Justin Timberlake Snl Homelessville 2006

The Trailer

Today was supposed to be the first day of my husband's new business. Same stuff he's done in the past but starting fresh...new....getting his own contractor's license instead of always working for someone else...still the Right Guy...at least for now. Jim was driving to go pick up the A/C unit for his job when he was rear ended. He is okay. His truck is okay. The trailer is smashed and unusable. To make things worse, as Jim was picking up his ladder off the street, the woman who hit him took off! Hit & Run. Had to call a tow truck to have the trailer towed to our house. Had to cancel the job for today. Customer was fine and flexible about it. BUT now we are down a trailer and the money needed to pay our bills that are due in the next two days! Jim's upset. I'm secretly hoping the lady who hit him totally screwed up her car. (I guess my secret is out now!)

LATER...

Jim's parents came over tonight to check out the trailer. They also brought us an Authentic Fake Tree! lol! I'm excited to have a tree that will hold our Disney ornaments that are heavier. Jim's parents are going to get a new trailer and help fix up the damaged one as well. Praise God!

PLUS...

We will be adding to our family sometime within the next week. We've chosen a little boy....very friendly, cute and playful! He can't come home with us until after he has "surgery" and because so many people adopted this last week he is on a waiting list. But that gives us a little time to get everything set up for his arrival. We are still deciding on a name. Would you like to see him?

The picture doesn't do him justice...he was sticking his paws out and would try to pull my fingers back into the cage and rub his head on them...meowing so sweetly. When I stood up he climbed up the cage door stretching his paws towards me...I was hooked! Jim was hooked the moment we walked through the door.

Jim wants to name him Thunderball.

I like to give them "people" names.

We've already used Zeke, Harley, Shandee, Henry, Daisy, Shelby, Noah, Ziggy, Phoebe, Jacob, Hannah, Zenia, Ozzie, Oliver, Emma, Maddison, Lukas, Mama-Dala, Ben, Vader, Wicket and Topanga to name a few.

Oh well, I think he will get his name after we bring him home and see his personality unveiled.

I can't wait.

:)

Back to School/Toy Box/Plant Cells

Booo! We have to go back to school tomorrow. I don't want to. I like it when my kids are home and we get to hang out and play games like the never-ending games of UNO, watch Christmas movies, read lots of books, play outside, go to Disneyland! School just means stress for me, more meaningless papers, copying spelling words(not me), trying to encourage my kids to do their best on a project I have no desire to make them do, fighting and hollering over finding clothes, lost shoes and crunched homework papers, late nights of pain in the butt math problems, pulling in Grandma to help come up with fresh ideas on how to create a 3-D plant cell and me worrying about whether or not my kids are up to Clovis standards! Everyday I miss homeschooling, but I feel unequipped to get my kids through the ridiculous amounts of requirements...of subjects and rules and techniques and languages and math crap that they will probably NEVER use again. I am going to stop right here and change the subject before I get all worked up!

I know several families include their children in helping around the house. They help with all sorts of things from unloading the dishwasher to mowing the lawn, feeding various pets, folding towels and putting away their own clothing, setting the table, even cooking a meal, taking out trash and cleaning bathroom counters and the list goes on. Now we ask our children to do their part in our family as well, though we are consistently inconsistent about it. That's something I would like to change for sure, but sometimes the battle with the kids is just overwhelming! So anyway, the other day we asked the kids to clean up the toys in the family room, not too hard when all they have to do is throw the stuff in the toy box and put the lid down. BUT after 30 minutes this is what we found in the Toy Box....(yes, he's asleep!)

Jade had to make a 3-D plant cell. She had a couple of weeks to do it but of course waited until the weekend before it was due. Seeing how we had just spent the week in Disneyland and celebrating Thanksgiving, Jim and I had enough of our own stuff to do without having to come up with ideas and materials for a plant cell. So we did what any logical, worn out, stressed out, tired, frustrated, don't wanna spend our time doing science set of parents would do...we went to Grandma's. We took a bunch of materials over and the list of what she had to do and just let Jade and Grandma go to work! I think it turned out great! AND the best part...I didn't have to do it! We even got in another game of never-ending UNO while watching "White Christmas".

