Another year older

Another year wiser....maybe! But when you turn 29 over and over and over again, you're smart enough...right!??! I mean, I could totally pull off telling someone I'm only 29...right!?!?!? The only answer here is YES!!! lol

This morning Samantha was the one to wake first, just before 6 with wetness...so changed her up and plopped her in bed beside me where she fell back to sleep easily....til DJ joined us just before 8 and a snugglefest ensued!!!! I told the kids then that it was my birthday and that I'd let them make cookies for me..DJ thought I meant right that second...he was excited!

The rains were here today....if I was a duck, this would have been perfect weather for a birthday...but I'm NOT a duck (nor do I sound like one or walk like one...just for clarification!) and was bummed to see it raining! It wasn't drizzling, or sprinkling, it was outright raining! Today at the fair, it was 2.00 Tuesday...go before 2 pm and its only 2.00  person instead of 10.00...and since the kids are both under 5, they would have been free! BUT with the rain, no thank you! Did that last week, not doing it again!


After lunch I got a  text to go meet a client with her order...simple 5 minute drive there and back..with maybe a 5 minute pit stop to chat...on the 5 minute ride home, Samantha falls asleep...so DJ and VERY quietly get out of the truck and she sleeps on...thankfully with it only being 59 degrees out the heat was on in the truck and it was nice and cozy in there. DJ took off for the neighbour's house to play with K and I came inside and got laundry going and dishes washing...typical birthday stuff! lol

About 3 I got another text to go meet another client, called on DJ and he was good to stay playing, so sleeping Sam and I took off for the church where I was meeting my g/f. She woke up just as I was parking the truck and scared the crap outta me by talking to me! Denise showed up about 5 minutest after we arrived...and since it was coming down pretty hard, I drove her over to the entrance of the fair...she was attending a concert tonite.

Howie got home just after 5 and the phone calls started!! My sister Joanne called, my g/f Joanne called, my mom called and my FIL called. The number of messages on facebook alone is truly mind blowing to me!! And SO special!!! I feel loved!!

Dinner was a wonderfully grilled steak, baked potato, green beans and bread!! And the cookies the kids made! That was fun actually! We seriously cheated and they "made" the frozen pre-shaped ones we got with Jake's football team...they didn't care and sat there for the first few minutes watching thru the window of the oven! Before serving them, DJ and Howie sang Happy Birthday to me...Sam sat there just smiling watching it all til the end and tried vocalizing. Love it all!!

Bed time...man, now that was a chore!! Samantha was all worried about something I couldn't decipher, and refused to hug Howie til she'd had a fit...then DJ was being ornery and wanting a different cd in his player...and then finally silence came over the house! Howie started off in our bed, but the cat has peed on the bed twice now in three days, and he was having scent issues, so he's downstairs snoozing away...fun! Here's hoping my spidey nose doesn't pick it up! Must get a mattress cover!! This is getting SO old!

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

Technical difficulties

My computer is behaving like and ornery old man!!! Quite stubborn too!! I've been waiting for blogger to load for 45 minutes now...hence starting on my phone...at least I feel somewhat productive!  Takes a little longer, but at least I can get started!

This morning was a wet one...but not from rain! DJ came to me at 5:30 soaking wet...so he changed and climbed in bed with me. Even at hat time of day he was sad he didn't get to go fishin with Howie who'd taken the day off work. I wasn't sure if it was raining outside or not...it was supposed to..

About 7 Miss Samantha came in soaking wet too!! Sheesh!! Did a pee dam break somewhere!??!!? Got her changed and dressed and she was happy! After breakfast tho, they both got a bath!!! I wasn't supposed to be home this evening, so a morning bath it was!

Howie got home just as we were finishing up our lunch....Samantha helped him eat his lunch even tho she'd eaten everything on her own plate!  I think they're both going thru a growth spurt...DJ is constantly eating! I keep telling them to stop this growing nonsense and they both replay "NEVAH!!!" its quite cute!

DJ went swimming next door (it got nice and warm in the sun) and Howie went napping, Samantha went napping...so I went resting on the couch! DJ was in and out talking to me, getting a drink, going pee, getting changed...non-stop with him! By  everyone was up and moving! Howie out to clean up the boat and mow the lawn, Samantha to supervise her daddy, DJ busy playing and me in here cleaning up the kitchen and putting laundry away. About 5 DJ said he'd been invited to tag along to D's football practice, so he ate dinner quickly before leaving us in peace.

