Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Cuteness Abounds!

Pictures for your viewing pleasure until I can finish wading through the sea of papers on my desk........I probably won't have a REAL post until after this week, but hope you enjoy these anyway....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!


Big One and Bella


MY Christmas present.......Bella........the kitten that pooped on the floor in my office instead of in the litter box this morning.......NOT happy.......at least she peed in the box right? I can fix this bad kitty behavior....I have faith in her and me



Big One and Bella again



Little One


Little One in her "4 wheeler"


Big One and her 4wheeler.....it would not have been possible for her to be more excited. It was great!


I just threw this in cause I thought it was funny......Little One in daddy's hat, the one he wore to the Monday night beatdown the Panthers gave the Tampa Bay Suckaneers





GO PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Monday, December 29, 2008

Dear Readers Reader

Oh for pete's sake....where do I begin? It's been a while. I am on my knees groveling for forgiveness at my lack of posting.......wait, who am I kidding....I only have like 5 readers anyway and you've all been busy holiday-ing right? and if you've been playing on the computer instead of spending quality time with your families during this blessed season.....then shame on you....shame shame shame.........(see how I turned that around?)

Anyway, Christmas has come and gone....whew.....what a whirlwind. I'm glad it's over. I kind of had that 'What now?' feeling the day after Christmas this year. I was so trying to enjoy the day and forget about the 'grown up' reality of life in this craptastic economy but that anxiety kept trying to creep back up my throat all day and especially the day after.....what now....it's like Christmas was protecting me from what lies ahead. What happens now? The 'holidays' are over and it won't feel so wrong to lay people off and eliminate more jobs and ruin more lives......I'm so nervous about this economy it's eating me up. I just want everything to go back to normal. And by normal I mean both the Husband and I having stable jobs (we both thankfully are still employed for the moment but his hours are cut back drastically), money not being such an issue, Dad being cancer-free, Little One sleeping through the night, School back in, House clean and orderly, having my cleaning lady back (that will never happen, but since I'm dreaming.....)

We did have a very spoiled very good Christmas. Santa brought me a kitten, specifically a Blue Mitted Ragdoll, as you all know and her name is (cue drumroll)..............Bella..............well, technically her registered name is Sasha BlueBelle xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx (I can't give away my real identity Batman.....) and for short we call her Bella. And NO not after Bella Swan in the Twilight series......Big One is only 6 and hasn't read the books (that I know of.....hmmmm.....kidding.....) and she named her.....At first it was going to be Sasha Blue IsaBelle or Sasha BlueEyes IsaBelle but I didn't like BlueEyes and made Big One re-think the name. Took us a couple weeks to decide..........do you like it? I'll post her photo tomorrow...pinky swear........and maybe some Christmas photos too.....

Big One got a 4wheeler and loads of Webkinz and Pixo's and are supplies and books and Disney Mix Stix..........Little One got a walker (her version of the 4 wheeler) and lots of clothes and loads and loads and loads and more loads of baby toys and CRAP......CRAP EVERYWHERE. There is not a square inch of my house not covered in CRAP now. It's about to give me a nervous breakdown. For real.

The Husband bought me the hottest pair of Jessica Simpson.....yes that's right, Jessica Simpson.....boots that I saw like 2 months ago and mentioned that I liked in a store......can you believe he remembered? But they don't fit dammitalltohell.....damn my small feet.......like baby small, it's funny. So I'm hoping they'll have a 6....cross your fingers for me

I have nothing witty to say today..sorry. I'll be back when work isn't so rushy tomorrow with a better post......and photos!!

((hugs))

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

stupid

Let's talk about things that get on my nerves.....like when people type 'alot' instead of 'a lot'....it's two words....TWO words. I know I'm not grammatically correct most of the time and I'm definately punctuationally challenged.....but for some reason that 'a lot' thing really gets on my nerves.

Another thing that gets on my nerves is procrastination. I cannot stand procrastination. My brother is the King of Procrastination Island......really today he's more like King Shit of Turd Island (irritating the crap out of me)......but dammit he procrastinates. If it wasn't for the 'last minute' or for him more like the last second....nothing would EVER get done. Some days working with him almost does me in.....

One more thing is how when I am sick I seem to suck it up and keep moving....keep going....keep doing everything I normally do and then some. When the Husband gets sick, the world STOPS spinning and he's quickly on his deathbed, positive that the hysteria of the 100 degree fever is just short of sending him to the emergency room. Seriously?!

And another thing....I really hate when people don't return phone calls. Especially when they pertain to my very important Christmas plans and gifts. Very annoying....could possibly send me over the edge.......no, I'm not already there thank you very much

Being late is another big one for me. I am late a lot.....since I had children and a husband fuck up my perfect little never-late-almost-always-prepared existence. What happened to me? It's maddening.

Oh a big one is calling my house or my cell when the game is on. If you know me or my husband, you know not to call during the game....period. No excuses unless there is blood and/or death involved. Whatever it is can wait 3 more hours I'm sure.

I hate to come home to a sink full of dishes too.....boy that gets on my nerves. No one does dishes in the house but me so it's my own fault if I come home to such a display....wonder if I could train that damn Elf to whip the house into shape while I'm at work?

I'm aimlessly bitching and moaning today because I'm having a CRAPTASTIC day and I want to inflict my mood on as many helpless souls as possible.......you in?

Oh, one more thing....WHY did I have to read Stephenie Meyer's website? Why did I HAVE to go and read the excerpts on the last two books? I'm almost done with the second book and I'm so engrossed in this story (who isn't) that I wanted to visit the website....BIG mistake. I do not have the type of self control it takes NOT to read about the next two books. DAMMIT. I hope I haven't ruined it, even though I know what happens now. I know how Bella ends up. I'm still going to read them (where read equals listen to them on my iPod)

such a stupid craptastic day......stupid website.......stupid brother......stupid me

fun and a game

Hello bloggy friends! I'm coming back later with a post......but for now

let's throw shoes!!

http://www.kroma.no/2008/bushgame/

fun.....no?!!

Monday, December 15, 2008

and the winner is.......

Big One was given the task of choosing a number between 1 and 17 to pick a winner for the snowflake ornament for me. Well Mommy, that's a big job and I can't do it so fast. I need to think about it, I need to think about what the best number is so I'll come tell you when I decide (well, okay, I'm thinking this outta be good)..........2 and 1/2 hours later........Mommy........I choose number 4. Okay, thanks for your help, but why Big One? Why number 4? Why did it take so long to choose? (here I am waiting for a big philosophical answer)......Oh, I forgot and just remembered a minute ago and there were 4 crackers left in my pack so I thought 4 was a good choice.

soooo, without further adieu......the winner and Number 4 on my comments list is:

Mom to Mr. Q and Miss E +7

who also happens to be my good friend.....lucky friend!! Send me an email friend to let me know you read this and I'll get it out to you in tomorrow's mail!! (it may or may not have a picture already downloaded onto it that will make you giggle......)

Congratulations!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Friday Fragments


Oh Mah Gah......so glad it's finally Friday!!! Okay, here we go, it's Friday and I haven't done Friday Fragments in a while so lets go with Finally Friday today!


1. Well, Thursday was Dad's surgery and it went as well as could be, they got all the cancer and he may not have to do radiation. He's still in ICU but it doing very well......so I can definitely say I'm glad it's finally Friday and that is over with.


2. Little One is on day 4 of a 5 day antibiotic so I'm glad it's finally Friday and we can look forward to an end (fingers crossed) of this whole RSV-not RSV bronchiolitis bronchitis pneumonia debacle.