It's not very long before Christmas...the thought of 2 weeks off will hopefully get me through these next few weeks! Jim is starting Contractor's school this week and he's already got a kick start on his new business. He'll be working all day for a week or two. Crazy. Time to adjust again. I'm sure I will write about these things more as they come up but both Zack and Naissa will be having oral surgery in the next couple of weeks! I've got to learn to worry only for today...not tomorrow! I know the verse...I just can't seem to apply it!

P.S. Did I mention that Isaac put the good jump rope in the toilet today? There's nothing like getting hit with a soaking wet jump rope that's dripping with toilet water! Woo Hoo!! And at the same time the cats were meowing non stop for us to lift the lid of the other toilet...because they were thirsty....because Jade hadn't done her "Chores"

Pray for us.

Our trip to the Happiest Place on Earth

We had a great time at Disneyland this week. We drove down on Sunday, went to Disneyland and California Adventure Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then drove home on Thanksgiving Day. I kept forgetting to take pictures, I missed so many great opportunities for black mailing my kids! lol!

We were there for three days but still there was so much we didn't get to do! Crazy! This year we all hung out together more, except for the the rides that Naissa and Isaac couldn't go on....like Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Matterhorn etc...
Naissa was actually tall enough to go on more rides this year but she didn't want to. She went on Soarin' over California and was okay until the golf ball came flying towards her. She pulled her knees up close to her and held on to me and Jim. We decided not to take her on the other rides she was now tall enough for, so as not to ruin Disneyland for her forever. We want her to enjoy the rides not have nightmares from them.
Naissa and Isaac weren't too fond of the fireworks either. You would think they would be used to them with all the fireworks that go off in Clovis just at the football games. The "snow" was LAME, I don't think it was LAME all over the park, just where we were. Instead of coming down as small snow-like bubbles, it came down in big clumps and hit you in the face, like a scene out of a movie where they pour in too much laundry soap and bubbles take over the room. Still a fun atmosphere with the music and lights.

When we asked Naissa and Isaac what their favorite ride at Disneyland was...they both responded with, "The Sea Horse/Fishy One". They were talking about the Merry-Go-Round!! They can go on the Merry-Go-Round in Fresno and they go to Disneyland and that's what they want to ride. Silly kids! BTW my camera is not sophisticated enough to take a non-blurry picture of the kids on this ride.
Toon Town was another big hit. Not any of the rides in toon town, just the area where you can pull on the door knob and it makes funny noises, you can talk on the silly phone and climb inside the silly jail etc... The characters were coming out but my kids didn't care, they were having too much fun fighting over the silly phone!

One of the things Naissa, Isaac, my dad and I did while the others went on the "Big" rides was outback in Frontier Land. Reindeer Round Up. We decorated cookies and watch magic tricks and sang silly Christmas songs, saw Pluto dressed up as a reindeer as well as several real reindeer...we could even smell the reindeer!

Over in California Adventure we saw a few of the shows, Muppets 3-D, Talking with Crush, It's a Bug's Life and we went on the Tower of Terror. It was my first time on Tower of Terror. I think it was my favorite ride. The Screamin' over California (I think that's the name) was cool too, Leesha and I ride that together each time we're there. I love the drops! But not the jerky stop and go movements.

We ate Brunch at Goofy's Kitchen. Two years ago, Chip and Dale came to our table and scared Naissa. Dale came by this year and scared her. She wasn't as scared with the other characters, maybe it's a chipmunk thing? We haven't really watched anything with Chip and Dale so she doesn't know who they are, maybe that's why? She hugged Baloo the Bear from Jungle Book and he was super tall, so I'm thinking it's the chipmunk thing. Zack celebrated his "real" birthday in Disneyland. He's really 10, not 01! lol! He had a big hot fudge sundae all to himself and then later the staff at Goofy's Kitchen sang to him and brought him a cool cupcake.
The prices of things at Disneyland has gone up in the last two years! So we just "borrowed" some hats for a pictures and then returned them! lol!

