Sway

Seriously, not like he wasn't super cute before but add his brother's borrowed IPOD and watching a 3 year old rock out to, lets say, Bruno Mars-Grenade.  It's worth watching him sway his head back and the forth making the music work for his little body. 

Can we just say... CUTE!

Rendezvous

So I had a rendezvous with some girlfriends for some birthday drinks and some good times at The Rendezvous in town...a wine and dining place.  Let me tell you I was so excited to go out it was like getting ready to go out with one of my best girls Tami from college!  Really the only thing missing was body glitter!!  Which I still have...hahahahha! I'm not nostalgic or anything!

I tried some wine I hadn't tried before and it was yummy, we had some cheese fondue and we had so much chocolate we were swimming in it!  We ordered 3 chocolate fondues and a chocolate mousse....we, there were 5 of us, and we made a pretty good dent in it, it was impressive!  Good job ladies!!!

We all have plans to go back again in March...Girls Night! 

**just so we are clear I am having a hard time just enjoying my picture with out dissecting how I look**

Nasty self talk sometimes

Radio Silent

                                                                                                                May 2013


I have been wanting to blog for awhile now and for a lot of reasons I haven't.  Life has been rough since last Saturday. 

I don't' even know where to begin but the short version is this has been a really rough year and I'm really ready to be done.  I have had more people this year attack my and my character and I'm so over it. 

It all started in January focused around 1 woman which then involved a whole group of women and then my mom and her battle with cancer and what that all entails for our relationship or lack there of.  Really it's a lack there of, which is hard but it's my doing because our relationship needs to change because I'm not getting nor are my kids getting what they need from particular titles.  That has been a rough journey.  Then dealing with family in general is never easy...EVER. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!  Frank and I found out last Saturday that we were intentionally left out or not invited to a 30th birthday party that was in the family.  Not only did they not have the decency to keep it a secret everyone was OK talking about in front of us.  Can we talk about dumping a pound of salt in a ginormous wound!?!  Seriously.  If you are going to do that make sure I know I'm not invited OR keep it a fucking secret and make sure everyone knows that! So just yet another situation in which Frank and I get our feelings hurt...his brothers are always getting together and never inviting us.  BUT apparently it's because of me and how I treat people, and just so you all know I have the power to make people cry! I have made my MIL cry, 2 SIL's cry AND let us not forget the new girlfriend cry.  POWER PEOPLE!!!  Not only do I control the weather and many other things I hold the immense power to make people cry.  Go ahead...take that ALL in!  I'm still processing all that.

According to said mouth piece and many other family members who he's talked to (NOT ME)  I am a mean person and I'm an ugly person and if I don't change my ways and how I treat and respect people then I won't be invited to family events anymore.  I love how 1 guy who has NOTHING to do with the family for YEARS all the sudden becomes the mouth piece for the whole family.  Seriously...I get the idea of the Prodigal son but honestly...maybe he should get all sides of the story before he decides to lay accusations haphazardly!  Boy he laid into me like he knew just what the hell he was saying and like he knew the whole story.  Just so you know, he didn't and he started a whole mess, he poked the bees nest!  So for 2 days I had been dealing with this crap and the things people were saying and the things that were left unsaid were speaking the loudest by some people.  And mostly the things that were left unsaid is that after 14/15 years in this family not one person stopped to think about me, my feelings and the fact that I am not acting or the person they are implying I am.  For the record, when I say you DON'T want my opinion and I continue to repeat it, I mean it.  You don't want my opinion, because in the grand scheme of things it isn't going to stop you or change your mind.  90% of the worlds populations isn't going to agree with my thoughts and morals. I know this, so unless you are a safe person I can speak my opinion too w/o repercussions then I will. Otherwise, let it go and just know I don't want to and it's probably for the best!  Then of course if you badger me enough and I tell you, have the decency to not be shocked at what I say...because you already know what I'm going to say.  Quit playing manipulative games, I grew up that way, have mastered it and am in contact with 2 women who do it also to benefit them.  Manipulation is always ugly I have never seen it used right, even by me.

