Puppies are cute!

Today's conversation with Kye:

Me: Your so cute!

Kye: No I not cute, puppies are cute, ballerinas are cute, I not cute, I Kye!


So I guess he told me. I am sure that line came from one of those way annoying Noggin shows that he watches way to much of. When did three year olds get so sarcastic anyways?

Go Elf Yourself!

Thanks to Feather I spent no money on a Saturday night and laughed like I blew a paycheck at a girls karaoke night out. These are just so stinking funny, I couldn't help but copy. I think you should do the same, but first watch ours!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Frying turkey with the K's

So every year fir a while Keith has wanted to fry our turkey but we never got around to buying a fryer......................... until this year. We did it, his Thanksgiving wish came true and I am going to share the story with you!

Step 1- Buy the fryer. Upon opening the box immediately point out to everyone around how many pieces the fryer is in (this can be used later on to impress them with your techincal talents).

Step 2- Put the fryer together with the help of some handy buddies.

Step 3- Ensure the turkey is completely defrosted, you can do this by asking your wife 1347 times when the turkey was put out to thaw. If that does not reassure you then feel free to throughly inspect the turkey leaving your wife to wonder about how much you're actually enjoying this step

Step 4- Pore the oil in the fryer and then realize you didn't get enough because once again you didn't listen to your wife and tried to take the cheap way out. This step could very easily lead to a Thanksgiving fight so suck it up and put on your best, damn-she-is-right-again-face. This will cause her to once again feel victory and then she will not mind leaving to go get more oil.

Step 5- Carry the turkey to the fryer and submerge into the oil. Prior to step 5 you might want to reiterate how dangerous this is so that the peanut gallery stays back. This will ensure no one is up close in case of mishaps.


Step 6- Wait the allotted time, which is established by a debate with your wife and then a search of google. Enjoy the wait with friends and family.

Step 7- Take the turkey out, this can be another tricky step that can be up for a lot of debate. Everyone will have an idea on how this can be done best, go with your gut.
At the last minute realize you are about to burn your friends arms and switch cooking mittens

Step 8- pose with the finished product




Step 9- Enjoy



As you can see by the end result we all thought it was a great turkey!

Letting go and being thankful

Growing up I always felt like I had the best Dad in the world. This is because he made me feel loved, always. He called me his little buddy and always told me he loved me more than anything. My dad told me I could be anything I put my mind to, my dad told me he was proud of me, my dad told me he would do anything for me. I truly felt special because of my father's love.

People on the outside saw a different man, my dad is an alcoholic, my dad has been in and out of jail, my dad has lost a lot of jobs and spent a lot of time unemployed. My dad has picked up and moved from state to state. My dad has lived under different aliases

The last time I saw my dad was about 3 years ago for about 15 mins. He was passing through town and needed some money. Before that it was about 5 years ago that we spent the day together and I got to introduce him to my husband and his grandson. When we talk on the phone he ends the conversation quickly. I don't blame him because the conversations are awkward and strained. It is truly like two strangers talking.

I have spent the last 8 or 9 years angry and hurt over this. I questioned how he could just not care to participate in my life. Why he didn't want to be a part of his grand children's lives. I have cried over missing him, felt guilty about not trying harder, guilty about moving on.

Last night I was laying in bed thinking about all this. I was upset and crying but then something came to me and I thought about it differently. I am who I am today because of him. I had his love and his confidence that enabled me to go on with my life and achieve what I have. So instead of focusing on what I don't have from him now i need to focus on what I took away from him then. I am thankful I knew a father's love. I am thankful that he instilled morals and values in me. I am thankful that I was his little buddy. I am thankful he taught me right from wrong.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am going to call him and tell him exactly that. It is probably something he would love to hear. I think maybe he don't feel good enough and a little ashamed of his life choices. Maybe he needs to know he did a great job and I am proud to be his daughter. Maybe it took me a long time to realize that.

The Secret is in the Sauce: Welcome!

