Two more sleeps!!!!!!!!!

That's all that's left til Grandma and Poppa are here!!!!!! Which means I have tomorrow to clean! Thursday, me and baby girl are driving in to get them from the airport and the boys are going crabbing! Here's hoping!

This morning the plan was to go to Edmonds and get my hearing aids fixed and while there, pop in on my g/f Laura with her Avon order. Rather convenient that they're 2 miles apart! We didn't get out of here near as early as I thought we would! One thing after another and we're 45 mins past what I wanted! GRRRRR School is going to be a chore!

We head out down our hill and hit hwy 2 and the light was out...so I treat it like a 4 way stop and go at my turn....I take the lane I'll need to go straight thru town to stay on hwy 2...BAD idea!! I should have clued in...if one light is down, they all are! UGH!!!!! It took me a half hour to go 2 miles!!! It was awful!!! There were NO cops directing traffic...there were PUD trucks all over the place, but no workers were seen doing anything! Insane!! Even more ironic...I have a g/f who's at her work watching the traffic on hwy 2 just for fun!!! I gave her the finger as I passed a camera! :D

I change course and take 522 instead of taking hwy 2...so changing lanes was tricky! But it paid off! We were moving! As I go up over the hwy, I look over to my right and the next light is working just fine...go figure! Then I look back in rear view mirror and SamSam is SLEEPING!!!!!!!!! It's only 11:50 and she's snoozin away!!!! Lovely! There goes nap time!

We arrive at the hearing place and she's still sleeping, I go in and drop off my hearing aids and get told it'll be an hour...so we head over to Laura's work and as I pull in, I fully expect to sit and wait til Sam wakes, but she chose then to wake up! So off we went...but of course, she needs a diaper change! Whattakid!!! Just as we were finishing up Laura came out to see us! At which point DJ decided he HAS to pee, so off we go to her offices.

We finish up with her and head back out to the truck to eat lunch...I knew we'd be out later than I wanted to when we left as late as we did! Once everything was done but the sharing of the grapes, we headed back to the hearing place.

I go in to get them and they're done...and it's FREE!!!!!!!! They replaced the battery door on the left one and cleaned the wax out of both of them...that's why I couldn't hear out of the right one. I was hoping that was the case and not that it needed fixing. While I was there I asked about getting the kids' hearing tested. Samantha consistently drops her S's and changes them to H's or D's...and if a word starts with a T, she changes it to an F...Truck is Fruck...yet if the word ends in a T she has no problem!  I used to have problems with S's too....and I was a screamer.....so I wanted reassurance. The audiologist had just stepped out for a few minutes but when he returned he'd see us no problem. So we wait in the truck and before I know it, the secretary comes out to us to let us know he's back.

He typically deals with adults and is not equipped for pediatrics...BUT they had a pediatric audiologist coming this Saturday if I wanted to bring them in. Her speech is cause for concern he said, especially when coupled with my loss. Then he remembered he had a  tweeting bird in his office and snuck up behind her and made it tweet...its 3000 decibels loud, and she immediately turned to see what was going on! And going by the look on her face, he had no concerns after that! WHEW!!!!! For that matter, both of them heard it immediately, so in essence, they passed!!

When we left there it was about 2 and since I knew Sam wasn't going to nap for real, we hit up Albertsons when we got back into town...and this time I took Main St instead of hwy 2 just in case...but the lights were all working again. So we did our shopping and made a quick stop into the dollar store for paper towels....gotta clean for my mama!! lol That and we were completely out!

It was just about 3:30 or so when we made it home....and the temp on the truck read 80!!! YES!!!!!! Summer really did join us!!! So while the kids were playing outside in the dirt patch I sat on the back deck to supervise...they took turns coming to visit me! Samantha even brought me a wriggly worm...EW!!! Once Howie got home, the gears shifted and he got to work mowing the lawn and I got busy burning the last of the brush that had completely dried out. Well, 'cept for the cedar boughs....they kept it nice and damp for a family of slugs! ICK!! Those things just gross me right out!!! I burned a couple of them....they don't even move when it gets HOT!! Insane!! I even managed to stick my finger in one of them....blech! I called it quits at that point! Thankfully it was the tail end of it all and Howie took over...he had gloves on!

