In the Trenches

2010-11-28T15:56:00.000-05:00

My beautiful little flower turned 5 this week. I thoughtfully bought her a bouquet of lillies. They were more money than I wanted to spend for a last minute gift, but I will tell you...they smell absolutely amazing. While I did complain about the expense. It was well worth it.
So Happy 5th birthday to my baby. So beautiful and bright.

On Chaz...

2010-11-26T20:52:00.000-05:00

This is the first post containing a conversation between my son and I.
Me: Where are the batteries to the remote?
Chaz: I threw them out.
Me:(of course I asked) Why?
Chaz: Because they were awesome!

My Bro In Law...

2010-11-21T23:00:00.000-05:00

As I sit here eating my Spicy Nacho Doritos and drinking my last Mike's light Hard Lemonade, my brother in law is in his 10th hour of his Iron Man race. I have been monitoring his stats through each leg of the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run.
I am so proud to have a true Iron Man in my family.

Update... He finished in 13 hours, 44 minutes, 52 seconds. CRAZY COOL!!

On Hub...

2010-11-21T22:26:00.000-05:00

Not to downgrade Hub's race this weekend. He ran an obstacle course on Sunday, called the Tough Mudder. Rightfully so. I had to literally dispose of the washcloth he use to clean his muddied body. He walked the plank and jumped 15 foot into a lake of freezing water. He ran up water soaked hills. He ran through fire...again. I say again because he ran this same race at a different location in May 2010. But nothing say Tough Mudder like the final obstacle which was running through a bunch of yellow electrified cords. Yup...you heard me right ELECTRIFIED!
He says he will run again. CRAZY right!!

2010-10-28T10:44:00.000-04:00

The best thing just happened to me.
My daughter, the wanna be ballerina, told me she has learned all she needs to know about ballet and would no longer be requiring the classes that I and Chaz are tortured by every Thursday at 11 am. Not only am I saving some dough, it also means I will not have to hound my family, friends and co workers to buy cakes and pies being sold via fundraiser to support the traveling team at the ballet company.
I do declare this is a miracle.
p.s. That is LF's new line. "I do declare!". Whenever she feels the need to announce something, be it a potty break, a want for something or an order given to Chaz it is always followed by or preceded by "I do declare." And yes she bats her long lashes and pouts just like Scarlett O'Hara.

Attack of the spider....

2010-10-26T21:35:00.000-04:00

I am back on the naughty list. I recently was switched to the good side because of the full moon and the amount of complete craziness that I am subjected to while in it's presence. But today I did something or rather did not do something that pushed me back to the other side.
While waiting in the customer service line at Target today I witnessed a small spider making it's way down a springy web. It was stopping and starting and bobbing and weaving in the light breezes of the passersby. Almost as if it was waiting to hitch a ride. And for the most part he just lingered there. I debating in my own mind if I should warn people as they were whizzing past but it became almost a sort of game until...WHOSH!
He was wisked away without a notice and carried to the register area on the shoulder of some poor unknowing CSR.
I should have warned her. Well Carma is a bitch and I'm sure I'll get mine.
I did leave my sunroof open under a tree tonight. I'm sure some species of creepy crawler is waiting to attack as I type.

The lunchmeat counter...

2010-10-19T20:45:00.000-04:00

I have a secret fear of the lunchmeat counter. As I round the beginning aisles of the supermarket I scope out the line trying to decide if I should rush over immediately or wait until the turn on the next aisle. Once the decision to proceed has been made as I roll up to the glass case a new dilemma arises. Should I take a number ticket or take my chances that I am the next in line? Today I chose not to take a ticket. The customer before me was well into her order and I was the only one besides her waiting. Until another lover of the luncheon meat popped up and made the choice,rather quickly, to grab a ticket. Now I was sweating...literally biting my nails. I was reciting in my head my "what's right is right" speech when the counter girl said "Who's next?"
"Ahhhhhhh", I said to myself. But alas the gentleman of course admitted that I was waiting first.
All I could think was,"Yeah, your lucky mister, you have no idea what kind of vocabulary words I was considering in my head."
What's wrong with me?

Cape May Zoo

2010-10-18T08:00:00.002-04:00

I can not say enough about this wonderful,free zoo. What! Yup, I said FREE! They have a lion,a tiger,camels,reptiles,bison,a bird atrium,petting zoo and much more. My favorite is the free range, huge area for the three giraffe and zebra and bongo's to roam as they please. By the way Bongo's are a brown sort of zebra. Not a drum and certainly not a pair of jeans... Ha!
So if you are ever in need of a great way to occupy the kiddies, do not count this out. We had a wonderful 3 hours there.
By the way the zoo is supported by donations only. It's still a rather cheap day.
www.capemaycountygov.net

On marathon running...

2010-10-17T19:47:00.000-04:00

Hub and I signed up in July to run a half marathon toady...13 miles. And crazy enough I was planning to finish what I started, but I got sick about three weeks ago and my training went down the tubes. So today Hub and I ran a 10k...6.2 miles. I came in 94th out of 217 women. I gotta tell ya I am pretty proud of myself. Although it was a liitle discouraging when we crossed the 2 mile marker and the first marathoners were running through their 9th mile marker with a police escort because they were running so fast.
I would like to now thank my husband for asking me to join him and keeping me on track.
My new goal is to leave him in the dust next time instead of the other way around!

On LF.

2010-09-20T20:54:00.000-04:00

While watching our last episode of Backyardigans tonight, LF randomly and not to anyone in particular says this:
"When I was in my mom's belly I was wondering who was going to be my Mommy and I was thinking...hmm...I hope it is Amanda."

Really and truly I do not know where this originated. Thoughts please!

On Hub...

2010-07-30T08:24:00.000-04:00

Last night Hub called me at work and simply stated that he felt like spoiling his children tonight so he was taking them to Toys R Us.
Isn't that just the best thing ever. I hope they do not forget.

You think you know someone...

2010-07-28T10:22:00.000-04:00

So apparently I married a Jersey Hick. I thought six years ago the man I walked down the aisle with was a typical township guy. But alas I was mistaken. He hunts. He fishes. He wears John Deere hats. What?!? Oh yeah, yesterday he came home sporting his very own bright white, bright yellow and BRIGHT GREEN John Deere hat.

So I asked,"What's with the hat?" He replied,"Oh I finally found the store. Don't you remember how I said I always wanted a John Deere hat?" I say,"Ummmm NO!" He says, " Oh yeah, I always wanted one, I just wish they would have had one that was fitted, you know."

The conversation then trailed off to, I don't even know what. As I poured a huge glass of Pinot Grigio, I honestly could not take my eyes of the love of my life wearing a freaking John Deere hat.

My Soundtrack...

2010-07-20T22:49:00.000-04:00

Recently while at a "Girls Night Out" I was asked this question, "What is one thing that no one here knows about you?" My reply? "I want my own reality TV show!" This is my desire only because I envy how the lives on TV are set to music. From Kate plus Eight to Big Brother to Old School to Hangover(my personal fav), their moments are made all the better because of the music played in the background.
Tonight I was driving home on Route 42, We Will Rock You on the radio. Although that song was the theme song at every High School football game. Also it is a song that Linda Ronstadt remade into a lullaby and I loved singing it to my son. This song always brings me back to riding in my best friend's brother's ugly, beat up, ripped seats, rusty old 1970 something Volvo. I don't know why. So I cranked up the radio and returned to being a 12 year old girl belting out Queen with my best friend.

ps: If I could figure out how to copy and paste with Hub's new MacBook, I would post a Queen video. Maybe Thursday.

I was running...

