Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen of Colleen's least favorite chores 1. Dishes. Detest the dishes. Mainly because I don't have a dishwasher that works worth a crap. I have to basically wash the dishes before I even stick them in the dishwasher. I really should just wash them by hand, but I just can't will myself to do it. Why you ask? Because I am lazy. 2. Laundry. I hate laundry. I have a set day to get it done. Mondays. Mondays suck anyways, so why not just as a dozen loads to the mix and call it good. I don't like to fold it and I especially don't like to put it all away. Oh, did I mention that I hate laundry? 3. Toilets. That just speaks for itself. 4. Playroom. I clean this room every day I swear. 5. Changing bedding/sheets. UGH. Taking them all off....washing...putting them back on. I am no hotel maid by any stretch of the imagination, so you can imagine just how good they get put back on. 6. Vacuuming. The main reason I don't like this one is because my vacuum sucks. sucks rocks. Well, maybe it doesn't suck so well. Maybe if it sucked better, I would like it better. Plus, you try vacuuming a 2000 sq ft house. That is alot of vacuuming! I need a new vacuum. 7. Sweeping and Mopping. I get done, it's sparkling and instantly someone will spill on it. 8. Dusting. I hate it so much that I don't do it. Well, I can't say I don't EVER do it. I just wait until there is about a 1/2" layer of dust - THEN I will do it. 9. Laundry room. Are we even supposed to clean it? Maybe that is why it's never clean. 10. Cleaning up after dinner. After I spent time cleaning up the kitchen to make dinner, then making of the dinner itself, then feeding the family, then finally getting to eat a cold dinner - the idea of cleaning it all up just drains me. 11. Cleaning the fridge/freezer. I only do this when my fridge gets a little bare, or if something gets spilled. I'm not ashamed. 12. Any yard work. That is what husbands are for right? 13. Picking up after the kids. I offer no explanation. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Twisted Cinderella It's a Raggedy Life pinkdiary808 Shelley's incoherent ramblings My Two Cents Queen Bee Confessions (leave your link in comments, I will add you here!) Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It is easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I'll be MIA

I am leaving tomorrow for the Labor Day weekend.

We're heading to Kansas to see Stuart's brother's new baby girl! (they had 4 boys and now finally a GIRL!) I am thrilled.

I will post my Thursday Thirteen in the morning before I head out and I may get a chance to check in while there, but we'll have to see if I'm having too much fun first. HA! HA!

I'll see y'all on the flip side.

The end is coming

The end of my 4 year old taking naps.

I have been extreemly lucky that she has lasted so long taking naps. Most kids stop taking naps at the age of 3, but not mine. She needs sleep. She needs sleep like a a cake needs frosting. NEEDS it. If she doesn't take a nap, then by the time 5 p.m. comes around she is a bear. Whines and complains about everything. She is no fun to be around at. all.

This last week and into this week we try and make her nap. But lately, she has not been doing it. She fights it. It makes me incredibly sad. Not for her, but for me! I love nap time. That is the one time during the day that I cherish. Between the 3 kids, most days I can generally catch an hour where they are all sleeping at the same time. I get alot accomplished during this hour. I sleep...surf the internet...write here in my blog...talk to my friends...read. You know, those IMPORTANT things in life. I fear that when she stops with these naps, I will lose this precious precious hour.

Now, I KNOW there is "quiet time". This works for alot of people. I will have to see how I can get this to play into our house. When we have tried quiet time before it happens like this. Chloe doesn't want to nap and so I let her watch a movie in the play room. I tell her that it is quiet time and she is not allowed to bug me during this time. She has to watch the movie or else she needs to nap. She ALWAYS agrees to this because then she gets out of napping. She will go in and watch the movie for awhile, but she never lasts through the whole movie. She will come ask me for whatever she can think of. One time turns to two, two to three and before I know it she is worming her way into my lap bugging the crap out of me loving up to me.

I guess this whole change is going to take some getting used to, but I am afraid it's time. She goes to Kindergarden next year. Here, it is all day. So, she is going to need to get used to getting through the whole day awake.

Good for her, sad for me.

Eye appointment, jobless husband and nightmares

Sounds like quite the topic huh?

I went to my yearly eye exam this morning. The only reason why I went is because my perscription ran out and they refused to sell me any contacts. So, I gave in and got them checked. I made it through the appointment and I'm still alive. It's not as bad as the dentist, but I still don't like it. I dread the puff in the eye. BUT, I didn't cuss this time, so that's progress. My perscription is still they same, so I'm good for another year. GO ME!

