Challenge for the Ladies...including Lon

I have a challenge for us all- let's see if you can do it. I want you to think of your right now, top ten things you like. These can only be things that have to do with yourself.. not for your kids, or your husbands, or anyone else, and it has to be something that you've done or used etc in the last 6 months. Let's see how hard this is to complete. I think it will make us all realize that we need to pay attention to ourselves more.


MY LIST

1. Victoria Secrets Lip Pumper- You have to get it- I LOVE IT. Glossy, stays a while and tastes good. YUM.

2. LAS VEGAS Everything about it. Specially the food.

3. Extra Hot 2 pump non-fat mocha's at Starbucks with the Whip Cream. Is there a reason the barista looks funny at me when I order this?

4. Spending time with my Mom with no kids around. She pointed out that it doesn't always have to be grandma time. I know I need to do much more, but she is fantastic and so wise.

5. Seeing my sister Renee. What a great young lady she has turned into.

6. Perfect fitting jeans.

7. Working out almost every day at the Y. Now this started as me begrudgingly going with my obsessed husband, but I am starting to like it. I feel better after my workout. Thank you hubby. (I am kind of on the fence about this one- do I really like it???)

8. This one really makes me a nerd- I like to play slot machines on POGO at night. It is a mindless thing that only requires me to push a button and not make one conscious decision. Helps me to unwind.

9. A clean and organized house. Not that I have one, but when I do, it really gives me a sense of peace. How can I get one more often???

10. This is getting hard.... and looking back at my list, I am a boring person. I think I am going to work hard at finding things to add to my list. OK, I love love love love good Thai food.

They say its your birthday...

It has been a year since I said this very same thing: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MICHELLE AND NICCI!!! This is my favorite time of year because you both catch up with me- and we can spend at least part of the year the same age. So, enjoy 36- it has been great.

Christmas Fun Followed by Barfing

So we had a fun time last night. The idea was some Christmas cheer, but it ended with some Christmas horror! Ella and I wanted to make a gingerbread house which was fun. We went to the store and bought loads of candy and a pre-baked gingerbread house- yes, I'm a cheater! Ella had been complaining of a sore stomach for most of the day, but it did not stop her from celebrating the night away. We had gum drops and chocolate, sweet candies, and - on top of that I baked chocolate chip cookies.

I think the finished product was cute and Ella digs that kind of thing. All along, she did keep mentioning that her tummy kind of hurt. However, she did keep stuffing her face with a variety of candy. What could that hurt, I thought. You only live once. Oh, my punishment was coming.

Chuck has been working nights, so Ella has been getting to sleep with mom- along of course with Jack Bazil. Before Ella nodded off, we were having fun torturing the cat with the Santa hat. He is such a good sport. Shortly thereafter, Ella had fallen asleep and I was on the phone with Michelle. As she lay asleep, there was a volcano brewing. All of a sudden, Ella, while sleeping, started to hurl! I had to excuse myself from my phone call to try my best to contain the flow. When all was done, I had grabbed numerous blankets to try and catch the excess, my guess was that a blanket is easier to wash than the carpet.

As soon as Ella woke up and bathed, she said, "I feel great now. " Her and Jack cuddled up and went back to bed while I was left with clean up patrol. A child's puke fest is a true test of how much we love our children. Unconditional love is cleaning up your kids vomit while holding back the dry heaves!! AHHHH Christmas Fun.

Bling Bling

My son asked to get his ears pierced. This is a time that you find out really what kind of parent you are. I did not find it too offensive, I guess there are worse things out there. He could have wanted a bone through his nose or eyebrow, or unmentionables. Also, regular pierced ears are for sure better than the kids getting big fat round circles in their ears! I do not think ears were meant to look through. Anyways, I thought it was funny that as a choice for the earrings, they had of course little silver balls, little diamonds, and big, bigger and bigger diamonds. (Crystals of course.) Taylor chose the biggest, diamonds (crystals) of course because that's how he rolls. I tried to explain that in life, if it is not real, it is tacky, but he wanted none of that. If anyone can remember what new earings are like, specially when you sleep, I'm sure the big rocks will not be too much fun. OUCH. I must be a semi-cool parent, because I did not put up a fuss.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

So here is Chuck's latest waterfall. So proud of his creativity! I'm the wife- why don't I get one?

Since Ella put up our Christmas tree, Jack Bazil will not leave it alone. He was even taunting her through the window and playing with it.