2010-07-14T21:51:00.000-04:00

When do you qualify as a runner? Is it when you run on occasion to lose the extra beer pounds gained over the weekend? Is it when you, on a consistent basis, run on the treadmill at the gym? Or is it when you run your ass off for 4.44 miles, cry at the end of your accomplishment and sign up for your first marathon all within 2 hours of each other?
Tonight because of the said events I celebrate in my mind the day I became a runner. I never used to like running. I especially did not want to do it for fun. But now I'm committed and signed up for the Atlantic City Marathon on October 17, 2010. Get this literally not even 30 minutes after I pressed the bubble confirming my spot in the race, my bro-in-law called and wanted Hub and I to join him and my sis in law in a race in February. Crazy right?

Tonight I bask in my own sense that I am a runner! Anyone want to join me?

A quick conversation with my daughter...

2010-07-14T21:10:00.000-04:00

Me: Come on, hurry up and get dressed.
LF: I'm in slooowwww potion. I'm in slooowwww potion.

I did not have it inside me to correct her.

Haiku to you!

2010-06-30T08:05:00.000-04:00

A husband betrayed
His cup o joe sits cooling
Wife has TWO coffee's

My Favorite Things...

2010-06-27T13:20:00.000-04:00

I just returned from possibly the greatest food shopping experience EVER! Upon persuasion from some friends I tried the newest trend in food ...Online shopping. On Friday night I sat at the computer clicked on and added items to my shopping list on ShopRite's online store. This morning when the sale day changed I placed the order and scheduled a pick up time. I recieved a phone call from shoprite with some items that they did not have in the store and question of what I wanted for replacements. I literally buckled the kids in the car, paid for my items, an employee loaded my car and I was home with a $170 shopping trip in 20 min. Ummmm....no brainer right. LF said on our way home,"Hey mom I thought we were going food shopping." I replied,"We did!!! YAY!!!!
So I highly recommend this service...especially if you have children, are prego(It's freakin hot outside)or simply are in a I'm-feeling-lazy-and-don't-want-to-stand-in-line-at-the-checkout-in-the-food-market mood.
Here's the linkShopRite from Home

Chats with Chaz...

2010-06-22T08:46:00.000-04:00

A couple of weekends ago my father thought it was time to teach our little stud how to whoo the ladies. So he started drilling Chaz to say "Hey Babe" at every young lady, old lady, toddler, baby, teenager, what have you that walks by him. Usually we have to remind him of his pick up line by asking " Hey Chal what do you say to the girls?" But yesterday all the hard work paid off. While driving through our development he spotted a bunch of honies walking and shouted from the car in a rather loud tone "HEY BABES!!"

I'm just happy that the windows were rolled up.

Conversations with my daughter...

2010-06-22T08:11:00.000-04:00

Let me set this up...
LF was laying on my bed watching Imagination Movers this morning at around 6:30. I am in my bathroom trying to wake up enough to start getting ready for my day.

LF: Mom come in here I want to sing you a song.
Me: In a minute I just want to finish brushing my teeth.
LF: No right now it's important and I think you are going to want to hear this
LF: (As I now stand next to her jealous that she is sprawled out on my bed still in her PJ's) She begins singing... Choco-choco latte, Choco-choco latte,Choco-choco latte.All the while she is stirring an imaginary pot.
Me: Nice, yes definitely an important statement that I most certainly could not have gone about my day without hearing.

Was she suggesting that I looked like crap and needed a Choco latte? Or was she delirious from waking up at 6:02am?

Go Bananas...

2010-06-21T14:30:00.000-04:00

So if you read my earlier post you'll know that I learned, "Bananas are bad luck for fishermen". Hub never asked me if I had one. Maybe he assumed I knew about the wacky superstition. I just figured maybe we would like to share one of nature's sweetest treats while fishing. Well, Hub was talking to a friend when he found out I had the horrid thing on the boat. His friend actually asked for Hub to give him a courtesy call when we arrived safely at dock he was so sure we would not make it back without being towed. So here it is...the story behind the legend...it's rather boring so don't blame me...

One superstition is that boats carrying bananas don't catch fish. The origin of this belief dates back to the Caribbean trade of the 1700s. The wooden sailing boats of that time had to move quickly to deliver bananas before they spoiled, and fishermen had a hard time trolling for fish on such fast-moving boats Another superstition that originated during that time is that bananas will cause a boat to sink. This belief developed after many boats never made it to their destinations, and all of the doomed boats were carrying bananas.
One of the creepier superstitions is that banana cargo could actually kill a man. In actuality, fermenting bananas do give off methane gas, which could conceivably get trapped below deck and kill any crew members unlucky enough to be working in the hold. Another popular theory was that venomous spiders hitched rides in bananas, and once those bananas were on board, the boat would be host to any number of lethal critters.
And then, of course, last but certainly not least...that banana peels cause crew members to slip and fall on deck

So there you have it and I think we proved all the theories wrong.

Things I learned this weekend...

2010-06-21T13:20:00.000-04:00

First of all a big THANK YOU to my parents for hosting the first of hopefully many sleepovers with their grandchildren. I remember having sleepovers at my grandmother's, we would bake, color, paint, and play dress up. She had the best shoe collection. For some odd reason what I remember most is eating vanilla ice cream with pretzels. Like it was a treat to have the pretzels. I guess it was just something that only she did for us to make it special.
This sleepover allowed for Hub and I to have quality time just the two of us. So we headed down the shore and were on the boat by 10:30am. We actually can call ourselves fishermen instead of boaters. We caught ten flounder (all too small to keep) and about 25 crabs with about 20 being big enough to bring home and eat.
Some things that I learned from our adventures...

Never...ever bring a banana on a boat. Apparently it is bad luck. I did not find this out until the end of our trip when he was telling a prior fish tale. Actually I think Hub should consider bringing a banana each time because this was the only successful trip so far this season. And there has been many.
Don't listen to other fisherman. The bait shop guy and the marina guy both said that we were wasting our time and we would catch nothing. Another "boater" who was obviously jealous of us crabbing said as he cruised by that we would catch more green flies than crabs. Huh...guess we showed him.
When anchored up in a 20 foot center console boat, don't believe for a second that the jerk in the 40 foot cigarette boat cruising at about 40 mph is going to slow down when they pass you. They do not care about you, your crab lines or the beer that you have sitting on the console just above your bag of snacks and spare clothes.
I can not play the tambourine. I actually knew this prior to Hub coaxing me into joining the one man band at the bar. In my defense he was playing It's the end of the World as we know it by REM. Who plays the tambourine to that song anyways. Right?

So thanks to Hub for spending another weekend with you boring wife and again thanks to the Rents for watching the brats :)

More of my thoughts...

2010-06-13T19:44:00.000-04:00

I have totally come down with the Beiber Fever. I love him.
In case you do not know who that is, it's Justin Beiber. I don't know what it is, but he is like my NKOTB. I watched his appearance on SNL. It made me love him more. He actually helped me run 3 miles on the treadmill the other day. What! What!

Conversations with my daughter...

2010-06-13T16:33:00.001-04:00

Hub called home a couple of night ago to check in. This is the conversation between him and LF...
LF: (I handed her the phone to answer when I saw it was Hub calling) Hi Daddy!!!
Hub: Hey babe what's up?
LF: Mommy's not here. Gram and Pop are watching us, Mommy is at the store.
Hub: Oh are you having fun?
Me in the background: What? I'm here! I wish I was at the store but at least give me the credit.
Hub and I laughed at this for a while. But then panic set in and I started to wonder...should I just laugh it off as I have a silly, little 4 yo, should I do some reprimanding for making up a false story, or should I be nervous that at such a tender age she is already concocting lies about whom is in the house without even a second thought.