3. It's finally Friday, which is good on the one hand because that means it's the weekend and football will be on again, but I can no longer look forward to sleeping in EVER since my Little One does not sleep past 5:30am EVER. DAMMIT!


4. Since it's finally Friday I can look forward to only one more week before one of my BFF's comes to stay with me for 4 days with her adorable little daughter just before Christmas. I'm so excited I can't stand it, it's been over a year since I've seen her!!


5. It's finally Friday so I can leave this depressing office where it's all economy doom and gloom and maybe not think about the fact that I may not have a job soon......even if it's only for a couple days. I'd like to not worry about Dad, the job, the economy, Little One, etc......just for a couple days.....is that too much to ask?


6. I'm listening to Twilight on the iPod and since it's finally Friday I can listen uninterrupted while I clean house tomorrow!! I've already got book two downloaded and ready when I finish this one! Nothing like killing two birds with one stone.....I love books and I love a clean house with the bonus of someone reading the story to me, just like a little kid.....how awesome is that?? Love it love it love it.


7. It's finally Friday and I have officially delivered my last card order for this Christmas Season. Thank you.....no applause necessary


8. One more week until our new little kitten comes home with us!!!! The countdown is on with Big One!


9. It's finally Friday and Big One is having a sleepover with her BFF so I don't have to come up with Elf mischief tonight or a new hiding place......thank goodness. I have raced in to move him when I hear her alarm go off some mornings because I forget at night.....too tired!


10. Fridays are good. Fridays are really good.......NO WINE this weekend though....pinky swear. OHHHHH......I didn't tell you guys about that.....I will.....good story
11. I reconnected with an old friend by accidentally drunk dialing her during my wine stupor last Friday night.......holy crap......it's a great story...can't believe I forgot to tell you. I need to do a new FaceCrack Chronicles too......my head is full of posts that I don't remember until.....stupid me

For more Friday Fragments visit Half Past Kissin Time!!
Yippie!!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

blah blah blah and a prize.......

So Little One has had RSV for over a week, actually going on two weeks now right?........right???? well, maybe not. Over the weekend we had to bring her to the Children's ER because she was coughing and unable to catch her breath, lips turning blue, scaring the absolute HELL out of both of us. The ER doctor, McNotSoBright really didn't do much and took our word for it that she had RSV and sent us on our way because we find out yesterday that NO WAY were her lungs clear enough to send us on our way based on what he was hearing.

Well, we thought she did have RSV because that's what the pediatrician we had to see, McFlaky, told us (since our normal one, McFineAsHell, was off that day). You see yesterday was her 9 month well visit (sort of well) and during her check up Dr. McFineAsHell, who happens to be the BEST pediatrician ever asked me if any of these doctors had actually TESTED her for RSV because he was leaning more towards bronchitis and/or pneumonia. Well, no Dr. McFineAsHell, they didn't. I think they just listened to her and said OH! RSV.......and here I was totally bashing the $2000 per dose vaccine that was supposed to keep her from getting RSV even though there were 3 kids in Storage that had it. It DID keep her from getting RSV......it wasn't RSV to begin with and had they done the RSV test on her they would have known that she had bronchitis and could have already been treating her with antibiotics and stuff and we could be DONE with it. BUT NO, now we are over a week later trying to more aggressively treat it with very high powered antibiotics and a one-two breathing treatment punch 4 times a day plus Singulair and HOPE it doesn't take a turn for the worse. I'm so pissed. So quick to give that diagnosis and not bother with the test.......mad mad mad mommy!! Anyway, lesson learned.

On to other things like, Christmas shopping. When is it that I plan to get this done? I'm usually done by now. I usually have the best gifts for everyone. Very useful very personal well thought out gifts. Not this year. I have TOO much on my plate. People will be lucky to get something from me period. I don't like that. I don't like that I don't have the time or the ideas or the money to do my normal Christmas. It's not my style to get generic thoughtless gifts, but I'm afraid a lot of those will be given this year and it makes me sad. Plus my mind is completely full of My Dad, Little One's sickness and FOOTBALL.......Oh my goodness the football is getting good and I'm consumed by all the scenarios that will/could happen for us to clinch home field advantage, blah blah, etc......it's a sickness and I've got it bad. I can't concentrate. I can't shop. This is a problem. I need to shop. I need to get done. I need it behind me.

I need ideas. I am turning to you......WHAT are you giving this year to well, everyone? What is your favorite gift to give and what are you giving your Dad? Mom? Brother? Daughter? Aunt, Uncle, cousin? Lists please......I need ideas. Lay it all out for me and let me steal YOUR fabulous ideas!!

Oh, I think we've picked a name for the kitten and it's not one of yours.......but in the spirit of the season I'm still giving away the fantastic Digital Photo Silver Snowflake Ornament that holds at least 60 photos and is a fantastic thing to have!! So leave a comment and gain an entry......I'm giving you until Sunday to comment and on Sunday night I will have Big One draw a number and declare a winner!!!

More comments, more entries..........

Thousand Words Thursday

Cheaper Than Therapy




I get that to the normal person there is really nothing special about this photo.....not taken by me and not my normal style here. This is Big One with Grandpa, my Dad.

My Dad is heavy on my mind and in my heart today as he is right at this very moment having surgery to remove the remainder of a tumor and sinus reconstruction due to the very very rare Mucosal Melanoma. He will be there for several days after surgery and then will start radiation. There is no chemotherapy for this type of cancer.....nothing that is effective.

Big One just loves her Grandpa......please keep him in your thoughts today.

For more Thousand Words Thursday see Jen at Cheaper than Therapy!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

have you voted yet?

okay.....I realize that not everyone is a football nut like myself......but if you are and you haven't voted yet you'd better get over and make your pro-bowl selections NOW.....voting closes soon! Vote often!! And if for some outlandish reason you don't follow the football.....by I can't imagine why you wouldn't......then get over there and vote for all the NFC South Carolina Panthers players on the ballot for me.....and I will Thank You profusely!!

Vote HERE

remember.......CAROLINA PANTHERS........CAROLINA PANTHERS.......CAROLINA PANTHERS......

kthanxbai

Monday, December 8, 2008

okay......FINE

I'll do the stupid list......stop emailing me!! and since Tena did it and she hasn't lost all her readers yet...I figure what they hay....I know some readers hate these goober lists


**edited to add pictures of the Charlie's Angels Hideaway House......Hasbro 1978....aging myself. I was 6

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I am very extremely picky about wrapping paper....this year it's lime green and red....bags, bows, paper......doesn't matter as long as it all matches

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial - in three easily assembled steps. Love it.

3. When do you put up the tree? take the tree down?
I put it up the day AFTER Thanksgiving.....one holiday at a time people.......and take it down PRONTO the day after Christmas

4. Do you like eggnog?
EWWW

5. Favorite gift received as a child?
I was always a Barbie girl ......a Barbie JUNKIE if you will....and the year I got my Charlie's Angels Hideout Barbie Treehouse thing I just KNEW Santa was real






6. Hardest person to buy for?
My Dad....he has money (that he doesn't share...) and so if he wants something he just goes and gets it. But every years since Big One was born I have made Calendars for all of the Grandparents (3 sets), some aunts, some cousins, etc...about 12 in all. I go to Snapfish or Kodak and make them. It's a HUGE competition with my family now to see who ends up in the calendar. I'd show you my calendar but it has our 'real' names on it.......and I'm so weird about that. Anyway, the calendars are the thing everyone really looks forward to. They love love love them every year.




