Give Him a Hand

If your kids are like my kids then they love to paint. Nothing in particular, mind you. The verb paint is used loosely to describe the act of slathering innocent reams of printer paper with as much wet, sloppy color as they can hold.

Yes, I said reams. I have REAMS of painted paper. Piles. Mountains. SO in honor of My Love's birthday I decided to utilize my wealth of water color paintings. We started with making some hand prints...

...and putting them together for a birthday banner.

No birthday is complete without a handmade card. No pun intended :-p

Happy birthday My Love. You are the light of my life. I love you truly, madly, deeply.

So, gentle reader, what do you do with all that excess "artwork" your kids create?

No Flying Allowed and A Random Dozen 3

My poor Marli learned the hard way that humans... no matter how enthusiastically they flap... are NOT made to fly. Her maiden voyage off the ladder of her brother's loft bed landed in a an itty bitty walking cast. Healing should take about four weeks. Its a tiny little crack on the toe end of her fifth metatarsal... er... the wee littlest piggy. Look at her little bones... they don't even touch yet. Oh they are so cute on the inside as well as the out... sigh.

We ARE fearfully and wonderfully made.

She was so brave too. From the doctor to getting the x-rays to being fitted for the cast she never complained or cried. I think she rather enjoyed all the attentioin and being carried everywhere.

Anyway, because of Marli's adventure I am a little late in putting up my Random Dozen. Once again Linda @ 2nd Cup has given my brain something to chew on...

... here's what it spit out. :-p'




1. Which is worse: a long, boring meeting or standing in a return/exchange line after Christmas?

I can not remember ever being in a long boring meeting... I can, however, remember being in some overly long completely boring collage classes. I must honestly say that in comparison to those classes I actually enjoy standing in the return/exchange line after Christmas.

For one thing, I am the type that has no qualms about striking up conversations with strangers for my own entertainment. That is totally looked down upon during lectures in a classroom. Another thing is that after Christmas EVERYTHING is half off. It's the perfect time to take back that ugly, green, turtle neck sweater, complete with twinkling lights, that my out of state (and mind) great aunt sent me and grab myself some bargains with the store credit.

The only bargain I ever got from those long past, too boring for words classes was an open eyed nap for the price of tuition. :-p

2. Except for maybe Rosie O'Donnell or Ann Coulter, nobody likes confrontation, yet we all have to deal with it. When you feel cornered and defensive, do you "bite back" or become passive aggressive?

I am sooooo passive ... not aggressive at all... just passive. Go ahead, blame it all on me, I'll take the rap if it brings about peace and order.

3. Do you know anything about your genealogical background? (What country, culture, ties to prominent historical figures, or other stuff.)

On my mother's side I am Pennsylvania Dutch of German descent. A quiet people of huntsmen and crafts women.

On my fathers side I get more German and lots of deep, dark Scandinavian. And by deep and dark I am talking Vikings. My paternal relatives grow out their beards, and don their horned helmets to take part in a Scandinavian festival every year. They wear fur and roar and pillage and plunder on a viking ship shaped float. I've seen pictures... its not pretty.


4. What is the quickest way a person can endear him/herself to you?

Babysit for free. :-D

5. Cake, pie, cookies, or ice cream? (Note there is no "all of the above" option. You must choose one. Feel free to elaborate on flavor or memories tied to this dessert.) If you'd like, you can share a recipe, but you certainly don't have to.

I could live off ice cream. Denali's makes some killer flavors like Bear Claw (dark chocolate, fudge and caramel swirls and chocolate covered cashews) and Extreme Moose Tracks (chocolate ice cream, fudge swirls, and dark chocolate filled chocolate cups). Sinfully good.

6. Females: Do you regularly change your handbag to coordinate with your outfit?

This is going to be such a let down to some of you, but I have used only two different purses in the last 12 years. AND they both look pretty much the same. I had a small, tan, knit bag before I had kids, and now I have a large, tan, knit bag that holds all the stuff I carry for the kids.