My thoughts...

2010-06-13T16:05:00.001-04:00

Sitting in my garage, on this Sunday afternoon, the smell of freshly fallen rain, beer in hand...My thoughts are this...
     I love my life.
     As I said on Hub's boat last weekend, referring to my seasickedness...I do better when I'm drinking.
     I love Hub. Last night he drove home from a 4 day golf trip to Myrtle Beach. And although at times I wanted to murder him for leaving me home with a 4 and 2 year old, I'm happy he is home safe. He drove through the night and arrived at 2:30am...and then drove from our home to A.C. to pick up his truck so we did not have to deal with it today. At 2:30 am I did hear the slamming of car doors i.e. a friend picking up his vette that was parked in my driveway for 4 days, I did not know that Hub was with him and drove to AC. I was literally up from 2:30 am to 4am just waiting for the troopers to show up relaying bad news. Sure do wish Hub would have had his phone. But alas he arrived home safe and sound.
      I HATE MYRTLE BEACH!
      LF is possibly one of the funniest 4 year old's I know...find out why on my next post.

Toot, Toot...

2010-05-19T11:18:00.000-04:00

Not to toot my own horn but I accomplished something that no one else has. I obtained the American College of Radiology accreditation for scanning Magnetic Resonance Angiograms on a mid field magnet. Mine is the only Hitachi unit in the country. Yeah, the entire country, to have this certificate.
Now that may sound like a lot of hub bub. But to those of you who know what it is like to go through this grueling process, it is a huge deal.

So to Hub who listened to me bitch and complain over the past 8 months,thanks. I will leave you alone now for 2 years and 4 months...the date when I will begin again.

Toot. Toot.

Talks with Chaz...

2010-05-18T19:08:00.000-04:00

Hub to Chaz: What's all over your ears?
Chaz to Hub: Ummm. Dirt.

Today....

2010-05-18T16:29:00.001-04:00

So I picked up a new Tuesday shift at work. I lets me out at 1pm. The kids are in school and nap at 12:45 so I figure I have about 2 hours to do with what I want. Today I chose to go to the gym. I worked my a** off on the Arc Trainer for 35 minutes. Continued with forearm planks, side planks with hip dips and worked on my triceps since my workout was disrupted last night due to a minor emergency with Chaz in the play room.

And then I came home and ate...and ate...and ate. A whole bag a cheddar Cheerios mix, 2 yep 2 diet root beers and about 2 whole handfuls of M&M's. Oh a 2 twizzlers.

What is wrong with me???!!!!!

Conversations with my daughter...

2010-05-17T10:45:00.000-04:00

Sunday...6:47am...

LF: Morning Mommy!
Me: Good morning baby, is you brother still sleeping?
LF: Yes. But mom...he sleeping against his bed rail...like a ninja.
Me: What? Did you say, like a ninja?
LF: Yeah, like if you see a ninja standing and then if that ninja would lay in bed just like that, that's how Charlie is sleeping...like a ninja.
Me: Oh.

my weekend...

2010-05-17T10:41:00.000-04:00

Now that we own a shore home I love the beach, the salt air, the pizza, the crowds etc...etc.. more than ever. We have had nothing but great weekends since settlement in April. We now eat pizza with the sound of the ocean waves in the background. We take bike rides on the boardwalk...every Saturday and Sunday. We make sandcastles, meet new doggies walking the beach, surf fish, and take tram car rides. We play board games and memory,dominos and card games. I love it and will miss it tremendously come June when we rent the place out for the summer. I will be counting the days until we can again be considered Shoobies...in September. But for now I will enjoy my time in the sun and surf.
The most memorable moment of this weekend...
A sunset cruise on our boat around Cape May with my one and only true love, celebrating our sixth wedding anniversary. Just the two of us...we fished, watched the eegrets dive for minnows, kamakazie style. We watched the sun set. Literally.

conversations with my daughter...

2010-04-28T08:31:00.000-04:00

LF: Who's your fairy Godmother?
Me: Aunt Barbara.
LF: Who?
Me: Aunt Barbara.
LF: Who?
Me Aunt Barbara. You know. Aunt Barbara.
LF: Yeah. I know who she is, I was just joking.
----

LF: Why are you laughing at me?
Me: Because you are funny.
LF: Yeah, that's what makes me special.
-----

LF: Don't get upset if you don't want to. That's what I say.
I'm actually changing my motto to this...very insightful for a girl of four. I wish she would follow her own advice though.

On marriage...

2010-04-13T21:42:00.000-04:00

So Hub was wondering why I haven't been blogging lately. Well I guess I've just been really busy. So tonight while watching American Idol we had a conversation worthy of posting...
Me: (complaining about the singers)I hate it...blah...blah...blah...boring...blah..blah..more smiling!!...blah..blah...snoozer..(turn to Hub who is totally silent) Am I going to do all the talking tonight?
Hub: Well, you turned up the volume on the TV so high that I actually can't here a freekin' word you're saying, and I didn't want to say 'Huh' because I didn't want you to piss you off so that you turned around and yelled at me...
I actually cracked up laughing and then turned down the volume on the TV.

On Hub...

2010-03-18T15:56:00.000-04:00

Sometimes when people talk an Ah! Ha! moment happens. You actually have to stop talking and let it sink in. While watching American Idol the other night, an occasion as such arose right on my very couch. Big Mike sung a song about A Women's Work. It brought Cara to tears. He commented that it was so powerful because of his newborn and he is trying to find out how to be a man.
I say(to the TV), ttsss, you are a man. You have a baby now, you are a man. Hub reply's to me, No, he is only half a man. Well, I say, what makes him a whole man. Say's Hub--Raising his baby right.
Sometimes just one sentence can make you fall in love even more...if that's possible.

Conversations with my daughter...

2010-03-16T08:28:00.000-04:00

It's been an ongoing coaxing for LF to allow Hub the precious reading time that occurs just before bedtime. She teases him in the middle of the day with promises. Then when it comes down to it she wants me to read her the books. Yesterday though I thought this might be it for him. He might just win. Here's how the conversation went...

LF: Mom, when you read me a book I come in your room in the middle of the night and wake you up. But when daddy reads to me I don't. So I think I'm just going to let daddy read to me from now until forever.
Me: Sounds good honey...I think daddy would like that.(Secretly I high fived myself because she is right and she does wake me up in the middle of the night. Even though I read to her every night and there is no way for her to determine a pattern)

Fast forward to 8:30pm.

LF: Okay mom, I'm ready for bed.
Me: Don't you want daddy to read you a book?
LF: No, I just want you.

At least she didn't wake me at 2 am.

Haiku to you...

2010-03-16T08:19:00.000-04:00

Good morning sunshine
Where have you been all my life
So happy your up

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-03-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-03-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-02-24T08:00:00.002-05:00

Tuesday's Treasure...

2010-02-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Up! Hub rented this for us to watch during the last Nor'easter. What a cute movie. Action. Adventure. Love Story.

Tuesday's Treasure...

2010-02-23T07:56:00.001-05:00

This selection that may not be a treasure to you, is invaluable to me. PROBIOTICS!!! Without being too graphic, C-man's lower GI plumbing has never been up to par. After a year of dietary changes and experiments, a new doctor in the practice suggested probiotics. You know the stuff in the activia yogurt that "keeps you regular".
Spiking C-man's milk a few days with a capsule full the white powder revealed amazing results. No diarrhea, more importantly no more red bottom diaper rash.
So I can't thank my son's pediatrician enough for saying, "he's fine, you're crazy, he just needs a little digestional help".
I'll say it again, PROBIOTICS!!!

