I thought it was Halloween but it feels like Friday the 13th to me

So I am gonna make this short and sweet...I brought Ryan to Target for his 18 month pictures (for the second time this week...the camera flash was broken the first time). It was horrible. He wouldnt cooperate (which I totally expected from a 19 month old...yes I was late getting him in). The girls were bitchy and rude about it and all they wanted to talk about was going to the bar. Nice. They were trash at its finest. Whatever. Finally got 2 pictures that were barely ok so I just went with them to get the H outta there.
So then I was not in the mood to come home and make anything for lunch because I was already stressed out from whatever it was that just happened at Target. I bring them to nasty McDonalds by our house. Well...since it is in a touristy high traffic area there are TONS of parking spots for semi trucks. Today there were a few too many trucks there, so they were all over the place and parking on the curbs and parking the long way along 12 car spots. Then I look because I feel like someone is standing over my shoulder and I see a semi trailer about...not exaggerating.... 12 inches from my van and it JUST stopped backing up. Argh. I panicked until I saw the other driver helping him and being his extra set of eyes. I thought we were gonna get smooshed by the truck and I wanted to freak out.

Then I split open a cut I got a couple of weeks ago when I was cutting a head of lettuce. I was seriously came close to cutting off a nice sized chunk of skin on the side if my pionter finger. It is finally back to one piece and attached- but today I bumped it just with my other finger and it started bleeding again. I think most normal people would have gone to get stitches that day... but I am not normal I guess.

So there you have it. Mabye I should just stay home and hand out candy tonight. It's just not my day.

Highlights from the past few days

I feel like all of the sudden all 3 of my little punks are saying/doing things that are either melting my heart or making me laugh...usually a mix of both. Here are some of my favorites....

Andy:

1. He got home from school yesterday and I was going through his backpack at the table. He was sitting across from me eating a cookie and he asked me if I am going to vote for the president. I guess I never expected that to go hand-in-hand...1st grade, eating cookies and talking politics...but whatever. I told him that Yes, I am going to vote. Then he asked me who I am going to vote for. Hmmm... I tell him that I really dont know yet  because I dont really like either person running for president. He takes another bite of his cookie and then tells me that he thinks I should vote for John McCain. I asked him a few questions to figure out just why I should vote for him.... I never really got a straight answer, other than his name is better than "Bo Hama's". Good enough reason, right?

2. The other day when Andy got home from school, I took him out on a date :) Just me and my little man. I really really had fun with him. Daddy was home with the two little ones, and me and Andy shopped and hung out together. I brought him to Old Navy and let him pick out some new clothes...and for the first time ever- he had an opinion on what he got. He walked past racks and picked out smalls and mediums depending on if it was pants or shirts. He picked out a hat and gloves and some stylin jeans. I just sat back and let him pick out his own things and you know what? He has better taste than his mama- thats for sure. He told me a few times that he was having so much fun. I told him I was too! After that we went to Target and got some Halloween candy and on the way home we went and got a hot chocolate at Caribou. We went in and he picked out the table for us to sit at and everything. It was SO much fun. He told me his favorite part was checking the tag on the clothes to make sure they were the right size...then he wanted to know if that was my favorite part too. I told him my favorite part of clothes shopping is finding nice clothes. This is the funny part...Jake wanted to bring them all to Lowes to get something the other night and Andy grumbled about it and said that he only likes clothes shopping with mommy. Woooohoooo! I guess we might need to make a few more trips to Lowes and Sears tool dept. every once and a while too.

 

Justin

My sweet little Justin played me like a fool last night! We had just gotten them all tucked into bed and I went down to the living room to try to do a little homework. I got myself snuggled in with my book and papers propped up on pillows so I could see them better and everything. I started flipping through my book and I hear a little noise at the bottom of the stairs. I look up over the back of the couch and see Justin. I was irritated for a second (because this is happening EVERY night latley). I tried to be strong and make him go back up to his bedroom by himself. I told him we already tucked him in and he needs to stay there and go back to bed. He is holding his little Moo and hugging it the way he does. (Like a baby... his little hand around the butt, he supports it's head with his other hand, and he rubs it's tail between his fingers). He says, "But Mommy...I want to snuggle with you."  I am still trying not to get played by a three year old, so I tell him he can't just get out of bed for that and to go back upstairs. (that killed me, by the way). He hugs his Moo up closer to his face and says, "I love you to the moon and to the stars Mommy" and he turns away giving me his saddest puppy face ever. Ok, I LOSE...get over here so I can hug you. That turns into me carrying him up the stairs to his bed and tucking him in again. I told him I loved him and thanks for being my little snuggle bug. He smiled like a big shit because he knew I caved and he won. Yep. I got played..

