Picture Me

Lisa at Life With Our Little Ladies tagged me for this photo Meme. It is a nice change of pace from 7 random things, so here we go!

1. Age at next birthday.



2. Place I would like to travel.



3. Favorite place.



4. Favorite food.



5. Favorite animal.



6. Favorite color.



7. Town I was born.



8. Name of past pet.



9. Name of past love. ('Brent' geese)



10. My first name.



11. Bad habit I have.



12. First job.



13. Grandmother's name.



14. College major.



This was kind of fun! I am now tagging I Don't Want A Title, Such Simple Pleasures and The Vasquez 3. Here are the rules: Type the answer to each question into a Google image search, and you pick an image from the first page of results.

How Can You Deny That Face?

Jack: Mom, I need help writing my Christmas list for Santa.
Me: Okay, I have some paper and a pen right here
Jack: Will you write it for me?
Me: Sure, what should I write?
Jack: Monster truck Power Wheels
Me: Okay, what else?
Jack: Wait a minute; I need you to tell Santa how many I want
Me: What?
Jack: I want two Power Wheels, one for me and one for the babies to share.
Me: Okay, I will put 2, and what else do you want.
Jack: Two toy talking snowmans
Me: What?
Jack: Don't worry they aren't real!
Me: Why do you want two?
Jack: Because I like them.
Me: Okay, what else?
Jack: Maybe Santa would like it better if I wrote it myself?
Me: I bet you are right!
Jack: How do you spell Power Wheels?
Me: P-O-W-E-R W-H-E-E-L-S
Jack: Oh shoot, I ran out of room, Santa will never know what I wrote, can I start over?
Me: Yep, here is a new piece of paper
Jack: How do you spell Power Wheels?
Me: P-O-W-E-R W-H-E-E-L-S
Jack: I am going to skip the snowmans since it is too much to write, how do you spell remote control car?
Me: R-E-M-O-T-E C-O-N-T-R-O-L C-A-R
Jack: Maybe you should make your Christmas list too?
Me: Good idea, what should I ask for?
Jack: How about one more Jack since you like me so much?
Me: (writing it down) Good idea!
Jack: But you better ask for a robot Jack because elves can't make another Jack, only God.

Is he the cutest kid or what? How can I not buy that damn Power Wheels after that? He worked so hard to write the list himself, he even thought of his brother and sister, then to throw the knock out punch added how much I love him and God into the conversation.

3, 4, 5 Meme

Several of my bloggy friends have been doing this Meme and since I am avoiding putting the lights on the tree I thought I would give it a try.

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments.. what is it?

1. Produce: avocados (if they are in season)
2. Bakery: fresh tortillas
3. Meat: chicken
4. Frozen: Margarita mix
5. Dairy: Pepper jack cheese

Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?

1. Jeans
2. flip-flops
3. t-shirt

If I was to listen in on your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?

1. For the love
2. Stop whining
3. You're killing me
4. No hitting
5. I love you!

So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?

1. taking my Zoloft! :)
2. exercise
3. cuddling with the kids

We're talking a 3-hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?

1. taking a bath with a glass of wine
2. napping
3. sewing
4. reading
5. blogging

We are going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it'll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?

1. Elephants
2. Monkeys
3. Giraffes

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on TV. of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?

1. Oprah
2. Dr. Phil
3. Two And A Half Men
4. Good Morning America

You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?

1. Chocolate with Heath Bar
2. French Vanilla
3. Butter Pecan

Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?

1. a full McDonald's milk
2. Goldfish crackers
3. pictures of the kids
4. credit cards, no cash
5. matchbox cars

You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let's pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?

1. doctor
2. mommy
3. photographer
4. bartender

If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say?

1. Don't quit swimming, it won't hurt you!
2. Those skinny cheerleaders are going to end up fat.
3. You are pretty.
4. If they don't like you for who you are they aren't worth your time!

Reading 101

Jack: What does your shirt say?
Me: It says "I'm from Nebraska"

This shirt is complements of my SIL and BIL, thanks guys! Don't worry mom, I am only wearing it to Pilates and I will promptly remove it when I get home!

