Thirteen Random Things About My Week 1. I have survived another week of being a work widow. I have confirmed a few things about myself. I am still afraid of the dark, and I do not enjoy being a single parent. 2. Olivia and I make a great pair. She has enjoyed Jody being gone because that means she gets to sleep in bed with me. I don't know who needs the other worse, me or her. 3. I bought The Davinci Code at a yardsale for .25 and had it read in three days. It was a very interesting book. I found it hard to put it down once I started reading. 4. I am buying some new used furniture this weekend. I am getting a round crib and two dressers. I can't wait to get them in Paxton's room and start organizing. 5. I haven't cooked much of anything since Jody's been gone. I am so tired of eating "kid food" but it's so hard to cook a big meal just for me to eat and the kids to pick at. 6. I found out a sweet deal on satellite internet for cheap in this area. Now I am working on convincing cheap Jody that we should get it. 7. I want to create a blog that better fits my personality, but it isn't going to happen with this internet connection. So I am waiting... 8. I went shopping at JCPenneys and bought 5 new shirts, a tank top and 2 packs of panties for Olivia for a total of $40. Not bad! 9. We had a horrible experience at A&W last night. I need to write the company about it. I was seriously worried if we consumed the food we would get food poisoning. Last time I checked hot dogs were supposed to be hot after you cook them. 10. I took the kids to the lake today. Paxton has never been and it's been a long time since we took Oliva. Everyone asked who we went with. Um, just us. And we had a great time dang it! 11. It cost $6 to go swimming at the lake. When we drove up we were the only ones there. I got out of the van and found a $10 lying on the ground. Woohoo! 12. After we went swimming, we stopped and got pizza which cost $5.33. We ended up having a day of fun for $1.33. 13. I'm going to my friend's house to scrapbook tomorrow. I'm planning on finishing an album for my grandma. I just hope the kids cooperate.

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Super Mom

Today we went to Taco Bell where apparently a prerequisit for employment is that you must be missing one or more of your teeth. Not the point of my story though. We were waiting for our order when Olivia cries out that her flip flop has broken. She's like, "Mommy what can I do? It's BROKEN!" I look at her. I look at the flip flop. I look at her. I have no answer. I don't know what to do. It's broken. There aren't very many options when your flip flop falls apart. But if I don't have an answer then I might just be human. And mommies aren't human- they're, well, mommies. So I stare at her and try to quickly come up with a brilliant plan that will save the day. And I did. I figured out a way to temporarily fix the flip flop so that Olivia could at least make it to the van without breaking health codes or catching some kind of foot fungus. Mommy saves the day once again. I need a cape.

Earrings

I did something today I haven't done in over six years. I wore earrings!

In my late teens, I realized that I was allergic to my earrings. My ears stayed sore when I wore them, and they always itched. The last couple years I tried different metals: stainless steel, hypoallergenic, gold, but with no luck. I had several people suggest that I try gold, and I was very disappointed when I immediately had an itchy reaction.

I talked to my mom about it and realized an important fact. My mom's allergic to gold and bad enough that she can't even wear her wedding ring. She suggested I try silver.

While I was in Salt Lake I bought a simple pair of sterling silver studs. I decided today would be a good day to try them. And they worked great! The only soreness I experienced was from poking the earrings through holes that hadn't been used in a long time.

Olivia was fascinated by the earrings. She stared at them for a while, and then proceeded to ask me all kinds of questions. Do those hurt? Do they tickle? Can you feel them? Did it hurt when you put them in? I thought it was cute. And funny that we had never had this conversation before.

Thirteen movie quotes that are repeated frequently in my family. 1. That's gonna leave a mark. -Tommy Boy 2. They're ginormous. -Elf 3. Ghost Writer the pattern is full. -Top Gun 4. Game on! -Wayne's World 5. I can't do it captain. I don't...have...the POWER! -Ace Ventura 6. Everyone, back on the boat. -Down Periscope 7. Makes me feel kind of funny, like when I climbed the rope in gym class. -Wayne's World 8. Julie do this. Julie do that. I'm a good looking spider, eh. -Fivel Goes West 9. Be gone long one. -Robin Hood 10. And you can quote him! -Ace Ventura 11. Can you bring me my chapstick? My lips hurt real bad. -Napoleon Dynamite 12. Look at the noggin on that boy. It's like an orange on a toothpick. -So I Married An Axe Murderer 13. I have nipples. Can you milk me, Focker? -Meet the Parents

get/'>http://thursdaythirteen.com">Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the game is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Ramblings

I sit in front of this blank screen and I get blogger's block. So tonight it is ramblings.

I had a list of errands to run today. I try to make sure I have a list of things to do when I run to town so it isn't a waste of gas. I totally spaced going to the pharmacy and picking up Paxton and my medicine. This is why I should write things down!
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Jody is in Memphis for a few days. For some reason the house is easier to keep clean while he's away, but it feels so empty. Olivia is excited that she gets to sleep with me for the next two nights. I'm happy that I don't have to listen to her cry because she doesn't want to sleep alone.
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I went through my file box this evening and purged the old records. All I have left is the insurance forms and doctor's bills. I got bored with the sorting so they can wait until tomorrow.
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I did some research on blepharospasm. Why can't I be normal?! And I think the consensus for treatment is Botox. Great! The one plastic surgery option I had to go on a rant about not too long ago. The idea of shooting my face up with a deadly bacteria just doesn't seem wise. But if it really works...
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I've decided I should no longer watch the nightly network news. The last time I watched the intro I almost ended up in a panic attack. It took me the rest of the evening to convince myself that I didn't need to immediately go out and purchase a year's supply of food. So for my sanity I choose to live in a state of denial.
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I got the last picture developed that I need for my grandma's scrapbook. Now I need to get the book finished and in the mail. It's not as creative as I would like, but I think she will like it anyway.
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Speaking of food storage: I found two bags of rice today that had weevils in them. Darn bugs! How am I supposed to work on a year's supply of food if bugs keep hatching in it?! I bought some bay leaves because I read that they are a deterant or something. Now I have to figure out what to do with them.
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I wish it would rain. And cool down. The heat makes me feel panic attacky. I feel like I can't breathe in it. I'm counting down the days until Fall gets here. I can't wait for cool nights, less bugs, layered outfits and being able to bake without making the house feel miserable.
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I brought a box full of books home from Salt Lake and Nebraska. There are so many good reads to choose from that I don't know where to start. Am I the only one that has this problem? It's sad when I find a big selection of good books to be disturbing.

Wordless Wednesday

What's for supper?

Yesterday I went grocery shopping and bought over a hundred dollars worth of groceries, but tonight I don't feel like cooking supper. I'm baking chocolate cookies right now. Maybe Jody would like chocolate chip cookies for supper.

We were sitting around the table eating a delicious lunch of chicken nuggets, cheese and grapes when Olivia and I had the following converstation:

Olivia: Does syrup have sugar in it?
Me: Yes
Olivia: Then yes.

Suddenly it occured to me she was quoting from the movie Elf- the part where Elf is talking about the 4 food groups in the North Pole: candy, candy corn, candy canes and syrup. Could this kid be any more funny?! I had to laugh for two reasons: 1. My child has obviously seen Elf way too many times and 2. She has picked up my family's unique ability to memorizing movie quotes. I'm assuming that's a good thing. Kids!

Another Jody-ism

I'm as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a house full of rocking chairs.