We watched and took pictures as Jim, Leesha, Jade and Zack braved the Grizzly Rapids (or whatever it's called) They were lucky and missed the big blast of water! We who were watching and taking pictures were bummed!
We had a great time. Lots of good memories. Lots of stories, too many to write. It went wayyy too fast. But as with every vacation, home is all the more appreciated!

We saw quite a few people from home at the Happiest Place on Earth. Teachers new and old, friends from school and church, friends from childhood...one friend I haven't seen in about 15 years! Our kids are all grown up now! Crazy!

We drove home Thanksgiving Day, straight to Jim's parent's house, and later to my parent's. Tired. Not too hungry, so there wasn't any over eating. Played the never-ending but hilarious game of UNO and everybody crashed in the car on the way home. Cats greeted us as we walked in the door! 52 degrees in the house! Brrr! Had to turn on the heat. Got up today and accomplished absolutely nothing. Oh Well, sometimes you gotta have those days!

Venting, The Happiest Place on Earth and Hair Cut

We are leaving for Disneyland in the morning. We are so excited......we can't stand each other! Our kids are driving us crazy and we are driving our kids crazy. We are really looking forward to the vacation but getting ready for it is about to send us all over the edge. The kids have chosen the last couple of days to not listen to anything we say and to do the complete opposite of what we ask them to do. With the pressure of needing to have clean clothes to wear and gas in the car and our kitties and turtle taken care of and our bills paid (because they are due before we get back) and everything being such a mess (again) we are losing it left and right.
Naissa and Isaac packed their own suitcases, full of stuffed animals, doll clothes, stickers and books, underwear and lollipops. They both had meltdowns when I unpacked them to put their clothes in them.
Zack got this new marble thing you build up and let the marbles roll down from our neighbors, so he keeps sneaking off to play with it. Jade and Naissa have the never ending baskets of laundry coming out of their rooms every other hour while crying out "I HAVE to have this washed for the trip". Isaac finally passed out on the front room floor. The constant arguing and "I'm telling" whines have hit that last nerve ALL DAY! I went to Walmart to find socks for Isaac and found myself just wandering around. I have no idea what I was looking at and I didn't buy extra stuff, I think I just walked around like a zombie for an hour...I hope no one recognized me! (lol!)
I am looking forward to many things at Disneyland. Naissa was three and Isaac was one when we last went to Disneyland and I spent most of the time on the little train that rides near the big whale mouth, Casey something. We also rode the Tea Cups but we didn't spin around, too hard to do while holding two small children. We stood in line FOREVER to go on the Peter Pan ride, but it's one of my favorites so I didn't mind. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is not for little kids! I didn't care for it either, especially the hot air. Jim meanwhile took Jade and Zack on all kinds of rides. I think we'll be doing more trading off this year. lol! It should be a lot of fun.
On a different note, I got my hair cut off today! Around 12 inches! I didn't know when I went in that I would come out with short hair but what the heck, it'll grow!
I guess I better get back to packing! The Happiest Place on Earth is waiting for our arrival!! If you read this pray for us!

Thanksgiving Luncheon in 20 minutes

We went to the Thanksgiving Luncheon at the school today. They couldn't find our form or our check, said maybe the teacher forgot to turn it in. As we waited for my son's class, we saw the Me-n-Ed's delivery guy bring the pizzas for the party my son was giving up to come eat with us. Not a lot of parents there. Those that were there, were in big groups...mom, dad, step mom, siblings etc... We were served by the cheerleaders. Mashed potatoes. Turkey gravy (with bits of turkey in it, not just flavored). Green beans. Diced pears. Roll. Pumpkin cake. Chocolate Milk. It sounds better and tasted better than it looks in the picture. I was pleasantly surprised, even Naissa ate some turkey gravy!!

