What?? Ninjas ride bikes with Princess Helmets!

So, the little ninja decided today that he was going to ride a bike without training wheels. He is the most determined (we prefer that to stubborn) child I have ever met. So, he goes outside, gets on his bike (for the first time-I GOT IT ALL ON VIDEO) and takes off. It's like he's been doing it for, well, minutes (I can't say years, 'cause he's still wobbly). The only time he fell is when he hit the curb to stop. Guess we need to work on those brake skills, eh? I will try to include two videos. The first one will be Ninja boy riding for his first time. The second will be him practicing his brakes. Don't laugh at his helmet (Pink Princess with Duck tape on the bill). He did NOT want to wear that helmet outside, but we couldn't find his blue one. I assured him no one would see and if they did, they wouldn't care. And wouldn't you know the neighbor pulls up and the first thing she says is, "Hey, Nolan! Why do you have a Princess helmet on??" He just looked at me and growled. No, he really growled.

Here he goes:


Try out those brakes, Booger!

Thurday 13 # - 13 Christmas Memories 2007

I thought I would compile a list of 13 memories that stood out this Christmas. Some funny, some irritating, some wonderful :-)

1. When my 2 year old nephew told me off. I was yelling up the stairs for my oldest son. I kept going, "Brandon, BRAndon, BRANDON!" Little Max (my nephew), says, "We scream OUTSIDE, Auntie." Oh, I thought I was going to pee myself.

2. We do a 'white elephant' gift exchange at my grandfather's Christmas Eve. The gift is supposed to be between 15-20 dollars. My grandfather brings a golden tree with the $2.99 price tag partially blacked out from the Grocery Outlet. My poor husbnad ended up with that one. It wouldn't be so irritating if it wasn't so typical.

3. Getting to spend quality time with my nephews. Max is 2 1/2 and Cole is 5 months. I love them to pieces and I don't see them a lot. It was so fun and sweet to hold a baby! I love him.

4. BOARD GAMES! I got three games for Christmas! RAD!! I got Vh1's, "I love the 80's" game. It is so awesome! I also got Catch Phrase and Cranium Wow! We played them all already and I am so looking forward to game night! Who's in??

5. Watching my children's faces as they open gifts that they have "wanted for their whole life." All three years, huh, Princess??

6. The drive home from Christmas Dinner at Grammie's. My 5 year old, Nolan, is sitting up front with Zac and I. He took off his socks and shoes and I cannot resist cute kid feet! So, I started rubbing his feet, He turns to me and says, "So, You wanna rub my putrid feet, do ya??"

7. Seeing Grammie. Grammie is my husband, Zac's 89 year old Grandmother. I love her so much!

8. Everyone getting along and sharing their new toys. Had to include that since it's now the 27th and all that love is long gone!

9. Christmas Eve Eve dinner at my house, Tamales, Enchiladas and good friends and family! Oh, and Catch Phrase! Whoo hoo....

10. Playing Catch Phrase and using this clue, "A blind singer who sings, , "Hello...is it me you're looking for??" My sister about died. She said, "Kel, I think you are going for Stevie Wonder, not Lionel Richie." There was a LOT of laughter. Paired with wine, it got pretty loud!

11. Watching 'A Christmas Story' for the 100th time with the family. Man, that's a GOOD movie.

12. My clean house...if even only for an hour...sigh.

13. The pure magic of the holiday season. The love, the laughter, the unselfish giving, the pure joy of children. I love it all. It's just too bad it doesn't happen all year long.

I hope you all had a joyous Christmas! Have a wonderful New Year!!