Back on the farm again

Since I last wrote, I have driven over 2400 miles. Utah was wonderful. The mountains were beautiful. I could spend days just staring at their magnificent beauty. I haven't been so busy and so tired since my college days. We had activity packed days that turned into late night chats. It was great to get back in touch with friends and family that live too far away.

I made a friend along the way. We offered a ride to members of my parent's ward since we had plenty of room. Belva Wood jumped at the opportunity since she had business to take care of in Provo and had been searching for a way to get there. We talked for hours on end about everything under the sun. There are so many little things that you would never know about people unless you spent way too much time cooped up in a car together. I found so much strength in her story and I will always treasure the time we spent together.

Likewise, on the way home I picked up another passenger Katie. Now that I think about it, I never learned her last name. She is the best friend of my BIL's mother. She sings in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a sort of rock star by my LDS standards. She didn't seem to mind my endless questions about how the choir worked and even provided us with a little in drive amusement when we would hear her snores from the back seat.

Yesterday, the kids and I made our way back to Arkansas. It is so good to be home. The quiet can be deafening at times. There just aren't enough kids running around and fighting here. I imagine in a day or two Olivia and Paxton will be bored out of their minds. Right now Mamaw and Papaw are good sources of amusement.

Today I had to run to the store and get some groceries. The fridge was bare when we got home. And then there was the mountain of unpacking to do. Jody lovingly warned me about the pile of laundry he had waiting for me. It's washed and dried, just not folded. Doesn't he know how much I dislike folding clothes? Or cleaning the bathroom for that matter? At least the livingroom and kitchen were emaculate. Maybe some of that training is sinking in...

On the road again

We are getting ready to go to Salt Lake City tomorrow. I haven't been back since October of 2000. I am so excited to see the mountains, to see my family, to see my friends.

I can't help but think back to nine years ago when I found out I had been accepted to BYU. I hadn't been to Utah since I was 10 years old but the idea of BYU felt safe to me. I knew it was time to leave home and spread my wings. I spent the summer working to save money for my freshman year of college.

I can still remember the way I felt when we drove over the Rocky Mountains, and I caught my first glimps of the valley. I remember how big it looked and how I suddenly felt scared. What had I gotten myself into? I didn't even know my family that lived there. I didn't know anything about BYU. I didn't know where I was.

My parents raised us to be independent. If it wasn't for that, I don't know if I could would have made it. I remember standing outside my grandma's house and telling my mom goodbye. She gave me $20 for food and said we'd be in touch. Man that feels so long ago.

Going to BYU was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. When I think back to my time there I feel a kind of homesickness. I miss my friends, the atmosphere and the carefree years I spent there. Now I am so grown up with bills that need to paid and kids that need my constant attention. When did I grow up? Was it really so long ago...

Why I don't make plans...

I went to a CM meeting last night. While I was there a woman said the quote "If you want to hear God laugh, make plans". This could be the moto of my life. Take today for instance:

My sister Anna called to see if I wanted to take the kids to the zoo (we had planned on going on Monday but the weather was bad). Anna has a zoo pass so she can get us in for free. She had a dentist appointment, and then she was going to get us into the zoo and then go home. While she was on the way, my other sister Sendai called to see what we were doing today. I told her we were going to the zoo, and she decided to take her kids too. She also has a zoo pass so we figured between both passes we could get everyone in for free.

Anna called after her appointment to see if I just wanted to meet at the zoo. I told her Sendai was coming but wasn't here yet so she should meet me at the house. Then Sendai called and asked what I was doing. I told her I was waiting for Anna to get here. She said they were headed out the door when she discovered that her daughter Soraya had stuck a rock up her nose and she couldn't get it out. She wanted me to watch the kids while she ran Soraya to the medical clinic.

So she brought the kids over. Anna hung around for a while until it was obvious that we weren't going to be able to make it to the zoo. About five minutes after Anna left, Sendai called and said that on her last attempt before medical intervention, Soraya was able to dislodge the rock by blowing it out. They had to stop at Target to get a toy for Soraya being well behaved a tthe clinic, and then they would be back back.

So you see, this is why I don't make plans. I make generalizations about what I would like to accomplish or do in the near future. It's safer that way. And there is less disappointment. A sense of humor helps too. After all, who wouldn't laugh about a kid with a rock stuck up her nose.

A Poem

Maya Angelou is one of my favorite poets. When I read her poems I can hear her saying the words. I first read the poem Phenomenal Woman when I was a senior in highschool. I love the words and I love the rhythym of the poem.

Phenomenal Woman


Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelou

Wordless Wednesday

Omaha Children's Museum

My mom and I took the kids to the Omaha Children's Museum. I don't know who had more fun, me or the kids.










Paxton loved the John Deere tractor. That boy is country!











Olivia and my little sisters loved the Baker's grocery store. They had a blast shopping and checking out. Hopefully they have that kind of enthusiasm when they are 16 and looking for a summer job. The museum has a special dinosaur exhibit right now that has life size moving dinosaurs. I personally thought they were a little scary. Olivia was fascinated with the nest full of recently hatched dinosaur babies.
I had to get a picture of her standing there staring at them.










You can see my mom holding Paxton and my two little sisters by Olivia. I think we all had a great time. I wonder who is more excited to go back again?

That's my girl

Olivia at the parade in Logan, Iowa on the 4th of July. Tell me she's not stylin'!

Thirteen Things About My Week 1. I had a great 4th of July. We had some of Pa's famous bbq spare ribs and shot off about 3 hours worth of fireworks. No one was injured and everyone had a great time. It made for a great holiday in my book. 2. Paxton gobbled up a ton of Arkansas' famous Cave City watermelon last night and even signed for more. I've been signing for the boy since he was 4 months old so it's nice to see the work finally pay off. 3. Today I took the kids to a waterpark and the Omaha Children's Museum. I was impressed with both. 4. I need a new swimsuit. I thought the one I had was okay until I saw a picture of myself in it. Let's just say it wasn't as flattering as I had hoped. My older sister is assisting me in my quest. So far it has involved purchasing 5 swimsuits from local thrift stores. Sadly, only one actually fit. 5. You would think that if you wore the kids out by keeping them busy all day, they would go to sleep easily. This was not the case tonight. 6. My mom is hosting a Get Together tomorrow night. I'm hoping to make at least $50 in sales which would double the amount I made at the last two Get Togethers I held combined. Sad, I know. 7. Yes Pa, we know tomorrow is trash day. 8. I went to three yardsales today. I found some baby girl clothes to resale and a John Deere keychain for Jody. The girls tried to talk me into buying some worthless junk. I was not easily persuaded. I told them to find something worth paying for and I'd be happy to buy it for them. They weren't too happy about it. 9. Pa brought me home a jr. banana split with chocolate and caramel from Sonic. It was delish! I hope he gets me one again sometime soon (hint, hint). 10. Pa and the missionaries went to Home Teach a man from church. Apparently he has a big hairy dog because they had to come by the house and vacuum their clothes before going to their next appointment. It was an amusing sight to see. 11. I grew up to believe that taking out trash was a man chore. My dad doesn't remember teaching us that childhood lesson. 12. I helped my older sister move some furniture today. We managed to do it without getting injured. If you knew me or my sister, you would know that that is a big accomplishment. 13. When Olivia talks to Jody on the phone, she has a tendency to have a fatigue-induced breakdown. It breaks the poor man's heart. Honest, Jody, she really is having fun here.