7. Do you have a nativity scene?
No, but I'm not opposed......wait, Yes!! I do have a nativity scene.....this one from Fisher Price....forgot about that one
8. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail...always have and always will. Emailing Christmas Cards is TACKY! with a capital T!!!!



(mini version of mine....Shutterfly wouldn't let me save the big version to put here...damn them)

9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
The parents (stepmother) of an ex boyfriend when I was 19 gave me two THONGS. A yellow one and a lavender one...both lacy and frilly, which I opened in front of his entire extended family (about 35 people that I didn't know really from Adam). Super fun. Bitch.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie?
hmmmm, the Grinch. The REAL Grinch, not the Jim Carrey Grinch. I also like Elf, but I'm sick of it this year because Big One is obsessed. She's also obsessed with Home Alone....the first one. It was cute and funny but after 15 times notsomuch.



11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually I'm done by now, but this year has presented many challenges and I'm lucky I have the tree up. Little One just started crawling this weekend and I swear she is on fire now. She is 100 miles an hour everywhere and into everything. I cannot get ANYTHING done. And with the entire fandamily being sick all the time it's a wonder they haven't qaurdened off our house and put us all in solitary.....


12. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes, yes I have. Lots of times. I am a re gifting expert. I only re gift things that obviously weren't purchased with me in mind. Thoughtless gifts that anyone who knows me knows I would never like. Say for instance a set of bath salts and bubbles.....I don't even have a bathtub in my bathroom...BY DESIGN.....I HATE baths, but if you knew me at all, you would know that. I think they are dirty...I'm weird I know, don't get me started. That's just an example though.

13. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Spinach Dip, Sausage Dip, Cheese Braid


14. Lights on the tree?
Pre-lit and white

15. Favorite Christmas song?
I like several but I also hate several. I just don't know, I'll have to get back on that one (hold your breath)



16. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We usually go to My Mother in Law's Christmas Eve and My Aunt's Christmas Eve and then Christmas Day to my Mom's, my Father-in Law's and my other Mother in-law's (don't ask). But this year we have put a stop to the madness and dragging the minis away from OUR house on Christmas Day. Anyone that wants to see us or the minis has to come to our house where I will have an all day buffet of food and stuff on the island in the kitchen. A 'drop in' if you will.....


17. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Yes I can, do I need to prove it?



18. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Neither. Lime Green, Red and silver bow with streamers

19. Open the presents Christmas eve or Christmas day?
Christmas Day.......all the way. No exceptions unless I won't see you Christmas Day.


20. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Shopping in stores. I try to do all mine online.


21. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love all the ornaments that Big One has made, Little One is still too little for that. I love my Grandmother's crocheted ornaments that are absolutely gorgeous. I love photo ornaments and lots of stuff. I'll have to take a photo of the tree cause it sounds horribly tacky the way I've described it and tacky I am not.


22. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
We have Turkey, Ham (yuck), Mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, stuffing, corn casserole, etc etc etc



23. What do you want for Christmas this year?
To keep my job and peace of mind and for my Dad to be okay. But gift wise really, I'm getting what I wanted, my new NAMELESS kitten. December 23rd we pick her up......so get cracking on those names dammit. Don't forget the PRIZE!!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Said So's Favorite Things this Christmas

kind of like Oprah's Favorite Things.......but I'm not giving you anything...bummer....

1. Digital Ornaments like this one from Brookstone:



They are so neat and GREAT Grandparent gifts......they love getting that ornament already filled with a fantastic slide show of photos of the grandkids!! AND if you lazy readers would name my kitten.....ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO WIN YOUR VERY OWN DIGITAL SNOWFLAKE ORNAMENT!!

2. This Wine.....always a favorite at Christmastime, comes out every year the third week in November and isn't always about the wine?





3. Of course the Elf on the mother freakin Shelf......it's so gay I know, but we really do love our Elf (and we love the gays too....it's just an expression.....calm down)

4. These very cool picture frames.....Big One delights in writing new messages to her Grandma every time she goes over on this frame. It's wonderful.







5. My new LG Lotus phone......I have the black one but it comes in a very chic purple as well and I LOVE IT. Full keyboard inside the flip phone.......replaced my Crackberry (which royally sucked)


6. I've said it once or a thousand times and I'll say it again and again......I love the Gap Favorite Tee......I buy TALL because they do shrink up a bit after washing and I like them longer than what they are after washing. LOVE THEM.......long sleeve in winter......short sleeve in summer... A W E S O M E.......that's the last time I try to convince you....until my next Favorite Things post





7. Down East Basics tank tops. Long perfect fit. Great for layering under anything. Love. Them. (okay I had to come back and edit this...it looks kind of awful on the headless armless 'woman' shown below......whose nibbies are nubbin by the way...)



8. The Bebe Sounds Nasal Aspirator.......not for me silly....but if you have a baby..it's golden..a must for sure. And it's on sale at Babies R Us right now!! (the 'snot sucker' as we call it in the Said So house)






9. This 7up.....it is heavenly. Love it love it love it love it. It is THAT GOOD.




10. These cutie patootie bottle/sippycup name labels from Inchbug that are PERFECT if your minis are in Storage (read: daycare) like mine and you have to label bottles every day and come in sets of 4 ....(and looking closely at the ones in the photo below....who the heck names their little girl Betty Lou?????.......don't get testy now, my Mom's name is Betty......not Betty Lou and she's not a kid drinking from a bottle or sippy cup either in a room full of Olivia's, Madison's, Hannah's, Emma's and Abby's with a name like Betty Lou.....I'm just sayin)


I'll be back later (and by later I mean Monday) with some more!! Happy weekend to all.....remember KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE!!!!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Thousand Words Thursday

Cheaper Than Therapy

Big One....Christmas Photo 2006





MERRY CHRISTMAS YA'LL
For more Thousand Words Thursday see Jen at Cheaper than Therapy!

this, that and the other thing

The elf got into the cookies last night and there were cookie crumbs all over the floor and shelf next to where he 'hid' last night....AND he decorated the tree with bibs, diapers, socks, gloves, swim goggles, a belt and Big One's panties....(all items conveniently located in the laundry room sink!!) silly elf......Big One loved it and the Christmas Tree Peeps he left on the kitchen table as a Thank You from Santa for getting a good report card......

In other news, Little One has the mother plucking RSV.....she was a preemie and gets the RSV vaccine, which I can report for 100% sure DOES NOT WORK.....Little One gets it once a month, but here she is.....with RSV. Mind you she doesn't have a bad bad hospital-trip case of it, but she has it nonetheless and in my book when a vaccine is $2000 per dose she better not ever get it for the rest of her life by gosh, in fact no one within a 5 block radius of her should get it either! She's already had $6000 dollars worth of RSV vaccine this year and will be receiving another dose next week.....pointless? You decide....

And while we are at it, let's talk about how much I hate looking for burned out bulbs on Christmas light strands....FUCKING A...........seems like everything "lit" that I touched this weekend had a light blown.....holy motherbitch!

And since I'm complaining I might as well add the part about how the Husband just got news that he is now working 5 days a week with the el-crappo hours......so now we are down to Saturday and Sunday with Daddy....Big One is less than pleased. There were big drama mamma tears all over the place when she heard that bit of news..

Remind me to tell you about the Husband and how he has been "doing me a favor" by going to the grocery store (because evidently I am the only one in the house that needs things from the grocery store..hence he is doing 'ME' a favor).....HAH! but getting NOTHING right on the list and a whole cart full of extra bullshit we don't need...

