Halloween Madness...Part One

So today was just one of those days, where I spend almost the whole day in the car.  Before we left home, I took this picture which is the boys dressed in the school safe version of their costumes before they had a chance to get messed up. (no masks, no weapons)

It only took me three tries to get this picture!  That is a feat let me tell you.  Anyway, in case you don't know the three year old is Larryboy (a Veggie Tales superhero) and the six year old is GI Joe Duke.

We left home this morning at 7:15 AM to make our first stop at Dunkin Donuts, since as class mother I am responsible for bringing the various goodies for the Halloween party in and doughnuts just can't be bought in advance.  So then I drop off the six year at his school with their party paraphenilia and then it is off to the three year old's school along with his goodies for their Halloween party.  Then I get home where I have an entire thirty minutes to myself or to clean the kitchen.  Guess which one won.  Anyway then it is off to the three year old's school for their parade.

Then is photo sessions inside with kids and their friends as I and several other parents have to forcibly remove our children from the school.  My son was appeased only by the Halloween present given to him by his teacher. (a book)  Then was lunch followed by driving to the six year old's school for their Trick or Trunk.  If you've never participated in one, basically all the parents line their cars up in the parking lot as the children trick or treat at your trunks.  Here is that scene....

The little guy participated too but this is what he was most excited about...

Until we got home and he realized we had this...

I should have put something for scale next to it but suffice it to say, I have two lasagna trays of candy and today isn't Halloween yet.  The hubby has threatened to give out their loot to trick or treaters tomorrow but guess whose the big kid with the sweet tooth....

Just as side note Halloween is the only day of the year where they play Thriller all day, so if you are flipper like me you can hear it several times but in case you can't here's a link.
http://www.mtv.com/videos/michael-jackson/13322/thriller.jhtml

You should hear the three year old do the evil laugh at the end.  Hilarious!

Things Kids Say Thursday #3

Here are some of the funny and/or strange things my kids have been saying this week.

6 year old boy (on wearing his winter coat) I hate this.  Now I'm all fluffy and people are going to laugh at me.
6 year old boy (on 3 year old wearing winter coat): (shaking his head) Now he's stuffed like a stuffed animal.

I was singing my version of a song from Bye Bye Birdie and the line goes like this: When you're not near me, I'm blue...  3 year old's response: Mom you're not blue!  Look at yourself!

3 year old: I need to brush my teeth with a Wolverine toothbrush cause I have Wolverine pajamas.

3 year old: I can't eat two cookies.  I need three cause I'm three years old.

Song on the radio was playing 1,2,3,4, Uno, Dos, Tres,Cuatro: 3 year old chimed in with: Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Cinco, Seis Siete, Ocho 

If you think my kids are funny, check out some others at Mud Pies For Mommy.

Blog Party and Chicken Nuggets

Today for my post I am going to be introducing a new (to me) blogger, DiPaola Momma.  She has a neat blog she calls Chicken Nuggets of Wisdom.  Her profile reads '16 years as a professional+4 years as a freelance writer+4 kids+2 cats+1 hottie hubby+life as a stay at home mom = ME (priceless!) I blog because it's cheaper than THERAPY!'  Don't we all?  Her blog runs the gamut from just funny antidotes of everyday life, her theory that ABC is bugging her home (for their new Patricia Heaton comedy), giveaways and fit pitching Fridays which are my absolute favorite.  Of course I could pitch a fit at least twice a week but maybe that's just me.  She recently started with another blogger Cheapskate Mom, this new giveaway which is Drabby to Fabby Fridays.  This is a once a week makeover for the most underappreciated, neglected member of the family, the blogging mom.  She loves connecting online with the fellow blogger and attended SITScation which is all about blogging and lots and lots of commenting.  So make sure you check out her blog and comment.  She just loves it!

No More Football!!!