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Wordless Wednesday

Thirteen Reasons I Go to Nebraska for the 4th of July 1. I grew up on an Air Force base where we weren't allowed to do fireworks. The military put on a pretty good show every year and that was it. 2. When we moved to the farm we got to experiment with shooting off our own fireworks. We spent about $20 and had a good time putting on our own little show. 3. The first 4th of July after we moved to Nebraska, we were ready to party with our $20 sack of fireworks. 4. Little did we know that the city would turn into a virtual war zone at dusk with fireworks going off everywhere. 5. And I'm not talking the cheap little fireworks. I'm talking fireworks that are a hundred dollars a pop. 6. I can still remember the shock and amazement I felt watching the fireworks from the top of a hill near my parent's home. 7. A haze actually hung over the city by the end of the night from all the smoke. 8. The next year we were much better prepared. 9. I think my brother is on a first name basis with the owners of a fireworks outlet store in Missouri. Yes, he's a pyro and has bought that many fireworks. 10. The only 4th of July I've missed since my family moved to Nebraska is when Olivia was born. Celebrating the 4th of July in Arkansas will never be the same. 11. The 4th is a day long event at my parent's house. The guys blow up lady fingers and such until night fall and then the real fun begins. 12. Let's just say we spend a little more then $20 on fireworks these days. 13. I can't wait until the 4th of July is here!!!

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No voice

I no longer have a voice and I don't mean in the political sense. It started to go on Monday after I talked to my friend on the phone for almost an hour. I had a little bit of one yesterday- enough to get the kid's attention if I needed to. Today I have nothing. All that comes out is a high-pitched squeaky sound. I feel like I'm trapped in my own body. Yesterday Paxton had gunk in his eye. Now it's in both eyes. I have no idea how I'm going to call the doctor. What do you do when you can't speak? Yesterday Olivia served as my interpretor on several occasions. I don't think it will work for this though. I'm supposed to leave for my parent's tomorrow. I was supposed to leave yesterday. Things are not going in my favor at all.

Plans

I cannot plan anything, A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G. It's an inherited family trait. It's actually a family joke. We know not to make plans or things will happen. They always do.

I am (was) planning on leaving on Tuesday for our biannual journey to Nebraska. The kids and I will be gone for about a month and a half so I have a ton of things to get done before we leave. Thursday Olivia came home from MIL's house with a hoarse voice. Friday she laid around quite a bit. Friday afternoon I started not feeling so hot. Friday night and this morning I felt down right awful and spent a good chunk of the day in bed. Apparently we caught the nasty cold or flu that Jody had.

I do not need this right now. I have too much to do to be laying around all day. It looks like our trip may be postponed a few days. We don't need to share our germs with family up north. Hopefully this is a quick bug and we get on the mend quickly. Hopefully. But I'm not making plans.

Happy Birthday Olivia

Happy 4th Birthday my sweet little Olivia!

To my baby girl,
I can't believe you are 4 years old today. Where has the time gone?! I can't believe how much you have grown and changed over these 4 years. I treasure the day you came into our lives. I am a better person because of you. You've taught me things about strength and honesty and love that I have never known before. I love to look into your big green eyes and give you cuddles. I love to watch you run, jump and play. I love to watch you learn new things. I have so many dreams for your future. I hope you are strong and happy and independent and loved. And I hope you have a wonderful 4th birthday.

Love,
Mommy

Thirteen Things I Need to do Before I leave for Nebraska 1. Get Olivia's hair cut. 2. Pay bills. 3. Put in my CM order. 4. Laundry, laundry and more laundry. 5. Pack bags. 6. Vacuum and wash the van. 7. Pick up check from consignment store. 8. Go grocery shopping for snacks. 9. Mail packages. 10. Fill out family group sheet for mom. 11. Preen the garden. 12. Gather and pack scrapbooking stuff. 13. Load van.

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Wordless Wednesday

Happy Father's Day

First of all: Happy Father's Day, Pa! I wish I could be there to celebrate but a lousy blog entry will have to do.

Second of all: I basically had two options today. Ignore Father's Day like my husband did for Mother's Day or buy him gifts and go the guilt trip route. I chose option 2. Jody's been needing some new clothes that are church worthy and a new pair of shoes. This seemed like a good opportunity to buy them and use it to my advantage. We planned on having steaks for dinner and inviting the ILs. I bought a french silk pie for dessert because I know Jody's been wanting one. The first thing Jody asked is why I got him stuff for FD when he didn't get me anythingfor MD. I told him it wasn't from me, it was from the kids, and that I wanted to teach him how to celebrate a sentimental holiday correctly. Maybe it sunk in a little bit. I guess I'll find out in a little less then a year.

Olivia's Birthday Party

Olivia the Princess




















The cake

















Paxton playing on the Slip n' Slide

















Olivia's birthday party turned out to be a huge success. It rained Saturday morning but eased up just in time for the party. The kids got to play in the rain for a little while, but they didn't seem to mind. The Slip n' Slide was a blast and made for great pictures. Olivia's friend James provided great entertainment when he whipped out his boyhood in the middle of the yard and proceeded to pee. Later on he had a few streaking incidents too. It was hilarious (although his mom was a tad embarassed). Olivia couldn't wait to eat her birthday cake. She blew her candles out so quickly I didn't even get a picture. She got lots of great presents. She got 4 new dresses and lots of craft supplies. Overall, I think Olivia had a great party. She's already talking about her Dora party next year.

Let the countdown begin...

There are two days left until Olivia's birthday party and it's crunch time. I was planning a small, easy affair with Olivia's friends but it's grown a little larger then that. MIL is turning it into a family reunion.
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Yesterday I got the girl's skirts finished. Thanks Ma for helping me figure out how to sew them. I hope the girls like them.
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Today I went grocery shopping for the food. As I was standing in the checkout line with half of my items on the conveyor belt I realized I forgot napkins and silverware. Hopefully we can scrounge enough forks up around here or people will just have to eat the baked beans with their fingers.
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Tomorrow we are making the cake. My friend and I are attempting to make a Barbie birthday cake which involves baking a cake in a bowl for the skirt. I have to make another 8 in. cake to put under that cake for height. I just hope we can make this work. I want to make the cake tomorrow just incase we royally screw it up we can run to town and get something else.
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I need to wrap presents. There were a few other things I wanted to get Olivia but I don't know it I'll have time. I was hoping Jody and I could go shopping together but seeing how he isn't talking to me right now, I don't see that happening.
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The weatherman is now calling for a 40% chance of rain on Saturday too. Two days ago the forecast was saying it was going to be clear. I'm praying it doesn't rain because we are all not going to fit into my IL's house.
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I ordered party favors from Oriental Trading Company. When I ordered the supplies the invoice said they should be here on the 16th. When I track the order it says they should be here on the 17th. Here's hoping the package gets here tomorrow or before 10 on Saturday.

Thirteen Ramblings of a Pissed-off Housewife 1. Why am I the only one that sees dishes need to be done. 2. Why am I the only one that knows Paxton needs to take his medicine before bed. 3. Why am I the only one that knows we need to go grocery shopping. 4. Why am I the only one that knows the trash is full. 5. Why am I the only one that there is food smashed all over the carpet and it needs to be vacuumed. 6. Why am I the only one that knows the bills need to be paid. 7. Why am I the only one that knows when the kids need a bath. 8. Why am I the only one that knows the garden needs to be watered. 9. Why am I the only one that knows the laundry needs to be washed... 10. ...and folded 11. ...and put away. 12. Why am I the only one that knows when Paxton needs a diaper change. 13. Why am I the only one that knows WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS HOUSE!!!