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-02-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

Jinxed...

2010-02-16T10:00:00.001-05:00

Even as I type this the words are like daggers. "Chaz is sleeping through the night now that he is in a big boy bed," I said it so casually. A slap to my well rested face. As the words fluttered from my mouth as light as feathers, I felt immediate regret. What have I done, I thought. Take them back, take them back, I said to myself. But alas what is done is done.
One last thought wriggled through my head...I don't believe in jinxes. I was a last ditch effort because I absolutely believe in them.
So getting to the inevitable. Chaz did wake up last night. I shot out of bed at 12:40am and did not return until two hours later.
Sigh...Sigh...Sigh.......

Fat Tuesday...

2010-02-16T09:11:00.000-05:00

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.
In my twenty's, to me Fat Tuesday was a great and wonderful party day. I have many drunken memories of leaving work early and standing in line to enter the already crowded Fat Tuesday's on South Street in Philly. We would dance on stage with the band and get booted off for not showing our boobies when prompted by the famous chant.
I also remember it being warm...not snowing as it is today.
So today I create a new tradition with my children. Instead of drinking we are crafting. We'll make our own Mardi Gras masks and beads and throw them at Hub when he enters the door.
I will however not be shouted at to take off my top. I may have a celebratory daiquiri when Hub gets home though.

Tuesday's Treasure...

2010-02-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Wendell August

I love these products. I have purchased a dogtag, bookmark and a bangle braclet. They are beautifully engraved and priced right for gifts. I made a mistake when ordering and had to call the store. A live person answered the phone, looked into my problem and found a resolution. Great company. Great products.

Haiku to you...

2010-02-15T08:02:00.001-05:00

                                Snow may come today
              We've had enough don't you think
                     Bask in SUN for now

Conversations with my daughter...

2010-02-12T09:51:00.000-05:00

LF: Mom, daddy's charging his iPod.
Me: Oh okay.
LF: I think he ran out of eye's.

I tried to pry more into this conversation, I asked what she thought the eye's did and if they were eye's to see or the letter i. She lost interest with me and began to put on her socks and shoes.

A week in review...

2010-02-12T09:46:00.000-05:00

As this week comes to an end I am thankful for the following...

The beautiful snowy landscape that appears out my windows and shimmers in the sun like diamonds.
Hub. He only made me shovel one day out of the two nor'easters that blew through here.
The word nor'easter. I love that I can use an apostrophe in the middle of a word.
Birds. I actually do enjoy watching them fluttering about the snow.
The extended day that I spent with my children. Even though alcohol had to be shipped in for my sanity. We learned alot from each other.

Snowed In?

2010-02-11T10:38:00.000-05:00

We made Valentine's Day Fishey crafts. Cut out different size hearts and decorate as the kids like.

What's for dinner?

2010-02-11T10:00:00.007-05:00

Skinny Chicken Meatball Sandwiches

1 lb ground chicken
1 garlic clove, minced
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup crushed saltines
worchestire sauce, a couple of splashes
Spaghetti Sauce
Mozzerella Cheese and Parmagiano cheese
4 hoagie rolls

Mix all ingredients. Coat a non-stick skillet with cooking spray. Roll mixture into golfball sized meatballs. Cook until browned. Drain fat and add spaghetti sauce. While mixture is warming scoop out some breading from the rolls. Spoon meatballs into rolls and top with cheeses.

I serve this with microwaved frozen vegetable medley. I have no idea how much fat, calories, sodium etc... but it's gotta be less then normal meatballs. Right?

Birds are everywhere...

2010-02-11T09:03:00.000-05:00

As the dig out begins in our tiny blurb on this earth, my bird friends are in a frenzy. Last night after the kids went to bed Hub and I began bulldozing through our share. After clearing the sidewalk, a path to our trashcans, the deck and a spot for the dog, I could go no further. So the birds are a little hungry this morning. I did fill the feeder before the nor'easter began on Tuesday. However it is empty and they are starting to cause a ruckus. The last snow storm I had a little birdie hanging on the back doorknob,looking in my window. My sister would have freaked. I wished I got it on camera but he startled with every movement in the house.
Anyway the only way to get seed to them is to bore furthur into the 18 inches or so of snow that divides us.
So my resolution is this: I'm laying bread out on the counter to stale and I will throw it out the window.

Thursday's Thought...

2010-02-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

You know you have a good friend when...

Your daughter says to your eight months pregnant girlfriend, "Missy, did you hide my balloon in your big, fat belly?", and she laughs along with the 4 year old little whiz kid.

Haiku to you...

2010-02-10T09:00:00.002-05:00

Haiku. If you need a history lesson, Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry consisting of a total of 17 syllables in three phrases of 5,7,5. It's really cute and kind of fun to think of these little quirps.

Here's one in honor of my parent's 37 year wedding anniversary...

Teenagers in love
love surpassed the test of time
here's to us today

Snow...ugh...

2010-02-10T08:43:00.000-05:00

Pros and Cons:

Pro: Snow Days!!!
Con: I don't get paid for snow days.

Pro: Sitting by the warm fire with hot chocolate and a good book.
Con: I'm in the house with a 4yo and 1yo. The 4yo doesn't like hot chocolate. The only books we read are children's books. And of course there is no sitting...ever.

Pro: Our development looks like a far away mountain village. I actually love driving through our development seeing the snowbanks piled everywhere.
Con: People do not know how to manuever around the mounds.

Pro: Snowmen.
Pro: The quietness that overcomes the earth. The surrounding air is so peaceful. It's almost surreal.

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-02-10T08:00:00.003-05:00

God Bless Our Troops...

2010-02-09T13:33:00.000-05:00

Today a friend begins his six month tour of duty in Iraq.
He and my brother went to high school and bootcamp together and are now roomates in Atlantic City.

God Bless Jim. Come home safe.

Tuesday's Treasure...

2010-02-09T08:00:00.003-05:00

I recently attended a Tupperware party. And although I did purchase the beloved plastic storage containers, my Tuesday's Treasure is not a Tupperware product.It's an acrylic pitcher from QVC. How it works is you stuff fruit down the middle of this pitcher, the flavors dissipate and walah. Fruit flavor water without extra calories. My girlfriend used strawberries. It gives just a slight taste of the fruit but enough for you to keep coming back for more. If you do not like to drink water and do not like to buy flavored water because of the extra sugar...calories...additives...this container is perfect for you.
Here's the link...Pitcher with Fruit Infuser

Conversations with my daughter...

2010-02-08T09:45:00.002-05:00

This is all stemming from exhausing talks about how a baby comes to be in a mommy's belly...

LF: Mom, when I grow up, am I going to fall in love?
Me: Of course and I hope it's with someone like your daddy.
LF: How do you fall in love?
Me: Well when you are much...much...much older you will meet a boy and have fun together and laugh alot.
LF: I think I'm going to fall in love with Chaz.
Me: Oh no honey, you can't fall IN love with your brother. You guys will always love each other and play together and stand up for each other. But you can't marry him.
LF: Oh, then I think I'll fall in love with Kyle.

I'm leaving this to the dad's to hash out.

A Preview...

2010-01-25T15:06:00.002-05:00

Last week I was awarded a small glimpse into a lasting 45 year marriage. The following is a snippet of a conversation between me and one of my male patients.

Me: What brought you in today?
Him: My wife thinks I'm losing my hearing and I'm confused.
Me: What do you think?
Him: I'm going to let you in on a little secret amongst us guys. We have a little thing called the self preservation gene. I choose not to hear her. I used to answer her and be at her beckoning call when we were raising kids. Now I selectively turn off my hearing and choose to what and when I want to listen. It keeps me from wanting to jump out the second story window every time she says my name.
Me: Noted.