Dinner was left overs...gotta clean out the fridge at some point! Then I gave the kids a foot bath as they both went barefoot while playing even tho I asked them not to! They ARE my children!!! Once they were in bed I hopped in the shower to clean up from the smoke. Howie waited til I was done and we watched Wipeout together...laughed our butts off too! Then he went to bed and I watched 2 episodes of LOST....only one more on my DVR but its a 150 minute long one....might happen tomorrow nite! Sheesh, I can't believe I have only one left and I still am just as in the dark now as I was 5 years ago when I started watching it!! CRAZY!!!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

The proof is in the pudding

This actually has two meanings for me tonite....I'll get to that in a minute!

I did something today and from the very first moment regretted!! I almost wanted to cry and throw up at the same time once my decision was made...there was no turning back........

DJ went for a hair cut this morning and since he was tolerating the clippers so well, he gets a "2" on the back and sides and finger length on top, I said, do it all with the clippers and see how he does....STUPID mistake!!!!! It wasn't a 2 all over, but a 2 on the sides and back and a 3 on the top. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE between 2 and 3 really!! Maybe an 8th of an inch!! Oh my poor baby boy looks bald!!!!!  He looks like his Daddy BIG TIME now!!!! I swear, he grew up 2 years right in front of me!!! The top must have lost an inch and a half!!! I was mortified!! I will NEVER do that again!!

Howie LOVES it of course!!

DJ could care less! He's 4!

So, his 4 yr pictures will be waiting a while yet....and no, I haven't taken a picture of it yet....Howie has of course. This was taken with his phone.

So, while DJ and Sam were playing with Anneke's kids, I got my bangs trimmed and my eyebrows done. Whew! I was due too!! On both counts! Then we had a good chat about whatever!!! Her next clients showed up at noon and we took off about 12:20 after meeting them. Nicole is another gleaner, so it was nice to put a face to a name! Then we stopped by the trailer on our way home, after we kidnapped Travis to come play with DJ this afternoon. They're both missin the kids next door! Big time!!!

When Howie got home he had a one track mind....air conditioner!! You see, they're promising us a heat wave by the end of the week! Should be 91 by Friday....I'll believe it when I see it...especially since today was 52!!! In any case, we're prepared now!! Howie also figured out how our cheap blinds work...they can't be facing up or down, but open and then they'll slide up and down easily! D'oh!!

While I was bathing the kids I made some rice pudding...remind me NOT to do that again!! I can't monitor rice pudding AND bathe the kids! What was I thinking?!?!!?! I only burnt the bottom a bit, and managed to save most of it! Its still very tasty...but missing raisins...didn't have any on hand.

Once Howie went to bed I got comfy and watched the Bachelorette!! I was primed for some juicy-ness!!! I knew about the Jake and Vienna interview....I almost wanted to fast forward the dvr to the interview and watch it first!!! I was on pins and needles with the excerpts they were showing throughout the B'ette!!! I gotta say, I'm SO glad she let Ty go!! He just wasn't right! I see the final two coming down to Chris L (my pick) and Roberto...Frank is gonna screw it up for himself according to what I've read and seen in previews. Stupid Boy!
Now, for Jake and Vienna....WOW!!! Did they air their dirty laundry or what!?!?!? Shame on both of them!! But thank you both for being such idiots for putting it on tv so that those of us can get a glimpse of the "reality" of reality tv!

Jake, from the very beginning I said she was too young for you!!! Immaturity doesn't come from putting a ring on one's finger and promising to marry them!

Vienna, grow up sweetheart!! And admit you were in it all just as much for the fame as anything else! And from what I've read of your tweets, so what if he went to bed early!!!!! You should have learned to enjoy that time instead of whining!!

Either way, its sad that the break up had to be so public...and that tabloids were involved and monies exchanged for the story. Only goes to prove her immaturity even more! I think both of them are guilty of emotional and verbal abuse based on what I witnessed tonite! Not sure how much of it was edited...but either way, they showed their True Colours. And it wasn't a rainbow!  As always, Chris was fantastic as an interviewer! He should get an Emmy for that one!! "I don't care about your dog, we're here to talk about you two" that just cracked me up!!