 NOW, I will say that some of the things he was upset about that I did, he was right...they were mean and hurtful.  Not saying my reasons excuse my behavior AT all, and I agree I needed to apologize for those 2 actions.  One was TWO years ago people and I haven't done what they say I did for well over a year!  So I STILL needed to apologize for that...*eye rolling* but whatever. If it's going to end this craziness then I do it, because I need my sleep and when I'm considering sleeping aides and tea with Vodka...and running on 4 hours of sleep.  It's time to end this stupid charade.  So I took care of my end....I'm still waiting for my apology.........................yet again.......................


Sigh, anyway, long suffering story short.  BIG shit stormed happened and I tried to explain from my point of view and really just asked people to see where I was coming from and no one could seem to do it. So in the end I talked to the one person who this all centered around (besides me) might as well drag her through the mud too since we were already covered in shit.  Talked to her and we worked it out.  Two years in this family and there are expectations of me that are too high and she needs to lower them .....A LOT! I won't succeed if they aren't lowered and most are not ever going to be who I am.  Some days it's a big dang deal for me to say hi to people, so take it where you can get it and quit expecting the Taj mahal (I have no idea how to spell that). And please tell me why everyone rallied around her and not one person except for my husband stood behind me and said this isn't OK, the things that you are saying and doing are not OK??? They have known me for 15 years and her for 2...you would THINK that they would stop and go...something isn't right here...this doesn't seem right.  MAYBE we should talk to Anita and see what's up and what her thoughts are before people fly off the handle.  We know her and she's better than that.  Right!?!  Whatever

So once again I put my foot forward first...AGAIN...and apologized for my small part in it and of course I'm still waiting for the apology of the said male asshole for being a big asshole and doing what he did and saying the horrific things he said to and about me. 

There's my life in the last 2 days and the year...that pretty much sums up my year...people have tromped all over me and again I was the one that started the apology and I'm here to tell you just how physically draining and emotionally exhausting always being the one who starts first and who apologizes first.  Some days keeping my side of the sidewalk clean is more than I can do, really.  One of these days I'm going to blow the biggest top ever and people are going to be sitting there with their mouths wide open wondering just what the hell happened and where that all came from! 

Trust me, there were many that were shocked I did what I did to stand my ground THIS time.  Just you wait...you all won't be surprised but they all will be.

I know this doesn't go in order and probably makes no sense but It needed to get out in some form and this is the best form I know how.

Chainsaw

Okay so during the storm we (and by we I mean the town of Enumclaw) lost a lot of trees.  Across the street from where I live they had so many trees in the apartment complex go down.  It really is amazing that there was no car damage or structural damage in a lot of places.  God was really looking out for people!

Well all over town lots of people are dealing with debris and hiring landscapers and such to take care of trees and branches. 

Which brings me to this gentleman...this whole thing made me nervous!  High up, chain saw, old man (not knocking the old me but lets face it the older we get the less steady we get), did I mention the chainsaw?  OH and a ladder...things I don't consider a good combo.  I pretty much sat and watched through the window with my heart beating fast praying for this guy.  To make it down the ladder in one piece and no chainsaw incident. 

He adjusted his position several times to get the 'just right' spot.  Can I say the chainsaw was up there with him too??? Notice it in his hands???  

 

As of now, he's safe and down the tree...thank goodness because honestly I didn't want to have to put my emergency plan into action! 

Information

This is going to be short and to the point:

I was informed this evening that I will be 3 decades and 4 years tomorrow.  Thanks Lee!  Frank told them I'd be 48 tomorrow...Thanks Frank!

Told you it was short, sweet, and to the point.

Birthday Dump

My guys at the hockey game.  We found our seats, tried them out and then of course promptly got up to get Lee souvenirs and everyone a treat.  We are a one tracked mind family here people...FOOD then fun! 

Go Seattle Thunderbirds!!  However they lost but it sure was fun being there!

The Zamboni...who doesn't love those!  Especially when they are cute like that!

A Camloop Blazer getting smooshed up against the glass...always fun to see that or when they get into a fight close by.  My boys were cracking me up though, a fight would start and they would be screaming FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!  Even Eli...apparently they don't get out much.

The token cute picture...poor guy lost all his M&M's to the floor...but he had his soda so all was not lost!