Answers to my Christmas Songs Thursday 13 and other Christmas Ramblings

1.SIR LANCELOT WITH LARYNGITIS - Silent Night
2.VEHICULAR HOMICIDE WAS COMMITTED ON DAD’S MOM BY A PRECIPITOUS DARLING- Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
3.THE APARTMENT OF TWO PSYCHIATRISTS - The Nutcracker Suite
4.WE ARE DONG, LEAR, AND NAT COLE - We Three Kings
5.DUODECIMAL ENUMERATION OF THE PASSAGE OF THE YULETIDE SEASON - 12 Days of Christmas
6.LEAVE AND BROADCAST FROM AN ELEVATION - Go Tell It on The Mountain
7.LISTEN, THE WINGED HEAVENLY MESSENGERS ARE PROCLAIMING TUNEFULLY. - Hark the Herald Angels Sing
8.I BEHELD A TRIO OF NAUTICAL VESSELS MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION. -I Saw Three Ships
9.A JOYFUL SONG OF REVERENCE RELATIVE TO HOLLOW METALLIC VESSELS WHICH VIBRATE AND BRING FORTH RINGING SOUND WHEN STRUCK - Carol of the Bells
10.MAY THE DEITY BESTOW AN ABSENCE OF FATIGUE TO MILD MALE HUMANS - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
11.ROSE-COLORED UNCOUTH DOLF IS AWARE OF THE NATURE OF PRECIPITATION, DARLING - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
12.CUP-SHAPED INSTRUMENTS FASHIONED OF A WHITISH METALLIC ELEMENT - Silver Bells
13.AS THE GUARDIANS OF THE WOOLLY ANIMALS PROTECTED THEIR CHARGES IN THE DARK HOURS. - While the Shepherds Guarded Their Flocks By Night


You guys are really smart. I hate these things and those of you who tried did an awesome job.

So, Christmas. We had a good three days. Christmas started for us on December 23rd. My sister, my Brother in Law, My adorable nephews and my parents came here. My house was Spot.Less. I always need to ask myself why I bust my arse to clean when it just gets messed up beyond recognition. By the time the company leaves, I am left to clean for three days. But, I do love my family, so I suppose it's worth it. We opened presents on the 23rd, since my sister was going home Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve, we went to my grandfather's. I won't say much because I don't wanna sound like a big, fat Grinch. I will say that there is no relationship there, at all. And I don't mind.

Yesterday, the kids opened presents from Santa. OH, what a joyous occasion. There was hootin' and hollerin' (Yeah, 'cause we're the Beverly hillbillies, so I can use those words) and laughing and just all around happiness. It lasted until we got in the car to go to Grammie's. Then the usual "He touched me, she looked at me" resumed.

I have so much more to talk about, but honestly, I am tired, and this house needs tending to. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!

TT #12 - Can YOU Name these 13 Christmas Songs??

I know this gets circulated around the net every year, but there were some in here I have never actually heard, so I thought I would use it! Leave your answers in my comments! I love words, so I always have so much fun with these!! I hope you do too!

1. SIR LANCELOT WITH LARYNGITIS

2. VEHICULAR HOMICIDE WAS COMMITTED ON DAD’S MOM BY A PRECIPITOUS DARLING

3. THE APARTMENT OF TWO PSYCHIATRISTS

4. WE ARE DONG, LEAR, AND NAT COLE

5. DUODECIMAL ENUMERATION OF THE PASSAGE OF THE YULETIDE SEASON

6. LEAVE AND BROADCAST FROM AN ELEVATION

7. LISTEN, THE WINGED HEAVENLY MESSENGERS ARE PROCLAIMING TUNEFULLY.

8. I BEHELD A TRIO OF NAUTICAL VESSELS MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION.

9. A JOYFUL SONG OF REVERENCE RELATIVE TO HOLLOW METALLIC VESSELS WHICH VIBRATE AND BRING FORTH RINGING SOUND WHEN STRUCK

10. MAY THE DEITY BESTOW AN ABSENCE OF FATIGUE TO MILD MALE HUMANS

11. ROSE-COLORED UNCOUTH DOLF IS AWARE OF THE NATURE OF PRECIPITATION, DARLING

12. CUP-SHAPED INSTRUMENTS FASHIONED OF A WHITISH METALLIC ELEMENT

13. AS THE GUARDIANS OF THE WOOLLY ANIMALS PROTECTED THEIR CHARGES IN THE DARK HOURS.

Merry Christmas, Everyone, and NO CHEATING!!

