Thursday, May 30, 2013

Lever



What a day people! Seriously!  It's funny now but it was unimpressive at the time!


About 2 weeks ago we had to get the passenger side window fixed on my car.  The pulley or regulator or whatever makes my window go up and down broke...flat out broke!  We were not planning on this (because who really does right?), $300+ later to fix this we are good to go.  Flash forward to last Thursday and something else breaks on my car.  This time it is my emergency break lever.  I always set my emergency break...always.  Why I don't know, could be a tic?  Either way, I was taking some kids to school and on our way out of the drive way I popped the brake and something snapped or felt like it.  Upon further inspection the brake didn't work right, well really it didn't work at all.  So in my infinite wisdom I said to myself  "Self...do NOT set the brake!" .  I did pretty good , up until I stopped at the school and set the friggin break!

You have got to be kidding me!  I'll admit it, I panicked...I was STUCK AT SCHOOL!! People, that's like 200+ little people in ONE spot...get me O-U-T!  On top of that, I couldn't figure out how to get home if the brake was on!  I had a camping trip I had to leave for that day too!  So I called my FIL in a panic but while talking to him I figured it out and found the latch to pop the brake!  WHEW!

And no we are on to today, apparently my talk to myself didn't work well because at some point yesterday I set the brake.  *eye roll*

I didn't realize this until I had gotten in the car and go the car going and put it in reverse and we weren't going any where.  What the heck? Why are we not moving??  Ahhh! Brake is on... CRAP!

My arm is not long enough to sit in the driver seat and pop the brake, so I get out of the car and find the thing and pop the brake.  Guess what?  You figured it out yet? NO?  Yeah neither did it...until the car started moving in REVERSE with out me!!! I panicked yet again and slammed the emergency brake on.  Seemed appropriate.  Somehow between the car rolling down my drive way and me slamming the brake on with my hand, I hurt my hand.  I bruised it somehow and it aches.  All the while I'm doing all this Eli is in his car seat, buckled and laughing!

What is with kids and them acting the wrong way in different situations! He should have been scared, but he was laughing!  What a goob! 

Anyway, I finally got the car stopped and I put the car in park, popped the brake...again...and got back in the car.  Sat in the seat hyperventilating, all the while Eli is laughing and saying mom that was so funny!  Really?? I swung back and looked at him and said no it wasn't, that was scary and I'm not OK and you should be scared because you could have gotten hurt!  He appropriately was sorry.

After that the whole time I'm trying to get my act together and pull me together, the lines from the Disney movie, Emperors New Groove were running through my head.

  "Puulll the lever Kronk! "

     "Wrong lever Kronk!"

     "Why do we have that lever?"

Yup that's me today.

On top of that, I pulled my bread maker out and it's a heavy one and of course the hand I hurt with the lever, gave way and the whole darn thing dropped!! Waaaaa!  Thankfully I could repair it...with my purple duct tape!  It ain't pretty people but it's together and most importantly it works.  If nothing else I need it to get through this weekend, we are making homemade pizza. I need it to make dough! Actually I need it to last until I can research and afford another one.  My last bread maker from my mom, walked it's self off the counter Christmas day 2 years ago! 


 

Well I hope you had a good chuckle, because it is pretty funny all in all. 

 

*No one was hurt in the making of this fiasco....NOT!

 

Friday, May 17, 2013

Zoo Animals

 
A few days ago we went to the zoo to check out a new exhibit they were opening up, The Sting Ray Cove!  SO cool!
I think Eli wasn't sure what to expect and I however was pretty excited.
 
But check out the animals I saw at the zoo...
 
I found an Eli, super cute right?  They let this guy run free, amazing!
 
Then I found these guys.  I'm not sure what they are but they were handsome.

This one is a falcon and I love this picture.  It's looking right at me...be careful Missy!
 I swear many times when we go, by the time we get there it's nap time!  Where can I join!?!  Seriously I want my siesta too!!!

We had fun and it was an extra special day because Eli got to take his dad to the zoo!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Mother's Day

 
 
Well Mother's Day has come and gone again this year. It has been a hectic month...there is a common theme here in the last few posts about this tired  business.  It's getting old, even for me.
 
Anywho, today, well rather tonight I am going to blog about Mother's day.  I saw a lot of Facebook posts about how we should all not be selfish about this day, it's not about celebrating me (or you) it's about being thankful that you are a mom to your kids and that you have the privilege of being a mom and spending time with your family  and all that happy...well you finish the rest of the sentence.
I must put forth my opinion here.  First, should we for the most part be thankful for our kids and happy we get to be the mother to some pretty great kid/s? Don't get me wrong, there are many a day and hour where I often wonder just what I got myself into...really I do.  But I never really felt that one day a year I should be thankful for them, but really all the time (as humanly possible).  Secondly, you bet I want Mother's Day about me...I want my kids to slow down and really examine what exactly I do and I want them to think about that. Being taken for granted 364 days of the year is exhausting!  I want this day, I wanna be pampered and I really think it's good for them to think of someone other than themselves.  This part hasn't always worked out for me but in the last year it has become SO important the harder this parenting thing gets!!!  I could use more exclamation points for that sentence but you get the idea.
 
