My Favourite Things

I love the idea of a happy first posting so here goes.

Some of my favourite things (English spelling!)......

Chocolate anything from England...I have added chocolate as one of my food groups to maximise my intake while I am here. So far I have lost weight and inches, yeah! Okay it probably has more to do with the 4 mile walks I take every day than the chocolate but a girl can dream, right?

Walking in the English countryside (see pictures)

Laughing with my sister.

Taking my children on adventures...

And of course my friends and loved ones in America.

Cheers!

Cat

Things that make Laundry Girl happy

Okay, I'm taking Loraine's last post as a little bit of a challenge to dig deep inside and see if I can think of something other than Biker boy and my kids that make me happy.....Just like Loraine's, these are in total random order.



1. My new camera (Nikon D40)

I love it, I love it, I love it.



2. Drinking coffee outside on my swing in my jammies.



3. Pedicures, massages and facials.



4. Wine and chocolate....together if possible.



5. I really like to cook, especially when Biker boy takes the kids out of the kitchen. Oh and I love to drink wine while I cook.



6. I love walking on the beach, not so much swimming in the ocean. Unless it's Hawaii or the Caribbean where I can see to the bottom. But I love the smell of the beach.



7. I love to sniff stuff. Sounds weird, but i am a compulsive smeller. I smell everything. I love the smell of fresh laundry, rain, fresh cut grass, gasoline fumes (I know, I'm weird), the smell of a cigarette when it is first lit (hate the smell of smoke though), new books....especially school books or yearbooks, babies, fresh herbs, good shampoo, orange blossoms are my absolute favorite, the smell of an indoor pool, candles, flowers.....I'm sure there's more, but that's a start for smells....



8. I love my new desk in my kitchen

9. Painting, and just house projects in general

10. SHOPPING!!! I need retail therapy, it really truly does make me happy.

Things that make this Mama Happy!!!

As my first post on our Mommy blog, I thought that it would be fun to make a list of the things (besides my kids and husband) that make me happy.  I'm easily pleased and it doesn't take much to make me happy, but here's a few of my favorites in random order...

Click on green links for more information....

1. My iMac.  I've been called an Apple Snob and I don't care... my Mac is Macolicious!!!

2. The color PINK!!!

3. Hotels with Room Service.

4. The beach and sunsets... I love sunsets on the beach, but I'll take a good sunset anywhere.

5. Reality TV, Great Books and Movies...  (current favorites, Book- The Time Travelers Wife Movie - Martian Child  TV Show - Weeds  Reality Show - Real Housewives.

6. Bubble Baths (I take one every night, always have always will).

7. My Mommy Jewelry... 

top - Mothers Happy Wrap Bracelet

right - Mommy Bracelet by the Jewelry Girl

bottom - She Has Faith in Her Little Girl Necklace by Allison Strine

8.  Air Conditioned / Indoor Kiddie Play Areas with Mommy Lounges.  My new favorite is A Little Surprise in Surprise Arizona.  My kids love it too!!!

9. My little sister.

10. Red Wine... especially Merlot.

11. Mommy friends and watching our kids grow up together.  

12. Chocolate, Chocolate Ice Cream, Chocolate Cookies, Chocolate Milk, Chocolate Syrup, Chocolate Cake... you get the picture.

13. Massages.

14. Starbuck's Coffee ~ I'm a coffee snob, it has to be Starbucks!

15.   My floor washing Scooba.  His name is Stan, I love him so much that if I wasn't already married, I would marry him and we would have Scooba babies.

16. Blogging.  I love how every person, every day has a story...

17. My carpet vacuuming Roomba.  

WHAT MAKE'S YOU HAPPY????

Mr. Poo

Z went poo on the potty today at Burger King of all places. YEAH!!!!! He calls it Mr. Poo now. The other day we were sitting there FOREVER waiting for 'Mr. Poo' to come out. We made up a whole song and everything, I will spare you the lyrics.....
But it was so cute because he was just so dang proud of letting 'Mr. Poo' come out. So, we went right to Target and got new CHOO-CHOO undies. Now, we'll see if we can have a second appearance tomorrow......

This is a good prayer

Nicest Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time... Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night, is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together. Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Handstands

I did handstands today with J. (not just in the pool either) I actually did it too but......Holy crap, I'm already getting sore in places I haven't used in awhile. Oh, I tried a headstand too.....I am seriously out of shape. He thought I was super cool though, I think. Biker boy was doing them too, and cartwheels....and he tried a front handspring. I was just waiting for something to snap. His ribs are still sore from when he FRACTURED one a couple months ago trying to do 'THE WORM'. Seriously, at what point does gravity really set in?? You don't realize it's happening, but all of a sudden, there it is. Handstands aren't fun anymore, they hurt. But I figure, at least I did it, right? And my kids think I rock.

Proud Mommy

I'd love to see more photo's so I'll start. Here's K RIGHT after Kindergarten Stepping UP! :)

"I'm going Potty!"

So most of you know the Wiggles. Most of you probably know the song "Wiggly Party". "Wiggly Party, Every body's comin', snap, snap, snap, clap, clap, clap, wiggle your hips, just like that!" Well tonight at dinner K excused herself to go to the restroom. J immediately started singing this song as he hears it. "I'm going Potty!, Every body's comin', I'm going potty, snap, snap, snap . . . . " LOL! Took me a minute to get it . . .

Can you say NASTY??