This is why often I fantasize of working with more geriatiatric patients. Very candid.

Worn down...

2010-01-23T09:55:00.002-05:00

I'm having a bad work out week. Monday's are Group Power days. The challenging barbell class I like to tackle on Monday's because I feel my strongest and freshest on Monday's. It prepares me for my upcoming week and I love it. But just as I headed upstairs to change the phone rang and I was called back to work to cover a vomiting coworker. On Tuesday LF was beginning to cough and run a fever, so no make-up gym day there. On Wednesday Hub and I tag teamed it because although LF felt better I wasn't going to force it. I missed my beloved step class. I sweat all the toxins out on this day and it gets me over the hump. On Thursday I ran on the treadmill which I never do. I was forced because the previous night I worked on my usual cardio machine. By Saturday I was completely discombobulated. I only worked out for 33 minutes instead of the usual 50 and I did not even strength train.
So getting to the point of this story...somewhere in the middle of the week my eye began to twitch. And on Saturday morning as I walked along Hub lapping the pool, asking me what was my issue I relented and admitted to being a little stressed and not in order. Some lady swimming in the next lane looked over and suggested I had a Vitamin deficiency.
This brings me to my question...Why can't I just be a little stressed? And is it really appropriate to butt into a husband and wife's conversation on being stressed?

On Hub...

2010-01-22T11:08:00.002-05:00

Hub is not so pleased that I portrayed him to look like a lovey, dovey hubby in my last post. He wants me to paint him as a rough, tough man's man. One who provides fresh harvested duck and deer for supper. And he is rough and tough...when he needs to be.
He brings on the noise when necessary to discipline the children. Hub has provided plentiful feasts of freshly caught Stripped Bass. With promises of more to come.
But he also is a great partner and help to me. Most of the time without my asking.
So sorry Hub. I just wanted the World Wide Web to know just how much I treasure our life and friendship.
Maybe I'll let you smack me around a little tonight ;)

AI and such...

2010-01-13T10:42:00.002-05:00

I forgot to tell the thing that was my favorite and my best from last night's debut.
I held hands with Hub throughout the entire show!!
(Well until I grabbed my laptop to blog which was about an hour in, long though right)
How often do you sit with your love, watch TV and hold hands. We did last night.
I did not want to let it pass without mentioning.

I love you Hub even though after we purchase this bed tonight for Chaz it might be a long time til we sleep side by side again through the night. I miss you already!

What I'm doing right now...

2010-01-13T01:57:00.002-05:00

It's 1:57am I am watching The Princess Bride. Hub went out tonight to buy a crib rail. This was of course for C-man to be safe as he sleeps through the night in his newly converted toddler bed. HA!! We spent an hour converting and putting together the crib rails. Only to discover it doesn't fit on a toddler bed. We then have the brilliant idea of switching LF's rails with the new ones. HA again! No dice. We converted every thing back to normal and concluded that we would need to purchase a full sized mattress for the little brat to sleep in a normal bed this weekend. For sure he will sleep tonight. HA thrice! So now after coaxing and coddling for one and a half hours I am sitting on my couch like it is 4 o'clock in the afternoon watching The Princess Bride which happens to be one of my favorites.
And people ask why I'm stopping at two children. It's because I need sleep. My body is weary.

AI, my thoughts...

2010-01-12T21:28:00.004-05:00

Victoria pulled it out DOG!! I thought she was going to be really, well dumb. And she was rather genuine and smart. I was not a big fan of the hair wrap though. But she is beautiful. Hub told me so...again...and again...and again.
Poor Andrew Finley, the salty, dorky, Clark Kent look alike, he was actually not bad. I think they should have looked passed his nervous/aggressive nature and given him another chance.
Lastly...
What is with the yellowed teeth. It is truly yucky!

Sidenote...I actually got goosebumps with the opening credits. Love American Idol...thanks Simon!!

American Idol...

2010-01-12T12:45:00.004-05:00

Tonight American Idol kicks off Season 9 in Boston. I am so stoked for this long awaited event. However, I think I'm going to miss Paula. I have not heard too much of Ellen joining the judging team. She is scheduled to begin after the auditions have ended. My predictions are...she is going to be great in the beginning and then start to wear me down and I will become annoyed by her. The guest judge I am most looking forward to is Victoria Beckham. I honestly do not think I have ever heard her speak. It's like she talks with her body and facial expressions. I hope she takes the place of crazy Paula. As for right now I'm looking a "Team Paula" t-shirt.

Sidenote: Ryan Seacrest renegotiated his contract for this year to $45 million, Paula made $2 million last year. Team Paula!!!!

It Happened Last Night...

2010-01-12T08:42:00.001-05:00

Unlike my daughter, my son has never been a fabulous sleeper. We literally get maybe 3 nights of uninterrupted sleep per week. We have our excuses for him too. It’s always the usual…teeth, he’s cold, he’s hot, his diaper is full. We have tried everything to calm his restless mind…nightlight, no nightlight., radio on all night, radio on a sleep timer for 90 minutes, no radio, band aid over the blinding green light that assures us his video monitor is working, letting him cry it out…sometimes one and a quarter hours at 2 am. Now as time slowly creeps to his second birthday. The sleepless nights are getting to be quite annoying and really starting to get old.

Tonight though , tonight marked a milestone in the sleepless nights. I’ve heard other parents talk. And kind of dreaded it happening. LF never did it. But I knew it was only a matter of time with Cman. After awakening at 12:30am and succumbing to the fact that Chaz only needed his diaper changed and little rocking to return to his slumber I returned to my bed and began to again fall asleep. Only to be roused by cries a half hour later. This time we let him “cry it out” we shut the door , put on the TV and turned a deaf ear.

Until…I heard the cries get louder. I looked to Hub and asked, “Do you hear that, the cries seem like he is right next to the door. Like he…”, and almost simultaneously we did the Home Alone face and heard the doorknob jiggle. AAAHHHHHH!!!

I bounced out of bed and jogged to my son’s room which has a safety latch on the door handle so he will not be able to leave his room if indeed he scales the crib. I rocked him again back to sleep and returned to my bed.

Hub suggested that we place barbed wire on the crib. I asked if we could maybe just convert the crib into the toddler bed. He reluctantly agreed.
So as we are discussing our annoyed state and giggling about how we are going to torture him in our old age, we hear the jiggle of a door knob and pitter patter of feet. Thinking it is LF awoken by the cries and commotion of the night. But…

It’s Cman, he climbed out without so much as a sniffle, picked the lock and was now climbing down the steps to do who knows what. It happened that fast.

So as I right this at 3:14 am, Hub is downstairs with Cman trying to whoo him into slumber while Cman asks, “Where’s sissy? Where’s sissy?”

I am hoping what “they” say is true. That a baby will sleep better in a toddler bed. I am really putting all my eggs in that basket.

Oh and as a little side note…Just as Hub returned to bed and all seemed well, we relaxed and began to fall into REM sleep…my stupid neighbor’s car alarm began to blare…and blare…and blare…and blare…

Exercise...

2010-01-06T22:04:00.002-05:00

Hmmm...exercise. Who would of thought. I trudge my tired butt to the gym four days per week. When it was warmer I was going an extra day to swim. ( I can't bring myself to do it in 20 degree weather) But tonight while watching American Idol reruns, gearing myself up for the premier next week, I came across the latest exercise trend. If my big laptop did not crash a couple of weeks ago I would put the Youtube video on, my netbook doesn't have enough memory to download Java so I will give you the link for Shake Weight. Thoughts please?!? Is this some undersexed man trying to tell us ladies something?

