tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10562877438302153102024-02-19T15:59:09.813-08:00notes on the 3....and other observationskymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-33729459112082672662009-10-16T17:07:00.001-07:002009-10-16T17:10:02.464-07:00candy<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">kiki: i love this peanut butter candy so much, momma.<br />me: glad you like it, sweetie.<br />kiki: it's chewy, but not like tootsie rolls. tootsie rolls give me a headache <span style="font-style: italic;">*taps her head several times with her finger*</span> i don't know why. the world is just crazy like that sometimes.<br /></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-24861304940500174912009-10-12T18:49:00.001-07:002009-10-12T18:51:24.917-07:00the reader<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">muss has asked me three times in the past 24 hours if it is ok for her to just hang out in her room and read. i love that girl.<br /><br />in other news. kiki is hacking up a lung and has a temp of 100.4. no school for her tomorrow.<br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-19017165861304240562009-10-12T18:41:00.000-07:002009-10-16T17:10:54.872-07:00new shoes<span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">scene ~ kiki heads to show muss some shoes she is trying on.<br /><br />muss: where'd you find those shoes, the ugly closet?<br />kiki: momma said they were yours.<br />muss: wow, i had bad taste when i was 4.</span><br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-41441985335845001822009-10-10T18:53:00.000-07:002009-10-12T18:57:07.067-07:00giving it another try<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">so it's been awhile. giving this thing another whirl, but not making any promises.<br /><br />since i was last here, they have repealed that <span style="font-style: italic;">safe haven law</span> i spoke of and thus i have been forced to keep all 3 children. <br /><br />the muss is now in 3rd grade, boo in 1st and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">kiki</span> has finally started preschool. all is well.<br /> <br />i also turned 40. don't tell anyone i actually admitted that.<br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-89028570761490322222008-11-13T21:52:00.000-08:002009-10-12T18:53:09.765-07:00deep breath<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">tonight was a rough night in parenting.<br /><br />i don't really want to go into details and point blame at any one child, but let's just say that i almost utilized that crazy <span style="font-style: italic;">safe haven law</span> we have on the books (temporarily, as it were) and free myself of 2 kids. i would then only have one. which one? he's a boy if that narrows it down. i can't believe of the 3 of them the 5-year-old boy was the best one. he knew momma was about to blow a gasket and to steer clear. the girls, being too much like their mother, did not know when to give up and almost put me over the edge. of a cliff.<br /><br />i calmed down. they are all fine. i need to go over the events of the evening in my mind and find a better way to handle things next time. yes, we all know there will be a next time.<br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-84796360569465266112008-11-12T21:47:00.000-08:002008-11-14T17:59:00.726-08:00piano lessons<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >The Muss started taking piano lessons the beginning of October. Today was only her 6th lesson, but she is almost completely through her first book. Her teacher showers her with praise and tells me how quickly she is picking up the music. She really seems to love it and when she sits down to practice at home will go on for quite a long time. She doesn't practice as much as she should, but I don't make her so it is more my fault.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" >Sometimes, being the oldest, I think she feels like she doesn't get as much attention as the others. She isn't the boy. She isn't the tiny pixie-like toddler flitting about the room. She is the oldest and because she is the oldest she is expected to do more. I was the oldest so I get it. I understand how she is feeling and also understand that later in life she will enjoy being the oldest. More experiences to share, first to go to college, first to leave home, and many other firsts but it still all seems unfair now. We do our best to divide and conquer with the kids giving them each one-on-one time when we can. It is difficult though. We both work outside the home, J. is in school full-time (for not much longer, woohoo!) and there is always so much to do around the house. It is hard to find the time.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" >But for this 1/2 hour a week my dad comes over to babysit Boo & Kiki and I take the Muss to her piano lesson. I sit and listen to her learn the notes, play and sing. She plays sweet duets singing along with her teacher. It is really lovely. She knows I am proud of her and think she is amazing. I really need to tell her that more.</span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-29352856913355963292008-11-11T23:15:00.000-08:002008-11-14T17:59:25.787-08:00veterans' day<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Also my mother's birthday. We had my mother and step-father over for dinner tonight. One of the moments I want to remember is the kids trying to surprise my mother as she came into the house. They hid on the stairs and shushed eachother so loudly that I'm sure my mother heard them as she was coming across the street. As she walked in the door, they jumped down and yelled "SURPRISE!!!" Then the Muss strummed the guitar as the 3 of them sang "Happy Birthday" to her. I got a tear in my eye it was so sweet. They had crafted her some lovely birthday cards and we ate, talked, had cake and played. Good times.