I am now the proud owner of a jobless husband. Awesome huh? I bet you are SO envious. You WANT to be me. Friday was not the best of days. Stuart was laid of from his job. FOOOOOOOOOIE! They really didn't WANT to let him go, but they company is just not doing really well right now and they couldn't justify keeping him on board. They gave him some severence pay, so it will take us through about a month - month and a half. Plenty of time for him to find another right?? If you can, send us up a prayer or some positive thoughts that he can get a job very speedily.

On to the nightmares. I have been having CRAZY nightmares lately. Last night was especially bad. I don't wake up screaming from them or anything, but they definatly freak the crap out of me! The one that I had last night has stayed with me all day so far. I keep thinking back to it and I just shudder. This one would definatly make a GREAT horror flick. Maybe I should make a screenplay out of it and send it to Hollywood! Hopefully it wont return tonight. I need some SWEET dreams.

So, today is my cleaning day and I've been cleaning and getting all my laundry done. Mondays kinda suck. But, it gets done and then I don't have to worry about it the rest of the week.

Feel free to leave comments if you've made it this far! (ha ha!)

Happy Birthday To Me

(written night before)

I've been wishing all week that this day wouldn't get here. I am really not in the mood to celebrate this day this year. I have been hoping that I could just skip this day all together and pretend that it doesn't exist.

Every year I always build myself up thinking that this will be the year that i'll get a good birthday. I'll get just what I want. And every year I am disappointed. I don't know why I do this. Maybe it is a girl thing. I just always set myself up for disappointment. So, i've totally walked into this one with absolutely NO expectations.

The only thing I am hoping for I *know* I will get. That is for my beautiful, caring, wonderful little girls to run into my room in the morning after i've gotten to sleep in a little and sing me Happy Birthday and give me home-made cards. Stuart is always good about having them draw me a picture and make it into a card for my birthday. Those are the things that I cherish the most. The rest is just superficial stuff, but come on....what woman doesn't WANT
superficial stuff on her birthday?

I want my tiara AND a cake.

I want to be princess for a day.

I want a camera!!!! (insert crying, stomping tantrum here)

Sigh, but tomorrow WILL come. I'll have to go through the day with a smile on my face. I'll have to pretend even if it is just for my kids that I am happy.

Maybe I will be surprised........

Okay, even though I wished the day away, it didn't happen. The day is here wether I like it or not.

I got to sleep in, but I couldn't sleep. I didn't sleep all night. I wished for it, but it didn't happen. I'm tired. The family came in with breakfast (toast, fresh fruit and juice) They sang me Happy Birthday. Nothing is cuter then your 2 year old singing "Hatty Birthday". I got home made cards that were the best!!

I am now on my way to a baby shower, but i'll update the rest of my day tonight.

The rest of the day turned out okay. I got a nap, but with how bad I have been sleeping lately, it was a bad nap, but one none the less. Then we all got ready and went to dinner at Chili's with Stuarts family. Dinner was pretty yummy and the kids behaved good enough that I wasn't extreemly embarrassed to be seen with them in public. Then we rented movies and came home. The girls stayed up with us (Stuarts brother and friend came back with us) and we watched The Benchwarmers. It is a great movie. It was rather stupid, but we all laughed the whole way through, that is what made it great. We also rented Failure to Launch. Haven't watched it yet.

My friend sent me a package with a book and a movie and that made my day!! (Thanks Robin!!!)

So, all in all it turned out ok.

Name the movie

So, we're pretty much friends by now, right?

Yes.

So, you got my back and everything, right?

What?

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen places Colleen would like to visit 1. Bermuda 2. Italy 3. Australia 4. Bahamas 5. Germany 6. London 7. Ireland 8. Austria 9. Niagra Falls 10. Africa 11. Hawaii 12. Greece 13. Switzerland Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Twisted Cinderella It's a Raggedy Life pinkdiary808 Shelley's incoherent ramblings My Two Cents Queen Bee Confessions 1. (leave your link in comments, I will add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It is easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

A letter to my son

Dear Jack,

How did these last 6 months pass us by so quickly? It seems like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms in the hospital. Looking into you great big eyes marveling over the fact that I had a baby boy. A boy! I had no clue what to do with you. I had forgotten what it was like to hold a little baby. I thought I would break you. You took to eating like a pro only hours after you were born. While in the hospital they brought you in to eat in the middle of the night. I sat there and fed you while tears ran down my face. It was at that moment that I fell in love with you. I softly whispered to you that I was your mommy and that I would love you your whole life and be there for you.