Have you ever tried to get a cat to pose? Not an easy task. Ella and I tried for a long time for this one. He might not look like it, but he was about ready to tear our faces off.

So why did we decorate our tree this early? I would like to think that my Martha was coming out. Actually, we did a garage cleaning yesterday. My garage was downright unsanitary. Can anyone else identify? I don't just mean cluttered. UNSANITARY!!!! Calling all vermin... come on in and set up shop in my garage because I will feed and keep you comfy cozy all winter. Anyways, I knew I should do something before that happened. While cleaning it, we stumbled (literally) across the Christmas stuff that we packaged up and tossed out there last year. Yes, it had been a year since I last cleaned it. So, I figured I would just bring it back in the house and go for it. One good thing is Ella pretty much did everything! Oh I love love love daughters. They just ooze the art of housekeeping. She likes to clean and decorate. Now if I could just fine tune it and keep it going. Now, my garage is spiffed up and clean- I think I will move out there.

HALLOWEEN MEANS GOOD TIMES!

We have had a swell time here for Halloween. The morning did start out with me almost forming a picket line at Ella's school. I did not want to embarrass my child though. Believe it or not, my child could not wear her costume to school. THIS IS AGAINST MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OR SOMETHING!!!! (Nic- do kids get to wear costumes in Cali? If so, I am really there!) I did not even have any warning. Ella came home last night and when I was getting her costume ready, she said, "Oh no, we can't wear costumes, we get to wear our slippers to school." What?? Slippers SUCK! She just doesn't know what she's missing. If I would have known, I could have at least dressed her in Orange and Black head to toe as some sort of silent protest. Stupid @#$%^& people who have nothing better to do than make our kids so generic that not one of them will have one ounce of creativity in their being! Hey, look at me- I'm not too screwed up, and I dressed up for Halloween! OK- maybe don't look at me, you know what I mean! I'm done with my rant.

My day brightened up after school when Ella and Taylor got ready for trick or treating! I loved Ella's costume. We originally thought she was a pirate princess - then we settled on gypsy!

Taylor cracks me up- for school he was the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He was so proud of his neon sweat suit he found at the Salvation Army. Then, he and a friend were Gay Ghosts. Or shall I be p.c. and say "Happy Ghosts." I am proud of his imagination. He had thought that he was too old to go trick or treating this year, but at the last minute, he decided that as a ghost, no one could be sure of his age and he really really wanted a big bag of candy again just one last time.

GOOD TIMES!!!!

Doin the Puyallup- Eating for six hours.

As a tribute to my town, I thought I would let you know how our trip to the Puyallup fair went this year. Ella's birthday party was partly held at the fair- lucky girl. My dad was in town and we decided it would be fun to do the Puyallup! He is desperately afraid of crowd's, but I tempted him with a fair burger. We would like to tell ourselves we went to let our kids go on some rides and have fun, but to be truthful, I go to see how much I can possibly stuff into my face, and in search of whatever might be a new addition to the lineup. Last year they introduced frozen cheesecake on a stick- TO DIE FOR!!! First thing we do- buy a Myers Fair Burger. OK, we think, but not the greatest. Next, a bbq beef sandwich and corn on the cob. YUM. Next, a 13 pack of scones- a fair must have to bring home for breakfast and to keep your blood sugar up while waiting in line for the roller coaster. Since the first burger wasn't too good, why not another one? Chuck and my dad downed another one- me, I'm saving myself for an elephant ear. Oh, I see a Krusty Pup- have to have one of those! A bottomless alien mug of lemonade too. I did share it though. Finally, after eating two burgers and still not finding the right one, dad and Chuck see the Earthquake burgers- that is the big one that fills an entire plate. Oh that's right, that's the good one. Chuck looked ill, but as not to look like a weener in front of my dad, he orders one. AHHH young samurai- you know not who you are up against! He has not found out my Dad is a bottomless pit. While they were consuming the Earthquake burger, I ordered a Philly steak sandwich. Come on, it was there... I took two bites and could not finish it. My husband, who cannot waste anything, ate the rest. Now he was blue! But he had not had his yearly Elephant ear. Yes, on our way out of the fair, he found a stand and ordered one. Needless to say, he was really miserable.

I find it funny that Taylor's obsession during the fair is the Fleischkiechle fried beef turnover. This year he asked the ladies to pose in a picture for him. He will buy a whole bag of them and bring home for breakfast and lunch at school. Oh, the fair- good thing it's only once per year. I still think Nicci's chicken sandwich on a crispy creme sounds good!