After dinner Howie went back out to finish mowing and SamSam sat and watched Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure while I showered. I came back out and Howie had joined her watching it. She even got to stay up later to finish watching it...and then went right to bed! DJ got home within minutes of me putting her down and off he went to bed! He sure had fun tho!

Once all was quiet I watched Bachelor Pad...I only missed the first 10 minutes, which worked out well as that's all the recap stuff anyways! In between the show, during commercials, they announced who the next stars were for DWTS...I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be watching this season much...either that or they should rename it Dancing With The Wannabe Stars...seriously!?!?! Bristol Palin is a star!??! Of what?? And Audrina Patridge?? The Situation (I detest calling him that!!) is NOT a star...he's a lab rat! And David Hasselhoff?? PUHLEEZE!!!!!!! His star burned out a few years ago...OY!  Even Howie's not interested this year as his fave dancer, Edyta, won't be returning.

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

Never let your praying knees get lazy

And love like crazy!!!

Oh this line just has me wrapped around it!!! It's a great new song from a new artist... Lee Brice called Love Like Crazy talking about a couple who's been married 58 years!!! Such a phenomenon these days!!

In fact, at church this morning we got to congratulate a couple celebrating 50 years of marriage this past weekend! One of their pieces of advice is to always communicate!! That and never go into debt other than your house! It was cute how her husband added that on! 50 years...long time!

After church I kissed my family good bye and headed to Lynnwood for a "Spoil Missy" day!!! I did have 3 stops to make for Avon and then got down to the business of spoiling! First up was a lunch with my g/f Joanne...her birthday treat. She chose a new restaurant to the area...where Hooters used to be....which I'd never been inside of! HA! Anyways, this place is called Celtic Bayou....they mixed and Irish Pub with a Cajun restaurant...such and ODD coupling if you ask me! We split a Reuben sandwich and a plate of fish and chips! Then she twisted my rubber arm into a divine chocolate brownie dessert! Whew!

Then we picked up my other g/f (and newest Avon rep) Shirah at a nearby Starbux and headed to a salon to have our tootsies tended to! Joanne *as I'm typing this out, the Love Like Crazy song just came on the radio!* knew of a place that was beyond anyone's expectations! This nail salon was HUGE!!!!! The biggest one I've been into! It had 17 pedicure stations!!!!! SEVENTEEN of them!!! It looked somewhat Roman in its design, yet had many Oriental touches to the room and walls. Still just gorgeous! The 3 of us got taken right away...and before we knew it we were enjoying the effects of those massive massage chairs while our feet were being snipped, brushed, lotioned and painted! I chose a blue that if you look at it in a different light looks purple! If I can get a car in this colour, I'd be in car heaven!!! Honestly, my two fave colours interchanging like that! Awesome!

Once dried we headed back to Joanne's place hoping to use some wi-fi for Shirah's computer, but it wasn't to be...so we visited for a bit and then took off. I dropped her off at the park n ride nearby and headed home! Just in time to make dinner! Jake was here visiting and stayed for dinner...which was good! I missed out on the last dinner visit last month, so it was nice to catch up with him without the distraction of the entire football team!

He left about 8 and then we put the kids to bed....DJ put his clothes on the couch in hopes of going fishing with Howie tomorrow, he's got the day off, but if its rainy out, he won't be going. Sam was so cute....she didn't want to feel left out, so she went and got herself a pair of pants and a top to put on the couch too!!! SO cute!

Howie went to bed shortly after they did, nothing on tv really....I'm not an Emmy watcher...we did end up watching School of Rock with Jack Black...I'd seen it before, but watched it again due to lack of other choices. I wanted more time on the clock before watching Drop Dead Diva in dvr...had me at the edge of my seat a the end!! Sheesh!! Then I started the movie Love's Unfolding Dream...but stopped it half way in to go to bed! G'nite!

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

If it looks like a duck...

Chances are it IS a duck!!! We had some carrots tonite at dinner that made me think of this phrase. Have you ever had a yellow carrot?? Neither had we til tonite. They looked like baby carrots...and yet they didn't! Even steamed up, they got a little darker in colour. Yet, when you eat them, your mouth forgets they're yellow and just thinks it's a carrot! Such a weird phenomenon!

