Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
24/7 ~ 365
Mmmmm I love Romance. I love stories of romance. All kinds of passionately~filled, butterfly tingles of kisses, tears welling up from angst, fingers intertwining, heart pounding, skin~brushing, cheeks~flushing, hot~flashing, pure, sweet, breathless, ohhh such body entangling.............
ROMANCE.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!
I hate Valentine's Day. (Gasp!) I hated walking into Wal-mart today and looking at all the junk.
I have notebooks of handwritten, quotes, letters, songs, ideas, cut outs of ads, torn pages of magazines, and cards dating back 20+ years about love, romance, life and passion. I believe that falling in love is the greatest thing you can do for yourself. I do it everyday. I believe that the little things you do to show someone you love them are what make for the ROMANCE in life. I think that Romance is all about watching, yearning, longing, having, needing, kissing, holding~hands, and living...every single day....NOT ONE DAY OUT OF THE YEAR......................
This is how I was raised. My mom and Dad used to say, "You need to show someone you love them and care about them EVERYDAY.....little things are what matters. Not a dozen roses you pay 10X's too much for on February 14th."
I have never let Tommy get me anything on Valentine's Day. In fact, we would sit and laugh when our squads at the police department were out scrambling for gifts for their wives.......... the stories we could tell...... Most of the men and women he works with think that he is totally joking when someone asks him what he got me and he tells them I don't believe in it..... The truth is.....
I want Jax, Brinkley and Pudgie to understand that relationships are awesome. Falling in love is amazing and caring about someone is just spine-tingling wonderful.... but it takes more than candy and flowers on one day, to make it work and last. I never want Brinkley to expect some type of gift from a boy on Valentine's Day just to show her that he likes her.....and I would hope that Jax and Pudgie will learn by Daddy's example, that everyday is really Valentine's day when you care about someone!
So here is to our everyday Valentine's Day's in this house!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Waaay over my head...
I have severly bitten off more than I can chew this time and I am way too proud to admit it. I am a pretty creative person. I like to tweak ideas in order to make them fit my personality or the feel of our house, I love being the mom that does the crazy things with paint and markers and I love the fact that some things I do actually turn out really cool...(like Binky's pink and black zebra wall in her bedroom!!!) ... sooo, when Jax and Brinkley decided we would decorate Pudgie's room in Spongebob I really had not put much thought into how difficult it might actually be. I figured out after about 5 minutes that I am actually going to have to hand paint the entire mural. A task I have never even attempted (EXCEPT FOR FLOWERS AND THOSE ARE EASY!!!) My friend is an artist. She can paint anything....anything. It would be helpful if she didn't live in Wisconsin!! I can paint, just not things like coral and pineapples. So we (the mouse I carry in my pocket) are beginning this tedious process of decorating. The first sketch is up on the wall. Wow, we have some pretty big walls.
He is......
In the past few weeks, things have been "super-fun" for Tommy at work. I say that half sarcastically and half laughing. You see, it seems that it is either dead and no one can find anything to dig up (I think the criminals take certain weeks off or something) or it all hits the "proverbial fan" at once. SERIOUSLY...
It is not often I get to hear of shootings at the police helicopters and Tommy getting to smash out car windows to take some drunk psycho chick outta her car at gunpoint. (I never got to do that one honey...) Most of the time though, I am just so thankful he comes home safe and sound. He sent me an email from one of the men that works for him. I had to post it. I don't know how many times I had someone say to me, "YOU ARE GIVING ME A TICKET? I PAY YOUR SALARY!!!" I would always reply, without ever skipping a beat, "PRESS HARD, YOU ARE MAKING THREE COPIES.. OH, BY THE WAY, I PAY TAXES TOO, THEREFORE, I THINK THAT MAKES ME SELF-EMPLOYED. HAVE A NICE DAY!!!" And to think I wondered why I got complaints. Hmmmmh!
It is not often I get to hear of shootings at the police helicopters and Tommy getting to smash out car windows to take some drunk psycho chick outta her car at gunpoint. (I never got to do that one honey...) Most of the time though, I am just so thankful he comes home safe and sound. He sent me an email from one of the men that works for him. I had to post it. I don't know how many times I had someone say to me, "YOU ARE GIVING ME A TICKET? I PAY YOUR SALARY!!!" I would always reply, without ever skipping a beat, "PRESS HARD, YOU ARE MAKING THREE COPIES.. OH, BY THE WAY, I PAY TAXES TOO, THEREFORE, I THINK THAT MAKES ME SELF-EMPLOYED. HAVE A NICE DAY!!!" And to think I wondered why I got complaints. Hmmmmh!
Tommy,
Here's to your squad and the fact that you all take care of each other every night, you...the man I adore, our crazy sooooo non- 9 to 5 life and all the family-fun we have!! Thank you for coming home safe and sound every morning, or night or, HEY......... WHEN do you come home again???? I love you!
Here's to your squad and the fact that you all take care of each other every night, you...the man I adore, our crazy sooooo non- 9 to 5 life and all the family-fun we have!! Thank you for coming home safe and sound every morning, or night or, HEY......... WHEN do you come home again???? I love you!
************************************
I am a police officer. When I get to work, my civilian clothes come off and my uniform goes on. It's uncomfortable and hot, dark colored and made of wool. I have to put on a bulletproof vest. I have two pairs of handcuffs, a small flashlight, a Taser, a baton, some extra magazines of bullets and a gun. I am trained to defend myself and others from serious harm or death. The uniform itself makes me a target of violence. Artists rap about killing me. Gangsters write on walls about doing the same. But I love this uniform. I am the person who comes when someone calls 911. I come with lights and sirens, driving fast, putting myself in danger, not knowing what I am driving to; a child just playing on the phone, husband or boyfriend beating his wife or girlfriend, neighbors arguing over a parking spot, or a parent whose child is acting up and they are so frustrated and desperate that they call us for the answer. Will I be taking someone to jail, mediating a dispute, or playing parent? Will I be yelled at, cursed at, spat on or attacked? Will they be happy to see me or angry that I am there? I have put a tarp over the body of a seven-year-old who stepped out in front of a car going at least 40 miles an hour. I watched his blood wash away as it began to rain. I stood over the body of a middle-aged man who was riding his bicycle home from work on the sidewalk and was struck by a teen driver who had two other teens in the car when she lost control. I get called when someone dies, even if it wasn't a crime. I have sat in houses with dead people for several hours, waiting for a family member if I was able to find one, or a coroner's representative if I was not. Sometimes the family doesn't want to come at all. Sometimes they cry. Sometimes it seems they are annoyed that they now have to make arrangements. I have looked at the bodies of people who have overdosed on drugs, choked, hung themselves, shot themselves, cut themselves. I have had to tell a sister that her little brother was shot in the back of the head while walking home. He died a half-block from home, killed by a Hispanic gangster because he was a Cambodian gangster. I've had people jump out of a second-floor window to get away from me. I have found people under beds, in closets, and in a shower after she told me, "I swear he's not here. I am the only one inside." I have found people in attics and garages. I've had people run from me, ride off on a bike, or not pull over in their car when I put on my lights and siren.I pursued a wanted parolee and a gangster for a half hour. He had methamphetamine in his system and in his pants pocket. He had stolen a 9mm handgun. People have run from me because they had drugs, guns, a warrant or they just didn't want a ticket. I have had to check people's backyards at night when they think they saw someone or heard a strange noise. I took a report of a gangster who was shot in the face and lived. I saw him again a year later and listened to him brag about how he could not be killed. He was shot and killed less than two weeks later at a party. I have arrested a 14-year-old girl for prostitution and an 80-year-old man for domestic violence. He had made his wife sleep in their cold garage with the dogs. They were both alcoholics. I kicked an alcoholic dad out of a motel room where he was living with his wife, three daughters and four sons. There was no kitchen, stove or refrigerator; only a cooler. An infant was being bottle-fed orange drink because their government assistance had already been spent that month. I took them grocery shopping. I took a ten-month-old child into protective custody. I found her lying on a bed with a pile of crack cocaine. I waited three hours for the "mother" to come home so I could arrest her.I found a man bleeding on a living-room floor, a loaded gun next to him. There were bullet holes all over the inside of the house. There were two duffle bags full of marijuana, a scale and small baggies. There was a Christmas tree and decorations. His wife and daughters were standing outside in the cold, crying. He survived what had been an attempted drug rip-off and is probably dealing drugs somewhere else today. I've jumped fences, kicked down a door, and broken my arm in three places.When I'm eating lunch or dinner, people have said, "My tax dollars don't pay you to eat." I've had to throw my meal away to go to a call. I've had co-workers scream for help and I have had to ask for help myself. I've been scared. I've worked on Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter, Fourth of July and Halloween. I've dealt with the homeless, gangsters, drug dealers, prostitutes, victims, suspects, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, city council members, doctors, lawyers, all walks of life.I have dealt with more harm, despair, hopelessness and death in the last four years of my life than you will your entire life. When I leave work, my uniform comes off and my civilian clothes are put back on. But my duty to "protect and serve" is still there.When I go out to dinner with my family, I have to check the restaurant for that gangster who told me to watch my back or for the boyfriend I arrested for beating up his girlfriend. When I go to the grocery store or the mall, I must do the same thing. In a public place, I will wonder why a guy is looking at me. Do I know him? Have I arrested him before? Does he actually recognize me? Should my family and I leave? When I walk into a bar or go to a party someone always yells, "Did somebody call the cops" or some other smart remark they think I have never heard before. Friends make cop jokes. My family makes cop jokes. Someone always asks if I've had a doughnut even though they have probably eaten more than me. People love to make fun of us. Some love to hate us. I would like to tell all these people: "I don't enjoy writing you a ticket. I don't get paid more if I write more tickets. If I'm at your house because your party is too loud, it's because your neighbor called us. " Don't hate the police because you've been given a speeding ticket when you know you were speeding. Don't hate the police because we arrested your boyfriend for beating you up. Or because you got caught with drugs, a gun, in a stolen car, or for driving drunk. Don't hate us for your mistakes or poor choices. We don't write the laws, the politicians you vote for do. Don't hate us for yelling at you; there may be a reason for it. We may be looking for a bad guy. Or you may have said something smart to us or been drunk. Or maybe we just had a really bad day. I like some of the same bands you do. I like the same movies you do. I like parties and barbecues. I like hanging out with friends and family. I like sports, traveling, camping and reading. Do I sound much different than you? I am different. I am a police officer.
