Visiting The Easter Bunny at the Mall

Posted on March 31, 2010 by admin

Easter is coming! It is just around the corner. Now while we all know that it is really about Jesus lets go ahead and talk about some of the other stuff it is about.

Our new Church outfits have been bought. Blue’s hair has been cut. The candy is on the top of my fridge waiting for the Easter Bunny to put it in the kid’s baskets. The Eggs will be colored this weekend. We have even visited the Bunny at the Mall and got the kids picture taken.

Out of all the money I have spent, the picture at the mall is the only Easter related spending that drives me crazy.

Why, you say. Because it was 24 bucks. Yep! 24 bucks! I did get two BUT come on. The best part is that you are only aloud to take pictures with your own camera if you buy the cheapest package at 24 bucks. When told this, I think I even asked the guy if he was kidding. I understand the need to make a profit but I am guessing the mall makes plenty of money. They couldn’t just give a family a break. I guess not.

Well here you go. Here is the “professional” taken picture printed on the spot with in 3 minutes. That Bunny better buy a new outfit for next year with the money I just gave him.
A new Easter Outfit.

Posted in Easter, Holiday, kid pictures | 1 Comment

I’m just saying…

Posted on March 9, 2010 by admin


Did the United States really need to send me a printed letter letting me know that I will receive my 2010 Census in about a week?!?

Really?! I mean Really?! I think you could of just surprised me with it.

This is a perfect example of how stupid our government can be and how good they are at wasting money. This pisses me off.

Posted in I'm just saying | 1 Comment

Month of Kim

Posted on March 8, 2010 by admin

Last of month was Month of Kim. Yes, I celebrate my birthday all month long.

A highlight of 2010′s celebration was that my dearest friend Deb gave me a gift and card to celebrate each day in Month of Kim. The gifts were stuff from the dollar store that were a highlight of the day when me and my kids would pick one to open. They were all little items that showed how well Deb knows me. All the gifts were items that represented things that I love mixed in with items that she knew would make me smile or giggle.

The gifts were fun but it was the daily cards that I really loved. Every card gave a reason why she loves me and wished me a Happy Month of Kim. Who knew there were so many reasons to love me?!?

Many are inside jokes but take a look and see how well you know me.

I love you because:

You back-packed through Europe!
Your favorite cat is the one that is alive!
You wore a bikini when you were pregnant!
You are a triathlete!
You are the only step sister I’ve ever had!
You know having coffee with a friend is a beautiful way to start a day!
You thank God for your blessings!
You know your children are your fault!
You allow me to see the world through your eyes!
You are Talented! Intelligent! Hilarious! Beautiful!
Without you there would be no “Sisterhood“.
You know that “Whining gets you nothing”!
You sleep with a bear!
You don’t snore and you don;t hog the covers!
You bring me books from the library!
You think Ketchup is a food group!
You want to be a know-it-all!
You think gun-slinging squirrels are funny!
You have mad skills!
You know I’m a food snob and you like me anyway!
You know every day is a gift!
You talk to my girls about hemorrhoids!
You know marriage is sacred and life-long!
You go big or go home!
You wonder what the poor people are doing right now!
You actually like hamburger helper!
You think toothpaste is gross!

The one from my actual birthday birthday card:
You know you “deserve” nothing!

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New Years Resolution

Posted on February 24, 2010 by admin

I am not sure when it happened and a little embarrassed that it did. I can think of all kinds of reasons why it happened but there is no excuse for my actions or in this case lack of actions.

Sometime last year I stopped reading my kids a book before bed and yes, also stopped saying night time prayers with them.

Before you call child services on me, I have seen the errors of my ways and made the necessary changes. I made it my New Years Resolution but didn’t tell anyone because I was so embarrassed. You don’t want people to know that you aren’t a “perfect” parent or at least trying to be a perfect parent.