</span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-90040800451512403732008-11-10T11:05:00.000-08:002008-11-14T17:59:44.571-08:00diagnosed<span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" >Almost a week since the election. An election that should have invigorated me and I still cannot muster the energy to get off the sofa and cook dinner. What is up? I think I have found the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joel-schwartzberg/i-suffer-from-campaign-wi_b_142137.html" target="_blank">answer</a> ~ </span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" >Now what to do about it... </span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" ></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-76762513496960468282008-11-09T21:52:00.000-08:002008-11-14T18:00:27.056-08:00100 years<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >We had a pretty uneventful weekend I am sad to say. Just not much I could motivate myself to do. Hmmmm, seems to be a pattern here.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" >One thing we did do today was go to the 100th birthday party of a lovely lady from our church. Everyone in my family has known this lady for our entire lives. The Muss was especially excited to go, she just loves her. There were a few hundred people who came by for this event today. I guess when you live for 100 years, you get to know a lot of people. She greeted each one individually hugging them all. What an amazing woman to have lived to see so much in her lifetime. She mind is still sharp and her body is healthy and she is one of the kindest, most caring people you could ever meet. Now that is something to aspire to.</span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-34583078142230469472008-11-08T09:26:00.000-08:002008-11-14T18:00:05.119-08:00and the weekend<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Since it's a Saturday, I should really be doing laundry and cleaning my house. Seriously, the furr....UGH. Is it cruel to shave a dog as winter is approaching? I can't handle the fur. I think I need one of those hairless dogs. Also, one that takes care of itself while we go on vacation would be nice. Do they make those? I didn't think so. But really, the fur. I could build another pet with the accumulation under the sofa....and the dining table...and the bookshelf. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Then the laundry...UGH...it mocks me. I have getting the laundry hauled to the washing machine, then washing and drying the clothes. It is after that there is an issue<strong><em>. </em></strong>I just can't seem to get the laundry out of the dryer, fold it and, here's the kicker, actually put it away. Just can't do it. So, I am ashamed to admit, we live from laid out piles of clothes that I have to hunt through every evening to find outfits for the next day. Love it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I need a laundry fairy.</span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-24651239937542433422008-11-07T21:55:00.000-08:002008-11-14T18:00:49.377-08:00wow, am I tired<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This week has totally wore me out. I have no idea what is up, but it certainly isn't me. I am so jazzed that it is Friday and the kids are in bed. I am looking forward to watching Bill Maher tonight while partaking of an adult beverage. Hearing his take on the events of this week will surely give me some laughs.<br /><br />More boring than the usual boring today, sorry 'bout that. Just can't muster up anything better.<br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-44684986344886382292008-11-06T19:37:00.000-08:002008-11-14T18:03:20.722-08:00feeling many things<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">No matter who you supported in this election, we would all have to agree that it was a momentous one. With an African-American heading one ticket and a woman in the 2nd seat on the other, it was definitely turning out to be history-making. But for me it was more than that. When Barack Obama came to my city before he had even clinched the Democratic nomination I took the Muss to see him. I wanted her to be a part of the history being made. We are a very overlooked speck on the map politically. A Red State in the middle of the country that almost never turns Blue. Plus, only 5 electoral votes so no one really cares about us. We are far from being one of the coveted "swing states" so the fact that he came here was enough to get me off the sofa.<br /><br />While he was definitely an excellent speaker and drew a packed crowd, I saw more in him. He really believes what he says. He really wants to make the United States and the world a better place. He does not seem to be pandering to any particular group of people. He is for the underdog. He is the underdog.<br /><br />From that moment I became a believer in his mission.<br /><br />Then after the big conventions, the real campaign began. And it got ugly. I was really afraid that the <span style="font-style: italic;">fear</span> the other side was spreading was going to smother the <span style="font-style: italic;">hope</span> that Obama was trying to give us. Then from the fear came the lies, the misconstruing of everything said, the pundits and their pundittiness, blah, blah, blah, etc, etc, etc. GAWWWW, make it stop.