The first 2 months you gave me loads of trouble little man. I didn't care for that one bit! I will continue to remind you of that frequently over the course of your life. For weeks you cried all night long. We finally figured out that you had reflux and that you got sick whenever I ate dairy. Sorry about that. I've quit now and your better. Don't hold it against me. After we got that under control you became a dream - well, during the day anyways. You started to be a happy baby, smiling, laughing and enjoying life!

The first think I want to talk to you about is your sleeping habits. Especially in the middle of night sleeping habits. Frankly, they stink. You may think it's cute to wake me up 5 times a night, but dear boy, it's not. Not even a little bit. Your 6 months now, it's time for you to start sleeping more mmmk? How about we make a deal. You start sleeping more. I'll even let you wake up once a night (see how nice I am?!?!). Now you ask me what you'll get out if it? How about extra hugs and kisses in the morning. See - a win win situation! What? That's not good enough? *sigh* FINE! How about some more toy cars? What? You'll think about it? I guess I'll take it, we'll discuss this again, believe you me!

I love that you are getting more active. You have figured out that you can roll across the room. You scoot backwards very well and have almost figured out how to scoot forward. Not crawling, but scooting. You are also pulling up your knees into the crawling position. I'm not ready for that yet. Can you hold off for just a little while?? Your exersaucer gets alot of use these days. Whenever I am sick of holding you needing to get stuff done, you will stay happy in there for hours at least 15 minutes. Which everyone knows how much you can get done in 15 minutes when your on a mission! Your favorite thing right now is to jump in the johnny jumper and boy do you get that thing going! I've never seen a kid jump so much!

It looks like you are just about to get your first tooth. This past week you have been a cranky one, but I understand. It hurts. I'll make sure to help out as much as I can. I'll give you orajel and I'll keep your teething rings cold k? I can't wait to see what you look like with teeth!

You eat like a champ, at least that is what everyone tells me. Even people we don't know will tell me that you get enough to eat. You've started on solid food and so far you have liked everything except for prunes, not that I can blame you. You threw up all day after those. We try new things often and so far you haven't refused anything. Keep it up.

Next week you will go in for your 6 month check up. I have to apologize in advance for it. They are going to give you shots. It can't be helped. It will only hurt for a second though. By the time we get home you wont even remember - hopefully. Please don't be mad at me k? I will give you extra love for the rest of that day. I'm sure the dr will also tell me that you get enough to eat. People just can't resist telling us that. I'm betting that you are at least 20lbs. No, you can NOT turn around your carseat, don't even ask.

And by the way, your sisters do love you no matter how many times they yell "BOOGADEE BOO!!!" in your face.

Jack, I love you with all my heart. I am so happy that you came to live with us. I am so grateful to have you as my son. I have a huge soft spot for you. Enjoy it while it lasts. Over time the soft spot hardens, just ask your sisters. I get mean. (ha-ha, as if.) I am looking forward to the next 6 months. To be able to watch you learn new things and grow even bigger. The only thing I ask of you is to sleep more, k?

Love you son,

Your mommy

Here is a video of Jack jumping in the Johnny Jumper. It's not the best quality, but photobucket is about the best I can do.

Cartoons

They don't make cartoons like they used to. I remember only watching cartoons on Saturday mornings, early Saturday mornings. The best cartoons were on then. Bugs Bunny, Sylvester and Tweety, Smurfs, Tom and Jerry, The Road Runner. Now those were some high quality cartoons. I used to look forward to Saturday morning just to watch these.

Now days, frankly, the cartoons just suck. Don't get me wrong, my kids love them, but I dread having to sit through some of these things. Teletubbies....blah!! Anything on Nick Jr drives me crazy. Including SpongeBob. Stuart would argue with me on that one because he thinks it is hilarious. The kids watch it in the morning before I pull myself out of bed. Blah blah blah! Why don't they bring back the classics!

It is sad to me that my kids don't know these classics! I have gotten them to watch Tom and Jerry through KidsOnDemand on our cable box. They like it. But, they know nothing about Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. They don't know what it's like to watch Wiley Coyote blow him self up 10 times per episode trying to catch the Road Runner. I tried to get them to watch the Smurfs yesterday. It was my favorite one as a child. Chloe watched it for about 5 minutes and said "I don't like this, let's watch something else". WHAT?!?! How in the world can you NOT like the Smurfs? What is this world coming to?