This morning came several times for me! DJ woke just about 1 last nite to pee and was extremely clingy...I laid down with him (and probably shouldn't have) for a few minutes and then left him to fall back to sleep. About 3:15 (what is it with my kids and this time of day!??!) he came in trying to lay down beside me and sleep with us...but I got up and marched him back to his own bed. Again, he wasn't happy with me. Then, at 6:30 I felt him again come into our bed, but this time, I threw him in the middle of us and rolled over to sleep...and couldn't as I needed to pee! UGH! Just about 8 he got up for the day...and found Samantha....they each found their sippy cups in the fridge and were content til Howie got up. I tried sleeping some more, but it wasn't enough! Just after 9:30 I got up and showered and dressed for the day.

About 11 we took off for Lynnwood to attend Jake's football team BBQ...they do one every year to welcome the Freshmen and to make any announcements as the majority of parents do come. This is our 3rd year! Jake is officially a Junior this year....so strange to me! He was half his age when I met him and finishing up Grade 2 and now he's going into Grade 11....just insane how fast this time flew! The kids enjoyed seeing him too!

When we got done, we did a couple Avoning things and then headed home. I tried to get Howie to stop at the store on the way home, but he didn't want to deal with "fair traffic" which was ridiculously easy! Plus, if you use the back ways, even easier! We even had sleeping children! Funny thing too...we were driving along Main St (there'd been a parade this morning) and saw a Mater truck (full size!!!!) pulling out of the BBQ joint we like, and Howie said "sometimes you wish he was awake, like now, and others you wish he were sleeping! Can't win" I wasn't quick enough to snap a photo of it...and it didn't follow us...bummer! He would have liked that!

Once home and kids dealt with, I got busy stamping up the latest batch of brochures my upline gave me for my Safeway spot...since I was going to town, I might as well restock my section! Good thing too! There were only 2 books left there. I also bumped into the hairdresser I used to deal with at a salon that shut down...she's hoping to open her own place up in the next month or so! Then I'll get my customers back!!! Whew! 

After dinner I bathed the kids...DJ was filthy from playing outside and Samantha had pig tails in her hair that needed washing out. That and I like my kids to smell good! :) Didn't take much for them to go to bed either...which was nice! Howie went shortly after that, so I took a trip to the shed to see what was new! Took my neighbour with me too...we each got quite a bit! YUM! Then I came back and watched two, yes 2!!!, movies!
Love's Enduring Promise and Love's Unending Legacy....both from Janette Oak. I think I have 2 more left in dvr. Probably shouldn't have watched the second one, but I was knitting up a storm tonite! And on size 4 needles!! I hate going that small, but it sure is looking nice! I'm attempting leg warmers for SamSam...I found some old patterns, and I do mean OLD!, that my Grams gave me a while back....looked easy enough!

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

By 5:30 this evening

I was more than ready for the monsters children to be in bed!!! It was just one of those days where DJ was standing, then jumping, then trampling my last nerve!!!

This morning I got a call from the neighbours asking if I could watch the boys as Michaela was not home and they both had Dr appts...absolutely not a problem!!! These kids are well behaved and get along great with my two!!! About 9:30 they came over and somehow my children transformed into monsters.

DJ got very possessive about anything and everything...and felt the need to show off....which I find ODD to say the least as these kids have been in our home before. Maybe not all 3 of them at one time, but they're not new to us! Therefore, Mr DJ got time out a few times....so annoying!!! In the end the sun did come out and the 4 younger ones went outside to bounce around on the trampoline....then downstairs, then back outside, then inside...they were all over the place!

Avon got delivered, so I worked on that and got everything stamped and ready to go! Not to mention, played with the new demos I got! The latest....a heated eyelash curler!!! Its AWESOME!!!! Uses an AAA battery and gets nice and warm! No more metal clamps yanking your eyelashes! I can't wait to use it tomorrow!

The kids went home just after noon, so I got busy making lunch for my two whiny brats. I then decided that Samantha was going to forgo her nap and we'd head over to the shed for my Friday work. Sorting, loading and sharing the books! What a chore today! At least I had help! Two people showed up and gave me quite the hand!! Awesome! Then we headed to Goodwill and then the library. I'd promised the kids we'd return their books and get new ones. Such excitement!! I think DJ's favourite part is checking the books out himself! Sam even got to do one book! I even had an older gent ask me how old Samantha was, she was busy yammering at him, and he commented on how articulate she is...HA! She is no where near articulate! She just happens to say "library" and "Avon" quite well! lol

Once done there, we headed to deliver a couple orders, but no one was home! So we headed home! We were one street away and Samantha was still awake...by the time I pulled up to our driveway (literally 2 minutes later) she was sound asleep! 4:30 is NOT a good time to take a nap!! But she took one! I got everything but her unloaded and in the house, and by the time I went out to wake her at 5, she was just waking! Within the next half hour, they drove me crazy enough to want them in bed early!

