OH, THE HORROR

So tonight I go to the gas station to get me a big ol' Diet Coke and this couple pulls up in a noisy, beat-up, piece-of-crap car, so I glance at it because I have to see if it is as cool as Brett's car (love you, baby), which of course it is not. As I'm "glancing" I catch a glimpse of THEM. She was some sort of horrible cross between Aileen Wuornos and Janet Reno. (If you are unclear on who either of these ladies are, feel free to click on their names for fabulous photos, but consider yourself warned). And for him....well, I have nothing to compare him to, and believe me, I have scanned the internet in the attempt to find something. Anyway, she gets out of the car and practically runs into the store. Of course I am curious as to what she is in such a hurry for. You wanna know what it was? What truly makes this story horrible? CONDOMS! She was buying freaking condoms. (On a side note, I would like to know why SHE was buying them instead of him. Dude, be a man!) I realize that even fuglies need action from time to time, but for the love, why should I have to know about it? Excuse me while I go scrub that image from my brain. Unclean...unclean....

Drinking from my saucer

Sometimes I get feeling so sorry for myself. I get so caught up in the fact that life is hard and I don't have anything. I forget sometimes how blessed I am. I am so grateful for all that I do have. So grateful that I am surrounded by a wonderful group of people that I get to call my family and friends. And I will try to remember that the reason I am drinking from a saucer is because my cup has overflowed.

I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now,
But, I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow.
And as I go along life's way I'm reaping better than I've sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going's tough.
But I've got loving ones around me, that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for His blessings, and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong, faith wore somewhat thin,
But all at once the dark clouds broke, the sun peeped through again.
So, Lord help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage, when the way is steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings, I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads,
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.

-John Paul Moore

It's the simple things

Drake loves to draw pictures with chalk and really enjoys when someone will draw with him. This day he sat and waited an hour while I mowed the lawn, just so I would draw with him. He was so happy when I was finally done. Sometimes I wish I could be as happy about anything as he is about the simple things.

So it's been awhile....

I would really like to apologize to all my stalkers out there for not updating for so long. I know it makes it much harder to stalk me when I don't make myself readily accessible. I will try to be better for you.

As many of you know (well, most of you know) my life is a complete mess right now. I am doing my best to "hang in there", "find the silver lining", "look for the good in it", and all that. But sometimes it is really hard. I am so thankful for my family and my friends, both old and new that are going above and beyond to help me and show their love for me. Things are tough, but I know I will be alright.

Just for fun

Here's how it works: The first five people to leave me a comment get something made by me just for them. It can be anything I want, I get to choose. It can be silly or serious, edible or not, but don't plan on anything alive. There are a few rules involved (aren't there always?)
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It will be done sometime this year (Don't expect grand things if it takes a long time. I'm just lazy!).
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. (The choice is mine! --insert evil laugh here--)
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange and/or silly.
The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they've posted on their blog win a hand made, super creative, possibly lovely whatever in the heck I decide! Be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

If Valentine's Day cards told the truth

It's funny because it's true.

You know those conversations you dread having with your children? Well I had the "boy parts/girl parts" one with my three year old the other day. He brought it up, not me. He was laying on my lap and was concerned that he was squashing my "boys". So we had the talk about how I don't have boys and that led into how you are not supposed to touch other people's private parts. And what did he get out the conversation? That you can't touch other people's parts, but "I can touch my own private parts all I want". Uh.....yeah.

AAM Album

So here are the first tow pages for my All About Me Scrapbook I am doing this year. It's weird to scrap something other than Drake, but it was kind of fun.

It's been way too long

Not that anyone has missed me, but I realize it has been way too long since I updated. Life has not been great lately and I really have just not been in the mood to blog.

The holidays were good. Spent time with family and had a great time watching Drake open all his presents. Spoiled little dude. I don't know why one little boy needs so much stuff, but I just can't help myself when I buy toys for him.

So my only New Year's resolutions (I know, I rarely keep them) is to better myself. In the effort to do this I have decided to do a few different things.

1. Exercise at least 3 times a week. So far so good. Some days (like today) I really have to force myself to do it, but I always feel so good when I do.
2. Take some classes. I am starting off with an accounting course which will hopefully help me start my own accounting/bookkeeping business. I am a bit nervous about this, but way excited to see how it goes. I start that course today and it should take about 6 weeks, if I can do it 3 hours a day, 4 days a week. So if you know of anyone who needs a bookkeeper for their business, please send them my way.
3. Complete an All About Me scrapbook album. I plan to do at least one layout every couple of weeks so I should have 26 pages by the end of the year. I am hoping this will force me to be creative again.
4. Lose weight. I know, it's everyone's goal, but so far I have lost 4.2 lbs, so I am well on my way.