It pains me to see the digression of cartoons. I hate to see all of them going into anime' 3D crap. I don't want to sit with my kids and watch The Backyardigans.

Give me some old fashion Loony Toons!

The Importance of Friendship

Friendship has always been important to me, ever since I was a little girl. I have always had to have someone close to me. All my life, I have never been the type that had a lot of friends. Just a couple of close friends was good enough for me. I only had 1 or 2 close friends. I had lots of other "friends". The types that you hang out with in groups and such, but they were not close.

I guess I am the same way today. I have a few close friends. I have alot of other friends through church and such, friends that I know would help me out if I needed it.

My best friend (well, besides my husband. But, that is a type of friendship on its own. WAY different), is Robyn. We have been friends since we were in 8th grade. We have had our ups and downs. We have had periods in time that we did not speak to each other, but we've always gotten through them and have remained close. Robyn and I are not the the type of friends that speak on the phone everyday, or hours at a time, but our friendship is solid. We chat often online when we can. The problem is: she is about 1500 miles away from me. We can't get together all the time for lunch, or go see a movie on the weekends. The best part about it is that I know that she is there for me whenever I need her. We have vastly different lifestyles (me: Husband, 3 kids and I stay at home. her: Husband, 2 dogs and a carrer). These differences seem to work for us somehow though. I am sure that we will be friends for the rest of our lives.

I have another close friend, Nikki, though we have never met. I met her online about 3 years ago. In the past year we have been really close. We talk everyday, chat about everything under the sun and help each other however we can. I hope that one day we will be able to meet. She is an awesome person.

In my mind, I feel like I am rich in the friendship department, but for some reason I feel like I am lacking in it as well. Over the past few weeks I have thought about it alot and i've come to the conclusion that I don't have a friend close to me (meaning where I live). I have loads of "friends" through church, other moms that get together quite frequently in playgroups and such. There is one mom in the group that I am closer with then the rest. We play with our kids often and chat often and I love her to death, so maybe I do have a close friend here, but why do I feel like I have someone missing from my life?

I guess I want that type of friend that calls me everyday just to tell me what it looks like outside and how hot it is. Someone who will call me up and invite me to the mall. Someone who wants to share with me her thoughts, dreams, secrets, ect. Maybe that type of person doesn't exist anymore. Maybe those types of friends cease to exsist when you graduate high school or college. Maybe when you get married, those are the types of things that you should be sharing with your spouse. I don't know.

Reading back through this post I almost seem ungrateful. Honestly, it looks like I have alot. Believe me, for what I have, I am really really greatful. really. Maybe I need to be the type of friend that I am looking for to someone else. Maybe someone else out there is looking for the same thing I am looking for. Maybe it's someone close. Who knows.

I am rambling big time. I'll just post this now and go back to my thoughts.

Book Review

Shophie Kinsella
The Undomestic Goddess

I'm not the best at reviewing things, but here ya go.

It was a very easy, fun read. I read it in about 3 days. It is just about as funny as her other books. I loved the Shopoholic series and this one falls under that same likableness (is that a word?).

Samantha Sweeting is alot like Becky from the Shopoholic books in her "I can never tell the truth and it gets me into sticky messes" kind of characteristic. Most of the time while reading these books, I am always thinking "JUST TELL THE TRUTH GIRL!" But, if she did, you wouldn't have a story right?

What I liked the most about this story, even though Samantha is gutless when it comes to talking to people, she is very smart. She sticks through things even when they are rough. She willingly learned all the things she needed to do to make the job work.

The premis of the story is this:
Samantha works at a very famous law firm. She gets into a huge mess (athough I wont tell you what kind of mess because that would give away alot of the story. I'm sure you'd rather read it yourself eh?) So, she runs away and gets a job as a housekeeper even though she knows nothing about housekeeping. She meets a guy. In the end she has to choose which path to take and figure out what she wants out of life.

The book was very predictable, but very entertaining. All in all i'd give it a thumbs up, or maybe 3 1/2 stars or however you rate these things.

Pictures from my trip

Here are some scenic pictures of Utah that I love. They were taken on the Alpine Loop in between Provo and American Fork Canyons. It is so beautiful up there. I really really miss the mountains.







