Happy Memorial Day!!

Here in Colorado Springs we live in a huge military town.  We have 1 of the largest army bases and 3 Air Force bases.  My father and my grandfather are retired Air Force and my Step Father is retired Army.  So to my family and my town I say THANK YOU for your bravery and my freedom!!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

PARENT - Job Description

POSITION :

Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma

Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an often chaotic environment.

Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work

variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!

Travel expenses not reimbursed.

Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.

Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,  until someone needs $5.

Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.

Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.

Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.

Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.

Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.

Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.

Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.

On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!

Offering frequent raises and bonuses.

A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them

become financially independent.

When you die, you give them whatever is left.

The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and

no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,

and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis,

letting them know they are appreciated for the fabulous job they do...

or forward with love

to anyone thinking of applying for the job.

An Award!!

Ahh, Alyssa over at My Husband's Watching TV has given me two awards!  She is the best.  She sticks with me through - well my flakey blogging and emailing.  She is awesome and has been a great friend!

The first award is the Happiness Award.  I have to list 10 things that make me happy.  I like this award because I don't think of these things often enough.  I usually think of the exact opposite.  So here it goes.

1) My Hubby

2) My Girls

3) Getting an email from Alyssa

4) Vacation

5) The sunshine

6) The beach

7) Flip Flops

8) Wearing 1 layer of clothing

9) Not doing Laundry

10) Reading a good book in the sun on the beach - ahhh

So now I'm going to tag five 3 people to pass both these awards along to. Please tag the person who gave you the award (ME!) and then pass it on to 5 people.

My 3:

Krystie @ One Fabulous Day - Just started reading her blog and I am enjoying the variety

Mindy @ The Sweet Life - This seems perfect for her she talks alot about the things that make her happy.

La @ Prone to Wander - I have loved following La's blog since the time we were both ready to burst with joys of pregnancy!  I also love getting notes from La and look forward to meeting La and her beautiful baby Gooner!

Look forward to reading your lists!

A Week of Firsts

Last week was a long week.  And a week of firsts.

My first big event that I organized.  My first television interview, on the morning news.  My first radio interview.

I am telling you I get so nervous and than my nerves never let down.  I just sit and go over and over all of the things I forgot to say.  During the event the news and newspaper came and I had to do another interview and I totally locked up.  *sigh*  At first I was doing just fine than I started thinking back to my previous interviews and I was trying to remember all of the things I swore I would not forget and it just seemed to create some sort of brain lock.  Oh well, I am new at all of this.  i will get better....right?

On better news, I got my thyroid medication changed again, and I think it may actually be the correct dose.  I am mysteriously loosing weight.  It has taken almost 2 years and I think I am on the 10th dose change, but maybe this is finally the right dose.

With all of the stress I have been horrible about working out and about my diet.  I am hoping to get back to Weight Watchers and back to the gym.  I am also hoping to get back to a regular blogging schedule - I miss everyone!  So happy summer weather is here!

Flip Flop Summer Swap

All American Jess Flip Flop Swap

All of the things I LOVE!!  Well it does not include my family or the beach, but it includes summer and flip flops so I think it is pretty awesome!

Head over and check it out!  What a fun way to kick off the summer!

This Baby Might Have a Complex!

Whenever this cutie finds a brush lying around she insists we brush her, um hair. The first time this happened I gave it one quick pass over thinking this was just silly, but with eyes telling me she really wanted her "hair" (like literally "hair") brushed what's a guilty mother or father to do but brush beautiful babies, um "hair". If for no other purpose this activity offers us great bonding time, no?


There are other indicators that lead me to believe that perhaps she is just a super girl, as in a girlie girl versus having said complex.  Other indicators are the following. When she sees a head band she has to put it on. Okay that one can go either way. But when she see's or hears a phone she picks it up or pretends to pick it up and puts it to her ear and say's "hi, daddy", "okay". Also when she hear's a phone ring she actually looks for the phone to answer it.  So either she is a super girl or somebody in her life spends WAY too much time on the phone. I am going with the super girl theory. All the other possibilities sound like big therapy bills. ;)

Book Review

I have never posted a book review on my blog but I wanted to for this book. 

I read another knitting based book on my trip to New York and I have been impatiently waiting for the sequel to come out and I finally broke down and bought this one.  I hosted a bookfair for my organization at a bookstore and I bought myself this book.  The description on the front of the book is "Like Steel Magnolia's set in Manhatan."  I will just say, let that be a warning.  (I took this as "oh, so it is super good.")

When I first started the book I had a hard time getting into it.  I felt the author was trying to achieve something she was not capale of, meaning she was using metaphors that I could tell she wanted to accomplish something that just did not happen.  I am so happy I did not give up on the book because I soon became addicted!  The book is based on a single mother , her daughter, her knitting shop, the shops "dynamic knitting club" and some unexpected characters from her past.  The unique aspect of the book is it gives the reader a look at each characters life so the reader gains a relationship with each character, yet does not confuse the reader with an overload of information and this aspect does not create a loss of focus.  I don't want to give anything away but the book ended unexpectedley and during the book I did shed some tears.  There is a follow-up but I am not committed to reading it.  I have not decided.  I highly recommend this one, it took me 4 days to read this which is tough for me to do!!  If anyone is interested in my copy leave me a message and I would be happy to send you mine.  If I get enough interest I will be fair and draw for it.

Paris Bound

Well Paris, Las Vegas!  In a few weeks we will be heading to Texas, home one (1) day and than just hubby and I will be heading to Las Vegas.  His company is sending him and one of his employees to some convention in Vegas.  Okay he is the boss so he is sending himself and one of his employees to Vegas, and this lucky lady gets to tag along - woot, woot!!