So we are trying to potty train Z. He's got the big boy undies and all. He's been doing very well but he is afraid to poop on the potty. I've been trying to catch him in the act and yesterday I made it.....not so lucky today......
I seriously almost threw up it was so nasty. I had a trail of poop all over my tile....all down his legs, and you better believe those undies are in the trash. NASTY NASTY NASTY. Why is it soooo hard to poop on the toilet?? I know some of you have had this same dilemma. HELP!! I am sick of diapers. NO MORE DIAPERS.

Breast Cancer

Here is a link for a news clip talking about a different kind of 'silent' breast cancer. Good to be aware!! This form doesn't show up on mammograms and there is no lump.

http://komonews.s3.amazonaws.com/ibc/komo_ibc.wmv

Do as I say, not as I do

Okay, so I like to shop. No secret there. I am, however, very frugal. I like to get the most bang for my buck. Biker boy is constantly on me about spending. Of course I try to justify with my incredible savings!! I am saving us a TON of money on groceries with the grocery game. So, that extra money should be extra right?? Biker boy has a different theory. Anywho, J was playing on webkinz this morning and he keeps buying all these little items for his pet, and lots of them!! He keeps wanting to buy all these big items for his pet that cost a lot of Webkinz bucks. I started on this whole speech about how he needs to stop spending money on all the little stuff and save his money so he can buy the big stuff......Biker boy was sitting right next to me and gives me 'the look' and we both busted out laughing since J is just like me!! Uh-oh. I swear I can't save money!! It burns a hole in my pocket. J is exactly the same. I hope he meets someone who can keep him in line like Biker boy keeps me in line. Otherwise he's in big trouble!! I try sooo hard but I just can't do it. I've been like that ever since I got my first dollar, I just gotta spend it!!
So, we'll see if J can save some money for his pet panda.

I have regained my title

My laundry is DONE!! Done I tell you. I never thought I would climb out of that deep dark hole!! It is quite a feeling of accomplishment isn't it?? My house is clean, my laundry is done, my kids are even a little clean and....I got to go to dinner tonight with my husband and we sat and talked uninterrupted for 3 hours!! I didn't know we could talk that long still. Better yet, my mom watched the kids so I didn't even have to pay a babysitter!!! AND I even got to sit outside in this glorious weather and read a book for an hour this afternoon during naptime. Heavenly. Today was a good day.

The incredible flying Ranch

After a lovely morning watching our baby graduate Kindergarten we went to Chili's to celebrate with K's friend S and her family. We had a nice lunch and their were a lot of other families doing the same thing so kids were wondering about a little and chit chatting. K and J got Mac N' Cheese and french fries (healthy, I know) and of course had to have a side of Ranch dressing to dip the fries in. We're just about finished up eating when we hear a "Crash" over in J's vicinity. As we all look up, we all see streams of something flying thru the air. It seemed like minutes but in about two seconds we all see what's happened. J dropped his Ranch onto the floor. It didn't spill ~ it SPRAYED the patrons sitting at not one but TWO tables next to us. It sprayed the wall up six feet, it got the booth next to the floor. If it hadn't doused two people in particular, we all would have been CRACKING up but alas, we had to wait until after we offered then our "wipies" to clean them up. Ranch is good for your hair right? Lady patron first looked like she was going to lay into someone but then realizing it was a one in a million accident, just smiled and started wiping off her hair and clothing saying "I have kids". 15 year old boy patron didn't even know he was covered until I opened my big mouth. His dad thought it was hilarious as his mom cleaned him up. We left the wall, furniture and floor to be dealt with later. I'm pretty sure our picture is going up in the lobby with the caption to read "WANTED!" Going thru my pictures this morning I saw this cute one of C holding A. Notice the white dots over C's head? ... RANCH!

HA HA~

Snowchic, you are not alone

GO SNOWCHIC!! You are not alone in the land of rules. I am right there with you though, I feel like I'm the big meanie all the time because I don't let my children do whatever the heck they want. I just can't believe I'm already at the phase of "well so and so does this, or has this, or can do whatever they want" crap. Aren't they too little for that already?? Some of the stuff they are watching and hearing in Kindergarten just floors me. I just feel like we can only protect their little minds for so long before the world takes over anyway. So darn it, I'm gonna be that mean mom who "doesn't let me do anything" for as long as I can. Coming from the kid with every toy under the sun. The neighbor kids come over every single day asking if Josh can play, they are in 2nd and 3rd grade with no supervision EVER. No, he cannot come out and play unless there is an adult actually outside with you. (which I've never seen)
Every single day I wonder if I'm being unreasonable but then I remember that God gave these children to me and it is my responsibility to protect them and if I don't raise them right and be strong enough to stand up and be willing to say no, I'm not doing them any favors. And, if I can't say no to a 5 year old, what the heck am I gonna do when he's 16 and taller than me?? But it's still soooo hard.
Parenting is definitely the hardest job in the entire world.

Mommy thoughts from the Rockies

Since I am a former E Mom now living in the snow I will go by Snowchic....I loved snow as a kid in IL and then hated it most of my adult life but have become fond of it again living here in the Rockies. I just can't get enough of those mountains. Anyway I have cleaned all day and feel like I am just treading water...not getting anywhere really. Baby A is a joy but I have to train myself to get back into the "baby groove" the interuptions make it hard to get stuff done. S graduated pre-school yesterday and A rolled over. C just wanted to know "why in the world would I need to be punished when I was only 30 min late coming in the house?" Seriously I was never late even when I was a naughty teen. I might have snuck back out but by darn I was not late!! I would have hated to see what would have happend to me if I was. Sometimes I feel like I am the only Mom who has rules let alone punishes my children. I wonder what things will look like in 20 years? Will it be mayhem with this generation of kids or will it all work out? HMMM....Later...Snowchic