So I get a phone call at 10pm last night to cancel today's game.  Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Okay, so
I'm a little excited.  If you were at the last game, you would have a little idea of why I am excited.  Friday night, the game was supposed to start at 6 but didn't get started until 6:30.  Then it started to rain, hard.  So in the middle of a play, one of the moms of the other team yanked her son out of the game.  The poor baby must have been about to melt.  Anyway, that made the coach of that team decide to call the game because of the weather.  Now normally, I am a fan of staying inside during cold wet weather but we had already been sitting in it and this was the third make-up game already.  Apparently, the coaches of my son's team felt the same but being men refused to keep it to themselves.  Instead, they loudly called the other team's coach a quitter and a cheater.  Apparently, they felt my son's team was on the verge of a touchdown when they conveniently quit.  Anyway, the argument got so intense that one of the dads had to take the kids away from the situation for fear of it getting ugly.  Too late for that, though.  Although I also did not want to have yet another makeup game today, I wasn't prepared to get into a vicious argument with anybody about it.  (That is what my blog is for!  HaHaHa)  The whole scene was way too serious for a flag football game.  Anyway, today's game got cancelled because of rain, again and they decided enough was enough, the season is over.  Now I have until August to figure out if I will torture myself by signing him up again next year.  Probably, I'm a shameless martyr.

Spelling

So the six year old has been progressing on the learning to read thing which makes me happy.  On the one hand, it means we can move on to longer and much more interesting books which is a good thing, on the other hand he has developed this terrible habit of asking how to spell everything and what everything says by spelling.  For instance, we are driving down the street, I know how to spell pizza.  P-I-Z-Z-A  I know what B-E-S-T B-U-Y spells, Best Buy.  What does S-T-R-A-U-S-S- spell?  What does F-U-R-N-I-T-U-R-E spell?  He also does it for commercials and the news programs.  Considering that most of the news broadcast had a ticker at the bottom with the headlines, this is a constant running commentary.  Frankly, it is annoying.  The only question is how to get him over this stage and into the reading quietly to yourself stage.

Chuck E. Cheese

You might ask why a otherwise sane person would take her kids and go to Chuck E. Cheese in the middle of a Thursday afternoon.  I would tell you but then I might have to use the F word.  Alright, it was a fundraiser.  That's right, the six year old's school has not yet bled me dry, maybe they heard extra coins rattling when I dropped him off.  Anyway, this fundraiser is one where everyone goes on a specific day (yesterday between 3-9pm) and the school gets 25% of the profits.    So to entice the children into bugging their parents endlessly into going, they gave the kids 10 free tokens.  That's not all, they also had Chuck himself come by the school yesterday at dismissal.  (There went the idea of pretending to forget!)  I agreed to take them there after homework and before football practice which gave them about an hour at four o'clock.  It's a good thing they stamp the kids so they can't leave without their parents because once I went in, I only saw the six year old in a blur as he ran past me with his friends.  Of course, since this is a school event several of his friends were there.  Their mothers, however, were a lot smarter and dropped them off with older friends and siblings cause I didn't see a single mom that I knew.  Luckily, I brought a book.   The three year old would take one token go play a game and come back for another and go play a game.  I don't know why it didn't occur to him to carry them.  I ordered them wings and fries which I and the three year old ate.  I hunted down the six year old and told him to come eat but he never showed.  Of course, when it was time to leave, he suddenly developed severe hunger pains. (the kind which make it impossible to go to football practice but is fine for playing video games and watching t.v.) Do you really think I fell for that?  No way.  We went to football practice.   I figure, I paid the registration fee, bought the cleats, got the physician's clearance and all the other little necessities, the least he can do is go to practice.  Don't feel sorry for him, he is fine once he gets there with his little friends.   Anyway, that is the story of an afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese, don't let it happen to you.

Things Kids Say Thursday #2

The three year old recently got a new hat and gloves set. (Toy Story, of course)  So the other day he puts them on without shoes or a coat, rubs his hands together and says to me "Now I'm ready for some fun!"

Picking up the six year old from school, he gets in the car and says: Today was the worst day ever.
Me: WHy
6 year old: No recess (It was raining)
Me: Well you know what is good about rainy days?
6 year old: What?
Me: No football practice!
6 year old: Today is the best day ever!

3 year old: Mom can you shred my pencil? (He meant sharpen.)

Me (to Husband on the way out the door): Drive carefully.
3 year old: Yes Daddy Drive carefully and don't bump into anything.

6 year old (For no reaon at all after finishing homework): Ooh, Aah, Dance in fancy pants!

For some other pretty funny kids check out Mudpies for Mommy.