I'm Back

I started writing a post on Thanksgiving Day about what I am thankful for, then my sister-in-law woke up and we starting chatting and the post didn't get finished. I am now kind of done with thinking about what I am thankful for. I was going to put something about how I am thankful for my husband, he is swell, but I don't really have time to put it into words right now. Here is the beginning of my Thanksgiving post:

1. I am incredibly thankful to the nice police officer that I accidentally passed on the way to the doctor yesterday.

Me: Shit!
Jack: What's wrong mom?
Me: Well, we are going to get a speeding ticket.
Jack: Why?
Me: We were going to fast.
Officer: Can I get your license and proof of insurance?
Me: (handing over my stuff) Hi, how's it going?
Officer: Good thank you. Do you know why you were stopped this afternoon?
Me: Yes, we were hurrying because we are late for a doctor appointment.
Officer: Do you know what the speed limit here is?
Me: 65
Officer: Do you know how fast you were going?
Me: Probably about 75
Officer: I clocked you going 87, that is too fast to be going with 3 little kids in the car.
Me: You are absolutely correct, sorry.
Officer: (handing back my stuff without running anything) Okay, well slow down and have a great weekend.
That's right, I didn't get a ticket for going 87 in a 65. So, here's to you officer, THANKS!

2. I am thankful for the way Jack can make me laugh everyday!

Jack: What is that inflatable in Mr. Paul's yard?
Me: (breaking into song) Tom, Tom Turkey, Tom, Tom, Turkey, Run Away, Run Away, Thanksgiving Day is coming...
Jack: (interrupting) Tom Turkey does not wear a hat and does not have a beard. That chicken is wearing a top hat and has a red beard!
Me: I don't think that is a beard; I think that is his gobbler.
Jack: What's a gobbler?
Me: I have no idea! You should ask daddy.

3. I am thankful to Travis' previous employer for transferring us to Texas. I love it here, I only wish my parents lived here too!

So anyway, I'm back. We had a great visit with Travis' sister and brother-in-law. It was really nice to hang out with them without the rest of the in-laws. Don't get me wrong, the other in-laws are fine, but I never feel like I can be myself. This was the first time we have actually hung out with them without the MIL or GIL (grandmother-in-law) and it was really fun! They left on Saturday morning and I have been frantically putting up Christmas decorations ever since. Today is the day the cleaning lady comes so I was hoping to have everything up so she could clean up all of the faux pine needles that always end up strewn about the house. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. I am done with everything but putting the lights on the big Christmas tree. At least it is just one room that I will need to re-vacuum!

I am concerned that I am permanently harming poor Lauren. She is going to end up being one of those hermits that live in a filthy hovel. For some reason she is afraid of all things clean. She hates the noise of the vacuum cleaner, but most of all she hates rushing and strange people. She doesn't know the cleaning ladies and they come into the house like a whirlwind; some go upstairs, some head to the kitchen while the remainder start in the bathroom. As soon as they arrive I have to load the kids up and leave so Lauren isn't set into a tailspin. Today when they arrived I was replacing a string of lights on our front stairs that had already gone out, so I quickly finished that project up before heading out. When I was ready to go I couldn't find Lauren. I looked everywhere; it was so strange because she is usually right under foot when the maid arrives. I finally found her curled up in the fetal position on her bed with her little fingers in her ears. Poor baby!

Thankful Me!

I have thankfully been tagged by my pal at Bun In The Oven to post another 7 random things. Thankful, you ask? Yes, you see my kids and I have been incredibly boring the last couple days leaving me with nothing to write about. I have actually sat down at my computer thinking that I have time to blog and can't think of a damn thing to write about! Travis' sister and brother-in-law are arriving today to spend a couple days with us, so I have been cleaning, damn the luck this is an off week for the cleaning lady. I have been formulating a post in my head about what I am thankful for this season, but I figured I would save that until tomorrow. So anyway, here's to you Anne, enjoy!

Seven Random Things!