I am a police officer. When I get to work, my civilian clothes come off and my uniform goes on. It's uncomfortable and hot, dark colored and made of wool. I have to put on a bulletproof vest. I have two pairs of handcuffs, a small flashlight, a Taser, a baton, some extra magazines of bullets and a gun. I am trained to defend myself and others from serious harm or death. The uniform itself makes me a target of violence. Artists rap about killing me. Gangsters write on walls about doing the same. But I love this uniform. I am the person who comes when someone calls 911. I come with lights and sirens, driving fast, putting myself in danger, not knowing what I am driving to; a child just playing on the phone, husband or boyfriend beating his wife or girlfriend, neighbors arguing over a parking spot, or a parent whose child is acting up and they are so frustrated and desperate that they call us for the answer. Will I be taking someone to jail, mediating a dispute, or playing parent? Will I be yelled at, cursed at, spat on or attacked? Will they be happy to see me or angry that I am there? I have put a tarp over the body of a seven-year-old who stepped out in front of a car going at least 40 miles an hour. I watched his blood wash away as it began to rain. I stood over the body of a middle-aged man who was riding his bicycle home from work on the sidewalk and was struck by a teen driver who had two other teens in the car when she lost control. I get called when someone dies, even if it wasn't a crime. I have sat in houses with dead people for several hours, waiting for a family member if I was able to find one, or a coroner's representative if I was not. Sometimes the family doesn't want to come at all. Sometimes they cry. Sometimes it seems they are annoyed that they now have to make arrangements. I have looked at the bodies of people who have overdosed on drugs, choked, hung themselves, shot themselves, cut themselves. I have had to tell a sister that her little brother was shot in the back of the head while walking home. He died a half-block from home, killed by a Hispanic gangster because he was a Cambodian gangster. I've had people jump out of a second-floor window to get away from me. I have found people under beds, in closets, and in a shower after she told me, "I swear he's not here. I am the only one inside." I have found people in attics and garages. I've had people run from me, ride off on a bike, or not pull over in their car when I put on my lights and siren.I pursued a wanted parolee and a gangster for a half hour. He had methamphetamine in his system and in his pants pocket. He had stolen a 9mm handgun. People have run from me because they had drugs, guns, a warrant or they just didn't want a ticket. I have had to check people's backyards at night when they think they saw someone or heard a strange noise. I took a report of a gangster who was shot in the face and lived. I saw him again a year later and listened to him brag about how he could not be killed. He was shot and killed less than two weeks later at a party. I have arrested a 14-year-old girl for prostitution and an 80-year-old man for domestic violence. He had made his wife sleep in their cold garage with the dogs. They were both alcoholics. I kicked an alcoholic dad out of a motel room where he was living with his wife, three daughters and four sons. There was no kitchen, stove or refrigerator; only a cooler. An infant was being bottle-fed orange drink because their government assistance had already been spent that month. I took them grocery shopping. I took a ten-month-old child into protective custody. I found her lying on a bed with a pile of crack cocaine. I waited three hours for the "mother" to come home so I could arrest her.I found a man bleeding on a living-room floor, a loaded gun next to him. There were bullet holes all over the inside of the house. There were two duffle bags full of marijuana, a scale and small baggies. There was a Christmas tree and decorations. His wife and daughters were standing outside in the cold, crying. He survived what had been an attempted drug rip-off and is probably dealing drugs somewhere else today. I've jumped fences, kicked down a door, and broken my arm in three places.When I'm eating lunch or dinner, people have said, "My tax dollars don't pay you to eat." I've had to throw my meal away to go to a call. I've had co-workers scream for help and I have had to ask for help myself. I've been scared. I've worked on Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter, Fourth of July and Halloween. I've dealt with the homeless, gangsters, drug dealers, prostitutes, victims, suspects, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, city council members, doctors, lawyers, all walks of life.I have dealt with more harm, despair, hopelessness and death in the last four years of my life than you will your entire life. When I leave work, my uniform comes off and my civilian clothes are put back on. But my duty to "protect and serve" is still there.When I go out to dinner with my family, I have to check the restaurant for that gangster who told me to watch my back or for the boyfriend I arrested for beating up his girlfriend. When I go to the grocery store or the mall, I must do the same thing. In a public place, I will wonder why a guy is looking at me. Do I know him? Have I arrested him before? Does he actually recognize me? Should my family and I leave? When I walk into a bar or go to a party someone always yells, "Did somebody call the cops" or some other smart remark they think I have never heard before. Friends make cop jokes. My family makes cop jokes. Someone always asks if I've had a doughnut even though they have probably eaten more than me. People love to make fun of us. Some love to hate us. I would like to tell all these people: "I don't enjoy writing you a ticket. I don't get paid more if I write more tickets. If I'm at your house because your party is too loud, it's because your neighbor called us. " Don't hate the police because you've been given a speeding ticket when you know you were speeding. Don't hate the police because we arrested your boyfriend for beating you up. Or because you got caught with drugs, a gun, in a stolen car, or for driving drunk. Don't hate us for your mistakes or poor choices. We don't write the laws, the politicians you vote for do. Don't hate us for yelling at you; there may be a reason for it. We may be looking for a bad guy. Or you may have said something smart to us or been drunk. Or maybe we just had a really bad day. I like some of the same bands you do. I like the same movies you do. I like parties and barbecues. I like hanging out with friends and family. I like sports, traveling, camping and reading. Do I sound much different than you? I am different. I am a police officer.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
APPARENTLY I DO NOTHING..
I have posted two things today and that is pretty unusual. I am home with the three little munchies alone so I try for one. I just could not resist the conversation Jax and I had today. I don't really think it was a conversation though...more or less Jax was just letting me know how much time I have on my hands. Interesting...
Jax is trying desperately to find something called a "datacore" in one of his video games. His friend across the street is also trying to find this thing. (This has been going on for about 4 months now)
At any rate... Jax tells me in his..I am nearly in tears, frustrated, mad, don't mess with me or I am gonna explode voice.... I can just play his video game all day tomorrow to try and find the datacore because he will be at school and I will have nothing else to do. OOOOOKKKKKKAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!
I told him I would definitely do that right after I:
Jax is trying desperately to find something called a "datacore" in one of his video games. His friend across the street is also trying to find this thing. (This has been going on for about 4 months now)
At any rate... Jax tells me in his..I am nearly in tears, frustrated, mad, don't mess with me or I am gonna explode voice.... I can just play his video game all day tomorrow to try and find the datacore because he will be at school and I will have nothing else to do. OOOOOKKKKKKAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!
