Sunday, March 30, 2008

Update on lost Dee and some randomness

Update!

I got a phone call today from the indoor water park we stayed at on Monday night. This call finally came after I left 4 phone messages to the housekeeping department and I emailed the lost and found department. I had given up hope, but low and behold after we came home from church this morning there was the message. I put it on speaker phone so Carson could hear. The message went something like this, "Hi. This is Rebecca from 'indoor water park' and I wanted to let you know we found your Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal. Give me a call back and we can make arrangements to return it to you. Have a blessed day."

The smile and sheer happiness on Carson's face was priceless! I have not seen such genuine joy on that boys' face. It was precious.

I called the water park back and spoke to Rebecca. She said we could either come pick it up in person (uh, no) or they can ship it to us via UPS (uh, yeah.) I had to give my credit card number in order for them to charge me for the shipping, but at this point I don't care. Dee is coming home!

Now some randomness from a five year old.

Me: Why don't dogs talk?
Carson: Because they don't have enough teeth.

Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Carson: A football player, a baseball player, a basketball player, I just want to do every sport.

Me: Why do we take naps?
Carson: To make yourselves comfortable.

Me: Do you ever want to see the movie Star Wars?
Carson: Is is going to be loud?
Me: Yes.
Carson: Then I don't want to see it. I want to rent it.

Me: Who played in the Superbowl?
Carson: The Patriots and the Big Giants.

Me: What movie would you like to watch tonight?
Carson: Ohio Season.
Me: What's that movie about?
Carson: The one with all the animals in it.
Me: Oh, you mean Open Season.

My dad and I were talking and he said something about Amsterdam. Carson speaks up and says, "Mom, Papa just said the "D" word."

We were outside playing basketball and Carson wanted to know what team he could be. I suggested either the Chicago Bulls or the Indiana Pacers. He also wanted Luke to be on a team so I suggested the L.A. Lakers. Carson announces to Luke that he is on the Indiana Pacers team and Luke is on the Indiana Lake team.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Perfect timing - Isn't it ironic, don't cha think?

Timing is everything - at least that's what they say.

(Who is they anyway?)

Yesterday proved to be one of those perfect timing days. You know the ones where you say or do something and have to stop and pause and contemplate what just occurred.

Last night I went to our monthly bunco get together. We are a bunch of crazy, fun-loving women who appreciate our get together time. My friend Amanda and I ended up staying until 11:30 playing Wii and basically getting our workouts in for the day. Who knew Amanda was champion boxer and I completely stunk at it. I looked like a ravaging rabies infected raccoon. I was just punching like a mad-woman with no clue as to what I was doing. There are some cell phone pictures, but they are really bad quality so you'll just have to use your imagination.

I also enjoyed being pushed in an Ikea swing which Kathy had hooked to her basement floor joist. I seriously felt like I was in a cocoon. Does this prove I need to get out more or am I just a kid at heart? I felt like I was back on the good ol' tire swing. So much fun was had! I honestly think Kathy was trying to see if I would break through the ceiling the way she was pushing me. We had quite a bit of fun if you couldn't tell.

So anyway, back to the timing issue that this post is supposed to be all about.

We were on our way home from bunco and I was driving my husband's van, which I take out only on special occasions. Therefore, I wasn't completely familiar with all the features and symbols. I thought I might have had my brights on, so I click them to see if in fact they are on. At this point we are traveling on a highway and at the same exact moment I flash my brights a cop car is driving in the opposite direction with his siren and lights flashing. Could the timing have been any worse for me to have done that? What a laugh we had.

On this particular stretch of highway my ears always pop at this one point and I mentioned out loud how my ears had just popped. Amanda agreed that hers just did the same thing. I look down at the van's radio display and what does it say? "Ear poppin' new music!" Seriously! How ironic is it that our ears literally just popped, I said it out loud, and the radio spelled it out? Wow!

It's funny how things like that happen.

And now I have Alanis Morissette's song, Ironic, stuck in my head.

(It's like raaaain on your wedding day......................)


Friday, March 28, 2008

And she's back

We arrived back home from our mini-vacation and are settling back into the groove of things.

Overall it was nice to get away with the family and spend some time together without the distractions of everyday tasks.

The first day we spent at the indoor water park which was a lot smaller than I anticipated, but was actually thankful for it. I stayed with the younger boys and attempted to follow Carson as he moved about from one area to the next and at times he slipped away so fast it took me a few minutes to locate him. Talk about a moment of panic. The only real bad thing was the level of chemicals they used in the water which was overwhelming. We all felt itchy, Luke's cheeks were red and I could only smell chlorine for the next few hours after we got out.