Blog Party for Bloggers

So Kristin wants to set up this party where bloggers get set up with other bloggers to guest blog on a new site in order to increase their traffic.  Head on over and sign up to join the fun!

I wish..Vacation

So this is another bloghop. This one was started by Kelsey and I found out about from the Emotional Diva. Both are great sites. Check them out. Anyway this week it is what I wish...vacations.

Well I wish to go to Texas. I know it isn't very exotic but I have lived in Jersey most of my life and haven't been much outside of the Tri-state area. other than Disney and Massachusetts. But that's another story. Anyway I really want to visit parts of the US that are different from where I live and since my three year old is cowboy crazy, I think Texas is the way to go. And I am going, after I wear down my husband about it.

I wish to go to Hawaii. I have never been and can't see going without the kids or subjecting myself to a twelve hour plane ride with them just yet so this is a sometime in the future vacation which I also am totally doing.

I wish to take a vacation to Spain. I wouldn't mind going to Madrid, Barcelona or Leon. Basically this is a trip that I was cheated out of my senior year of high school when my Spanish class went and I wasn't allowed to go. But I'm not bitter, much.

I also would like to visit Brazil. Who doesn't want to experience Carnival which is basically Mardi Gras done bigger.

Well I may not get to any of these places but it is nice to dream, right? Either that or somebody better get cracking and saving some money!

Scary Mommy

So I saw this really cool contest over at Scary Mommy and have been trying to think what makes me a scary mom. I could say that it is because I am a terrible housewife since I hate to clean. (My adage is that dust I can't see really doesn't exist and that works fine for me.)  I also hate ironing.  My husband has graciously taken over this chore otherwise we would all be wearing clothes straight out of the dryer. (That is 10 minutes in the dryer to get the wrinkles out and on they go.)  I also don't sew, knit or do any of those handy things.  I could also say that it is because the rule in my house is basically my way or the highway.  I don't fall for whining, temper tantrums or negotiating.  Please, I grew up the oldest of ten.  These two rugrats don't have what it takes to break me.  If one of my sons decides to have a temper tantrum in the middle of the soccer field, I give him about thirty seconds to pull it together and then I walk away.  Bu-Bye, going home without you.  That shuts them up pretty quick.   I could say that it is because after two kids I could care less about what I look like as I'm leaving the house to take them to (school, soccer, swim lessons, football etc.) but the truth is I really didn't care all that much about it before I had the kids, soo that doesn't work either.  I think though that the scariest thing about me is that I'm perfect.  Seriously, all the kids' bad habits are my husband's fault.  Really!  He is the one who owns the Playstation that they are in danger of becoming addicted to and he is also the one with the sweet tooth they seem to have inherited.  Unfortunately, I married him so I guess it is my fault after all.  Scary!  Well if you think I am the least bit scary, make sure you post a comment so I can win a cool Flip camera which I now can't live without.

Fabulous Photo Shoot

Usually when I take pictures, I try my hardest to get the boys to smile, get in the picture together and not to make funny faces and bunny ears.  Since this is a fantabulous foto free for all, I let them let it all hang out.  First I told them to make a silly face.

Then I asked them to make really angry faces.

He really didn't do well with this one but it was their photo shoot!

Then I asked them to act like I was telling them really funny jokes.

Then I said to act really sad.

Finally I said to make whatever kind of pose they wanted.

So I figure that it is only a matter of time before they are up for Academy Awards.

Food Shopping

I hate food shopping.  The chief reason is that everytime I go I forget something.  Don't say it.  Make a list.  Everyone tells me that.  I don't know how many times I have made a list and still forgotten things, either 1. I forgot to put it on the list, 2. It was on the list and apparently I had a brain dead moment and still forgot it or 3. I forgot to bring the list to the store in the first place.  Anyway it is really annoying to me, to spend over an hour doing a full shopping, fill up the back of my car with bags, schlep them into the house, unpack them, just to realize I have to drive back over there again either right away or in the next couple of days depending on what it is that I forgot.  I will close this by saying that although I hate food shopping, I hate letting my husband do it more since he is worse than I am at forgetting stuff even if I give him a list.

What on Earth were they doing in my closet?  HaHa.

