Packing

The other night the kids were all playing downstairs.  The older kids had come back upstairs but CiCi remained down.  She usually doesn't like to be downstairs by herself (she gets scared) so after 10-15 minutes I called down to her to make sure she was ok.

"CiCi!  Whatcha doing, baby!?"
"I'm packing for DisneyWorld!"

Haha.  I am not the only one excited and planning!

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Make the kids eat them!!!

And my personal favorite...

So you probably want the story behind these sour faces...

Shawn likes to leave notes for the kids for when they come home from school.  He usually includes a chore list for each child as well.  The chores are pretty typical.  Make your bed.  Do your homework.  Quack like a duck.  Whoa.  Wait.  Quack like a duck?  :)  The kids love it and really look forward to their chores.  This week we get to play with Tyler and Hailee after school so he included them in the chores.  And yesterday's chore list included, EAT A LEMON!  lol

Surprisingly, the kids all complied!  And what great pics!



Blogger App

Hey! There is a blogger app for my phone! It'll take me time to get used to it, but maybe it'll get me blogging again! Woot woot!

Can't Sleep

It is SO late, or rather - so early, and yet I can't sleep.  My Katie has been asleep for hours and yet I can't seem to get a wink in!  You'd think I would be taking advantage of this precious time, I haven't had a rested nights sleep in several days, maybe weeks.  But here I sit..

So I might as well blog.

There has been so much happening lately, so many stories, so many emotions, but what do I blog about? 

My heart is tired of the worry.  I wish I could think of some fun light hearted story to share. 

There has got to be something.  Think, GG, think!

Ok, I'm coming up blank.  So instead of a story, how about an obsession? 

Have I mentioned how much I love Glee?  And have I also mentioned that new episodes will begin in TWO DAYS!!  I am definately excited!  Who care who wins the superbowl!  I'm routing for Team Finchel!!  (Although, I have read several rumors that no such reunion will take place...In fact, (Spoiler Warning!)  I have read that Finn and Quinn get back together!  What!  Really?  He can forgive Quinn, but not Rachel.  Whatever.  Stupid high school drama.  Their couple name sucks too...what would it be?  Quin, with one N or Finn with two.  Dumb.  Lame.  Moving on.

I am really excited for the Thriller mash up!  And also equally enthusastic to hear Puck sing Fat Bottomed Girls on the Tues episode!  Although, I'm not sure how I feel about the show actually hooking Puck up with Lauren,  She really bugs me.

Well, I'm coming up blank again.  So I guess that's a sign to turn this thing off and try and get a little shut eye before the blood draws at 5.  Ugh.

Happy Happy Birthday Jut!

I thought I posted this yesterday.  I'm sorry.

Just a quick shout out to my little man!  Happy Birthday Justin!  Thank you for bringing such happiness to our lives!!

Black Friday is no time for Thanksgiving!

Every year, I bundle myself in a scarf and gloves, zip up my coat and trek out into the madness of Black Friday shopping, armed with an armful of ads and a cup of hot chocolate.

This year was going to be slightly different.  I had to work, which means I had to be out of the stores by 6:00 am and I would shopping by myself, which I have never done.  Even under those conditions, I was willing to face the madness. 

I should have known by the start of my morning (it's funny to even call it morning since I was at Walmart by 12:15 am) that it wasn't going to be an ideal experience.

It started with the lack of parking.  I had to park at a nearby store and the only spot available was right next to a snow bank which meant I couldn't open my driver's side door.  I had to crawl over the middle console and exit out the passenger door.  "It's all good" I thought to myself. "At least I don't have to wait outside in the cold."

With my hands in my pockets, I walked with determination to the store doors, plotting out my strategy for the deals I most wanted.  That was when my boots found a patch of black ice and my knees came crashed to the ground.  And before I could even retract my hands from their cozy pockets, my body lurched forward and into the ice my face went as the passersby continued on, not even offering a neighborly, "Are you okay?".  It wasn't quite the awakening that I was looking for, but what can you do?

I knocked the dirt and ice off my face and pants and stood strong, ego and knees a bit bruised by otherwise still determined.

When I reached the store doors, there was not a shopping cart in sight and the lines where already wrapped around the store.  Oh dear.

"That's okay.  I'll be able to move throughout the aisle with more ease and I won't be able to splurge because I can only buy what I can carry."  I told myself.

As I walked through the store with my arms filled with toys and pajamas, resembling poor little Gus Gus with his cheese pile, I was pushed and shoved and literally cattled to move by carts of INSANE people.  At one point, someone actually took some of the pajamas right out of my pile that was IN MY HANDS!

My stride had lost it's confidence as I made my way to the back of the line.  And I stood quietly and patiently, trying to maintain my composure as I continued to get shoved.  I had finally had enough.  I looked down at my measly pile of goodies and thought, "forget it.  I'm outta here."  So I set aside my pile and walked out the doors with nothing but a small tear in my eye. 