That night we set the navigation in the van to take us to the nearest Olive Garden for dinner and then came back to the hotel to call it a night. In the morning Jason had a conference call so I took the boys to the arcade for an hour. The feel of the arcade area was that of a casino. There wasn't much difference except that you got paid in tickets as opposed to money. They even gave you a card that you swiped for each game you wanted to play - no tokens or cash. That made it way too easy to spend way too much money. There again were a few moments of panic trying to keep all 3 in my sight. But I managed and they were starting to get restless. It was approaching lunch time and I really was hoping Jason would show up soon. I texted him to meet us at the restaurant when he was done. We all needed to eat and I was starting to get a nasty headache.

After lunch we headed over to Cleveland to surprise the kids by showing them the Christmas Story house. Unfortunately, it was closed that day, but at least they got to see the location which they thought was pretty cool. The rest of the day was spent looking at different neighborhoods and houses for sale.

At one of the houses we stopped at we got out to peek inside since the house was vacant. I walked around back and noticed the back door was wide open. I yelled in to see if anyone was in there so I decided to go in and give myself a tour. We also decided to call the agent and let them know what was going on. It was a bit strange.

That night we went to a different hotel and upon checking in we find out there is no pool. How could we stay in a hotel that does not offer a pool to keep our little ones busy? It wasn't going to happen. So while I was up in the room giving Luke a bath since he decided to pee his pants while standing in the hotel lobby, Jason was downstairs trying to figure out a different place we could stay at. It was at that point that I was just ready to drive home and be done with it.

Luckily, I left it in Jason's hands and we went down the road to a very nice Holiday Inn, which had a great pool and restaurant where the kids ate for free. I felt my sanity returning to me.

The next morning we did a final run through of some other areas and subdivisions and headed back home. Carson wanted his "Dee" which is his Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal that he has slept with every night since he was one year old. I ended up looking through every bag in the van and could not find it anywhere. At this point Carson starts crying and is visibly upset. He buried his head in his hands and was sobbing, which completely broke my heart. I made phone calls to all 3 hotels that we were at hoping at least one of them would give us good news. Two of the three said nothing was turned in and as of this morning the first hotel we stayed at still has not returned my 4 phone calls and messages I have left. I am quite irritated to say the least. I told Carson that if we didn't find it then I would get him a new one, but he said he only wants his old Dee, the one that he chewed the ears on.

I got online last night and actually found one just like his (minus the chewed ears), so I ordered it. Hopefully the hotel will find the old Dee and this will be a "just-in-case" replacement. Wish us luck!









It sure is good to be back home.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

A Spring Break getaway


Because I can't imagine what is more fun than being pasty white in the middle of winter and wearing a bathing suit in public. Yuck! I have been bathing suit shopping for the past week and still haven't found one that covers all my imperfections, then I realized I should be shopping for a wet suit - perfect! But in all seriousness, shopping for bathing suits has got to be one of my most unfavorite things to do. I'd rather go to the dentist. I bought 3 of them, but am not really happy with any. I will have to settle though.

So, nonetheless we are heading to an indoor water park early tomorrow for our spring break getaway and will be gone for a few days. I am not even a big fan of water, but the boys love it. The sacrifices us mom's make!

I hope y'all miss me!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

It's the Easter Beagle (or Pitbull Boxer mix)

What our poor old dog endures. She makes a cute Easter bunny!

Happy Easter to you all!





For those of you over 30.

I received this email today from a bunco friend of mine and thought it was so perfectly fitting that I just had to share it. I edited out the profanities as I like to keep this blog rated PG. So enjoy.

THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD
If you are 30 or older you will think this is hilarious!!!!

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears
With their tedious diatribes about how hard things were
When they were growing up; what with walking
Twenty-five miles to school every morning ... Uphill BOTH ways

Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up,
There was no way I was going to lay
A bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it
And how easy they've got it!
But now that I'm over the ripe old age of thirty
I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my
Childhood, you live in a Utopia!
And I hate to say it but you kids today
You don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the internet.
If we wanted to know something,
We had to go to the library and
Look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write
Somebody a letter...with a pen!
Then you had to walk all the way across the street and
Put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!

There were no MP3's or Napsters! You wanted to
Steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and
shoplift it yourself!
Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the
DJ'd usually talk over the beginning and mess it all up!

We didn't have fancy crap like call waiting!
If you were on the phone and somebody else called
They got a busy signal, that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID Boxes either!
When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was!
It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your
bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent...
You just didn't know!!!
You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video
games with high-resolution 3-D graphics!
We had the Atari 2600!
With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'.
Your guy was a little square!
You actually had to use your imagination!!
And there were no multiple levels or screens,
It was just one screen...
Forever!

And you could never win. The game just kept getting
Harder and harder and faster and faster until you died!
Just like LIFE!

