Kids Cones!

I love these kids cones from McDonalds. They're just the right size for little people!



And the best part about 'em is...they're free, free, free!

Kids' Stuff With Previous Experience....

That's right. I shop resale stores. I'm not ashamed. I just cannot justify spending that much money on clothes that my kids will wear for a few months and then grow out of! So, to be able to buy name brands at a price that's right, I hit Once upon a child!

I was able to pick up 6 pairs of pants (2 for each of my kids) and about 7 or 8 shirts for my girls! All of which were name brands...Levi's, Gap, Limited Too, Tommy Hilfiger, Old Navy, L.e.i., etc. And all for LESS than $60! All the clothes look new! That averages around $4 an item! Not too bad for name brands!

It's the little things that excite me!

7 Things...

To quote Kevin James: This is like homework, this is!

7 things I plan to do before I die
1. live a long, happy, healthy life
2. get a degree
3. be financially comfortable
4. enjoy retirement with my hubby
5. travel to everywhere I want to visit
6. enjoy and spoil my grandkids
7. be physically fit

7 things I can do
1. give birth
2. be angry with my kids and still love them with all my heart
3. hold a grudge
4. sing
5. put myself down
6. spend money
7. lose my temper

7 things I cannot do
1. read when there is noise in the background
2. sing with confidence in front of a crowd
3. be patient
4. afford private school
5. be a man
6. keep my house clean all the time
7. find my magic clip sunglasses

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex
1. nice smile/straight teeth
2. sense of humor/funny
3. clean smell
4. nice rear end
5. style/nice dresser
6. confident, but not conceited
7. talented

7 things that I say most often
1. be quiet
2. my kids' names
3. clean up this mess
4. you're so cute
5. I love you
6. NO
7. be careful, baby

7 celebrity crushes
1. Matthew McConauhey (aka: McConauhottie)

2. Matt Leblanc

3. Brad Pitt

4. Jimmy Fallon

5. Topher Grace

6. Ashton Kutcher

7. Freddie Prinze Jr.


7 people I want to do this
1. Lizzlee
2. AWFI
3. FIF
4. GFF
5. F of 3
6. fatdaddy
7. Oz

Frustrating day!

Yesterday morning I noticed that my daughter's glasses (that we just got late last week) were sitting crooked on her face. She said it was because my son hit her in the face with a light saber (he's only 1, mind you). While I was out and about I stopped in at Lenscrafters, where we got them, and had them adjusted. Great. They were back to normal and ready to go.

So then this morning, she comes crying to me that the baby grabbed her glasses off her face and she couldn't get them from him. (This is already a sore subject with me because he is really grabby and is always trying to get her glasses and pull his sisters' hair...he does this several times a day, and they always cry about it! Point being, they know he's grabby!) So, back to Lenscrafters it was for us today.

I felt slightly embarrassed going back in two days in a row for them to adjust her glasses. I figured they were going to begin to think I hit her in the face or something. But, it needed done before school starts. We walk out and I again remind her that she has to be careful around her baby brother cause she knows he's grabby and she should probably just take her glasses off when she's playing with him. This was one of many in depth lectures about it that she had today. I couldn't believe 2 trips in 2 days. Ridiculous!

So after a long day of running around getting the rest of the supplies on the school list, taking my younger daughter for her physical she needed to start kindergarten, stopping by Lenscrafters, visiting with my grandparents and driving them a couple of places, I finally made it home around 5. I did a few chores and sat down at the computer to shoot of an email and get ready to start making dinner when all of a sudden, my daughter starts crying in the next room. I look in at her and she says, "I'm sorry. He got 'em and I couldn't get them from him."

No friggin way! There sits my son with her glasses in his hands! "Are you kidding me?!!" I went over to him and check them out. Sure enough, they were bent again. The same ear piece sticking out to the side and this time a lens popped out, only I didn't even notice that lovely little nugget right away!

I was furious!! I was shaking I was so mad. She kept saying she was sorry, but I had to tell her to leave me alone and not even talk to me right then. LIVID!

What the heck would the Lenscrafters people think? Three trips in 2 days (2 in the same day)!! I called my hubby crying! He had a side job to do this evening and wouldn't be home in time to take them up this evening and she needs them for tomorrow morning! I had no choice but to go back. AGAIN!

I decided, however, that I couldn't go back in the same store, and looked online to find the next closest one to us. It was twice as far away as the other one. But, dang it, I refused to go to the same one again! So off we went at almost 7pm (thank goodness they are open til 8!).

Our round trip took us an hour. Which meant we didn't get home for me to make dinner til almost 8:00 this evening. The baby was fussy cause he goes to bed at 8:30 and he hadn't even eaten dinner yet. I was cranky, for obvious reasons. And I still had 3 loads of laundry to fold and put away and a backpack to pack up for tomorrow as well as a sack lunch to prepare. I was so looking forward to a relaxing evening when I got home...the first time.