7. Are you task-oriented or relationship-oriented?

I must be task oriented cuz I'm not sure I know what being relationship oriented means.

8. IHOP, Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel?

I have only been to IHOP... I think I would prefer one of the other two. ;-)

9. Have you ever left a movie in progress in a theater? Why?

Nope. We are pretty careful about what we go to see at the movie theater. And once I've paid ten bucks to watch something I'm. Going. To. Watch. It.

10. What is one area of life in which you would like to develop more discipline or organization?

The kids' schooling. I'm getting there, but I know I'm still lacking in some areas. We flip flop from one subject to another depending on our mood. Sometimes I even let the kids choose which subject they want to do next. Its worked so far though. Kiah is reading everything she can get her hands on and trying to be extra good at math because she is going to be an astronaut... and "they need to be good at numbers ya know".

James is a little more challengling but he does the work I put in front of him... eventually. He wants to be anything that allows him to drive a vehichle with sirens.

Sometimes our sit down school day lasts two hours other days it will drag on forever... Seems to me it should be a little more regular but, then again, LIFE is not regular.

11. Was middle school fun or painful?

I only remember glimpses of middle school but they can all be rated neutral to good. Certainly not painful, so I choose fun.

12. What is your favorite Fall beverage?

Eggnog. It is so yummy. I don't like the fancy homemade stuff. Just give me the artificially flavored, packaged in a cardboard carton, always on sale, eggnog. MMMMmmmmm.

A Random Dozen

What would I do without my 2nd Cup of Coffee? ;-)

So as not to leave you all wanting more :-p I give you my answers to Linda's awesome new meme.

1. What is something that you have changed your mind about either recently or over a number of years?

Four words...

...The quiver is full.

2. Choose either subject, but does your a) church b) job feel more like a dental chair experience or an easy chair (recliner) experience?

This is going to sound terrible but considering the amount of high pitch whining I hear at church and the fact that I haven't heard a complete sermon in approximately seven years I would have to equate my church experience to a dental chair. Its not the congregants or the pastor whining, lol, its my kids. "I'm hungry, I need to go potty, he keeps touching me, she pulled my dress, are we done, can I go play".... and on and on and ON. I'm not really complaining... just stating the facts my friend, just stating the facts.

Last Sunday I took at least five trips to the bathroom during the one hour sermon, never once relieving myself mind you. I cleaned up a bathroom accident once pre-sermon and once post sermon... one puddly, aaaaaaaaand one not.

Hmmm... seems a good amount of the whining is coming from yours truly... my bad. :-p

Now my job, on the other hand, that's the easy chair. I have a college degree and I make pizzas... see what I'm saying? Its not rocket science. Great peeps, though, and it pays for groceries.


3. Kisses or hugs? I actually typed "huts," which might have been a more interesting question.

I don't mind most hugs, but if you are kissing me you better be my husband or one of my babies. Otherwise you are free to give me as many huts as your little heart desires.

4. What do you think is the biggest threat to families today?

Technology (I say hypocritically). Not stuff like running water and electric lights and the LANDLINE phone. But its getting ridiculous with the bud in one ear and the bluetooth in the other. I'm fine with the radio... anything past that gets a big fat raspberry.

5. A day after you grocery shop, you open a perishable item that is horribly spoiled. Do you take your receipt back to the store to be reimbursed or just throw it away and forget about it?

GASP! WHAT! That's cash in the trash! Having done my time as a grocery store employee I know that any store worth its weight in clippable coupons will gladly do whatever it takes to make their customers happy. I once took back a bad box of Junior Mints (they were hard) and those were just a buck. It was a big box :-O Are junior mints perishable? Apparently so.

6. What personality trait (feel free to address good or bad or both) do you notice yourself adopting from your parents?

From my dad, complacency and a twisted sense of humor. From my mom, the ability to cry at the drop of a hat.

7. How many slices of bread do you leave in the bottom of the bag when you throw it away? Two? Three? Just the heel? None? (I really want to know if you eat the heel.)

!!!???!!!

MORE cash in the trash?