And now I just realized it's Thursday and I need to go do a Thousand Words post so enough of my bitchin already....

Did you get and ELF yet?

Still needing name suggestions for the kitten.......don't forget the ahem......PRIZE involved!!!! It's a good one too...

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

here's the deal......

Okay, since so many of you have your own mini's that obviously need an Elf in their lives click here for the Elf on the Shelf thing.......it so much fun for the kids. They run down every morning to find out what he's done or where he's hiding.....AND the best part is IT WORKS....if they think that Elf really reports to Santa every night (reason #1 for leaving letters from Santa delivered by the elf detailing the good and bad of the day or last few days)....behavior changes for the good. Big One has been SO good since Thunder came out this year.....she knows the deal.

Our Elf got tired of just hiding after the first year and started getting into things while he was hiding and making mischief. Our elf has done some crazy things and been found in some crazy places. Multislacking Mamalicious has an Elf too I see and I like her idea of him decorating the tree with their underwear......Big One would find that HILARIOUS!! I may try that one. Any other good ideas???

GET YOU some ELF.......

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

and you thought you were too old for homework.....

so who has the Elf on the Shelf? We have had the Elf for a few years. He was named Thunder by Big One who was then 4 years old.....now at almost 7 years old she thinks Thunder needs a new name.....and I don't think she's wrong, it's just that we can't just go around re-naming everything. For instance now at almost 7 she suggested we name our new kitten Blueberry, because it has blue eyes or Silvermist because of the grayish ears.......I'm thinking notsomuch.....because we all know in a couple years she's gonna agree with me that those are not the best names. Just like she wanted to name the baby Butterscotch......and now she's with me on how that was not a good idea. Seven year olds (almost 7) are not always the best name givers for living creatures or Elves that visit every year for the rest of 'ever'.....

Anyway, our elf needs some pizazz, some new tricks, some new hiding places.....I feel like I'm out of ideas. Dude has seriously hidden EVERYWHERE I or the Husband can think of in our entire house. He is running out of new tricks as well. This year his arrival brought the 'diary' that he brings every year to document his daily whereabouts and shenanigans and he also brought an ornament-frame craft for Big One to make and give away (giving is as good as receiving is the lesson) and a letter for Big One and Little One from Santa.....(I made sure Santa pointed out that Little One needs to work on her sleeping at night skills...Big One thought that was hilarious). So tonight he will be getting into the cookies and leaving cookie crumbs beside him on whatever surface he's hiding in or on tonight. He only leaves a gift or activity or something once a week. I already bought a movie for next weeks thing.....but I need ideas ladies.....who does this Elf thing...surely I'm not alone here...tell me tell me. Work with me. Mommy is runnin on fumes and needing ideas..

So let's review your homework assignments (one of which is already due......however my dear readers reader is not cooperating):

1. Help name the cutie pie kitten we are getting
2. Elf ideas for shenanigans and hiding places

Get on that people and get back to me.......STAT!

Monday, December 1, 2008

quick update straight up with twist...

Hello readers reader! Have you missed me? I've been gone for what seems like forever! It has literally taken me this long to recover from the stomach virus from hell and the sewer pipe surgery and the holiday and the subsequent disinfecting and complete wash down of my house.



I hope you all had a very wonderful and fulfilling Thanksgiving indeed.....I had an interesting one for sure. We all got together at my Aunt's house for a Thanksgiving filled with family bickering, HAM....yes HAM....don't get me started, screaming minis, rain, sleet, shoes in ponds, lost car keys, stolen wallets and we topped it off with a dollop of MRSA. Fun times, fun times....




veering as far away from the "Thanksgiving" topic as possible, I got a new phone today and so far I love it. It's not and iPhone or a 3G or whatever...definitely not a Crackberry but I like it so much. It's a LG Lotus. Very cool phone. I am officially finished with Christmas photos and am getting my card orders in place and I'm getting ready to start my Christmas shopping, something I usually have finished already.....I'm a little nervous frankly, I don't usually wait this long.




Big One is getting a four wheeler and the Husband wants a Wii. I'm getting a kitten. A Ragdoll. I've always wanted one and since my 13 year old kitty passed away just after Little One was born in March (he couldn't take the stress either I guess).....I'm ready and since I've always wanted one I'm going to get one. I've always "rescued" in the past so I don't feel bad about it. She is a Blue Mitted Ragdoll and she will come home at 10 weeks old on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas. We are accepting name suggestions if anyone wants to throw any out there....




This is what she will look like.....this is not her....I'll try to get one of her to put up from the girl I'm getting her from but this is exactly what she will look like as a kitten:






and this is what she will resemble as an adult:




So get out your thinking caps and give me some good name suggestions....there may be a prize involved if I pick your name......just sayin......prizes are fun.....

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

funny or die

I'm certain you've all seen this before......even if you have, it's so funny it's worth watching again...and again.....and again. I'm not usually big on viral videos but damn this one is funny. I keep going back and watching it whenever I need a good laugh (which seems to be a lot lately) so I thought if YOU need a laugh too (and who doesn't need a laugh these days.......) click on this:

See more Will Ferrell videos at Funny or Die





told ya it was funny.......


If you can't see the video from my post (it keeps giving me an error message.....then click here)

Monday, November 24, 2008

DAMMIT

Oh. My. Gah.

So flash back to last week when I was going on and on about how Thankful I was about this and that.......HAH.....they'll be none of that funnybusiness today! Oh I'm still Thankful alright....thankful it's finally MONDAY and I'm AT WORK, where if you'll remember I'm not supposed to be today......but damn, I'd rather be here at work than in the 4th layer of Hell I was in all weekend!

Here's how it went down......


Last Thursday I am at work.....you know, working.....okay, blogging and I may have checked FaceCrack once or ten times, but I did do some work too!....and I get a call from Storage that Little One is throwing up all over the place and has diarrhea, has run through all of her Emergency Pants (2 sets of extra clothes) and smells to high heaven of various bodily fluid......yummy....So I leave work and go retrieve my little petri dish and let me just say that they were not exaggerating about the smell.....holy mother of gawd. She looks horrible, just pale as a little ghost and pitiful as she can be. I get all her dirties and gather all the food I sent for her that day that she hadn't eaten and get her out to the car.....and just as I'm buckling the carseat, yep, you guessed it..she pukes all over the place.....all over her, the carseat, my arms, etc. DAMMIT....

This goes on for the rest of the day and into the night and approximately 5 sheet changes, 6 baths and 6 costume changes later....

fast forward to Friday morning when I have to stay home with her because she can't be put in Storage when she's sick....which in turn means I've just lost one of my coveted "days off" for the following week, which is now this week and which is why I'm at work and not enjoying the day off to myself as planned.......but back to the story at hand....

she does start to get semi-better as Friday goes on but she still can't get settled and cannot sleep at all. Not even a little bit. Cannot get comfy. I'm starting to think it might be more than just the virus......I'm starting to think she might have another ear infection and DAMMIT right before surgery Wednesday. No, says the Husband, it's probably just the virus and talked me out of my 'momtuition'.....(note to self......NEVER listen to the Husband) so at about 4:00 am I hear Big One over the monitor......"Mommy!!! Mommy!!! I need you!!! I'm throwing up!!!" DAMMIT! she's got it too.....get up to her room and she and her rug and everything are COVERED....get her into the bathroom and stripped and in the tub while the Husband (yes, he actually got up and helped.....shock......and awe.....) cleans the rug and changes the sheets. Midway through Big One's washdown I start to feel.....shall we say queasy.....and DAMMIT DAMMIT, yep, I've got it too, when suddenly from the other room I hear "Honey, I don't feel so good....you think you could finish this sheet job?" DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT....now the entire family has the stomach virus from hell.