Lee's birthday cake.  We had to go to QFC to find it and generally I'm not a fan of their cakes and not much has changed, but they had a way better cake than Safeway did.  The weird part about this cake was the frosting, tasted like marshmallows...SO not my thing!  Would have preferred butter cream frosting, THAT would have tasted better! Oh well not my cake and Lee was happy with it.

He wanted this book SO bad!  He even wrote to Santa about this book, it was his number 1 item on his list.  It took a lot for Frank and I to talk him out of being upset if he didn't get this for Christmas, reminding him that he had a birthday less than a month after Christmas.  His Grandma and Grandpa had this book for him since before Christmas...we knew he was getting it.  He was so happy and I loved seeing him sit down and read it shortly after everyone left from the party.  I have never read the book...I might have too after he's done!

Lee's birthday dinner.  We finally talked him out of having yet another birthday dinner of spaghetti...ugh! So he managed to decide on ribs (although he says his Uncle Cheeson's ribs are way better than mine-I'll never win!), Homemade mac and cheese, strawberries, salad, and garlic bread (even if I did forget to warm it up and put it on the table).  The only thing missing was collard greens!  HAHAHA!

I just can't believe he's 8 now...I know I'll be saying that when he's 18 too, but it's still weird.  Love you Lee, hope you had a birthday to remember!!

Angelic?

My Lee making a snow angel

His snow angel

He has his angelic moments...I love my boy!

Icicles

Apple Popsicle anyone?

As damaging as this ice storm was, there were some really cool and amazing things to see!  There was beauty in it!

I can't believe how thick the ice was!

I fiddled with this one but man it has to be one of the coolest shots I've taken in awhile I think.  Yes that horn you here is my own horn tooting!

Stuntman

Ian had a bright idea while we were all outside playing Wednesday.  Actually for the 2 days before that they had been trying but hadn't gotten brave enough or figured out the logistics of it completely.

However, with his dad out there and I'd like to think me too, Ian got brave and went through with the plan.  I'm still on the fence whether this really is a good idea.  With that said, at least they had the snow to land on...fairly soft landing.

We had a good time out in the snow...lots of snowballs thrown at daddy and many snowball fights.  I even got a sled ride from Frank!  It was so fun, I felt like a kid again!  Frank gave a ride to everyone...I love laughing like that...even if I did get tackled by Frank and got a white washing!  I do love snow days like this when we are all together and can have some fun...I do love my routine and I'm now ready for it to be back!

Let the good times roll school is back in session!

Ice Ice Baby

Thursday morning I woke up to some snap, crackle and popping. Frank called me early in the morning asking me what it was doing weather wise and so I went outside saying it looked fine.  That is until I got past our gate and saw this!  Our Cherry tree went and broke into pieces!  What the heck!  Anyway, the silver lining in all this is where the 2 branches broke off they fell into the driveway where my car normally sits.  Frank took my car to work that morning and I'm pretty sure right after he left that the tree broke, otherwise there would be some damage to the family car.  Thank goodness!

Where my car normally sits...and we were lucky that there wasn't damage to Frank's truck...so lucky.  Once we got in there and started moving the branches we were really lucky there wasn't a widow out or something.  Thank you Lord!

The fir tree across from us lost it's top sometime in the night or early morning...it has since lost a huge chunk from the side also.

Another tree across from us but down the road.  The whole time we were outside we kept seeing and hearing the other tree branches on this tree crash to the ground in spectacular fashion.  Not one of those cars were damaged as far as I could tell.  Lots of damage to trees but from what I could see around town, not much if any to cars and houses...amazing!

Another look at our tree that broke...crazy looking!

Neighbors Lilac trees bent all the way over...today I was surprised to see a few branches actually bounced back...they are a hardy tree though.

My cherry tree in the back broke...I hope this one bounces back with one less branch.

The company we share the fence with, these are their trees'...they are mess with much to clean up for Frank and I.  At least we'll have a full yard waste for awhile, got that going for us!

