A Whole Lot of Crazy... and Then Some!

My Penguin Patch

2008-12-11T22:32:00.006-06:00

Kim, Missie, Kara and Sherri at TCL Training freezing their hineys off!

As a Girl Scout leader, I am so excited to show my girls everything there is to do in the organization. Especially the experiences of camp. Well, in order to take your girls camping you have to get training to do so. So a few weeks ago, I took a four hour course and learned some basics. These were the ladies that I sat around, so these are the ladies that I was grouped with for the big camping weekend portion of our training. And let me say, I am so glad - I think if I had been paired with anyone else it wouldn't have been as great a time as it was. These ladies taught me so much about what to bring and ideas on activities with the girls. Over the weekend, I learned how to tie knots, how to do some orienteering, found out about some creepy bugs and poisonous plants. We also took a hike through the property out there by Utopia. I've been out to Camp La Jita before, so I knew the area was beautiful. But I missed so much, because this time, I was shown a whole other side to the camp. We went to the Green Chapel - a gorgeous outdoor chapel. There are dinosaur tracks out there - actual dinosaur tracks! And we went back to one of the most beautiful areas of the campsite - out by Storybook Tree. It's this awesome tree that is humongous! The opening in the tree is really small now due to the roots shifting or something... but used to, you could get in there with a bunch of girls and read them a story. I'm so excited to plan our girls' first camping trip.

The opening in Storybook Tree

A view of Storybook Tree from the roots. This tree was massive - it took 18 people standing around it stretching out their arms, to wrap all the way around!!!

We also did a lot of cooking this weekend. I can start a charcoal pit like nobody's business now. I always thought that if you went camping your menu consisted of hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches - for breakfast, bring honeybuns. But no, oh my gosh, there's so much more that you can do! I ate better out at my camping weekend then I typically do here at the house! We had breakfast burritos one morning on the propane stove - learned how to work one of those too! Then for lunch we fired up the charcoal pit and put together a quick and easy chicken and rice casserole. It was so delicious, I still have to hunt Sherri down for the recipe. Then, for dinner we wrapped up some hamburger meat, onions, cheese and tater tots in some foil and just threw them on the hot coals for about a half and hour and voila! I still think it was just the neatest thing, and wish dinner at the house could be that easy.

This is Green Chapel. When we first started out for Green Chapel, I was looking for a building - I had no clue. This picture does it no justice. This site was absolutely gorgeous!

I really didn't think it would be that cold while we were out there, I mean it's only an hour and a half away from San Antonio and it hadn't been that cold around here. Oh no! It's a world of difference in temperatures between here and Utopia. I had ear covers, a scarf and some cheap gloves that cost me $0.50. I was fine with that stuff in Arizona - surely I'd be fine with it here. Uh... not really. Thankfully Sherri brought extras - turns out she's done this before! She let me borrow that adorable blue/green hat on my head which really helped out as far as staying warm goes. It got done to the low 20's the first night out there and the second night wasn't much better! So we all earned our Penguin Patches this weekend for camping in below freezing weather. I think I'm going to start putting all these patches on a tote bag or something, I'm rackin' 'em up!

Christmas Lights!

2008-12-10T11:23:00.003-06:00

Christmas Display 2008

So this is it! Our wonderful Christmas display that we worked so hard on. There was me threatening Jeff's life, Jeff crying like a girl begging to come off the roof because... 'It's too steep, I might fall and die!' Oh give me a break! I mean I would totally be up there if it weren't for my fear of heights and my bad knee and ankles. Plus, I fall easily even when I'm not on an incline up there in the wind and the cold. I started thinking that he might be right, I mean what if he fell off the roof and at the most might break his leg - that would put him out of work, which means no money, which means no house or car, which means 'Hi Mom, can we stay with you for a few months?!' So we went and rented an extension ladder from Home Depot. And he was up and down like a pro on that thing - which I guess is part of what he does for a living. But he had it done within an hour and a half. We plugged it all in, ran outside and saw our beautiful house. I'm so pleased with it and so proud of Jeff for doing everything I asked him to. I know it was a pain in the ass and he was ready to kill me, but this was important to me this year.