Zack's friend Chase, whose Grandma lives on our street, ate with us. Zack tried to get us all to give him our pumpkin cakes...I think because it was a little like carrot cake and he loves carrot cake. Go figure. We took a family picture, that probably should have been taken before we ate, seeing how Isaac used the back of his shirt to wipe his hands, and then he sat on Jim's lap! Ha!!

Another LAME sighting

Our elementary school is having their Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, where parents (and siblings) can come to school and eat a "Hot Turkey Meal" with their kid. We did this when Leesha was in elementary school at Lincoln. It was fun and the food was actually really good (and it cost the same as buying a hot lunch in the cafeteria...the same cost for everybody). Here we are paying more for siblings and even more for adults than a hot lunch AND my sons teacher went and planned a pizza party for the kids who were turning in all their work and being responsible AT THE SAME TIME as her class would be eating with their families! So Zack has to miss out on one of them...and I'm guessing he won't be eating pizza for lunch! AND my Kindergartner is supposed to be in her class 5 minutes before the Luncheon time, so we are having to pull her out of class to eat with her family...which I thought was the whole point of having the stupid Luncheon?!?!
In my pissy mood I want to tell them that we adults better have more food on our trays than the students, since we are paying more...but I know that's just petty and I probably wouldn't eat it anyway. I'm just huffing and puffing my frustrations and the LAMENESS of things. It might be different if they announced this as a fundraiser.

What's One Crocodile's Tooth More or Less

As I sat in the waiting room of the dentist office this morning, my two boys were watching “Dunston Checks In” and my youngest daughter was in the chair. She had come back in for a tiny filling. I had watched only a moment earlier as they put the “silly gas” mask over her nose and mouth. Not wanting to watch or HEAR the dentist work, I returned to the waiting room only a few feet away. I tried to pay attention to the TV but frankly, the movie was lame and not holding my attention (maybe in a different setting it would be cute). I got out a piece of paper and began to make my “list” for our upcoming trip, when I heard Naissa cry out, a scared sounding cry, a sad cry. My body tensed and began to fight the urge to run in and save my daughter from the pain and fear….sitting frozen, just listening for the cue to go to her…but knowing she needed to have the filling done. After a moment, maybe two….the assistant came to the door and called me back. They weren’t sure if they should continue. Naissa still wore the “silly gas” mask, but she wasn’t handling all the equipment they were trying to put in her tiny mouth. They were concerned that even if they got through this filling, she would need to come back for the other 3 fillings! FOUR CAVITIES!!! She’s only 5 for goodness sake!! We talked about the options and decided that it would be easiest and probably best to have her sleep while all 4 were done. So now I will have to make an appointment with the oral surgeon. While we were there they did X-rays on Zack’s mouth because his filling had fallen out two nights ago while eating a snickers. Turns out he needs to have FOUR teeth removed…..another oral surgery appointment. His baby teeth (molars) have decided not to come out on their own and the permanent teeth are trying to push them out but becoming infected in the effort. One of them is trying to come out way above where it should be. Oral surgery. I did that with Leesha twice. It’s not easy to let strangers take your child back into a room, knock them out and yank out their teeth!

Zack's Birthday

We celebrated Zack's 10th birthday today. He had friends from school and church come and play Flag Football. Jim headed up one team and our neighbor Eddie headed up the other! They had a lot of fun! There were 16 boys not counting Jim and Eddie...lol!

They did an old fashion Egg Toss with a few Jim Loper Twists. Besides squished eggs in their hands and on the grass, I think only two kids got it good on their clothes and one egg got our house. Good Times!!Big Bubble Blowing Contest!

What's a Birthday with out a little cake on your face?