<br /><br />Then it stopped. Finally.<br /><br />And I really do feel like it is the dawn of a new day. I am not naive enough to believe that this will heal all the wounds, but I do believe that it is a start. A great, big start. I don't believe President-Elect Obama can fix all that ails in our country on January 21st or even in a year, let alone a term. We have much to fix. What has sunken us to a new low from the past 8 years of whatever you call the past 8 years will take some time to get past.<br /><br />However, I believe that he told the truth throughout his campaign. I was reassured by his calmness during the chaos. By the way he stood tall and strong while others tried to knock him down with all they could muster. He smiled that warm smile and touched the hearts and minds of the masses.<br /><br />Now let's move on, the people have spoken. Get over it, FoxNews.<br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-80888057067796973492008-11-05T19:33:00.000-08:002008-11-14T18:01:43.717-08:00the day after<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have never been prouder to be an American than I was last night while watching President-Elect Barack Obama.<br /><br />There really aren't words right now.<br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-16970646537122101452008-11-04T17:55:00.000-08:002008-11-13T19:32:12.855-08:00election day<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Today I am doing my civic duty and working at the office of the Election Commision for my county. Ok, I'm not really doing it by choice, I was drafted. We are the only state in the country that drafts our election workers like we draft people for jury duty. Man, I live in half-assed-backwards state. WTF are we still doing here? Anyway, you can't get out of this stuff unless you are dying in a hospital. Not this election. They think for some reason this one may be a bit busy. Gee, I wonder where they get that idea?<br /><br />I have to work from 6:30am to 8:00pm and answer the phones to direct people where to vote and how to vote if they are not in "THE BOOK" as they think they should be. I get a break for lunch and dinner which they provide because we can't actually leave the premises. Don't feel bad for me, I have my own office this time (this is my 3rd or 4th election, we get drafted for 4) which is nice because I can surf the net and type on my blog while I am supposed to be working. Just kidding, I have been answering calls nonstop, but am taking a well-deserved break right now.<br /><br />I have had some very interesting calls today, but let me put out a word of advice to those who would like to be able to vote. People, today is not the day to find out if you are registered to vote. No, this is something you should have checked on weeks, if not months ago. Also, I am very sorry if you were hospitalized with the flu back in March, but tell me WTF does that have to do with you being unable to get to us to register to vote before October 24th? Wow, there are a helluva lot of you who move during the months of October and November. While I can empathize with you moving across the country, but since you are a resident of Louisiana and you are moving to Oregon, you cannot vote in Nebraska. Sorry about that. Also, you people are driving me crazy.<br /><br />Thanks I feel better. Break is about over too so let's wrap this shizzle up.<br /><br />I will be off in a couple of hours and I plan to go home, cuddle up on the sofa with a my hubby and a cocktail and watch CNN until this thing is done. Lord, please help me make it through the night. <br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-79256910214208130252008-11-03T19:07:00.000-08:002008-11-13T19:19:07.384-08:00halloween continued<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I am one of those people who loves to carve fancy pumpkins. Every year I let the kids each pick out a pattern from the book and I carve their choice for them. Yes, it is just a pattern, but they really are challenging. Some are much easier than others. This year, Boo chose a lovely skeleton-pirate guy. He was easy. The Muss chose a spiderweb with a spider at the bottom. That one was not easy. Kiki couldn't really decide, but I had a pattern to make a Barack Obama campaign logo and she decided she liked that one.<br /><br />Like I mentioned, we weren't home on Halloween so I made sure to turn off all the lights as well as the motion-sensitive flood light for the driveway before we left. Then I lit our pumpkins to show off my handiwork. Then we left and did what I told you about yesterday.<br /><br />When we got home, the Barack O'Lantern was gone. I looked around a bit to discover it shattered in my neighbor's driveway and a bit into the street. Now, mind you, this was the closest pumpkin to the house. This/these hoodlum(s) had to walk past my other 2 carved pumpkins to get to this one. Barack was targeted. I was disgusted. Why can't we all just get along? Why can't we just accept others differing opinions? I have some very good friends, not to mention family who are McCain supporters. So be it, but I am not. I respect their right to support the candidate of their choice, even though I think they are blooming crazy for it. Ok, not really. Maybe just a little crazy. Ok, not crazy, but I just don't agree. At all. Not that he is a bad guy. He just doesn't speak for me or to me at all.