""""Paint fume high""""

Work.
All weekend.
I am one Tired lady.

First of all, I win.
I win for sure.
Yesterday, I went to Wal-Mart and spent 295.00 big ones.
The fact that I spent nearly $300 at Wal-Mart in one sitting is not the winning note.
The fact that only 2, count them, 2 items in my cart(s), yes, carts, were greater than $5.
A bag of chicken breasts and laundry soap.
Other than that it was canned goods, dry goods, frozen doo-dads, fresh food, milk, eggs, butter...
Usually, when I spend THAT much money anywhere there is at least ONE big ticket item in there...
So yesterday, I worked like a crazy woman loading groceries into a cart, out of a cart, paid for them, put them back in, out into my van, out of the van and into my house, and neatly organized into my pantry and fridge... WHEW! I hate grocery shopping.
I used to think I was a hero just for taking two kids to the grocery store, now I am elated if I don't forget the Q-tips!

Yesterday, I also mowed our front and back lawns. They were way overgrown because or garage door was broken for two weeks. Mower stuck in garage+Garage door stuck in downward position= Lots of mowin to do...

After dinner yesterday, the kids and I went out to my parent's house to look at Jupiter and a comet that was due to pass through orbit on my brother's mega-telescope. That was really neat!

Today, when we got home from our sleepover at my parent's house, it was back to work.
I went to Home Depot and got some paint for our front door. While our garage door was broken, we had to come in and out through the front door. I decided that as much as I like red doors, THAT color red was not the best and I was tired of looking at it.
I painted our front door.
Then I steamed our carpet.
I fed the kids dinner, bathed them, read to them, and got them to bed.
Then I polyurethaned our bathroom cabinets, the kids bathroom cabinets, the hallway woodwork, and some of the kitchen before I ran out of it... It really looks better!!
Very much worth the effort, I'll say!
After that, I still thought I had some steam left in me, I decided to finish the kitchen and dining room paint.
I got a lot further.
But my jelly legs and tired fingers kept me from finishing the job...

So if you are wondering what I have been doing instead of blogging, now you are caught up!

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

I regret to inform you that I eagerly awaited THE EVENT all day long.
I thought about what cool navy and silver (grey) outfit I would wear.
I tried to get the kids to bed a wee bit early so I could fully savor the moment.
There was a fleeting moment.
One decent punt return for a touchdown.
No goosebumps.
No thrill beyond all thrill as you watch the teams duke it out.
Only pitiful whomping and stomping.
If only it were a team that I would even consider relevant in the league that defeated them.
Come on, Cowboys - you have got to be kidding me...
On the bright side, it was the second fiddles, but still...

Dallas Cowboys, You're on notice:
You're the Dallas Cowboys.
Your B team should be whoopin tight ends all over the place.
By the start of regular season, there had better be something better going on than the Vikings laying you out to dry...

There.
Not that you care.
I care.
that was purely for my benefit.
thanks for listening...

In the end,

Thanks Scrappy!

Do you like your new nickname?
It's my thing.
I get to give nicknames to those who don't already have them...
And Gwen was so last decade...
The fact that you had a playdate was enough.
Your string bikini was the icing...
hehehee
Alright, what can I say?
Your house was perfect!
Your backyard oasis - delightful!
The company - a treat!
And your homemade smoothies and kiddie Popsicles - to die for!
Who knew you could make kiddie Popsicles that are both healthy and yummy??!!??
Yes, she made Popsicles.
Now I'm loser mom...
"Why don't YOU make our Popsicles mommy...."
Oy ve!!

untitled.

When someone you love is hurting, you hurt with them.
When someone you love is hurt by you, it is a feeling altogether wretched and unbearable.
I have been tried and found guilty by the wounded. The hurt is real, although unintentional.
How does a person who intended no harm and feels justified by their decision facilitate healing?
I have inflicted a wound on this person that serves only to re-injure a deeper heartbreak and for that, I am wholly to blame.
I had only the best intentions in mind for the involved individuals,
but what is perceived as less than pure motive where some are concerned.

I am conflicted.
I am broken.
I am alone.
If it is possible to be right and to be wrong at the same time, in this situation, I have mastered the art of being exactly that.
Right and wrong.

In the end, the unsolicited, unintentional, undesired result is wreaking havoc on not only me, but also someone I care deeply for.
If you were to ask me which is worse, I'd say the latter is more agonizing for sure.