Unfortunately, someone took it upon themselves to steal our yard card yesterday. I walked outside and noticed it missing right away. The only thing I can figure is these junior high kids that walk home by our house everyday. They're all a bunch of little punks - or dress that way anyhow. You know what, they act like it too, I've had to chase them out of the neighbor's yard on more than one occasion. It was there in the morning and at 3 pm, but an hour later it was gone. Sigh, the youth of today... So I'm pretty disappointed, Jeff is pissed. I mean that was the only yard card in our neighborhood, we felt so unique putting it up. Oh well. What I would really like to do for next year is get some wooden cut outs of some Charlie Brown characters and the tree. Wonder how hard it is to do that yourself...

Spit Bubbles

2008-12-10T11:12:00.002-06:00

Kaitlyn having fun blowing bubbles in the store...

You'll have to excuse the quality of the photo, I had my phone handy when I took this picture. Remember how much fun this used to be? You'd form a bunch of spit at the front of your mouth, lick your lips and then start opening your mouth slowly so to form a spit bubble. Try doing it now and people look at you like your weird, crazy and disgusting - at least that's what was shouted out at me by passerbyers (okay so that's not actually a word, (I know right! You'd think it was!) but I looked it up and even though it's not in the dictionary and my computer's freaking out on it because it's misspelled (it's all highlighted and underlined), it is commonly used). Nobody was startled when Kaitlyn was doing it though, it was all.... 'Awwww, look how adorable!' What the hell? I can't be a kid at heart? I can't want to share in this innocent activity with my daughter?

Hmmm, you know what else is weird about this photo? It looks like she's not wearing any clothes! She's always doing that, pulling her shirts and dresses of her shoulder. Makes me even more worried about her apparent, impending future. Anywho, so she was dressed she likes to look half naked.

Cute little stripper...

2008-11-13T00:45:00.003-06:00

"My only job in life is to keep her off the pole. There's no great fathers, but if your daughter's a stripper - you f*ed up!" ~Chris Rock

I'm having a hard time coming to terms with this... problem. Kaitlyn, for the past year, has been showing the signs of a disturbing future. It doesn't matter where we are - Sea World, church, the park, in the backyard, at the symphony earlier today, the store... and it doesn't matter what shape - square, circular - makes no difference. If there is a pole or something that resembles a pole she is on it like white on rice. And spinning around it and doing this little walk around it. Then, get this... we're at the IMAX this weekend to see Madagascar 2...

side note - Oh my gosh, this movie is so funny and cute. Don't get me wrong I liked the first one better, but this one was definitely worth the sequel! If you go and see it, you'll get to the part where it's all about the hippos and they start playing what Jeff and I have agreed to be the greatest song of our time, "Big and Chunky." In fact, it's my ringtone for him now! =) Don't worry if he could have ringtones on his phone it would be mine too!

...and there's these little poles to hold up the line forming ropes or what not right... she gets on that and starts twirling around, trying to spin it with her legs wrapped around it. Then when she busts her butt because she hasn't quite mastered that move yet... I tell her to get up. You should have seen this girl get up. Looked like a seasoned pro.

I'm worried, Jeff's ready to have her taken to the covenant. We are thinking of ways to address this issue. The only thing I can think of is to take away the clear heels we got her for Christmas, maybe get rid of the trees in the front yard.

I shouldn't be doing this...

2008-11-06T10:01:00.002-06:00

Was what kept coming to my mind yesterday. Every time I hit the bumps in the road letting me know that I was swerving into the lane next to me.

It was just a leisurely drive through the countryside. I couldn't stop looking at the trees, all starting to change colors and the birds flying somewhere for winter I'm sure. And the cars that passed by with children in the backseat laughing with each other. Then my mind would wander to back when I was a child and how the first time I ever drove out of Houston, TX was to San Angelo when I was 14 years old. We were in this old white Mercury, whatever the name was for the Mercury version's of the Ford Taurus. The A/C didn't work so we had to leave super early so we weren't in the car during the heat of the day. After the seven hour trip our hair looked awesome when we arrived in San Angelo. We had taken the plain route down I-10. I now know there are much prettier, albeit longer, ways to go. But I was awestruck at how beautiful the country was. Every downhill glide getting to view all these rolling hills, with all their different colored trees was breathtaking to me. You know how they blasted down the through some of the hills to make room for the road? I had no clue that wasn't a natural occurrence until 3 some odd years ago. (Jeff teaches me a lot!) I just had never been out of the city of Houston, except to go to Galveston and that doesn't count, cause really it's just a suburb. Then I saw that those things that I had always read about in westerns and seen in the movies really do exist! I saw my first tumbleweed ever in San Angelo. Wow, see how sidetracked I got in the post, now imagine that but when I'm driving!