Music

So you know that crazy person in the car next to yours who is dancing in her seat?  Yeah that's me.  Sorry but I just love my music in the car.  I particularly love the 80's and 90's music I get from the satellite radio.  Awesome.  However, I also like some current music.  Basically I am a flipper.  As soon as the station gets to the DJ talking, I press the button for the next station.  Sorry I just can't groove to the news.  Oh and don't even get me started on commercials.  Total waste of air space as far as I am concerned.  My husband drove for more than 6 months with no radio in the car.  I don't know how he did it.  I would have been quietly going mad.  A couple of months ago, I used his car (I don't know he was getting some new tires or something) anyway I made the kids sing in the car to break up the silence.  Needless to say they were mortified.  Something like, "Stop singin mom!" at the top of their lungs.  In my car, I pop in their DVD and headphone them and I can sing to my heart's content. 

Preschool Jitters (Not!)

The three year old goes to school twice a week from 9am till 11:30.  Every single time it is the same thing.  I drop off the older boy at his school before 8 and then listen to the three year old whine for half an hour, 'I wanna go to school!  I wanna go to school!  Come on mom, I wanna go to school!'  Finally I take him in and he promptly forgets I exist.  Then I come pick him up and he acts like I'm kidnapping him.  'No!! I wanna stay!'  Sometimes he even runs and hides.  Is it too much to ask that he pretend to be glad to see me?   

The Things Kids Say Thursday

I have only a couple of things this week.  What can I say, some weeks they are funnier than others.

6 year old: Mom, why didn't you name me something cool?
Me: What would be a cool name?
6 year old: Lightning Bolt


3 year old: Mom, can I have something to eat? (We were watching the older boy's football game.)
Me: Sure, how about a pretzel?
3 year old: But the pretzels all have white polka dots on them.
Me: Yep, its called salt.


Six year old: (When waitress forgot to bring parmesan cheese for his pizza)  She's colder than a hot tin roof!


Me: Come on baby, lets go.
Three year old: Mom, I'm not a baby, I'm a big boy who goes to school!


Six year old: (After he forgot his notebook and I went home and brought it in to school.)  You can't just bust in here like that!
Me: Oh yes I can and I just did!

To check out some other funny kids, go to Mudpies For Mommy.

Wordless Wednesday

I know you will be relieved to know that he found his 3D glasses.

Spelling Test

So my son brought home the results of his first spelling test today.  He spelled two wrong.  He forgot the 'u' in quit and only gave still one 'l'.  Anyway, the thing I'm perplexed with is the grade.   Now normally they don't give the first grade A-B-C grades, they usually give E(excellent), S(satisfactory), I(Improvement Needed).  This paper however had a D on it.  Even if they had graded as A-B-C, he should have got a B (2 of 10 wrong = 80%) Right? So if anyone can enlighten me, please let me know.  I'll be asking the teacher in any case tomorrow, so will report back if you're curious.

Update: Apparently it means Developing.  Whatever.  She said they have a more elaborate grading system than in Kindergarten. 

A Funny Story

The theme of the Blog Hop this week is anything that feels good.  A funny story follows:

A Funny Story Illustrating What Women Want In Life


Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighbouring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.
The question? What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query; but, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.
Arthur returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.
The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend. Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage and made obscene noises. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.
Arthur refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: 'What a woman really wants,' she answered, 'is to be in charge of her own life.'
Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared and so it was, the neighbouring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.
The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom; what a sight awaited him. There was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen before him. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened and the beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.
Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day....or night?
Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments?


What would YOU do?
What Lancelot chose is below, but....make YOUR choice before you scroll down below.




Noble Lancelot said that he would allow her to make the choice herself.
Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.

Now .....what is the moral to this story?

Scroll down




The moral is: "If you don't let a woman have her own way....things are going to get ugly"



Author unknown; kindly sent in by Maggie Nutt.