Every Mother's Dream....

Classroom.

We do a lot of sign language in my class so I was excited to find this sign.

One of my most favorite things in my classroom is the stuff hanging from the ceiling.

It's hard to appreciate in the pictures, but it really adds a bunch to the feel of the room!

Last year, we did a bunch of songs and I would let them choose their favorites ever once in a while - but when they chose 'Frosty the Snowman' in May, I decided to revamp the choosing process. This little juke box guy is going to help me limit their choices to only the songs and activities we have done that week.

I didn't like seeing the ugly back of the piano first thing when I walked into the room. I made the curtain (valance), the piano cover, and the curtains across the front of the shelving last year.

I wish I had taken a BEFORE picture. You will never be able to fully appreciate how much stuff came out of my room. THAT is the miracle of my lifetime. One day, 400 Little Tykes Playthings. 14 gillion dead crickets - yucko!

I am really looking forward to this schoolyear! I think the second year is going to go so much more smoothly than my first - and I positively cannot complain about the first year...

I just know what to expect and I have much more confidence.

Ok - that's all I have! Thanks for peeking into my music room!

E! Entertainment.

We bit the bullet.
We went and got family portraits this evening.
It had been almost 2 years.
The pictures turned out really nice, but even nicer than the pictures was the lady at the portrait studio...
My good friend E. showed up in uniform and ready to go - even though she wasn't actually scheduled to work...
Who does that?
I will tell you.
E. does that.
Above and beyond.
She even gave her very best to help calm little A. down in the midst of her fit-frenzy...
What would a scheduled photo op. be like without a black eye, puffy cry-baby eyes, a new zit, et cetera??
Thank you for making the huge effort you made so that everything could be perfect.
And those editing training sessions have really paid off! You're good!
Those pictures will make me think of you. And that zit that just appeared this morning...
And my daughter's nonstop crying... And my Hollywood-bound son.... And...
Well, you're just fantastic - that's all!
Thank you!

Strong.

We've been laying with our children at night for longer periods of time than in the past.
One reason is because we can do it without getting them all riled up, and the other obvious reason is so we can know what they're thinking about.

So my husband hung out with A. while I hung out with J.
I could hardly wait to find out what my husband had to say about his conversation with A.

He said A. kept bragging about how strong she is.
She said, "I'm stronger than daddy. I'm stronger than mommy. I'm stronger than Bubba."
Then she turned it around and started saying, "Bubba's strong. Daddy's strong." All the way down the line....
Her daddy asked her if Granddaddy was strong.
She said, "No, Grandmomma's strong."
There you have it ladies - Grandmomma's are stronger than granddaddies!
Sorry DAD................

Big kid.

I was talking with my son at bedtime tonight.
He was talking about what it took to be a 'big kid.'
You must:

1. Sleep in a big boy bed,
2. Poop in the potty,
3. Eat all your growing food,
4. Play on the big kid playground at school.

I asked him if Buzz Lightyear was a big kid, he said,

"Yeah, he's an Intergalactic Space Ranger."

Who knew?

Recipe anyone???

I have never boasted the extent of my culinary prowess.

Tonight, I concocted a meal that was neither delicious, nor edible.

It was simple by design.

The meat was hamburger meat. I added a few spices and some other secret ingredients (if you ask me, it must have been canned dog food and nail polish remover).

Truly, this was without question the most disgusting hamburger patty I have ever put into my mouth on purpose...

My kids looked at this cruel, cruel reality as it oozed grossness all over their plates.

I told them they didn't even have to try to eat it.

I was shocked by my own involuntary response when the foul substance crossed my lips and assaulted my tongue.

I literally gagged as if I would vomit.

Here are some pictures of the progression of events:

That was after one flip-over.

Here's after two...

At this point, I realized it might be more appropriate to call it "hash."

Also around this time, my husband came into the kitchen. He was clearly thinking, "What is that heinous odor?" But he sweetly asked, "I smelled it all the way from the living room, and I had to come see what it was." (Good hunny.)

I scrambled the cursed mess up and finished burning it...

And voila! It was dinnertime! Here's a look at our dinner table tonight...

Seriously, it was despicable. Utterly loathsome.

This begs the question, 'meems, do you want me to post the recipe?'

As a side note: I also managed to burn the frozen veggies IN THE MICROWAVE!!!

Proud Moment: Husband went back for seconds. Bless his heart...