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Wordless Wednesday

Happy Anniversary

Happy 6th Anniversary Jody!!

Can you believe it's been six years already? Where does the time go? Yet it seems like we've been together forever. This is just where we hoped we would be someday. You, me, a couple of kids in our little love shack. I love you more everyday. I wouldn't trade my life with you for the world. Here's to a million more happy memories!

The eagle has landed

I now have 5 pounds of snow crab in my possession. Good job me!

Enough to Gag a Magot

MIL brought Olivia home because she wanted to play outside in the sprinkler. We went outside to set up the sprinkler when I notice a big hairy tyrantula in the yard. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! What does MIL do but go over and step on it. WTH is she thinking?! Doesn't she know there is some kind of rule that you can't step on tyrantulas. They're too big and too hairy. Gross! So now there is a giant tyrantula corpse laying in my yard. It's enough to gag a magot.

Crab Hunting

Tomorrow is our 6 year anniversary. We used to go on our annual trip to Red Lobster to celebrate until I found out that something in their food gives me headaches. My sister said it could be a metaphor for marriage. It starts out really great and all you end up with is a big ole headache.

So now we've started buying snow crab legs and cooking up our own little feast. There are only two places I know of around here that you can get crab legs- Floyd's Meat Market and Big Bayou Smokehouse. I tried to call Big Bayou first since it is the closest to us. Unfortunately the call was met with an 'I'm sorry that number is no longer in service' message. No such luck there.

Floyd's Meat Market has been around for quite some time. It's where my parents would buy the snow crab and shrimp for our traditional Christmas supper every year while we stationed at LRAFB. They've moved shop a couple of times but it was no problem finding their phone number on the internet. Thank you Yahoo! Yellow Pages.

I called Floyd's and they confirmed that they had crab legs and that they looked good. Ok, great, I'll see you in a little while. Unfortunately Floyd's is in Sherwood which means a 45 minute drive on a good traffic day.

While we were down that way, I decided to make a stop at the mall and exchange a pair of underwear at VS that were the wrong size (too small, not that you needed to know). Olivia was so excited to go to the mall because she loves the escalators so I promised her we could go up and down them a few times. We also stopped at Gymboree since they were having a buy two get one free sale- you know me and free stuff- and we ended up getting Olivia two dresses and a skirt for a total of $20.69.

So I make my way over to Floyd's Meat Market. I go in and ask for 4 pounds of snow crab legs. The guy looks at me funny and goes to get some out of the case. When he comes back he tells me they only have a pound left. But I called this morning and you had some. Well a man came in about 5 minutes ago and bought the last 15 pounds we had. Damn escalator rides. If only I had been a little earlier. Apparently there's been some kind of run on snow crab today. They've gotten three calls this morning for that specific product. Great! And just in time for our anniversary. They say they are supposed to get more crab in the morning. They want me to call and let them know if I want some. Because calling has been so effective thus far. *sigh*

I stopped at Kroger on the way home hoping they might have an unknown seafood selection that I didn't know about. All they had was the boxed stuff that is overpriced and not too tasty. So I came home and made the call to Floyd's to let them know I'm coming for crab legs tomorrow and I want 5 pounds. Do you want my name? No, we should have plenty. Yeah, that's what I thought before. Crab hunting is hard work.

I put a call into my eye doctor's office because I've been having nothing but problems with the new contacts he prescribed to me back in December. My eyes hurt whenever I wear them and I want to switch back to my old brand. I talked to the receptionist lady and told her my concerns. She said she needed to talk to the doctor and he or she would call me back. It would be a few minutes though because he was in with a patient. Well it's been over two hours and still no call back. Is it unreasonable to ask that they be prompt? Do I have nothing better to do then sit by the phone all day waiting for a call? I just find it frustrating. It's the same thing when you call the doctor's office. I call because I have a real, legitimate concern and sometimes it takes hours to hear back. Nothing like waiting 4 hours for a call, they call 30 minutes before the office closes and say, your child should really be seen today. You should take him to the ER. Uh, that's what I was trying to avoid by calling you 4 hours ago!!! Take a deep breath.

Wanna go shopping?

I went shopping with a friend of mine this evening. Our husbands both had plans, and we didn't feel like sitting at home by ourselves, so we decided to get together and have a little fun. We went to two stores and took the kids to Sonic for supper. I ended up buying 2 shirts, a skirt, a cami and a sweater. I've been needing some new outfits for church and just happened to find some cute, good deals on the sales racks. I also got Jody a new dress shirt for church. I hope he likes the colors. For not caring much for clothing, the man can sure be picky. I'm so proud of myself for getting some new clothes. Between the guilt I get for spending money and being cheap, I usually don't buy anything for myself. And the best part is - I'm going to look so cute tomorrow!

A Good Read

I finished a great novel by Richard Paul Evans called The Locket (thanks Ma!). I've read a couple other books that he has written and they are good, quick reads. This book was no different. It involves two really sweet love stories and second chances. I would definitely recommend it to a friend.

I have this problem. When I get a good book to read I can't put it down. I don't want to sleep. I don't want to eat. And I don't want to clean house. So I try to limit the number of good books I have lying around the house. Isn't that sad?! Luckily I read quickly and can finish a book in a day or two. You should see the house when a new Harry Potter book comes out. Those take a little longer to finish. By the time I get to the end of the book, my house looks like a bomb went off. It's worth it though. So, anyone have any recommendations on good books?

Thirteen Reasons I'm Scared to Have Another Baby 1. My sister calls it Third Baby Syndrome. You have two healthy kids and you don't want to tempt fate by having another baby because you've been so lucky. I have Third Baby Syndrome. 2. I've never worried about money until this past year. Do we really have enough income to provide for a bigger family? Will we be able to give the kids everything they need and mayby a little more? 3. Our house is little. And another kid would fit where? (Although I was very reassured a few weeks ago while watching Buster on PBS when there were 5 kids sharing one room in a little trailer. Suddenly my house didn't seem so small.) 4. If we have another baby we will be outnumbered 3:2. The odds won't be in our favor, and that in itself is scary. 5. Do I have enough energy to have another baby? The two I have wear me out. What will adding another one to the mix do? 6. Do I have enough patience for another baby? Starting over is so scary. I get in my groove, and I don't take change well. 7. In the last year I've known of one baby being born with severe birth defects and dying, 2 stillbirths, countless miscarriages, a tubal pregnancy, one SIDS death, a mother dying from hemmorage and a pregnant mom being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. If that doesn't give you a reality check, I don't know what will. 8. How will the kids handle another baby? Will they love it and play with it and be happy with an addition to the family? Will I be able to give each of the kids the attention they need and deserve? 9. What will happen to my body this time? Between saggy boobs, hemmrhoids and stretch marks, how much more damage will be done? 10. Poor Jody. All I have to do is mention another baby and his face turns a pastey white. 11. I do a lot of traveling. Traveling with three will be a lot more challenging physically and mentally. 12. Suddenly the physical risks of having a baby are so much higher. If something should happen to me, the stakes are higher. I have a husband and two children who depend on me. 13. Three kids may be all we have. I don't know if I'm ready to be done yet. My entire life, all I've wanted to be is a mother and have babies. I'm just not ready for that phase of my life to be over.