Right, so anyhow, that's pretty much what I was thinking about - that and I wondered how unsafe it really was to stop on the side of the road get out and snap a couple pictures of this one cluster of trees. You had orange, yellow and green all together. No red ones yet.

The only problem with this story is that, I wasn't driving in the countryside. I was driving all around downtown San Antonio on 70 mph freeways congested with traffic. I was not fit for the road yesterday. I can't tell you how many times I swerved or almost took a turn to fast because I wasn't paying attention to the signs beforehand telling me that it was coming up. Taking a 35 mph curve at 70 is not exciting and my 'burb can't handle it. (off track thought... maybe I should name my car Burbra... ahahahahaha! I crack myself up!) I was constantly worried that another motorist was going to call me in to the cops suspecting I was a drunk driver. (another off track thought... did I really just laugh at that and think it that cleverly done? I need adult interaction) But thankfully, I made it home in one piece and without getting pulled over. (one more off track thought... I wonder what Crystal is doing later today)

Help! I have adult ADD!!!!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-05T07:55:00.005-06:00

Here's our new cat... I think we'll name her Elsie

The hottest star on the scene right now, Hannah Ontana. Jeff's thinking of joining her act and I think they're going to do a TV show. We're so proud!

And Iron Man came by, he was able to fix things around the house, scare that bully back to where she came from and gave the kids some vitamins - extra iron.

My GREAT Deal!

2008-11-04T20:23:00.003-06:00

My steal of a deal!

I found this most adorable sweater dress at JCPenney's this weekend. They were having some unbelievable sales on their winter clothing and Ashlyn's never had a great winter wardrobe before. So I decided to get it started. My friend Crystal was with me and she pointed out how cute this was. I had never noticed it till she pointed it out. Then I couldn't live without it for Ashlyn.

HAD to get these to go with the dress!

I couldn't necessarily let her wear tennis shoes with this adorable dress and she didn't have any brown dress shoes... So off of my now-realized-shopaholic friend Crystal's recommendation, I went to Burlington Coat Factory to find some shoes. And that's when I ran across these cool-ass boots, I mean check out the cool fuzzy tassles hanging off. She's gonna be so posh!

Aren't they the most awesomest boots ever? As Kaitlyn would say

"Oooooooh, dat's so tute!!!!"

They were the last ones in that color and they happened to be her size. Fate! (sing-song voice - Fay-ate) They had a pink, but looking at them in the box already looking dingy, I just knew the dark brown was perfect for her and for the whole ensemble. The cost of these boots were not outrageous, but they did cost more then what I typically spend on my own shoes! But she HAD to have them.

And then I HAD to buy stuff to go underneath it...

She'll be wearing it in the winter, she'll need her legs and arms covered!

So, Hello! It's a sweater dress, she won't be wearing it in the summer, she'll be wearing it in the winter. The harsh Texas winter in San Antonio. There are freak blizzards that might happen so the rest of her arms and legs HAVE to be covered up as well. So I decided to go hunting for the perfect undergarments, dragging my husband store to store as I went along. Two different colored tights and three different shirts later and we have an outfit that's able to be worn six different ways. And my steal of a deal? Ended up costing me about $60. Sigh, it was so worth it!

To Do Lists

2008-11-03T17:40:00.005-06:00

courtesy of PostSecret

First off, this is not my secret. Although it very possibly could be, I love to do lists. It doesn't match though... see what I do is put a lot of little stuff on my to do list so it looks like I have this huge list that I've triumphed over. All those check marks make me feel accomplished. And vindicated somehow. I don't know, maybe it's the stay at home wife thing. My husband makes decent money and I am able to do this. Plus it costs a small fortune to put our youngest, who's three, into daycare. And I just can't see anyone else getting the joy of staying with her all day when I can. I get to. Kaitlyn is just plain awesome, she's funny, smart, and teeters between compassionate and brat. But sometimes, I feel guilty for not bringing in any dough. It's all on him, he's got the pressure to keep his job and keep his hours up so we can have money to pay the necessities of life. So he'll come home and tell me about what all he had to do that day. And I'll say something like, "I know - you should see the to do list I finished today." It's on the computer I have proof! =) Like me checking off individual bullets of...

take shower
fix hair
get dressed
put on makeup

...is even remotely the same as him out there busting his chops doing physical labor every day. I'm forever grateful to my husband. He is... the best husband I could have ever imagined being lucky enough to know, let alone be mine! Jin's got one of those too - Jeremy is pretty freakin' cool. And from what I hear, treats her like a princess. But honestly, out of everyone I've ever known... it's just him that I actually know can compare to Jeff. Which is kind of sad, all these people I've met in my life time and it's only one set of friends where the husband isn't a jackass? Hmmph. Anyway, I'm going to eat the orange chicken and cilantro lime rice I made for dinner... I know, you're jealous!