 

 

Ryan

I am so excited for Ryan because he is starting to say more and more words. His newest are: Elmo, baby, All gone, choo choo, Molly (our cat), meow meow, bye bye, and instead of saying "no" when he doesnt want something, he says Hmm-mm. And one of my big favorites is that he sings Rock-a-bye baby with me now. All I can understand is bye baby- but hearing his little voice sing is so sweet. Today he was listening to Andy count something and he started mocking him...he wasnt really saying all of the numbers or anything , but he was saying two, two, two... and you could tell he was counting (or pretending to). I seriously can't belive what he understands either. If I tell him to go get his shoes, he goes and finds them wherever he left them and then sits down right in front of me with them. I will give him a skittle and then give him one more and tell him to give it to daddy or whoever is around- and he listens. He doesnt walk away and eat it.  Hell...I would walk away and eat it, so the fact that he doesnt shocks me! And let me just say that the random hug for no reason is still one of the best things ever....even better when he pats you wtih his chubby little hands :) And one last thing...He is the ONLY one of the 3 boys who went to sleep when we put them to sleep tonight! Yay Ryan!!!

The other two are still getting up and it's 10:15.... tomorrow will be interesting! Boy do I feel sorry for their teachers :)

My happy place is being taken over by mommy-ness

Ok...so not that I actually have a "happy place" or anything, but I am even a worry-wart mama in my day dreams. We are toying with the idea of driving out to Disney Land and driving on Route 66 for part of the way. (Thank you, Lightning McQueen!) Not that this will happen, but it's a big maybe?? So I sat there last night, day-dreaming (how about that one, huh??...last NIGHT...DAY dreaming?? Yeah..ok. Too much wine tonight??? Easily amused. I can see that!) about being in California, and of palm trees, and beaches. Ahhh...just laying on the beach, or in the water on a floatie relaxing. BUT, I seriously didn't get too far into that day dream before I was worrying about finding hotels to sleep at along the way to make sure nobody fell asleep at the wheel or anything. But more than that... I couldn't lay on my stinking raft without worrying about the boys! Are they wearing sunblock? Do they have their life jackets on? If I am relaxing on a raft, who would be watching them? Would they be on a raft right next to me, and if so, is the water over their heads? And if they are right next to me...I can't relax because I need to watch them!  If they aren't right next to me, are they with daddy, grandma.... and if they went anywhere fun while I was floating on my raft, are they safe?? Did they drive, did they get strapped safely into car seats when they left. If jake and I went somewhere alone in my daydream, did we fly (Did we go to Hawaii?? :)? Are the kids fighting with eachother back at Grandpa- Grandma's house? Oh man, then there's the flight home.... or the drive home. Did they go to Mc.Donalds playland for fun one night? IF they did, I hope they are careful and that they don't fall. I don't want them to break a bone or get seriously injured while I am floating on my damn raft.

That's it. Enough of this raft. No more happy place. It's more stressful than being in reality! Atleast in reality, I can see them and know they are snuggled up in their beds and that they are safe... and that I am not on a raft in a pool or on a beach. Sigh.

Hahaha. (And this was just the daydream... what would it really be like?)

QotD: The Dog Ate It

What's the best excuse you've ever heard?

This just irritates me. There is this girl in my class who is gone every day that we have a test. (The whole two times so far). On Monday, she was gone but I think she went in earlier to take the test- why? I dont know. You arent supposed to be able to miss a test unless you are in the hospital...or so she says. But she has no problem letting this girl not be in class every time we take a test! The first time we had a test and I noticed she was gone, I thought it was weird. So when I saw her the following week, I said "oh. You missed last week. "Just opening the door for whatever she wanted to say... She says, "Oh yeah. We just bought a kitten and it got sick and I had to bring it to the vet earlier that day. It was almost deathly ill. Yeah. We just had such a crazy weekend. You know...things are crazy. My husband is working, and I have this class." I though he was working overtime, but she said he was only doing 40 hrs. She told me once that she was a para for special ed, but told someones else she didnt have a job. I have talked to her a few times in the past few weeks, and she is so full of excuses for herself about everything. I just think "Stop justifying why you dont do or why you do certain others and just do SOMETHING. She doesnt work, and she only has one class and no kids. I dont see why this one class is taking so much out of her. But thats just me not being very nice. Grr