I told him I would definitely do that right after I:
WAKE UP, TAKE MY SHOWER, GET DRESSED, MAKE MY BREAKFAST,FEED THE DOG, GIVE THE DOG HIS MEDICINE, GET WATER BOTTLES FOR SCHOOL READY, MAKE HIS AND BRINKLEY'S BREAKFAST, WAKE THEM UP, GET CLOTHES READY FOR PUDGIE, WAKE UP PUDGIE, CLEAR THE KITCHEN TABLE, GET THEM UPSTAIRS AND START THE WHOLE DRESS FOR SCHOOL PROCESS, CHANGE THE BABY, FEED THE BABY, DRESS THE BABY, YELL FOR THE TWO KIDS TO GET DOWNSTAIRS TO LEAVE FOR SCHOOL, FIX JAX'S HAIR, TIE JAX'S SHOES IN TRIPLE KNOTS, LET THE DOG OUT TO GO THE BATHROOM, BRUSH BRINKLEY'S HAIR, FIND HER SWEATER, GET THE BABY A NEW JUICE FOR THE WALK TO SCHOOL, LOAD UP THE STROLLER WITH PUDGIE AND HIS GEAR, ALL BRINKLEY'S GEAR.... GET OUT THE DOOR.. DROP THEM OFF AT SCHOOL. NOW, COME HOME, MAKE FRESH WATER BOTTLES, PACK UP THE PUDGIE MAN FOR THE GYM, LET THE DOG OUT AND IN AGAIN, GO TO THE GYM, HOME BY 10:45. LET DOG OUT, START LUNCH FOR PUDGIE, RETURN ANY PHONE CALLS, FEED THE BABY, CHANGE THE BABY, FEED THE DOG, CLEAN UP DISHES FROM BREAKFAST, START DISHWASHER, WASH DOWN KITCHEN TABLE, PLAY WITH PUDGIE AND HOPE AND PRAY HE GOES DOWN FOR HIS NAP, CLEAN UP ALL TOYS IN FAMILY ROOM, CLEAN BATHROOM DOWNSTAIRS, PICK UP EVERYONE'S SHOES, PAY BILLS, VACUUM FAMILY ROOM, KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM. IF I GET REALLY LUCKY I WILL GET TO VACUUM THE STAIRS, EAT LUNCH, WASH THE KITCHEN FLOOR, FINISH LOADS OF LAUNDRY FROM YESTERDAY, GARBAGE PICK UP FROM EACH ROOM. CLEAN UP JAX'S BATHROOM WHILE I AM IN THERE. TALK TO DADDY ABOUT THE WEEKEND AND WHAT WENT ON AT WORK, FIX THE BROKEN TRANSFORMER, FIND THE OTHER MATCHING TRANSFORMER, START WORK ON TAX PAPERS, FIND OUT HOW OUR BABYSITTER DID AFTER SURGERY, RUN TO GROCERY STORE FOR SALE ITEMS, UNLOAD GROCERIES, THROW AWAY ALL GARBAGE FROM GROCERIES, GET PUDGIE OUT OF BED, CHANGE PUDGIE, FEED PUDGIE, PACK UP PUDGIE TO COME TO SCHOOL TO GET BOTH KIDS, COME HOME, HELP OUT WITH HOMEWORK WHILE MAKING SNACKS AND GETTING DINNER READY. CLEAN UP ALL THE MESS FROM A MILLION PAPERS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL. GO OUTSIDE TO WATCH YOU PLAY SO NO ONE STEALS YOU. BRING YOU BACK INSIDE, GET YOU WASHED UP FOR DINNER, FEED YOU, SHOWER OR BATH..WHICHEVER. GET SCHOOL CLOTHES READY FOR TOMORROW AND PUT YOU TO BED. CLEAN UP DINNER DISHES, REWASH KITCHEN TABLE AND POSSIBLY KITCHEN FLOOR FROM DINNER, SIT DOWN AND TALK TO DADDY FOR A FEW MINUTES. TAKE A SHOWER TO GET READY FOR BED...
OH YEAH,
I CAN DEFINITELY FIT IN FINDING YOUR DATACORE!!!
I CAN DEFINITELY FIT IN FINDING YOUR DATACORE!!!
Oh the price I pay......
Bribery...that is how I roll some days.
It is a beautiful rainy Sunday here and I am soooo thankful! No playing outside and my list of projects has grown over the past six months so I get to play catch up, hopefully!!!! I have needed to finish painting Pudgie's bathroom for months, but have put it off for more important things, like doing nothing at all or sitting outside and doing nothing at all, watching the kids play and doing nothing at all...you get my drift. I have been one lazy momma. Now that I am actually going to have to pull out the creative side of me and get the "pineapple under the sea" adventure going in his bedroom... I knew I needed to get the bathroom done first.
DILEMA........
I have absolutely no idea what time Tommy came home this morning. I have three rugrats running around like wild animals. (happy ones, but still WILD!) Pudgie's bathroom is very well insulated from hearing what is going on inside this house (especially downstairs in the family room), I need to be able to ventilate the bathroom (through the baby's room since there are no windows in it) before he takes a nap...and I need to do it with over an hour to spare before the nap takes place..........lightbulb flickers...albeit very dimly....
BRIBERY.....
I offer each of the kids $5.00 dollars to babysit Pudgie. REALLY babysit him. (Of course I mention that there is no throwing of the baby allowed this time! WE SAW HOW WELL THAT WORKED OUT ONCE ALREADY!!! ) Play with him, wrestle with him, keep the Spongebob cartoons flowing on the DVR. Keep him busy while I take 25 quick minutes to finish his bathroom. They are over the moon since I show them I actually have the $5.00 bills in my purse.
10:30 AM ~ The bathroom is done in record time....I am soo pleased.... I think.. Utter silence downstairs........
Today is good..... for the three of them.... my $10.00 in babysitting money has only cost me:
*4 pounds of bruised and half bitten apples thanks to Pudgie sitting on the kitchen table and having a fruit picnic while taking target practice at the dog with the eaten apples.....could have been worse I guess. ( 5 minutes to clean up, no biggie)
*a broken DVD player, at least it was old and not the HD one.... but still.....
*a VCR filled with pieces from the game TROUBLE...this is an on-going problem. (10 minutes with the tweezers to pick them out, again, hmmm)
*4 diapers that were torn to pieces.. thankfully they were clean.....not sure what the fetish is with the diapers (15 minutes to vacuum, but that will have to wait for Tommy to wake up...my patience is wearing now)
*one tube of expensive young living tooth paste..... good thing it is edible (5 minutes of clean up time, ok I deserve this one)
*magnets from our boards and alphabet pizza pans everywhere..... even in the refrigerator (10 minutes of clean up time, Tommy has warned me about the magnets but I am getting a tad frustrated now)
*marshmallows....GIANT marshmallows...... licked and stuck on the leather couch....... (The dog was allowed to eat the marshmallows and 10 minutes to wash the couch, It did need it but UUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!)
15 minutes to paint the bathroom and
55 minutes of clean up time thanks to my wonderful babysitters..
Such is life.... at least his bathroom is painted.....
and I love the rain...especially on Sunday! Is it nap time for me yet???
It is a beautiful rainy Sunday here and I am soooo thankful! No playing outside and my list of projects has grown over the past six months so I get to play catch up, hopefully!!!! I have needed to finish painting Pudgie's bathroom for months, but have put it off for more important things, like doing nothing at all or sitting outside and doing nothing at all, watching the kids play and doing nothing at all...you get my drift. I have been one lazy momma. Now that I am actually going to have to pull out the creative side of me and get the "pineapple under the sea" adventure going in his bedroom... I knew I needed to get the bathroom done first.
DILEMA........
I have absolutely no idea what time Tommy came home this morning. I have three rugrats running around like wild animals. (happy ones, but still WILD!) Pudgie's bathroom is very well insulated from hearing what is going on inside this house (especially downstairs in the family room), I need to be able to ventilate the bathroom (through the baby's room since there are no windows in it) before he takes a nap...and I need to do it with over an hour to spare before the nap takes place..........lightbulb flickers...albeit very dimly....
BRIBERY.....
I offer each of the kids $5.00 dollars to babysit Pudgie. REALLY babysit him. (Of course I mention that there is no throwing of the baby allowed this time! WE SAW HOW WELL THAT WORKED OUT ONCE ALREADY!!! ) Play with him, wrestle with him, keep the Spongebob cartoons flowing on the DVR. Keep him busy while I take 25 quick minutes to finish his bathroom. They are over the moon since I show them I actually have the $5.00 bills in my purse.
10:30 AM ~ The bathroom is done in record time....I am soo pleased.... I think.. Utter silence downstairs........
Today is good..... for the three of them.... my $10.00 in babysitting money has only cost me:
*4 pounds of bruised and half bitten apples thanks to Pudgie sitting on the kitchen table and having a fruit picnic while taking target practice at the dog with the eaten apples.....could have been worse I guess. ( 5 minutes to clean up, no biggie)
*a broken DVD player, at least it was old and not the HD one.... but still.....