After dinner DJ headed outside to play with the boys, and Samantha did what she wanted to do...inside, outside, inside, outside....she played with the Canadian flag, twirled it, spread it out, wore it like a skirt, yelled at DJ from inside, yelled at DJ while standing on the front porch...she was content!

Finally, it was just about 8 and that meant pajamas!!! I got SamSam into hers first, and read two books to her, then DJ came in just as we were about to brush her teeth. Once she was in bed, I focused on getting him in bed! I had 'em both down by 8:30! Not too bad for on my own! DJ salvaged the whole day by asking if he could add my feet to his prayers. They're doing okay, but that new skin is SOOO sensitive!!!

I watched Eureka and then a movie I dvr'd last week. Hallmark channel ran the Jeanette Oak   series of movies, so I started at the beginning and watched  Love Comes Softly....even tho I've seen it a couple times! And I still cried at the end!! Such a good series!! I remember reading the books....I may even still have them to pass on to Samantha when she's old enough!

Howie got home just about midnite, as I'd wiped the last tear away from the movie, and pretty much went straight to bed! He'd been invited out to watch women's football...yeah...and, they play in their undies...nice eh?

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

It was a Fair day

And yet, so UNfair at the same time!!!

This morning we got up and got ready to leave...the plan was to go to the fair!! The weather was supposed to be 60 and sunny...it wasn't! It was gray and drizzly! Unfair!!! Thankfully I grabbed our coats on the way out the door...y'know, just in case! Good thing too!! We had them on before we got out of  the truck!!

Today was the start of the Evergreen State Fair here in Monroe, and with it being the first day, anyone and everyone could get in free before 1pm! By now, you should know that me and FREE get along just fine!!! I already had a schedule from when I tried dropping off my knitting, so I knew kinda what I wanted to accomplish today. Plus, the Mommy & Me group had listed a few things.

We arrived shortly after 11 after parking at the church and walking a mile...free parking is nice! We missed the pig races as they started at 11, so I tried figuring out where the stage was that the Reptile man was going to be at...got SOOOO turned around!! And could not find ONE person who looked like they were working the grounds and would know where it was...wait, I stand corrected...I found 3 people AT the show! We did finally catch it and got to see maybe 10 minutes of it. At this point its really coming down so we stood under a canopy with benches. DJ was able to tell Howie at dinner that he saw a rattle snake, a turtle and something else, so obviously it made an impression him. The next thing I wanted to hit up was the Lumberjack show...thankfully it wasn't too far away from where we were! AND the rain let up!

The kids ate their lunch while they enjoyed watching the lumberjacks compete against each other. I think I was the only one impressed of the 3 of us...DJ didn't say much about it when we talked about it all at dinner. The rain started up again about half way thru the show, so I got the umbrella up to protect us. Once it was done tho, we took cover in a building and walked around looking at things. I'd already told DJ that today was a looking day, not a spending day. He did perfectly fine with it and not once did I hear "OH Mummy PUHLEEEEZE!!!?!?!?" He may be too young for that yet, but still, he did awesome!! Even when we were walking among all the food vendors he did great!

After walking thru the concessions we headed for the petting zoo...conveniently located JUST past the kiddie land of rides! DJ mentioned a few he'd like to go on, which looked fun for his age...but when I checked out the ticket prices, I about died!!! 1 ticket is 1.00....and each ride is 3 tickets or more! That's INSANE!!!!!!!!  I remember going to the fair and each ticket being .25 cents!! How on earth has inflation gone up THAT much in 30 years!??! Honestly! We just kept on walking....

The tent before the petting zoo had a straw maze for the kids...they were each given a basket and told to collect stuff from each station to take to the grocer....eggs, apples, potatoes and then milking a cow (thankfully, not a real cow!) and then sort out their stuff into the grocers bins. DJ said this was his favourite part of the day!!! The petting zoo was kinda lame...the one we went to in June at Forest Park was a thousand times better!! This was small and cramped feeling! At least they had a hand washing station right outside of it, both kids got cleaned up!