<br /><br />So, Pumpkin-Smashers, I hope you got a good laugh when you destroyed my Barack O'Lantern, but let me tell you something. I carved a new one to light as a beacon to the world tomorrow night. Election night. And I will be the one laughing then.<br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-24717952787633165702008-11-02T18:52:00.000-08:002008-11-13T19:07:42.105-08:00halloween night<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">We are never home to pass out candy on Halloween. Our block is mostly the over-80 set and is pretty quiet with just a few lights on. Plus J. is usually at work weeknights and that leaves me to take the kids trick-or-treating. This year J. was actually able to take a vacation day so I thought it would be great to go out on Halloween as a family for, like, the first time ever. Milestone!<br /><br />So we went out on our candy spree with a friend of ours and his son who is just a bit younger than Boo (but quite a bit taller, that Boo is a wee one). My aunt and my cousin also came along because we trick-or-treat in their neighborhood ~ it is flat and most of the lights are on. Everything went swimmingly until the Muss decided she was tired. Everyone had better get the hell out of her way when she is done because if you don't she will make you pay. Needless to say, there was a scene. My cousin took her back to my aunt and uncle's house and the boys kept going. Kiki (aka Tinkerbell) was done dealing, but she had her daddy/pack mule to carry her where she needed to go.<br /><br />After returning with our loot to my aunt's house, I wanted to take a few pictures of the kids with family. Especially one with the Muss and my cousin who is her godmother. They always get their picture taken together, it's just their thing. But no, you would think the flash was going to steal her soul and suck the life force from her being from the way she was writhing and wailing at the thought of having a photo taken. So I took a picture of that. She didn't think that was funny at all.<br /><br />As you can guess, we went home. Thankfully our friend who was with us totally understands and is chill with the whole temper-tantrum-for-no-freakin'-reason thing. Also, as you can guess, the Muss went directly to bed, do not pass go, do not get to eat any candy on Halloween night.<br /><br />Oh, so the whole point of this post was to mention what we found when we returned home. Stay tuned~</span><br /></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-89877069171538170112008-11-01T18:40:00.000-07:002008-11-01T18:47:23.625-07:00it's been far too long<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I can't believe how long it's been since I have posted! It certainly isn't because nothing has happened of interest or because the kids haven't been spouting their usual funnies. It must be because I have been busier than you know what and just haven't had time to put things into writing. Not wise, I know. Again I will be forgetting 10 times as much as I remember and there are so many memories to precious (or hysterical) to lose.<br /><br />I have a story to share about Halloween night, but guess what, I'm too busy to type it right now. The crazies are about and I need to banish them to their beds. Once that is done, J. & I need to complete our ballots for the election so I can run them by the Election Commission since we will not be able to vote on Election Day. Why, you ask? Because I have been remanded to election duty once again and will be answering the phones directing people to their correct polling places. As much as I would like to send some of them to the wrong ones, I won't.</span><br /></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-90672860433195508092008-08-15T21:47:00.000-07:002008-08-18T09:51:05.224-07:00from the back seat<span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;">kiki: what is this song, Daddy?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;">J.: <em>Hot Legs</em> by Rod Stewart.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;">kiki: hout wegs?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;">J.: yes, <em>Hot Legs.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;">kiki: oh, Captain Hook has hout wegs!</span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-77662451163247367682008-06-01T09:20:00.000-07:002008-06-03T19:54:40.904-07:00not in hot water<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Why, you ask? Let me tell you, my friends, it is because our hot water heater was not working. Well, technically (as my loving husband likes to point out) it <span style="font-weight: bold;">was</span> working, but it was leaking out of this pipe-thing sticking off the side. You could look at it and see it was 20-25 years old and so I figured that it would be smarter to just, you know, replace the water heater instead of just that little pipe thing. I had support from my dad who agreed that we needed a new one because the old one was, well, <span style="font-style: italic;">old</span>. And from my step-dad who said that it was probably 50% full of sediment and stuff. And really, how hard can a water heater be to replace? A Saturday project at best one would think.<br /><br />Clearly, I have no idea what I'm talking about since I don't even know what that pipe-thing sticking off the side is called.