*a VCR filled with pieces from the game TROUBLE...this is an on-going problem. (10 minutes with the tweezers to pick them out, again, hmmm)
*4 diapers that were torn to pieces.. thankfully they were clean.....not sure what the fetish is with the diapers (15 minutes to vacuum, but that will have to wait for Tommy to wake up...my patience is wearing now)
*one tube of expensive young living tooth paste..... good thing it is edible (5 minutes of clean up time, ok I deserve this one)
*magnets from our boards and alphabet pizza pans everywhere..... even in the refrigerator (10 minutes of clean up time, Tommy has warned me about the magnets but I am getting a tad frustrated now)
*marshmallows....GIANT marshmallows...... licked and stuck on the leather couch....... (The dog was allowed to eat the marshmallows and 10 minutes to wash the couch, It did need it but UUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!)
15 minutes to paint the bathroom and
55 minutes of clean up time thanks to my wonderful babysitters..
Such is life.... at least his bathroom is painted.....
and I love the rain...especially on Sunday! Is it nap time for me yet???
PUDGIE'S NEW BIG BOY BATHROOM!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Muscles!
I love going to the gym with TOMMY. He is the best workout partner. I just love him! Some days I love him so much I make up some wonderful names for him. Some days I love him so much I don't even bother going near him at the gym because the love is just spewing from me like verbal vomit. Some days I just love him so much I lay on the mat and stretch the entire time we are at the gym just so I can watch him lift. That is because Some days... I just don't want to be there. He is so dedicated and some days I am not! Thankfully I am waaaaay too competitive to let him get more days in than me.
When we first started dating he would always say to me, "The couple that works~out together, stays together." I am sure that is not always the case for some people, but it has sure worked for us for over 10 years now. There are days that I just really don't want to be there.....After all, 30 Reese's peanut butter cups does sound better than 50 pound dumbbells most days. But..
When we first started dating he would always say to me, "The couple that works~out together, stays together." I am sure that is not always the case for some people, but it has sure worked for us for over 10 years now. There are days that I just really don't want to be there.....After all, 30 Reese's peanut butter cups does sound better than 50 pound dumbbells most days. But..
There is something to be said for
climbing up that hill,
when you would rather slide down it,
for doing the sit ups,
for doing the sit ups,
when you would rather lay down,
and
and
for lifting the weights,
when you would rather lift the chocolate!
Thank you for getting me to LIFT UP all those evil weights, so I can GO DOWN in jean sizes my love! I love you, even when I am so sore I can't pick up the baby!
Thank you for getting me to LIFT UP all those evil weights, so I can GO DOWN in jean sizes my love! I love you, even when I am so sore I can't pick up the baby!
Here's to our workouts of the past and to the new ones yet to come!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
INSPIRATION PINK!!!
Everyone that knows Tommy and I, know that we try to get to the gym 5 or more days a week. Not because I love working out that much, but mainly because it helps me walk everyday...... normally! Anyways..... I always, always, always wear pink. Is there any other color?
Well, imagine my suprise and excitement when I found out that my trainer at my gym was training the PINK team from guess where? .... yep,
I am so inspired by this team. I try to talk with them (only for a quick second as not to interrupt ay precious workout time) or just say hi in passing, everytime I see them. They are amazing. They look amazing! Television does not do this pair justice at all!
This last episode made me cry. To hear Bette-Sue say that the only reason she was subjecting herself to the tortures of working out, was solely for Ali, was inspiring to me as a mom. They definitely deserved to stay on the show. Stupid yellow!
I get to see and talk with Bette-Sue more than Ali most of the time. She is a riot. Just like on the show... you just don't know what may be said... and I love that.
So Bette-Sue, you told me yesterday that you were frustrated and felt like you were stuck.... We all get there. TRUST ME.... You will get passed it. You look amazing. Seriously amazing! For everyone of us that sees you everyday..... and yep, I am gonna say it.... WORK YOUR ASS OFF...for two long hours every morning .... you are a true inspiration! I look forward to seeing you everyday! So thank you to you and Ali! You keep me trudging to the gym when I really don't want to!!!!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
My 'lil Rockstar model!
I love when I get to wash and blow dry Brinkley's hair. Her hair is a strangely beautiful color. She is definitely blonde but she has reddish highlights with some darker brownish lowlights and then there are some streaks of white in there. In the summer she has almost white hair (or greenish when we swim) but mostly, she has hair that 18 year old girls and 45 year old women, for that matter, are paying huge money for nowadays! When she lets me wash, condition and then blow dry it, it is amazing. It is not an easy task. It is not like she has a ton of hair. It is not like it is difficult to do it. She is difficult. She is Brinkley!
On the rare occasion that I actually do blow her hair dry, it is usually just the two of us hiding out in one of the bathrooms talking girl~talk or giggling about something. Tonight we were in my bathroom on the floor together and she was mad. She was cold and did not want me to dry her hair. That was until I showed her what Grammie Diane used to do to Auntie Kelly and I in Nebraska, where it was really cold. (My kids don't know what Nebraska cold is) I started drying her hair while she was in her little (actually huge) beach towel. She was whining so I opened the towel at her feet and started to blow the hot air at her toes. The look on her face was of total amazement. How I could have gone 6 and a half years and never done this with her before, is beyond me. She started laughing uncontrollably. I don't know why she assumed that the air would make her colder but I had just done the "coolest thing ever" she told me. (go figure)
When her hair is almost dry I make her flip it forward to do the bottom. I am pretty sure every girl old enough to blow dry their hair has done this, so for me it is not a big deal. To get Brinkley to do this was like making her eat green beans or cauliflower....until we started doing the rockstar model!
I have Brinkley flip her hair up and down while I dry it. She can flip up, down, side to side, front, back...whatever works best for her, as long as she doesn't fall over and get hurt from being dizzy. I tell her that the rockstars do this on stage while they play guitar (she keeps telling me to remind her to do this while she is playing Guitar Hero with Jax from now on) and that models blow their hair dry like this so they can have CRAZY hair during photoshoots. She bounces around and poses like a model and then starts jumping around like she is now a rockstar!!! We have a good time with it and she laughs and lets me get her hair pretty again...even if it is only for a very brief.... few minutes! Her hair smells so yummy when we get done. Child-like, smush your face in it and just breathe it in yummy. Baby soft, twirl it around your fingers yummy! I love it when her hair is like this!
Funny part about it all, the boys notice it the most. Daddy always comments when her hair is clean and soft and yummy smelling. I always find it amazing that her big brother would notice how shiny and soft it feels when I do blow it dry... (that is, while he is pulling it during wrestle mania at bedtime)
So, Miss Binky, thanks for letting mommy warm you up with the hair dryer and make your beautiful hair look like a rockstar model tonight!
Monday, January 21, 2008
DADDY'S PERKS.....
Every occupation has them...dare I say it...even the cops. We definitely need it after the last weekend. We have seen Tommy a total of 16 and half minutes since Thursday...(ahem..today is Monday)I am not even remotely kidding on this... This is not a perk for us....... But, thanks to the F.O.P.... today is a perk. We took a "partial-family day" to go watch the Coyotes play hockey. No school for Jax and Binky today and Tommy can survive without a ton of sleep..... so off we go to the Jobing.com Arena!!! Thank you Pauline, our most~fabulous babysitter, for keeping Pudgie
man for us!!! I feel so guilty sometimes leaving Pudgie but when she walked in our door, this little boy squealed with delight and couldn't get out of his high chair fast enough to play!!!!!
You see, the perks to the tickets were that the kids were supposed to go into the tunnel to do high fives with all the players and hang with them... if we got there early enough.... ANNNNNNDDDD... we didn't. Oh well. We will get over that one. We each, also, received a hat for just attending (we are a hat loving family, that is for sure!!!) the kids also received a brand new build~a~bear coyote teddy bear at the entrance (I then had to do some serious sweet talking, eyelash batting, schmoozing to get one for Pudgie!) I think Brinkley loved the flying Taco Bell Taco the best but I am not too sure because she was up and yelling like a true fan by mid game! We all just had a super~fantastic time together! I am sure that Jax is still thinking this is all still part of his "BIRTHDAY MONTH." If that is the case, we are setting the bar a little too high for Binky's birthday.....I should probably start thinking about August today .....YIKES!!!
Once again, thank you daddy for another awesome idea...and the perks! We love you so much and all the fun things we are doing together! Soooo. What's next?????
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Babythrowers here..no sitting!
I am not sure how it happened.. or when for that matter. Somehow, I went from having a model-clean home .. to a disaster zone. I can't pinpoint it exactly, I can't really lay any blame... I just know I have to fix it...and quick before I just vanish into the depths of stuff!!!!