My 50th POST!

I can't believe I have already had FIFTY posts! In celebration, here is a Christmas song sung by one of my ALL time favorites, Adam Sandler! Just ignore the part when the old lady flips the bird...

What's UP, USPS???

Every. Single. Year. Why is it that USPS manages to lose my mail every year? They try and tell me it's because it's a NEW subdivision. Hello??? We have been here SIX years now. How freakin' long does it take for them to figure out that we are here?? We do go through mail people often, but come on!! So, I found out the other day that something that I ordered through USPS was lost in the mail. Now, I find out that something my In-Laws sent hasn't arrived after two weeks. Seriously??? And it doesn't only happen this time of year, either. It happens all throughout the year, and I am having to call creditors to let them know I am not a flake, but my statement didn't come. Um....embarrassing!! It NEVER happens with UPS OR FedEx, JUST USPS! Arggghhhh!
Now I understand why people go postal!

TT #11 - 13 Favorite Mom Quotes!

These are all from the Hallmark book, "It's a Mom Thing" by Tina Neidlein. There are so many more quotes it was SO hard to pick only 13!!

1. . I still try to buy cute underwear, but not too cute, because what do you think got me into this mess?

2. So, if I become a stay-at-home mom, does that mean the kids have to stay home, too? Just checking.

3. Those last 5 post-baby pounds are impossible to lose! Especially when you haven't lost the first 20!

4. Wow...I must've kidproofed the cleaning supply cabinet a little too well. Apparently, even my husband can't get into it!

5. Weird how having a baby makes you remember to take that birth control pill. And sometimes two, just in case

6. Shouldn't running errands count as exercise? Hello...it's called "running!"

7. Telling another adult you have to "go potty" doesn't make you pathetic. Okay, but just a little.

8. Show me a mom without stretch marks and I'll show you --- actually, I'll just sob. Maybe don't show me that mom, 'kay?

9. There are so many fairy tales I love..."The Mom Who Found Time to Paint Her Nails." That's a good one.

10. They call it a baby "shower" because it may be the last shower you ever get to enjoy again.

11. Can someone please send me to time-out? Hour...half- hour...I' ll sit quietly --- I promise!

12. "Who's the Tiredest Mom" is not a competition! But if it is...I'm winning!

13. "What to expect?" (There is a picture of a stork with a baby in the book) Here, let me sum it up for you real quick ----- 1. Lots of worry 2. Not lots of sleep

MEME TIME!

I got this meme from HolleeAnn and it looked like so much fun, so I did it. Enjoy!
Here are the rules: Type the answer to each question into a Google image search, and you pick an image from the first page of results...easy peasy...and fun.a BIG tip make sure you set your Google search to use "strict filtering" (Filter both explicit text and explicit images).

1. Age on my next birthday


2. Place I would like to travel (Carribean)


3. Favorite place (Disneyland!)


4. Favorite food (sushi-yum!)


5. Favorite animal (Monkey!)


6. Favorite color (Purple! Oh, heck yeah! THESE boots were made for walkin'! Can I get a wha wha??)


7. Town I was born (Santa Cruz, Ca)


8. Name of past pet (Grover)


9. Name of past love (Jason...I should have known HE was bad news!)


10. My first name (Kelly. Wow, I really have NO idea how they got these photos of me..Gosh...I am so humiliated.)


11. Bad habit I have (Starbucks Frappuccino's Mocha Coconut...SO SO good. Why don't they make those anymore?? Maybe they saw the 20 lbs it left on my ARSE!!)


12. First job (babysitter)


13. Grandmothers name (Nellie Jean. She was my mom's mother who died when mom was 11. I am Kelly Jean. Guess I was named after her, huh?)


