Here it is!!!

My new tattoo! Its over a scar on my leg. YES, it hurt and still does! I am very pleased with it though. A little worried how its healing but I have a good friend thats an expert on tattoos and she has looked at it for me. The colors did fade a little but I guess they leave a lot of excess ink on there, so thats normal. Its defiatley larger that the one on my arm, but the guy was quick. He designed and drew that right on me and helped me pick the colors. I like the way it kinda matches my arm. The bad thing is it makes the one on my arm look really really faded!! So yes, that was a whole barrel of fun trying not to bump it and to sleep when I was sick!! Just call me the tattooed lady....

Sick, take two!!

Oh yeah have I got it big time!! I just hope the kids don't get it. I think some of them already had this bug. ( little germ factories!!) I keep promising pictures, I know! We had a great visit with Jim and Nicole. As so as I tell Nick the "crazy thing" I did I will post it ( and pictures) on here. Shhhh jim and nicole!! I am off to "rest" lets hope this nasty bug doesn't last six weeks like last time....

Vacation

I have been having a blast with my brother and sister in law!! We happened to visit the harbor and at the beach was some kind of surfing contest. It was so neat to watch. ( I think the surfer chicks ROCK! you go girls!!) Yes me being "local" didn't bring my camera, and my sister in laws quit on her. (don't worry, she'll have more pics as soon as she gets the good batteries!) They are off to Hollywood today and Disney tomorrow and coming back my way on thurs. That actually works out because I had laundry and cleaning to catch up on and the girls have church class tomorrow evening. We dont' have plans for the weekend but i MIGHT do something outrageous friday. Will keep you posted.

Let The Sun Shine... Please??

Why oh why is it that whenever I have family visiting from the snowy/cold east coast OUR weather suddenly turns dreary and cold?? Ok so it might not seem that cold, but its chilly to us!! It has been foggy/cloudy for days. High... upper 50's. Where did the 70's go? I wanna take them to the beach!! I can only hope that when they visit Disney, annaheim is a little warmer. (should be)
Its like going to the Carribean in a hurricane. Sigh.
Fingers crossed they make their lay over, I know thats a big worry. Well I am on vacation now! yahoo. (even if I am cold!, ok ok a bit chilly, jeesh.)

Green Day

Here is some of the "treasure" and then Zoes fancy green hair do.

My hirt works on SO many levels. Sober, but still a total klutz. Last is me and my little green girl. She thought everyone was wearing green for her special green day! (ok I had green hair too, but it was hidden in the back)

Hope everyone had a great "green day" !

St Paddy's

Happy St. Patricks Day everyone!!! I have been busy all afternoon making my famous guiness stew. This year we are having beer bread too!! I tried it with the guiness, which can be a bit strong so I cut it with a little root beer. Sounds gross but hopefully will taste good. I actually found some natural raised, hormone free, veg fed lamb in case i accidentally ingest some along with my veggies. All I have left are some potatoes to roast ( ok, I cheated on those!) and we are good to go. I had hard time finding a single bottle of Guiness ( what would I do with a six pack, seriously . I don't drink it nor do none of my friends or their hubby's) but I finally did. It is already smelling heavenly in here. And getting a bit warm. Weather is picking up, needless to say this isn't your typical March chilly stew weather. Kinds feels like may! Oh well. I had the table all decorated with little treasures for the kids. Sophie was up before dawn to see what the Leprachauns left her. ( I always give them a little something, but the whole leprachaun thing was all her!) They got green buckets with shamrock headbands, necklaces, bracelets and some chocolate coins from Sees. I noticed that the "extra" coins have already dissapeared ( ZOE) and some one keeps eyballing mine. ( Zoya again! Its driving her nutso that I am not eating them all right away!)
I am actually anxious to put all this stuff away and get out the Easter "crap" ok, I will admit I want it all done up for my company and I will use ANY excuse to decorate.
I plan on eating myself into a semi catatonic state and chilling tonight!
Happy Green Day ( Zoe is so happy, its her favorite color day!!)