So, now that DJ's come out for his midnite pee, its time for me to hit the hay!!!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

Four Score and Twenty Years Ago

I have no idea how long ago that was....but Happy Independence Day America!! Its the fourth of July...gotta say that with emphasis on JU....after all, that is the Yankee way to say it!

Today was a blah day! Weather wise that is...just blah! Grey, overcast, drizzly, cold....yup...perfect PNW 4th of July! Tomorrow...they're saying we'll get to 70!! It was 56 today! brrrrr By Wednesday, we're supposed to hit 81! Seems like a dream!

Instead of doing outdoor work like Howie wanted, we did indoor work. He worked on "stuff" in the garage...and I worked on laundry. Just as I was going in to put my contacts in I caught Jasper peeing once again on our bed...my side! Same spot as yesterday. So I did some Internet searching and it might be that he has a UTI...great! A trip to the vet was just what I wanted to do! I'm willing to bet they won't be open tomorrow either....oy!

The kids thoroughly enjoyed "helping" Howie out in the garage....I peeked in on them at one point...Howie put a screw in the wall to hang his roll of duct tape...when he got done DJ says "Wow, that's awesome Dad!" with all the wonder of a 4 year old! SO cute!!!!

While Sam was napping, DJ came with me to the trailer so I could put in my time for the week. He just wanted to watch Happy Feet in the truck while I cleaned. Rascal! I'm sure Howie enjoyed his quiet time til Sam got up!!

When we arrived home they were just going for a walk up the street to see the horses. DJ wanted to join them, so I set him free and he caught up to them. This gave me perfect time to put away my groceries and get the water boiling for corn on the cob. It is after all, the 4th!! Gotta eat the all American 4th of July (did you emphasize the JU??) BBQ dinner!!!! Burgers!!!! With corn on the cob and baked beans....delish!!

After dinner I made Howie his caramel corn and cleaned up....got the kids in bed, gave Howie a hair cut, took a shower, had some ice cream with Howie, re-made the bed and sat down to watch fireworks. Not as exciting as some of the 4ths we've had...and I'm sure we'll have again when the kids catch on to the whole fireworks thing. They slept right thru it!! Even thru Snickers barking her disdain for all the noise. Which, I gotta say, was tame! VERY tame compared to Lynnwood! There you'd think you were in Iraq in the middle of a war zone! Every which direction had them going off....here, it was like a dull roar...or a loud wind sound. I stepped outside for a bit, and the sky looked like it was experiencing heat lightning (which is ironic considering how COLD it was!) all over. I could see the bursts of light, but not the actual firework. Kinda wild actually! We had some on our street that went on for an hour or so...but then everyone went to bed. Not too bad!

Speaking of bed....I'm off!! G'nite all!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

P.S. My cousin headed back to Iraq just today after 3 weeks vacation with his wife! Send prayers please!

Whooo eeee!!!

This was a busy busy BUSY day!!!

This morning I bargained with the devil Howie in that I'd take both kids with me Avoning and he'd stay home and clean the house for the company coming for dinner tonite. DONE!!!

I also took the truck, so they were occupied with movies while I was in dropping stuff off. Turns out today was much quicker that originally thought!! Couple people weren't home, and traffic was good! Lots of people are out of town for the weekend, so that makes driving today quite bearable!

Got a couple good visits in with good friends...and the kids enjoyed being free of their car seats! They enjoyed playing with our friends grandson who's 1...the one we gave the toys away too! DJ recognized them right away too! :) So cute! And for him to see Tylin plying with them was good for him! They also had a great time playing with Morgin and her sister Raquel. While I, of course, enjoyed chatting with their mom. We also had a good visit with Aunt Gayleen and fam....Sam thoroughly enjoyed chasing after her cousins!! She even went running into Gayleen's arms!!! DJ played shy....I hate when he does this! He'll talk to complete strangers while we're out shopping, but won't go near family! Crazy kid!