I will try to post more often and update on how it is all going.

Christmas Quesionnaire

I received this little questionnaire a few times by e-mail so I thought I would just post it on my blog.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? HOT CHOCOLATE
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? WRAP PRESENTS (unless they are too awkwardly shaped)
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? WHITE LIGHTS AND ONLY ON THE TREE. PUTTING THEM ON THE HOUSE SEEMS LIKE SUCH A HASSLE
4. Do you hang mistletoe? OF COURSE, HOW ELSE WILL I GET ANYONE TO KISS ME?
5. When do you put up your decorations? WEEKEND AFTER THANKSGIVING
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? TURKEY, AND PRETTY MUCH AND TREAT THAT ONLY COMES AT CHRISTMAS
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I LOVED LAYING IN BED WAITING TO HEAR THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC THAT SIGNALED US TO GET UP FOR PRESENTS
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I DON'T HONESTLY REMEMBER
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? NOT USUALLY, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN YEARS WHEN WE ALL GOT NEW JAMMIES. AND I PLAN TO DO THAT FOR MY KIDS
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? LIGHTS, STRING OF BEADS, SILVER ORNAMENTS
11. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I GOTTA GO WITH DWEEBIES
12. Can you ice skate? NOT VERY WELL
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? A DOLLHOUSE THAT MY DAD MADE
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? BEING WITH PEOPLE I LOVE
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? DO I REALLY HAVE TO PICK JUST ONE? IF SO, THEN I AM GOING TO GO WITH GRANDMA'S GINGERBREAD COOKIES
16. What tops your tree? SOME SILVER SPIKE THING. DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS. WE BOUGHT IT THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE MARRIED.
17. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? GIVING
18. What is your favorite Christmas Song? O HOLY NIGHT and I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
20. Candy Canes? LOVE THEM
21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? YEAH, BUT IT DOES MAKE IT FUN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE KIDS.

Just a fun post

As loathe as I am to push Jensen Ackles down so I can't see him when I pull up my blog, I thought this was a fun post.

My fabulous sister-in-law had this posted on her blog. If you want to play along, here's how it works. Change the items to bold that you have done in your life.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (though it was when I was a kid and was forced to)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (not impressed)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (does a "layoff" count?)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved some one's life (does keeping my child alive every day count?)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Because if I had it to do over.....

I would marry Jensen Ackles. Sorry Shane.

Watch the video.

Tagged

Well, Jana tagged me. I am supposed to post the fourth photo from the fourth folder in my pictures, so here it is. I can't honestly remember what was happening the day I took this, but I love photos of Drake with his Daddy, so it's all good. Not the best photo, but I like it.

So Peggy, and Fink, let's see what your fourth photo in your fourth folder is.

Halloween

Over a month ago Drake decided he wanted to be a skeleton for Halloween, so I went looking for a costume and couldn't find one. So I thought I could convince him to be something else. My wonderful neighbor dug through her old halloween costumes and found a really cute Bob the Builder, but when I suggested it to Drake he did not like that idea at all. In fact, anytime anyone asked him what he was going to be he would respond by saying "I'm not gonna be Bob the Builder". So I went to e-bay (which I love) and found a really cute Dash from the Incredibles. I showed it to Drake and he thought that would be ok, so I bought it and we set about convincing him how cool Dash is. I thought he was totally fine with it, until one day about a week ago when we were at WalMart. He saw a skeleton costume and asked if that was his costume. I told him no, that he was going to be Dash. Well, he puckered up and just started crying. And not a bratty, give-me-what-I-want kind of cry. I am talking heart broken sobbing that he did not want to be Dash, he wanted to be a skeleton. "Please, Momma." So, because I am a sucker and he is spoiled, I bought the dang thing. But I must say, he looked so dang cute and was so happy that it was totally worth it.

Carving pumpkins

When I was a girl, one of my favorite things about Halloween was carving the pumpkins. I loved diggin out the "guts" and carving a face to make it a Jack-o-lantern.

Last night Shane, Drake and I carved our pumpkins, and I was forced to wonder why I loved it so much. It's kind of gross, and messy and you can't just make a simple face anymore, you have to get all fancy. I opted for an "easy" ghost pattern, that was not so easy for me. (I guess I am kind of a spaz). Shane went for the Phantom pattern, which turned out pretty cool, though he did break his little carving knife in the process. Drake drew a great little face on his and then I cut it out for him. He seemed to have a fun time so maybe it's just a kid thing.

Happy Birthday to my little dude

I truly cannot believe that Drake is already three. Today is his birthday and we took him to the Discovery Museum at the Gateway and then to Build a Bear. I think he had a good time.