I am a little baffled by this question. Does anyone actually throw away bread? Why? Whats with that? In my household of six we go through about four loaves a week. FOUR BIG FAT LOAVES and I don't buy the cheap spongy stuff either.

When my kids complain of hunger THREE SECONDS AFTER DINNER (C'mon Becky compose yourself)... a slice of bread is one of their options.

French toast once a week, eggs and toast, pb&j every other day, grilled cheeses, cinnamon toast... we eat a lot of bread.

The heels...

I used to be able to trick the kids into eating the heels by turning them inside out on the sandwich... that doesn't work any more. When Marli was a little littler she would eat them during the after dinner feeding frenzy, but she is almost three now and, in her great age and wisdom, has begun to appreciate the finer things in life.

Not wanting to be wasteful I take the heels, bag them up, and keep them in the freezer. When we have collected a loaf or two of heels it is time to visit the ducks... usually on the way to the dump. Its a day out for us. A cheap... er... inexpensive day out. Often times I become faint at the last minute and remain home insisting that the rest of the family goes on with out me (hehhehheh) "The ducks are counting on you" I plead with conviction, and off they go leaving me home ... alone. (Thank you My Love)


The heels... represent freedom. And the ducks will eat anything you throw at them.

8. What mispronunciation or usage error really irritates you?

I can't think of what bothers me but if you are irritated by RANDOMLY capitalized words AND frequently "misused" punctuation!!! Then you ??? probably won't be ONE of my followers, any, time, soon!!!!~

9. In honor of the uniqueness of today's date, what does the numeral 9 mean to you? (Any special life moments attached to the 9th? Are you the 9th kid in your family? Can you count by 9s really fast? etc.)

9... 9th...? Yesterday was the 9th? Really?

10. Does the general color palette in your closet match the colors you chose to decorate your home with?

IF my home were decorated I would totally use the colors from my closet. Navys, burgundys, deep greens, and goldenrod. Then a few surprise splashes of bright color... because it was on sale... and it was the only one in my size.

11. When you're hanging out with friends in the kitchen, do you automatically ask to help, or do you sit there and chat until the host asks if you'd like to help? I'm not implying that the 2nd choice stems from rudeness or laziness, just not a first-response like it is for some people.

I ask if I can help with the hope that they will say, "Oh, no thanks, I got it alllll under control." That way I'm free to chase my kids around their house ensuring that they don't destroy anything.

12. Let's end on a pleasant note: What do you enjoy about September the most?

The promise of Fall. The cooler weather. The shorter days. The rich colors. The warm kitchen where there is always something in the oven.

Go to Linda's @ 2nd Cup of Coffee, grab a mug, link up, and enjoy.

Day Glow Donuts, H1N1, ABCs, and Obama

Let me just start by saying that I was being sarcastic in my previous post when I asked, "Don't those day glow donuts look gooooood?"

I know its odd to find me being a bit sarcastic (ahem) but its the truth.

As I mentioned to a friend (on her blog) I prefer my food in natural earth tones... like chocolate brown.

Warning:
I actually express a political opinion in this post which is unusual for me. Just wanted to give you a heads up. Please, don't hate me. ;-)

So I was watching the news (which I like to call "Information I Was Better Off NOT Knowing"...see, not a bit of sarcasm here) and it turns out that the high school not even 15 minutes (which I attended back in the day) from my house has about 300 students out sick with H1N1 (swine flu). But, as the news reporter stated, there is no need to panic. SERIOUSLY!!!!! 300 students (70% confirmed by the way) are out with a pandemic flu in my very small emo goth community and I should not PANIC! I guess we wouldn't want healthy students to stay home and cause the school to lose even more money. If they are gonna stay home they would rather they already HAVE the flu! Jeewillikers. Just be sure to wash your hands after you visit my blog. Thats all I'm saying.



The reporter then states that no one has been hospitalized in the area due to this flu. Oh thank you, that is such a comfort. GOLLY! See no reason to take any precautions when 1 out of 6 of high school's students are sick. Excuse me while I lick this door handle because obviously there is no need to panic.