As if this were not bad enough about 6:00am my return-ear-infection-fears turned into reality when Little One's eardrum ruptured and began draining pus while she screamed at the top of her little lung capacity. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. Damn me for not listening to my instincts damn me for not listening to my 'momtuition'. So Saturday morning as soon as the Pediatrician opened (mine is open Saturdays and Sundays for just these situations.....God bless them)....I called and I explained the stomach virus situation and the ear situation and they wanted to see her even though I might spread the creeping crud while I was there....."make sure you have a bucket handy" I say......NOT. KIDDING. So I take her and it is exactly what I told them it was and they gave hear eardrops so the infection didn't spread to the outer ear and an antibiotic. Fine. I go wait in line, feeling like death warmed over and like I might puke all over the Pharmacy Section of Target at any moment and WHY is everyone and their momma getting prescriptions at Target this morning???........get her prescriptions and go home. I put the ear drops in successfully and give her the first dose of antibiotic. Finally, I can lie down for a minute.......or not.....she promptly throws up the antibiotic.....EVERYWHERE.....tell me how 1/2 a tsp turns into 1/2 a gallon in 5 minutes?... sparing the boring details (why now you ask??)....ha ha.......this happens every time I give it to her for all three doses so Sunday morning I call the Pediatrician again and they say what??? say it with me now...."Bring her back".........DAMMIT....so off I go again, still feeling like the ass end of a goat back to the Pediatrician. This time she gets the and I quote "VERY painful" Rocephin shot. Drama all over the Pediatricians office while she screams it out for the entire 20 minutes we wait to make sure there is no reaction. I'm sitting in that little examining room holding my screaming baby not wanting me or her to touch any of the germ infested surfaces in the room all the while trying not to puke......talking myself out of puking.......and the doctor tells me that her ear looks so bad they may not do the tubes on Wednesday......WHA??? NO.....NO NO NO NO NO.....they have to, this baby cannot keep doing this ear infection thing.......they just have to do it! For her sake and mine this cannot be true....

Here's the part of the story that no one in going to believe.......NO ONE......I still can't believe it. When I got home finally from this fiasco Sunday afternoon......I walked in the house and it was clean......not just clean.....SPOTLESS. And Big One was upstairs finishing up her room and the Husband was standing in the laundry room folding his third load of laundry.......AND then went to the grocery store......YES.HE.DID..........and you know what, I didn't even say thank you (patting myself on the back) because they never thank me.....and fair is fair, right?

I know....I can't believe it either.......he must have thought I was serious about that divorce thing I mentioned the other day.....

Update: surgery is ON, thank God........but we do have to start ANOTHER antibiotic tonight just to be sure......and we have to be there (an hour away from home) for her surgery at 6:15 am.....which means we'll have to leave our house at about 4:45 to drop Big One at my Mom's and get there in time........I'll let you know how it goes. Cross your fingers and say a prayer.....

The question is, will I live to see it again?

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Thousand Words Thursday

Cheaper Than Therapy





Me and my BFF's (me on the far left). That was a day that I really needed my BFF's and they were right there for me as always. I love them.......

For more Thousand Words Thursday see Jen at Cheaper Than Therapy!!

Being Thankful

So I'm ready for next week. For many reasons actually. First and foremost being Thanksgiving (NOT)......oh I could lie and get all sappy and tell you wonderful stories about Thanksgivings of yore and although I do usually look forward to Thanksgiving every year, this year with the passing of my Grandmother brings different family dynamics....which I will explain later but for now, onto why I'm excited about next week FOR REAL....

1. I'm off work all week next week.

2. Not only am I off work all week, but Big One and Little One will be respectively in school and daycare even though Mommy is not at work...and YES, YES, Hell-to-the-yes I am still bringing them to school and daycare even though I'll be off....with the exception of Thanksgiving Day of course....I'm not totally devoid of that "family" love (puke)

3. I'm gettin my hair did while I'm off!! This task is well overdue, however when you are sole caregiver to an entire household including a husband you never see, two ungrateful mess making minis and a house that can't seem to stay clean or orderly, getting your hair-do on can be quite a challenge. I never have time OR a babysitter....and who takes their 6 year old and 8 1/2 month old to the salon? NOT ME! But I do love gettin my hair did.....

4. Did I mention the days off work and time to MYSELF??? Time to get my closet that is in DIRE need of some cleaning outage....organized (yeah right)

5. Getting out the Christmas decorations out (puke)

6. Taking Little One to get sewer pipes installed in her ears.......(she's getting tubes Wednesday and yes, I am excited)....call me sadistic but I have good reasons.... I know from prior experience.....3 times....with Big One is no big deal)...but nonetheless I am excited about it because it means less frequent trips to the pediatrician for antibiotics and co-pays and a happier Little One with less ear infections and the crap that goes along with them.

7. I might be able to get my house straightened out....big MIGHT

8. I'm getting a new kitten......WE are getting a new kitten, excuse me (sorry Big One)

There might be more reasons for me to be thankful next week, if I think of any you'll be the first to know.

You know, now that I think about it, once you count out Wednesday for Little One's sewer pipe procedure, Thursday for Thanksgiving and Friday the teacher workday/daycare closed my "week off" has dwindled down to two days, Monday and Tuesday to myself. CRAP...reality bites

Okay, back to why I could not possibly care less about Thanksgiving this year. Well first of all it's not at my Mom's house which is not acceptable. Mom lives a half a mile from me and I don't have to haul half my house over there when I go, she is well equipped for handling and entertaining minis. Second it's at my Aunt's house where if you so much as breathe on anything you will be looked at with shame and disgust. It's like a museum. Third, since my Grandmother is not with us this year, my aunt doesn't feel like she needs to do the regular Thanksgiving dinner. That alone fucks up the whole point of the day for me. I NEED my dressing and mashed potatoes. I look forward to that luscious stuffing cooked in the bird and the most perfect mashed potatoes ever and the broccoli casserole and the melt in your mouth goodies. Not this year. This year we'll have HAM, cause the Aunt doesn't like turkey. Who the fuck has HAM on Thanksgiving.......and I HATE ham by the way......and I don't even like that side of the family. Now I'm forced to have a family meal with the fake niceties and the fake familiness.

Really it's just a wasted day this year....a wasted day off work that could be better spent on my own stuff doing things I want to do for me....not for you or the Husband or the minis...just me. Because isn't Thanksgiving all about being selfish?....no?

and just because I think it's funny as hell I'm going to share this......if you don't already read it

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

it's funny for everyone....one of my favorite blogs

Monday, November 17, 2008

update........

two posts in one night.......aren't you lucky!!

just an update on the GD ear infection front..and since you asked, yes, yes that was Little One you heard screaming like a wild banshee when the doctor tried to look in her ears...we weren't sure if the lovely people in outer Mongolia caught it, but I'm pretty sure they must have. She has a future in acting, we should send her tapes in now. It's almost comical how fast she can turn it on and off....and only 8 months old......I shudder at the thought of future tantrums with this one

Little One is scheduled for tubes next Wednesday morning. I knew it. I saw the proverbial writing on the wall...I've been down this road before. I don't like this road, but it is a better road than constant ear infections and antibiotics.....

