"Time is making fools of us again." -Albus Dumbledore

Grow Up And Move Away

Pea had her first day of school. Technically she had two first days.  There is an elementary school right across the street. Literally. But our house goes to a completely different school so we put in for a transfer which came in on the second day. She has the same teacher that her cousins Ducky and Chris had. She's really nice so far, but its only been a week. 

Pea has been super excited, not one melt down. I was counting down the hours on her first day.  I walked to go pick her up and Bliss got so super happy to see her and we walked home. It was so great, a little mommy/daughters time.  It makes me glad that I have a schedule where I can do that.  Still not excited about nights, but I can be grateful for the good things. 

I got a little teary-eyed because the Alan Jackson song "Remember When" came on the radio and he says:

"Remember when, the sound of little feet was the music we danced to week to week." 

I love that line, because I feel like that's what my husband I do. Being a parent is a big deal, and although its important to still be yourself, your still always going to be Mommy, or Daddy. And you have to do it with a little patience and a whole lot of humor. That's the plan.  I want them to remember a lot of laughter in our house when they look back.  Then I think of them getting older and leaving and my heart hurts. 

But, that's the point of parenting, prepare them as much as you can for the real world, then send them out there. Alone!  It'll come sooner then you think. So pay attention please. 

There hands were so tiny and they were so helpless, then all of a sudden they're wearing a giant backpack and have homework.  

Oh, I'm veklempted. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic. How can it be new and improved?

Windmills

Do you tilt at them?

I just finished reading "Eat, Pray. Love." I know I am behind the times, but I have loved her since I saw this TED (very cool website, check it out)  talk.  She's funny, honest and inspiring.  I am wary of the movie. I always write weary first, instead of wary.  I am weary of bad movies made out of good books. So I am wary.  Eh...eh...

Anytangent, I can't say anything more then a million people have already said about this book. I regret not reading it sooner.  I want to be her best buddy.  And I can not wait to buy more books by her.That about sums it up.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Your Daily Zen

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Not doing a great job

Although I really think that when people say this, they mean they want to be Holly Golightly. I would make a much better Holly then Audrey. (except for the whole "escort" thing)

And really I aspire to be me, with a little Holly thrown in,

I know all of you just want to be you. But who do you aspire to mix in to you?

arista-ta arista-ta arista-ta-ta

Today is Gene Kelly's Birthday.  He would be 158 years old. And still dancing I'm sure.  In this infamous scene from "Singing In the Rain" he had a fever of 103 (!) and he's singing in milk, not rain, The milk showed up better on celluloid.  Talk about dedication. So to honor him go and rent one of his movies, or better yet, go dancing tonight.

Happy 158th Gene!

I'm going green...with envy.

If I had a desk at work it would be like this.

So since I can't seem to keep up with the blogging. (except when I'm at work, "working") I want to share with you some of the blogs that I love to read. I read lots of blogs, but there are some that I'll be doing some very important work task, like folding laundry..and my mind will wonder..what is so and so writing about today? Go read them. In my not so humble opinion these are the blogs you should be following, and reading!

"Lifestyle" Blogs

yes and yes 

because I always leave her blog feeling better about the day.
The Perfect Compilation Tape

because I want to be her friend in real life. So we can make top five lists about everything
The Adventures of Fred and Ethel

because she is an amazing writer (so many tears) and she was one of my first bloggy friends

 Crazy Shenanigans

because I dislike her right now for going to the Harry Potter world without me.
Big Fish Small Pond

because she is nothing but honesty and if I lived in Chi or she lived in TX we would rock out with our *ahem* out.
Gala Darling

because I feel more glamorous after visiting her. 

"Opinion/Review" Blogs

Uncultured Critic

because her book and movie reviews are spot on and intelligent, and her following is criminally low
 SlamDunks
because he use to be a police officer and gives me rare insight into different cases
Fever

because she has given me great parenting advice and isn't afraid of her own opinion
Shit Goddamn, I'm a man.

because he is an amazing writer and I wish he would write more

"Mommy" Blogs

Things I Can't Say

because so many of her posts give me that "I've totally been there" head nod.
Mommas Pixie Dreams

because she has an amazing family and I admire their unfailing faith in their little Monkey and her amazing strength

Local Flavor

South Austin Foodie
because she makes me hungry and I can actually try the places she reviews

Austin Eavesdropper

because it makes me feel like a cool Austinite.
Adored Austin
because she is a super cute pregnant lady and still has great style
 

Funny/Inspiring/Make Me Cry (but in a good way) Blogs

Salt Says

because you wish you were as snarky funny as her.