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Wordless Wednesday

The Ozark Folk Center

Lately Jody has acquired a great deal of interest in blacksmithing. He mentioned that he would like to go to the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View because they have a working blacksmith shop that you can visit. We did a little internet research on the Ozark Folk Center last night and found out they were going to be open on Memorial day so we decided to take the kids and go on a mini-vacation.

The drive was only about an hour and a half one way. Thanks to the portable DVD player and some yummy snacks, the kids were in good spirits for the ride. We arrived at the OFC just in time for village to open.

The village consists of little shops spread over the beautiful backdrop of the Ozark Mountains. Each shop contains a craftsman of a particular trade. They had lye soap making, candle making, musical instruments, country kitchen cooking, quilting, a cooper, pottery, a knife maker, blacksmithing and many more. You can go into each shop (that is air-conditioned I might add) and watch the craftsman work. They tell you about their trade and answer questions.

I sent Jody to the blacksmith shop first thing. I know that's why he wanted to go, and I wanted him to get his fill before the kids got restless. Luckily, the kids love being outdoors so we wandered around the grounds while Jody talked to the blacksmith. We went to the swimgs where a sweet man named Bill and his mule Rosie took the kids and I for a ride around the carousel. By the time we finished with that and wandered around a little more, Jody was finished.

We went around to various other shops until the kids were too tired and grumpy to continue. We headed back to the van and stopped by Subway for a bite to eat before the long ride home. I have to admit, I was a little worn out too. I was glad Jody was driving and snuck in a little catnap for myself.

The Ozark Folk Center turned out to be a great mini-vacation. Jody and I would like to go back again, preferably without kids, and spend a day wandering around and taking in all there is to learn. It is fascinating seeing how things were done in the not-so-distant past, and it is a fascination that Jody and I both share.

Perfect

I think we all have one of those friends. She seems like the perfect wife and mother. She sews. She's crafty. She makes furniture with power tools. Her house is beautifully decorated and always tidy. She has a big family and her kids are happy and beautiful and well-mannered. She's the mom we all secretly want to be. We idolize her and think if only I could be as great a woman as she is.

I have a friend like that. She has six of the cutest kids. She has a great relationship with her husband and her extended family. She has beautiful, creative scrapbooks. She even made and stained a headboard for her bedroom. She's the kind of mom I want to be. She is the perfect homemaker.

One day I had to go to her house unexpectedly to pick something up. I had to laugh when I got there. On her loveseat in the livingroom was about six loads of laundry that needed to be folded. Maybe we weren't so different. I had a similar pile of laundry to be folded at my house too.

One day at church a group of us women were talking about cooking. My friend confessed that she didn't bake. She made everything if the microwave. I was shocked. She didn't bake. But she was the perfect homemaker!

It's funny how as woman we compare ourselves to each other. There is always someone who seems to be more pretty, more creative, more together. But we are more alike then we give ourselves credit for. We have the same struggles, the same hopes, the same desires. We need to change our image of perfection for it may be looking at us in the mirror.

Thirteen Jody-isms 1. Working harder than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest 2. Wilder than a one-eyed rattlesnake 3. Hotter than spit on a hot tin roof 4. Wilder than a buck deer 5. As worthless as tits on a boar hog 6. Hotter than a witch's tits in a brass bra 7. I gotta get back to my rat killin' 8. Hotter than cat's piss 9. Colder than a well digger's butt 10. I don't give a rat's ass 11. Up shit creek without a paddle 12. Knee high to a grasshopper 13. That'll be confidential Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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Wordless Wednesday

Can someone please explain to me why, when the cost of a barrel of oil goes up a dollar or two, the price at the pump jumps $.20 in a matter of hours, but when the price of crude oil goes down a dollar or two, it takes weeks to see a significant change at the pump. Why is this not considered price gouging?! Where is our goverment during all of this? It infuriates me!!

Okay...rant over.

Allergies

I've never really had a problem with allergies. I would get occasional headaches that I equated to allergies but nothing major. This year is wreaking havoc on me. My nose burns like it is on fire, and it won't quit running. I feel cruddy. I feel sorry for people who suffer with this all the time. Since I live in the country in the middle of the woods, there is no telling what the trigger is. I would love to take a Benadryl and sleep until allergy season is over. That is what would happen if I took a Benadryl. It knocks me out for hours. If I take Sudafed, I feel like I am on speed (not that I've ever taken speed, but if I did, I think that must be what it feels like). So I sit here and suffer. I can't wait until bed time, when me and my little pink and white pill can drift into blissful slumber. Benadryl, take me away!

Thirteen Things I am Afraid Of 1. Heights. 2. Tight places. 3. The dark. 4. Being alone. 5. Flying. 6. Rollercoasters. 7. Amusement parks rides. 8. Being put under for surgery. 9. The dentist. 10. Losing my children. 11. Losing a family member or friend. 12. Bugs and spiders. 13. Tornadoes. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the game is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Wordless Wednesday

One More Day

I had a Get Together tonight. On the way home I was listening to Delilah on the radio. What can I say, I'm a sucker for sappy love songs. She played the song One More Day by Diamond Rio. It got me thinking, as sappy love songs often do, if something happened to me or my children, would they know how much I loved them? Did I take the time today to give them the attention they deserve? Did I hug them enough? Would I regret anything? Would they have happy memories?

I try to be very conscious of the decisions I make as a mother. I try to think about how my actions, reactions and words will effect my children. I am constantly analyzing how to handle situations, which words to use, how to explain things the best way. I'm sure many times I over-analyze what I should do or say. But I don't want to have any regrets. I feel like sometimes I only have one chance to get it right. And I don't want to screw it up. I just want to be a good mom.

I'm too tired to be a mom today. I'm going to call in sick. Paxton was up half the night again last night. I don't know why. All I know is he was up and now I'm tired. I didn't want to get up this morning. But apparently the ice maker is turned off, and there isn't any ice in the freezer. Olivia insisted that I get up and get her some ice for ice water. Where I was supposed to get the ice from I do not know. And of course once you're up the kids want to eat breakfast. I was too tired to cook breakfast. I thus declare a day of fasting. My declaration was vetoed by the little ones. So I made donuts. The donuts were warm and cinnamonny and filling. They maked me miss my nice warm, cozy bed. A friend once told me that being a mom would be the hardest and most rewarding things I've ever done. I should have listened to her warning. There is never a day off. No sick days. No vacations. Every night I pray for patience and strength. Heaven knows I need all the help I can get. I love my kids but man I'm tired.

A day of Junkin'

In the little city of Beebe, AR there is an outdoor flea market (called a swap meet in other states)on Saturday mornings. There are regulars that have booths and set up every weekend. They sale all sorts of things ranging from plants, salvage groceries, produce, lawn equipment, food, etc. Then there are people who are looking to get rid of junk laying around the house or are out to make a few dollars.

Jody collects junk from yard sales and auctions and sets up on occasion. He has a fun time doing it, and it's great supplemental income. Back in the day (before we had kids) I would set up at the market with him and sale baby clothes. I prefer to go in the spring and the fall, before it is too hot or to cold.

This morning I got to go for the first time in quite a while. I had a couple of tubs of baby clothes in my shed that I needed to get rid of and MIL offered to watch the kids. Sounded like a good deal to me.

A sign that you are a hard core junker is when you get up at 4:15am in order to get to the market for the best deals. Jody is a hard core junker. And because I am the spouse of a hard core junker, I had to get up at 4:15am too. This is not as easy task when you are sleep deprived and incredibly tired. The thunderstorm that rolled through right before we had to get up didn't help matters either.