When it was all said and done we stopped at Albertsons in Mill Creek...the one Jake works at! He was there working so we got a quick visit with him while he was on his break! So weird to see him working!! For real working!!  Never happens at my house!!!! LOL

We finally got home around 5:20 or so...DJ checked for the mail and then I let him "steer" up the driveway...he thought that as kool til  let him honk the horn for Howie...and he honked again....and again!! And then we had a wrestling match trying to keep him away from doing it again!! Rascal!!!

I did beat our company here, so had time to put all my Avon stuff away and husk the corn before they arrived. Dinner was fabulous!!!! The kids surprised us all and finished first!! What a change!!!! They musta been hungry after all that Avoning! That and playing outside with Kaitlyn, our friend's 16 y/o daughter! They LOVED that!!!

Once the kids crashed, and crashed hard!, we adults and pseudo-adult, played cards!! I was all set to win and couldn't quite make it happen!!!! So close a couple times too!!! In the end our guest, Christy, won...guess we gotta be good hosts once in a while! lol We all had fun tho!

Now, the bed is re-made thanks to Jasper....again!!! I caught him mid pee and scared the crap out of him! He hid for most of the time I was home!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

Dear You-Know-Who-You-Are

Dear DJ...please stop coming into our room in the middle of the nite and hogging the bed! Oh, and stop calling your Aunt Gayleen on the "Avon phone"...its cute, but annoying! Unless of course you actually want to talk to her, then its okay!

Dear SamSam...please stop screaming at the top of your lungs when something doesn't go your way. I was at the neighbour's house the other day and heard you...without my hearing aids in....NOT kool!! I really should lease you out for some horror movie...that scream is SO piercing! Start using your words!

Dear Howie...thank you for letting me sleep in today! I really appreciate it and needed it! And for waking me up as gently as you did instead of just saying "Hey, its time to get up"

Dear costco....you suck on holiday weekends!!!! Seriously!! It could have been worse, but it was bad enough!! Oh, and to the lady who had this rather condemning look on her face when I came back in the store looking for my forgotten purse....I have two children who were rather unruly and on my last nerve today...don't look at me like that! I'm sure I'm not the first mom who's walked away leaving her purse behind!

Dear Whoever Found My Purse...thank you!! For leaving everything in tact! I truly appreciate it! This is for all those times I've returned a wallet and been a true human being!

Dear Makers of Motrin....you suck!! Your recall is absurd!! Its been months now, you should have the shelves stocked no? That's okay, we'll make do just fine with your Advil replacement! Yes, I'm slow to the recall exchange...we just haven't had to need meds for a while now!

Dear Kitty....the Play Land rep for Fred Meyer....your timing is spot on! You touched a nerve of mine today that drove me up the freakin wall with your punctuality!! I look forward to shopping at your store (and drop a fair amount of money every two weeks) KID FREE!!!! Today, when you called me back to take my son to the bathroom, you made damn sure to let me know I only had 10 minutes left of my hour....even after I explained spending a half hour with customer service dealing with the Motrin thing. Lighten up!

Dear costco...yes, again....thank you for making your roasted chicken to perfection!!!!! I thoroughly enjoy eating this bird in all its roasted goodness!! As do my children! They literally gobble it down!!! AND ask for more!!!

Dear Cara Foods....your rendition of Swiss Chalet's sauce is mediocre at times, but tonite was pure perfection!!!!! And transported me right back to Canada with each bite!! You complimented the lovely chicken that costco cooked so beautifully! You are now second to the meal my sister Johna smuggled across the border for me 4 years ago!

Dear Oxygen channel....you really need a lesson in timing! When editing a movie and putting commercials in it, DON'T interrupt a rather emotional scene with your nonsense commercials! Really quite annoying! The movie, Definitely, Maybe was fantastic!! I'd never seen it before, but recorded it last week as it stars Ryan Reynolds and Isla Fisher...and it was so touching!!

Dear Pillows....I'm coming...right now!


Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

Happy Halfway Through The Year!!!

Today marks the start of the last half of the year!!!

Its also, coincidentally, Canada's birthday!! Altho, why they call it a birthday I don't know...its more of an anniversary....the country wasn't born...no country is.