I really just wanted to pinch those people out there saying that...ugh! I get what they were trying to say but at the same time...totally annoying. The other side to this coin is I absolutely abhor Mother's Day!! I hate shopping for cards for one thing. They never, ever say the right thing and the cards I'm looking for, well suffice it to say , as far as I know there isn't a market for them or I'm looking in the wrong place.  If you want to be recognized as a mother or a mother figure...then you need to recognize the person who's recognizing you (if applicable) as a mother.  It's not one sided, at all.  My annoyance has reached critical mass with this situation.
 
There is my soap box on Mother's Day, certainly not all rainbows and glitter I know. But honestly, my only request is that at the very least I be made to feel special, no last minute (like that morning) kind of special. 
 
Last year was a lot of fun and this year was good too.  This year we really couldn't 'go' do anything because of some MOPS stuff and all that hullabaloo. So staying around town and doing something small scale was more our theme this year.  However, the boys did take me to see Iron Man 3...yes you read that right.  Now that was pretty special only for the fact that for all 6 of us to go to a movie is a pretty big, dang deal.  Thank heavens Santa left gift cards to a theater last year, otherwise it wouldn't have happened.  So excitement ensued because not only did we see a movie we got treats THERE! I know right!!!
 
The movie was alright, I think I went in thinking that it was going to be like Thor and Avengers and Captain America...it wasn't.  I'm not a big Downy Jr. fan either...BUT the movie was funny and I'd watch it again, from home.  And, well all were together doing something super special.
 
On top of that the big boys all made gifts for me and Frank took Eli out shopping for one.  Things could have gone bad if everyone else had a gift to give and he didn't.  So off they went doing manly things.  I absolutely LOVE the gift he gave me with all my heart! One year Lee wanted to get  me Aqua Globe or something or other.  You know the contraption you stick in your plants so they stay watered all the time?
 
I asked Frank to take pictures for me and he did. Thanks Frank!
 
The boys and the gifts
 Eli was adamant I open his gift FIRST! So I am :)
 Still unwrapping...lots of tissue paper!
 The gift...Angry birds wind chime.  BEST.GIVE.EVER!
 Dru was next, he made a book called 'If You Give A Mom A Muffin', very funny and cute and there was a chocolate muffin to go with it.  He also gave me a lot of saved up school work as gifts too, at one point I was thinking to myself  "he's stretching this a little too far..."

Lee gave me a cut out flower on a stand with his picture on it, I can't believe how much he's grown since school started.  When I see things like that it's a slap at how fast they grow up, one more reminder!  Ian made a little picture of a teapot and had some tea inside of it and he made me a cup of hot tea.  They all also made breakfast for me.  Frank is SO god with them in the kitchen (I wish I could be more like him)...Ian and Eli made waffles, Lee cooked the eggs and Dru cooked the sausage for me. And by all accounts, they really did cook it all themselves with supervision from Dad.  It was a delightful breakfast!  Way to go fellas!

It was a good Mother's day and I felt special which was all I asked for.  Thank you Frank, Ian, Lee, Dru and Eli!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Time



I don't have time to spare!  What the heck is going on? Oh that's right, baseball about every night of the week, MOPS takes up about every breathing moment of mine, and then of course because I'm trying to lose weight... working out has turned into a full time job in of itself (SERIOUSLY!?!). 

I love this time of the year but at the same time I despise it...it is so crazy here this time of year for everyone!  I am SO thankful we only have 2 kids this season involved in something. When those 2 are done the other two will get to do something...round and round we go!  However it keeps them busy and out of trouble...AND it keeps them tired which is key!


So with that said, life should be picking up more but as more picks up other things should be falling.  I hope to have more updates SOON! I have so much to blog about and not enough time! I have a stack of books calling my name and it's killing me people!


Ok I must go, my bed calls and the morning is fully of work outs and grocery shopping with some chores and weeding  thrown in for a good time!


Have a good day everyone!!!

 

Saturday, May 4, 2013

First Communion

 
 
The Paulson's were on an important VIP list earlier this May. 
 
We were invited to this young lady's First Communion.  I have known her since she was sparkle in her parents eyes!  I get the privilege of being an honorary Auntie, which I love being!  Frank and I went to college with her parents and have know each other for a long time, and gone through many a thing. They are an Aunt and Uncle to my boys and they take us for what we are, loud and boisterous bundled mess. Thank GOD for friends like them! On top of that they like us AND they like my kids...for the most part! ;)
 
We had so much fun being a part of this big event in her life and I wanted pictures! So here are my pictures!
 
All the kids
And that little boy in the plaid, that's my little man..he wants to marry me someday. I'm his Auntie Ni-Ni.
 
These kids have known each other since they were born and both sets of parents have a suspicion that Zoe and Lee will be married.  They butt heads SO much right now that someday we think it might be different.  That could be interesting...to say the least!
 
 

 
 
Me and the little miss!
I can't believe how big she's getting! I remember when she was born, held her in my arms!
Who said any of these kids were allowed to get big and grow up?
       I love these pictures! I am so glad she remembered us and wanted us to be there and share on her big and important day! 

On a side note, all the boys were good during a 2 hour ceremony where 55 kids and their family participated with their child or family member in taking communion.  It was really kind of a neat thing to see.

Music That Moves You

I don't know about you guys, but there are times in my life that are defined by music. The summer after I graduated High school was Tom...