After the rain passed through it turned out to be a beautiful day. The rain kept a lot of sellers at home which made business good for us. People were out to buy today. Gas prices are dropping and you'd be amazed at how that effects sales. I ended up selling a good portion of my baby clothes. I made a little over $30, not bad considering I didn't charge over a dollar for anything. Jody did even better. But he has a gift for this kind of thing. I don't call him a hard core junker for no reason.

It's been an emotional couple of days. Today little Travis Leo was laid to rest. My thoughts have been with him and his family. I can't even begin to imagine what they have been through. I pray that they will find a little bit of peace in all of this.

My thoughts have also been with my friend Danae, who will soon be celebrating the one year anniversary of the birth and death of their son Jeffrey. His short life has had such a deep impact on me. I pray that Danae will have the strength to endure this coming month.

I haven't been sleeping well. Between all these thoughts running through my head and fussy kids, I feel drained. There seems to be such sadness all around me. I try not to think-to just turn it all off. But I can't.

It's times like this when I rely on my faith to get me through. Families are forever. That faith gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Without that faith I don't know if I could go on. I don't know if I would want to go on. In it I find my strength.

Thirteen Reasons I Couldn't Sleep Last Night 1. Jody snoring. 2. It was too cold. 3. It was too hot. 4. I couldn't get comfortable. 5. Thinking about Kate and how bad this all sucks. 6. Thinking about baby Jeffrey and the one year anniversary of his birth and death. 7. Wishing I could quit thinking. 8. Olivia sleep talking and sleep yelling. 9. Olivia climbing into bed with us. 10. Paxton fussing. 11. Paxton refusing to sleep in his bed. 12. Paxton playing in our bed until 5 in the morning. 13. Jody getting up for work and 4:45. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Wordless Wednesday

Why? That is the thought that keeps going through my head. Why must one family go through so much pain? To lose one child is bad enough, a pain that I can't bear to imagine, but to lose two...why? My heart aches for my friend. I wish I could take away some of the pain. I wish there was a way to make the hurt go away. But all I can do is pray. Please Heavenly Father help us understand why.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things To Do When It's Raining 1. Sleep. 2. Call the power company when the power goes out. 3. Eat breakfast by candlelight. 4. Take a picture of the river running across my driveway. 5. Try to amuse the kids until the power comes back on. 6. Call MIL to come get the kids. 7. Play on the internet. 8. Watch the FedEx guy try to get up the river-of-a-driveway. 9. Bake cookies. 10. Call a friend. 11. Watch a movie 12. Make mad passionate love. 13. Did I mention sleep? Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Wordless Wednesday

You're Special

Olivia: Daddy, you're special.
Jody: That's what people have told me my whole life.

HIPPY Graduation

Olivia graduated from HIPPY yesterday. They had a cute little ceremony for all the kids. We bought her a HIPPY shirt to wear to the ceremony, and they had red graduation caps for the kids to wear. Olivia was the first one called to the front, and she went all by herself. I can't believe how grown-up she looked. She got a certificate, a metal and a folder full of goodies. This has been a great experience for her and for me. Everyone warned me that they grow up too fast. They weren't kidding! Congratulations my sweet baby girl!

What will you fill your inner vessel with?

I had the opportunity to go the Stake Relief Society Spring Fling today. I almost didn't go. I had plenty of excuses not to, but I decided I had many more reasons why I should. I came away feeling at peace and ready to be a better wife, mother and daughter of God. I have a greater appreciation for the Savior and what he did for me. The highlight for me was the key note speaker. I forget his name but his message was inspiring. I have some great new ideas on how to better raise my children to know that they have a Heavenly Father that loves them and that they can return to live with Him someday. We don't have to be perfect. That is an eternal goal. But we can try to live a good life and do the best we can. My goal is to keep the Spirit that I felt today in my home so my family can feel the love and peace the gospel brings everyday.

Thirteen Things That Happened This Week 1. I went grocery shopping for the first time in three weeks. 2. I planted petunias in my pot and along the fence. 3. We got half of our garden planted. 4. I got my first tick of the season. 5. I talked to my friend who is serving in Iraq. 6. We invited some friends over for a bbq and had a great time. 7. Jody brought pizza home for dinner. 8. Olivia decided it was okay to take showers. 9. The whipporwils started singing at night. 10. I found out Julie had her baby and everything was okay. 11. I finished sewing Olivia's skirt. 12. FIL says Paxton started saying 'water'. 13. The kids woke up at 6:30am everyday. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Ouch!

Jody was napping on the couch Monday evening. Olivia jumped on him and knocked him on the head. When he got home from work on Tuesday I realized he had a shiner. Apparently Olivia knocked him in the eye. He said he could feel it swelling shut that night. Poor guy! I bet he got some slack about that at work. Jody got beat up by a girl!

Wordless Wednesday

The Illusion

I hate what the media is doing to our world. Our wants, needs and desires are all based on illusions that are made up for us. How skinny we are, the right clothes, the perfect hair do...none of it really matters. It's all based on perceptions. A perception that is constantly changing. How did we get roped into it? Is it part of the mob mentality that causes groups to act out in a crazed fashion because everyone is doing it and we're caught up in the moment? We are smart. We are intelligent. We are wise. But we allow it to be put in our head that with the right purse and sunglasses we are somehow a better person. How dare someone tell me I am not beautiful! This is the way my Heavenly Father made me. How dare the world tell my little girl that she isn't perfect just the way she is! She is a beauiful creation of our Father in Heaven. I want her to grow up to be a strong person. A person unaffected by the illusion that the world wants her to buy into.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Sarah 1. John Grisham is my favorite author. 2. I went to a Gifted and Talented school from 5th-8th grade until my family moved. 3. We have four pigs, one of which I hope to one day eat. 4. Jody bought a tiller from a man at work today. 5. We are putting in our garden this weekend! 6. My grandma owns a nursery, but I did not inherit a green thumb. 7. I'm afraid of the dark. 8. I have 2 brothers and 4 sisters ranging in age from 2 to 30 years old. 9. I once found a tyrantula on my stove-top. 10. I am left-handed. 11. One of our family traditions is to have snow-crab for Christmas dinner. 12. I don't have a favorite color- never have. 13. I'm supposed to be listing items for eBay right now. Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday

Country girl

You know you have a country girl when you tell her to sit down and finish eating and she says, "I don't want anymore. Feed the rest to the pigs". I hope that isn't an indication of my cooking skills.

I resign myself...

I resign myself to the fact that:
*I will never get caught up on laundry
*It is impossible to keep my house clean with little kids at home
*My husband is not, or ever will be, a hopeless romantic
*I may never find the lost tv remote
*My house will never be big enough
*As hard as I try, I can't protect my kids from the world

Easter Sunday

The Easter Cantata was beautiful minus the 18 month old sitting next to me making a horrible screeching sound. Half way through the performance I began to question why I even tried to go. We ended up listening to the second half in the lobby. It was beautiful music none the less.

I realized before we left for the performance that in my lack of Easter enthusiasm I didn't purchase any plastic eggs to hide for the kids. It took three stores to find some. When we got home I had to do some last minute finishing touches on Olivia's dress. I got the kids to bed and switched to Easter bunny mode.

We somehow managed to sleep in this morning. I looked up at the clock and saw that it was 7:40. We have to leave the house be 8:35 to get to church on time. I jumped into the shower before the kids got up. Olivia, Paxton and Jody all found their baskets (Jody with a little prodding) and the kids found all their eggs. We got ready for church in record time and managed to get there in time for the sacrament hymn.