For now... it doesn't mix

2008-11-02T19:25:00.008-06:00

I had this whole little blog typed out in my head a couple of weeks ago. It was going to be so cute and cleverly written. You all were going to think that I must have been in Journalism in high school, or wrote for my college newspaper (ha, ha - I fooled you, I didn't really go to college)... it was going to be that good. I mean come on, you see my green apple Schmirnoff up there? Yeah, I had a sentence for that, something like... And because I had a rough day, we're going to have a little fun while we make these delectable empanadas!

I've seen this deal on pioneerwoman.com where she'll take pictures as she goes through cooking a recipe. And then my friend Jinny over there from realwordgirl.blogspot.com has also done it with success. I thought to myself, I can do that. So I break out my camera and my tripod and all the ingredients for these great chicken empanadas that I saw Paula Deen make on her cooking show. I set them all pretty and everything to take a snapshot and then I started getting it done.

Here's where I set out my cream cheese to soften for a little bit. (swig from the bottle)

Here's where I put my chicken to cook while I cut up the red bell pepper and got our crusts prepared. (swig from the bottle)

And here's where it started getting chaotic and the photography aspect started becoming a pain in the ass. All of my stuff is all over the place and I couldn't get that close with the camera. (two swigs from the bottle)

I laughed so hard when I saw my friend Jinny use her condensed milk can to cut the crusts for her pumpkin empanadas, because I used the biggest cup in my pantry not two weeks before - I just hadn't posted it yet. Who needs a biscuit cutter? Psst.... I do, and if you know where I can find one, please let me know. (swig from the... damn the bottle's empty!)

I left out the part where I mixed everything together, threw in some shredded cheese and then put them in my little crusts. I used a fork to close them up and make those cute imprints. Then I beat an egg and used that to glaze over my closed up little pockets of chicken-y goodness so they'd come out a nice golden brown. It was beatiful!

I think for now though, I'll just stick with doing things one at a time. Best to keep these things simple.

Quick get a post in

2008-11-01T23:59:00.000-05:00

Here's my post for 11/1/08 - I have to do it quickly and I'll write about everything tomorrow!!!!

A cat, Boba Fett, and Hannah 'Ontana'

2008-10-19T10:44:00.002-05:00

Now say Hannah Montana without the M and with a chinese accent... now you see why we crack up every time Kaitlyn says it. I wish I could put recordings on here, I would so do it! Maybe I'll put it up on Youtube. Yeah, hang on... Alright, well never mind, now she says it with her traditional Texas twang. Kaitlyn was easy, she has wanted to be Hannah since September when we started talking about Halloween costumes. I did try to convince her to be something otherwise, but to no avail. Well finally, in these last two weekends before Halloween, there was a sale everywhere on everything Hannah. So I got the costume for 1/2 off and then the wig for five bucks.

Cameron - same thing, has wanted to be something Star Wars since September, mainly either Boba Fett, Jango Fett or Darth Vadar.

Ashlyn is a different story. Every costume she saw was 'What I've always wanted to be!', until she saw the next costume. Ariel, Alice in Wonderland, a child bride (nope, not FLDS, I swear!), someone from High School Musical - which we've never seen, and now, thankfully somehow she's stayed on being a cat for eighteen hours straight. I can do a cat and I can do it cheap too!

Me, I don't think I'll dress up this year. I don't think I have the energy. These past two months were a little hard but Christmas is coming up. And I fully intend for it to be a great ending to a 99% great year.

Mama, you're a dumbass...

2008-10-04T19:27:00.001-05:00

"Mama, you're a dumbass." my oldest daughter says to me.

"Excuse me?" I asked slightly bewildered.

"That's what the restroom said, you're a dumbass." she says.

Sigh. "That's damas Ashlyn."

And the plot thickens....

2008-10-01T16:28:00.008-05:00

A list that my son made one boring summer day

Almost a perfect layout of our house, down to the crosses on the wall. I just love the route planning here.

Submitted as Evidence 2A.