The Secret is in the Sauce: Welcome!

I just wanted to share this wonderful blog with anyone that might be interested. It is a network of bloggers that are there to support others and also offers a way to find new blogs to follow and maybe snag a new reader or two. The secret is in the sauce and you'll notice the button on my sidebar that will take you there also. Go ahead you know you want to check it out, all the cool kids are doing it!

Project #2

Well as I said here, I am no interior decorator but I try. Last night I worked on a couple of walls. My friend came over and helped me so that I wasn't a complete mess and didn't single handedly destroy the place. Here is the end result of my efforts.

Introducing Larry

I went to see Kastan in a play at school today. He really isn't into the whole drama thing so getting details out of him was like pulling teeth. I did fid out he didn't want to try for a speaking part, he wanted to be a turkey. He got the part! He said most kids got the part they tried for. He really does not like this stuff though. He would not practice with me. In fact in the middle of the singing portion he was on stage yawning. He is still the cutest turkey I have ever seen, what do you think???



Of course the day couldn't bewithout drama, as I was picking out his clothes this morning hesays oh yeah Mom I need to wear brown for the play. GREAT!! We pulled it out but I just wish I would of gotten a little more notice!

The countdown is on!!!!!!

I know this time of year there are many countdowns going on for people. Some for the different holidays, some for the new year, some for the time family gets in town and then another for when family leaves. My countdown is for THIS!!!!


It's Britney Bitch!!! I am a huge fan, I love her. I think she has rockin body and I love the way she dances. I know she isn't the best singer vocally but she is a complete entertainer. LOVE HER!!!!

Now I know she went off the deep end and lost her mind. I can't make any excuses for the decisions she made with her kids and marriage and all the craziness. All that was wack but I still lllloooovvvveee her!

This one time in Cancun

I want to share the story behind my picture on Top Momma. It is the one with the back of the boys in a swimming pool. We were in Cancun for my little sisters wedding. It was a couple of days before the wedding and we were just hanging out at the pool. It was me and my two boys, my sister and her little girl, my mom, the happy couple, some of the grooms friends, my cousin and the grooms mother. So many more adults than children.

The pool we were at was wonderful, it had the mats in the pool to lay out on, the water was only about a foot deep. You can see how the cirled around that cement ball which was a fountain. There was a ledge that lead to the deeper water that was about 5 feet deep and a bar in the pool. Great set up!

My sister asked me to take a picture of her next to the ball/fountain type thing. We are totally those cheesy posing picture girls. So we were focusing on the photo shoot, I was totally into getting the proper Myspace angle and then she yells oh no! I look to where she is running to and see nothing but my little boys curls in the deep end. There was no noise, no commotion just the top of his little head. I could see he was trying to swim and moving his arms like an octopus. My sister pulls him up and hands him to me. The way I feel is indescribable. He takes a deep breath and puts his head against my shoulder. He is very calm and peaceful. Not even 5 minutes later he is ready to get down and play.

It was so scarey, I still get a sick to the stomach feeling when I think about it. I feel so guilty that I relaxed that much while we were in the water. I feel guilty that I wasn't even the one to notice, I feel sad thinking about the what ifs. I am tahnkful nothing serious happened. I get nervous realizing that drowning is such a silent danger.

I am very thankful that everything turned out ok and use this as a reminder for water safety forever.

Nothing Cool but I am trying.

Since becoming a top momma two days ago I have felt the pressure to come up with more exciting and fun posts. I spent all day today thinking about a new category for Friday's posts. You know something like fun Friday, funky Friday, fashion Friday.

Nothing is coming to me. My friend Jodi has shoe Friday and that is really neat. I would like to steal I mean do something similar but for one thing I don't have regular readers and two I know I would probably not keep up with it and then the few readers I do have would hate me.

So I guess this brings me back to the point, I have a nothing cool friday, anyone have any ideas????

Remember the Kids

When I started working at Social Services one of my duties was to transport the foster care children to appointments, to visits and to new foster parents. It was very taxing on my emotions but also rewarding in a sense also.