PostSecret

Because its sometimes funny and sometimes makes me cry
Secret Society of List Addicts

because it makes me laugh
Gives me Hope

 because it give me hope
1000 Awesome Things
because a list needed to be made

Straight Up Guilty Pleasures

Bravo

because it's Bravo (specifically I read the Top Chef and RHONJ ones)

What are some of your favorite blogs?

How many can you think of?

The quotes are a little bit cheesy but how can you argue with the awesome things. Go to the website and check it out. 1000 Awesome things.

Lift your spirits

That's why her hair is so big.

I've always tried to be very honest with myself. If I'm feeling anxious or have the blahs I try to look inside and figure out what's the matter with me. I try not to shy away from the bad stuff, but to sift through it and figure out where it's come from.  In my experience people tend to try and suppress things they know about themselves, that they don't want to think about, much less trace it to its source. I almost always feel instantly better once I realize where the thought came from, even if I can't do anything about it.  Or sometimes I still feel like crap. But at least I tried.

Try it. Just sit still and think about exactly what's holding you back and even if it's not a great thing, just own it and sometimes it will dissipate without you even doing anything except confronting it.

Welcome to CrazyTown

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I'd like you to meet Crazytown.  She will be your best friend on Monday, then treat you like shit on her heel on Tuesday. And don't try and be rational and calm with her because she will just yell you down and make up shit or accuse you of lying, just so she can be right. She is a intensely lonely, sad and regretful of her decisions, but her emotional immaturity doesn't allow her to cope with it in a healthy way and be honest with herself. Instead she will lash out at you if you happen to get in her way. She will make a fool of herself by hitting on your husband, being drunk at completely inappropriate times and acting like a child in front of her own child.

Most recently she has demanded an apology from me for an imagined slight that she can't seem to specifically recall. Because every time she is asked what I'm supposed to apologize for, she rambles on about how I don't respect her or her family and don't treat her as an equal. She has since moved on to accuse me of abusing Peanut. She doesn't want me alone with her, (like she has the right to make that decision) this from a woman who showed up at my mother-in-law's wake obviously drunk and then drove Peanut home like that. Yeah she's really concerned about Peanut's safety. 

She's apologized to hubs and retracted her accusations. She would still like an apology from me, but doesn't think its "necessary" to apologize to me 

And why did she freak out and get so angry? Good Question.

Because I removed her from my facebook.

Seriously.

Do you even have to ask why I removed her in the first place? 

What price convienence?

I have a genius idea. And feel free to steal it as long as you plan on opening one here. I want a drive through everything store. Need to pick up milk, well then drive through.  Because it can make a good day go rapidly down hill when you have to coral three kids just so you can go buy toilet paper. I know this is tricky, because you don't want it to be abused. The drive through at Krispy Kreme makes me so mad every time. Seriously! You can't walk a couple feet for your donuts? You should make yourself walk off a couple of calories for that mix of fat and sugar. Don't get me started on donuts. Who said it was okay to eat sugar covered cake for breakfast? Its round and has a hole in it, so that makes it okay to start your day with? (There's a dirty joke here somewhere) 

Don't get me wrong, there's a place in town called Ken's Donuts and its open 24 hours. Try to pass by at 3 am with the fresh baked smell wafting out and not get one. One! and they don't have a drive through. So there. 

Anyhypocrite, if you can't make me a drive through everything store, then at least make an easier to carry car seat. I love all twenty three pounds of her dribbling, two tooth smiling babyness. But I do not love all twenty three pounds whacking into my leg every step. I have bruises here! 

So if you could work on that I would really appreciate it. Do you have any genius ideas that maybe I can assist with?

image from weheartit

He speaks the truth

I found this on weheartit and the man responsible is Cherry Vomit. Go check him out, it's a perfect mix of funny and truth. I mean how better then that can you get! My husband and I watch Maury all the time, because it's educational. Obviously. Like for instance...I had no idea that you could tell whether a child is yours or not by the size of his penis, or whether or not it has hair..because if you have nice hair and the baby is bald, well then it's not yours. Done.  Maury taught me that, but you can thank me for saving you some money on paternity tests. Also how do you cram (heh heh cram) forty seven men in, during the, at best, one week ovulation period. Busy lady! My husband and I are excited if we get a chance three times a week.