Have I mentioned that I am involved with a high school ministry that is made up of about 50-80 students who attend the infected campus. These kids are not just going from school to home with bags over their heads!

*DEEEEEP breath* Aaaaaaand... moving on.

Did you know that Facebook has memes too? Wow! They are pretty much the same ones that circulate here... go figure. You've seen one questionnaire you've seen them all. This one was called The ABCs Of Me. It is a little self absorbed but when I am old and I am reading this again off of my memory chip implant I know it will make me smile at how self absorbed and NOT sarcastic I was.




A - Age: 33, I think, *doing the math*, Yep 33.

B - Bed size: Most nights, too small.

C - Chore you hate: Are there supposed to be some I like?

D - Dog's name: Flip, aka Flippah dippah dooooo dahhhhh! or Flip The Amazing. Our friends come to visit the dog and say hi to us on their way through.

E - Essential start your day item: More sleep.

F - Favorite color(s): Blues (and chocolate brown).

G - Gold or Silver: Don't wear much jewelry but when I do I prefer silver.

H - Height: 5'2"

I - Instruments you play: Flute, Alto sax... piano, sort of. I need lessons.

J - Job title: Wife, Mom,Teacher, Pizza Whisperer.

K - Kids: No thanks. I already have some.

L - Living arrangements: I live in a house with My Love and our four kids and a menagerie of pets who are family in their own special way. My parents live across the street so imagine the show Everybody Loves Raymond but without the humor, laugh tract or situational comedy.

M - Mom's name: Why, is someone talkin' smack about her?

N - Nicknames: Boo, Supafreak, My Love, Mommy.

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Yep, appendicitis. Best vacation ever!

P - Pet Peeve: Rude/stupid drivers (myself included :-/ )

Q - Quote from a movie: "Tuh not tuh", Tow Mater. "I write in my journal to keep secrets from my computer", Dwight Shroot. See, how cultured am I? :-p

R - Right or left handed: Right mostly but the left one works too.

S - Siblings: 1 older brother.

T - Time you wake up: I GET up around 7ish... I WAKE up around 11am.

U - Underwear: Under there!

V - Vegetable you dislike: Bell peppers.

W - Workout style: Mothering.

X - X-rays you've had: Hand, teeth, abdomen.

Y - Yesterday's best moment: My Love came home from work early.

Z - Zoo favorite: Any of the animals I don't get to see in the woods around my house on a daily basis. Like hippos. Hippos are cool! I don't see them around here much. And I like the giraffes.

So there you have it. Next time I do this one hopefully the answers will have changed. I don't want to be stuck in a rut.

Hmmmm....

Right now I am wondering how many of you made it through the whole alphabet and are still with me in my random, late night, semi panicked, half asleep, laundry avoiding state?

Now, whats this I hear about Obama sending out a back to school address to students to be shown in the class room? Couldn't it just be aired prime time so students and parents could watch it together? Have any other presidents attempted to do this? Doesn't he know that he would be considered WAY cooler if he just posted it on U toob and it was found by accident?

I'm just sayin'.

I completely support the president's desire to encourage youngsters to do their best and perhaps it should even become a presidential tradition. However, my home school curriculum will not include my children writing letters to themselves on what they can do to help the president or what the president wants them to do. I'm all for respecting the leader of the free world but I will not follow blindly, and prayerfully neither will my children be required too.

Hopefully he will at least remind them to wash their hands.

Hello September,

Where did you come from? You just popped right up out of nowhere didn't ya. Here I was listening to complaints of a long cold winter, then fanning myself through the lengthy days of Summer... wait!

Where was Spring?

September, you sneaky month you. Where did you hide Spring? Well, you're here now. I guess I have to deal with you. Which means I have to get the kids back into a school friendly schedule of NOT being in their jammies until noon. It means that I have to look at skulls, dead bodies and ISLES of easily consumed candies every time I grocery shop. It means that Autumn is upon us.

I suppose it could also mean that I should get back to blogging more regularly. It doesn't HAVE to mean that but its my blog... so it will.