It started this last summer, when I started finding to-do lists all over the place. Not my to-do lists, those are all neatly checked off and filed under accomplishments in my organizer. Turns out my son likes to make to-do lists as well. His are little bit more, ahem, sinister than mine. When I found this to-do list this past summer, I promptly ripped it from his notebook and scanned it in so that I can always cherish it. It's just so honest, so diligent, so repetitive. After I got done laughing my ass off, I sent the image out to some close friends and family. It has since stayed in my pictures folder on our computer never to be thought of again. Until yesterday.

Yesterday, while I was looking through my kids backpacks trying to find what their homework was and what all I should sign... I found these two note cards.

Now besides the plan here... look at the detail. You'll notice the layout of his sister's room on the top. See the dresser on the right hand side? See how there's four drawers but only three knobs? That dresser only has three knobs. See how there's a triangle on the top of the dresser to the left? That's the horse stable that sits on top of that dresser. A's TB Bed stands for Ashlyn's TinkerBell Bed, K's LPS Bed stands for Kaitlyn's Littlest Pet Shop Bed. They have the character comforters and pillowcases.

The bottom card shows where I have crosses on the wall with those words in them. It shows our pool table and our air hockey table. And it shows his route planning. I love this kid!

And then the actual written plan... he writes like he thinks - like I do. It's just so precious. When I took them out of his backpack and was looking over them; you could see him out of the corner of my eye looking at me... waiting for me to show signs of being mad. And when I took them upstairs I could hear him sigh. Almost like, "Damn, I worked so hard on my plan. But at least she's not busting my butt." I scanned them into our computer and handed them back with a twinkle of glee in my eye I whispered for him to follow through. He smiled at me and ran upstairs.

A Mosaic of Me

2008-10-01T15:55:00.005-05:00

My friend, Jinny, posted this on her blog and compelled others to do the same. Here is a mosaic of me.

1. What is your first name? Kim, apparently, this picture was for a birthday card for some chick named Kim, it also said something about her being the energizer bunny of the group. I'm going to take that as she was always the one happy and willing to help others. Or you can take it the other way too. Either one fits.

2. What is your favorite food? Pepperoni Pizza... stuffed crust!

3. What high school did you go to? Eden High School (Bulldogs)

4. What is your favorite color? Pink

5. Who is your celebrity crush? Nicholas Cage... ooh, that's a good picture. Sigh.

6. Favorite drink? Pina Coladas!

7. Dream vacation? Paris - it's the first one to come to mind, but I'm not sure if it's my dream vacation

8. Favorite dessert? Ice Cream

9. What you want to be when you grow up? Accountant... and I wanna have those legs too!

10. What do you love most in life? Husband

11. One Word to describe you. Happy - this sunflower came up and since that's my favorite flower, I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone.

12. Your flickr name (or your blog name or handle or whatever) a whole lot of crazy...

Now you try!!

To make your own:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions above into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Mosaic Maker.

d. When finished, save to your computer to upload to your post.

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

2008-09-23T21:20:00.004-05:00

I would post pictures of Boy Scout stuff too, but I haven't bought it yet. Next Friday.

So I put Cameron into Boy Scouts and Ashlyn into Girl Scouts. I also signed up to be a troop leader for the Girl Scouts, which is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I've taken the orientation as many of you know. I've also been able to find a co-leader that thankfully, is as excited and motivated as I am for this year to be just plain out awesome! All I'm waiting on is my girls' information from the main office so I can start calling and emailing about our first troop meeting. I won't lie, I'm extremely nervous about it. As cool as I think all this is and as much as Ashlyn's done with the Girl Scouts, I really don't feel like I know what I'm doing. I'm hoping it doesn't show up to much. I'm constantly wondering if the parents are going to be helpful, or if they're going to encourage their girls to be active in the organization. Stefani and I, we have big plans. Community service, earning countless try-its, fundraisers such as the nuts and the cookies, outings and activities, camping - all of it! By the way, if you need cookies this year, you best hit ME up! =)

So we met up this afternoon to go over everything we would have to do during our first meeting with the girls and the parents. After that was done, my family quickly ate dinner and then headed on over the den mother's house for the Boy Scouts, or actually - Cub Scouts. I decided to become a committee member to help out however I could there too. We start going over ideas, I didn't contribute that much. I was, however, able to donate some supplies that were needed and some time this weekend for the big popcorn sale. By the way, if you need popcorn this year, you best hit ME up! =)