It has not been easy at all...I literally just have to follow Pudgie room to room to room and wherever we land is where I start cleaning. If it was the kitchen..... I cleaned out a cabinet or two, the butler's pantry....my food pantry was cleaned, the toy closet....this was difficult to do but we managed. So I have given myself one week of this awesome purging. I will see where I am on Saturday. Since Tommy is home for the next three days I will either accomplish a ton...or nothing at all. I am betting on the latter. Here is what is scary. I started yesterday (Saturday) in the mid-afternoon after Tommy went to work..... This is what I have for throw-away and/or donation so far....
42 water bottles (why we moved these is a mystery)
33 outfits (mix and match)
15 sweatsuits ( NO not my Victoria's Secret ones for those that will ask!!)
2 huge bag of beach towels (No Mom, they're not good ones!!)
4 huge bags of kids clothes.. (Jax and Pudgie seriously need to stop eating)
17 blankets (NO clue where all these baby blankets came from.......)
10 huge bags of garbage filled our recycle and regular garbage can
10 shirts (Tommy will never miss them)
6 pairs of jeans (I had better never fit into again!!)
7 pairs of shoes (I will probably miss them but someone else needs them)
5 very large bags of toys (I swear McDonald's toys mate with each other)
3 grocery bags of Holiday candy ~ garbage bound as well.....
I still have a ton left to do but it is a start!!! And no....it is not a New Year's Resolution. Just me being me! The scariest part of this whole cleaning thing the past few days has been my babysitters. FREE In~Home~Babysitters...Such a deal... I thought.......I laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face when I found 320 diapers, yes 320 brand new diapers I just bought at target yesterday, all over the family room floor.... and my "babysitters" doing this to Pudgie...
It has not been easy at all...I literally just have to follow Pudgie room to room to room and wherever we land is where I start cleaning. If it was the kitchen..... I cleaned out a cabinet or two, the butler's pantry....my food pantry was cleaned, the toy closet....this was difficult to do but we managed. So I have given myself one week of this awesome purging. I will see where I am on Saturday. Since Tommy is home for the next three days I will either accomplish a ton...or nothing at all. I am betting on the latter. Here is what is scary. I started yesterday (Saturday) in the mid-afternoon after Tommy went to work..... This is what I have for throw-away and/or donation so far....
42 water bottles (why we moved these is a mystery)
33 outfits (mix and match)
15 sweatsuits ( NO not my Victoria's Secret ones for those that will ask!!)
2 huge bag of beach towels (No Mom, they're not good ones!!)
4 huge bags of kids clothes.. (Jax and Pudgie seriously need to stop eating)
17 blankets (NO clue where all these baby blankets came from.......)
10 huge bags of garbage filled our recycle and regular garbage can
10 shirts (Tommy will never miss them)
6 pairs of jeans (I had better never fit into again!!)
7 pairs of shoes (I will probably miss them but someone else needs them)
5 very large bags of toys (I swear McDonald's toys mate with each other)
3 grocery bags of Holiday candy ~ garbage bound as well.....
I still have a ton left to do but it is a start!!! And no....it is not a New Year's Resolution. Just me being me! The scariest part of this whole cleaning thing the past few days has been my babysitters. FREE In~Home~Babysitters...Such a deal... I thought.......I laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face when I found 320 diapers, yes 320 brand new diapers I just bought at target yesterday, all over the family room floor.... and my "babysitters" doing this to Pudgie...
Sunday's are for Sharing!
Sunday's are way laid back at our house. With Tommy's new schedule, the kids and I get caught up on laundry and playing games together. I love Sunday's. The kids don't usually get to play with neighbor kids so they help me and we just have jammie day together...and I love it! We totally miss Daddy on these days but we try to make the best of it!!! Some Sunday's make it easy for me to be a very proud mommy......especially when I see things like this......It is the second picture on the top that just melts my heart. These two boys have a bond like no other brothers I have ever seen. I love the way Pudgie looks like he is in awe of his big brother and Jaxi looks like he could could just eat Pudgie right up because he is just so darn cute!!! 
Not till you say beeze!!!!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Beyond Done....
I am done. Just totally done. Are you ever just DONE? I started ripping through our house tonight because I have just had it with "stuff" everywhere. Jax was in tears when I almost threw his Nintendo DS away...the same one Pudgie was getting ready to put in the toilet not more than 10 minutes before.....
This was how my post started about 3 hours ago. I even put it on the blog..but listening to Jax and Brinkley play "Spongebob Operation" together while I was cleaning our kitchen table made me re-think my post. Jax is helping Brinkley read some words and Brinkley is helping Jax try to be steady enough to get the heartburn heart out of Spongebob. I started cleaning our kitchen table off from the dinner mess and started reading the math problems that are etched into the table from hours of homework. Little letters from spelling words repeated on a daily basis...forever engrained into our kitchen table. There are dents from Pudgie's toys being crashed together and nicks from dropped utensils. Many moons ago I would have gotten rid of the table because of the blemishes in it. Today, well today, I can not fathom my kitchen, let alone my home, without this perfectly blemished piece of our family. So after many hours of frustration with toys and more toys and shoes..backpacks, papers, more toys, and stuff, stuff, stuff....just everywhere...I looked around and thought.... one day it will all be gone..and so will they. They will move onto their dreams and push towards their little hopes in life and all of "this stuff" will be gone. So for tonight, I am done. I am done worrying about the toys, the shoes, the stuff..... I am going to take out Spongebobs shoe horn with the kids. I am done throwing away stuff that really does not matter, done worrying about the laundry and why Jax went through 14 pairs of jammies this week (or why he even has that many pairs for that matter). I am gonna enjoy our little mess and be done with the yelling and screaming... I am beyond done...and they are so glad!!!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Making my day
I just wanted to note this quickly before the three 'lil crumbsnatchers destroy the family room... I am kidding....kinda.
Get ready to gasp... I never wanted to be a stay at home mom. Did I stress NEVER enough..... I was perfectly happy working 60-70 hours a week on the motor and having a nanny help and going, going, going...literally 120 mph everyday. I have come to terms with the fact LIFE is what it is, and I really do adore being here for all of my family...... I am lucky! I know people who would kill for my life and I know how lucky my kids are that I am there to nag them to get dressed for school, to push them to school everyday as not to ever be tardy...to be able to sit outside and watch them safely play for hours upon hours every single day and to check and recheck their homework...basically breathe down their necks at every moment. I am lucky! They have not realized how lucky they are.....yet!
Today was the best. After a long afternoon of all the neighborhood kids playing we came inside and I had to check the computer and this is what I found on my email:
Just so you know! I can't imagine life without you, you are the best wife a man could ask for, the best mom a child could have and the best friend a person could spend time with! You are truly an amazing and beautiful woman that I thank God for everyday! I am truly blessed with how lucky I am to have you, I love you more now 10 years later than I did the first day we met and that love continues to grow with our young family, life is great!!!
Bug
Bug
THIS MADE MY ENTIRE MONTH! Thank you Tommy!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
I am gonna cry...
I don't know if I should laugh or if I should cry right now. Needless to say, I nearly fainted when he opened up his door and walked out clapping. All I could think to say was, "OH CRAP!"
Ok, now that I have had a few minutes to recover from this... Seriously...Jax and Brinkley never ever did this... so I almost threw up from anxiety..... I have decided we need to decorate his room for a "BIG BOY!" The best way for me to deal with this now is to enlist the help of Jax and Binky. They were laughing hysterically at the video after school.... as tears streamed down my face. I am a blubbering mess right now but we have decided on Pudgie's favorite...
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!
This should be fun!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
You know you do.....
I seriously think we all do it in raising children...or ourselves, for that matter. The theory behind Pavlov's dog. The correct response begets the reward.... Get good grades.....move up in school, do well at work.......get a raise, clean your room... you can watch t.v.........everyone does it!!!!! We do it..and I am glad we do. We have great kids and today was their reward day for awesome report cards!!! Fortunately for us, there was no salivating!!!
Tommy surprised me on Monday (I am rarely surprised by much) when Jax and Binky were starting homework. He announced that Wednesday the kids would take the day off to spend it at the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction with him. It was their reward. Brinkley just looked at him with a blank stare. She did not want to go...until the news came on and they showed the "PINK" car that Jordin Sparks' parents had just bought her.
"Oh crap, they have pink cars there?"
was her new response....... nice... (she is definitely my girl!)
They are on their way and I am so glad that they are excited. They are missing half a day of school and that is fine! They have earned it! I look at it as another learning experience in life. It is a day they can remember as something special with their dad and who knows.......maybe they will get to take a picture with a "TERMINATOR" or that "awesome pink and white car we should get for me and mommy for our special days." I love the way they think sometimes! Robosaurus will be there and maybe The "General Lee". Goodies to eat and fun to be had! I love that Tommy and I think alike when it comes to the kids! When all is said and done... they are awesome kids. They are extremely smart and kind and giving and rewards are good!! Thank you daddy for thinking of a wonderful way to spend the day together! Now the kids think we need a new "boat house" as they are calling them and possbily a new custom motorhome to go with it....or maybe just Robosaurus for the front yard....after all....he is for sale!!
