photo hunt 119 - what is that??

Those of you that know me at all we be able to easily guess. Otherwise the answer is HERE!

Be sure to check out all the other photo hunters HERE!! If you are playing along, add you link below and leave some comment luv!!

friday four

I had every intention of doing an amazing post today but of course, never got around to it. I have several ideas rolling around in the caverns of my brain but none have seemed to come to full fruition. So I thought I would just throw out the snipits of the posts I am pondering, mash them all together and serve it up for your consumption. Sorry if it leaves a bad aftertaste or leads to a bad bout of indigestion. I tend to lack in the cooking department.

1. Crabs - No, I don't have them... well actually I do, but as pets. No not on me personally but in a cage. Well, I killed one. Not intentionally you see.... it just.... happened. They (the crabs) were out playing in the sand table and when I ran in to make the boys dinner. When I peeked out the kitchen window to check on them I noticed that one had been abducted. Obvioulsy the guilty party of either a hawk, seagull or other miscilaneous bird, decided it was hungry and was going to feast on some succulent crab legs. Yes, I earned yet another Bad Mommy Star for my trophy case. Go. Me.

2. I really wanted to participate in Mommy Always Wins Friday Flashback about the cars of our past. I was even going to take this opportunity to admit that I have a car problem. Some may call me a car hussy or auto whore but I seriously can't sustain a relationship with a car past three years. After three years the love is gone and I need a new fix. In the 17 years I have been driving I have had 8 different cars. That is a lot of rubber tire rotations!

3. Then there was the discussion today with Grady's pre-school teacher about what a good student he is, how he is always well behaved and that he was such a good helper today. Uh, seriously? I think you have the wrong kid. My kid, aka Spawn of Satan, spits food and runs around chanting "Nudie Boy!! Nudie Boy!! Nudie Boy!!" He screams, cries and whines with such passion he puts the most ill behaved children to shame. Hmmm, maybe my kid just dislikes me and enjoys making me cry and rock in the corner by the end of the day. I think that makes my second Bad Mommy Star of the day. Excellent!

4. I also really wanted to present at BlogHerNot 08 but just couldn't get my act together in time. So I have been taking some of the amazing course offered (in my jammies while consuming ice cream and cheetos) and even stopped by Izzy's for some other distractions and non-BlogHer going fun. All this knowledge is making me dizzy. It could also be the wine consumption but who am I to point fingers!

So there you have it - my non-post (and a definite glimpse into the reasons I was not asked to speak at BlogHer). On a good note, by attending BlogHerNot 08 you could get the chance to sleep with George Clooney or, if you are extra lucky, David Duchovny. Guess I had better shower!

bloghernot 08

Since, as I have stated in earlier post, I am NOT going to BlogHer, I decided to join in on Mommy Pie's non-party and conference. Oh yeah, it IS the place to be my friends. She asked all of us to send photos of what we were doing right now, to prepare for the non-conference tomorrow. This is what I am doing:
and oh does it taste glorious! Add some Kung Fu Panda Cheez-Its and we are golden! I will throw in a quick 'I just got back from the pool so I am lookin' rough and sportin' the headband' line. See my previous post for the clean and showered real me. Did I mention that Mrs Fussypants made me the pricess of BittHer 08? Yes, that is right. As of today I am official royalty. No need to bow, but please be sure to compliment the tiara. So I will be sure to check in with Mommy Pie tomorrow for all the speakers and classes. And to top it off, George Clooney is the keynote! Could BittHer/BlogHernot get any better?? No, I think not!

wordless wednesday - the picture i can't delete from my camera card

This picture was taken a year ago and I can't delete it from my camera's memory card. Every time I see that remnant of a tear, I just can't do it.

Be sure to check out other WW participants HERE and add your link if you are playing!

the voicemail you never want to get

This post comes from the loving heart of my hubby. He is feeling emotionally challenged today and is looking for a, shall we say, creative outlook? A new voice. His very first blog post.

**The following was on our voicemail this evening. Names have been changed to protect the crazy.***

"Mr. Smith. This is Sgt So-and-so, from the Crazyville police department. It is imperative that you call me immediately regarding your mother. Please call me as soon as you receive this message."