We had been talking about chopping the tree down for a few years now, the ice and broken branches just made it happen.  That and every year Frank and I worry about that tree falling on our neighbors stuff...meaning trailer and cars.  Not something I want to deal with and they are really good neighbors to us...they put up with my kids for pete's sakes!  So Frank's brother came over and used his chainsaw and chopped it down for us...and he got most of the wood for his fireplace.  So it worked out well!  It looks SO different with out that tree right there!

All in all we were really lucky we came out with out some damage.  I thought that we might have some when I first saw it, but we don't have any except to trees.  And trees bounce back or you buy more.  Thank you Lord!

8 Years

Last Thursday was Lee's 8th birthday.  Like a lot of other people we lost power and I was unable to post this.  This kid is by far the one that tests me the most...everyday.  8 years ago we had a storm just like this one before I had Lee.  I remember it well because Frank and I were concerned we'd actually have to drive in this weather across town to the hospital.  Thankfully he came afterwards but not much.  This kid came in with a bang and celebrated his 8th birthday in the same manner!  This year is certainly a year he will not soon forget!  Who else gets a week off for their birthday on account of snow and ice? Not many!

Lee Emerson Paulson

 1/19/04

11:01PM

 9lbs 9oz

21inches

14 1/2 head

15 inches chest

Nothing easy about this kid from day 1!

 

Camping baby 2004

First Halloween.  Eeyore and this fit him better than anything. He is still like this but not as bad as he was as a baby.  When he got his first set of tubes for his ears in at 18 months his personality changed a bit for the better. 

October 2004

Burgundy Suit-love this suit! Thank you Nikki for letting all my boys wear this, has meant so much to me! That rocking chair that Eli is sitting in was Frank's when he was a kid...LOVE heirlooms!

Lee and Frank during swim lessons.  I just love this picture, they are having a moment...a Father and son moment. Melts my heart

2005

2005 His first haircut in our blue leisure suit-again thank you Nikki :)

2005

2007

Birthday boys...50 years apart

Preschool 2008

2008

2008

2009

Doesn't he look handsome!?!

Dungeness Spit 2011

He was into fishing last year and this year he's finally old enough to get on the charter boat for salmon fishing in Ilwaco.

2012

My baby is 8 now and it went by fast.  This year Frank and I were able to really do something for his birthday.  We took him and the rest of the family to see a hockey game.  We saw the Seattle Thunderbirds vs Camloops Blazers.  Sadly the Thunderbirds didn't win but man we were in the second row from the glass and it was action packed the whole time!  Lee impressed me by sitting and really followed the whole game it seemed.

Happy birthday Lee-Lee!!

Snowed In

Hahahahaha!

Sorry I just thought it was funny!

Sledding Trip

Today I decided I would take the boys out on a walk around the neighborhood, while also getting a work out in as I drug the sled behind me.  Genius I tell you!  Here the boys are with Charlie right before we started.  It was cold, windy and snowing like heck.  I didn't think we'd actually last long with that wind.  But at the very least we could get to a girlfriend's house and drop off some Carmel corn and a loaf of Applesauce bread (which is delish by the way!).

On our way out I told the boys we'd measure how much snow we got...4 inches...not bad! They got a snow day out of it (with a sneaking suspicion that there are no built in snow days in the calendar for 2011-2012...it would stink to be us!)

That's the 70lbs (maybe more...and I'm guessing at weight here) that I pulled for approximately 2 miles.  they had fun it looks like.  One way we walked against the wind which is why they look the way they do.  By the way what is the deal with constantly eating snow?  I dont' get it, then they have to pee all the time!

 

We were taking a rest because of Lee...it really was a sense of Deja Vu of Disneyland all over again with that kid.  Not sure what he thought I was going to do a mile from home...certainly wasn't going to drag his butt on the sled all the way home!!  I know that's what he was thinking!

They really didn't do to bad on the walk and Charlie was really a good boy!  A good walker...which I love!  Kids went to bed tonight wondering if they had school tomorrow...poor kids!

Have fun making the snow angels friends!

Stone Cold

HA! A moment anyone should be proud of...a couple of swigs of Champagne right before you walk down the aisle...

Frank was so mad...cause he didn't have anything to drink before he had to be up front waiting for me.  Poor guy was up there STONE COLD!

HAHAHA!