Tommy surprised me on Monday (I am rarely surprised by much) when Jax and Binky were starting homework. He announced that Wednesday the kids would take the day off to spend it at the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction with him. It was their reward. Brinkley just looked at him with a blank stare. She did not want to go...until the news came on and they showed the "PINK" car that Jordin Sparks' parents had just bought her.
"Oh crap, they have pink cars there?"
was her new response....... nice... (she is definitely my girl!)
They are on their way and I am so glad that they are excited. They are missing half a day of school and that is fine! They have earned it! I look at it as another learning experience in life. It is a day they can remember as something special with their dad and who knows.......maybe they will get to take a picture with a "TERMINATOR" or that "awesome pink and white car we should get for me and mommy for our special days." I love the way they think sometimes! Robosaurus will be there and maybe The "General Lee". Goodies to eat and fun to be had! I love that Tommy and I think alike when it comes to the kids! When all is said and done... they are awesome kids. They are extremely smart and kind and giving and rewards are good!! Thank you daddy for thinking of a wonderful way to spend the day together! Now the kids think we need a new "boat house" as they are calling them and possbily a new custom motorhome to go with it....or maybe just Robosaurus for the front yard....after all....he is for sale!!
Thanks Jax!
Jax was getting ready to take his shower last night and turned to me and asked me, "Hey mom, why did you start that blog?"
Now rewind a few weeks to a the boy who was mad that I made him fold his clothes by himself that was screaming (with huge tears streaming down his face) that I was mean and the only reason I was not doing it for him was because I had to BLOG!
I looked at Jax and told him that,
"I want to do a better job keeping track of the things we do as a family, all the accomplishments, funny things, the good days and even the bad."
He had a strange look on his face.
"So you can't just remember these things anymore? You need to write them down or what?" (I wonder if I am supposed to feel old now?)
"Not exactly. Mommy is not the best at putting pictures around the house or updating the baby books so this is easy for me. I'm the lazzzzzy mom. Remember?"
"Not lazy, you are the maid. (This is our little family joke) Soooo why do you do it though?"
"Huh?" We are running late and patience is wearing thin so I say, "Ok Jax, If I die tomorrow, I want you to know that I loved you all and that even the littlest things made me smile and laugh and cry!"
Now he is thinking even harder..........and now I know that, with his final statement, THIS is why I BLOG!!
"Ummmm, You tried that once...didn't work out so well remember? God didn't want you!" He about faced into the shower!
Thanks Jax..... I think!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
21 and Counting
"How many kids did you invite?"
"UMMMM 21 and counting."
His head literally snapped to look at me....I thought Tommy might faint. Seriously.
It is amazing how quickly a birthday list for an 8 year old can grow.
What was I thinking????
"UMMMM 21 and counting."
His head literally snapped to look at me....I thought Tommy might faint. Seriously.
It is amazing how quickly a birthday list for an 8 year old can grow.
What was I thinking????
I told my mom we could have as many as 24 kids now. "WHY?" was all she could ask.
So I thought about it....and this is why..........
Have you heard the song, "Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney? It is one of my favorites.
Before I know it, they won't want parties with friends, they won't want to play like this on their big day and they surely won't want mom and dad to hang out with them. Time does go faster than you think.
Before I know it, they won't want parties with friends, they won't want to play like this on their big day and they surely won't want mom and dad to hang out with them. Time does go faster than you think.
This year,
I REFUSE TO BLINK!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Party Weekend
I wish I had taken a picture of it.... I will have to let you imagine this... We are usually really easy going parents when it comes to birthdays. We always let the kids dig into their cakes with their hands when they were little. We still let Pudgie! (Keep that in the back of your mind) For birthday's we always do a family night anywhere of choice. Jax chose Peter Piper again. Perfect! The kids love it and we can be a little less cautious about Pudgie...I thought. The night is perfect..kids are playing and playing and playing and our neighbor even joined us. Tons of birthday parties are going on. I was chatting with Tommy and dinner was through. Perfect. It was about 8 or so and gathering up our kids is usually a chore but that is ok. Now think of a cartoon where someone is looking for something and in slow motion they see something about to go horribly wrong...the "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH" comes out of their mouths and they are lunging and it is inevitably tooooo late. That was both Tommy and I at the exact same time in the exact same tone............ Now that you are picturing this... Here is my sweet little Pudgie standing there with yellow frosting all over his little shirt, face, hands and pants. He had grabbed a yummy handful of delicious yellow M & M Ice cream cake off the table. The beautiful cake that had not had a chance to even have the candles put on it yet. The beautiful cake that did not have a picture taken of it. The beautiful little cake that
was not ours!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
KA....WHAT?
He got a call last night. I laughed it off when he told me who it was. It wasn't like he was ordered to go. I knew though. I could see something in his eyes and the way he was trying to convince me that it was more important to stay home and spend time with Pudgie and me at the gym, in the morning. Hmmm.
It was 5:00 AM when my alarm went off. I had set it wrong again. Dang. Twice in two days... I have been lost in the blogs lately. No sleep or whatever..... I think, NO, I know it was a sign....
He sat up and I knew... Tommy does not get up early on his days off or his Monday, which is what Thursday really is. A few seconds later he leaned over me and whispered, "I'm gonna goto my thing...ok?"
I smiled, rolled out of bed and whispered in a giggle, "I told you so!" I knew he wanted to go. I was sad. I couldn't. The kids need to get up, get showered, fed, ready for school...the baby needs to be changed and..dang...I can't go.
By 6:30 he was out the door and I knew he was proud. Today Tommy is getting an award. He has been nominated for numerous awards at work, over the years, but today he is bringing one home. (At least this is what was "hinted" to him during the conversation with his boss last night when it was strongly suggested that he attend the ceremony this morning!)
When Tommy left the motor he left a section of his unit that he had created. It was his baby that he basically raised over the past few years. Through trial and error the High Impact Traffic Squad (a.k.a The H.I.T squad) had grown,with new motors being added, into one of the most successful and busiest squads in the police department.... and Tommy was its leader. He loved it! Thousands of complaints later Tommy (and the other motors, as well) was finally recognized for all his hard work and I could not be more proud.
When he called me at 10 AM to tell me that he was on his way home I was eager to hear about the awards. I guess I imagined that he would be getting a plaque (we have those all over our office) to hang on the wall. I hoped it would have his picture on the motor and maybe something engraved. I also thought there would be something funny included because they did some funny things to address some traffic complaints.
It was 5:00 AM when my alarm went off. I had set it wrong again. Dang. Twice in two days... I have been lost in the blogs lately. No sleep or whatever..... I think, NO, I know it was a sign....
He sat up and I knew... Tommy does not get up early on his days off or his Monday, which is what Thursday really is. A few seconds later he leaned over me and whispered, "I'm gonna goto my thing...ok?"
I smiled, rolled out of bed and whispered in a giggle, "I told you so!" I knew he wanted to go. I was sad. I couldn't. The kids need to get up, get showered, fed, ready for school...the baby needs to be changed and..dang...I can't go.
By 6:30 he was out the door and I knew he was proud. Today Tommy is getting an award. He has been nominated for numerous awards at work, over the years, but today he is bringing one home. (At least this is what was "hinted" to him during the conversation with his boss last night when it was strongly suggested that he attend the ceremony this morning!)
When Tommy left the motor he left a section of his unit that he had created. It was his baby that he basically raised over the past few years. Through trial and error the High Impact Traffic Squad (a.k.a The H.I.T squad) had grown,with new motors being added, into one of the most successful and busiest squads in the police department.... and Tommy was its leader. He loved it! Thousands of complaints later Tommy (and the other motors, as well) was finally recognized for all his hard work and I could not be more proud.
When he called me at 10 AM to tell me that he was on his way home I was eager to hear about the awards. I guess I imagined that he would be getting a plaque (we have those all over our office) to hang on the wall. I hoped it would have his picture on the motor and maybe something engraved. I also thought there would be something funny included because they did some funny things to address some traffic complaints.
I love awards!!
He told me that we would have to get a cover for the award. Hmmm..that is odd I thought. He said that the base was engraved but to keep out the dust, it just needs the glass case.
WHAT?
Finally I just asked him, "a cover?" "Soooo, what does your award look like?" (I am really excited now and can not wait for him to get home!!!!) He tells me he got a.....
"KATSINA DOLL"
"KA..... what?"
Tommy, I am so proud of you. You work so hard for this family. You stepped into a position at work and set the standards high for the men that followed you.
Tommy, I am so proud of you. You work so hard for this family. You stepped into a position at work and set the standards high for the men that followed you.