Little Gremlins in my house

I got home early from my class tonight and I still had time to do the normal bedtime things with the kids. So after we got them tucked in, I wanted to check my email and relax for a minute- but after about 5-10 minutes, I get that weird feeling that someone is behind me. I turn around and Andy AND Justin are tip-toeing and creeping up on me behind my back. they even had their arms up in front of them like they do on Scooby-Do when they are looking for clues. Andy was in front and Justin was back by the door. They were BOTH in here and we just put them to bed. It really struck me funny, even though I couldn't laugh in front of them because then they would have been up all night sneaking up on me. I don't know... they just looked like little cuties all snuggly in their jammies, sneaking up on mommy like tigers hunting their prey. I had to find out what they wanted since they were both up. I thought they both wanted something together and joined forces to take me down. But Andy just wanted to know what all that banging was??? Maybe Daddy in the garage?? And Justin needed help with his jammy shirt because the buttons weren't matched up  just right. I wish I had the camera ready for that one. It was the last thing I thought I would see when I turned around... but there they were :)

A cowhorse!!!

We finally made it to the apple orchard :) I am so excited to have a ton of apples to make treats with...pies, cake, bread and caramel apples-even caramel apple icecream sundaes... mmmmmm. The orchard we go to has this tree lined curvey hilly driveway to get to the parking lot. It is beautiful. When you get to the top of the hill, there is a small fenced in area for the horses that you can ride around the orchard and then sit by the bon fire when you're done. (We have never done that- but I think it would be FUN!!) One of the horses had brown spots on it- and not the little spots all over, but the BIG spots like a cow. I hear Andy in the back seat make a sound...you know the sound when a kid is amazed and sees something weird or amazing for the first time?? Yeah- thats the one! Then he says... "Look! A cowhorse!!! " He wasnt kidding or being funny. He really thought that it was a cow...and a horse :) I really wish they wouldn't grow up. This is so much fun!!! Although Ryan didn't like it there. He cried about 90% of the time. I don't know if he was tired or just didnt like to be cold- but we only lasted 30-45 minutes there. No tractor pulled wagon ride through the orchard to hand pick our own apples this year. But that is ok :) We might go back this week some night and try one more time! Crazy- yep. But that is 1/2 the fun!

All wound up

I went out with the neighbor girls tonight and now I am wired. I didnt even have a drink or anything...Well, I guess I did if you count MelloYello. I think my mind is all stimulated from adult conversation. I forgot what that was like...even though most of the talk was about the kids and pregnancy anyway. But really...days like this are kind of though, and I know that I shouldnt feel bad because I am very lucky to have my 3 kids, and I know for us- that is a good number. But ever since Ryan was born...I have always wanted one more. I love being pregnant and I love the baby stage. There are times when I am scrapbooking Ryan's baby book that I get choked up seeing the fresh little newborn hospital pictures- and it sucks because I know I will never experience it again. Now its all just a memory and I fee like I still teeter on the decision. I would love to be pregnant and have another little baby. I still think it's hard to find out people are pregnant and to see baby bellies... I just have to remind myself about how busy we are, and about all the other reasons we decided to be done too. But because there is that part of me that just doesnt care about those reasons and wants nothing more than to have just 1 more- today was so hard. I found out someone we know is expecting another baby...this is their 4th. Then tonight, one of the girls there was adorable and preggo, and then three more neighbors are pregnant...one 6 weeks, one 11 weeks, and one due in December. I am happy for them, but in my mind I am totally jealous!! I know that I shouldnt be, because we have our three little guys- but how do you NOT be?? I seriously need to tell myself it would be NUTS with 4 and to remind myself of the trips we will take...and about the extra attention that a baby would take away from our three. And I know enough people who have tried for a long time to have a baby, and if I could give up my chances (even though it's not possible anymore) to promise they could have one, I would do it so fast and I want it for them SO much. So I feel guilty even saying this when they deserve it so much more. But damn. I will always feel that weird "what if" or "Should we have"... But, I am totally happy with my honeys and I have no regrets about stopping to make sure that they got enough attention from us :) BUT if anyone ever has a baby, you can fully expect me at your doorstep at all hours of the night :)I will bring treats, and diapers and anything else you want. I am totally kidding. Just let me hold it and smell it... I will even do over nights for you so you can get a good night sleep! I might buy it clothes... and you might need to pry it out of my arms... but thats about it.

please? I wonder if the labor and delivery floor would think I was weird if I asked if I could just hang out there?? (kidding again...)

Bike vs. Car...why did I look??