Here is Jack on the plane:



Jack and his cousin (my brothers son) Ethan:



And lastly, Jack hanging out:

Things I missed. . . and didn't miss

Missed: my sweet girls overwhelming me with hugs and kisses.

Missed: giggles.

Didn't miss: whines.

Missed: my bed.

Didn't miss: laundry.

Missed: hearing my name "mommy".

Didn't miss: hearing my name "mommy" repeated 1,437 times.

Missed: readings books to my girls.

Didn't miss: fighting.

Didn't miss: hitting.

Didn't miss: them taking toys away from each other.

Missed: the internet!

Didn't miss: convincing the kids they DO need to take a nap.

Didn't miss: being a "mean" mom

Missed: our routine!

Missed: my husband



I am really glad to be home with them, but i'll be even more happy when I get get our routine back and get them used to me again. I don't mind that granny spoils them while they are there, I just hate having to bring them back down to reality again and being "mean" to them (not letting them stay up late, making them nap, telling them no, ect - all of which granny does the opposite! lol). Anyways, back to life as I know it!

I'm home

And it is SO good to be here.

It was a very fun trip, but there is nothing like coming home after you have been away for a week. The best thing I ever did was leave the house spotless before I left. There is nothing like coming home to a clean house after you have been away for a week.

I think I was gone long enough to actually miss the girls. I was really excited to come home and love all over them. Stuart picked me up from the airport and we went over to his moms house. When I got there, I ran into the house hoping to hear squeals of delight followed by some hugs and kisses. Do ya think I got it? Nope. They were sleeping. I was totally bummed. But, when they did wake up, I got smothered in hugs and kisses, so it's all good.

I'm excited to sleep in my own bed. In a room without Jack. Not that I don't love my son, but he is hard to sleep with! I thought he moved alot in the day, but I didn't realize he moved so much in the night. I am ready for some better sleep!

The trip was a blast. I got to spend some much needed time with my BFF. We did all the fun girly things that girls do when they get together - you know. Shopping! I got to eat at most of my favorite places I remember from back home. Nothing like a bit of comfort food.

It was fun to spend some times with my family. One day my dad and I drove through the canyon and took a bunch of pictures of scenery. Waterfalls, creeks, trees, mountains. When I get my pictures uploaded, i'll share some. It was just a nice fun bonding experience with my dad. I had a get together with my moms side of the family and that was fun too. Usually it is rough with them because i'm so different from them, but it didn't go too bad. Short and sweet, just the way I like it.

There is nothing like going home. Back to the place where you grew up. Even if it is not the place where I am going to live for the rest of my life, there is something about going back that soothes the soul. It feels up that space, you know the one i'm talking about.

Now, I just have to wash the laundry and i'll be back to normal. Back to the routines. Let me rephrase that, getting back to the routines that got so messed up having the girls stay with grandma. Hopefully we wont have too many tantrums tomorrow when they don't get everything they want like they get a grandmas house.

I hope you'll all continue reading even though I took so long of a break. I'll get back on track now. I missed posting, but I feel better.

Right now, Life is good

I am having fun!

I just wanted to check in and say that I am having such a fun time away from home. I have got to spend loads of time just hanging out. I haven't had much time to check in online - but didn't want to leave my blog empty of posts for too many days. But just know that I am alive and enjoying some much needed time off. I will post another update later.

Happy Weekend!

I'm going home

I've been wanting to go home for a while. I mentioned it to Stuart about a month or so ago. I said "I want to go home". He said, "You are home". I guess in a sense, he is right. My family - my husband and children are here. This is the place where we are going to raise our children, so, I am home. But, that isn't what I ment.

I want to go to the place where I grew up. I want to see my family, I want to see my mom and I want to see my dad. I want to spend a whole bunch of time with my best friend whom I've been friends with since 8th grade. I want to go and eat at all my favorite places. I want to see all the familiar things that I love about home.

I now have 2 homes. The home where I grew up and the home where I will continue to grow.

Last week I came to a point where I knew I had to go home. I need to go home. I need a break. I hate that sometimes it comes to a point where I need to run away, but that is what I'm doing.

I couldn't be more happy about it.

I get to be gone for a whole week. I am excited. I'll try to update here while i'm gone.

I'm going home.

Family Picture

We attempted family pictures this morning. Sundays are always the best for that since we are already dressed for church. This morning I set up our digital camera out in our front yard, set the timer and hoped for the best!