If you want more amazing gems of wisdom such as the one above go check Cherry Vomit out. 

What do you watch on daytime tv? So many choices! And when you get the chance, practice your victorious "In Your Face" dance. Just in case you do end up needing it one day.

Zombie Baby

We were decorating cookies.

Happy Southpaw Day

Today is Left Handed Day. Being left handed is supposed to make you more creative. I wouldn't know, I'm just an uncreative righty. But these creative guys were left handed, so maybe it is true.

M.C. Escher

Durer (cannot do the little dots, anyone?)

Leonardo Da Vinci

Michelangelo

And the most amazing left hander of all, my hubs. (Blisster might be, we're not sure just yet, but Peanut is)

Are you left handed? Anyone you admire left handed? Well celebrate it today! (really I will look for any excuse for celebrations.)

(images from weheartit)

Two rants in two days

I feel like I should know better. I should know better then to trust people. I should know that it is our little family against the world, and stop expecting people to be better. Stupid naive me. 

Grandma put Hubby as her beneficiary. Even when she knew she was dying she didn't want to change it to Grandpa. But of course you don't get the money immediately so when we were trying to get everything figured out for the funeral expenses, some family members offered to pitch in. Grandpa and Hubs were tearfully and rightfully grateful.  Our impression was they were doing it as a gift. If they had said, when the money comes in we want you to pay us back, we would have agreed immediately. They never said that. 

When the money came in, we were going to just fix our one car since its had some problems for a couple of months and we couldn't afford to get it fixed. But Grandpa told hubs to go get a second car. We were also cramming three girls, two with car seats and us into a Dodge Neon.  We obviously needed something bigger. We bought the Magnum, used and for considerably less then its blue book value.  Even though hubs was the only beneficiary we obviously weren't going to hoard the money and say fuck everybody else. We share the house with Grandpa and split all bills (including the mortgage) down the middle. But instead of doing that we put all the rest of the money in a savings account and were planning on paying all the bills, including his, from that account. He wanted a certain amount for his own personal use and we gave Hubs sister some of it. I repeat the rest was in a savings account for only household expenses. 

Even though my husband has never given anyone a reason to think this of him. The family decided he was being shady with the money, because he posted on facebook a picture of the new car. Admittedly it does look like we paid a lot more then we did.  They thought we were leaving Grandpa to starve to death or something. One of his relatives decides to publicly tell him through facebook about how he's being selfish, and how he needs to remember what happened at Grandma's funeral and everyone deserves their share. These are family members who had to be told she was dying for them to visit. In seven years they had not even stopped by, until she got sick. So how about we share that? Us watching her get sick and taking care of her, and sitting by her bed in the ER. Having to be mean  to her just to get her take her meds, or even go to the hospital when she needed it. Where's your share of that? 

Basically we are going to pay them back for their "generous" help. Give Grandpa half of the money and split the bills again.  And remember that it's us against the world, and not make the mistake again of trusting people. Like Hubs said, money changes everything.

Mad as hell and I am going to take it.

I have been applying for day jobs at work for almost seven months now. And every time there is some reason why they can't hire me. I know the f'ing reason. It's way too hard for them to find someone to work 10 hour night shifts and they don't want to have to replace me with someone who doesn't do their job. So the last posting they put up I ignored it. Because honestly I just couldn't take any more rejection.   But my supervisor told me I should apply for them. She suggested it. So, silly me, I figured that I had a chance if she was urging me to apply. So I interview for the first one and all seems to go well. I don't get it. Then I get a call from my supervisor to interview me for the other one and its not an interview, its actually just a nice way of telling me I didn't get either one, and things I need to work on so I can get another chance. And she talked about my leadership qualities and how she relied on me to be the leader on the night shift.  Are you going to pay me more for leading? I didn't think so.

This was about two months ago. They offered the first job to someone who accepted it, then changed his mind. So since then both of them have been unfilled.  They finally hired someone outside the company to take the first job and the second one is still open. So instead of moving me up (someone who knows the kids and the lay of the land) you would rather hire someone brand new or leave the position open? 

Thanks for that slap in the face.  It makes me realize how much I matter. And that I need to find a new job. To find a new job I have to either get a lower paying one and get all the kids on CHIP, or find one that offers insurance that I can afford to put the kids on. Or stay here, where I am appreciated. 