I'm rethinking the TIVO watching

I've decided it would be better for us all for me to grab a glass of wine (hate to let that last bit of that bottle go to waste ya know) and a cigarette (GASP!!!......leave me alone I deserve it) and when I'm done with that little slice of heaven.......I'll watch some TIVO until I crash

Parenting.....the Said So way

so I'm not really enjoying this whole single parenting gig I've been forced into, what with the Husband's suck ass new work hours. You know, it's not like I wasn't already doing everything anyway, but somehow it seems like I can't get ahead of myself and everywhere I turn there is something to be done....a mess to be cleaned up, a load of laundry to do, a dish to be washed, a bottle to be washed, a bottle to be made, a bed to be made, a bathroom to clean, a floor to be vacuumed, bills to be paid, work to be on time for, homework to help with, baths to give, stories to be read, dinner to be made, dinner to be put away, mouths to feed, minis to take care of, etc.....ALL BY MYSELF.....which means that during this time of year when I am extremely busy with photography work where there are consults and pictures to be taken and pictures to be edited (which takes time........of which I have NONE) and clients to advise and cards to be picked out and announcements to work up and orders to be sent in and delivered, etc, that I have even less of myself to give.

I feel like my life is running in circles and I'm getting a little of this done and a smattering of that done......but nothing completed, at least not to my standards. I am running myself completely into the ground and I have no time to myself. "that's what you get for having minis".....I know, I know. I'm trying here......really trying. Running out of fuel fast and hard, and hanging by a thread or two but I'm trying. I didn't sign up for this.....I think someone is playing a cruel joke on me. I'm not sure my parenting is up to par....but you know what, they are fed, clothed, educated, healthy girls........so what if they are neglected emotionally.....kidding....sort of

Big One learned to ride her bike yesterday. Yay Big One! So I know you are picturing the Husband running up and down the street behind Big One helping her learn, cheering her on...."you're doing great Big One!" "almost, sweetheart...you've almost got it!".......what a proud moment in parenting, right?! Your eldest daughter has learned to ride her bike.......FINALLY. . (insert record screeching sound effect here)

Notsomuch

What actually happened is this:

Big One has been trying on and off for the past year to learn to ride her bike. She just could not do it with the Husband or with me. We tried continually. We ran...we caught the falling mini...we encouraged....we were exhausted. So the bike was put away to collect dust in the garage until yesterday when she decided she was ready to try it again..........soooooooo The Husband takes Big One, her bicycle, her helmet and a pat on the back over to the neighbor's house, drops her off and 20 minutes later she comes riding up the street on her bicycle...."I did it" "I'm doing it!! I'm riding my bike"

Yep, the neighbor taught her to ride her bike and in like 5 minutes........

We are so proud......of her......not us........we suck.......this is just MORE proof of how bad we suck!

So cheers Neighbor Dude, we couldn't have done it without you. Thanks for taking our parent cards and flushing them down the toilet.......

Sigh......

Off to try to catch a minute of 30million hours of TIVO'd programming before I crash.....

Friday, November 14, 2008

Wal Mart Bingo

someone sent this to me.....









hey wait a minute......I buy beer and diapers in the same trip to WalMart....who doesn't??

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Thousand Words Thursday

Cheaper Than Therapy



My very good friend just celebrated her 5th wedding anniversary in the Cayman Islands. Big One was the flower girl in her wedding 5 years ago today in Ocoee Florida. It was a beautiful wedding out by the water.......and it was Florida in November......who can ask for more.....


So in honor of my friend........today's Thousand Words Thursday is Big One as an 18month old Flower Girl......

For more Thousand Words Thursday see my girl Jen at Cheaper than Therapy!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

it's baaaaaaack...

again with the ear infection? Seriously?!

I leave work AGAIN early yesterday to pick up the minis for a lab visit at the pediatrician. Little One to get her monthly Synagis vaccine and flu shot and Big One for her second Flu Mist. The pediatrician decided to check out Little One because of the recent ear issues and chest infection to give her the all-clear for the flu shot....lo and behold the GD ear infection is BACK....AGAIN...

FUCK!... I say....OUT LOUD in the pediatrician's office......

Mom of the Year.....right here....

We see the ENT on Monday. I don't know why I'm shocked, I've got allergies that require weekly allergy injections and Big One had (is growing out of...thankfully) allergies and constant ear infections as a baby. She ended up with 3 sets of tubes and adenoids removed and finally outgrew it. Extremely small ear canals run in my family big time.

De ja vu

sick of the sick....

All of this late-afternoon early-evening doctor visiting with no Husband to watch after Little Sick One meant Big One missed Daisy's (Girl Scouts) last night. Holy motherbitch you would have thought someone took her out back and shot her puppy in the head (relax, we don't have a gun....or a puppy...). It was that kind of drama. The kind this Mom wasn't into last night. It was not a good night at the Said So house.......but there haven't been a lot of good nights for me in, let's see, how old is Little One....8 months

I am completely over the pacifier round-up at all hours of the night. She CAN get it in herself now, she just doesn't do it. It's more fun to make Mommy insane I guess......she's close to successful at forcing me into Dorthea Dix

I remember this stage with Big One.....how I'd wished maybe I'd just let her suck her thumb instead....and before you launch the 'thumb sucking' 'pacifier' orthodontic brigade.....I KNOW

but dammit I'm tired and it might be worth the $5000 for braces later for a little sleep tonight...

Friday, November 7, 2008

Friday Fragments

Friday Fragments?

it's Friday and I'm feeling pretty good about life today....so how about Fantastic Friday!!

Buckle up friends.....here we go!

1. We just got the most FANTASTIC news about my Dad's cancer today and that's why I'm on cloud 9 this afternoon......there is no bursting my bubble today!!!

2. I knew it was going to be a FANTASTIC day when I got in my car this morning and it was sitting on FULL.....the Husband took it last night when he got home from work while I was sleeping and filled it up.....he does good things SOMETIMES....

3. I got the primo parking spot in front of my favorite cupcake-for-lunch Cafe.....and yes, once again I had a cupcake for lunch.....what can make a Friday more FANTASTIC than a damn cupcake for lunch!!

4. After a solid year of dating I finally met my brother's mystery girlfriend.......now I know why she's been a mystery.....kidding.....sort of

5. I have on the most FANTASTIC looking shoes today.....key word there is LOOKING, cause they ain't FEELING so fantastic!

6. I have 3 shoots this weekend for Christmas pictures......much needed income....money is ALWAYS FANTASTIC!

7. I wish I were more ambitious and had more time on my hands to be part of these bloggy fun Secret Santas and Preppy Decoration Swap things.....

8. Little One has been sleeping until about 7:00am........does this mean I will actually get to sleep until 7:00am tomorrow? That would be FANTASTIC!!....I'm not holding my breath though

9. Dammit, I've got 3 shoots this weekend for Christmas pictures and I haven't got my shit together...not so FANTASTIC, but see #6

10. I am not going to get all political on you now.....but I think the election outcome is FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC!!!!!

for more Friday Fragments, see Mrs.4444!!

Happy Friday Friends!

Thousand Words Thursday.....the Friday Edition

okay, so I'm a day late and a dollar short......what's new people


Cheaper Than Therapy
My favorite picture EVER of Big One......and my favorite that I've taken ever.......I'm feeling nostalgic this afternoon

Check out Jen at Cheaper than Therapy for more Thousand Words Thursday!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

FaceCrack Chronicles -part II

Sorry for the lack of attention to the blog this week.....feel like I've been apologizing for that a lot lately. My mind has been otherwise occupied with cancer and work and minis and I have not had any good or uplifting posts roaming around the old brain this week.

so how about another FaceCrack Chronicles?