How many of you can spell exercise without using the spell check?

New Year...

2010-01-04T11:10:00.002-05:00

My New Year's Resolution...
Hub announced that mine is lame. I beg to differ. My NY resolution is to spend more time with the kids. He says that I am off on Tuesday's and Thursday's and he feels I do give the kids all my available time. That is true. BUT, when I am home on those days I feel that I am cleaning and spending most of their time worrying about the dust bunnies that are rolling across the pergo floor. I'm stopping that...of course once the Christmas decorations are packed away and my house is back to normal.
My second resolution is to become more organized. While on our Vegas vacation I became extremely jealous of my sister-in-laws organizational skills. She has a label maker and that thing has paid for itself in triple. She even had the rectal thermometer labeled (we all giggled but in hind sight, I would want to know which is the oral and which is the rectal). Anyway I already purchased the pull out bins and drawers.
Now, can I get organized without breaking my first NY resolution?

Engelfest 2009

2010-01-03T22:23:00.002-05:00

Engelfest Vegas Vacation 12-22-09-12-31-09

This is a little ditty set to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas describing our Vegas Christmas vacation. If you improvise a little with the lyrics you can sing along. Lots of family members contributed to this tune. A special thanks to my sis-in-law Barb who helped even through her barfing.

On the first day of Christmas vacation we woke up right on time
And still almost missed our Vegas flight.

On the second day we traveled to the "north pole"
Six kids in tow and eleven people chanting “Are we there yet?”…a four hour drive….a four hour drive

On the third day we woke, it was minus two degrees
One child barfing, one daddy barfing, and nine people praying it’s a fluke…a four hour drive

On the third night of Christmas, Santa came with gifts
2 more children barfing, 1 daddy still barfing, 7 adults a laughing, 2 skeptical daughters, and 1 mommy kissing Mr. Klaus

On the forth day of Christmas a mountain pile of gifts
8 cheerful children, 8 relieved adults, 4 crazy dogs, mimosa’s overflowing, and wrapping paper piled to the Strip

On the forth night of Christmas, Prime Rib roasting on the spit
Children running rampant, toys stacked everywhere, one drunken crazy neighbor, and 2 more adults bit by the bug

On the fifth day of Christmas we shopped and made returns
Tripping over everything, dogs stealing toys, leftovers galore, pants are getting tight, no one barfing today, everyone breathing easy, kids running everywhere, and finally some adult lesiure time.

On the sixth day of Christmas…relax, enjoy the view
A brotherly bet to lap the pool(30 degree temps), movies with the kids, 26 mile bike ride, shrimp on the barbie, no-one-barfing-today, a sparking heater in the RV, old buddies sharing stories, laughing with good friends and a plot to poison our lovely step mother.

On the seventh day of Christmas, chaos in the morning
Family pictures very early, everyone going nutty, children crying everywhere, dogs barking too much, sub arctic weather lingering, searching for some coffee, a-step-mom-barfing-today, more returns at the mall, Mexican fiesta, and date night ending early because mom and dad are just totally worn out.

On the eighth day of Christmas, a morning to relax
Running the hills of Vegas, snow capped mountains in the distance, walking the Vegas strip, dodging people everywhere, M&M store madness, fountains at the Bellagio, sister-in-law-and-neighbor-barfing, leftovers galore, talk of partying all night and all but me snoring in the end.

On the ninth day of Christmas, back to the strip we go
A mission to see flamingos, bummer no volcano, no statues at the palace, shoes at Jimmy Choo, husband denying request, another-sis-in-law-barfing, adult night out, tweens are babysitting kids, 2 hour wait at the buffet, on a heater playing craps til early morn.

On the tenth day of Christmas it was time to bid farewell.
Hope to see you real soon, miss you guys already, next time will be warmer, and I swear to leave the stomach flu at home.

Congratulations to the very, very few of you who did not get sick this vacation.

Thank You to Paul, Holly and family for offering your home and accommodating us all with such kindness and patience. Just to put it in perspective, we had 8 adults, 8 kids ages 14-11 months, and 4 dogs in one house.
There is much to be said of our family that we all survived this Vegas Vacation and we still love each other the same now as we did 10 days ago.

Lily's First Sledding...

2009-12-19T15:10:00.003-05:00

I have many cold yet fond memories of this hill called "The Pit" to the locals here. The only thing missing was the snow bump undoubtedly made by the older boys placed for us to actually get air on the trip down. It was an awesome day. LF loved it!!!

Sometimes wrong is right...

2009-12-16T21:28:00.004-05:00

Lily received a camera from her grandparents for her birthday last month. It has been so fun admiring the scenes of our life she has deemed important enough to capture. We have close ups of the dog's nose, the guinea pig's cage, the big TV and also the little portable DVD player. I love seeing life through her eyes.
Having said that the best came tonight when she accidentally took a blurry shot of Happy (the guinea piggy). This is exactly what she said:

LF: Hey mom you need to deloop that one it's blurry.
Me: I need to what?
LF: Deloop it, deloop it, it's blurry.
Me: (laughs) Okay I'll deloop it.

Sometimes I just can not correct the grammar. I need to let her make the mistakes, giggle silently and enjoy the wonders of her childhood.

On Reading...

2009-12-14T09:22:00.001-05:00

My mother is making me read Jane Eyre. I hope she is not expecting a book report.

Straight No Chaser...

2009-12-12T20:35:00.002-05:00

So Hub was channel surfing for LF's next show of choice when he came across, as LF's refers to them, the singing guys. They are an a Capella singing group named Straight No Chaser. The best is they are total foxes. So I don't mind watching it 3-4 times PER day. Here's their rendition of The 12 Days of Christmas:

On Blogging...

2009-12-12T20:24:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to post about a couple of things but I can't take my eyes off The Rockettes dancing on TV. I'll get back to ya.

On Parenting...

2009-12-10T16:12:00.002-05:00

It's official. Lily is a bratty, tortuous big sister. Chaz is fussing and she is repeating his whines, moan after cry after wail. While slightly annoying it is rather amusing.

On Powdering my nose...

2009-12-10T15:29:00.002-05:00

Last night I went to a local bar to see a grade school friend perform his "man and a guitar" act. Now as a girl in my 20's, partying, I did not mind powdering my nose with my girlfriends. Usually it involved a stalled bathroom in which we could converse through the actual act and meet again to wash our hands and re-apply lip gloss.
Having said that, the only chance I do get to enjoy the bar scene is at the local bars rather than the swanky places in the city I used to attend. So last night's washroom adventure included this:

One door with a deadbolt and a lock on the doorknob.
Two toilets, side by side.......no dividers. Not even a half wall.
A sign over each toilet. One expressing in a swirly script that Love is sweet. The other stating that Home is where the heart is.
On the adjoining wall was a condom machine with strict instructions that each condom was 75 cents. It also advised you that you only could use quarters. One slot accepted two quarters and the other would welcome the final quarter.

Now the condom machine was not what bothered me. It was the fact that because I am 30 something my bottom is not at the youthful perkiness it once was. Thirty plus year friendship or not, I don't know that I am prepared to potty directly next to my girl. Literally, we could have peed holding hands. Oh and this was a designated girls potty room.

Am I a prude????

On Parenting...

2009-12-10T15:27:00.004-05:00

LF: Mom, Chaz is hitting me!!!!
Me: Maybe I should start handing out some beatings.
LF: Yeah I think Chaz would like his now and I think I would like mine later.

Ummm...I'm not really sure what to do with this one.