 

A Movie Experience

So I went with the two monsters boys to see Toy Story.  If you haven't heard it was a double feature (Toy Story and Toy Story 2) in 3D. Now the last time I took them to see a movie was the next thing to a nightmare so I was a little apprehensive.  First, they tend to get freaked out because they turn down the lights.  Second is the constant refreshment requests and finally the incessant restroom breaks (as a result of the constant refreshment requests.)  It started out well with both children reciting every single line of the movie in stereo. (Well it was fine for me, I don't know about the people sitting behind us, or in front of us.)  Anyway, today the six year old managed to make it about half way through the first movie before standing up and declaring that he would die of hunger without some nachos.  Somehow he managed to survive until the intermission (in between the two movies.)  The three year old only wore his 3D glasses for part of the first movie since he could "see the movie fine without them."  Also he felt that they made the room darker.  At one point during the first movie he got up and moved to the aisle because he wanted to sit on the stairs which were illuminated.  So after the first movie, we had our bathroom breaks, staved off the death of my six year old with popcorn and nachos and returned for the second movie.  When the second movie started the three year old realized that he lost his 3D glasses.  So back I go to get a new set.  Don't ask me why he needed them.  He only wore them for about a minute, at which point the three year old finished off his popcorn and a good portion of my soda (not that I ever let my children drink soda, its terrible for them!) and promptly fell asleep.  He managed to wake up in time for the end.  We proceeded to my car where he asked me to put in Toy Story to the DVD player.  I guess he didn't have enough yet.  All in all it was what passes for a successful movie experience, in my house anyway.

Fundraising

My two children go to Catholic school.  Even though the younger boy only goes for two half days, it is still Catholic school, which for the unitiated means fundraising.  The three year old's school so far has only tried to get me to sell coupon books at $30 a pop.  Why anyone would pay for coupons, I don't know.  Regardless, the six year old's school sent home on Friday a nearly identical book for $25.  If I was in the market for coupon books, this would be a no brainer.  However, if this was the first fundraiser, I probably would just send the $25 and be done with it.  Unfortunately, this book follows a walk-a-thon, a chocolate catalog sale, and cheesecake.  Not only that, his flag football team is selling $50 worth of raffle tickets per parent.  (Since I haven't paid nearly enough towards that sport yet.)  I think it is only reasonable to expect me to do only so much selling with the same month.  Today is the 11th.  He has been in school since September 8 which makes four fundraisers in one month's time.  I think that is a bit much.  Of course, no one is asking me....

Naptime

Now if only I could sleep like that...just because its two o'clock.

Fertility

So I am reading this book about a woman who is struggling to have a baby.  Eventually this desire consumes her.  It grows and consumes her satisfaction in her job and her contentment in her relationship.  So today I was just thinking how lucky I am.  When we decided to have children it wasn't a struggle or even a real effort.  We wanted to have children, so we did.  Other than women waiting too late, nearly 12% of women have difficulty for other reasons.  So I just wanted to Thank God for my two little blessings and to put out some good thoughts for anyone who may be having a child or considering it.  For those who are having difficulty conceiving, this prayer is for you.

A Prayer for The Conception of a Child


Lord, help me to know that You are enough.
Take my eyes off of myself.
Take my eyes off of the child I desire.
Help me to delight myself in You.
Mold the desires of my heart to be in line with Your will.
I don't want to need to be a mother more than I need to be your humble, obedient child.
I don't want wanting to have a baby to be a stumbling block between You and me anymore.

Lord, I want to give this desire, this drive, this ache up to You.
Help me not to snatch it back as I so often do with the burdens I place in Your hands.
Help me to be truly content with Your will and Your timing.

Lord, You know that I still desire a baby - someone to mold, teach, train, shape, guide, and help to grow in You.
But until the day You give me that joyous blessing, help me to grow in You.
Let me reach out to those around me.
Let me witness and minister to the children You place in my path.

Lord, if adoption is the path You would have us take, prepare our hearts, and prepare the child who will share our home.
If adoption is not Your will for our lives, keep me from pushing ahead of Your plan.
Help me to stay submitted to my husband's will, and to Your will.
If we are headed in the wrong direction, change our hearts.

Thank You for lifting my burden.
Help me to keep You first! Let me seek Your face daily, and let me know that You are enough!

Dear So and So

This is my first time writing these letters so a brief explanation.  Basically I'll be writing letters to anyone or anything I like.  If you like this and want to read more in this vein check out 3 Bedroom Bungalow.