14. College major (Child Development)


If anyone so feels inclined to do this meme, do it! I hate tagging, and I refuse to do it, so there!!

Next time I will choose the small images. I hate that they're so big, but it doesn't look easy to change them at this point...and I gotta get outta here!

7 Things about me!

My new blogger friend, Jenn tagged me a couple weeks ago, and I kept forgetting, until now....

Here are the rules:

*Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
*Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
*Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
*Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


I know I have done this before. I will try really hard not to tell you a bunch of things I have already told you.

1. We have 5 stocking holders that spell out SANTA. Each day, I look at the mantle and see that someone has rearranged the letters to spell out SATAN. Between the husband and the 12 year old, I am gonna go crazy.

2. Christmas is my favorite Holiday. I love Christmas Music, Christmas lights, Christmas Trees. My very favorite thing about Christmas is giving!! Watching my children's faces light up at their excitement is wonderful! There is something very magical about Christmas.

3. We cut down our tree every year. This year, we cut down the most heinous tree you have ever seen. As soon as my husband cut it, I said, "No, No...let;s get a different one." Well, he was not ABOUT to put it back after we had already CUT it. Bah! I guess we will make it through.

4. My sister was born on Christmas Day. Every year, we sing to her and to Jesus. She does get a little overlooked on the holiday.

5. Each of my children receive 3 gifts for Christmas. Jesus received 3, so they will too. This is a fairly new tradition and I really love it!

6. I don't usually have a specific preference for a Christmas Gift. I really, really want a new IPOD nano for Christmas, or at least the money to get one.

7. My favorite place to be at Christmastime is Disneyland.

I tag:
Jeannene
Bethany
Bethany
Cecily
HolleeAnn
Beth
Crystal

TT #10 - 13 Christmas Funnies!

13 Christmas Funnies!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Just call me Mother of the freakin' Year!

Yeah. First, the tooth fairy forgets to come. I never did expand on that, did I? Long story short... Nolan wakes up first thing, looks on his window sill and sees his tooth. "MOooooooooooooooooooM!! The tooth fairy FORGOT to come! I ran in there, with a dollar bill clutched in my fist. I said, "Baby, did you look under your pillow??" Thank GOD his answer was, "No, not yet." I reached under his pillow, and opened my fist. He looked under it to find a crumpled up dollar bill. He says, "Oh, I guess she just forgot my tooth." I told him that sometimes the tooth fairy leaves it because some moms (weirdos) like to KEEP their kids teeth. So, there is that.
Fast forward to today. I am downstairs cookin' eggs and toast for breakfast, feelin' pretty darn good about myself since I no longer feed my children a buttload of sugar for breakfast on a regular basis. Then, Nolan (do you think it's always this poor kid since he's the middle child?) says, "Oh, mom! I am so excited to be Star of the Week!" I look over on the counter and see his BLANK poster and BLANK "All About Nolan, sheet." "Crap," I say. I ran into the guest room and started going through pictures and stickers and all the scrapbook crap supplies that I have accumulated but have yet to use. We managed to get something together and it's pretty cute. I then threw on some pants. Had my oversized shirt on with no bra, so I threw on hubby's jacket, did not brush my hair, and jumped in the car. The whole way there I was thinking of Holleeann and praying to God I didn't get in a fender bender in all my glamorousity (Yeah, I know, I made it up, OK??). He made it to school only 10 minutes late, and THAT I was proud of. Nolan was a good sport about it all. He can get pretty stubborn at times, but this morning he was my angel, Thank GOD!
Now, the Princess of the house has been throwing a tantrum for the past half hour, and mommy has been ignoring her. Looks like this 'Mother of the Year' needs coffee. I guess it could be worse. At least I am not Britney.

I have a confession

Some of you may not believe this. Most of you, actually.

Allow me to preface my deep, dark confession by professing my deep love for all things 80's. Movies, music, you name it. I love it. I'd even wear neon and leg warmers if my family would let me out of the house that way. In fact, i do believe there is a board game out there called, "I love the 80's." I need that.