Okay so I'm on FaceCrack as you all know by now. For a while I was all about FaceCrack and spent a lot of time on it and added new friends and did a lot of catching up. Left and right I'm adding friends and decorating Christmas trees and starting farms (wha?) and receiving Flair and bumper stickers and passing drinks and being super poked (and not in THAT way....get your mind out of the gutter). I open my email one day and there is a "friend" request.....so I go to FaceCrack thinking its going to be another "friend" from high school or something. It is NOT a friend from high school or a new friend or even an old friend, it's not a friend at all......it's this guy I hooked up with in 1993, went out with him 3 or 4 times till he started getting all attached and wanting to be my boyfriend and I quickly left skid marks in the other direction and never talked to him again......yep, he found me......HOW he found me I will never know but he found me. You see my name on FaceCrack is my married name, not my maiden name so I haven't a clue as to how he found me. He isn't "friends" with any of my "friends" on there so I know that's not how.

and since you asked, yes, I did click 'ignore'. A week or so later it shows up again.....so and so requests you as a 'friend'.......OMG......he's stalking me. I'm a little worried about this FaceCrack stalker. I mean I don't think he'd do anything and he certainly has no idea where I live or anything.....the interwebz is a very scary little place. A wonderful place and FaceCrack is addictive for a minute but something like that will make you stop and think for at least 30 seconds before logging back on......but it hasn't stopped me from commenting and messaging on FaceCrack at all.......I need help

And for those of you who read my FaceCrack Chronicles mystery blogger post on My Therapy when Tena was on her extended vacay the update is that she continued adding my 'friends' one at a time right on down the list. The kicker was her requesting to be friends with my brother.......yes she did

say a prayer for my Dad bloggy friends........we need as many as we can get

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

sweet dreams.....or not

(note to self: Don't let Mother In Law babysit on a school night....or any night that involves putting children to bed......or ever)

so last night was Football 201. My Mom and I and a couple girlfriends go every year. There is a Football 101 that precedes it. For those who don't know, I am a football freak. I love football and I love love love my Panthers. Football 101 is essentially a "class" for women who want to learn more about football so they can enjoy it more with their husbands or whoever....and by "class" I mean leave work early and go to the stadium, drink champagne while milling around the team store doing my favorite pastime (shopping!) then escorted up to the club level where you have a wonderful catered buffet dinner and all the beer and wine you care to drink and 4 or 5 of the players come and talk and answer questions and sign autographs, etc. for the next 3 hours. It probably sounds like a big yawn for those that don't like football, but trust me, I've been going every year for 10 years and it's so much fun. Well, Football 201 takes it a step further, they talk more about the CBA and scouting and recruiting and the NFL and all kinds of interesting stuff. If you have a team in your area, I think almost all of the organizations have a program like this.....I highly recommend it even if you aren't a football lover.

Back to my story......so now that the Husband has these inane new hours my built in babysitter was gone.....SHIT....now I need a sitter on a school night AND the sitter will have to put the minis to bed. This will not be an easy find. To my relief my mother in law came through at the last minute and offered to do it (for $50.......I'm not kidding)........but screw it, I needed a sitter and didn't want to miss my well deserved and once a year opportunity. I rushed out of work early (even though it was a HORRIBLE day and I have too much on my brain to even enjoy the night) and picked up the minis at Storage, took them home and got everything ready and laid out. I fixed bottles for Little One and dinner to microwave for Big One, there was no school the next day so we didn't have to worry about homework. I laid out pj's for both minis and had everyone situated, Little One takes a bottle and goes to bed about 7:00pm, every night, without fail, Big One can just get ready for bed and will watch TV in her room until 8 or 8:30 and go to sleep. I would be home at 9:30 and the woman has had 4 kids of her own, how hard could it be?? Well, I'm glad you asked.........apparently pretty fucking hard.

When I got home last night at 9:30...........Big One is sitting downstairs in the sun room eating candy corn and watching TV....."she didn't want supper".........Little One has 'just' fallen asleep on the couch....WHA??? It's 9:30....she goes to bed at 7:00......

"She wanted to go to bed at 6:00, and didn't want her bottle, so I let her go to bed at 6:00 and then she woke up again and I still couldn't get her to take her bottle and she never went back to sleep until just a minute ago"

Well of-fucking-course she didn't want her bottle at 6:00......she just HAD a bottle at 3:30 at Storage. She doesn't eat again until she goes to bed...at 7 or 7:30......and how did she 'want' to go to bed at 6? Did she tell you she wanted to go to bed? Did the 8 month old baby say Grandma I can't take it anymore, I've got to go to bed now........and why is she back downstairs? "she was rolling around in the crib so I brought her back down".....she's a baby, a child, a little person......they roll, they kick, they flail in their sleep.....haven't you done this before or were your 4 raised by each other?

And what's the deal with Big One? Why is she up? Why is she eating candy corn? Why is she up? Why is she still clothed? And why is she up?

it was a long night in the Said So house and I'm too tired for this working business today. I fear she has permanently fucked up my nighttime routine with the minis......I'll keep you abreast of the situation. I'm sure you can't wait for part 2 of this gripping tale.......

is it 4:30 yet?

if you haven't already...........GO VOTE!!

Friday, October 31, 2008

BOO!

Big One as Strawberry 2002


Little One as same Strawberry 2008


Big One this year




Friday Fragments

Friday Fragments?

so last week I missed Friday Fragments....or was that the week before? Oh hell it might have been both weeks but I'm back today on this Friday that happens to also be Halloween and this week lets call it Fuck it Friday!

let's get this party started!

1. It is Halloween and being the lousy unprepared mother that I am I haven't quite finished preparing everything for Big One's costume....I know.....(getting ass in gear).......well yes, I guess the Husband could have helped me out but he's probably busy taking a nap

2. Just found out yesterday that the Husband has new work hours starting Monday.....3pm - 11pm........this means even LESS help than I already get. No Daddy at dinner, No Daddy at bedtime, No afternoon 4-wheeler rides, NO help with homework, NO help for Mommy (not much change there) and the kids get to spend exactly ZERO time with Daddy during the week.....if I'm going to be a single parent I should just make it official.....I'm just sayin

3. I have a bad attitude this week and the Husband is my whipping post......(no shit Sherlock)

4. Why is there no Spiced Pumpkin scent at Bath and Body this year? Those other pumpkin scents they have just don't compare and dammit why can't SOMETHING go right for me??

5. This Christmas is going to be very sparse for everyone but the minis. I'm sad, I love Christmas (usually)

6. Geezus H. Christ I'm ready to be done with this fucking election.......I voted early THANK GOD!~

7. Why is it that when we are outside in the garage waiting for Big One's ride in the morning she is laughing and playing around with me and as soon as the car pulls in the driveway she won't even look at me and tell me goodbye nevermind give me a kiss.......she's only 6 for God's sake.....does it really start this early?

8. Tena boo'd me so I'm going to BOO some bloggy friends too......look for my BOO in your comments.......

9. Today officially ends my pity party so look for happy sappy jovial fun posts next week....don't necessarily look for them here....but look for them nonetheless..........kidding.......I'll be better next week.....maybe......no, I will....pinky swear

10. Thank you for my book suggestions. I am making a download list now. In the meantime I was forced to download and listen to Nights in Rodanthe and now my ears are bleeding.....

