Whine and Cheese

Welcome to Bitchfest 2008. As most of you know I am a very positive person (sarcastic and snarky yes, but super optimistic and positive nonetheless) and I don't usually whine and groan about much. So, I felt it was time to get stuff off of my chest once and for all. These ten things run the gamut and are random.

• Houses with Christmas decorations already...no, don't adjust your screen....you heard right, houses with Christmas decorations already.
• Why does my book club have to choose brand new books to read that only come in hardback and a $25-$30 price tag? Not going to it this month out of principle.
• Athena's pre-school watching the clock for pick up. Your going to charge me after school program rate ($10). Really? for 3 minutes? hmph.
• Having to be 3 years old by Sept. 1st to be considered for a program that my brainiac would totally excel in. Sooooooo, kindergarten at 6 years old? Had I known I would have.....oh wait, right she was a surprise.
• Having to input an email address for everything you do, or having to become a member of something just to view pictures or respond.
• Those life like dolls they sell that look so real and they market them and say things like.....anatomincally correct???????? Can someone please tell me what these are used for. Actually, don't.
• Those people on craigslist? The ones that don't know what SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY means.
• When people make crafts, signs or cakes and have bad handwriting or things end up crooked.
• I cannot wait for Nov 4th to come and go already. All of these advertisements and freakin' emails have me batty.
• Why deos Saylor have to play with cords, sockets, wires, the CPU and our flatscreen tv. Why not the einstein crap or the fisher price nonsense? Riiiight, b/c she is 9 months old.
  
  Ahhhhh, that felt better, it truly did. So glad I did that.
  
  Oh and Happy Halloween!!!!! be back tomorrow with pictures of expensive costumes that the girls used for a total of 43 minutes tonight.
  
  oops, I let that last one slip out.

Thousand Word Thursday

The Game- Caption the picture with the thoughts or possible conversations within it. Have fun because I know I always do :)))) And yes, I promise to post more often. Sorry, been a bit (more) braindead lately.

Mommy Dating

So I am out there once again.

Yes, I have begun mommy dating. On the prowl. Looking for Mommy Friends. I think it is time, I have been here for 6 months now and I think I need to get over my last Mommies (sadly enough). Any mommy friends at this point would NOT be considered on the rebound. I feel whole, I feel healthy, I am ready to commit to another Mommy or Mommies (nope, I do not live in utah).

I went on a mommy date this morning and it went well (crossing fingers). First date jitters and all and questions abound... "will she like me", "will I like her", "will I like her kid", "will my kid like her kid", "will her kid like my kid", "will my kid bite her kid", "will she be a 'talker' or a 'listener'", "will she get my humor", "will she even have humor". Many questions.

If I like her, how quickly after our playdate do I text/call her? If I don't like her how do I leave the bookstore politely? The kid! yes, we can always blame the baby. "She is so fussy I should go", or "I have to go and buy formula at the store" or "my other daughter's school just called, I have to go". This mommy dating is hard stuff. You don't want to be "that" mom but also don't want to be with "that" mom.

At the end of our date we kind of danced around the whole "so can I have your phone number?" exchange and setting up a future play date. Thoughts go through your head...Do I introduce her to my other daughter? She only has one kid so it is different as I come with "extra baggage". Do I really want to befriend a one kid momma? And the big question "could this mommy friend turn into couple friends? "Will Michael like Mr. Mommy Friend?" and the possible ways that that could go. Oh I know I am rushing into things already. I get so ahead of myself. Sigh.

Anyhow, I think it went well. There were smiles, laughing, lots of head nodding, and baby flirting going on. I think I should get an email or call soon. Right?

Thousand Word Thursday

You know what to do :) Happy Thursday Folks :)))

PDA

Nope, not that kind.

Nope, not the computer kind either.

I am talking about the old school, personal desktop assistant. I have one now courtesy of Michael's job (a little white collar crime never hurt anyone). I am so happy with it. I was actually really stoked to put it up. Michael asked me to please not put it up in the house. I guess I have to agree, it is really ugly, white and looks like the plain ones they give you at your office for your desk. I am so thrilled with it though.

I like to SEE what my day/week/month has lying in store for me. I have tried the leather bound calendars, the dollar store jobbies, the computer ones, microsoft outlook, all of them and I don't seem to get organized. I always seem to be missing some activity, event, birthday, deadline etc.

I actually dream of a big board with dry erase markers where I can put all of our names (think car dealership or nurses station) and what we got going on for the week. It is difficult to manage a household and the appts, birthdays, anniversaries, parties, playgroups etc. With this new calendar I can feel the organization and timeliness oozing out of me. Yay.

Now what was on my agenda for today? Oh yeah, "BLOGGING"- check

Thousand Word Thursday

Game- Every thursday I will post a picture and you can caption it. I always LMAO with y'all...I love thursdays!!!!!!! Have Fun!