Fast forward to the actual phone conversation between Hubby and Sgt. So-and-so:

Hubby: Hi Sgt. So-and-so, this is Mr. Smith. I was returning the call concerning my mother.
Sgt: Thanks for calling back Mr. Smith. I have some concerns about your mother. She came to the police department today stating that there are clicking and popping noises in her house and she is sleeping wrapped in heavy duty aluminium foil to keep the RF (radio frequency) beams from penetrating her while she sleeps.
Hubby: Did she happen to mention the shiny screws in her car that transmit these frequencies?
Sgt: We will be sure inquire about that during the State's visit tomorrow.

Fast forward to conversation with Hubby's brother after lengthy conversation with Sgt. So-and-so.

Hubby: Bro, just got a call from the cops. Mom is nuts!
Bro: Naaah, that's perfectly normal for a 60+ year old woman, living by herself and afraid for her safety to sleep in tin foil.

Suddenly I walk in to find Hubby banging the phone against his desk screaming, "They're both nuts!! This can't be my life!"
Me: Dude... are you adopted?

one sad little lassie

Well, I am sure you have heard all the buzz. Everyone is talking about it. It also seems, at least to those NOT going, that everyone is going. I am talking about BlogHer, which is this weekend in glorious San Fran. Did I mention that I am not going... insert extremely large sigh and a super sized pouty face. I, like many others, have to play the money card or shall I say lack there of. Before you start feeling all sorry for me and joining in on my ginormous pitty party, please know that I had a choice. I had to choose between BlogHer and here. As if there was a second thought... well maybe for just one minute second, but really... which would you choose? Hubby has his mandatory annual meeting in Cancun this year. Yes, I said mandatory. My mandatory meeting is on hard benches in a school cafeteria. Gaaww, I really need to get into corporate America. Actually not because he is always WAY too stressed and not pleasant but I digress. Since his meeting is around our anniversary I am choosing to go with him. Here is how it all went down.

Him: Sweet! My annual meeting is in Cancun this year.
Me: Oh, I am SO going with you!!!!!
Him: But I will be in meetings all day
Me: ... and?
Him: You will be by your self all day
Me: AND??
Him: I have mandatory dinners too some nights.
Me: Excellent! Hello?!? No kids, beach all day, beverages all night... dude I am SO in heaven.
Him: Won't you miss me?
Me: Well we'll sleep in the same bed at night right??

So reservations were made and we extended our trip so we would have some time together to lounge and sight see. By making this choice I had to forgo going to BlogHer. At the time it seemed like such a simple decision but now that it is getting cloer and everyone is all giddy talking about it, I am feeling sad and left out. (insert extremely large sigh and a super sized pouty face again).

So for now I am living vicariously through all of you going and I really want to hear all about it. So be kind and share you awesome time with those of us stuck at home wearing our party dresses and drinking wine on our couches!

photohunt 118: support

My daily support to get through the day. Without it. I would be lost...and crabby!!

Be sure to check out all the other photo hunters HERE!! If you are playing along, add you link below and leave some comment luv!!

friday flashback - punk rock girls revisited

Now, if you have followed me for a while you know I am a fan of The Dead Milkmen. I have posted about them here, and here, oh and here too. Punk Rock Girl is especially a favorite. Grady loves to move and shake it to that song and I of course indulged him and play it extra loud!! Hubby and I often fight disagree on the bestest song eva. He brings up some good ones; Big Lizard (which I had the t-shirt of BTW), Bitchin' Camaro, Surfin' Cow, but in my mind there is only one. This song has passed the test of time and has remained in my heart and brain for, I am sad to say, decades. Nothing screams "I love the 80's" like this song. And now, for your viewing and listening enjoyment I give you this.


Now go rock your mohawks and black leather and join in on the Friday Flashback fun. This week's theme is music. So pull out the vinyl or cassette tapes and pick your favorite or two. Be sure to add yourself below and of course, leave some comment lovin'!!

things-don't-suck-as-much-as-i-thought thursday - third edition

Peace, quiet and brotherly love. It's a good thing. It is also a few and far between thing. As a Mom and a big sister, I get that, I really do. I just can't stand it most days. The nonstop bickering and fighting over every small minute detail of every frickin' thing!!! Whoops... this is supposed to be things I am thankful for. What was it again?? Oh yeah, peace and brotherly love. Yes, yes, now there is a good thing. It's those times I just sit back and smile. I remember why I stepped into the crazy ring of parenting. For these ever so tiny glimpses at brotherly bonding. Now if I could just burn this image into my retinas, life would be almost perfect!