The first time I ever did a transport it was an 18 month old little boy that was just taken into custody. I had to take him from one foster parent to another for just a break. We were stopped at a red light next to Ruby Tuesday and this little boy just lit up and was so excited. I have no clue what made him so happy about this place but he was excited.

When I dropped him off at the other house he started crying and reaching up to me calling me Mommy. It was so hard to walk out of that door, he was scared. I did manage to get in the agency's vehicle before I busted out crying. I wanted to go back and just hug that little boy. He was only 6 months older than my Kye.

Two days later I had to go pick up this same little boy to take him to his new foster care parents house. I was told that I would need to get all of his stuff because he wouldn't be returning to the first foster care house. When I got there to pick up the sweet boy I was prepared to lug his stuff to the car. He only had to plastic grocery bags of stuff, that was it. That is all this little boy had. I pack more for my sons to go to daycare than this little boy owns.

I share this story with you to remind you to do a little to help the children in foster care in your area. We set up a tree so people can choose a child or a present to buy for the children in our area. This is similar to the ones Salvation Army sets up but I don't know that it is as well known. Take the time to call your local social services ad find out what you can do to help these sweet kids that will be away from their families these holidays.

Thank You.

Top Momma Top Momma

I am on top momma, finally check me out and help me stay on top, click here!!!! Then click my picture of the boys in the pool, they are the cuties you see from the back it was my stab at protraying brotherly love! Check Check Check it out!

I am so excited, I have been waiting a while and now I need to start posting more exciting and enjoyable posts!

Thanksgiving

So next week is Turkey Day and we are just now deciding what we are doing. My family lives to far away so that is not an option. Usually my Mother in law has Thanksgiving at her house. This year my sister in law is going to her in-laws and my father in law is working. So my mother in law asked if I minded having it at my house and she would come over to help cook.

So we are having an easy small dinner.

Home is Where the Heart Is

Kye comes home from preschool saying some of the cutest things. Tonight he said Home is where the heart is. Then he told me to say it and then wanted his brother to say it. Once we all said it he busted out laughing.

Kastan made A honor roll and has perfect attendance for first quarter. He really is such an easy kid, makes me so proud!

I love my kids!

Only I can make me have a bad day

I really have to remember that it is me who determines my day. Today I let some silly work stuff effect my day and put me in a bad mood. It boils down to being over 15 mins, really? I let 15 mins ruin my mood.

I just need to process situations and filter emotions so that I don't get so wrapped up on things that should not matter. I am sad to admit I even brought it home with me and have been snippy towards Keith and the boys.

A friend of mine has the following quote in her signature block, I don't know who it is from but it is so true.

"The difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude."

Trying to figure out my faith and beliefs

Last Saturday night as I was just chillin at the house not doing anything I heard a knock on the door. I opened it to find to young ladies from the Church of Latter Day Saints. My first instinct was to just get them to go away but these poor young girls were so determined to get me to listen. I did for a few minutes, not openly but just as a courtesy because they were so passionate about their beliefs. I admired them for that but was not really interested in their message. I exchanged pleasantries with them and they were gone.

That visit did cause me to think and for the 6837th time I tried to figure out where I stand on the faith spectrum. I still am at lost for where I stand.

I was not raised in a religious environment. My parents used the excuse that they wanted to leave it up to us to decide but the truth is they were just lazy and had o beliefs themselves. I remember feeling so left out not having a faith base in my life because it was like a status system. In our neighborhood the Catholic Church was regarded as the most prestigious. I remember one time when I was in high school a friend and I went to a local Catholic Church to get information so we could start going. The man that we spoke to was very dismissive and said you don't just become Catholic it is a process with classes. There was no invitation to join or learn just a feel of disapproval from him. We left embarrassed and from then on I have held on to a grudge towards the whole Catholic Faith.