You are amazing
I LOVE YOU!
...and I will get you a cover for your new dolly!
Oz
I am officially addicted to blogging. I love it. I love finding myself lost in far away places late on Sunday night...whenever I can tear away from my world. In the three short weeks since I started this whole blog thing I have gone to see a Mormon Temple in Australia, imagined the inside of a jail cell in Manhattan, the smell of snow in Wisconsin, some strange area of China, ridden in a horse drawn carriage in Baton Rouge, pondered why people eat some foods in Africa, remembered the importance of "the little things," and looked down on the world from a skydivers point of view. I have read of new babies... a lot of new babies, a father's passing, a suprise mother's day present, naughty words that come from innocence lost, blessing's of a year gone by, resolutions of the new one ahead...dreams that came true, new found love, lost hope, lost love and lost teeth. I can't get enough.
I think it is mostly because it makes me feel normal. I love it when I read that there are other mom's that are frustrated with their kids, dad's that are napping, the houses that are not clean, the dog mess; that there is no time to shower and
you find your 3 year old painting the baby. I love knowing that I am not alone in the fact that when the phone rings, everyone needs mom at the same second I say "hello." I find it fascinating when a family takes their 7, yes 7, children to a restaurant at the same time, and it was a great night. I feel the longing to be the one that just started out in the new career and the relief that I am comfortable in my own skin now. These blogs take me away for a second, a minute, or maybe, just maybe, even an hour. The quiet time lets me see the green of Tahiti again and the sunset of Florida. It is always amazing and fun! I love to hear of flights across the Atlantic Ocean and bobsled trips in Alaska.
you find your 3 year old painting the baby. I love knowing that I am not alone in the fact that when the phone rings, everyone needs mom at the same second I say "hello." I find it fascinating when a family takes their 7, yes 7, children to a restaurant at the same time, and it was a great night. I feel the longing to be the one that just started out in the new career and the relief that I am comfortable in my own skin now. These blogs take me away for a second, a minute, or maybe, just maybe, even an hour. The quiet time lets me see the green of Tahiti again and the sunset of Florida. It is always amazing and fun! I love to hear of flights across the Atlantic Ocean and bobsled trips in Alaska. 
There is one thing I always find out at the end of every blog. Dorothy was right, Toto.....
There's no place like home!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Now I am late..
Something has changed today. You see, Jax..well, he was my happy baby. He would wake up and play and play, for hours...and I mean hours, in his crib. Babbling away and playing. I loved it. Who wouldn't? Brinkley was happy too. She was not as good a sleeper, but she would play in her crib when she woke up. I thought this was normal!! Then along came my Pudgie boy. He has always been the one that is not so good in the crib. He never slept through the night until he was well over a year old. Once he did start napping regularly, there was one thing that was always the same.. he woke up mad and wanted out of the crib NOW. Luckily he has never tried to climb out but he yells loud and long for us to come and get him. After all, at two, you are missing something really important that is happening somewhere... right?
Today something changed and I can't drag myself to leave the house because of it...I need to get to school where I am supposed to be helping in Jax's class right now. Daddy and Pudgie are napping. The house is quiet and I need to leave and all of the sudden I hear, "da da?" a little giggle.. "ma ma?" "oh dude!" "hehehe" and more giggles. I wait to see if the yelling is going to start and then the crying. He will realize that there are things to do right now and the tantrum will start........ nothing.....nothing.
It is totally quiet for a few minutes. Again,
"da da?"
"mmmmmm B!" (Pudgie's word for yummy! and now that I think about it.. I should worry if he is eating something......)
"ma ma?"
"hahahahah yeah hahahaha hmmmmmmm!"
Who is in that crib? There is a happy little boy who doesn't actually hate the crib. He is playing and laughing and poor Daddy is oblivious to this happy little guy. This is the absolute first time this has ever happened and now I am late.
I walked into his room his little eyes lit up and he smiled. So, we talked..because now that I am late I better make it worthwhile right?
"Ma ma?"
"Hi Buddie! You are so happy!"
"hmmmm, ma ma? acccck!" (Pudgie took his sock off and threw it on the ground)
A huge Pudgie smile. I love it... and I am really late. I am sure Jax will understand. He always does. Up go the little arms and here comes the sweet little hug with his head on my shoulders. Off to wake up daddy because NOW I really need to leave and I don't want to. All of the sudden we have this happy little man that won't stop giggling and talking!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Grammies and Grampies
ANOTHER NEW Wii GAME!!!!
YUMMY TREATS FOR BRINKLEY!
GRAMPIE JENSEN AND THE KIDS!*
I never had Grandma's growing up. I did have the coolest Grandpa. I was so lucky because he was awesome. We called him Hubba. I remember taking him to the Golden Nugget Restaurant in Wickenburg for lunch one day. It must have been at least 15 years ago. I watched him admire an older waitress. Probably his age or so. I don't even remember how old he was at the time. It never dawned on me that my Grandpa was old. He stared at her. He really stared at her. Admired her and all her features. He finally looked at me and said, "she is beautiful." I don't know why that is so important for me to remember. I think maybe because any other time I may not have even noticed this woman. He did. That was cool back then. My Hubba was checking out chicks!! Hubba is a huge part of all my memories growing up because he did so much with me. The thing I loved most is that Hubba vacationed with us and Hubba was Hubba. There are no stories about him that don't end in laughter... but at the time I think my mom was.. I will just say... irked and some of his antics. He didn't think twice about painting my parents' palm trees orange one visit to AZ. After all, they paint the citrus trees white???? Who could argue with that logic. My main point is that I love memories with him. This is why I am so thankful that Grammie and Grampie Jensen are making cool memories with Jax and Brinkley. Last year they started taking each one of them out for their birthday's. They get the choice if the other gets to go or not (they always have chosen yes so far). Every birthday now they wait to find out when they are going on their special birthday date. Sometimes they get to choose and sometimes it is a suprise. No matter where they go I know that they love it and they love spending time with Grammie and Grampie. I am just so grateful that they are making memories with the kids that they can look back on one day.... like I do and think...wow My grandparents are cool!
I know they are both thankful for the trip to Santa's theme park today!
JAXI'S GRAVITRON RIDE!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
CLEAN UP!
Ok, I can't get my house clean right now. Jax and Binky are still off of school...Tommy has been working some hideously long shifts, I am not feeling really hot.. I am sick but you will not get me to admit it.... and Pudgie is Pudgie so I still have some bits and pieces of Christmas left over that absolutely need to be put away......sooooo last night after I take the kids out for birthday dinner I figure that I will get rid of some things for our bulk trash pick up next week. The main thing I needed gone was the enourmous box that Pudgie's Hummer came in for Xmas. It has been sitting in the family room... and of course it is the kids' fort to play in, beat on, roll around in etc. It was driving me nuts! So last night about 8PM I put it outside for bulk trash! YEAH, I am on my way. At 8:15 Jax asks me where Pudgie's box is. I tell him and he says, "but mom, he loves that box. We play in it everyday and when I tip him over he laughs and laughs." GRRRR stupid box. I think nothing more of it until 4:30 this morning. Pudgie woke up and needed changing. He was so happy when I was talking to him. Little tired but smiling man. I went to get a new diaper for him and I hear Tommy just getting in from work.... long 15 plus hour shift. The first words he says to me is, "why are you throwing away Pudgie's box?" UUUUUGGGGHHHH... what is it with the box? So we slide back into bed and at 5:00 AM I can no longer sleep. Guess what I am doing?
READY TO GOTO THE DUMP AT 5 AM!
AND BACK IN THE HOUSE FOR PLAY TIME AT 10 AM!Friday, January 4, 2008
JAXI'S Birthday Month!
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MARRYING TOMMY BROUGHT TOGETHER A LOT OF TRADITIONS...SOME I THINK HE MADE UP JUST BECAUSE..SUCH AS...BIRTHDAY MONTHS. SINCE WE STARTED DATING..WE CELEBRATE BIRTHDAY MONTHS. I KNOW..CRAZY CRAZY RIGHT? WELL... WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BLAST WITH IT. TODAY MY FIRST BABY IS TURNING EIGHT AND I AM SITTING HERE WONDERING WHERE ON EARTH THE TIME HAS GONE. EVERYDAY HE AMAZES ME WITH A NEW FACT HE HAS LEARNED OR SOME TRIVIA THAT IS "REALLY COOL." I AM SO LUCKY THAT TOMMY AND I HAVE SUCH A SMART, HANDSOME, KIND, SINCERE, INQUISITIVE AND LOVING LITTLE BOY. I CAN'T SUM UP IN ENOUGH WORDS WHAT A WONDERFUL CHILD HE IS! IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY WE WERE STANDING IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO GOTO THE HOSPITAL IN AN HOUR BECAUSE WE WERE "HAVING A BABY TODAY!" TOMMY TURNED A FUNKY COLOR OF WHITE AND SAID, "RIGHT NOW?" AND HERE WE ARE TODAY......