Hubby and I absolutley LOVE Las Vegas and we do not even gamble.  We love to just walk around seeing sights, like special exhibits and museums.  The last trip we ate at the Eiffel Tower resturant and I fell in love with the Paris Hotel and said that we would stay there one trip, well this is the trip.  Here is where I will be found:

Yes ladies my husband will be at conventions all day and I will have NO kids - WHAT WILL I DO????  Why sit by the pool of course!  Have a few adult beverages, perhaps lug my 5 months of magazines I am behind on or just sleep by the pool.  I can't tell you how excited I am.  But I have a feeling I will get a little restless so I need some suggestions of places I should go.  I have been to Las Vegas a handful of times but hubby is my map and I am a little nervous being solo, so what should I do?  Can you feel my excitement?  I will be SOLO!!!

Look Who Is 1!

This pretty little girl turned 1 on the 6th of May.  Once again I meant to do this post, well a week ago.  With our big event coming up it has been nearly impossible to get anything done.  So here it goes.  A few pictures and a little update on all things this proud mommy thinks are amazing about this fabulous 1 year old!

• Little AL is definetly the baby of the family! 
• She loves to be held by which ever of us is around to hold us but also wants her independents!
• She has been eating solid foods for over a moth now.  Whatever is for dinner she eats, just cut in small pieces. 
• She has quite the vocab: momma, daddy, Anna, thank you, Uh oh, peek-a-boo (with her hands on top of her head so she can still see), bye, hi, banana, night-night.  Those are the ones I can think of right now.  
• AL is also afraid of nothing.  She likes to climb on the top of stools and stand up holding onto nothing.  She has learned to climb back down stairs "safely".  Her favorite place to play is on the couch.  She likes to body slam daddy when he is laying on the ground. 
• She does not like strangers.
• Walking for about 3 weeks now
• 3 teeth total (still and about the same number of hairs, haha!)
• Hates walking in shoes
• LOVES bananas

This baby is still keeping us on our toes, she is a busy baby!  She is not a car fan and the first week of June we are driving to Texas, wish us luck - eek!

Sometimes Things Are Just Funny.....

...and than you realize it is happening to you.

So I got one of those "people of Walmart" emails a month back and it was the funniest one yet.  Seriously I died laughing.  Literally died laughing, that is why I was away so long - I was dead.  Just kidding.  Anyways.  Here is the picture I found the funniest.  The thing is, it is never the pictures that are so funny but the captions, so I have included the caption.

Toss in some cat food and you have the loneliest grocery list EVER!

Seriously I almost just died again because I started laughing again when I got the picture and caption loaded.  Since the time I originally received this email I have thought back to this caption and picture combo and have giggled about it many times. 

As I mentioned things have been a little crazy around my house lately, so in an effort to try and salvage my weightloss I have started Weight Watchers.  This has not proven to be helpful so far because - I don't have the time to really plan - HELLO!!  Anyway for lunches and to have on hand at home I have bought a ton of frozen meals, you know the "healthy" ones.  Let me just tell you I may be laughing at the picture above but because life is so busy this is what my grocery list is looking like these days.  So all I can say is "note to self - DO NOT GET A CAT".

Kid's Know the Strangest Things

Yes, I know the saying is really, "kid's say the funniest things".  Last night LD was being weepy and in the middle of the night got in bed with me.  So yes my back feels delightful today! ;) 

Little did she know that she was going to the dentist today to get a filling.  Yes a filling at 4!  I have to admit, it was a bit of a blow to my parental ego.  Here is the thing, LD DOES NOT LIKE STRANGERS OR DOCTORS OR ANYONE SHE DOES NOT SEE ON A REGULAR BASES!!!!!!!!!  It took us a year and a half and three (3) visits for her to let the dentist clean her teeth with something other than a tooth brush.  Their solution to get her to let them fill her cavity?  Nitrous.  I was a little worried.  So I did not tell her anything about her dentist appointment, not even that she had one until this morning, but based on her behavior - she knew something was going on. 

So we get to the dentist office she picks out her "nose" flavor and they try to get her to breathe and relax.  Right.  So after much screaming and fighting and more screaming she finally starts to relax from the air and gets a little silly.  I finally start to relax and than all of a sudden she just flips out, she starts to scream and does not want the air on anymore does not want to lay still, she is just freaking out.

Apparently they can't just stop the gas they have to get approval from the doctor, turn it off, than flush her system with pure oxgyen to clear out the nitrous out of her system.  Which to make happen we once again have to hold her down, otherwise she will get sick.  So after all of this, she got no filling.  We will try again in six months. 

Two weeks ago I was at urgent care and the doctors with her where they took x-rays and blood.  We got through the x-rays no problem, with a song I made up (you probably do not want to hear) but the blood work was HORRIFYING.

I still find her behavior last night very strange.  It was like she knew something was going on today, even though I never told her.  Kids just seem to have the best senses!  I have tried prepping her way in advance and it seems to make it worse.  So I thought I would try not telling her like it was no big deal.

My Poor, Poor Blog, and Friends

Ladies, I am sorry I have been so unavailable.  Things have been a little a lot crazy.  As I mentioned I have been trying to be kinder to myself and in an effort I have kind of let myself off the blogging hook.  I figured you would all appreciate it too.  Instead of me writing some random thoughtless, lame blog entry, i figured you all would just rather hear nothing.  So I went with nothing.  I have however been trying to leave some notes on your blogs to let you know I still love you and I am in fact still alive!  Barley, but I am! ;)

I will up date more about the drama when I can write a picture story, to include my new hair color.  Let's face it, you can't get over a funk with the same color of hair.  At least I can't!

Stay tuned!!