Be sure to check out all the love floating around the blog-o-shpere today. In fact, join in! You'll be happy you did!

wordless wednesday - glad to be home...

... and have things back to normal??

hey you! .... oh, and you too

Dear asshat in seat 4A,

While I am sure that you were just as annoyed as the rest of the flight that we were two hours late taking off, I did not find your comments, nasty looks and attitude necessary. I am well aware that both of my sons are hyper-verbal and suffer from logorrhea. Yes, I live with that fact every day. I am also aware that while they talk, a lot, they can at times get on you nerves. Most days they pummel the crap out of my last nerve till it is almost unrecognizable. You did however crossed the line enlightened me when you turned around and recommended I give them Benedryl to help quiet them down. Yet you scoffed when I told you I already had. Never doubt a desperate mother! If I was not completely exhausted and spent you would have gotten a piece of my mind, but sadly, I had none left to give. I didn’t even have the energy to flip you off appropriately and for that I am sorry. Oh and the ass you kept dropping – SO not cool.

Since I am calling people out, "Hey foreign lady in 6!" No one appreciates a loud talker. NO. ONE. Especially when it is 10 PM and my loud talking angelic children are trying to sleep. I don’t want to hear the graphic details about the surgery for your ingrown toe. I also do want to be privy to all the words you challenge when playing Scrabble with your friends. If you don’t think ‘align’, which you pronounced Ay- lig-n, is a word and challenge the word ‘friend’ because you say ‘fren’, well then you are stupider then you look. And voicing it for the whole plane to hear makes you a moronic imbecile.

And I won't even start about the passenger who left his barn door wide open with his horse in full view. Yeah, after a long day of travel, I definitely did not need to see that!!

photohunt 117: pointed

Drake finally convinced me to get his hair cut. I like it longer, he wanted a buzz cut. We compromised with a short and spikey do. The beautician asked him if he wanted red gel. He gave me the pleading eyes, I said yes. So here is the top view of his new pointed hair style, red and all!

Be sure to check out all the other photo hunters HERE!!

happy fourth of july

Another lazy vacation post I am sorry to say. Here are the boys before we headed off to a Fourth of July picnic. Of course, Grady was in rare form. I mean, come on - where else would you put your flag??

things-don't-suck-as-much-as-i-thought thursday: part duex

I am feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place. I know other bloggers that I read have been feeling the same. There is so much going on right now that I would LUV to blog about, or should I say dump on the internet world, but I am questioning the open forum of it all. Yes, I choose to blog incognito versus my using my real identity, but I am also unsure about the secrecy within the family.... there may have been a leak! So, with extended family problems, I have to claim the fifth. Boy do I hate claiming the fifth. It also prevents you from some great MIL stories - Beth you feel me there! Yeah, there is nothing like one of my good MIL stories to make you thankful you are not me!

Today I am also thankful for distance. I think that sums it up right there.

On a 'not sucky' note, the boys are having a blast. We went to an amazing beach in Lake Tahoe yesterday. The views (and the water temps!) were breathtaking.
The crazy locals would jump off the rock formations, while visitors like me plopped my big white Midwestern butt in the sand.

The boys spent the day like this -

And of course, here are a few of my favorite moments .


Yeah, I guess things don't suck as much as I thought.

wordless wednesday - almost but not really

Splashing in Lake Tahoe with Grandma

Off on a boyish adventure.

Throwing rocks - is there anything better?

Drake at Emerald Bay

what makes the flight from hell worth it

Papa shows the boys his view every morning. Isn't it gorgeous!

Guess the travel day from hell was worth it. Look at the smiles on these boys, Papa included!

straight trippin'

This is where I wish we were going.

