to call it steak and wine night because we always have steak and we experiment with different wines to see what we like. But boy does it feel good to just kick back. Today is a little stressed as the baby isn’t feeling too well and for the last 3 days has run a small fever but at least she has been happy during the whole time. My foot is feeling a tad bit better as well so we are all looking forward to a nice quiet relaxing day (lol I say this as the baby starts to cry) I am off for the day hope you all have a relaxing day as well!

One Of Those Days

2008-05-30T09:07:00.000-04:00

It’s been one of those days that you look out your window and see that the sun is setting and you feel like you just started your day. Being busy is great but being so busy that you don’t even enjoy the day sometimes sucks. Doesn’t help that I had to sleep for 2 hours this afternoon due to my baby being sick and keeping me up all night. I hate taking naps because not only does it eat up my time, I can never go to sleep at a decent hour at night. Oh well life goes on and tomorrow is another day.

Loving The Wii Fit

2008-05-28T09:06:00.000-04:00

AWESOME is all I gotta say!!!!! I finally have some motivation to lose some of the leftover baby weight (I say finally not because I didn’t have motivation before just because I finally got off my butt to do something about it). I love everything about this game, but most of all the aerobics. They all get my heart a pumping and it makes me feel so refreshed afterwards.

I can’t do the excercises for a few days because of my foot but I hopped on quick this morning and the little talking scale told me I lost a pound…..Oh glorious day lol but seriously it is a very fun game and I would recommend it to anyone. If anything its good for a laugh as you watch your friends and family try to balance or catch hula hoops.

Baby After 35

2008-05-28T09:02:00.001-04:00

Let me start off by saying WOW. It’s tough after 35 to gather the energy babies require. I honestly don’t know how I manage with everything else I am doing to survive the day with the baby lol My other two children were typical babies, but not this one. She is giving me a run for my money. She picks everything up off the floor (the other 2 didn’t do that) even after I have just vacuumed the floor she will find that one speck of whatever I missed, put it in her mouth and then spit it back out. And she has some set of lungs let me tell you. My husband likes to tell me that he has never seen the look of anger and pride collide in my eyes as it has with my girls.

The idea for my Dirty Shirt blog stems right from the baby. I have laundered my shirts so much from the constant upsurge and runny noses from her that my new shirts look like I have had them for 30 years. So here I am left to wonder is it really just hard for me? Am I the only one who swore to her spouse that she could handle another baby after 35 only to find herself drained and exhausted? I Love kids big time and even after being wiped out and desperatly searching for more ways to collect energy I would do it all over again in a heartbeat……I know I am nuts