Anybody want to hire me and pay my kids insurance?  I will even wash your windows!

List-omania

I will be 28 in almost  two months. I know that's not old.  But 28 just has more weight to it then 27 did. It makes me feel like an adult. Obviously I have been an adult for some time but I never really  felt like one. I have three kids, a mortgage, a husband, in laws, and still the whole concept of adult hasn't sunk in. Maybe it never will, maybe I'll be 67 and still wondering when I will feel like an adult. But I realized that for 28 years I haven't accomplished a whole lot. I have a family, and if my children can grow up sane and happy, and I end my life with my husband by my side, holding my hand then I will feel like I have lived an accomplished and full life. But  there are a few things I'd like to try between now and then.

So I made a list. I've expressed my love for lists before. I like making them, I like making sub lists,and sub sub lists. I especially like to cross things off.  So I've made a list of things to do before I turn 30. I know lots and lots of people are doing it. Most notably Sarah at Yes and Yes.  I worried it would feel gimmicky, like I'm copying someone else or just doing it so I have something to blog about.

But its not! Its so amazing. Its liberating.  Once I got started, it just felt so good to ask myself what I wanted to try. Anything, no matter how trivial or big it is. You have to try it, it feels so good. Even if you have a small list and a different end time. Do it.

This is my list of things I want to do before I turn 30: (in no particular order)

1. Change my own oil

2.  Fully celebrate Dios De Las Muertos

3. Participate in a zombie crawl

4. Take a belly dance class

5. Eat completely local for one month

6. Redecorate at least one room in the house and do the work ourselves

7. Participate in a performance

8. Have sex everyday with my husband for one month (and maybe for ever after? eh..eh?)

9. Experiment more with my baking

10.  Donate my hair to locks of love

11. Dye my hair blond

12. Shave my head

13. Learn how to speak Spanish

14. Have a real wedding

15. Have a honeymoon

16. Become debt free

17. Control my diabetes

18. Learn to sew wearable clothes

19. Have a consistent Yoga practice

20. Do karaoke

21. Take a couples dance class

22. Read 5 classic novels not previously read.

23. Run a 5k

24. Take a martial arts class

25. Go on a duck boat

26. Explore Austin as a tourist.

27. Take a burlesque dance class

28. Learn how to speak Italian

There it is, my secret wishes for all to see. There's other things I'd like to do, but some will have to go on the "When the Kids Are Out of the House List"  I have 2 years and 2 months. So I have to get cracking.  Wish me luck!

Do you guys have a list? Give me one goal and when you want to do it by and we can hold each other accountable!

images from weheartit

Sweet Diet Nectar

Trivia time! Do you know how Dr. Pepper got its name?

The man who invented it was courting a Ms. Pepper, and to impress her dad he named the new drink after him. I don't know if this ultimate ass kissing paid off or not. But you can see how obsessed I am with this fantastic beverage. I know its history. It's in my blood!  Okay sorry, being melodramatic..again.

look, Diet Dr. Pepper makes even a bed sheet look glamorous

But honestly my husband and I can go through a 24 pack in a day.  Of the diet kind. (After I found out I was diabetic, I switched and now I can't stand the real stuff, way too sweet)  We are addicted. When I was going through the dissolution of my first marriage (I always feel like an old widow lady with five husbands and small dogs when I say that)  I would comfort myself with Dr. Pepper and dark chocolate. ....Okay and painkillers, in all my Valley of the Dolls awesomeness. Luckily I didn't develop that into a habit.   But my DP addiction I've had since middle school. My Dad use to say that to keep me happy he just had to have DP in the fridge and ramen in the pantry. Nutritious,. 

I am so hungry now. Nothing to eat at work though. Damn it!

So why am I giving it up? Good question. Because I feel like crap physically. Achy, tired, irritable, headaches, indigestion, digestive problems (isn't that the nice way to say poop problems?) Obviously, all of this can be attributed to my lack of sleep or diabetes. But I'm pretty sure that the mass consumption of sodas isn't helping.  So I am eliminating them to see if I feel any better. I did okay today. I had one, which compared to my usual 8, I am pretty proud of myself. And to be honest it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Hopefully it stays that way. And now with no sodas, I drink more water. And that's always better.

Update: Epic Fail. It lasted a week. 

What is a vice that you have? Thinking about giving it up?

Corazon

image from weheartit

Its the claw!

I have been very neglectful. Here's how life is going on my side of the blog. 