As the rains were heavy again, we went into the Arts & Crafts building...I wanted to check out my competition had I entered my stuff in correctly. It was hard to see who actually would have been my competition as everything was laid out on top of each other and there were no real "categories" in the laying out of stuff. Still, there were definitely some expert stuff, and some very novice stuff....maybe next year!

The last building we did was the second concessions building...who knew there were that many leaf guard protection plans!!! And hot tub vendors!!! I did see Avon, and then Mary Kay, and then Cookie Lee, Partylight, Tupperware...you name it! At this point, my feet were aching and I decided to call it a day!

You see, I thought I'd be smart and wear running shoes, with socks! BAAAAAAAAD idea!! Very, very, VERY bad idea!!! By the time we got to the tunnel to the parking lot to get out, I had to stop and loosen the laces as my feet were feeling so cramped. Then, before we got to Hwy 2 to go back to the church, I took the socks off...I was wanting to cry with every step I took it hurt that bad! Once we crossed Hwy 2 and got onto the sidewalk, the shoes came OFF!!! I walked barefoot the last 1/4 mile in the rain....upon further inspection, I had an incredibly RAW baby toe on the right foot and a blister on the INSIDE of my big toe on the right...who gets those!?!? Turns out, the other big toe inside has a small one too, but it didn't break open! I drove home barefoot!!!! On top of all that, my toe nails, which aren't long by any means, are all smooshed into my toes...like runner's toe. If I could chop 'em off, I would! Try keeping two kids and a dog from stepping on your feet!

Since we weren't home last nite for sketti nite, tonite became sketti nite make up nite! The kids happily ate ALL their dinner!! And then had a wonderful luxurious bath. And promptly went to bed! Never heard a peep from either one!! Whew! Howie and I watched Wipeout from the other nite and then he went to bed! Now, its my turn! Early for a change!
Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

P.S. the rains have only gotten HEAVIER throughout the day....garden's gettin a good drink tonite!

Things that go bump in the night

Usually involve a child!!

This time it was Samantha!! She bumped into our bed at 3:15 and scared the sleep outta me!!! She didn't say anything and then it got quiet. So I roll over, get comfy thinking she went back to her room when I hear her sigh...so I hit a button on my phone to make it somewhat visible in the room and she's laying on the floor sleeping. The light goes out and I'm laying there debating on whether to leave her, let Howie deal with her, or move her back to her bed. If I left her and Howie dealt with her, chances are, I'd wake up to that...so I got out of bed and moved her back to her room. I picked her up and she said "Mummy!" like she was happy to see me! Went back to sleep easily too! Thankfully, so did I! Whew!

Then DJ joined me at 7 and was restless...by 7:45 he was out in the living room watching tv. Sam wasn't too long after that. My sister says I should enjoy these obscene moments as one day when my nest is empty I'll be missing them....hmmm I'll have to ask my mom about that one! LOL

We had no plans for the day today, so we just hung out at home puttering....looking back, I probably should have started some laundry, but I didn't. The kids were having a rather co-operative day, which is always nice! I've noticed Samantha is getting braver....meaner...more retaliating....she's starting to find her ground as far as DJ bullying her goes....nice to see, but at the same time, she can't be mean just to be mean...fine line! Fun times!

Once Sam was down for her nap DJ and I settled to watch Veggie Tales....til he heard the neighbours arrive home...then he was outside faster than I could say yes! He changed into his swim trunks on the stairs...better than outside on the front porch I guess...lol

As soon as Sam got up I got her in her swim suit as we were headed over to a friends house for a swim and dinner. Such fun!! DJ was actually more interested in the food she had set out than jumping in the pool upon arrival! Sam decided she wanted to go in, so I got in...and then she backed out on me...but the water was awesome, so I stayed in! I did grab her and bring her in, and the fussing wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be..and she eventually let me just hold her at arms length while she kicked her legs. In fact, she even let me dunk her...just that one time tho! But hey, it's progress! I'm setting the stage for next year!

About 8 we packed up and came the all of 4 minutes home! Awesome drive! lol The kids went right into pj's and then bed after teeth brushings! Howie wasn't too far behind them! He's gotta go in early tomorrow so off he went! I happened on a movie Remember the Titans.....quite by accident. What a phenomenal movie!! Based on true events one year before my birth. Who knew a football movie would have me in tears!!! Fabulous!! It was made in 2000, so it was nice to see some actors we've grown up watching be in this movie and look SO young! If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it, you don't have to be a football player/fanatic to enjoy it! :)

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

P.S. I got my first birthday card in the mail...had me laughing out loud too!!!!