This is my reality. Ok, maybe not really, but pretty darn close. It is hot, cramped, we have no rental car... the list can go on and on. But I will spare you all of my wallowing in self pity. That which is Hell has begun and we have officially started our family vacation out West. What better way to start out a vacation then to get stuck in summer construction in Chicago. Luckily we knew of the excessive construction from our jaunt downtown a few weeks ago. The super friendly shuttle driver was nice enough to drop us off at the arrivals instead of the departures and said we could take the escalator up the two flights of stairs to get to the departures. Lord forbid he actually do his job and drop us off at the right destination!! Did he not see us carting two kids and a butt load of luggage? Nope, I think not.

And now we are waiting for our plane. Waiting with an under napped three year old and an eight year old with no patience for waiting. Grady has decided that today he is Ben Ten and keeps slapping his pretend watch/ omnitrex to transform in to a different alien. To add to the excitement he keeps insisting on yelling and jumping from the seat scaring the gentleman across from him trying to work on his laptop. Oh yes, good times, good times. I have begun lifting up prayers and pleads that the flight be quick and painless. Is that possible?

With all that being said, I am not sure how much I will be posting this week. I may need the mental break but I may also be balled up in a corner, rocking myself to sleep with a bottle of wine. My goal is to at least post pictures from our adventures with little tidbits of info - we'll see what you end up with. Bon voyage!!

end of an era

Today marks the end of the baby era in this lassie's abode. In the last months we have conquered potty training and embraced our big boy skivies with open arms. Plus my wallet is enjoying the extra padding from not having to buy them anymore - can I get an Amen? Yeah, I thought I could. Our next step was the big boy bed. Grady has been sleeping on a mattress on the floor for about a month now. It was time to make it official. So today, after a 7 hour fishing excursion (GRRRR), hubby took the crib down and put the bottom part of the bunk bed together. The crib was officially moved it to the basement. Sigh.... Grady is now there napping peacefully. (in his bed not in the basement!!)

While I am glad to be done, part of me is still sad. There will be no more babies, no more cribs, no more diapers - wait a minute, that is a good point! I am happy with our boys and shudder at the thought of being pregnant again. Wooo, mental flashback. Now I have the cold sweats! I am happy to be at this stage of my life, most of the time. I do know that my desire to have another biological child has passed. Now adoption... that is always an option!! But things in our life need to settle a little more before we possibly voyage down that road. Grady is quite the handful and Drake has just entered the world of sports and games. Our life is busy enough and I think I have enough to try and handle.

So for now I will enjoy my lighter loads when I leave the house, trade in my diaper bag for a cute little purse and offer to hold any little baby that passes in front of my open arms. Because really, is there anything that smells better?

photo hunt 116 - bright

Be sure to go HERE to see the other hunter's finds!

dilemmas, dilemmas

Oh internet, I need your help. You all know the issues with Grady and his Darth Vader wear. If not you can read here and oh, don't forget to look here too. And before you say, "Yes Kat, we all know his issues, suck it up already! Geez, we are soo tired of hearing about it already!", hear me out please! I know, I know.... sorry! But here is the low down: We leave for Nevada in three days to visit the/my parental unit. That's right folks, Nevada - where it is hot as Hades in July. Now, Grady loves him some Star Wars that is fo' sho'. With that being said - AGAIN - do I pack the shirt? Here are some of my selfish reasons to not pack the shirt:

1. I don't want to see him wearing that shirt in every vacation picture.
2. It's black with long sleeves.
3. It's hawt in Nevada, plus the whole high altitude issues we may encounter.
4. I don't want to see him wearing that shirt in every vacation picture.

I should also add that it is just not the shirt - the ensemble also includes his Vader mask and cape. I was hoping, when I recently bought the cape at Great America, that he would fall in love with it and be content to just wear the cape out and about. Um..... yeah, no such luck. I don't mind the cape and quite honestly, don't mind the shirt, but I am a bit worried that he will shrivel up and die out West if he wears that Death Star trap. On a good note, I did get him to wear that rockin' "Mom Rules" shirt, even if it was for 30 minutes. Maybe bribery will have to be in full swing when we head out west - but what to bribe him with...? I know I won't leave the house without Vader and if I try it will be ugly friends, UGLY!

So there you have it - my dilemma in a nutshell or should I say nutcase? Weigh in, post your thoughts, feelings and/or otherwise about this insanity called Grady. I'm ready... I hope!

PS: A little shout out to Barefoot Foodie and Cheaper Than Therapy for helping me tackle the three column html. You girls rock!!!