And since I am a dry well of blog fodder I would like to thank Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee for creating a meme for me to do.



Don't those day glow donuts look goooood?

1. When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration?

Honey Nut Cheerios and Spaghettios with "meat"balls.

2. What is something that people are currently "into" that you just don't get or appreciate?

What are people into nowadays anyway?

3. What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel "ho-hum" about?

Spending time ALONE! Grocery shopping ALONE! And my favorite... thrift store shopping ALONE. The only other thing I think is better is spending time ALONE with My Love.

...i like to be alone.

LOL at "hoists your sail".

4. Favorite song to sing in the shower or car?

Always by Jewel, and close runner up is Always and Forever by Heatwave.

5. A really great salad must have this ingredient:

Ranch dressing. I know I'm so uncultured :-p

6. Advice in a nutshell to new bloggers (one or two sentences):

If you want to be noticed you have to notice others. Do it for fun and be true to yourself.

7. What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you? Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you?

I think I was going to be Steven which, as a girl, would have been a little awkward... I'll stick with Becky.

8. What in your life are you waiting for?

The return of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everything else pales in comparison.

9. You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from?

Its FREE homeschool curriculum and all the exact stuff I needed/wanted. Its from my fairy homeschool mother.

10. Today--what song represents you?

I... don't ... know... What song do you think of when you think of me?

11. What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself?

I am not alone!!! LOL! There are other mommies who come thiiiiiiiis close ( ) to cooking and eating their children on a daily basis.

12. How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you're wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you're feeling today?

I will and always do wear whatever is clean and comfy... and the clean part is negotiable. As a slightly psychotic Mommy of four kids age seven and under my clothes say... "hmmm, she must be a carzy Mom of four kids seven and under."

Lets not even talk about the hair do.




If you want to answer a Random Dozen then go ahead. Then stop by Linda's to let her know ya did.

Thanks Linda :-D

The Morning After

So the actual morning after the sleep over was Thursday.

I survived.

I dropped off the last friend around 2pm after Space Chimps, breakfast, beading, snacking, whining, a quick lunch and a stop at the park.



Kiah didn't want it to end. She rode home with her hand pressed longingly against the window fruitlessly grasping at moments passed, blubbering uncontrollably.



It was ... it was... well, it was pitiful. She sees these friends about twice a week so I have a sneaky suspicion that she was not going through friendship withdraws but sugar/sleep withdraws.

She even wandered out of her room after bedtime to tearfully inform me that she misses her friends and can't stop thinking about them.

~sigh~

Oh to be seven.


I can't believe we are into the weekend. At least the beginnings of it. I feel the need for some major thrift store therapy but time on the weekends is divided between ministries, momming, work, and catching up with everything I should have been getting done during the week. Lately any time I get to thrift shop seems to be right before the store closes and I hate rushing my thift store experiences. Its like going in for a full spa treament only to have them send you home without getting your shoes off.

For now I'm going to settle for a dose of Seinfeld and some much needed pillow therapy. I hope to someday have time to catch up on my posts and catch up with you.

Have a blessed weekend.

What Was I Thinking

It started innocently enough. Kiah wanted to have a slumber party. I knew what to expect but did that stop me? NooooOOOOoooo.


After taking part in a massive kid swap we arrived home around 6:30. Giggling ensued. I prepared dinner while the girls terrorized anything that stood still long enough (ie, Booger, Flip, Mo, etc.). Then we ate... and ate, and ate, and...ATE! After dinner the girls had to earn their Eskimo pies by listening to a Bible story and answering a question correctly. They were all rewarded.


After dinner we decorated some sugar cookies and went for a walk/giggle fest/race that ended in more pet torture. The girls tried to eat the cookies but they only tasted as good as they looked. LOL!!!


Then there were crafts. They painted sun catchers. It was actually quiet for about three minutes before they finished and began revving up on their next sugar rush. I directed their energy around the couch, like any normal mother would, which resulted in a three girl pile-up.