<br /><br />So the original project for the weekend was to replace this little log type low retaining wall on the back patio that oozes dirt every time it rains with some lovely landscape block that my aunt and uncle so generously gave us. 2 years ago. We are a little slow on the home improvement thing. Well, it ended up raining all week and was just too wet to be trying to set in landscape block. So I chime in, "Hey, how about you replace the water heater?" My dad and J. agree and head off to Lowe's. I suggested that they go to Menard's (a locally owned chain), but they went to Lowe's because it is closer. We really didn't do any research about hot water heaters and such, just the prices. Which were all about the same. One would figure that you would get the same type of quality for the same money at any of the major home improvement stores. WRONG.<br /><br />So they come home with a lovely shiny new <a href="http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/whirlpool_water_heaters.html" target="_blank">Whirlpool</a> <a href="http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/05/whirlpool_water_heater.html" target="_blank">FlameLock</a> water heater. I won't go into details about the numerous trips to the neighborhood hardware store to buy this or that as they were trying to install it. Or even about the little blowtorch that engulfed in flames (also from Lowe's) and almost killed my step-dad. Or that despite using the liquid copper sealer stuff as well as sodering with a new non-flame-engulfing blowtorch, the thing still leaked water from several places. No, let me just focus on the true crime here. This particular brand of water heater. Oh, People, please <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=whirlpool+water+heater+problems&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a" target="_blank">google</a> this thing before buying. I implore you. It is insanely heinous that Lowe's even continues to carry a product that has been causing nothing but grief since the beginning of this decade. This is exclusively sold at Lowe's and was the only kind of water heater available at Lowe's. NUTS, I tell you! I don't know how with good conscience I am going to be able to continue to shop at a store that sells something it knows is a PIECE OF CRAP. HOW?????????? WHY?????????? Do they have no morals? I think not.<br /><br />Orange is my favorite color anyway. Guess where I'm going to shop from now on?<br /><br />There is more to our Saturday, but I will have to post that later. I give you a teaser though ~ Mommy freaked the f*ck out. <br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-34985511391427011062008-05-15T20:19:00.000-07:002008-05-15T20:22:43.613-07:00generation gap<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Calling the kids in to wash up for dinner tonight, I see Kiki has been playing with blue sidewalk chalk. Her hands and arms were covered with it and she had rubbed her face so it was blue as well.<br /><br />Me: Kiki, did you color with some chalk?<br /><br />Kiki: Blue chalk, momma!<br /><br />Me: I can tell, you look like a smurf.<br /><br />Muss: What's a smurf?<br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-8837158370770051622008-04-21T17:15:00.000-07:002008-04-21T17:17:51.745-07:00and then at dinner<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Muss: Mama, there's something weird going on.<br /><br />Me: What is it?<br /><br />Muss: Well, during Spring Break last week, the days seemed to go really fast. The whole week went really fast. Then, today at school, the day went really slow. Slower than the Spring Break days.<br /><br />Me: Welcome to reality, sweetie.<br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-9685283876217735692008-04-21T12:02:00.000-07:002008-05-15T19:09:47.136-07:00breakfast exchange<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Boo decided he wanted toast for breakfast this morning</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" >J: Boo, do you want white bread or brown bread?</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" >Boo: uhhhh, white....because I'm white.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;" >That he is. I think he is even pastier-white than his mother. And that is pretty white.</span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-77426262165450224242008-04-17T17:59:00.001-07:002008-04-17T18:29:44.431-07:00finally<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Finally I am starting to feel better. I haven't been out of commission like this for as long as I can remember. It's like I had mono or something (but I didn't) and I have just been tired. Like I-can't-go-on-another-minute tired. Really tired. And I am still having coughing attacks like a 3-pack-a-day smoker (but I'm not). I am still using an inhaler like an asthmatic (but I'm not). But this week, I was able to take the kids to the zoo. AND WALK AROUND. Walk around for more than 5 minutes without needing to sit down and take a breather. And hack up another lung (how many are in there anyway because I'm almost sure I have hacked them all up). I am not at full speed, but I am better. That's a start at least.<br /><br />So after walking around the zoo for 2 hours, I took the Muss to her tennis lesson. Thank the heavens above that Kiki fell asleep on the way there because I could not have chased her around the tennis center for an hour without losing my mind (and yet another lung). So the Muss had her lesson, Boo played with the siblings of one of the Muss' tennis mates and Kiki slept on my lap while I caught up with another mom who had a newborn (her 4th!). Then I got take-out on the way home because after all that activity, there would be no cooking for me. I was beat.