My sister in law has discovered her faith within the last five years. She married a pastor and has totally, completely changed who she is. I am still trying to figure out who I like more. I know I am SUPPOSED to like this new person that totally lives for her God but a lot of it seems so dramatic and fake. That is such a judgemental thing to say but really that is how I interpret the transformation. I am happy that she is happy and feels better for the commitment she now has.

I have gone to a variety of churches trying to find my relationship with God. I come out empty handed, I don't ever feel that over powering feeling that makes me jump, shout and speak a different language. I don't even get that close feeling that makes me want to cry. I just stand there observing to try an ensure I am doing all the right steps as far as praying, bowing, giving money, clapping and singing.

I just don't know if there is even a God. I mean if there is he sure has a weird sense of humor and can be down right cruel. I don't understand how people can say things happen for a reason. I don't see why innocent children should suffer as much as some children do, I don't see why some people are so "blessed" and others live suffer with no food, homes and other tragedies.

I grew up in a disadvantaged, abusive, neglectful home. There were times there was no food and I dug out of a scrap trash box from a local BBQ Restaurant trash to feed myself and my sisters. My parents drank every single night and then fought and made up in the same night. That was of course after they physically and mentally abused us. My mom finally left when I was 12, she took my little sisters with her. I found her note where she wrote she couldn't stand me because I looked too much like my dad. That is why she left me to fend for myself. My best friend from school's mom took me in because she saw what I was living in and what was going on.

I worked all through high school, not a part-time job but 40 hours a week. I joined the Army and worked my ass off to have what I have and to change my children's life. I feel slighted when people minimize my efforts by saying that is god blessing me. No that is my blood, sweat and tears, I did that. Besides did I not deserve his blessings back then? Why did I have to earn his blessings?

I am struggling here trying to figure out what I believe and what I should teach my kids. I wish I had that strong belief and passion I witnessed in those girls last Saturday. Maybe one day but for now I have a lot of anger to deal with.

Dream Eagle

While reading my friend Heidi's blog I thought about how much I love dreams. I like to hear about people's dreams, I like to talk about my dreams, dreams are just so interesting to me. So yeah I am one of those people that say, let me tell you about this dream I had and expect you to be just as excited about them. I am a good listener to other dream tellers also.

Last night I had a dream that Keith died, it was so sad. My sister told me to not worry because my mom had a life insurance on him and I would be receiving $133.00 a month. In my dream all that made it better money wise but I was so sad, I even woke up crying.

That so much wasn't a good dream and of course the day I want to post about dreams that is what I have to draw from. I must say I thik my little Kye is a vivid dreamer also. He is always laughing, crying and talking in his sleep.

So what about you, do you remember your dreams?

Locked Out

So today as I get home from a long rainey day at work, I go to pull out my house keys.....guess what? They are not there. Great!

So I pick up the phone to call my dear, sweet husband. Of course that was an instant fight because it is more important to pin point whose fault it is than to determine a solution. I have always beena quick thinker so I load the boys up and we head out to dinner.

I had a wonderful dinner with my little men. We went to this local italian restaurant. It was yummy and the company was great. The we walked around a couple of stores. Nice little impromptu dinner-date!

Crazy Book Worms

I like a good book just like the next guy but with the time constraints that is my life I am not really a regular at the local Barnes and Nobles. Enter Kastan, supreme book lover into my life. Grandma and Grandpa got him a gift card to the book store for his birthday. I decided to take him this Sunday.

OH

MY

GOODNESS

That is just a whole little packed psycho world of its own. The parking lot alone was a freaking circus. You really have to be serious to get a parking spot. I just drove around watching the determined look people had in their eyes as they focused and whipped into their spots. SCAREY

We go inside and Kastan is in heaven, he loved it. I bet he touched every book in the young readers section..............he just could not make a decision. He did eventually decide on The Diary of a Whimpy Kid and some animal guide.

Of course no trip out would be the same without a melt down. Kye wanted this $25.00 Backyardigan Book, only for the freaking flute attached to it. I gave him the choice of 3 books that did not include some plastic toy on it and it all ended well.