*********Don't forget to follow this blog :)))))))****************

Just press on "follow this blog" on the left and you will be privy to when I write a new entry (I know you are all waiting on baited breath as it is). By signing up, you will get coupons in the mail and have the opportunity for early blogger shopping days. Free shipping and gift wrapping for followers too.

Don't wait, Join now.........

The Blogathon

When I started blogging a mere 4 months ago, there was nary a commenter on my blog. I just thought that the blog was supposed to be for family and friends to get a "birdeye" view of my little life. Boy, was I wrong. Apparently, blogs are everybody's business and everybody wants it that way :) I got on to The Secret is in the Sauce and voila I had the vessel in which to visit others blogs (people who wanted perfect strangers to laugh, cry, chuckle, grimace along with them) and vice versa. This site is a group of bloggers who show comment love. The idea brilliant, the membership growing, and the blogs delightful. I have found many of my morning reads here and have visited blogs on days when I was just destined to see what this person wrote about or a comment that someone left.

As part of the blogathon, we are supposed to link 5 bloggers to this post. I have many many blogs that I enjoy immensely. I could only pick 5.

In no particular order.....1, .....love maegan, this is a girl who lives far away from me geographically and her daily life couldn't be more different. She lives in LA and comments on fashion and her dogs and her life working at an art gallery. She rocks. Met her through SITS or an indirect meeting.

2.Happy Meals and Happy Hour, comical, quick witted and on the proverbial ball. Anyone who references the movie "The Jerk" can be my friend. I truly enjoy her posts and she doesn't even know me. Incredible this blogosphere.

3.Kathmandu Mom, no really, she lives there. The stories of her urban life left for this colorful, foreign, beautiful, sad town is awesome. I enjoy her pictures and the comparisons she makes between life in the states and in Kathmandu. Too cool. Would never had found her had it not been for SITS.

4.SuperMommy, just met her and I already know I am going to love her. Has three boys and has a great blog with bad assed graphics! Yep, met her through SITS.

5. And lastly, gourmet mom, fun ideas and family friendly recipes and crafts. I have yet to do one of them, but I still like to read them ;)

I love checking in on the SITS girls and seeing what they have cooked up for the day. I also love to look at the links they have on their blogroll. Overall, it has been a wonderful experience thusfar. Continued success SITS!!!!!!!!!!.

Sister Sister

Athena wakes up and the first thing she says is "Saylors are?" as if Saylor were plural. She wants to go and wake her up (of course we don't allow this) if she isn't awake and go and play with her. She wants to say hello through the bars of her crib and then quickly Athena says "Momma, I want to go in Saylor's bed". There I go lifting Athena into Saylor's "crib". They have a grand ol' time in there. It is really incredible how ABA knows to be gentle with her.

They chase each other around and ABA stuffs toys in her face and wants to ride her like a horse (of course we don't allow this). They are together all day long. Saylor follows ABA all over the house. They go from her room to the living room to the kitchen to the bathroom to the room and start the circuit all over again. ABA knows she must keep the lids on her markers and keep her grapes very far away from "saylor girl". When Saylor pulls herself up in front of our televison, ABA says, "Saylor, No you are too close". If Saylor wants to try something she is eating she says "No Saylor girl, this is too too big. You eat milk and puffs".

Overall they are awesome together and get along smashingly. Michael and I are so proud and love struck. It reminds me of the way I feel about my own little sister. I hope they are as close as we are throughout their lives.

Athena is a stellar big sister and Saylor saves her sweetest smiles just for her.

PS......Next 28 day cycle I will back with more mushy and sappy posts :)


Love,
Bar-b

Thousand Word Thursday

Game. Every thursday I will post a picture and you can add what thoughts or comments you think the character(s) is(are) saying

Please Watch and VOTE!!!!!!

CHALLENGE- Post this video on your blog, link people back to mine or send it to your friends via email.....NOW!!!!!!!!!

Oh and don't worry babe, we know you're Canadian and can't :(

Barbie

Halloween this year?????

Build it and they will come......

Just a quick message to let you all know that I have installed the "followers" section so that you can keep current on the BAMS (even though M stories seem to be scarce....I'll have to fix that) and the such.

Just press on "follow this blog" on the left and you will be privy to when I write a new entry (I know you are all waiting on baited breath as it is). By signing up, you will get coupons in the mail and have the opportunity for early blogger shopping days. Free shipping and gift wrapping for followers too.

Don't wait, Join now.........

Happy Birthday Little Sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are two of you favorite things in the whole wide world. Love you and I wish you the happiest day ever!!!!!!!!!! Love you, love you, and love you some more.


When MJ says "Lisa" think "Bianca"

D'oh, it happened again.