Happy Birthday Zack! Love You Bud!

And the Award Goes To........

Last week Zack was awarded with his Big Four and Perfect Attendance.

This week Zack was awarded the Coach’s Award for Cross Country. The Principal also shared that she had received an e-mail from a parent from another school, saying that her son had been knocked down by one of our runners. Seeing how there can be anywhere from 20-60 4th graders running at the same time it’s easy to see how this could happen. The woman said that her son assured her it was an accident. She shared that she’s as competitive as anybody and she would’ve left the kid in the dust but our runner gave up his chance to win and helped her child up and made sure he was alright, apologizing to him as well. She said that our runner showed great sportsmanship and character and wanted to thank him for being the exception.
Jim and I were both a little teary eyed because we knew who our runner was. We knew because it was our son! When Zack ran in that day he was farther back than we expected and he was visible upset. Holding back the tears he told us how he had accidentally knocked a kid down and how he had to go back and help him up and that was why he was towards the end. We talked about him doing the right thing and how that was more important than winning.
The principal didn’t know who it was and asked. One kid stood up and said it was him and everyone clapped. At the same time other kids from the Cross Country team were whispering and pointing at Zack. Jim and I were some what perplexed but shrugged it off knowing that Zack had done the same thing.
After school I talked to Zack about the Coach’s Award. He didn’t know what it was until AFTER he was given it. The Coaches told him it was the highest award you could get etc…. His friend Jordan got the MVP award. Zack shared that the kid who stood up hadn’t knocked anybody over or helped anybody up, he just wanted the attention. The other kids on the Cross Country team all knew it was Zack. The Coaches knew it was Zack. That may have been one of the reasons he received the Coach’s Award. But Zack just said, “Let him have the attention, I know I did it. My friends and Coaches know I did it.”
I am so proud. It almost makes up for him flipping me off!

Isaac, the sweater vest and Carson

Did I mention that Isaac wears the same sweater vest every day he can find it? He had to wear it on Halloween with his Batman mask/cape thing.....though I ended up carrying the Batman mask/cape thing all night while he played. He usually wears this sweater vest by itself! He was looking for it today...

Ice: "Where's my sweater?"

Me: "What sweater?"

Ice: "My bwack one like Batman." (not a typo bwack = black)

Me: "What?"

Ice: "Like Batman"

Me: "Batman?"

Ice: "I weared it on Hawoween" (again, not a typo)

Me: "Oh. The vest? The one that Andrew gave you?"

Ice: "YES! Where is it?"

When I told him it was in the laundry he crossed his arms and dropped to his knees and put his head on the ground. Not happy. I guess I need to do some laundry today.

True to his name...he keeps me laughing! Love that boy!

Leesha and Carson at Leesha's Halloween party. Leesha was a Candy Corn Witch and Carson was a pinata...he made it himself! LOL!! Creative guy! Last year he dressed as the Easter bunny and he left candy treats for Leesha on the front lawn! Too Cute. He's a real good guy, very genuine and he loves the Lord!! Isaac loves him!

Proud moment (yes, I'm being sarcastic!! And I know some of your kids say sh** too so Back Off!)

Ice - "Mom, is sh** a bad word?"

Me - "Yes, it is."

Ice - "I won't say sh** K mom, cuz sh** is a bad word"

Me - "Okay, but you're saying it...don't say it"

Ice - "Sh** is a bad word, I won't say sh** cuz it's bad huh mom?"

Me - "Okay Isaac, don't say it"

A moment of silence.

Ice - "I won't flip you off eeder mom" (not a typo...and he said it with his middle finger up)

Me - "Why don't you use your pointer finger instead" (I show him how)

Ice - "Like that mom?"

Me - "Yes much better"

Ice - "Sh** is a bad word"

Me - BIG SIGH.........