Conversations with my daughter...

2009-12-08T14:46:00.002-05:00

Me: LF, do you want a chocolate covered pretzal?
LF: No thanks, I don't think I like that.
Me: Do you like chocolate?
LF: Of course!
Me: Do you like pretzals?
LF: Of course!
Me: Well, this is a pretzal covered in chocolate?
LF: So it's a chocolate covered pretzal?
Me: That's what I said. So do you want to try it?
LF: Let me lick it and I will tell you.(lick...lick) I do! I do! I really like it.

On Chaz...

2009-12-06T17:49:00.002-05:00

Why would it be bad for your 20 month old to learn where the trash is? Because he will throw everything in it. Like when his cup is empty, in the can it goes. Countless and I mean countless amounts of sippy cups are lost in the Deptford dump forever.

On favorites...

2009-12-02T09:27:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I forgot to post my favorite moment of the day. Even though C-man was positively unbearable yesterday...he wins my most favorite kid of the day award.
While decorating the song, What are you doing New Years Day played, I scooped him up and started slow dancing. I added the occasional dip to keep his interest, but I honestly do not think I needed it. He was having a grand time just soft shoeing to the beat, cheek to cheek with his mommy. I will savor it forever.
Also in the back of my mind I'm secretly hoping that he loves to dance and becomes one of those hotty guys that takes the crowd at weddings.

On Decorating...

2009-12-01T08:35:00.005-05:00

First a note to myself to help with next years decorating:

Put the paper with the color chart of the different tree branches on top of the box.

Not fun to guess which color tag is next, amongst 50 prickly stems.

I never liked decorating much. This year was different though. The kids helped. I never thought I would be decorating my Christmas tree with my kids. LF was in charge of handing me the appropriate colored branches, and C-man, well he was in charge of tearing everything apart. Not by my command, I sure you understand. What do you think he did with the first Christmas ball he chose? If you guessed that he licked it and placed it ever so tenderly back in the spot from which it came...you guessed right. At one point LF shouted, "Chaz you are impossible!!!"

All LF talked about was a snow globe that I could not even remember she received. Upon it's discovery, the excitement in her eyes was incomparable.

We only had one fatality. A small snow globe ornament that I stupidly allowed C-man to play with while eating lunch.

On Hub...

2009-11-29T21:00:00.001-05:00

Apparently it takes exactly one week for Hub to realize that a Coors Light can is not the lastest Christmas ornament.

Picture of the Day...

2009-11-26T09:20:00.003-05:00

One of the culprits are in the above picture. I'll give you one hint...it's not the little guy!

On Hub...

2009-11-26T08:39:00.004-05:00

So we had a little get together last weekend. Hub's friend's started a tradition long ago of placing random items on the trees and pergola in our yard. One year, after I retired to bed of course, they actually took all of the folding chairs and placed them like ornaments in our delicate baby pear trees. And ever so quietly placed a very heavy, huge circular table on top of our 12 foot pergola. That was the extreme of the "reorganization". However, every time we have a gathering the old tricks reappear.
Having said that on Saturday last weekend someone ever so subtly placed a Coors Light can on the tip of my bare plum tree.
I'm waiting to see how long it takes Hub to remove it.

Happy Birthday Baby...

2009-11-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL, BEAMING, DAUGHTER.
Where does the time go?

On Dessert...

2009-11-19T19:42:00.003-05:00

So you have your parents over for dinner, a wonderful dinner of a whole chicken, fresh carrots and scalloped potatoes. Your mom brings a raspberry twist Entemanns cake. A whole one. While standing at the island drinking, them coffee, me wine followed by Mike's Hard Lemonade, we finish off the twist. Ummmm..... Are we little piggies...YES!!!! To the gym, to the gym, to the gym...gym...gym!!!!

Freedom...

2009-11-16T17:29:00.002-05:00

Something happened in Hub and I's parenting journey last night...parental freedom. What you ask allowed such an oddity? THE BASEMENT. Yep for the first time, in order to prep for our Monday we sent the children downstairs to play by themselves. It worked too. I snuck down to check on them and they were BOTH sitting quietly on the couch reading books. I, as well as Hub were in total shock. We hope it happens to us again.

My bday gift...

2009-11-13T07:54:00.003-05:00

I ordered my birthday present off Amazon on Sunday...the Kindle e-reader. It feels like a million years have past and I still am bookless. Today at work I have a very light schedule. Perfect for reading on company time. I downloaded my first book for it last night. Kindle is ready to read to me. Yesterday it was in Kentucky. Today it is in transit...I hope to my house.

Time for the potty dance?

2009-11-13T07:40:00.001-05:00

C-man ran to me while I was cleaning the bathroom yesterday. He was holding his bottom and saying poo...poo. Ummm. I'm taking it for what it's worth and pulling the training potty out of retirement.

A Day in the Life...

2009-11-05T20:19:00.006-05:00

8am: Fingerpainting with a 4 year old and an 18month old.
9am: Pop arrives with doughnuts. Chaz goes for a nap and I'm off to Walmart where I wait 20 minutes in the deli for the wrong cheese. (I didn't notice until I was making lunches for tomorrow)
10:15am: Arrive home, unpack, make PB&J's and gather snacks for an afternoon at the park.
10:45am: Meet friends at the park and fight the older kids for slide time.
1:15pm: After only two trips to the potty at the park, we arrive home with everyone still awake.
1:30pm: Fights over trucks, balls, games and puzzles start.
1:32pm: Happy nappy time for Chaz.
1:45pm: A second round of fingerpainting. This time it's just me and LF doing a Thanksgiving placemat project for school. We fingerpainted little bugs, butterflies, bees and rainbows until...
4:00pm: Hub arrived home with the 38 inch freshly caught striped bass.
5:00pm: Dinner...which turned into a game of tag around the island with me shoving a carrot in Chaz's mouth and a buttered noodle in LF's with every pass.
6:00pm: Office Max to laminate the placemat's.
6:15pm: Arrive at the gym for hardcore workout. Begin to tear up at the news cast about Fort Hood.
7:30pm: Back home and bathing kids.
8:00pm: Lounging on the couch, eating cheerios, reading Cinderella, watching Max & Ruby with my two most favorite people...Chaz and Lily.
8:05pm: Thankful for my life and family.

Highlight's of the day...

Chaz eating ABC gum from the bottom of the bathroom trash can.
Discovering LF can write the letters A-F without help.
When I asked LF to write the letters on a clean piece of paper she says this, "Oops, I accidentally drew a door instead of an A...Sorry about that mom."
Lily stating that she cried when she left Kyle today at the park. Me telling her that she didn't. Her response," Yeah I didn't today but maybe I will tomorrow."

God Bless the families of Fort Hood. Tragic. Scary. Reality check. God Bless Our Troops!

On Accomplishments...

2009-10-28T17:21:00.002-04:00

I accomplished something last night to which I know that you will be utterly and completely jealous. I went to Target for milk and wait for it...exited with only the milk. Huh!!! Yep I only spent $3.49. So are you envious?

Of Course...

2009-10-26T20:39:00.005-04:00

WARNING!!!! This may contain some words that non-parents might find thoroughly disgusting...i.e. my little sis.

Okay, LF has been using the phase "of course" in every way possible. Here are some of her choice usages:

Me: LF can you pick up your shoes?
LF: Of course I can mommy.

Me: LF, help your brother take off his jacket
LF: Of course I will.

Me: LF, wash your hands and sit down to eat.
LF: Of course.