Do you remember the post on starting potty training (which by the way went by the wayside on hurricane day and hasn't started up again) and how my daughter had chosen the Cars boys underwear for her "panties"? Well, had I known how truly kooky she is about the whole Cars movie I would have never taken her to the Disney store to pick out her costume for Halloween. Well enough of the foreshadowing. Let me set the stage. Just had lunch at the mall, had watched an hour of ice skating at the rink (she looooooooves this), and both girls were in good spirits. We pass by the Disney Store!! Oh how exciting! The store is bustling, beautiful costumes abound, and music and licensed plush toys everywhere(and it is filled to the gills with shoppers). Here is our dialogue.

Me-Athena, look at this costume. I think it's Jasmine. What do you think?

Athena-Pretty momma. Look at the blue shoes, they look like crescents.
Me- chuckle They do don't they. Do you want to try it on?
Athena-Nope.
Me-Oh baby look, it's Tinkerbell from Peter Pan.
Athena-the little angel fairy?
Me-yes, that one.
Athena strolls off just a tad to another part of the store.
Athena-Momma! Look!
Me-What baby? while still playing with Tinkerbell.
Athena-It's Cars! It's Lightening McQueen!
Me- Oh crap (in my head of course). Well, yes it is. Redirect..Redirect..Redirect
Me-Look at this one Athena, it's MULAN!!!!! Do you like it?
Athena-She's so pretty. Momma, I want Cars.
Me-You want to see it?
Athena-Yes, PLEASE!

We took it down from the rack and it was a size 4T. Too big for my size 3 LITTLE GIRL, so I assumed that was the smallest size and asked the sales person, "do you have a size 3 in this" she said "no, no we don't". Whew. "Ohhh sorry baby, they don't have your size". The sales person says, "oh that will fit her perfectly. Here, let's get it on her". Sure enough. It fit her perfectly and she looked gorgeous and had a smile beaming from ear to ear. She wanted to show daddy and Saylor instantly.

So, it looks like for Halloween 2008 Athena Blaze will be



and very very happy ;)

Future Kerri Strug?

Sure. Well, I'm as sure as the mother of an almost 3 year old is. Yep, you guessed it, Athena had her first gymnastics lesson today. I gotta tell you it was a rough start (everyone was older than her and was used to the class format). No worries, after ten minutes she really started to get into it though. She was doing cart wheels on mats, on the balance beam, was doing flips on the uneven bars and climbing the rock wall. She was really getting into it. I stood in the distance with Saylor in my arms wanting to try it out too (not me but Say Say).




Towards the end of the class it was hard to tell that Athena had not been doing this all of her life.

By the way for those you youngin's who don't know who Kerri Strug is, I have included a youtube video that for some reason I don't tire of seeing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFn47a_Ny0Y

Thousand Word Thursday

I was gently reminded (ahem...thanks Shan) that I had only a couple hours left for TWT...so here goes. It is sooooo hard to narrow it down to one picture but here goes.

Game. Every thursday I will post a picture and you can add what thoughts or comments you think the character(s) is(are) saying. I would like to thank Athena and Saylor's new friends Zandi and Julian for participating in our game ;)

And I thought I would be talking about the hurricane...pfft.

The blogosphere gods bestowed this little ditty today for me (and for you too).

A wee bit of background. Athena is a sweet, sweet girl. Nuturing and caring for her family and for others as well. Exceptionally polite and courteous (or as courteous as a 2 almost 3 year old can be). She is also bossier than hell. Tells you how to do everything and when. I picked her up at school and she asked "I would like doughnuts Ma, please", I said "sure baby let's go". They had run out of her special dark red and sprinkles kind and she saw the doughnut holes and said "I want those, the doughnut balls". I said "sure". Paid the buck fifty and was on my merry way. She called them doughnut balls for a while and then shortened it to balls. Fast forward to having to pick up Michael at work (car in the shop. yadda yadda yadda, have to pick up michael at work).

Conversation in the car.......

Michael- I am so hungry

ABA- Hungry daddy?

Michael-Yes, Athena, Daddy is hungry

ABA-Do you want balls daddy?

Michael- What baby?

Me whispering to him...she means doughnut holes

Michael- oh yeah, I do, thank you Athena.

ABA- Momma , give daddy his balls. Do you want balls daddy?

Michael-yes

Michael eats a hole

ABA- you like balls daddy?

me, welling up with actual tears in the driver's seat

Me- yeah daddy, do you like balls?

Michael- yes, I like balls.

ABA-Give momma your balls daddy.

Me- I don't want any baby, thanks....daddy can have his balls


As long as I have a toddler and a husband I will have blog material. They are my muses.

So behind, I don't even know where to start.

I haven't really blogged since before the hurricane and I don't know where to start. Do I bore you with my little house on the prairie days back at the ranch (after Ike), or do I tell you about our trip to NC to visit the grandparents, neither, both?

We'll see, I'll surprise you. I am not fully back. I feel like I have taken a vacation day from work and I need to go to the office to pick up something I forgot (in my shorts and tee shirt).

I think I am going to catch myself up in your lives first.

Ok, see you soon,