Colors of my day

Is RED the color for STRESS? I know it is sometimes used to express ANGER. Either way it is appropriate for my emotions today. RED or maybe BLACK....that feels right too. Of course there's always the BLUE in DEPRESSION. Though I think that comes back to ANGER turned inward......some of those "experts" say. RED would also describe our FINANCES...which are causing the STRESS and the DEPRESSION.

Would that make BROWN the color of MESSES? The other cause of my STRESS and DEPRESSION. Or GREEN the color of my GRUMPY mood...because GREEN is the color of Oscar the Grouch.

BLACK would also be for DEATH....because that is the sentence I have given these FLIES who are harassing me in my house!!

I pull out the Depeche Mode....Black Celebration...and enjoy the escape!

Thanksgiving is a comin'

Leesha

Yesterday was Leesha's 18th birthday! Tonight was senior night at the BHS football game. I got to walk with Leesha in front of the crowd and be given a rose and take a picture with her in front of the big Bears Helmet car. The band director was in the picture too. Seems funny to celebrate senior night in November, with 6 1/2 months to go till graduation. But that's OK, because I got a "moment". It was just me and her down there......well, and the other 38 seniors in the band and their parents....but I mean...it was just me...not Jim, not my parents or my brother, no other kids....just ME! :)
I feel old, though I was probably one of the youngest mom's down there tonight.

18 years ago....(the condensed version)

So Leesha is 18 today! We had a mini family party at my parents. Her boyfriend Carson was there too. We ate dinner and gave her some presents and shared “Leesha” stories. I gave myself a headache from laughing so much. But it was good to laugh! I can’t believe it’s been 18 years! And yet it seems like forever ago that I was in labor with her. (*WARNING* LABOR/BIRTH STORY TO FOLLOW)
It was Halloween and my water had “sprung a leak” and I was starting to have contractions…but wasn’t sure it was the real deal because I wasn’t due for three more weeks. So I continued to answer the door to the Trick or Treaters and give them candy as I held my breath during contractions. My mom didn’t come home until 8pm or so and when she got home we headed for the hospital. Sure enough, it was the real deal. You know the tune…….hooked up to a gazillion monitors, poked and prodded, violated during contractions by one particular nurse bitch and finally given some meds to ease the pain and get a little sleep (in a chair at the end of the bed) I’ve had the same lower back pain ever since…I think there was some kind of nerve damage or something. I’ve always heard other mom’s, almost brag, at how many hours they were in labor…as if it would win them extra jewels for their crown in Heaven…but I was thinking about this today because I’ve always just counted the time I was in the hospital…not the fact that I was having painful contractions for 8-9 hours before going to the hospital. So that would mean I was in labor for 20-21 hours before having to have an emergency c-section. Crazy.
Anyway…I remember praying, “Please God I don’t wanna push…please don’t let me have to push” etc… I’m not sure I gave any thought to how else the baby would come out if I didn’t push, but then again, I was a bit distracted by the PAIN!
My body had gone into shock and I couldn’t stop shaking, they were trying to put the epidural in and I could not control my body…I kept apologizing. I remember thinking and wondering who was going to clean up all the amniotic fluid that had burst all over the floor with a nice splash. The doctor while “checking me” at one point mentioned that she felt a nose…when Leesha was born, she had a scratch on her nose!
Leesha had turned and was coming down face first…but she wasn’t going to budge…the doctor had said that was why I was having extremely painful back labor.
I had gained 66lbs and was huge! They had ordered an extra ultra sound to make sure I wasn’t having twins! It turned out to be excess amniotic fluid…though I can’t think of the term for it right now. Leesha weighed only 5lbs 15oz.
I remember someone asking me if I wanted to see my baby, but I was shaking and crying and my arms were strapped down so I think I said no I can’t… but Dr. Sanchez brought her over and held her so I could see her…she had been cleaned up thankfully…that might of scared me to see her all bloody and cheesy…. Anyway…it was hard. It was painful. I was 19 and scared…it was all uncharted territory. But she was beautiful.