We started to go over dates for all the different camping trips and activities we want to do this year. That's when I started to realize that all the dates sounded very familiar... Well wait, I can't go to that because of something with the Girl Scouts. Uh.... nope, I'll be somewhere else camping that weekend. Yeah, no, unfortunately - I'm booked that weekend in February. February? Seriously? Already booked for a weekend in freakin' February?!? I'm asking myself these questions folks. Whatever happened to - I'm wide open, you tell me when I can guarantee I'll be there. I've got weekends booked for the next four months. Life wasn't like that not two weeks ago. Two weeks ago, it was easy peasy pumpkin pie. (Yes, my stupid little hick sayings are all over the place today.)

Did I ever tell you guys about the time I made the most hick statement of all time? I was on the phone with an old friend from Arizona... and I guess I had been watching to many westerns that day because for some reason my accent was real thick that day. She was poking fun at my 'i's all long and drawn out. Then she asked me if I knew about someone and such and such and that's when I said it. Just plain as day, no thought to it, it came out as naturally as me saying 'My name is Kim.' I said, "Well, you can fill a ten gallon hat with the stuff I don't know."

Oh my God.

Who says that? Who, besides some ditzy brothel girl in a bad western movie, says that? Yup. Anyway, I need to go finish folding some laundry and then researching what I'll need to do for the girls' first try-it.

Excuses, Excuses

2008-09-22T22:01:00.005-05:00

I can pretty much find an excuse for or justify anything. This can be a self-service or a service I offer to other people. Need help justifying buying that $300 mixer? Call me, I'll make you feel warm and fuzzy inside about buying it instead of the "Oh-my-God-why-in-the-world-would-I-spend-this-much-on-a-small-kitchen-appliance" kind of crazy that you should be. Who in the world buys a $300 mixer anyway? (By the way, I would. I've been wanting a Kitchenaid mixer for forever!)

So it is with a humble heart that I apologize to you, my loyal readers (Jeri, Jinny... maybe Kristi), for not posting in over ten days. Here are my excuses... I went completely stupid and let a lot of unnecessary drama swoop into my life and then I let it stress me out. Big time. I was so stressed that I didn't buy anything at the store except for ramen noodles and hamburger helper. Why, you ask. Well, basically, my mind felt like such mush when I went grocery shopping that I didn't want to have to cook anything that took up more than 5% of my brain. I came home with my splendorous bag of groceries to my perplexed husband.

"Are we broke?"

"No."

"Did we spend too much money this weekend?"

"No."

"Why does it look like we're eating like we used to when we were po'?"

"Uhahoh." (You know when you grunt "I don't know" but don't actually enunciate at all...)

Noticing the lump in my throat and the water in my eyes he asks, "Are you going to be okay if I go out of town?"

"Uh-huh." Waaaaaaaahhhhhhh......

I cry about my stupidness last week when I helped out someone that... oh ugh. Just doesn't appreciate anyone or anything and is just so freakin' selfish. I knew not to help, I knew but I didn't listen to myself. And then I heard some bad news about family over the weekend that really got to me. Although, when you look at the big picture, I don't know why it would've. I haven't been close to these family members in a long time. I know their new situation is for the best too, but it still hurt to hear. And then, Jeff is going out of town for the week. I've been so used to having him home every night, that I know I'm going to miss him like crazy. I felt like begging him to stay; wrapping my arms around the base of his legs and just pleading like a mad woman.

"Stay, baby, please stay... I don't care if it means not having any money since you're just leaving so you can work so we can pay the bills... STAY!"

Then he'd shake me off his leg and leave me in the dust. Don't worry I didn't humiliate myself that much. Close, but not quite that bad. And he didn't leave me in the dust. He held me tight and talked to me right. Told me all the little things I needed to hear to stop the tears, to loosen my embrace around his neck. To let him leave, not to be seen for another four days.

I tell him how I just don't feel like doing that much this week. I don't feel like doing anymore then the minimum to ensure my family doesn't go hungry. I don't feel like going anywhere or doing anything. And this is odd for me, because I'm not that person. I bounce back easily from bad news and setbacks. But this drama that I endured last week, left me feeling shaken to my core. Emotionally drained. So every other inconvenience or non-glorious moment set me off this weekend. Tears were ready to burst a majority of the weekend, my throat hurt from me trying to push them back a lot of the time. It wasn't fun. I'm beginning to think that maybe instead of going out of town for the weekend I should've gone on a spa day. Manicures and hot stone massages. Yeah, that's the ticket. I'll have to remember for next time.