Of course anytime we have kid friends over there are unceasing requests to hold the snakes. Candy is getting ready to shed so Mocha and Red were up. I had to laugh when the one girl who was requesting to hold the snakes the most was actually terrified of them, but only when they moved. At first she put Mocha bravely around her neck but as soon as Mocha turned to crawl back around she recieved her first flying lesson. HA! Not to worry, she was no worse for the wear. LOL! Our snakes have become accustomed to the squeezy hands of youngsters.



By this time the clock was racing toward 10pm so it was time to put the little girls to bed and let the big girls have the night to their 7-9 year old, grown up selves. G'nite Marli and Eden...sweet dreams.


I had been saving the movie Annie for a special occasion. Kiah had never seen it and to my shock neither had any of her friends. They were ENTHRALLED! I chuckled inside thinking about how hard I try to entertain and enlighted and sometimes I just need to regress. Who needs Hannah Montana... we have Annie. One girl did lament the fact that it was "singy dancing" movie but each time a song and dance came up they were glued to the screen.



After Annie was safe and sound with Daddy Warbucks it was time to hit the sack... and by sack I mean tent out in the front yard.


It took a few warnings and I had to threaten a few lives but they finally all quieted down, the giggling ceased and they all feel fast asleep around 12:30 am.

~deep breath~

The morning I'm sure will be filled with more giggling, crafts, sugar, nail polish, videos and cranky girls.







P.S. Please forgive me for being so sporadic in my posting and visiting. I always seem to be out of time or energy. What happened to all those lovely indoor winter days? HA! Hugs to all.

What!?! ABC Wednesday

I can't believe that its Wednesday already. ABC Wednesday is back to A. I gave up at R during the last round. Let me see if I can come up with something to talk about that begins with the letter A.

...

.....

How about atrophy. My gray matter has become non-functioning and as much as I want it to work for me now, it refuses.

I have scanned countless photos and nothing...

Atrophy of the brain due to lack of use. I guess that is what happens when one functions on a junior high level of intelligence.

lol

Here I Am

So I decided to post simply so my bloggy friends would no longer envision me lying in a ditch somewhere, leaking bodily fluids into the soil, all the while my lap top lies just out of reach. I strain to reach the "publish post" button but to no avail. The crumpled vehicle has me pinned, my mocha frappaccino is splashed throughout the wrecked interior and the onstar is non-existant.

No, it is far less dramatic. Nothing really, in fact. Just life in general... which does involve a plethora of bodily fluids, but I'm quite sure you don't want to hear about that.

BUT... do you see it?!? I got something bloggy done tonight. My lovely new header. Now I am exahausted so I bid you ado... until my next late night burst of energy.

I know exactly how she felt.

Coming Attractions:

Haircuts
Family Camp
Project 365: A Major Catch Up
The boy's B-day (aka A Trip to the Zoo)

Writer's Workshop

The Prompts:

1.) Interview a child.

2.) How do you stave off boredom?

3.) Write a poem for the little boy in your life.

4.) Describe a memorable interview or talk about your experience trying to find a job amidst this recession.

5.) Create a Help Wanted Ad.

My Boy James

In any room you are the scene,
loud and proud lover of green,
a t-rex a croc or a bat today,
there is no limit to your boyhood play.

Questions from you unlimited flow,
boggle the mom but you simply must know,
curiosity killed the cat, "Is that true?"
It applies to the whiskered, but of course not to you.

The outdoors are yours you are king of the hill,
Owies and scars on your knees from the thrill,
Frogs, a lizard, a snake and a snail,
are toted along in your play dented pail.

And when the adventure of the day does end,
to the dreamship with a kiss on your cheek I do send,
"Mommy will you lay here and sing to me,
rub my tummy and cuddle for a minute or three?"

Another side to you that is rarely seen,
which comes out at bedtime when you're ready to dream.
Blue shining eyes soften and ready to close,
"I love my mommy." and then off you doze.

And since I forgot to post this ON Father's Day I will do so now. I know some of you have been waiting on pins and needles (don't you know thats dangerous!?!) to see how it came out.