When you went to the movie theater
There no such thing as stadium seating!
All the seats were the same height!
If a tall guy or some old broad with a hat
Sat in front of you and you couldn't see,
You were just screwed!

Sure, we had cable television,
But back then that was only like 15 channels
And there was no on screen menu and no remote control!
You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on!
You were screwed when it came to channel surfing!
You had to get off your butt and walk over to the TV to change the channel!
And there was no Cartoon Network either!
You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning.
Do you hear what I'm saying!?!
We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons,
You spoiled little brats!

And we didn't have microwaves,
If we wanted to heat something up
We had to use the stove or go build a frigging fire.
Imagine that!
If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing
And shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.

That's exactly what I'm talking about!
You kids today have got it too easy.
You're spoiled.
You guys wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes back in 1980!

Regards,
The over 30 Crowd

Thursday, March 20, 2008

I am stupid

Yes people, I am stupid. Or maybe you could refer to me as dumb, idiotic, brainless and mostly clueless.

I have come to this realization as listed in a prior post, but not only that, I continue to do stupid things. My brain cells are diminishing at a rapid rate.

Monday I took Carson to school, came home and cleaned up the house and by then it was time to go pick him back up. I had asked my dad to watch the boys at noon so I could go get my hair trimmed. On the way to the hair salon I glance at the passenger seat and notice Carson's backpack is sitting there. In my head I think to myself, oh no, I forgot to give Carson his backpack. I better go drop it off to him at school. Then moments later I realize that 1) I am in fact losing my brain and 2) I had already picked up my son from preschool an hour ago and he was at home.

Case in point.

A funny story I feel should be shared occurred back when I first got married. I had no idea how to cook - none. I was on one of my first grocery shopping trips to Aldi. I came across a can of sloppy joe and was shocked to see that it was only something like $0.49. I grabbed that can and a few more and bought a package of buns to go with it. When I got home I was so excited about the deal I got on our dinner. As I was getting ready to prepare it I read the label and it said something about browning the ground beef. I felt like I just got gypped. I didn't know I was supposed to buy a pound of ground beef to go with it. I thought it all came ready to go in the can.

Yes, people - refer back to the title of this post.

Back up to speed to today. I was making a pie and was looking all over the refrigerator for the whipped topping. Guess where it was? It was sitting right on the counter where I had placed it just moments earlier.

Are these signs of early onset Alzheimer's Disease, sheer stupidity, or am I just ready for my husband to come home and relieve me of single parent duty?

Thankfully (hallelujah!) his flight gets in late tomorrow night unless this ridiculous spring snow storm decides to dump on us and delays his flight. I will be p.o.'d to the point that you do not want to get in my way.

Seriously.

It has been a long 10 days without his wonderful, loving, patient, caring, break-giving presence. I have realized I take his "help" for granted. He gives me my sanity and is someone I can vent to when I am having a hard time with my mommy duties. He supports me and my efforts as a full-time stay-at-home-mom. Without that support and encouragement I wouldn't be as confident in my abilities as a mom. I am so thankful that he is there for us as such a wonderful father, husband, bread-winner, and strong support system.

Honey, hurry home!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Don't let the face fool you.

Here is Fritz who belongs to my parents, although at this point I wonder for how much longer.





Here is what they came home to on Saturday night.



And here is what they came home to after church today.


And here is where he will stay for the rest of his dog years. (Just pretend that's Fritz in the cage, not Luke!) And once again, he put himself in there, honest. And those little hands are those of brother Carson who is gently locking him inside. My boys love each other so much.




So much for dog obedience training. What this animal needs is a military school for naughty dogs.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

A dinner idea - maybe not.

Hey - remember me? I'm the girl that used to blog every other day or so, but has gotten completely sidetracked by a little thing called life.

That sure seems to get in the way sometimes.

But here I am sitting by myself in a quiet house. The two younger boys are actually taking a nap - un-freakin-believable! And here I am with a nasty head cold that I can't seem to shake.

I woke up Wednesday morning with a really bad headache (I'm sure the shot of rum after having two glasses of wine had nothing to do with it.) This same morning my husband left for a 10 day business trip to Europe. Yes, the Europe that takes 8 1/2 hours flying over the Atlantic ocean to get to. Well, the headache didn't get any better and I even managed to take a short half hour nap. By the evening I had forced myself to go to my cardio step class thinking that a good hard workout and sweat should make me feel so much better. Well, let's just say it did the complete opposite. I came home and instantly felt really cold with the chills, my body ached, I had a fever of 100.4, and my headache had escalated to enormous proportions. I thought I was going to avoid the sickness/flu that everyone seems to have had this winter.