It was a good enough weekend, just relaxed with family and friends. Football games, steak dinners, wireless networks, music and friends. That's all I needed. But it still didn't take care of the permanently placed stress headache that was planted right in the center of my forehead all weekend. I went to bed last night alone, well except for Kaitlyn, wishing for a better day today. I got it. Nothing special, but my headache was gone and I was able to smile without faking it.

I know, I know... waa, waa. Get over it!

Self Post Critiques: Could I have started anymore sentences with the word 'and'? Could I have been a bigger whinebag? Also, this post seems a little messy. Like I'm jumping from one thing to another... I don't know. I'm not feeling this one, ya know? But, I've been delaying posting anything lately because of all the icky crap that no one wants to read about. Meh, you'll get over it.

UPDATE: I was finally able to go through orientation to be a Girl Scout Troop Leader for my little girl's troop. I've got all sorts of paperwork to fill out and give out at the next meeting... I'm so excited!!! =)

Waterfall Picture

2008-09-11T21:57:00.003-05:00

One of the waterfalls at La Cantera Mall

I'm still loving my camera. People look at me like I'm nuts for bringing it out sometimes - family included. I have a lot of fun finding a good angle for a picture and seeing how it comes out. As one of my favorite smilies says on one of the forums I frequent, get your geek on! I didn't do any work to this one (i.e. photoshop). It's actually just a really pretty mall with some great paths to it.

I don't have a lot to post lately. Or actually, I guess I do and I've been struggling on what to write about. I'm worried about family in Houston who are in the path of a Hurricane this week. I'm frustrated with one my children's problems at school. Myself, I've just had a pretty plain week, which is a welcomed thing.

The Day That Changed My Life

2008-09-07T16:14:00.006-05:00

Jeff and I at a street dance in Ballinger.

September 6 is an important day in my history. This is the day, eleven years ago, that Jeff and I began our relationship, our love for one another. And it all started so innocently...

It was August, just a couple weeks before school started for my senior year. My good friend Mandy and I had hung out all summer, cruised the town in her Camaro and snuck out at night during sleepovers - amongst other things. We had an awesome time! Mandy was recovering from a foot or ankle injury and was doing physical therapy for it. Twas there that she met this handsome fellow named Lance. They started dating and decided to come up with this great idea to setup their two best friends. Mandy kept trying to describe this friend, Jeff, to me. "He's like a big teddy bear", she'd say. "He's just so cuddly." "He's... cute." I was slightly apprehensive about meeting him.

Getting ready to go to the BHS Coronation.

We decided to meet the boys at the pool, so first, of course, we had to get all dolled up. I mean who doesn't do their hair and makeup to go swimming? We thought we were soooo cool. We get to the pool and pile out of our different cars and meet face to face for the first time. I'm going to be truthful here. My general dating history had consisted of mostly short, skinny - like gangly-looking skinny, mid-range cuteness guys. And Jeff was tall, beefy and honestly (cringe) at first I wasn't attracted to him. There. Sorry Mom, sorry Jeff... but I wasn't. Plus, he was a smartass right off the bat to boot. He had a little remark for everything. Which, of course, now I love him for! So I tried to steer clear of him at the pool and when we all wanted to leave to go to the local Dairy Queen, I faked sick and went home.

Jeff and I goofing around the day I moved in with him during my senior year in high school.

I was (am) extremely worried about people's perception of me. I've always been the 'nice' girl and I like it that way. I was very bitchy towards him that day and I knew it, so it was a week later when I called him to ask if he hated me. He said no, and we started talking non-stop. It was four hours later when I got off the phone with him that evening. Four hours?!?! It didn't seem that long at all. We had decided that we would be really good friends. A guy and a girl who were just friends, it was going to be awesome. Looking back now, I'm sure Jeff was just trying to get his foot in the door with that line and I know I started getting flutters during that phone call that night. So we talked every day after school, helping each other with homework and talking about our families and friends. I acted interested when he talked about football, which was a huge part of his life. I found myself laughing endlessly at his little quips. I realized that he wasn't necessarily a smartass, but this was his sense of humor and how he dealt with some aspects of life. It was the following Wednesday during our daily phone conversations that we decided we should go on a 'friend date'. No pressure, just go and have fun as, you guessed it, friends. Riiiiiigggghhhht.