To the other boy in my life
you are the best!
I love you My Love!

A Pinkalicious Day! ~ Wordful Wednesday

"Mommy, when you are home to work will you bring pinks for making cupcake stuffs. And make sure you bring da cherries for the tops."

How can a mommy resist such a request? Especially when it comes from a freckle faced cutie like this.




Here is the book that started it all.
Written by Victoria Kann and illustrated by Elizabeth Kann.




Pink-aboo!




So for no particular reason at all we set out to make today pinkalicious.

Eden played the part of Pinkerbelle. LOL!

Vanilla icing, vanilla cake, a few drops of red food dye and pink sprinkles... TAH DAH!



Is that Pinkerella?



Today was pool day at a friends house so we took our pinkcakes to share.




"Am I going to really wake up pink Mommy?"
(that is what happens to the main character in the book)

I smirked and answered, "Perhaps, after all, you did eat A LOT of pinkalicious pinkcakes."

Eden, now wide eyed, "Cool."

Well, I thought to myself, it could happen. I DID forget sunblock on their arms. :-/ Please no lectures. I remembered everywhere else and the pool was in the shade :-)




Thus ends this pinkorama.

A Little Posty

I just found a nice giveaway over here at MY SWEET SAVANNAH with super classy prizes. I'm gonna enter. Yup I is.

Evidently I find myself in an odd mood. I'm tired from work (making pizza is hard, wah) and unmotivated at home. Obviously I am unable to kick start my thought life as well because my blog has been sitting idle for so long that the comments are being moderated. I have it set for posts over five days old just in case someone reads back.

Why would someone read back??? Maybe to find out if I have always been so funny/weird/esoteric/boring/slakerly/smelly/quirky... you may pick your own adjective.

I have thought of a few posts to write but none of them have happened.

Saw UP. Liked it. A lot. Took the kids. They liked it. A lot.

Saw Star Trek. Liked it. No kids. Liked that. A lot. ;-)

Have you tried that whipped cream cheese? Its da bomb! If you like cream cheese you must try it whipped. Its so soft you can dip your crker right in and it won't break. It spreads super nice as well for those of you who would never dip anything into a container meant for public usage.

My kids eat dirt, see, it could be worse.

I get to work tonight and I get paid. Yay! The job is going well even though my very not a teenagers body doth protest. I still haven't memorized all the toppings and probably messed up once too often, but I'm getting there. They actually had to dump a pizza last night because I put the wrong meat on it. Woopsie. My Bad.

I think my brain is emptied for now. Until I hit publish. As it is I have been staring out the window for five minutes trying to think of something else to say.

Pathetic :-p And I mean that in a very self loving affectionate way.

Shhhhhhh.....

It is so quiet here right now. Here being home. My parents are finally back from a month long road trip and they invited Kiah and James over to play with their new puppy... a miniature dappled dachshund. Her name is Daisy and she is about the size of one of Mo's paws. Mo is their lab mix... he is BIG. Pictures are necessary for full comedic impact of that pair but they will be shown at another time.

Anyway, my other two lovelies are napping. I wore them out at the thrift stores this afternoon. My Love is home but also napping. He has kid duty tonight and so must be fully rested. I am working tonight. 5-10 doing something that will probably make me sore. I did not realize that making pizza was such a workout but I have come home after each shift very sore and exhausted. But being a mom I recover quickly.

Next week end I will be busy busy busy! I work 6-11 thurs, fri, and sat and I'm doing a yard sale. I LOVE having yard sales. Its a great way to get grown ups to come to my house. I usually have water or lemonade available and popsicles or lollipops to give to kids. What doesn't sell will most likely be going to the thrift stores where I can make regular visits to it until someone gives it a home.

I have completely enjoyed doing this last giveaway. Stuff like that is so fun for me. I'm a giver. When I'm out shopping around I see little trinkets (ok sometimes secondhand junk, lol) at thrift stores or garage sales that reminds me of someone, and I want to get it for them. Usually I refrain because, having done so before, I have found that the thought of getting stuff from the thrift store makes some of my pals naseous. I don't get that. I'm all into second hand stuff. I love thrift stores, garage sale, yard sales, *drool* ...

