Two hands, plus one

Today my littlest baby turns 11.
Can't handle it.
He's quite excited.
He said he's finally "a pre-teen"
Can't handle it.
He asked for a skateboard.
I'm sure at some point, this gift will result in an ER visit.
I love this little fella so much.
He has such a precious heart.
Time...
She flies.

It's Sweet

On Sunday, Jordan turns 16.

16.

Sixteen.

Six. Teen.

How did that happen?!

 

How did this....

 

 

 

Turn into this...

 

She is amazing.
One of a kind.
She marches to the beat of her own drum.
Transparent.
What you see is what you get.
Hilarious.
Beautiful.
Intelligent.
Athletic.
Determined.
Talented.
She's a difference maker.
She says why make an A when you can make an A+.
She's a gifted artist.
She has a heart for God.

She's all that.
And a bag of chips.
I'm just so proud to be her mom.

Look out world! Here she comes!

Happy Sweet Sixteen, Jordan!

Tuesday blah blah blah

OK, so I didn't post yesterday.

There was loud outcry from my three readers.

Sorry to disappoint.

I was busy celebrating the Captain's birthday!

Happy Birthday Yesterday, Captain!

Jordan and I celebrated by getting a manicure and pedicure last night.  OK, so maybe that was a little more about us than him... but he seemed content watching shows about Bigfoot and German history. 

Today's excitement features Coop heading out on a field trip to an interactive simulated town.  They run businesses, go to the bank, vote for mayor, etc. etc. They even had to apply for jobs.  Cooper was excited to report last week that he got the job of Beverage Supervisor at Chik Fil A. 

That reminds me he needs a sack lunch.

And we have no sacks.

So, I'm headed to the store.

At 6:30 am.

In the rain.

To get sacks.

And I probably have no cash.

So I'll be charging $2.14

Have a good day!

Six paws

 

So, guess who is celebrating a birthday today??!!

 



 

Yes, the Bloggie Doggie!!!!

And, yes, we got him a birthday cake!

Yes, at the doggie bakery.

Yes, I'm serious.

He's excited.

Extra wagging today.

BOW WOW!!

Double Digits

He's ten today.

Ten.

Double digits.

Seriously, how did that happen?

Because wasn't it just yesterday when he was a tiny wee little thing?

Happy birthday to my sweet Cooper!

It wasn't much. But it was enough.

Is it bad that I really can't account for anything I did over the weekend?

By the end of the week, I was totally burned out on all levels - professionally and personally. And all I really wanted to do was shut everything out and climb in the bed for three days and sleep and suck my thumb.

But I decided that was a bit unhealthy. So I just sat in my chair in the den for three days and slept and sucked my thumb.

Kind of. But not really. Well, at least not the WHOLE weekend.

Actually, the first thing on my weekend list was helping Jordan get ready for that banquet thing.

She almost didn't live to see the banquet thing because as we were leaving the hair place where I had shelled out $387,163 to have her hair done in a fancy braidy thing, she rolled the window down. That's when I screamed, "I just shelled out $387,163 to have your hair done in a fancy braidy thing! Do NOT let it blow out the window!"

In the end, she looked beautiful and I think I saw the Captain getting a little teary when she walked out the door.

Other weekend highlights include Cooper getting a new baseball hitting stick thing. So the Captain and I took turns out in the back yard holding the stick thing so Cooper could practice his mighty swing. It's fun for the hitter. Because they are swinging and hitting and all. But for the person who is holding the stick thing... well, they just stand there and hold the stick thing.

He also got a rug burn on his foot while he was wrestling in the den practicing his finishing move. He was convinced he couldn't wear shoes for the rest of the weekend and successfully snookered me into letting him wear flip flops to church yesterday morning.

And, we celebrated March and April birthdays. I know... it's a bit late for March, but if you'll recall we spent the entire month of March playing volleyball and touring the Southeast United States and staying in every Hampton Inn that was ever established.

So, we had the family party this weekend.

Annnnnnd, guess what today is? IT'S CONNIE'S BIRTHDAY!!! Yay!

Seems like the rest of the weekend was taken up by watching multiple episodes of Storage Wars and a Lifetime movie.

So, all in all, it was a fine weekend. At home. My favorite place. With my family. My favorite people.

Nine.

So the Coopster turns nine today. NINE. Can't. Stand. It.

He's so excited.

He's getting a new bicycle. That I may or may not have gotten yesterday for ONE CENT. That's how it rang up. And the gal didn't want to mess with calling the manager and doing all that cash register stuff. So she sold us the $100 bike for ONE CENT. Wooop!!

For those keeping score at home, he has finished all 96 episodes of Mindfreak. Whew. That's a lot of illusions people.

For those of you worried about his next Netflix endeavor (JuJu), he's tackling four seasons of Drake & Josh and three seasons of Man vs. Food. Guess those are a little more tolerable.