O well, such is life, I guess. The baby still got to bed at 8:30 and the girls at 9:00. The backpack is packed, the lunch is made, the clothes are folded (still need to put them away). Now it's time for a nice hot shower and some reading before hitting dream land.

Last Day!

Today is the last day of summer break for my oldest daughter. She is going into 3rd grade tomorrow! Not only that, but she is starting a brand new school. If that wasn't enough of a change for her, the school she previously attended (from pre-k through last year) was a private, Christian school and the new one is a public school.

Now, there are pros and cons to the whole private vs. public school debate. Personally, I would have loved to keep them in private school. If money wasn't an issue, I would, at least for now. However, it is an issue and with sending both girls (and the baby in a few years) the expense is just too great!

I have mixed feelings about homeschooling. If I had no choice but to live in a bad school district and couldn't afford private school, I would definitely homeschool. I am just not a patient person at all. I get frustrated just helping her with her homework, let alone doing it all day every day with kids of different ages.

Fortunately we are in one of the best school districts in Central Ohio! So that makes me feel a bit better about it. I was also able to meet both of my daughters' teachers and they are both very young and seem very nice. I also plan to be involved as much as possible in their classrooms throughout the year.

My younger daughter will go in for Kindergarten evaluations for an hour on Friday and then start her normal schedule of 8:45-11:30, M-F next Monday. She is VERY excited that she is no longer in preschool and is in KINDERGARTEN! She is literally counting down the days. Each day she wakes me up with, "just 6 more days til kindergarten!" "Just 5 more days". She's so cute!

Well, I've got a busy day ahead of me with last minute preparations for school. Physicals to get, supplies that still need purchased, etc.

Wish us luck!

"The Advantages of Breast Milk"

A not necessarily well-prepared student sat in his life science classroom, staring at a question on the final exam paper. The question directed: "Give four advantages of breast milk."

What to write? He sighed, and began to scribble whatever came into his head, hoping for the best:

1. No need to boil.
2. Never goes sour.
3. Available whenever necessary.

So far so good - maybe. But the exam demanded a fourth answer. Again, what to write? Once more, he sighed. He frowned. He scowled, then sighed again. Suddenly, he brightened. He grabbed his pen, and triumphantly, he scribbled his definitive answer:

4. Available in attractive containers of varying sizes.

He received an A

My "Stolen" 25 Things Quiz

1. When you look at yourself in the mirror, what's the first thing you look at? My hair.
2. How much cash do you have on you right now? Don't know exactly, but less than a dollar in change.
3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST"? Jest
4. Favorite plant? The one my daughter gave me for mother's day in a self-decorated Styrofoam cup.
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? Gma B Cell (my grandma's cell phone)
6. What is your main ring tone on your phone? Treadmill (something I need to use more often!)
7. What shirt are you wearing? Pink tanktop
8. Do you "label" yourself? Yes
9. Name brand of your shoes currently wearing? None...my piggies are free!
10. Do you prefer a bright or dark room? Depends on my mood.
11. What did you have for breakfast? Didn't eat breakfast this morning.
12. What were you doing at midnight last night? Tossing and turning...trying to go to sleep...Still didn't get to sleep til after 2 a.m. though!!!! :(
13. Last thought you had before you had a wreck? So we'll go to the Discovery Center then...boom! (for an explanation of that, see here.)
14. What did your last text message you received on your cell phone say? Ebay has them at $45, but at the wrong eye size 46, not 44. Found on another site for $106. Can keep checking Ebay in future. (From hubby in ref. to my magnetic clip on sun glasses that I lost!)
15. Do you ever click on "Pop Ups" or Banners? No
16. What's an expression that you say a lot? "No!" (I have 3 kids)
17. Who told you they loved you last? My hubby.
18. Last furry thing you touched? I can't remember, maybe Trin's cat?
19. How many hours a week do you work? Lots more than my hubby seems to think!
20. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? I don't know, maybe one from a few years ago before we got our digital camera.
21. Favorite age you have been so far? 18...I graduated high school, got married, and moved out of my parents' house.
22. Your worst enemy? My fat!
23. What is your current desk top picture? A picture of a signed Nolan Ryan baseball (guru's choice)
24. What was the last thing you said to someone? Get out of my purse!
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to go back in time and fix all your mistakes which would you choose? Show me the Money!!

How Do They Make Rubber Gloves?

A dentist was getting ready to clean an elderly lady's teeth. He noticed that she was a little nervous, so he began to tell her a story as he was putting on his surgical gloves...

"Do you know how they make these rubber gloves?"

She said, "No."

"Well", he spoofed, "down in Mexico they have this big building set up with a large tank of latex, and the workers are all picked according to hand size. Each individual walks around for a bit while the latex sets up and dries right onto their hands! Then they peel off the gloves and throw them into the big "Finished Good Crate" and start the process all over again."