If it was up to me I don't know if I would ever go back to the crazy book worm world but as a mother of a crazy book worm I think I might have to do it more than I would like!

Movie Time

So as I mentioned yesterday I had a girls day and we went shopping, ate lunch and watched a movie. We went to see The Secret Life of Bees Oh my goodness what a great movie. I cried so hard and just loved it. If you get the chance to go watch it, do it! Take a friend and some tissues.

OK maybe some of it is me

Picture this a day off, dear husband at work, sweet kiddos in school, house, bed and day to yourself............sounds so nice huh?.........almost fairy-taleic (new word there you like?)That is my reality today.

In preparation for my day of peace I laid out clothes for the munchkin, signed all paperwork, had back packs ready to deploy. I wanted to ensure there was nothing to get in my way of sleeping in and relaxing.

Guess what, it didn't work out that way. I spring out of bed the first beep of Keith's alarm. Just like a happy little fresh face bunny. I get the boys up, dress the one that still refuses to even try to put on a single article of clothing without mommy. I kissed the husband on the way out the door. Then I get started on cleaning the house...........huh?...............really?

I did of course make time for the bloggy-blog and my other online fun! Then today I am meeting two friends for lunch and a movie so I am having "me" time.

So maybe all my complaining about doing everything and Keith doing nothing might be a little one sided and dramatic but you guys understand right?

I would of hauled ass

Today started out as any typical day does, me rushig aroud like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get myself and the boys dressed, fed, cleaned and out the door by 7:15.

I do try to pick up some of the disaster I make in the mornings along with remembering to set out something for dinner. I also have to squeeze in last mintue details of school stuff the boys need. I then get a fun filled day at work.

Today on the way home I ask DH if he is going to be able to pick up the kids so that I can start dinner because Kastan has basketball tryouts tonight. He agreed and I went straight home and got dinner in the oven, folded and put away a load of laundry and ran the vacum. I get a call from Keith asking where Kastan is. After I almost passed out from worry I remember it is Monday and once again I forgot he was at bowling. I tell Keith that which he sarcastically says, "I wish you would of told me because then I would of hauled ass". Really? You would have? Well that is nice because I have been hauling ass ALL day. I will continue to haul ass because I still have to go to the bank, feed the kids and get him to basketball practice.

The man is going to drive me crazy, along with those boys of his!!! Even with all that as corney as it sounds I really do love my hectic Mommy/Wife life and I love it because I share it with my K's!!!

What happened to good tv?

I am talking the good dramtic reality shows I fell in love with so long ago? I used to be so totally addicted to several shows. In fact I think I had a show every week night. I love Survivor, Amazing Race, Real World, Big Brother, American Idol, DR 90210. Wow maybe I had a slight problem, what do you think?

Lately though I just can't get into them. It is like the producers all got together and agreed to cast the most boring people and compete for the bore-me-to-death award. I am sad I have nothing to waste my life too.

Hair Cut

So as much as I love my lil guy's curls I have to be realistic and accept the fact he is not a she and so I need to do better with the haircut thing. Today I took him to get the 2nd hair cut of his life and he is such a ham! He absolutely loved getting all the attention from the girls there. I mean just talking to everyone, batting his eyes and being a show off. He sat real still and my little man is just as cute as ever. Here are some pictures of the finished product!

Decor

Well I am sad to say that I have been born with out the decorator's touch. I wish I had that natural woman's sense to know what looks good and how to decorate. The truth is I am useless. I have no clue what looks good and what is in style.

Now that we have moved in to our new home I am trying. I first came up with this little ensemble for the family room.

I also picked new furniture and picked out pillows for the furniture, here they are

My next project is redoing our bedroom. I just bought this set

I like my small little baby steps. The problem is everything is the same color. It is not my intention to camoflauge the whole house with the same colors but it seems to be happening. Oh well baby steps, I will get there someday!