Me: LF, are you done taking a bath?
LF: Of course I am and I better get out before I poopy in the tub.
Me: Huh, do you have to poopy?
LF: Of course I do.
Me: Well come on and get out!!
LF: Of course I will, after I clean the toys.
Me: Do you have to poopy or what?
LF: Of course!
Me: What does that mean! Do you have to go potty?
LF: Of course I have to poopy!
Me: Blurg. Of course!

On Boating...

2009-10-25T19:54:00.003-04:00

Hub and I went "boating" today. It was supposed to be a fishing trip. However when you go fishing and catch nothing it becomes a boating adventure.This was my first trip and Hub's third with still no fish to be had. I was the second choice after my dad and brother chickened out because the silly weather report forcasted a small craft advisory. And rightly so we discovered. According to Hub our 20' Mako would have handled those 4 foot seas with the gracefulness of a dolphin. However, with visions of my children becoming orphans I quickly changed his mind. We turned that boat around quicker than you can say "Stripped bass season is now open".
Having painted a picture of disaster, I must now say that learned some things today.

Hub has no patience.
I am not a good boat captain.
Hub is an exceptional boat captain.
Large waves scare me.
Large waves scare Hub.
I love Hub. He is my big, strong, manly fisherman.

On PU...

2009-09-28T11:31:00.002-04:00

I think my Bro-in-law actually might have loved me like a sis this weekend. He'll never admit it because I think he likes our little sarcastic way. The proof is in the picture of the two of us that he took with his blackberry. He claims he does not have a big enough memory card to save the pic. I think he doesn't want people to know that he secretly likes me as a friend.

This friendship was won after he tauntingly commented," Hey Amanda, Donny Wahlberg called he wants his pants back." Without hesitation I broke into The Right Stuff dance and quieted PU's little mouth right quick.

I want that picture PU. Get on it.

On Hub...

2009-09-25T21:20:00.002-04:00

After a long, hard, trying day of...golfing, Hub is exhausted tonight. So, as I download CD's night after night...after endless night, he is sleeping. Where I'm going with this is, as I'm downloading music and I tap my foot to the beat he abruptly lifts his head as though he is not sleeping and says, "Who's that? or What are you listening too? or Oooo great...download that one." I say,"What, go back to sleep!". Just a little side note... Does anyone else hate Old Navy commercials. They are just awful lately. Anyway, he just awoke and pretended to not be sleeping, and said with the sleepiest eyes, "Oh who is that guy on TV, yeah him where's he from?". And then off to la la land again.
Ummm, don't really know where this is going. I just wanted to vent a little tonight during my downloading session.
And I guess I had a little to drink tonight...Ha!!!

On LF...

2009-09-23T09:38:00.004-04:00

My little girl has grown up. When did this happen...apparently, yesterday. While cleaning the aluminum rails on the bow of the boat I guess I had a sort of bird's eye view of her. LF comes running out of the house, yelling something about finding her shoes and coming to help. My parents have a huge yard and I could not stop myself from standing up and just watching my baby sprint toward me. I think I was having an out of body experience. I simply could not take my eyes off her. Where has four years gone. I still can barely wrap my head around the marriage and mortgage thing.

Now this little person, who is smart and beautiful and silly and forms her own opinions and was my baby has sprouted before my eyes.

I'm still in shock...in awe...dumbfounded. In awe.

What I did on vacation...

2009-09-15T19:46:00.005-04:00

Okay so I have been off from work for a week and a half. That includes Labor Day. I sent the kids to school on their regular days, which really was only three days. This is what I accomplished:
1. Went to the Dane Cook show...totally funny.
2. I tore apart the kid's closets and drawers. I made three piles...stuff of LF's to give to baby C, Good Will and trash. It took me forever to finish but it needed to get done. Any mother will appreciate that I was able to do this alone. No one tugging on me. No one messing with my piles. No one needing to go to the bathroom. No one crying. Ahhhh. That in itself should have been enough. But there's more.
3. After finishing the clothes, I read my book. In complete silence. No TV. No noise. Even the phone didn't ring.
4. My second day off, included errands in the morning...in the pouring rain. I spent the rest of the day facebooking. (Is that what you call it?) Again in complete silence. Ahhh!!!
5. I did some Christmas shopping online. Most of the little purchases are actually done. Whew!
6. Went to Barnes and Noble by myself.
7. On the third day I lunched with my baby sister at the best burrito place ever. I did not have to bring an extra PB&J because I had no tag-a-longs. Just me and my sis eating a normal meal.
8. I told Paul Rudd that I loved him. What!! Yep, you heard it right. They were filming in Philly. My sis and I were stuck on the sidewalk waiting for the scene to end. They yelled "CUT!!" I yelled "I Love you Paul!!" They replied meanly " Keep walking people, Keep it moving" But wait, almost instantaneously the crowd parted and with a gleam in his eye and a sparkle on his teeth, he smiled and winked...AT ME!!! I love Paul Rudd. Best day ever!!
9. An awesome day at the zoo was the closer. The kiddies were included in this one, of course. What a lovely day we had. I even let parrots land on my arm and sip nectar from my hand. I have never done this. Although I love my backyard birds, I do have a slight fear when I get up close with birds. They are kind of unpredictable. I always get a vision of one getting stuck in my hair and flopping around trying to free itself with me flailing about trying to free it. Alas, no hair incidents. It was a cool day spent with the kids and my mom.

One sad point. I attended the wake of a friend from high school. It was a tragic and sudden accident. He left behind a young wife and two year old son. This is singly the saddest event I have ever attended. It made me realize that life is so very short, treasure the quiet moments and appreciate your time here loving your children and spouse.

The best thing of all happened tonight. After cleaning up dinner, bathing the kids(a little early) and trying unsuccessfully to calm C-man, our last ditch effort brought a wonderful family story time. Just the four of us on the couch reading story's. Love these quiet times.

Conversations with my daughter...

2009-09-15T16:34:00.002-04:00

Me: I know now what channel that dinosaur show is on.
LF: Well put it on.
Me: Okay I'll see if I can find it.
LF: Daddy is a better finder.
Me: tshhh... oh. It's not on right now. I'll tape it tomorrow morning.
LF: Look On Demand.
Me: I am...it's not on there.
LF: Maybe Daddy can find it.
Me: Yeah maybe.

Reasons...

2009-09-14T14:25:00.004-04:00

Reasons why I need a blackberry or a 3G network for my notebook...

Because when you have a celebrity encounter with Paul Rudd...you want people to know about it.

I need to facebook. I love it and am addicted. A blackberry is the only way to facebook at work. Can I get paid to comment about my life on facebook?

I miss blogging. I have kind been taking a break, camping and playing and lounging. But a blackberry would be perfect for those times.

Engelfest 2009

2009-08-20T08:26:00.002-04:00

It's officially on... Engelfest 2009. 8 adults, 1 tween, 2 pre-teens, 4 tots, and 1 infant in one house for 10-14 days. Ummm...Holly are you scared now.

Just what I had suspected...

2009-08-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Tonight when Hub came home from work I asked if he had read my blog. He answered with a quick yes. I matched his swiftness with a "Well, have you seen this Lemonade by Sminoff?" Replying with a " Um, well yeah but that's not what you said, you didn't say Lemon-ade!" Our converasation ended with an " Uh huh, that what I thought." (Said by me. Meaning...no outside the box thinking.)

I now will refer to the old adage...If you want something done, you must do it yourself.

ASHAMED...

2009-08-13T21:31:00.003-04:00

I even typed this punching the keys extra hard.

IS ANYONE ELSE TOTALLY ASHAMED THAT MICHAEL VICK IS AN EAGLE?????

I am. What a complete travesty that the NFL would let such a violent man represent and be a role model for our children.

Words escape me.