The rest of the weekend featured...

...Jordan and a most active social calendar and the Mom Taxi in high gear.

...our air conditioner being out Friday and Saturday. Fixed now. Thank the high heavens.

...lots and lots and lots of Mario Kart. I always finish 12th. Out of 12. At least I'm consistent.

...some hot, hot, hot temps.

Guess the air is still out at work.

Grabbing a fan and heading that way.

Peace and love.

14 on the 14th

Today my biggest baby turns 14.

Happy Birthday Jordan!

Time is flying by way too fast.

No likey.

In other news, I took a day off yesterday.

The pace of life was choking me.

I'm so busy at work right now with the hugest of huge projects. And I'm never at home - what with the whole tour of the southeastern US with this volleyball stuff.

And I may or may not have woken up at 2am on Monday night having a panic attack because of all the things I have to do. Or at least feel like I have to do. I almost woke up the Captain to tell him I was rating high on the ol' anxiety meter. But I was already sleeping on the couch - cause the Captain snoreth sometimes - and I didn't want to walk all the way back in there. And I figured he would not be amused with my waving my to-do list in his face at 2am while I hyperventilated. So I just laid on the couch and had my panic attack all by myself. And decided just to take a day off.

Needed a day just to get the sheets changed on all the beds.

Needed a day to just STOP.

Needed a day to just to catch up.

And catch my breath.

Oh - and to get a pedi.

And it was a very good day. And just what I needed.

Back at it today.

Busy at work.

Going to see Third Day and Tenth Avenue North tonight. Woot!

And celebrating Jordan's 14th birthday.

With my shiny red toes.

Have a good day people.

Today is...

Today is...only Wednesday. Anybody else think this week has already just been way too long?

Today is...the day I head downtown for my jury duty thing. I think today all I will do is sit in the big ol' convention center with 39,402 other people and select the week that I would like to serve. I've checked my calendar and the week of June 10 looks good. That's June of 2015.

Today is...the day that my sweet, little, wee, newborn baby Niece M turns 16. SIXTEEN. As in Sweet Sixteen. As in Gets Her Drivers License. Sixteen. I can hardly stand it.

Today is...five days away from Selection Sunday. Wahoooo! Because we all know that March Madness might as well be called the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. I. Can't. Wait.

Today is...here. Ready? Go!

Chops and secret cats

Last night eating dinner...

Cooper: "Mom, I hate to burst your bubble, but these pork chops are chewy."

Not that I had been bragging on my pork chops. Because I hadn't been.

But before dinner when he was whining that heeeeeeee didnnnnnnnnnn't liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike porrrrrrrrrrrk choppppppppsssssssssss, I assured him that he would, that they would be yummy, that he has had them before, and that he loved them.

And I told him if he didn't like them, I would give him a dollar.

He countered with ten dollars.

That's when I called him a goober.

He ate all but three bites of the pork chop before he "burst my bubble", declared them chewy, and then asked for his dollar.

For the record, I did not give him a dollar.

And, my chops were not chewy.


In other news, today is my Mommy's birthday! Happy Birthday Mommy! She will celebrate by getting her broken shoulder blade x-ray'd at the doctor's office. Connie and I are going to take her to lunch too. Did you know that, Mom? Wait -- Was that supposed to be a surprise? Ooops. Well, the cat's out of the bag now. Surprise, Mom! We're taking you to lunch!

What on earth does that mean? The cat's out of the bag..... Like when is a cat in a bag a big secret? Not like it would just sit there and be all quiet or anything.

Oh dear....these are the things that drive me nuts. And I will start talking to the Captain about them. And he will just look at me and say, "You're weird."

I need meds.

OK, I've derailed.....

As usual.....

Peace. Out.

Six. Six. Eight.

Look who turned EIGHT yesterday.

And this little drooly boy now wears boxer shorts and plays baseball.

I can't stand it.

And now she's a teenager....

Happy Birthday Jordan!

St. Louis. Day Dos

Day 2 of the St. Louis trip....

Today's itinerary takes us to the City Museum, the Science Center, Union Station and Hard Rock Cafe.

In other news...

Happy Birthday to the Captain! (I love you and I'm sorry I'm away on your birthday....)

And to my Nephew T. who is officially a teenager today!

For your viewing pleasure today...

Check out this little video. This will make you smile. I promise.

This is the description that was posted with the video: An elderly couple walked into the lobby of the Mayo Clinic for a checkup and spotted a piano. They've been married for 62 years and he'll be 90 this year. Check out this impromptu performance. We are only as old as we feel, it's all attitude. Enjoy! They certainly do!

And seriously people, how cute is it when they pat each other on the rump.

Monday Miscellany

It's Monday. And it's a holiday. But I still have to work. And that stinks.