Trying to get 3 kids to cooperate is not as easy as you'd think, that is why we don't attempt it very often. It was time though. Jack has been a member of our family for 5 1/2 months and I think this is the first picture that we have with all 5 of us in there.

So, I won't leave you in suspense any longer, here it is!

Why

Why do they have to grow so fast? Why can't they stay tiny forever? It seems like just last week Jack was born, now he's a heavy weight getting ready for the wrestling ring!

A good friend of mine had her baby yesterday. I went over to see the proud mama and sneak a peak at the new baby this morning. He weighed in at a whopping 8lbs. 12 oz. Jack was only 8lbs when he was born (only 8 lbs! hahaha). Holding this brand new little baby was kinda sad. Not to long ago MY baby was just a tad smaller then this one. I just want to cry.

New baby was SO sweet and SO cuddly. I just wanted to crawl into bed with proud mama and snuggle this sweet little boy all day. I know I just had my turn, but but but.....

Mr. Man is growing so big. He is just about ready for his 6 month check up. 6 months!! Where did the time go. I KNOW that I did not give him permission to grow so big so fast. Disobedience, I tell ya. I am sure when he gets weighed he will be 18+ lbs. I know kids that are barely 18 lbs. at their 1 YEAR check up, but Chubbadub is there by 6 months. Good job bud.

I guess it just makes me sad to think that my baby is growing. It is exciting watching his changes every day, watching him learn new things, but sad just the same.

I guess that is enough of me blubbering on about it. I'll leave you with a new picture of the man.

I don't think she's quite ready

The girls went down to grandmas house to spend the night (thank you granny!). Stuart gets off the phone with his mom and tells me this story.

They were all playing in the playroom and Brooke needed her diaper changed. As she was changing it, she asks Brooke, "Do you want to wear big girl panties?"

She said "YES!" (because every girl wants to wear big girl panties!)

So, MIL explains to her that if she is going to wear big girl panties, she has to pee in the potty. She takes her in, sits her on the potty to make her go first. She doesn't. They go back out to the play room and not 2 minutes later, she pees. Glad it's not me there with her! MIL takes her to the bathroom, cleans her up and puts another set of panties on her and talks to her again about going pee pee in the potty. They go back out and 10 minutes later, they are in the kitchen and she notices Brooke is wet AGAIN! On goes the diaper.

I have been contemplating potty training her soon. I have to work myself up for these kinds of things. Prepping myself like those do before a game. Telling myself over and over that it's going to be okay and that she is going to do a great job while also telling myself that I am going to do okay and be patient with her.

I think my MIL saved me some time because I don't think she is quite ready yet. She is 28 months, almost 2 1/2. I am probably going to give her just a little while longer yet before I try. With my sanity at stake, I think it's the best idea for everyone involved. (haha!)

Embarrassing Your Children

I remember many times as a child growing up and as a teenager that my mom really embarrassed me. I don't know if she actually ment to embarrase me, but as I now have my old children, I am sure some of those embarrassing moments were diliberate. I was SO sure that other moms were normal.

I am sure if you have older children you know what i'm talking about. Even if you don't, you probably still know what i'm talking about as I am sure that your parents (either mom or dad) have on some occassion, embarrassed you.

What got me thinking about this, is a situation we had in the car today. We were out running errands and my 4 year old, Chloe, was in the back drawing letters on her magnadoodle. She was stuck on something and couldn't get it, so proceeded to start throwing a fit. When this happens, I usually try to distract her with something else in the car to take her attention off what made her upset.

So I hurried and changed a couple of radio stations to find a fun song to sing to. I happened upon the 80s classic, Pump Up The Jam. You know the one i'm talking about and if you don't - your lying (haha!) So, I start dancing around in my seat and singing the song as loud as I could. I looked back at her and she is smiling at me, but she had THAT look on her face. The one where she doesn't know what to think. Should she be embarrased or should she think i'm being funny? I start changing the wording to the song to make it so I am singing out her, Brooke and Jack. So, she starts to think i'm funny and is laughing. Good job mom! You took her attention away from her crying and she is happy!

By the end of the song, I have both the girls dancing in their seat and laughing. I thought about what I was doing. Then I imagined them 10 years from now. They would be 14 and 12. If I were to do that when they were that age, they would be absolutely mortified! And the funny thing - i'd do it anyways!!! (remember at the top when I said that I thought that at times the embarrassment was diliberate?) Now I know, that when my kids get older, i'll probably diliberatly do things to them to embarrase them....isn't that a mothers right?