Here goes nothing: I have NEVER seen the movie Say Anything. Whew, it's out. I did try to lie yesterday when I left a comment for stubarnes by saying, "Yeah, I am not a huge fan of Lloyd Dobler. I know it was a great 80’s movie, but he’s a geek." Yep, I am a complete loser.

Back when Say Anything came out, I was completely obsessed with all movies that starred Molly Ringwald. I would sit at home all weekend alternating between The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles. I had no time for anything else. By the time I realized I wanted to see Say Anything, my window had passed. I couldn't possibly waste my time watching such an "old" movie. Now, the only reason I haven't seen it is because I have three kids and barely have time to make sure my underwear are on right side in let alone watch an 80's movie. Besides, the only time I would get would be when the husband is home. I can see this going over well, "Hey honey, let's sit down and watch a John Cusack movie from the 80's!"


So there you have it. It did feel good to get it out in the open. Just so you know, I truly have felt that a piece of my life has been missing, and I believe seeing this movie would fill that emptiness.

Thursday Thirteen #9

Thirteen Movie Characters that I am in love with (not enough to leave my husband for...I don't think)

1. Jack Dawson from the Titanic
2. Robby Hart from the Wedding Singer
3. Brad Pitt's character in Thelma and Louise!
4. Joe Black from meet Joe Black (believe it or not, I am not generally a Brad Pitt fan)
5. Duckie from Pretty in Pink
6. Mater from Cars (I might just leave him for this one, lol)
7. Noah Calhoun from The Notebook
8. Johnny Castle from Dirty Dancing
9. Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) from 10 Things I Hate About You.
10. Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series (Who wouldn't be in love with him?)
11. Will Turner from the Pirates of the Caribbean
12. Matt Flamhaff from 13 Going on 30. ( I don't know if I am in LOVE with the character or the togetherness of the TWO characters)
13. Forrest Gump.

R.I.P. James Darrell Young

I got a call yesterday from my good friend, Cori. Her husband (who we went in August to visit) J.D. lost his battle with cancer yesterday.

In December 2006, J.D. was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma. After undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy, his cancer did not go into remission, which required him to undergo far more severe courses of treatment. He needed a bone marrow transplant. A few weeks ago, I got a call from his wife (she's been my friend for 22 years) stating that they found a match for a bone marrow. This, we knew, was nothing short of a miracle, and everyone knew it!
Last Wednesday, J.D. passed out. He went to the hospital and he had pneumonia. On Tuesday, November 27th, my friend J.D. passed away. With pneumonia on top of the cancer, he couldn't fight anymore. He was fairly young (38, I think?) and leaves behind his wife, Cori, his 15 yr old son, Robert, and his 2 year old son Thomas James.
J.D. was such a fun, good person. He and I shared a lot of inside jokes, probably not appropriate to share here ;-). He was a good dad and an all around good guy! I am going to miss him a lot.

Please keep his family in your prayers. They are so upset right now and need all the prayers they can get.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...or something along those lines

My Nolan Bug (I dare not call him that in public, he's a NINJA for heaven's sake) realized on Wednesday that he had a loose tooth. He was so excited. I told him it would be a week or so before it became loose enough to pull out. Then we saw a friend of his and his friend mentioned that his tooth has been loose for a MONTH! A MONTH! Oh,no...anyone who knows Nolan knows how determined this child is. He had waited FOREVER for a tooth to become loose, and he was not about to wait a whole nother week!! So, on Thursday, he was wiggling that sucker all day long, telling anyone who came within 5 feet of him how loose it was. He was PROUD. All day Friday, he was wiggling that tooth. Friday night, we were in the car and he says, "Hey mom? You think if I twist my tooth it will become looser and come out?" I said, "I don't know, buddy, you can try." He tried. "It really hurts mom, but I think I will twist it just one more time to see." ...................................................................................
......................................................."Hey mom!!!! It's OUT! It's out!!" I don't think I have ever seen this boy so proud.