I thought I would do give aways a little more often... smaller ones, using some of the great finds I come upon. After my yard sale I will set aside any of the nicer stuff and do giveaways for it here. Hmmmm... I'm just wondering if it would work. It would sort of be like a thrift store but you don't pay, you just enter a drawing to win my junk. Would any of you be into that? Maybe in a new blog by itself. I'll have to work out the details... Free Stuff Friday is kinda catchy ;-)

I suppose that is enough rambling for one post and I want to hop in the shower before work.

OH! To all my giveaway winners I'll be going to the post office Mon or tues to ship your stuff. Thanks again for playing!

Robin, I got your email, we're good to go.

Giveaway Results Watch Me Wednesday Style

The results are in and...

I love you!

oop...

I mean, I thank you all so much for entertaining and humoring me for the past couple of weeks. I definitely needed the escape from reality today. It was just hectic and I have no one to blame but myself.

I started the day out by forcing the kids to work on a Father's Day project only to realize that Father's Day is still actually over two weeks away.
~sigh~
Wish I had realized that before
I had made them cry.

Then I had snacks to make for a hundred plus highschoolers who go to Campus Life. And, of course, I procrastinated until the last minute on tallying and preparing your comments for the drawing. Shame on me.

Then there was just life in general which today involved convincing a 2yo. to use a potty instead of the floor, an overly loud/whiny five yo. boy who stayed up waaaaaaay to late, a sweet but sneaky pair of blonds who wanted everything I have said no to in the last month, and PMS.

So if you find a bite out of any chocolate that you may have won, now you know why.

Despite all of the above I did get it all done and below you will find a revealing video *snicker*

I do apologize for the length of the video. and if you do not have a fast connection then I suggest you just skip it and scroll down to where I actually typed out all the information you are looking for. My video "clip" turned out to be eight minutes. EIGHT MINUTES!!! Which wouldn't be so bad if I actually had something to say.

I also found out some things about myself from the making and viewing of this results video:

1. I should always, ALWAYS be scripted when on camera. ALWAYS.

2. I'm a bit bizarre. Perhaps that is what draws some of you back... its hard to bear but yet you can't look away. LOL.

3. I lather/rinse/repeat as in overkill. In fact, after My Love helped me film he said, "you're gonna have to change your blog name to Ramblings of a Mom."

Perhaps, but I don't want to be obvious. :-p

4. I like to wear My Love's shirts. I guess I could have changed into some of my own clothes for the sake of appearances but I was keepin' it real ya know... yeah... thats it. At least I had a bra on. I know TMI.

5. I crack myself up.

*whimper*cry*wail*

Apparently we don't own a computer with the capability to upload an 8 minute video :-(

Why didn't I just edit the post so there wasn't all this build up and then a big let down!?!?!?!?!

Because I'm a little lazy like that ;-)

I'll just include a copy of it for you winners... maybe someday I'll get it to post... until then, read on for the winners.

Congratulations to...

Robin @ Be Still and Know - 21st commenter

Skoots1mom @ My Hands His Glory - 100th commenter

DaNella @ Beyond Microbursts - 200th commenter (and for most comments)

Saundra @ Italian Mama Gone Crazy - 1st random drawing winner

You have all won this...




And Danella gets this bonus.

AND

Laura~Peach @ Silence is Broken - 2nd random drawing (must be a nonwinner) winner gets this...

There may be a little something extra thrown in with all those for good measure too.

YAY!

Also, I want to pay it forward to...

Hair Bows & Guitar Picks

Mel @ Voice for Moms

AND

Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee

Whew!
Don't be surprised if you don't see me for a few days because I may be passed out on the floor and the kids will be using me as a TV pillow.

I'm just saying ;-)

Now all of you winners need to send me your mailing address so I can get you your prize and pay it forward. My email is...

gbhadley @ yahoo . com

With no spaces of course ;-)