Sober Hangover

Oh the irony! Was it punishment for past over indulgences? Food poisoning? Taking too many pills on empty tummy? All of the above???
What ever it was I am slowly recovering. The little ones bounced back pretty quickly. Basically we had a puke o rama here Friday night. NOT FUN. ( plus, ok I was a "little" doped up from mis -dosing some meds. oopsie!) The only lingering affect seems to be this horrible, migraine calliber headache that NOTHING seems to touch. I can get it dimmed enough to function but it doesn't go away.
Plus, I have too much money. Oh don't get all excited. That is NOT good news. THAT means I forgot to pay something very important and can't figure out what it is. I am sure it will be sucked out of my acct very soon. Till then I am watching the bank like a hawk. I am just working on getting better so I can get this house into shape for Jim and Nicloes visit, which is coming up fast! I am very exctied. THe only drawback is we might have to turn around and go back to San Diego the next day, Emily has a interview for a science camp she wants to attend. I got the good ol GPS which is good cuz I don't know where ANY of the fun Stuff in SD is. That is still up in the air.
( don't worry J&N, you guys just relax!!)
Lessons learned this weekend: 1. If I can get that sick sober , I don't think I will be going on a
wild drinking binge any time soon. (really!!)
2.Don't eat fish that smells funny even if it was expensive
and you don't want to waste it.
3. Having three people throw up in six places gets your floor
clean. (not fun though!)
4. You can order Dominos online!
5. If pills say "take as directed" or 'Take with food" or "don't take more that such and such in a 24 hr peroid" OBEY THE RULES!!!!

Supermom

Sophie has been doing this Mad Science after school thing which is fun science experiments and they make cool stuff to take home. Well, today she made a tornado in a jar and of COURSE dropped it and broke it. I was mad, but told her I would fix it. She was so crushed. I mean totally heartbroken. The girls felt bad cuz it was dead silent, no one said a mean thing. ( a miracle!!) Then... SUPERMOM remembers we have plastic test tubes from one of Emily's science projects and I always have a handy supply of glitter and soap and ... voila! A new tornado. (Plus I didn't yell at her, but she had been told sixteen times to be careful.... I think I still have a tongue, lol)
Well Katey and Emily were following me from room to room looking sutibly impressed, and Sophie was hovering anxiously trying not to cry . ( No pressure mom!) When I finished it and tested it ( it was a smaller , kinda more invisible tornado, but still.) they all went. "oooooooh. cooool!" Sophie hugged me and told me I was the bestest supermom fixer ever. Sigh. I soooo needed that today.
I get her to bed and go to check on the older kids and catch Katey creeping out of the craft room.
Well, there are five EMPTY test tubes left. She now knows I have a HUGE stash of shiny glitter....and she now also knows that when you hide a tube of glitter behind your back and it isn't closed it leaves a trail.
Was too tired to get mad. I think I scared her. I said, oh well. I'll get it tomorrow. go to bed . And leave THE TEST TUBES ALONE!. No freaking out, shocking! She kinda slunk off to her room minus glitter ( and the test tubes) . I am kinda dreading what I will find in them in a week...
All in the name of science, right???

Broken and fixed

Well I have the printer situation sorted out and installed the 'new' one myself. I can see it having the same dang problem soon though! Broken vaccums I am still working on. NIck is able to manage a few financial things for me which is a HUGE weight lifted off my shoulders. I am still having one obstacle after another with getting Zoe enrolled in pre-k. I am still gonna try but will probably have to pay for her to go a few times a week. I can teach her, but she desperatley needs to socialize.
Oh how I miss you Mo!!
I also want to thank everyone here and on Facebook( you are all pretty much one in the same, lol) for all your support. This is olny the beginning of the deployment but I don't feel so out of touch with everyone. Most of my stress has been from household appliances rebelling!! Kids are starting to get used to the strict routines , I knew it would pay off eventually. We have immediate and non negotioable punishment for the older ones now, chores, chores, chores. every time. Little ones are loving their smiley charts and rewards. (big ones get rewards too!!) I try to be careful what I threaten. Grounding for the day, or next day has a better affect then a week, two weeks forever!!
Next is scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush! Just kidding. The girls love earning WII and computer/e mail time and I am starting a game night/spa night that that can work towards.
Everyone gets pizza/movie on sat no matter what so there is always a positive.
I had to change pizza to sat cuz we have fish on fridays during lent and the little ones went ballistic. Jeesh. talk about lovin routine!!
I want a few of you moms to do the Mamma thing, TAG ladies!! Even ask your teens if you got em.
Thanks!
Yes, my ear still hurts but I am sooo cool man!!