But it's also....my mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!!

Thanks to everybody who entered my first ever giveaway. The winner of the "Tackle the Taste" gift pack is ... Just Mom from Just Mom's Musings! {cue applause} (Just Mom - I will be sending you an email with details on how you will get your prize.) Thanks again to Old El Paso and MyBlogSpark for the goodies!

Are your teams still in the play-offs? I'm still pulling for the Saints. But next week will be a doozie (doozy?) of a game. The Vikings were pretty impressive yesterday when they (cough cough) BEAT THE COWBOYS. Anyhoo, I don't really care about the other game, so I'm on the Saints or Vikings train all the way to the Super Bowl.

In other news, my dryer is on its last leg. That's bad news people. Because even though there are four people who live in this house, we generate the laundry of 18 people. I know that doesn't compute. I can't explain it. So it looks like a new dryer in my future. Yeah, I've got an extra $500 laying around.

OK people. That's all I've got on this lovely Monday.

Peace Out.

Today....

The temperature is ten. And that is all. Just ten little degrees.

I stayed up too late last night watching an exciting and emotionally wonky football game. It was also the last one of the season. Please observe a moment of silence for this travesty.

However, we do have NFL play-offs beginning tomorrow. And that will work. I'm going with the Saints in case you were wondering. Oh - and whoever is playing against the Cowboys.

I am glad it is Friday. I couldn't do one more day. For a million reasons.

Happy Birthday Elvis.

Okey dokey artichokey. Peace out people. Think warm thoughts and have a good day.

Weekend Recap

Wow! What a busy, non-stop, full of fun weekend! And what better way to sum it all up than with bullet points? I heart me some bullet points.

• Friday night I got rear ended by a girl who was arrested for DUI shortly thereafter. No injuries to people or vehicles. But what a scene it was. When it was all said and done, six squad cars made the scene -- not counting the DUI van. Membership has its privileges I guess. Sadly the girl that hit me had a 2 year old in the car with her and really had no business driving. She was a total mess. I guess when it's all said and done, I'm glad her bumping into me was what got her off the road. It could have been a tree or another car or something. Probably the most tragic thing of all was that I was in my most lovliest Friday night state ever -- i.e. yoga pants, flip flops, CLIP IN MY HAIR, no make up. Standing on the corner of a pretty darn busy intersection holding my driver's license and insurance card. Did I mention I had a clip in my hair? Hello everybody!

• After a few text messages from Jordan to some of her friends who then told other friends who then told their parents, the story got totally spun. Totally. Spun. Someone told me yesterday they had heard I was crossing the street on foot and got hit by a drunk driver and was in the hospital.

• My grocery buying patterns change in the summer when the kids are home all day long.

• Cooper turned seven on Saturday. What happened to my little boy? *Sniff* I have never seen a kid more excited about having a birthday than he was on Saturday.

• Sunny day + water guns + swimming pool + chicken nuggets + cookie cake = a day full of fun for Cooper and some neighborhood boys. Who says you have to spend $400 at a jumpy place?
  
  
• Tween girls = emotional rollercoasters.

• We went to the Redbirds game Saturday night. The kids made it on the big screen by dancing and waving the foam finger around. Good times.
  
  
• Boys get very dirty and require many baths.

• Sunday I went to church, came home and fixed birthday lunch for 12 people, took Jordan back to church for a youth event, came home and did 29,347 loads of laundry, went back to church to teach Children's Bible Hour (Not my gift. Just sayin'.), and helped with the youth group devo that night. Whew! And amen.
  
  
• I watched Glee and loved it. Anybody else seen it?
  
  
• I need to go back to work today to get some rest.

Seven on Six Six

I interrupt the regular "Week at Twitter" post to bring you this special announcement...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOPER!!!

My "baby" turns SEVEN today. And I don't think my heart can take it.

I love you C-Dog!!

It's my favorite sister's birthday!

Happy Birthday Connie!

Wishing you a "bork-bork-bork" kind of a day!

I'm having someone very special make a cake just for you....

Big day on the ol' calendar

Today is March 9 and that means it is also.....


Barbie Day -- The Barbie went on sale on this date in 1959. More than 900-million Barbies have been sold in the U.S. since then.

National Napping Day -- Now *this* is a holiday I can celebrate!

Panic Day -- Sponsored by a group in Pennsylvania "that encourages you to run around today in a panic and tell everyone you can't take it anymore." Oh wait....you mean we are only supposed to do that one day a year?

False Teeth Day -- The patent for false teeth was given on this day in 1822.

Niece M's Birthday -- She is 14 today. I am crying. Happy Birthday M!


OK people - surely there is something up there you can celebrate. Have a good day. Peace out.

For the birthday boys

Dear Captain and Nephew T:

You say it's your birthday?!
Happy Birthday to you!