I must brag and say how cute Olivia was in her dress. She calls it her ballerina dress and had to hop and dance everywhere she went. We took some pictures outside when we got home from church. Please excuse my hair. I didn't have time to fix it pretty.

Olivia in her dress:

















The kids and me:




















Our happy family:

I've had a hard time getting into Easter this year. It seems like none of the celebrations actually have to do with the atonement and resurrection of our Savior. We went the store to pick up a few little things for the kid's Easter baskets, and there wasn't a single on the Easter aisle that had to do with Jesus. It makes me sad. I think we are jipping ourselves and our children by not really teaching them what this holiday is about. Tonight we are going to listen to an Easter Cantata at church. I can't wait to go and celebrate the most important event in history and feel the love and peace that knowledge brings.

A hard working man

Jody has the next 5 days off work. Anyone that knows Jody knows that just because he isn't at work doesn't mean he isn't finding a way to make some money. Yesterday he hauled off a load of scrapmetal that's been sitting on our trailer for a month. He invited Paxton and me to go because he thought Paxton might like to see the tractors.

We took the load to Tenenbaum's in NLR. We had to take FILs truck to pull the heavy load. I think it's the first time Paxton rode in the pick-up on the road and he enjoyed the great view.

If you can ignore the smell, Tenebaum's is a facinating place to go. They have a giant machine that basically eats metal and grinds it up into little pieces. It's fun watching the machine that Jody's dubbed "The Claw" grab the metal off the trailer and put it on the conveyor belt to be eaten.

The first time we went to Tenebaum's we didn't know what to expect. Hard hats are required so we had to use some that they had. Now that Jody is a "professional" scrapmetal hauler, he has his own hard hat that for some unknown reason he painted purple. I guess it's his own little fashion statement to the metal hauling world.

Frustrated

Olivia's Easter dress is kicking my butt. Maybe I bit off more then I can chew. I have almost everything done but the zipper. I sewed it in last night only to have to remove it because it looked bad. I sewed ip back in today and was moving forward until I realized I put it on wrong. I'm so frustrated! I could use some patience vibes right about now.

How did I get so behind?

I haven't balanced the checkbook in over two months. Why? I don't want to know the balance, I'm tired of the mundane, I'm lazy. My goal today is to get it done. It's not going to be fun. It's not going to be easy. But somebody has to do it. Hopefully I'll be shocked and amazed at how much money we really have. I won't hold my breath though.

Spring Break

My mom and two little sisters came for spring break. My other little sister and her baby were supposed to come too, but they were sick. It was so nice to spend time with my family. I've been feeling a little down lately and their visit was just what I needed. We didn't do anything too exciting - a little shopping, yardsales, scrapbooking, vegging - but we had a blast anyway. My friend said something that is so true. It's always wonderful when your mom comes to visit because she does things the way you do, since she is the one who taught you how to do them. She cooks the way you do, cleans the way you do, relaxes the way you do. So when mom comes to visit, it's like having a teammate on your side. Olivia loves having my sisters here as well because she has constant playmates. I was sad to see them leave today. We're all going to be a little more bored and lonely tomorrow.

Mr. Brown passed away last night. He was a family friend and fellow junker. The cruelness of cancer took him. His family is in our prayers.
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Paxton is sick. I am sick. I want to crawl in bed and not come out until I feel better. Not going to happen today though.
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I took my car to get fixed yesterday. The news isn't good. It needs:

New brakes
Rear brakes cleaned
4 new tires and alignment
Front in alignment
Contact & Plungers for automatic sliding door

The extended warranty will cover:
Left front axel
Left tire rod end

Total cost: $992.01 + tax

Can I just tell you how bad this sucks?! We are not rich. We make enough money to get by and sometimes a little less. Jody works and we sacrifice so I can stay home with the kids. But we are happy and live cheap and live is good. And then we get a bill like this. My dad gave me these words of wisdom: You might as well spend the money on this or something else will break. Aint that the truth! That's the way things seem to work around here. I haven't told Jody yet. He'll probably cry.

Thanks for the idea Mrs. Fun. Kind of ironic since Dr. Pepper is my favorite soda and 7 Up is reserved for illnesses.

You Are Dr. Pepper

You're very unique and funky, yet you still have a bit of traditionalism to you.People who like you think they have great taste... and they usually do. Your best soda match: Root Beer Stay away from: 7 Up

What Kind of Soda Are You?

A labor of love

Wanna know what kind of a screwed up company Jody works for. Yesterday he was supposed to work from 5am-5pm. A supervisor insisted Jody needed to learn how to operate the freezer on a new line, but he uses a similar freezer on a different line so he didn't understand why. We told him he should try to get off early so he could come to the fish fry with us. He called me around 10:30 and said that they had him doing trash all day so he would be able to get off around 1:30. He'll probably be doing trash all day tomorrow since his line isn't going to run, and he wants to get hours in so he can have Friday off. He wanted me to let our friends know he'd be able to make it to the fish fry. I call and confirm with our friends, and life is good. Jody calls back around 1 and wants to know if I talked to our friends. Yes, I say. They are going to have it done around 4. He says he'll probably have to take off for an hour or so and go back to work because he has to change the molds on his line since they are running tomorrow. WTH?! I thought they weren't running tomorrow. Well, he ended up getting half the molds changed over and making it to the fish fry a little late. Someone else was going to get the rest done. I seriously do not understand the company he works for. They DO NOT know what is going on from one hour to the next and it is the most frstrating thing on earth to watch. We can't plan what is going on from one day to the next because they are constantly changing his hours. I can't imagine having to work in that kind of environment. Jody said it used to bother him but now he watches it all play out with amusement. I can't imagine how upper management decides scheduling. My guess is it involves a dart board or magic 8 ball.

A mess of fish

Yesterday we went fishing with our friends Randy and Sharol and their son Tom (I babysat Tom for about a year and a half). Jody and I used to do a lot of fishing before we had kids. They are finally getting old enough that we can go without it being a big ordeal. We went to one of the back ponds on the ranch. The crappie started biting good once the wind died down. Olivia and Tom ran around and played in the fields. Paxton wondered around for a while. When his attraction to the water became too great, I buckled him in his carseat in the van and let him watch Baby Neptune. Thankgoodness for portable DVD players! He watched the movie a couple times, and by the time he was bored with it we were almost ready to go home. I only caught two fish - one with a Scooby Doo fishing pole. Jody thought it was hilarious and just had to take a picture. Olivia also got to reel in her first fish. She was excited and a little scared. We ended up catching enough fish for a hardy meal. We went to Randy and Sharols this afternoon and had a nice fish fry. I can't wait to do some more fishing.

Don't you wish you were my friend?

I went to put some groceries in the freezer this afternoon and this is what I found. Working for an ice cream company has its perks.

Today was much better. Jody returned to work, and the kids and I had some errands to run. First we headed out to The Farm to meet an appraiser. Mom and Dad need a current market value estimate to figure out what the loss is going to be on the house. I still can't believe a renter can do that much damage to a property and not be held accountable. I guess it is all the more frustrating after all the hard work we all put into the house. But what's done is done and we can only move forward.