1. I am a faithful Black Friday shopper! It all started when I was around 10 years old. I started going with my mom, we continued that tradition for nearly 20 years before Travis and I moved to Texas. We studied the ads before and after dinner on Thanksgiving Day to formulate our plan. We made lists of what time the stores opened and what we needed at each one. We would make a plan before we went into each store, "mom, you get in line and I will grab two widgets and be back in a flash!" We would have so much fun laughing at the other shoppers and my sister. We used to drag my sister with us even though she complained the whole time. It really just added to the experience. This will be my third year of shopping alone, unless I can talk my sister in law into coming with me this time! It isn't as fun when you don't have a partner, but I don't let that stop me. I usually try to make friends with other mother/daughter teams, last year I was adopted by a lady who reminded me of my mom! Which reminds me of a lady I met in line while shopping with my mom in Nebraska. I had my list written on my husband's company stationary. I was checking my list when the woman I had been chatting with in line in front of me said, "Did you steal that stationary from work?” I laughed and said "No, my husband did". We went on to figure out that her husband worked with my husband. I was sure to remember her husband's name so I could ask Travis about him. When I got home I told Travis about meeting Chuck's wife in line. The color drained out of his face as he stuttered, "What did you say? He is my boss!" Luckily, I made a good impression and my new line friend told her husband how nice I was! Can you believe how the stores open earlier and earlier each year? Twenty years ago the stores opened at 6am, this year many are opening at 4am and I am actually hitting a sale at the Tommy outlet that starts at midnight Thanksgiving Day!

2. I would pay good money to send Ben and Lauren away to some sort of potty training boarding school. They have them for puppies and they come back house broken, is there a place to send babies? Lauren is going to start wearing pull-ups and panties as soon as my in-laws leave. My goal is to have her potty trained by Christmas. Wish me luck!

3. I saw a family on TV with 9 biological children between the ages of 4 months and 11 years. Something inside of me was insanely jealous. I would love to have a huge family, the only problems are that I hate being pregnant, I don't really enjoy babies until they sleep through the night, my boob job and laser hair removal would be ruined and most importantly, my husband is done. Lisa, I took the test and it was negative...darn.

4. I have a horrible singing voice, but that doesn't stop me from making up new words to songs about what is going on during our day. I just had to stop writing to change Lauren which called for a quick verse of "The poopy chic, the poop, poop, poop, poop, poop, the poopy chic." to the tune of Hippy Chic. I sing "You Are My Jackson" to the tune of You Are My Sunshine and "There was a mommy, had a boy and Benny was his namo, B-E-N-N-Y..." to the tune of Bingo. My kids enjoy it for now, but I am sure it is only a matter of time before they start to notice I can't sing!

5. I can eat more than my husband and most men for that matter! I love food; it takes a lot of self-control to not eat myself into gluttony at every meal. However, I will be letting it all hang out and gorging myself tomorrow and Friday...after all it is Thanksgiving! Stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, oh my! In my younger days I would go to Spaghetti Works, an all you can eat spaghetti place in Nebraska, with several of my male friends and win eating contests!

6. I got first place in my 7th grade science fair for making wine! I think the samples I gave to the judges and my teachers helped get me the win! My dad and grandpa made wine as I was growing up...some good and some bad! They helped me study the chemistry behind fermentation.

7. I hate raisins. They are so disgusting. You don't eat rotten apples or watermelon, why eat rotten dried out grapes? Yuck, what a waste of grapes!

It Didn't Even Take A Free Sign!

When I was growing up we had a great way to get rid of anything from a broken TV to an old refrigerator. We would just take it to our lake house that is in a small rural Nebraska lake community. We would hand make a free sign from old cardboard and a big black marker. If it were something really good we would add a tag line that would say something like "It works!" or "Great beer fridge". We were really lucky if we happened to have a free sign available from our last give away, we could skip the sign-making step. Then we just piled our junk on the side of the road and prominently display the free sign. We often took bets on how long it would take for the treasure to disappear. I really can't remember putting something out one weekend and having it still be there by the next weekend when we returned.

Yesterday we bought a new dining room set, so we had to figure out how to dispose of our old circa 1970 one. Our old dining room set was a hand me down from one of my parent's friends. They had used it for a solid 25 years before deciding they needed to replace it. At the time we had nothing in our dining room so we jumped on the free stuff as though we were still in college. Now, at least 5 years later it is time for us to move on. We had a "special pick-up" scheduled for the garbage man to pick up our old grill so we decided to put the old ghetto dining room set next to it and cross our fingers. Today is garbage day so Travis and I carefully piled everything by the street last night. When Travis left for work this morning the dining room set was gone! It didn't even take a free sign. We live in a nice upper-middle class suburban area, not the kind of place you would troll if you were looking for "free stuff". So, who took it? Was it our neighbor that saw us putting it out? Was it the guy in the white pick-up that we have seen driving slow through the neighborhood at night? Was it the Junk Brothers? That would really piss me off if they put that shit back in my yard! And, what is wrong with the grill? Why didn't they take that? The grill is only 4 or 5 years old, practically new compared to the dining room set!