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!
PS. I JUST
HAD TO ADD...SINCE JAX'S BIRTHDAY IS SO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS I AM REALLY LUCKY TO GET HIS PRESENTS IN THE 30%-80% OFF SALE AREA... THIS WEEK HE IS INTO TRANSFORMERS...GO FIGURE... I REMEMBER HOW POPULAR THEY WERE 12 YEARS AGO... ANYWAY..WHOOOOO MAKES THESE THINGS?????? I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TRANSFORM A $5.00 TOY FOR AN HOUR NOW......HOW IS THIS FUN???
IT SERIOUSLY ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE WINDOW!!!!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Years Resolutions..NOT!
AS 2007 ENDS I LAUGH AT THE IDEA OF RESOLUTIONS. I HAVE NEVER BELIEVED IN THEM AND I NEVER WILL. I FIGURE IF IT TAKES A NEW YEAR TO LOSE THE WEIGHT, TAKE THAT TRIP, GET IN SHAPE, FIND THE RIGHT PERSON, BE NICE, QUIT SMOKING, DRINKING, CHEATING..BLAH BLAH BLAH YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT IT ANYWAY....ALTHOUGH.... THIS PAST AUGUST PUDGIE HAD SURGERY AND MY MOM CAME TO HELP WITH EVERYTHING AND LEFT ME SOMETHING THAT REALLY HIT HOME WITH RAISING MY KIDS. I KNOW SHE WILL NOT BE VERY PLEASED I AM POSTING THIS..AND IT IS QUITE LONG...IT IS TRULY
THE GREATEST GIFT MY MOM HAS EVER GIVEN ME
AND I AM HOPING THAT I CAN PUT EVERY WORD OF WISDOM TO USE OVER 2008! I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I DID..AS I CRIED!
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50 WORDS OF WISDOM FROM AN OLD MOM
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I DIDN'T HAVE AN OLD MOM WHEN YOU WERE 7-8-12 OR 15 - SO LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES
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1. ONE BITE OF TOMATO SOUP IS BETTER THAN NO BITE AT ALL!
HIDE IT IN SOMETHING ELSE.
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2. ONE BITE OF A NEW VEGETABLE IS BETTER THAN NO BITE AT ALL-
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3. HAVE A BASKET FOR EACH ONE AND FILL IT WITH THEIR CLEAN CLOTHES. LET THEM FOLD IT-THEY WILL LEARN
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4. LEARN FROM ALL MY MISTAKES
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5. REMEMBER THOSE "PRETTY" HATS YOU WERE SAVING FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION. THAT DAY IS TODAY! TOMORROW WILL COME - BUT A DRESS UP PARTY IS ONLY ONE DAY- TAKE THEM OUT. USE THEM. WHAT IS MORE SPECIAL THAN DRESS UP TIME WITH YOUR KIDS?
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6. PUT AWAY THE WOODEN SPOON. DON'T USE IT TO SPANK. SPATULAS AND SPOONS WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU ONE DAY. PICKING UP DOG POOP IS A FAR BETTER, STINKY PUNISHMENT!!
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7. NEVER GO BACK ON ALLOWANCE-
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8. ASK THEM IF THERE ARE ANY RULES THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FOR THE HOUSE- THEY REALLY ARE JUST SHORT ADULTS AND THIS IS A DEMOCRACY-
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9. "DON'T MAKE ME TELL YOU AGAIN?" MAYBE THEY DIDN'T HEAR THE FIRST TIME- I CAN'T HEAR HALF THE TIME, SO IF I SAY YES- MAKE SURE I KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING YES TO!
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10. MAKE THEM READ AND SPELL OUT LOUD. IT GIVES THEM CHARACTER & CONFIDENCE WHEN THEY GET OLDER IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE!
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"DON'T JUMP ON THE FURNITURE"
HEY, IT'S A CHAIR OR A STOOL- THANK GOD THEY HAVE LEGS- JUMPING HURDLES IN HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE A BREEZE!
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SURE IT COST MONEY-THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR IT..YOU CHOSE IT AND PROBABLY PAID TOO MUCH FOR IT ANYWAY! (THANKS MOM)
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"DON'T SPILL THAT MILK"
IT'S ONLY MILK. THEY ARE TRYING TO LEARN TO POUR. THEIR HANDS ARE LITTLE. USE A MEASURING CUP- THEY WILL BE THE SMARTEST KIDS IN SCHOOL- AND AS FAR AS SPILT MILK...I AM SURE THAT GUM OR CANDY YOU HAVE STASHED COST THAT MUCH. (THAT IS WHY SHE'S THE MOM)
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"COUNT MONEY"
THEY WILL KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY ARE GETTING FOR ALLOWANCES.
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"OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT"
THEY NEED TO LEARN THAT PENNIES TURN INTO DOLLARS
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LANGUAGE - (MY WORST SUBJECT, RIGHT MOM?)
LANGUAGE - (MY WORST SUBJECT, RIGHT MOM?)
PLEASE AND THANK YOU ARE THE HARD ONES
4 LETTER WORDS LIKE: LOVE- HELP- CARE- HUGS-
ARE BETTER THAN SOME OTHER 4 LETTER WORDS AND BELIEVE ME.... SOME 4 LETTER WORDS WILL HAUNT YOU IN THEIR CLASS ROOM SOME DAY!
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DON'T LET MOMMY'S OR DADDY'S JOB INFLUENCE YOUR CONVERSATIONS LANGUAGE. WORDS LAST FOREVER!!
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JUST TAKE A SHORT DRIVE WHEN THEY WRITE ON THE WALL OR USE "PERMANENT" MAGIC MARKER ON THE CHAIR. THEY WILL HAVE THE ARTISTIC TALENTS YOU HAVE.. (BOY IS THERE A STORY BEHIND THIS ONE REGARDING A BLUE ANTIQUE COUCH IN OMAHA)
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RESPECT IS VERY IMPORTANT...BUT IT GOES BOTH WAYS-
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HUG THE DOG.. HE REALLY IS ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS. (SOO TRUE)
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IF US OLD "GRAMMA'S AND GRAMPA'S" DON'T HEAR YOU THE FIRST TIME- WE REALLY ARE LOSING OUR HEARING..OR MAYBE WE DON'T LIKE THE QUESTION. TELL THE LITTLE ONES TO SPEAK UP.. ALL THEIR WORDS ARE IMPORTANT TO US.
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HAVE YOUR KIDS CALL US ONCE A WEEK JUST TO LET US KNOW HOW SCHOOL, SPORTS, OR JUST EVERYDAY LIFE IS GOING FOR THEM. IN 20 YEARS THEY WILL PROBABLY SAY- I WISH I HAD CALLED GRAMMIE AND TOLD HER ABOUT MY BASEBALL GAME.
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THERE ARE NO "DO OVERS" FOR US AT THIS POINT IN OUR LIFE- WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET FROM YOUR PARENTS- WE ARE PROBABLY SET IN STONE- BUT WE HAVE LIVED A LOT OF WHAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN YET.
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ON SATURDAY MORNING - GIVE EVERYBODY A STOCKING PUPPET- DUSTING TO GOOD DANCE MUSIC WILL GO REALLY FAST!
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TURN OFF THE T.V. DURING DINNER- IT IS AMAZING TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU REALL CAN HEAR... WHEN ELECTRONICS ARE NOT CONTROLLING THE CONVERSATION.
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EAT CAKE FOR BREAKFAST!!! IT HAS EGGS, MILK, SUGAR AND FLOUR..SAME AS A TORTILLA.. JUST PRETTIER! IT'S NOT GOING TO STUNT THEIR GROWTH!
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MAKE THIS YOUR FUN TIME- YOU CAN'T GET IT BACK-
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SING LIKE YOUR "AMERICAN IDOLS"
HECK- ROCK STARTS CAN'T SING ANYWAYS!
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DANCE-DANCE-DANCE...GETS THE HEART RATE UP- AND WHO KNOWS...THEY REALY DO HAVE RHYTHM- YOU JUST HAVE NOT TAPPED INTO IT!
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TOSS IT, KEEP IT OR TRY IT- THESE SILLY THINGS DON'T WORK BUT WHO KNOWS... THEY COULD IF YOU TRY.
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YOU ARE BOTH GREAT PARENTS. YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL- AND I AM VERY PROUD OF BOTH OF YOU-
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HAVE A SILLY TEA PARTY WITH FUNNY HATS-AND FUNNY CLOTHES. IT IS SOMETHING THEY WILL REMEMBER-
LOVE, MOM
I LOVE YOU MOM!
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