After running to The Farm, we went to Cabot. I had to go to K-Mart to return a bedrail that didn't fit. While we were there we hit the sale racks. Olivia found an outfit and a pair of pjs for $4 and $3 respectively. I found a pair of yoga pants for $2.50. By then it was time for lunch so we headed over to BK for a bite to eat. The BK in Cabot has a play place. Olivia was excited to try it out. I was unimpressed. Last on our list of stops was Kroger for some groceries that were on sale. I just can't pass up boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.79/lb. I also got a box of knock-off Apple Jacks for $1. That is sure to be a favorite in this house. On the way home I stopped in McRae for some gas. It was the cheapest there at $2.35 a gallon. Don't even get me started on gas prices right now.

When we got home it was naptime. Paxton crashed in the car so I put him in his crib. Man, he's an easy baby. I ended up settling down with Olivia on the couch and taking a nap. We both needed one after her restless night last night. I think she may be coming down with something. I can usually tell by how she sleeps. It's like the child has Terrett's in her sleep. She yells and cries out and tosses herself all over the place. It makes for a very, very long night.

This afternoon the boy I used to babysit came over. It's always fun to sit and catch up with his mom. And a little adult companionship is nice when Jody is working 12+ hour shifts. They stayed for dinner and by the time they left, I cleaned up a bit, and the kids went to the ILs for a short visit, Jody was home. Baths, pjs, family prayer and it's time for bed. I'm glad because I'm tired.

Super Nanny

I normally love to watch Super Nanny. But after the day I've had I can't stand to watch any more bratty kids. Today has been just awful. Olivia woke up on the wrong side of the bed and never found her way back to the right side. She has screamed, cried, thrown fits, thrown toys, yelled and cried some more. Paxton is sick. I took him to the doctor on Friday and he has a sinus infection. The decongestant/cough medicine he was perscribed wired him so that is a no-go. He's been on antibiotics for 3 days and I'm waiting for him to feel better. He's been waking up at night and been fussy during the day. So basically I've had two whiney, bratty kids to deal with all day. Can you say- NOT FUN?! Jody was off to work today, and he was considering calling in and asking if they could find something for him to do. I'm hoping tomorrow is better. Please let tomorrow be better.

Four

Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. McDonald’s
2. Wal-Mart
3. NAF Accounting
4. Creative Memories Independent Consultant

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Hope Floats
2. Tommy Boy
3. The Wedding Singer
4. Legally Blond

Four places you have lived:
1. Omaha, Nebraska
2. Provo, Utah
3. Nauvoo, Illinois
4. LRAFB, Arkansas

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Grey’s Anatomy
2. Boston Legal
3. My Name is Earl
4. ER

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Honduras
2. Branson, Missouri
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
4. San Antonio, TX

Four web sites I visit daily:
1. The Juniverse
2. eBay
3. Fertility Friend
4. Blogspot

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Snow Crab Legs
2. Filipino food
3. Homemade Bread
4. Dad’s BBQ Ribs

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Sleeping in my warm comfy bed
2. Visiting my family in Nebraska
3. Visiting my family Utah
4. Nauvoo, Illinois

I'm tired. I'm hungry and tired. My mouth hurts, I'm hungry, and I'm tired. I didn't sleep well last night. Olivia has been coming to our bed every night. Jody refuses to "fight" with her about it and let's her climb in bed with us. We have a double bed. We aren't big people but it's only a double bed. I end up sleeping on about a foot of mattress. I can't bend my legs and curl up like I want to and I am generally uncomfortable. Yesterday I announced that I am no longer sharing a bed with all these people. I told Olivia since she doesn't use her bed, it is now mine. I'll sleep in it. But I hate sleeping alone. I always have. So who is this going to help?! At times I feel guilty for feeling this way. I always hated sleeping alone when I was growing up so I completely understand where she is coming from. And when I've made her sleep by herself in the past, she freaks out. Not a normal I'm-going-to-throw-a-fit-because-I'm-not-getting-my-way cry but she freaks out. It kills me to do that to her. And I think about the future and that this won't last forever. They're only little for a little while, and then I will miss these days, and I will wish I had cuddled her more. But I need my sleep. I need my husband. And I need a break from her. Does that make me a bad mom?

Tax time

Our tax accountant works in a big old house. Walking into the house in like walking into the pages of a John Grisham novel. The first thing you notice is the pungent smell of cigarette smoke. Even with the screen door open the place reeks of it. The floor is covered with a dirty yellow-brown shag carpet that doesn’t look like it’s been touched by a steam cleaner, or even a vacuum, in over a decade. The walls are a dirty yellow and brown, and a thick layer of dust and cobwebs coat the ceiling.

We sit on old dirty chairs that have seen better days and wait for our turn with the accountant. The choice of chairs is a sad sight - all have been torn and more then one looks like something has been spilled on it. You can’t help but glance around the room while you wait. There are cheesy signs on the walls and the secretary’s desk. There is an old claw toy machine that just doesn’t fit in. And there are two little puppies that run by- rescued from certain death at a local pound.

We sit and slowly get our nicotine fix for the year. When we are finally called back to the accountant’s office, Jody and I have to cover our mouths and try to suppress the laughter. Her desk and floor are completely covered with files and paperwork. Her computer keyboard is covered with a film of grey yuck that amazes even Jody. The walls have pictures of friends and relatives that look like they date back to the 80’s. The place hasn’t seen a dust rag in the three years we’ve been going there.

Our accountant’s hair has changed from the fake black it was last year to a dirty blond. It’s held in it’s majestic up do by a couple of gaudy hair clips. She is wearing at least 3 necklaces and every finger on both hands is adorned with large diamond rings. She uses a magnifying glass to read the numbers on our records and confesses part way though our visit that something is wrong with her right eye and the digits seem to be repeating themselves. Jody gives me that look and I have to bite my lip to keep myself from laughing.

So why do go to this place to get our taxes done? First of all, our accountant always gets us a great return. She’ll play with the numbers to make sure we are maximizing our deductions and expenses. Second, it’s worth the money just to see if the same bucket of candy that has been there for the last two years is still there. It was. I didn’t see it (and I must admit I was a tad disappointed) but Jody later confided he saw it sitting next to the wall beside his chair. Is it sad that I look forward to our yearly trip to the tax accountant? Sad, but incredibly amusing.

Going away

I went on my first vacation alone since having children. At first I thought Jody would balk at the idea, but when I mentioned that my cousin had invited me to a scrapbook crop in Branson, MO the first weekend in March he said that it sounded like fun and I should go. I actually waited a week or two to confirm with my cousin because I was waiting for reality to hit him that he would be alone with the kids for 3 days and 2 nights. But his attitude never changed and I figured if he said I should go, I had better go!

I had a great time in Branson. I shared a 2-bedroom suite with my cousin and her two friends. I got done way more scrapbooking then I had anticipated – somewhere around 24 pages, and I also did a little shopping for the kids. Olivia suddenly had another growth spurt and was in desperate need of some new pajamas, and the Carter’s outlet was having a great sale on just that thing. I also got some time just for me – something a mother just can’t seem to get enough of these days.

I half expected for the house to be trashed when I got home. I’ve seen what the kids can do to the place in a matter of hours so I had no idea what to expect after a weekend away. Jody did surprisingly well. The dishes were done and the toy clutter was pretty well confined to the bedrooms. There was a pile of laundry to be washed but that is nothing new around this house. The kids must have missed me. They “punished” me for leaving them by being total crabs for the evening.

So I had a wonderful weekend away. Knowing that my family can be somewhat self-reliant without me is a good thing. I look forward to my next vacation for a little rest and relaxation. Until then, I better go do laundry.