I brought Andy and Ryan to get haircuts today... (Justin came with too, but he already got his haircut last week). On the way home, I saw flashing lights up the street going in the opposite direction as we are, Then I realized they were stopped. I thought it was a pretty weird place for an accident since there wasnt a big intersection or anything...just a side street the only makes a T in the street. I thought maybe the driver was sick or something because there was only one car- until I looked when we got closer. Thats when I saw the little bike. It was a kids bike, but a bigger one. I shouldnt have looked. I didnt even see the kid or anything, but just knowing that it happened makes me want to cry. It didnt look bad though. There was no damage to the car or the bike. I can make myself feel better just thinking that maybe it was "better safe than sorry" with the ambulance. NEVER rubber neck if you might not like what you will see... and chances are, that most of the time you will see something that will wreck your day. :( Poor kid.

 

:)

Since I couldnt think of anything for a subject tonight, I just thought I'd make a little smiley. I have never really been given this compliment before...but I really like it and it gave me the little butterflies in my stomach. I waited for weeks ( I think 3, but maybe 4) to get my paper back from my teacher to see my grade. Everytime I passed the computer, I would check to see if she posted grades yet . I was really getting annoyed with how long it was taking her, but now tonight I know my grade. I was so nervous when I saw somebody walk past me with their paper and I saw that they only got  1/2 the points. (Yes, I looked at their paper when they walked past- they weren't trying to hide it...and I wasn't obvious when I peeked. Anyone would have done it!! :) I got the full points for the paper, but that isn't what made me feel so good. What made me feel so giddy was what she wrote at the end of my paper...

"This was a great paper- one of the best, if not the best one written. Very impressive! :) "

Yep, I even got the little smiley face too.

I just keep thinking that there must not be many smart people taking her classes or that she is the easiest grader ever :) Whatever...I will take it.

Ok... I promise I wont toot my own horn anymore. I just felt damn good to read that- now I am done. Haha.

What do you do when there's too much to do?

You could do what I am doing at the moment, and avoid doing anything excpet for reading other peoples websites :) I just found my neighbor's page since it is part of her signature in her emails. The thing is that I have so much to do, the last thing I should be doing is reading these things...or writing a new one of my own! But I figured since I got the boys' closets sorted and orgnanized by size and season again...I deserve a damn break :) That is 3 closets cleaned out (in 1/2 a day) and now all the clothes in each of their closets actaully fit them again!

Now I should be reading- I have 2 chapters to read for Monday. I should be writing the 4-6 page paper on the book I had to read for that class too (it was an AWESOME book). Or, I could be doing the small resource assignment she gave us on Monday. I could be putting away our mountain of laundry, or picking up any room in the house since they all need it right now. I could be cleaning the bathrooms becasue they need it too. I could be going through the boys' old toys and putting them in keep/sell or donate piles. I could be putting the rocks I bought at Bachmans around the pond in the front to finish the landscaping. They have only been sitting out there in bags for two weeks now. I could be taking a shower since I have the chance to get cleaned up today finally. I could be returning some curtain rods I bought at Target...or filling out the little survey they give you at the register...boy would it be nice to win 5 grand to Target :) I could also be cleaning out the garden, or getting ready to bake. I could be taping off the top half of my very red bathroom so I can paint it tan and leave the bottom red. I could be going through old frames and things to hang on our walls so they aren't so empty. I could be painting the second color on the peg board for my scrapbook room...and I could be working on a page or two while I am at it!

But I am not. I am sitting on here instead. I think it is just that there is so much to do... and I can't concentrate on one thing long enough to actaully finish it, so nothing feels like it ever gets done. Oh well. This is the first time I have sat down today. But now I think it is time to break out the homework... that is until monkey 1 and monkey 2 wake up from their naps :) That reminds me...Andy had a field trip today! I wonder how that went. They should be on their way back to school right about now!

Vox Hunt: Always Instyle

Show us your favorite pair of jeans.

I only have one...yes...ONE pair of jeans at the moment. Well- I have two if you count the pair that has a big old hole in the knee too. And I guess since I am wearing them (the good pair) at the moment...I am not giong to go downstairs and take a picture of them, and then come back upstiars to the computer, and then download that picture along with about 100 others that I've taken lately. It's just too much work. :) They are from Maurices though...of course. Almost everything in my closet is from that place. So by default, the pair I am wearing is my favorite pair becuase it is my ONLY pair. So really, why did I just waste my time writing this if I am not even going to show you my jeans? I dont really know. Maybe I am avoiding CLEANING!!! hahahaa