His patient didn't laugh a bit.

Five minutes later, during the procedure, he had to stop cleaning her teeth because she burst out laughing. The old woman blushed and exclaimed, "I just suddenly thought about how they must make condoms!"

Sorry for all the jokes lately. I don't have much else to blog about and I just had to share!

Why Guys Have All The Luck

1. A guy's butt is never a factor
in a job interview.

2. A guy's orgasms are real. Always.

3. A guy's last name stays put.

4. The garage is all his.

5. Wedding plans take care of them-

6. He doesn't have to curl up next

7. Chocolate is just another snack.

8. He can wear a white shirt to a

9. Foreplay is optional.

10. He never feels compelled to stop

11. Car mechanics tell him the truth.

12. He doesn't give a rat's ass if

13. The world is his urinal.

14. Hot wax never comes near his pubic area.

15. He never has to drive to another gas station because "this one's just too icky."

16. Same work......more pay.

17. Wrinkles add character.

18. He doesn't have to leave the room to make emergency crotch adjustments.

19. Wedding Dress $2,000; Tux rental $100.

20. If he retains water, it's in a canteen.

21. People never glance at his chest when he is talking to them.

22. Princess Di's death was just another obituary.

23. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.

24. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle his feet.

25. Porn movies are designed with him in mind.

26. Not liking a person does not preclude having great sex with
them.

27. Your pals can be trusted never to trap you with: "So, notice
anything different?"

28. One mood.....all of the time.

A Poem For Moms And Dads

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my sanity to keep.
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.

I pray I find a little quiet
Far from the daily family riot
May I lie back--not have to think
about what they're stuffing down the sink
or who they're with, or where they're at
and what they're doing to the cat.

I pray for time all to myself
(did something just fall off a shelf?)

To cuddle in my nice, soft bed
(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)

Some silent moments for goodness sake
(Did I just hear a window break?)

And that I need not cook or clean--
(Well heck, I've got the right to dream)

Yes now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my wits about me keep,
But as I look around I know—
I must have lost them long ago!

Achin' 4 Claiken

Thaaaaat's right! I finally got to see Clay Aiken in concert! I called a friend of mine yesterday that I hadn't talked to in a few weeks and she said that her MIL had purchased tickets to see Clay at the Ohio State Fair. Then she mentioned that there was a ticket for her mom to go too, but her mom didn't really want to go. I said, "She doesn't want to see Clay? Shoot, I'll take her ticket!" Well to make a long story short, I got to go. And for free even! It was a good concert.

It was his Jukebox Tour. It was amazing that I knew practically all the songs he sang from the last 50 years. One thing I noticed is that he lets his backup singers sing a LOT. They have their own solos and everything where sometimes he isn't even on stage while they're singing their songs. My friend (who has been to 2 other Clay concerts already) said he does this at all his concerts. They must have something in their contracts with him saying they have to have so much solo time. Two of the 3 have their own albums out. They are all very good, I'm not complaining about that, but I went to see Clay, dawg!

Here is a pic of my friend, after the concert, in her "Clay Aiken will always be my American Idol" t-shirt that a friend of hers made for her:



I, as usual, forgot to take my camera, but fortunately had my handy dandy camera phone. I tried to get a pic of Clay on stage, but it didn't turn out well. No flash with my camera phone! :( Well, that's about all I gots for today.

I'm Back!

Well we're back from Niagara! Actually, we've been back for a couple of days, I just haven't really felt like blogging. We had a wonderful time as you can read about on my hubby's blog, and see some nice pics if you'd like.

On our way out of the hotel in Niagara, guru backed into a pole in the parking garage and busted out one of the back tail lights and scuffed up the bumper as well as put a dent in the bumper. (Fortunately, the dent seems to have popped out on it's own!) We got an estimate yesterday and it will only be about $100 to fix the tail light and remove the scuffs from the bumper. That's better than paying a $250 deductable and risking our insurance going up to have the whole bumper replaced. Here's a pic I took of the damage...it was dark outside, so not such a great pic...



On top of that, not 5 minutes later did we see that our middle daughter had gum all over her outfit. "How did that happen?" we asked. Apparently she was trying to blow a bubble and accidentally spit the gum out of her mouth and couldn't find where it went. We changed her outfit, as we were on our way into the Discovery Center at Niagara. When we finished there and got back in the car, she informs us that there is gum on her seatbelt. ARGH! Are you kidding me? I was not in the best of moods at this point. "What else can we do to mess up mommy's van, huh?" We're going to try goo gone and a toothbrush and see if that gets it off. Anyone have any other suggestions on how to get gum off of a seatbelt? (And don't say ice, I already tried it! It didn't help much, if any.)