Dear Trees Outside My Window,

Normally I like the way you look and I know you provide homes for the many birds in the Spring.  However, do you really have to rain pinecones and sap all over my car?  The sap is sticky and nearly impossible to get off.  (Not that I clean the car, mind you, but the hubby complains.)  Please refrain from dripping in the future or keep your drips to the side away from my car.

Thank you,
The Mommy Chauffer

Dear Mother Nature,

I know that rain is necessary.   I use quite a lot of it.  However was it necessary to rain for 15 minutes during my son's soccer practice this morning?  You could have waited until 12:30 when I and my children were safe and dry at home.  My son's team (having lost two games in a row) needed the practice and so were forced to practice in the rain.  If he catches a cold as a result of this practice you will be receiving copies of my medical bills.

Yours in Disgust,
Complaining Soccer Mom


Dear Facebook,

I have clearly told you many times that I do not need you to send me e-mails everytime someone comments or changes their status.  I am aware of it already.  All I have to do is sign on and I see all I need to see.  You are wasting my precious time deleting your needless messages and filling up my inbox.  I know there may be people with no friends who like receiving mail from a souless social networking site but I have friends and don't want your e-mails.  Please take this as my final warning.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
An Annoyed Networker

Insomnia

So last night was one of those nights when I just couldn't sleep.  I have them now again.  Now I was exhausted last night.  If you read my post about the lazy coaches at my sons flag football calling the game when it wasn't raining then you probably knew this was coming.  The make up game.  And of course they can't put it at a time convenient for me, noooo.  They decide that in between practice at 6 on Tuesday and practice at 6 on Thursday is plenty of room for game at 6 on Wednesday!  Never mind that they have school tomorrow.  No consideration for the fact that younger son has swim lessons on Wednesday at 4:30.  Plus did I mention that although I did buy the gatorade for halftime snacks for Saturdays game, I still had to go buy more since both boys were busily drinking it all week.  Then there is the fact that they told me Tuesday night. (Thanks for the advance notice!)  Anyway, after two 45 minute halves plus the halftime break, the drive home, dinner, baths, bedtime stories (cause even though they can barely keep their eyes open they refuse to go to bed without a story) it is 9:30 and I am bone tired.  I go to bed only  to lay there without sleeping much of the night.  I may have dozed off here and there but I do know that I was awake when hubby came to bed after the eleven o'clock news and I was awake at two am when I finally gave in and looked at the time and was awake at 5 when hubby got up to go to work.  So bottom line, I do not feel rested.  I looked up some information on insomnia to find out that there are multiple types.  The short term insomnia is caused by outside factors like stress, jet lag, shift changes etc. and the long term is usually caused by a medical condition like depression, asthma or sleep apnea.  So the really interesting part is when they tell you about the treatment.  "The main focus of treatment for insomnia should be directed towards finding the cause. Once a cause is identified, it is important to manage and control the underlying problem, as this alone may eliminate the insomnia. Treating the symptoms of insomnia without addressing the main cause is rarely successful." So I should remove the stress in my life and then I'll get more sleep.  Oh why didn't anyone tell me this before?  So easy, I'll get rid of the bills, my husband will never ever argue with me again and my children will become loving cooperative angels who never have flag football games on a Wednesday.  Now if only they could tell me where they are selling that magic wand........

Six Little Words

Back in 2006, the editors of SMITH, a storytelling magazine, asked their readers "Can you describe your life in six words?" They published a book with the responses they received.


"Found true love after nine months"

"Fourteen years old, story still untold."

"I managed not to destroy anything."

"Nobody cared. Then they did. Why?"

"Cursed with cancer. Blessed with friends."


So your assignment...tell us about your life in six little words.




It did not specify that it had to be a sentence so here is mine....

Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Aunt, Matriarch

Check out other answers here.

The Eyes Have It

Okay this will be my little rant to blue eye devotees everywhere. Here are my two boys.

Now I know that I have two very good looking kids but why is it that when in public people always seem to comment on the older boys eyes?  You know, 'oh he has such beautiful eyes!' or 'what gorgeous blue eyes!'.  Hello, do they not see the other incredibly good looking boy standing right next to him?  Not to mention that it makes the older boy uncomfortable to be singled out that way.  Here are the pictures that they took. 