I took a hot shower hoping it would warm me up and popped some cold medicine. By this time I was more than ready to climb into bed, but the boys needed dinner. I figured spaghetti and garlic bread would be quick and easy. I turned on the oven to 425 and began making the spaghetti. I kept smelling something burning, but couldn't figure out why. Then I notice smoke coming out of the oven vent and look inside to find - much to my surprise - a dish towel that is literally cooking - at 425! I quickly grabbed the tongs and threw the towel in the sink and doused it with water. Who would have thought to look in the oven before you turn it on? Seriously?

I probably should have known better because I remember Carson had opened the oven earlier, but I didn't realize he actually put anything in it. Ugh! I guess it could have been worse.









And here is the mischievous boy looking like "The Donald". When I see this picture it makes me want to start quacking like a duck.













Other than that, it's been pretty non-eventful around here. Our house has been on the market for a week now with not one showing yet. Just keeping it picked up in anticipation of us getting a call from our realtor is a chore in itself. And it doesn't help when I'm sick and my husband is out of town. So, maybe it's a good thing we haven't gotten a call yet.

I'll just keep my fingers crossed and keep thinking positively.

Would you like some burnt towel with your spaghetti?

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Painting and more painting

I interrupt this non-posting blog to bring you the latest adventure from my middle son Carson.

We've been busy painting and prepping and staging our house which is now officially on the market. During this preparation the boys have had a few hours to fend for themselves while I've neglected them. I'm such a great mom, aren't I?

Who knew painter's tape could be so much fun? And I swear to you he did this to himself!











I have had to remove wallpaper border this week as well, which wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Carson walked into the room as I was taking it down and asked, "Why are you taking down our wrapping paper?"

Alright, I am off to run to the store for more paint at 8pm on a Saturday night. A glass of wine is sounding really good right about now.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

From Hooisers to Buckeyes

I was born a Hoosier. What that means, I really don't know except that it is what Indiana residents are called.

But it looks like my days as a Hoosier are coming to an end. The state of Ohio, the Buckeye state, is going to be our new place to call home.

We are putting our house on the market and today we had our realtor come over to take pictures. Therefore, I have been super busy trying to de-clutter and deep clean our house. And that's not an easy chore having 3 messy boys following me around.

I explained to the boys that I had to get the house really clean because someone was coming over to take pictures. As I was cleaning the kitchen this afternoon and scrubbing the sink, Carson comes up to me and asks if they are going to take pictures of the sink. As hard as I cleaned it, I wish they would have.

This move seems to be coming at us at full speed and it makes me nervous and excited at the same time. I have never left the comfort of my hometown. It's where my parents reside. It's my security and where I have thus far raised my children. I always had dreams of my boys attending the same middle and high school that I went to. But, it looks like that dream is taking a detour.

In a way, I know this will be an adventure and a time for me and my family to grow. It will be a fresh start in a new town. We will not know a single person. No one will see me out in the town and call me by my name. Nothing will be familiar. That in itself scares me. But, it's time to take a step outside of my comfort zone. It's time to experience a new chapter in my life. It's time to leave the place I have called home for the past 30 years. They say change is inevitable. I must learn to embrace it and look at it in a positive light. I must take a step of faith and know that this is the right move to make and not look back in regret. It's time to change and ready or not, here I come.

Now I just need to figure out what the heck a buckeye is.

Sunday, March 02, 2008

My brain is out to lunch


And I hope it decides to come back soon.

I have been so scatter-brained and distracted this week. I can't seem to focus on what I am doing, hence my brain is out to lunch. It's like my mind is constantly thinking, but not about what I am doing at the moment. I have had such a heavy heart for my friend Beth and I know that is the reason why.

And I have caught myself doing ridiculous things. Such as last night I made spaghetti for dinner. I sit down to eat and shake Parmesan cheese on my corn when I meant to put it on my spaghetti. And then I was making a dessert and I was looking for the package of mix to add to the bowl and I couldn't find it. Well, guess what. I had already poured it in the bowl about 2 minutes ago. It's just stupid dumb stuff really. But it's very irritating because I'll catch myself after I've done it. Ugh.

Or I will walk into a room and have no clue why I walked in that particular room or what I was going to do. Another example (and yes I have many as you can tell) is that I keep calling my kids the wrong names. That is not unusual at all since I seem to do it all the time. But the funny thing is that I am not catching myself doing it. I will be talking to Taylor and I'll use the name Carson and Taylor will look at me and ask if I meant him and I will say yes of course but he'll say I said Carson's name and then I get all confused and can't believe I didn't catch it. (Did you get all that 'cause I seem to be rambling?) I find it humorous when I start to catch myself saying the wrong name and then correct it midway through. I should just change my boys names to Carluke, Cartaylor, and Lucarson or Taycarson. That's what they're used to anyway.

I hope my brain decides to come back to earth soon otherwise I may have to go join it. I could use a vacation.