We got a new car, a Dodge Magnum. Hubs was very resistent to the idea of a "Dad" car. So we got the manliest station wagon there is. And we were able to pay it off out right and we paid the other car off. We now own two cars free and clear.  I'm not going to lie, its nice to have a car of my own again. If the girls and I want to go on an adventure while Daddy's at work. All we have to do is pile in and go. 

Daddy is officially signed up for school. In a month he's going from management to production. So he'll be making it instead of flinging it. Ahem. Ice Cream, people. Sheesh.

Pea's birthday was succesful. Had a few people who don't understand the concept of RSVP, but that's fine. They missed out on one super happy four year old and some damn good cupcakes thankyouverymuch. Too bad for them. 

We took Pea and Butter Bean to their well checks. Pea is still tall and skinny and Bean is still big and fat.  They said Pea may be as tall as 5'7. She'll be taller then Mommy! And they gave us the go ahead to feed Bean more solid food. You should see her attack a banana. Still working on where her mouth is. But she's trying really hard. 

this picture makes me laugh because she looks like she's lounging all vato style

Peanut kicked ass in her swim lessons and is a little brown fish. She-who-must-not-be-named has reached new heights of craziness. 

I am feeling pretty good. Hubs and I had a good talk about my case of the sads. I'm pretty sure it's just baby blues, mixed with my propensity for the sads. "Melancholy has run through my family for generations, along with its sad sister, Alcoholism" (No alcoholism for me just yet, thanks for asking.)  Reading Eat, Pray, Love. And I will re-affirm my undying love for Elizabeth Gilbert. I want to hang out with her so bad! She inspires me over and over again. 

That's all the news that's fit to print. What's going on with your day to day?

I'm so crafty

Look what I made for Pea, because I'm awesome. All made from stuff out of our Goodwill bag, that never seems to make it to Goodwill.  Pea named it Princess Monster. Because she is obsessed with Princesses. 

Sorry, not great quality. My new phone is fancier but takes crappier pictures. Sad trombone.

I'm proud of myself. What do you guys think?

Follow or Feel the Wrath of the Force

I've done it. I've gone to the dark side. I'm going to be all mellow dramatic about this. I resisted for so long. I have joined twitter. sigh. I'm still playing around with it, trying to figure out how to use it, without driving myself crazy with one more thing to keep up with. Oh and I got a Facebook page. You can follow me on twitter or like me on Facebook from the side bar. Yeah just move your little mouse to the right and click. Because it is super pathetic that I am my only fan or like or whatever.  I need other people to validate my self worth! 

Do you guys use twitter or have a Facebook fan page? Let me know how you manage it, and let me know where so I can be a twit with you?

We hold these truths

My word of the day today was "Duplicity."  And since I don't want any of that in my life, I mean really who does? 

 "Yeah could you please lie to my face and pretend to be something you're not? Sweet, thanks."

So I decided to go in a different direction and make my word of the day "Honesty." That's better.

Can I borrow a quarter please?

It is art..it represents the viewer, how art is always being reconstructed by them. Eh eh?

Maybe today when someone asks, tell the truth. "Well to be honest, my deodorant stopped working about an hour ago, my kid has learned the f word and won't stop shouting it and my head is killing me" or "I'm feeling frazzled. Thanks for asking." Depends on how much you want to share.

I know that you guys are in awe of my classiness right?

And honest words to live by. 

images from weheartit

The best day ever

 just a couple of days old.

Today we are having Sweet Pea's birthday party. Her birthday was actually on Friday.  I honestly cannot believe that she is four!

 almost a year old

She was 2 months premature, at 3 lbs 3 oz. and 19 inches. She looked like ET, and was so tiny. She stayed in the NICCU for a month. We were lucky, because nothing was wrong with her, she just had to bake a little bit longer in her cubicle.

 2 years old. 

There's still nothing wrong with her, she's still little and skinny, but the she's on the growth chart. The only thing wrong with her that I can tell is her attitude and maybe she could use a mute button every now and again.

 her third birthday party

I love her more then anything else in the world. And being her mother defines me, I'm okay with that. I'm proud to be her mother. If I never do anything right, I hope that she knows she was loved, and remembers lots of laughter in her childhood.

 just  a couple of weeks ago. 

Thanks for indulging me. Hopefully I'll be around in the bloggy world to wax nostalgic about her fifth birthday. Be still my heart!