As you can see they are much more into artistic licence than identifiable shots but now you can see where I got the idea for my post! 

P.S. I have brown eyes and except for the fact that I am so near sighted I couldn't see the hand in front of my face without help I am very happy with them thank you very much. 

The Girl In the Whirl

I got this poem from http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/ and wanted to share it with you cause it gave me a good chuckle.

The Girl in a Whirl
by ‘Dr. Sue’
(a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!

You could do what I do

If you only knew how.


I study the scriptures one hour each day;

I bake,

I upholster,

I scrub,

and I pray.



I always keep all the commandments completely;

I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.



I help in their classrooms!

I sew all they wear!

I drive them to practice!

I cut all their hair!



I memorize names of the General Authorities;

I focus on things to be done by priorities.



I play the piano!

I bless with my talents!

My toilets all sparkle!

My checkbooks all balance!



Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;

I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)



I’m taking a class on the teachings of Paul,

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all …



I track my bad habits ‘til each is abolished;

Our t-shirts are ironed!

My toenails are polished!



Our family home evenings are always delightful;

The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully, too.

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!


I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;

I know all the names of each youth in my stake!



I read to my children!

I help all my neighbors!

I bless the community, too, with my labors.



I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;

My visiting teaching is done the first day!



(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.

It’s the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)



I chart resolutions and check off each goal;

I seek each “lost lamb” on my Primary roll.



I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all …



I write in my journal!

I sing in the choir!

Each day, I write “thank you’s” to those I admire.



My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!

My kids get straight A's!

And their bedrooms are clean!



I have a home business to help make some money;

I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.



I go to the temple at least once a week;

I change the car’s tires!

I fix the sink’s leak!



I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;

I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.



I make sure I rotate our two-years’ supply;

My shopping for Christmas is done by July!



These things are not hard;

It’s good if you do them;

You can if you try!

Just set goals and pursue them!



It’s easy to do all the things that I do!

If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!



It’s easy!” she said …



… and then she dropped dead.

Running

So I have run a couple of 5k races before and really it is very exhilarating.  I really need to set myself a goal in order to keep myself on a workout schedule.  Since I am not really looking to lose weight, I am really more interested in staying in shape.  However, after the last 5k, I was talking to my in-laws and really think I need to push myself a little for my next goal.  I considered either doing a bike race or triathalon.  However, I like the bike more for recreational use and I'm not a strong enough swimmer to be competitive.  Plus I don't have year round access to the pool so would have to wait until summer to train.  Anyway, I decided to try and run a 10k (6.2 miles). I found a 13 week schedule that I like pretty much. http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/5k.html#10k   Even if I repeat a couple of weeks, that would put me as prepared to run a race in February or March so I have to see if I can find a good race about then.  Of course, the weather around here being cold at that time of year, I may not find one until April.  Now that is a sure fire way to get me to postpone the start of training!

Rainout

So we wake up today prepared to go to
1. soccer practice for older son at 8:30am
2. football game for older son at 10:30am and
3. soccer game for younger son at 11:45am 
Now, weather forcasters were proclaiming thunderstorms for today so we were expecting to get cancelled.  However, waking up in the morning, it was not raining. (wet but not raining) We got everyone dressed and ready to go and 15 minutes before we are due at the field, we get a call from the team mom that football has been cancelled.  Now I checked the website and the message machine and neither had rainout announcements so I was a little ticked that we didn't get any advanced notice.  Now, likewise the soccer didn't have an announcement, so we went out for the little guys soccer game.  It was hot.  and not raining.  I guess I am a little annoyed that we pay money for a six week season (not to mention uniforms and cleats) and already two weeks have been rained out.  This should be his fourth game today.  I can understand not wanting the kids to play in the rain but it wasn't raining!  Not only that but the three year olds managed to brave the elements to get out there and play soccer.  So I had to get up anyway.  So my husband and I declared the Union Rams flag football staff to be lazy. 

And the Lesson Backfires

So I am trying to get the kids off to school as usual and they are being sooooo slow.  They love to dawdle.  Anyway, so I'm trying to rush them along, saying "Come on, come on."  My son takes his time, turns to me and says "Slow and steady wins the race, Mom."  I hate that when that happens.  They listen and then have the nerve to turn a fable against me.