Your MOMMA

This is a cute idea. Copy this note, ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond
my answers from Zoe age 3, Sophie age6, Emily age 12, Katey age 14
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Z: to flush /S:I love you /E: STOP/K:I love you


2. What makes mom happy?
Z: snuggle/S: me being good/E: time out with her friends/K: when I clean my room

3. What makes mom sad?
Z: I steal medicine ( huh?)/S: when I be bad and I get hurt/E: Us being bad/K:when I don't follow the rules

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Z:shake your butt/ S: by tickling me/E: makes jokes/K:when she does funny things

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Z: a bottle/S: me/E: evil to her brothers/K: I don't know

6. How old is your mom?
Z; 3/ S: 34/E:34/K:34

7. How tall is your mom?
Z: um this tall (holds hand about chair height)S:16/E: I do not know/K:like five something

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Z: Doing the dishes ( NOT)/S:Play with me/E:facebook/K:sit on the couch and read

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Z: say peek a boo!/S: Play with Zoe/E: clean/K:watch tv or e mail

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Z: a prize/S: I don't know/E: art/K:home decorating

11. What is your mom really good at?
Z: showing Z/S: Talking/E:creative stuff/K:scrapbooking

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Z: not peek a booing/S: I don't know/E: not yelling/K:playing the WII ( just mario kart)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Z: text ( too bad that doesn't pay)/S: take care of her kids/E:take care of us/K: Take care us

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Z:onions ( what??)/S: Pie/E: bread/K:dark chocolate

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Z:making me music/S: when she bes nice to me/E; shes creative/K: shes creative

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Z: Arthur/S: Supermom/E: I don't know/K: I don't know

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Z: play puzzles/S: walk /E: watch movie/K:Play WII , shop

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Z: i don't know/S: we both like to play/E: we like to cook/K:uhhh(does not want to be like me in anyway and would not answer)

19. How are you and your mom different?
Z: I don't know/S: by the sizes/E: I like to be outside a lot/K ummm( in every way possible)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Z: you are the best mommy ever/S: by her hugs and kisses/E: she says it/K:um...she...says so

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Z: to the cooking store/S: Claim Jumpers/E: Trader Joes/K: to bed (right on!!)

tippping the scales

Upside down doesn't really count. Actually, my hard work is beginning to pay off! I am nearer to my normal fit weight. whew. Jeans are beginning to zip up a little eaiser. Running, is still hard but I am making slow progress.
I seem to be sleeping better, exercise is definately good for me!!
We have no real news to report , same ol same ol here.
Emily gets to go to Legoland on a school field trip. Now thats all the little kids are talking about.
Well back to figuring my budget, diet, groceries, etc.
like I said, boring, but normal.

Beach Bums in March?

The kids had a blast at the beach yesterday, all of them (except for Zoe) braving the chilly water.
Zoe had fun just playing in the sand and their was a playground nearby that all the kids enjoyed. Katey and Emily hunted for shells and just had fun running all over. Out of all of them Emily spent the most time in the water. Yes, there is me braving the camera in my swimsuit. Yikes. Well it is my "before" picture. It was a great family day and I was thrilled to have the kids out of my hair, running wild and collapsing into bed early!
I loves me a Cali winter!!!

comments

Ok most of your comment forms have changed and I am confused!! what is my URL?
what do I post as??? Where did the easy form go??? I can always stalk you on facebook. ha ha ha.
Oh I am just kidding. Just annoyed at the URL thing.
So far things that have gone Kapooey since Nick left
washer on and off
new vaccuum
printer
tv keeps TRYINg it is new so it better NOT!!!
don't know how to get my new CDs on the computer to put the song on i pod. (oh dalgrunitt I will ask the kids, I can only do so much you know!!)
Dryer got left on sanitize ( by me for three loads) and High/extened dry by??? for FIVE loads. Washer was set on Hot for two.
so I am not THAT fat. ha ha .
all my shirts ride up juuuust enought to let the little bit of flabby hang out. lovely.
I am placing bets on backed up sinks/showers ( all the hair in this house and sand after today) and the microwave.
WHEW. Not too bad, really.
My poor wine glasses are getting dusty. I will have to start drinking my coke zero out of them. lol