Almost two months in and I am still keeping it going. On normal nights both Blue and Quin get to pick one book and I read while they sit on either side on me. On nights that it is way past bedtime I pick a short book to read to them. After story time we fold our hands and say the Our Father together.

You know this is a part of parenting that is at the end of the day. With Ben’s travel schedule heavy and leaving me to do the lions share of the parenting by myself, by the end of the day, many times I am just done. Done with parenting for the day. I am sure you other parents with little ones know what I am talking about.

The ironic thing is that cutting this bedtime ritual out did not relieve any of my parenting stress. It was the return of this nighttime ritual that has brought me the peace that I was desiring. Defiantly the most successful New Years Resolution I have ever had.

Posted in mommy, parenting | 1 Comment

Rock On

Posted on February 16, 2010 by admin

A couple of weekend ago we made the trek across town to go rock climbing at the downtown Y. This is something that Blue has been begging to be able to do for about a year so it was good to finally take her. I have to admit it was also nice to get a different kind of work out. Blue, Ben and I made our attempts to scale the wall with different levels of success. It is not a competition but in case it was, take note I did go the highest.

For you who have never climbed a rock wall; it is a lot harder then it looks.




Look at Blue! She loved it and I can’t wait to take her again.

Quin is not old enough to try yet so he just watched. Probably best, Quin is hesitant to try new things. Maybe if he is told he can’t long enough he will be eager to try when he is finally old enough.

Were is my picture? I decided to leave it out because it is just not very flattering. Sorry, It is my blog so there is just no reason to post unflattering pictures of myself.

Posted in Double Yolk Eggs, exercise, family outing, rock climbing | 1 Comment

Wacky Wardrobe Wednesdays

Posted on February 10, 2010 by admin

Posted in Wacky Wardrobe Wednesdays | 1 Comment

Skiing Stepsisters

Posted on February 4, 2010 by admin

I have just returned from a mini vacation to beautiful Keystone Colorado. In early January my neighbor and best friend told me that she was going skiing with her sisters. Not all the sisters could make it so there was an opening in the car (yes we drove) and she wanted to know if I wanted to go. YES.

So with Ben’s blessing last Tue night we drove to KC, stayed the night at sister Pam’s house and left for CO at 6AM. The drive from KC to Keystone is 12 hours.

12 hours of a whole lot of nothing. In fact we planned on stopping at the first Starbuck outside of KC, only one problem, the first one we came across was 7 hours later. What does Kansas have against Starbucks or is it what does Starbucks have against Kansas .

Pam and Deb

Me and Sherry

To make the time go by we had many stops, including the Colorado Welcome sign.


Now while I do not support texting and driving, we did decide to download and play the App on our iPhones for Travel Bingo. I won, twice.

We arrived after dark and wandered out to a fire pit to watched the final skiers and snowboarders come of the mountain.

Me

Pam

Sherry

Random Snowboarders

The next day we took our time getting around, knowing that we wanted the discounted after 12 lift tickets.

I have not skied in 24 years so I can not say I ever really knew what I was doing but I did look cute in my ski outfit. And that is all that really matters.

Look out here I come!

Half way down.

Taking a brake for instant soup and coffee.

After the first day, we were all exhausted and were asleep before 10. I was worried that I would be to soar to ski the next day but was overjoyed to wake up with out any any pain.

Day two I decided to rent a helmet just because my inner self kept yelling at me to. Come to find out I loved my helmet. I think it is a good look. Kind of tough.

Day two was skiing after lunch followed by a pizza dinner and then back to the top of the mountain to go tubing for an hour. Fun Fun Fun. I highly recommend the tubing!

Our last day was Sat. We didn’t plan on skiing and we were glad we didn’t. The two previous days on the mountain were empty but on Sat it was like a constant parade of skiers walking to the lift. Not wanting to waist the day we found an adventure to go on… a Snow Cat Tour to the top of the Mountain.

Having a beer before the Snow Cat Tour.

