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!

Yup, that was me!

My computer is being tempermental....so I guess I'm thumbing it tonite...which means the short version of our day...sorry!

DJ seems to be back in his "wake up at 7:16am" habit again! Only there's no persuading him to snooze....I fear he'll never need a snooze button! SamSam seems to be copying him too! Makes the weekends all that much more special for me!!!

Today was an Avon order day, so I was quite busy gathering the last of my orders to input! Made it too, with 11 minutes to spare! WHEW!!!! I love all my customers!!! And enjoy going to see them whenever they order! Its fun for me!!!

Just before I hit submit on my order DJ slammed his right thumb in the sliding door trying to get away from Sam....sadly, the joke was on him! It was INSTANTLY red under the nail and I'd say 7/8's of it was caught! It was a doozy!!!! He wanted ice for it right away, as that's what we do whenever he catches Sam's fingers in the door...never this bad tho!! This will now be known as The Summer DJ Lost His Thumbnail. Poor kid!! So I get him some ice water in the cup they've been playing with outside...and he won't stick it in there cuz it hurts...so I offer to stick MY thumb in there and just count to 10...then we could take them out and have a break. We got to 2! He's such a suck!!! And he won't let me see it....he's paranoid I'm going to hurt him more than already is. I leave him be.

He becomes this whiny mess of a boy....he wrapped his hand up in his shirt and held it up by his shoulder for about 2 hours...would NOT let me see it or touch it! While I was making lunch I asked him if he wanted some medicine to help with the pain...he said yes, he wanted Daddy's medicine! Ok....so I grab one Advil for him and give him some juice....he puts it in his mouth and drinks the juice....he didn't swallow the pill....and the coating is all off it now...and its a YUCKY taste!!! So he spits it out in the garbage (I'm laughing at this point) and goes on and on about how it tastes! What a kid!

While Sam was napping DJ and I laid on the couch....didn't take him long before the trauma of the day caught up to him and he fell asleep. I let him sleep for about an hour and woke him up. I didn't want him to be a bear for Howie tonite.

Once they were both up, I grabbed a quick shower as I had an Avon meeting tonite. Howie got home and I took off a half hour or so later. DJ was very excited for him to be home, as he somehow thought that Daddy would make the thumb all better...yet, he wouldn't even let Howie see it! He was worried about it needing to be drilled to relieve the pressure....uh, that would take a straight jacket to keep him still for that!!! And some really good knock-him-out drugs! Thankfully, Howie said it wasn't that bad. Whew!

At 5 I took off for Everett...but stopped at Safeway on the Highway to restock my slot for catalogues in the lobby. The 40 I put there 3 weeks ago were all gone! Now, either I have a vicious competitor that doesn't want me to succeed or all those books were taken by potential customers....hmmmm not one phone call yet. I'll be monitoring it that much closer, that's for sure! OHHHHHHHHH while I was driving down the mountain, I had the extreme pleasure of being trapped in a moving vehicle with a flying thing that stings!!! If you saw me driving erratically down Old Owen, slapping myself in the face...not to worry, I missed the damn bug and it flew out the window I'd opened for it! Sheesh!!! I'm beginning to think Howie's car doesn't like me!!!

I got home about 9:30 and tucked Howie in bed and got busy marking up the new box of catalogues my upline gave me for my slot. There were 60 books....took me a while! Now, I'm more than ready for bed...the computer let me finish...so it went quicker!

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

P.S. my friend Wyndi's daughter, and DJ's good friend, Izzy is going in tomorrow for surgery on her pace maker...they're replacing the battery as it drained rather quickly since her last appt. If you could send up a prayer for them, I'd appreciate it!

Ain't that a hoot!

This morning the kids were BOUNCING awake!!! Sam once again soaked her bed...her blanket...her pillow...her pj's...just about everything! I swear, she'll never get potty trained if all her peeing is done at nite! Its ridiculous!!!

I got her changed and cleaned up and then crawled back in bed to just lay there...and get snuggled upon!! Worked like a charm too!!!! It was during snuggles that I told them we were going to the lake today.  The same one DJ did the fishing derby from back in April. He was SO excited!!!

While eating breakfast the sun made its debut for the day!! Sweet!!! This made DJ even more excited...he was dressed and ready to go at 10! I wasn't....still had stuff to do, lunches to make, and laundry to start. We did finally get out by 11:30...a little past what I wanted originally. I got caught up in collecting outgrown clothes for a consignment shop in town.

We made it to the lake, which is oddly, in town, about noon...there was one other mom there with her two boys. She lives close by, so its handy for her! Then another mom showed up with her daughter and we all headed to the "beach" which was really REALLY rocky! It was like walking on a pumice stone all cut up! And it didn't help my feet any.....was hoping for a natural exfoliation process! lol

DJ being the boy he is walked right in and fell...ohhhhhhhhhhhh the water was COLD!!!!!!!! FREEZING cold!! It may have been 70 degrees but the water hadn't caught up yet! Somehow it didn't matter to him....he just kept going in and out until eventually he was numb to it and was sitting there up to his neck in water! Since he has NO clue how to swim, I had to be in there with him. He had water wings on, but that'll only get him so far. A couple times he managed to go head first...but survived. SamSam on the other hand, she stayed near the shore and dug in the dirt/rocks with the other sane children. Altho, to be fair, she ended up sitting in the water by the end too! Crazy kids! Must take after their dad for that as I don't like swimming in fishy waters!

We left there shortly after 1 when we were done eating our lunch....stopped at the consignment shop to see what they'll take from me to sell...turns out not much as I have mostly fall/winter clothing...they did take some of it tho...and some of the shoes! Whew! Here's hoping!!

On the way home, BOTH kids fell asleep!! I guess DJ really got tuckered out with all that water play! Good for him! I cracked the windows and let them sleep! Every half hour I'd go out and check on them to see who was awake...they slept for an hour and a half!!!! Such bliss! if only I could have napped too!!! Would have been even better! Once they got up we used the trampoline next door....I now remember WHY it's been 10+ years since I've jumped on one....not to mention two kids ago....dang!!!!

Howie arrived home to all the clamour two kids can make!!! They hear his car now what with the windows open...so they go running right away! After a bit of relax time I got dinner on the go. After Sam was done eating, DJ was being a butthead!, she told Daddy all about her "whimming hoot" which just had me in stitches!!!! Absolutely LOVE how she says swimming suit! Did ya catch it? To make matters worse, Howie threw the She sells seashells by the seashore out there....I almost had tears rolling down my cheeks!!!! Man, she needs to find her S maker soon!!! Such a crack up!! I should get it on video first tho....so mean!

Once everyone was safely tucked into bed I sat down to watch the drama unfold on the Bachelorette! Can you believe that schmuck Justin!?!?!? I mean, I knew it was coming, but had NO clue it was this bad!!! To hear the messages he left her on her phone, played back like that....just sick! And to think, he's representing Canada....not kool dude!! NOT kool!!


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