Anyway, since today is his birthday I thought I would share some fun facts and such about him. Some you may know, and some you may not, but sit back and get to know my little three year old.

*He LOVES trains and anything train related. He even gets excited when he sees the TRAX train downtown. Anytime we go to the store we have to go look at the trains and he always begs to have one, though I try not to give in every time.
*He loves to run and hide when daddy gets home. Although he is the worst hider ever. As soon as Daddy says " I wonder where Drake is", he always yells out where he is hiding, so it makes finding him really easy.
*Whenever we are outside he thinks he needs to dig. He has a bucket of 'diggin stuff' that goes out with him and he will spend a good hour just digging in the dirt. We really need to get the poor kid a sandbox.
*He likes to watch cartoons he has never seen before, but he has his favorites that he always requests. Amongst which are Thomas, Spongebob, Curious George, and Total Drama Island (thank you Cartoon Network)
*He always gives me the cutest answers to questions unless I want him to repeat it for someone else. He truly says the funniest things and keeps me laughing all the time.
*He loves books and has since he was very little. From the time he could get around on his own I would find him in his room looking at books. I am still amazed at how well he will just sit and listen to a story, even a long one.
*He is an ice cream freak and would eat it for every meal if I would let him.
*He does not like juice, and would prefer milk or water.
*He constantly amazes people with how well he talks. In fact, that is the thing they most comment on (well, other than his immense energy level). I don't remember him saying many individual words, he pretty much just went straight to sentences.
*And speaking of which, one of his first sentences was "I push buttons". He loves buttons and loves to try to figure out how things work. I just know he will take apart more than one appliance for us later in life and probably not be able to get it back together.
*He has a great memory for songs and can usually pick up the words after hearing a song only a few times.
*He loves to "help" and is especially fond of sorting laundry.
*He loves to play rough, but has such a soft heart. He feels really bad if he thinks he has hurt you or hurt your feelings.

I am so happy to have him and love being his mom. Happy Birthday Drake.

No wonder I relate

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

You are observant, diplomatic and often aim to please. You are unaware of your
attractiveness and despite being uncomfortable with any form of attention, people enjoy your company. You can be impatient, stubborn and headstrong, but you are true to your word and mature for your age, often taking care of your family and enjoying a good book over chatting with girlfriends on the phone.

Gotta love hairless

A couple of weeks ago, I was informed that I won a $300 gift certificate for laser hair removal. Woohoo!! I have wanted to do this forever, but it is so expensive. Well I went for my consultation tonight and although I really wanted the trifecta (underarms, bikini line and legs) I don't want to have to take out a second mortgage, so I just started with the under arms. And much to my surprise, they were able to do my first treatment right then. I was a bit nervous because I really don't like pain of any kind, but it was lovely. It was far less painful and involved than I imagined and the two year guarantee is a very nice plus. I have 5 more treatments and then I won't have to shave my pits for a good long time. What a fabulous thought.

Got some time to kill?

Or even if you don't, here is a fun time waster for you. And a really fun thing is to play on easy level and see how high of a score you can get. I am the current champion in our house with a score of 3829. But I am sure Shane will devote as much time as possible just trying to beat me. Why can't you just let me win something? GOSH!!!!

"When you're curious, like Curious George"

One of the very first shows Drake ever requested on a regular basis was Curious George. We had to record them so he could watch any time he wanted. And I dare say I have seen every episode at least twice, though some I have seen 10 or more times. Anyway, he was watching the other day and suddenly it hit me; what does The Man in the Yellow Hat do? I mean, does he have an actually job? I remember one episode where he mentioned to George that he had to go to work, but I have never seen him at work. And he can just take off for a week or so to his country house, so if he does have a job he must be the boss since he has so much vacation time.


But I guess the bigger question is, if he doesn't have a job, where does he get all his money? He is obviously not poor as he lives in the city in a building with a door man. And it is obviously not inner-city because you never see drive-bys or scantily dressed young ladies hanging out on the corner. But seriously, he must have an endless supply of money because all trouble George gets into must cost a fortune to fix. Although nobody ever seems to be really mad about the trouble. "Oh, it's just George, no big deal."

And I also wonder, who let him bring George home from Africa in the first place and what kind of nut hole home owners association (you know that building has one) allows a man to have a pet monkey? Maybe The Man with the Yellow Hat is some super rich, super powerful overlord. That is the only explanation as to why he (and George) seem to be allowed to do anything they want (remember the episode where they went into space, and the one where they went diving for a satellite in the ocean and the list goes on and on) and the only reason why he is permitted to where that stupid yellow hat, not to mention the suit, and not get the snot beat out of him everywhere he goes. Of course, if anyone tried that, he could just sic George on them.