Anywho! I dressed the kids in their Canadian clothes! SamSam in her ROOTS tee that says My roots are Canadian! And DJ in his CANADA soccer shirt my sister Joanne gave him when he was itty bitty...he fits it now! I wore my ROOTS shirt too...that my sister Joanne also gave me! She's fond of reminding us where we come from! And I don't mind one bit!!

Today was also a very sad day for me....Miss Bailey has gone to another home! It was time to make a decision as my parents are coming next week. So this morning the kids and I loaded her up in the back of the truck and took a drive down south to meet up with a gal who also has a mastiff. Bailey did amazing the whole trip!! Truly amazing!! Any time we stopped at a light, she'd pop her head up and look around...bark if she saw someone or another dog...and then lay right back down as soon as we got moving. She didn't even bother the kids which surprised me! Of course, when we got to the Denny's parking lot, she would NOT come out of the truck!! My bawling didn't help either! She hopped over the back seat and sat between the two car seats....little bugger! Finally got her to come out and had my time to say good bye to her. It breaks my heart, but I know its the best thing for her! Gotta look at the big picture! The lady called me later this afternoon to see how I was doing as she could see how upset I was...and reassured me that Bailey was doing just fine adjusting already. Sure is quiet around here! Snickers just laid around all nite...the cats roamed the house like they own it...everything returned to normal! Sadly...and quickly!

This afternoon while SamSam was napping DJ watched a new movie!! NOT Toy Story!!!!!! Will wonders never cease!??!! Disney was showing a 3 o'clock movie called The Wild...about zoo animals who escape. He enjoyed it...I think....but then asked for Cars right after it...so maybe not! We'll see if he picks it again.

Once the kids crashed I grabbed a quick shower while Howie took care of the garbage and recycle. Then we watched Wipeout together and had a good laugh at the idiots who attempt these stunts! I'd never survive!!! Honestly! Still fun to watch! Then while doing the grocery list I watched Melinda get voted off SYTYCD...nailed it! After that it was Royal Pains...another great show on the USA channel! Now, I'm heading to la la land knowing full well I get to sleep in as its Friday!!! SAWHEET!!!!!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

Almost 1 am ramblings

Today DJ and Samantha were the consummate children!!! They both got up by 8...and when they got really quiet by 8:15 or so, I went to check on them....oh, they were sitting SO nicely together in my chair watching Disney. Awwwww!! I snuck back to bed and waited for the onslaught of snuggles....which happened promptly at 8:29 when their show was over.

We had no plans for the day...other than washing SamSam's bed sheets AGAIN!! We're getting the next size up diapers for her...I've had enough of this daily washing crap! Here's hoping it works!!

Shortly after 11 the kids and I went for a short jaunt to the next street up...which is behind us...and we did some door knocking for Avon. Didn't get much out of it, but left a few books...here's hoping! Out of the 3 people who were actually home, only one was rude and handed my book back to me and closed the door. Gotta expect that, but damn! So not nice!!

While Sam was napping DJ and I watched.....what else?? Toy Story!!! He almost switched it up and watched Cars, but at the last second changed his mind! He simply can't get enough of Woody and Buzz! I'll have the whole thing memorized before long!

After Sam got up I made the sauce for Sketti nite....everyone was excited for it tonite! About 4:30 we hopped in the truck and headed to town....the plan was to open a separate acct for Avon...but it didn't quite pan out...so we headed home for dinner. After the kids were done eating, it was bath time for them! Sam first of course...and DJ usually hangs out outside the door asking "Is it my turn yet?" over and over and over! Then when it is his turn, he's incredulous! lol  Shortly after the cleanliness came sleepiness!!! They were both tired and didn't put up much fuss!

Howie went to bed almost as soon as they were tucked in!! Which left me to watch SYTYCD...WOW what a show tonite!!! My bottom 3 picks are: Billy, Jose, and Melinda....with Melinda going home, finally!  I love that the judges admitted that they made a mistake in keeping her! We'll see... Alex and Twitched danced their asses off!!! Oh, it almost made me want to learn hip hop!!!! lol  Really good!!! And Ashley is my fave girl!!

Now, I can hear my pillows calling me......g'nite


Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

P.S. Izzy's surgery went very well!!! Hopefully she'll get to go home tomorrow, she's in a bit of pain, so we'll see!