Did I mention he was a ninja??

Don't even ask how I got out of the whole, "Hey MOM?? I think the tooth fairy forgot to come" the next morning. Oops...

THURSDAY 13 #8

13 Things I am thankful for this year.

First of all, I need to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...He alone deserves all the credit for all the things I have been blessed with this year, and the 30 something years prior.
I am gonna knock out the important things first...

1. I am thankful for my 3 1/2 minute shower this morning, disrupted 3 times by screaming children. I am also thankful for my shared potty experiences. Nothing like a party on the pot! I am thankful for these things, because I have been SO blessed with three beautiful and intelligent children. There are so many people who cannot have children that would kill for a 3 minute shower.

2. I am thankful for dirty socks stuffed in between couch cushions. Yes, my husband, Zac is not the most tidy person alive, but he is my husband and I love him. I am so lucky to have a man who loves me, loves our children and works his butt off for everything we have. He is amazing.

3. My friends. The friends who I have known forever. The friends who I have just met. My online friends and my In real Life friends. My friends who I have hurt and have forgiven me. My friends who I haven't hurt yet, but have the capacity to forgive when I do :-). All my friends who visit me on this blog...I am thankful for you. I especially love you when you give me awards, LOL!

4. I am thankful for my sister, her husband and my nephews. I have always wanted to be an auntie and for the past 2 1/2 years, I have been happy to take that role.

5. 80's music. It's important. I love it and it's my main form of entertainment. Without it, my soul would be lost. It really would.

6. Fuzzy socks. I could not sleep last night because my feet were freezing. I mean ICE cold. I got up, grabbed a pair of fuzzy socks and I was fine :-) Fuzzy socks are my friend.

7. Ice cream. Despite the oh-so-attractive "front butt" it gives me, it's the best thing EVER. I could eat ice cream for every meal of every day, but my thighs beg me not to, so I resist.

8. MOPS. Seriously, if it weren't for my MOPS group, I would be in a straight jacket right now. I love my friends there and the joy that serving gives me.

9. New Kids on the Block. Now, before you think I am a complete psycho, hear me out. I am thankful for the nostalgic feelings it gives me when I see a New Kids Video. The feeling that I am a kid with no cares in the world and no responsibilities. Oh, to go back to that day for just a moment.

10. School. I am thankful that I have been given the means and the opportunity to go back to school after 15 years. I am not so thankful for that 96% I got on my test last week, but I will survive. I keep having to remind myself that it is still an 'A', even if I did get one question wrong.

11. I am thankful for a vehicle. It may not be the most practical vehicle for our family of 5, but it gets us from point a to point b with pretty good gas mileage.

12. I am VERY VERY grateful for my husband's 89 year old grandmother. I make sure to remind him on a daily basis that I married him for his grandmother. She's the most amazing woman I have ever met. I love her tremendously and I hope and pray she makes it another 20+ years!

13. High School Musical. When all else fails, put it on. I love it, the kids love it and it has some AWESOME music on it! LOVE me some HSM, plus the boys are so cute. I would have been all over this movie when I was a kid!!




Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

Shopping and Make-Up

I went!!!!!!! My sweet daughter felt much better Saturday morning. My husband took the day off to stay home with the kids and I went shopping with my girlfriends. There were two buses with 90 women! Holy geez, that's a lot of women! Believe me...it was! You should have heard all the hens on the ride up cackling away!
We got there, and we went to Macy's and I found a ton of stuff that my daughter does not need, but HAS to have! Teenie Wahine by Roxy was all on sale, so I ahd no choice. Then we went and had a 30 dollar lunch at the Neiman Marcus (Needless MarkUp) restaurant, Rotunda. Not worth it. But, one of our friends had heard wonderful things about it and insisted we go there. I know, we could have gone somewhere else, but the company was awesome. My friend, Monica and I spent a good part of the rest of the day complaining about the $30 lunch! Then we walked around the city and did a lot of people watching and laughing! There are some FREAKS up in that city!
Then, about an hou before it was time to leave, we went to the MAC counter. My friend asked how long it would take to do a make over. The lady said 20 minutes and so I got a make over. It was a little much for me, but it was fun, and apparently my eyes looked fabulous. I ended up buying QUITE a bit of make up. I love MAC, and though I don't wear make up often, I really wanted it. And what mommy wants, mommy gets.
I am sure you are wondering why Kendall got stuff, but I got nothing for the boys. Here is a conversation I had with Kendall the other day (she is 3, mind you.)

Kendall: Mom, do you know why I WANT everything?
Me: No, honey, I don't Why DO you want everything?
Kendall: Because I am a princess!!
Me: Yes, you are my princess, honey.
Kendall: Yeah, and princesses get EVERYTHING they want!

Riiiiightttt. Still trying to figure out how to get that Furreal PONY....NOT!

Shop in the City!

Tomorrow morning, at 7:30 am, I am getting on a bus with 50 women that will drive us 2 hours to San Francisco to SHOP! I am not a big fan of shopping, but it is Christmastime, and I NEVER get a break, so I am really really excited about it. REALLY. Oh, and just so you know, I look EXACTLY like the chick on the left in the picture. Yep. That's me.
One minor setback. My daughter was up last night puking and coughing. Feverish, too. And you know what I actually had the AUDACITY to think?? Well, if I don't go, I have only lost $30.00 and my daughter needs me. Then I thought about it. I have been looking forward to this trip for over a month now. I won't only be losing $30.00, I will be losing part of my sanity (and believe me, I can't exactly afford to lose much more). You know when you are SO looking forward to some "me" time that you very very rarely get?? So, why in the world would I even think of not going, just because my daughter has a minor illness?? OH, yeah, because I love her tremendously and I would do anything for her. And you know what? I wouldn't even resent her for it.

BUT, cross your fingers she feels better by tomorrow! I would like to regain SOME sanity!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Thursday 13 #7

In the spirit of Christmas shopping (Have YOU started?)... 13 Things my children will NOT be receiving for Christmas, in spite of all the "I want that"'s that I hear!

1. Bratz Dolls. Who the heck came up with the thought, "Hey let's get some dolls with over sized heads and eyes, dress them up like hookers, and market them to little girls!"? Apparently they knew something I didn't, but regardless, my daughter will never, EVER have a Bratz doll.

2. Hot wheels sets. Now, don't get me wrong, I do enjoy Hot Wheels. However, anytime my 5 year old son gets a "set", I have to put it together. Then, it never fails, it breaks after a day and a half. Then we have this huge Hot Wheel track in pieces and no place to put them. Sorry, kid, you may have to use your imagination this year!!

3. Aquadots. Even before I heard of the recall (the Aquadots have date rape drugs in them), I would never buy these for my kids. I mean, I am looking at minimal mess potential here. Have you SEEN these dots? Good Lord, they are these little tiny dots that stick together. They are so small and so conspicuous. I am just glad they are recalled. Now I can tell my kids, "Sorry, guys, Aquadots will KILL you. We can't buy them."

4. Furreal Friends S'mores Pony. This is just ridiculous. Why do these companies market such products ALL OVER the television?? It's bull crap; that's what it is. I don't know about you, but I don't have 250.00 to spend on my daughter. It's all over the freakin' TV and all I get when it comes on is a 3 year old girl jumping up and down excitedly screaming, "I want that! Get that for me, OK mommy??" Yeah, NO.

5. Mouse Trap.. It takes 3 hours to put together, 15 minutes to play, and 5 seconds to lose half the pieces. Um, No thanks.