So, sorry girls. You are going to have a mom that is going to embarrass you as you grow, just as mine did to me. Get over it. (haha!)

If you would like to comment and share an experience you've had, be my guest!!

My Son

How could you not love this boy? Why is it that they are so extreemly cute when they are sleeping? How can they drive you crazy all day long and then the minute they fall asleep they are once again the sweetest things?

After having 2 little girls, I didn't know what to expect knowing that I was actually having a boy. No one prepared me for the love and joy that he would bring to my heart. The term "mamas boy" now has a whole new meaning to me. I hope that as he grows older he will continue to be my little boy and love me just as much.

Even though we had a rough few months, he is beginning to be the happiest little man. He gives you smiles that just melts you to the bone. He loves to give me loves and snuggles.

Jack man. I love you son.

About Me

I recieved this in an email this morning, I usually just delete them since I get about 20 of them a year and I just don't have that much time in my life to answer them every time they come in. I thought this blog would be the perfect place to put it. So, here it is!

1. First Name: Colleen. Nickname: Cole.

2. Were you named after anyone? Nope. When I was born, my mom just said I looked like a Colleen.

3. Can you handle the truth? Honestly, in ALL things, no. I can handle the truth about most things, but sometimes, it's just best not to know.

4. Have you ever eaten dog food? Yup. My mom said that when we used to visit my grandma they would have to put the dog food up because I would eat it. (not in recent years though.)

5. How often do you drink? I drink all day long. water.......coke.......

6. Do you talk in your sleep? I have been known to do so.

7. Have you ever been stung by a bee? Nope. I am terrified of bees!

8. When did you last cry? Um, probably last month when I was up all night with Jack and extreemly tired.

9. What is your favorite lunch meat? Oven roasted turkey breast

10. Kids? Yup. I have 3 of them little ankle biters

11. If you were another person, would you be friends with you? Totally. Yeah, I totally would. I am probably about the coolest person I know. (ha ha!)

12. Do you have a journal? Not an active one. I have one from when I was a teenager.....oh the stories it tells........(I think I may have to go burn it!)

13. Do you use sarcasm? who me?

14. What are you looking forward to? Nap time!

15. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Nope. I usually untie them before I put them on.

16. Do you think you are strong? Physically or mentally?!? Physically - I carry around a 18 lb baby all day, what do you think? Mentally - I deal with 3 kids under the age of 4 all day. You decide.

17. Shoe size? 8 or 8 1/2

18. Red or pink? I'm a girl...what do you pink, I mean think.

19. What is the least favorite thing about yourself? My patience level. It's rather low right now wondering how many more of these lame questions i'm going to be answering.

20. Who do you miss the most? Robyn. My bestest friend in the whole world.

21. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Blue jean capris - no shoes.

22. Last thing you ate? 2 slices of whole wheat toast.

23. What are you listening to right now? Some lame singer on Regis and Kelly and my girls building blocks

24. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Yellow - so bright and sunny!

25. What is your favorite smell? A fresh clean baby.

26. The first thing you notice about people you are attracted to? Um, I'm married. I have to plead the 5th on this question.

27. Do you like the person who sent this to you? It came from my SIL Amber, so I better say yes. (ha ha!)

28. Hair color? Brown - totally natural. (uh huh)

29. Eye color? Hazel, but it really depends on what I'm wearing.

30. Do you wear contacts? Yeah. I'm thinking about getting those cats eye ones to freak people out.

31. Favorite food? Steak. or Mexican.

32. What color shirt are you wearing? Green - hence my eyes are probably a touch green today.

33. Summer or winter? Neither. Spring or Fall

34. Favorite dessert? I can only pick just one? Surely I can pick more then one. Peanut butter bars, brownies, peach cobbler, any kind of cake, any kind of cookie....the list is endless.

35. Who is most likely to respond? Um, probably no one. No one REALLY likes to answer these things.

36. Least likely to respond? Same answer as question 35.

37. What is on your mouse pad? I don't actually have a mouse pad. The cat ate it.

38. What did you watch last night on TV? I actually didn't get to watch TV until really late and I watched a few minutes of David Letterman.

39. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Counting Crows. Oh, that's not an option? TOO BAD!

40. Do you have a special talent? I'm a mother of many talents.

WHEW! I'm done. I bet those are alot of questions you really wanted to know about me huh? You know you did. I'm sure you can rest easy tonight. Carry on.