The views were amazing and on the way up I even got to sit in front with the driver.

After the Snow Cat we went into the lodge at the top of the mountain for a beer. The bartender let us know that the best spot was the deck 7 stories up. So up the stairs we went. Just so you know, the view was great! Good thing too because 7 stories up at that altitude is not easy.

I have watched the sun set other the ocean many times but this was the first time to see it set over a mountain.

It just kept getting better.

I like to blame it on the altitude. We did get a little drunk before we headed down on the gondola. Luckily we did come to our since and decided to get some thing to eat instead of continuing to drink. The food saved everything. We were all packed and in bed by 10:30.

We were on the road by 5:30AM and I walked into my house to hugs from Quin and Ben (Blue was fast asleep) many many hours later at 10PM.

The trip was short but oh so sweet.

I just hope it is not another 24 year before I go skiing again.

Posted in exercise, Keystone CO, mommy, skiing, vacation | Leave a comment

Beer vs Soda

Posted on January 25, 2010 by admin

Quin: “When I am a grownup, can I drink beer?”

Me: “Um, Yes”

Quin: “But no soda”

Me: “Right, No soda”

What can I say, I think soda is the devil.

Posted in me, Out of the Mouths of Babes, parenting, Quin | 1 Comment

Hanging with the Croup

Posted on January 20, 2010 by admin

Quin woke up with the Croup yesterday.

The Croup it is one of those sicknesses that it’s “bark” is worse then its bite. There in fact is a distinctive barking cough coming from your small child but the illness part itself is not as bad as the sound coming out of you baby. It is similar to a cold and really no reason to even go to the doctor.

I know all of this but when he woke up last nigh at 10 sounding awful and wheezing with every breath, I was a bit frightened. It is never easy for a mother to hear her baby work so hard for every breath. I did what I could and that was hang with him in a steamy bathroom. After that I tucked him into my bed. I knew it was going to be a long night.

Ben is out of town. I talk to him on the phone before turning off the lights but only briefly. He was still out with work friends having cocktails. Yes, this pissed me off. I am only human. Ben and I have talked about this kind of thing before. With him on the road and me with at home with the kids, we both understand that our individual realities have their highs and lows. It just happened that in this instance, going out with grown ups on a Tuesday night is overwhelmingly preferable to staying up all night with your baby because he has the Croup.

At 4am, when Quin and I hung out again in a steamy bathroom, I checked my email on my iPhone and Ben had sent me an email thanking me for my support and telling me that he loved me. (Nice Ben, way to make me feel bad.) I at that point, had to send him an email apologizing for not being that supportive during our last call but thanking him for supporting me by not getting mad at me for being snippy just because he was having a good time while I was taking care of a sick baby.

Yes, this has been an example of when I had it bad while Ben had it good but I’m not worried, I know it is only a matter of time when the roles are reversed. Quin is already back at school and I have a Mommy Vacation just around the corner.

Posted in Ben, croup, maraige, mommy, parenting, Quin | 1 Comment

Date Night

Posted on January 19, 2010 by admin

Last Saturday Ben and I got a date night. Big Smile.

I am hoping for more date nights this year. In fact I told him last weekend that I needed to talk to him but not in front of the children. This initially scared him but I wanted to make a point and let him know I was serious. His travel schedule is not slowing down and I just want to make sure we give each other enough attention. Besides I sometimes feel trapped in this house and NEED TO GET OUT.

It was between nice dinner with wine and a movie or pizza with beer and bowling.

Beer Pizza and Bowling won.


It was the fancy pizza place in town, Arris Pizza
The kids helped me pick out my accessories.
Ben won both games but they were close games.

We were done before 10 but we resisted going for one more drink at a bar. To much of a risk of just one more turning into 2 or 3 more so we picked up a movie on the way home and managed to stay up past midnight and still able to wake up without a hangover. All in all a perfect date.

Posted in Ben, Bowling, Date Night, me | 1 Comment