I came home, kicked off my shoes and got back in bed, defeated.  When my alarm went off, I wiped the eye make-up out from under my eyes and called it good.

The Lizard

So last night before the "big storm" I had to go to the store for our last minute Thanksgiving preperations for tonight.  It's our Pre-Thanksgiving with my parents today!  Yumm!

While we were driving I had the radio on and the newscasters kept talking about this "horrible blizard".  And I urged the kids to cooperate with me at the store (which they did VERY well) so we could hurry and get home before the storm hit.  Next thing I know Ciara says, "Mom!  I'm so afraid of the lizard!  Is the lizard here yet!?"

Poor thing! 

Furt

So I've been trying not to post too many Glee themed posts.  But after last night's episode I just can't help myself!

Last night was one of the best episodes to date!  When there was word of "the worst storm in ten years with possible black outs", I panicked!  No!  Not on Glee night! 

But thankful (just one more thing to add to my list of things I'm thankful for!), the power stayed on all night and I was able to get my Glee on!

Last night's storyline revolved around the marriage of Kurt's dad and Finn's mom (hence the episode title - Furt).  And the episode tied in the bullying storylines very nicely!  I was glad to see the gang team up to protect Kurt.  And Finn's "Just The Way You Are" made me cry! 

The wedding was one of the best I've seen on TV!  I loved the kids "gleeing" down the aisle to "Marry You"!  And I laughed so hard as the happy couple "gleed" along with them!  And the vows were very touching! 

And believe it or not, I'm actually going to miss Sue as principal!  She was great!  She was caring and supportive all while still being Sue!  Amazing writing!!

Another excellent episode!  Thank you Glee!

Horse Poo

Saturday, Misty came over with a trailer of horse manure for our gardens.  The kids were about confused on why she would bring us poo.

Katie asks, "What kind of poo did Misty bring?"

I answered, "Horse poop."

She gets this funny little look on her face as her eye brows furrow with confusion.  "What do you do with horse poop?"

And my sweet little Justin chimes in without skipping a beat to answer her, "You throw it at the neighbors."

I just busted out laughing!  He said it so innocently, like it was a matter of fact.

Classic Skating

One of Katie's friends, Malachi, has been inviting her to go skating with him almost every week since they met in 1st grade.  I am still a very protective parent and I don't want to just allow her to go without me knowing the parents.  So I've become friends with his mom, Natalie.  She's really nice and we have a lot in common.   She started inviting all of us to go skating with them for about a year now.  Not only is her son in Katie's class but her daughter is in Justin's class.  So the kids are all friends.

So what's the problem?  They go on Tuesdays.  As most of you know, I don't like to do anything during the week.  AND Tuesday is GLEE NIGHT!  Hello!!

So when I finally admitted this to her, she laughed and offered to take the kids so I could have a kid-free Glee night.  Although I know her better now, I'm still just not comfortable with them going without me.  But this week Glee was not on and the kids have been BEGGING to go.  So I agreed...under one condition.  They had to let me put their hair in pony tails.  I didn't want the girl's hair in their face the whole night.

Justin immediately said, "But my hair's not long enough."

I just couldn't help myself.  I started to play with him.  "Of course it is.  EVERYONE has to wear pony tails in order to get into the skate rink.  Even the boys."

His little sweet eyes pondered that statement for a few seconds.  "So if I don't wear a pony tail, I can't go?"

"That's right."  I know...I'm so mean.

"And ALL the boys wear them?"

"Yes - or they aren't allowed in.  Do you want to go or not?"

So he agreed!  I was shocked.  I didn't expect him to fall for this joke.  So I HAD to keep playing.  He stood there like a good little boy and let me put the tiniest little pony tail on the top of his hair.  It was the funniest thing I had ever seen!  I just busted out laughing!  That's when the tears started to roll, but he still was willing to wear it in order to go skating.

I didn't let him cry for very long. Just long enough for me to get a pic and then I told him the truth.  That Mommy was just teasing and I'm sorry I made him sad.  I removed the pony tail and kissed his sweet little face.  I still feel bad, but I also still think it's funny that he LET me put that pony tail in his hair.

We grabbed the kids scooters and joined our friends.  I hadn't been skating since I was a teenager.  And I've never been rollerblading.  I tried it once, but I just couldn't get it.  So I was glad to see that most adults were actually on good ol fashioned roller skates!  Woohoo!  AND I'm happy to report that I did not fall!  That doesn't mean I didn't do the balance wave with my arms flinging in the air, but I was always able to catch my balance.

The kids had a GREAT time!  And surprisingly, so did I.  We stayed til close, which is only 9:00 but that's pretty late for us to be out on a school night.  The kids are already begging to go again.