Our first Christmas together. He gave me a promise ring in a teddy bear that would say "I love you, I love you." I lost the ring in AZ. =(

I got dressed ever so carefully for my date with Jeff. I didn't have a whole lot of hoochie clothes when I was younger, that looking back on now, I'm grateful. Let me clarify that, I don't have hoochie clothes now either... I'm just saying. When he came to pick me up, all of sudden I went from not attracted to him to OMG, this guy is gorgeous. Look at those eyes and his hair and mmm, mmm, mmm. So anywho, we go on our date which consisted of eating somewhere, maybe a movie and I think we walked around the mall. I'm actually not quite sure. I remember us brushing up against eachother - not that way! Get your mind out of the gutter. But like, draping my hand past his arm or him doing the same. He'd put his arm around me... because friends do that. Soon we were holding hands... because I've done that with my friends before. He drove me back to Eden which was 44 miles away. On the way back home I laid my head on his shoulder... because friends do that.

Our first Easter together.

It had to be the most awkward drop off ever. It was late, around midnight and neither one of us wanted the night to end. My parents were gone that evening so we sat in the living and chitchatted some more. But I knew he had to get home to Ballinger which was 36 miles down one deer-infested road and that my parents might be home soon. He definitely wasn't supposed to come in the house. So as I walk him to the door, both of us with our hands stuffed in our pockets, shoulders up around our ears.

"So, I had fun... as a friend, of course." I said.

"Me too!" He replied.

"So... do you want to be... I don't know... more than... friends?" He asked.

"I don't know... do you want to be more than friends?" I requipped.

"Well, only if you do." He said.

Yeah, it went on like that for around five minutes. It was very cute, very elementary and so uncomfortable. For some reason, we were both so afraid of rejection. We had our first kiss that night. When he arrived home 40 minutes later, he called to say that he missed me and that he couldn't wait to see me later that week. And it's been like that almost always ever since.

Sigh.

Suburb Bliss

2008-09-04T22:52:00.002-05:00

The view after I finished edging the lawn. Sigh. All I needed was a pair of heels and a fifties skirt with my hair in a bun, or french twist.

I wanna be June Cleaver.

School Fundraiser

2008-09-04T16:37:00.002-05:00

"I've got a big, white envelope in my backpack and I want the robot prize!"

That was my first hint that the rest of my day wouldn't be good when I went to pick up the kids from school. I hate fundraisers, I think it's tacky to ask people to buy the stuff and unsafe to go door to door (Well maybe if he went by himself. But since I'm to lazy to walk with him, he would be going all by himself, thus the action being unsafe). But, I remember when I was a kid and wanted those elusive prizes on the back page of the prize sheet. So, I'm going to help as much as I can this year.

Basically, I'm going to whore out my kid's fundraiser to try and get him that big robot prize. So.... here is the link to the website that you can order from and have these things sent directly to your home. For all you San Angelo/San Antonio folk, if you want refrigerated items like scrumptious chocolate chunk cookie dough or a delectable peanut butter cup cheese cake, just let me know and I'll deliver it to you personally. You cannot get those items off the website.

http://www.NicholsonFundraising.com/index.asp?PID=27059

For everyone else, help as much as you can - and if you need help with your kids fundraiser, by all means, forward it on!

What She Wants To Do

2008-09-03T23:14:00.005-05:00

I woke up to my darling little girl yesterday, having the start of a very bad day. Her Nana had gone home the day before, but Kaitlyn was under the impression that the Nana fairy would have her back by morning. As soon as her eyes fluttered open she got up and went to the window to see if her Nana's car was back. She sulked back to the bed when she realized the disappointment that is reality. I tickled her, gave her raspberries on her belly, and did other things that usually make her smile (i.e. farting).

Finally, she comes out of the dark cloud that had surrounded her and says, "Let's do what I want to do today. Does that sound good to you?" (this is her new saying, she says it after every idea she gets - Get me some water. Does that sound good to you?)

"Well, what do you want to do today?", I ask.

I'll just give you guys the list:

First, she wanted to eat pancakes and then walk to the park.

Don't you just love the boots?

Then, we come home so we can play with her Littlest Pet Shop toys.

We get naked quick around here.

They all have little magnetic feet.

We eat PBJ's and chips for lunch. The chips are important because she wants the ones that are specifically for her brother and sister's lunches. After that, we were to head to Wal-Mart so she could look at the toys.

I love when she's the boss - it makes the day so much more fun sometimes.