6. Any board game with a NEW Edition (except the new Cranium...I Want that!!). My son wants RISK. It's 17.00. Oh, but now they have "Pirates of the Caribbean" risk RIGHT next to it, for how much?? Oh, yeah! $35.00. So now he doesn't want Risk, he wants the uber expensive Risk. Crap.

7. TMX Elmo, Cookie Monster OR Ernie. Cute, I must admit, but SCARY as hell. These things are a trip. Elmo's laugh scares the crap outta me anyway.

8. American Girl doll. For some reason, the American Girl catalog came to my house. I swear there are crazy spies stalking our homes. How is it that at Christmastime the appropriate magazines come to each house? I get American girl, Construction Playthings and Lego....Hmmm...could the magazines be more age appropriate?? OK, off the tangent. American girl is cute and all. But there HAS to be a doll out there with Blonde hair and brown eyes that I can tell my daughter that it looks just like her. I don't really need to spend $200, do I??

9. WWE Action Figures. I have a 12 year old that LOVES WWE. He also loves Action Figures. These things are ugly and I don't want them in my home. I am sure just having them around will devalue my home.

10. K'Nex Roller Coaster. If I can't put together Hot Wheels, what makes you think I will be able to put this one together?? I am getting a headache just looking at it.

11. The American Idol Talent Challenge.
As mothers, aren't we tortured enough??

12. Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? I will not allow my children to have it based solely on my competitiveness. It turns out, I am NOT smarter than a 5th grader, and so be it, NO ONE in this house will be proven to be. I MUST win!

13. Anything that makes an ungodly amount of noise. Why? It's unnecessary. And with three children, Lord knows there is enough noise to go around!

Thursday 13 #6

13 Songs I LOVE from Movies and/or TV shows

Can YOU guess which movie/show they are from??

1. At This Moment by Billy Vera (What did you think I would do at this moment When you're standing before me With tears in your eyes... (Family Ties..The Real Thing episode)

2. Let's Hear it For the Boy by Denise Williams (Footloose)

3. Love Stinks by J.Giels Band (Wedding Singer...LOVE this movie!)

4. Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts (Cars)

5. If you Leave by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (Pretty in Pink)

6. I'll Be There For You by The Rembrandts (shut up - you know you like it!) (Friends theme song)

7. Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar (13 Going on 30)

8. Kiss You All Over by Exile (Happy Gilmore)

9. She's Like the Wind by Patrick Swayze (my version, "She broke the wind" was much better, but never went anywhere for some reason :-?) (Dirty Dancing)

10. Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds (The Breakfast Club)

11. Dancin' With Myself by Billy Idol (Can't Buy Me Love)

12. Overnight male by George Strait (Pure Country...had to throw a country song or two in the list)

13. Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo`ole (or however the heck you spell it. Oh GIVE me a break! YOU try spelling it!!) (50 First Dates)

Yosemite!

We went to Yosemite National Park this weekend. It was AMAZING. Seriously. I have no idea how I can live approximately 3 hours from such a place for twenty somethin' years and never know this even existed. Now that I am a grown up (shut up- I AM!) and live 2 hours away, we are planning on going often. Why wouldn't we?? Wanna see pictures??

The cabin we stayed in. SO small. This is what I get for being a cheap butt and saving $15 a night. Next time, I think I'll splurge.



The 18 people we went with (except me and Kendall, since I was taking the pic and she was on the back of my bike. We biked around Yosemite about 10 miles. It was awesome!


My family on a bridge at Yosemite. Try not to look too hard; we may use it as our Christmas Card.


Just a quick pic I took while riding my bike. Yep, RIDING. I didn't even stop to take it-that's talent.


A picture I took of me WHILE on my bike. I told you I was talented.


The kiddos. I would love to tell you what exactly they are in front of, but I have no idea. My poor husband had to hear me the whole time going, "Is that Half Dome? What about that, is that half dome? How 'bout now??


The beauty that is Yosemite.


We had such a wonderful time. We are already planning our next trip in the next few months. I think I have a new favorite place to be!!