This has not been the best week ever for sure but definately I've had worse. Suck.It.Up Mrs. Said So! I'm mostly ready for the weekend and almost ready for tonight. But I've got a couple bottles of good wine and a pack of cigs hidden in the freezer. I've got a fantastic halloween treat bowl full to the brim with candy for dressed up minis tonight. So to the rest of this day and the end of this week I say FUCK IT!

This is where I usually say "for more Friday Fragments please check out Mrs.4444" but today just go over there and give her a virtual hug........she's having a worse week than me and is suffering a loss that is unimaginable....

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Thousand Words Thursday

Cheaper Than Therapy



I'm not certain what it is about it, but I just love this photo of Big One (at 3 years old).......I always have. It's the expression in her eyes I think...makes me want to know what's going on in that cute little head



for more Thousand Words Thursday see my girl Jen at Cheaper than Therapy

husband for sale

cheap....bargain basement pricing....hell, I'll even consider a swap

my ad reads:
Husband for sale. He does not cook, he does not clean, he does not do laundry, he helps as little as humanly possible with minis. He does occasionally go to the grocery store......and he's a pro at nap-taking. He does not make beds or clean showers. He does not wash bottles or make bottles. He does NOT get up with babies during the night. All offers considered.......

Here's how my day went yesterday:
I woke up at 4:30am yesterday, got up got ready got minis ready and fed. Made bottles and labeled for Little One's Storage and made lunch and packed book bag for Big One. Waited outside (32degrees and windy this morning) with Big One for her ride, came back in and packed up my shit for work, got Little One in the car, stopped to fill my gas hog with fuel, went through Chick fil A for a Sausage and Cheese Bagel with Hashbrowns and a LARGE Dr. Pepper. Dropped Little One at Storage, went to work, had meetings all day and a photo shoot at lunch, find out Dad has cancer, freak out, stopped at grocery, picked up the minis at Storage, went by my Mom's and got her mail and fed her cats,went to Party City to get an eye patch for Carson (pirate day at school tomorrow) with both minis in tow. Finally got home last night at 6:30- just in time to get in the door and get Big One started on homework and fed. Little One starting nightly bedtime meltdown cause Mommy obviously doesn't move fast enough. Get upstairs and give Little One a bath before meltdown gets out of control, get her out of the bath and pj'd up, give her the antibiotic, sit down in the glider (ahhhh, finally sitting down) to give her the bottle and the antibiotic comes back up onto her, into her hair, the glider, the pillow, me, my hair, my jeans, my shirt (did it multiply in 2 minutes????)......get BACK up, throw her back in the tub, re-pj'd and now we are in full blown meltdown wanting to go to bed so I finally get Little One fed and bedded down, come downstairs and start laundry, washing bottles, making bottles for the next day, do the dishes in the sink, get Big One's homework checked, get her upstairs in bath, come back downstairs and there is my husband......who did not get up at 4:30, who did not work at ALL yesterday, who actually did NOTHING other than recline and watch tv with an occasional nap yesterday....and wants to know what's for dinner....Oh Yes He Did

can you see the circles I am running in? can you see these children of yours (they are always his when they make me crazy) pulling me in two directions? can you see the laundry that needs doing? how about the dishes in the sink? can you see those? can you see the bed that didn't get made this morning because YOU were still in it (this drives me INSANE.....I cannot, cannot, just CANNOT get in a bed that isn't made) when I left for work? can you see ME in a flurry of activity and aggravation all around you? can you see that I got bad news today and can't even sit down long enough to absorb it? can you SEE that I could use a little help?

Cheap......I will sell him very very very cheap

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

party on

so I've been MIA for the past few days and there are good reasons which are forthcoming, but first.....a couple of (very bad quality, but all I have on this computer....) photos of some of the finished pumpkins from the Pumpkin Carving Party. This is about half of them.





I'll post the rest when I get them off my camera at home. This came from a neighbors camera....the same neighbor that is a little obsessed with Barack Obama and made his pumpkin into O'Bumpkin and has him proudly situated in the front yard on a hay bale with all of his Obama '08 political signage.......he even changed one to read O'Bumpkin '08, it's cute





I can't show all the pictures I have from the party because there are lots of people and lots of minis that don't belong to me and the parents might object to my posting photos of their minis on the interwebz......so I'll share these that the neighbor emailed and give you an outstanding description instead!


As I described before we have this Annual Pumpkin Carving Party at our house every year. This year was the 8th Annual Pumpkin Carving at the Said So House. Every year we make the invitations and Big One and the Husband ride the four wheeler around the neighborhood delivering some of them while the others get mailed to friends that don't live in the hood. In the next couple weeks we start getting out our Carving Party supplies that are stored on large shelves in big plastic containers in my garage. There are books and books and pages and pages and stacks and stacks and tons and tons (you get the idea) of patterns and buckets of carving tools, knives, scrapers, scoopers, big saws, little saws, medium saws, pokers, scissors, markers, hammers, etc. We also have a big container of paints and brushes and kid patterns for the little ones.

We then go on table roundup which involves making trips to several neighbors and my mother's house to get tables. We usually have about eight tables. One for food, one for patterns and tools and the rest to first eat on and then carve on... After we retrieve the tables we fit them with plastic tableclothes and situate them in the offset garage. One roll of paper towels per table. Next we go to the pumpkin farm that always donates our pumpkins (free pumpkins ya'll......it's for the kids......all for the kids) and pick up as many as we need, which is usually around 30 or so, bring them home and set them on the ground lining the back wall of the garage. Next, Big One and I make treat bags for all the small partygoers and put them in my cutesy little treat bag basket, well, it's not actually little, its really pretty damn big. The day of the party we prepare food (and by prepare I mean go to the grocery store and buy potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans and cole slaw premade from the deli and potato chips, dip, drinks, juice boxes, water, buns, hot dogs, hot dog chili and condiments) and roll out the coolers full of ice and drinks into the garage. Usually several of the guests bring cookies and cupcakes so I don't have to do dessert too. Then we go inside and I outfit the minis in their cutest Halloween outfits (not costumes......outfits...you know Halloween tshirts and leggings and denim mini skirts with Halloween bows in the hair and all) and then I put on my own Halloween t-shirt over my long sleeve white Gap Favorite Tee (in size Medium Tall.....and not because I'm tall remember, but because I like them long and they do shorten after washed) and my most favorite Hudson jeans. Then we turn on the music open up the pool room (the Husband has a man-cave complete with pool table, darts, poker table, Direct-TV and surround sound with couches, billiards chairs, fridge and heat/air) above the garage......I'll post a few pictures one day and then grill the dogs and wait for the screaming minis and beer toting parents to arrive.

It is the highlight of Halloween for our neighborhood and always a big turn out. This year we had 30 pumpkins carved. There were probably easily 35 kids there including babies and all the adults that go with said children. There was a lot of adult beverage consumption, a lot of pumpkin carving, a whole lot of hide and seek, trampoline jumping and swingset swinging, a lot of eating, some more adult beverage consumption and a general good time had by all.

We do it every year.....ya'll wanna come next year?

and P.S.

I have been on hiatus because my Little One has ANOTHER ear infection......she sees the ENT next week to talk tubes....ALREADY....she's 8 months this Saturday. Poor baby. My Big One had her first set at 6 months....second set at 1 1/2 with adenoid removal and third and final set at 3....she's now 6 1/2 and has had no ear infections since the last set. I hope we aren't going down the same road with Little One.....I'd like to make a detour and go a different way if we are!

I'm thinking of running away again.......these minis are way more work than they ought to be...can't they just look cute and be happy and not be so damn demanding?




 
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