<br /><br />My mothering skills have not been stellar lately. I have been short with the kids, meals have been hap-hazard and I have probably let them play the Wii more than I should. Then there is the house. I was able to get it presentable enough to have a birthday party for the Muss on Sunday evening (a week late, mind you), but it was only clean on the surface. Barely.<br /><br />Then there is the laundry. I have complained about laundry in the past, maybe not here, but my friends and family have heard my laundry woes. My issues with laundry are kind of like my own little personal inside joke. So inside, that I'm probably the only one who thinks it's hysterical, but whatever. Well, let me try to put my current laundry situation into words for you. We have a 3-bin hamper. You know, the kind that hypothetically lets one separate into different loads and once a particular bin is almost full to the top, then one would presumably put that load into the washer, then the dryer and then, if one were motivated, they would fold said laundry and put it in its home. That sounds so simple written out like that, doesn't it? Let's just say that this scenario has not happened here. In this home. In, well, let's just say, AWHILE. Like so long that those bins that are only as high as about my mid-thigh are piled up taller than I am. And I don't consider myself a vertically-challenged individual.<br /><br />I am going to hang my head in shame now.<br /><br /></span></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-64869133965973465932008-04-04T16:57:00.000-07:002008-04-17T19:34:14.292-07:00den of illness<span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Mid-point of our last week-end, J. hauled himself to the ER because he couldn't breathe. He has asthma and had caught some type super-virus that was kicking his hiney and, well, we figured the whole not-breathing-thing could not wait until Monday when our GP was back in his office. An x-ray, some blood tests and a couple of breathing treatments later he was back at home. Can't wait for that bill, we haven't even touched our deductible yet this year. So then he improved. A bit. Today wasn't necessarily a good day in the breathing department, but he is better.<br /><br />In the meantime, the Muss and Boo have been hacking up little lungs this week. No fever or anything else of note, just the hack. I have some prescription cough meds I keep in the cupboard for just these instances and they seem to better a couple of days later.<br /><br />All the while, I have been getting progressively sicker since Wednesday. I thought maybe some alcohol consumption Wednesday night with friends would kill the germs, but alas, it did not. So, by today, I am coughing up all kinds of colorful stuff accompanied by wheezing, fever, chills, a bit of nauseau (that was yesterday) and a headache that could fell a brachiosaurus.<br /><br />Seriously, the kids, they are not quiet. They have no volume control, it is either at 11 or they are sleeping. They don't have the capability to be quiet. IT IS COMPLETELY FOREIGN TO THEM. Last night, I was not bucking for mother of the year. With the constant <span style="font-style: italic;">shhhhhh's</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">hushhhhhhhh's</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">for the love of pete, could you please be quiet's</span>, well, let's just say they were not sorry that I was not home when they woke up this morning.<br /><br />Oh, did I not mention that I didn't miss any work during this illness? Nope, well, not until today. I went in at 7a and left at 2:45p for a 3p doctor's appointment (wasn't supposed to be off until 4:30p). I succumbed to the modern medicine thing and got myself a couple of shots in my hiney, a couple of scripts and a free inhaler (WOOO!). That should all make another nice dent in the annual deductible. Except that free inhaler, of course. Why did I not miss work, you ask? Well, I was OUT with work people on Wednesday night, including my manager, and that would just look bad. You know what I mean, I know you do. Then today, it was a quest to win over the illness (I eventually did end up losing). When you talk on the phone all day, it sucks when you lose your voice. Doesn't work well at all.<br /><br />So that is our week, it doesn't help that the Muss turns 7 tomorrow and we were supposed to have her family party. Luckily it was all family and very close friends and they are easy enough to reschedule (thanks family and friends).<br /><br />Have you noticed anyone conspicuously absent from this post? Yep, Kiki. I may have mentioned before the issues we've had with Kiki and </span><a href="http://notesonthe3.blogspot.com/2007/06/no-she-is-not-always-this-happy.html" target="_blank"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >her lungs</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and somehow she has stayed well during this bout of family illness.<br /><br />KNOCK.ON.WOOD.</span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056287743830215310.post-67225765270142209262008-03-27T17:17:00.000-07:002008-04-21T17:18:07.643-07:00at the dinner table<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >eating easter egg salad in whole wheat pitas with a side of grapes (yeah, I know, sounds more like lunch, but I'm lazy)<br /><br />boo: last one done with dinner is a rotten egg<br /><br />muss: HA! good one, boo<br /></span>kymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366391584346710736noreply@blogger.com0