Southern girl plowing her way through life making the rules up as she goes. Warning: likes to bake, curse, quote movies/literature, is tattooed, married to The Man and mother of two girls. We bring new meaning to the "griswald way of life". Come along for the ride!



Life is My Highway

Montana and North Dakota have become home.... dang it lol.

These Girls

Lord help me but these babies wear me out.... they are just perfect!

Superheroes

Yes, it's from last winter but I adore this shot...so us....

Duchess

This kid glows from the inside out... my almost 11 year old!

We are so smexy!

Favorite sport: embarrassing our kids in public

Princess

My mini-me is finding her own way in life

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

2009

Change is in the air, yet again.

Exciting, scary and uncertain.

When I know, you'll know.

Until then, am embracing 2009 as my year.

Gonna stop collecting expensive purses/shoes (thank you boss for the Louis Vatton though)

Gonna love my wrinkles.

Gonna budget better!

Gonna kiss my kids more.

Gonna continue to kick The Man's ass in Mario Brothers on the DS.

I don't have alot of plans.......lol

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Sigh.....Memories

We were stationed in Texas, it was a nasty dry heat as we lived closer to the border of Mexico than I would have liked. It was the worst duty station ever, except I made some great friends, but the damn bugs, OMG, the bugs. Anywho.....being in Texas, The Man had started listening to some local Texas bands.

When two tickets floated our way, we threw our children to the neighbors and headed out.

It was fantastic. This was the best song to hear live.

However, I must tell you if you've never danced in an open air concert hall along the beach in South Texas , with sprinkling rain and a hot stud in skin tight blue jeans, a cowboy hat who benched 350 and had arms arms the size of small cannons....

Well you're just missing out.

Just one of the many memories I plan on taking with him into old age, cause you know 32 is right around the corner and I'm soooooo not fitting in those tight jeans anymore, I'm not in my 20's and I must admit that I wouldn't trade a day of the journey.

What is your favorite concert?

Monday, December 29, 2008

Most Pain-in-the-Butt Present Award...

Of all the presents under the tree, two have just about sent me to the looney bin.

Both are Webkinz......

Stuffed animals which have an interactive website. There are pros and cons.......

Pro's - both children are learning about money. In Webkinz land, they have a room/house they have to decorate, which costs money. They have to send them to school and take quizes (which earns money). They can travel, again costing money. My favorite, shopping! Princess bought her puppy a toliet before anything else, so he wouldn't go on the floor. Most expensive toliet I've seen at 1200 webkinz bucks. Oh and their pet has to work every 8 hours to make about 50 webkinz bucks, so they can't get crazy with the shopping/spending. Then there is food. Which costs, you guessed it...money. You have to feed the suckers and play with it so it will stay happy.


Staying happy, another pro......unlike Murphy who is content with them throwing a bone and playing fetch, their webkinz needs constant attention. Bathing makes it happy, once it uses the toliet (simply move the curser over the toliet and the cute little sucker goes) the toliet flushes. Duchess bought her puppy a convertible so it has to be pushed around her room to make her happy. You following my drift here......
So it makes for truly happy, entertained children who are actually learning. Duchess earned money tonight by taking a 6 year old science quiz for her webkinz. She missed one and smacked herself in the head, cause "I totally knew that one". Nice.
Are you asking yourself what the cons are? Really, have you given it some thought.....


Two webkinz, two kids, two laptops and one regular desktop in the freezing basement. Guess who is stuck in the freezing basement now?
The Man is refusing to even think about getting them their own shared computer.
Thank you giver of the webkinz, you are the reason for my cold.
The gift that keeps on giving.....
I'm totally trying to give it to everyone I know.
Hey Bigest1, you got them kids' some webkinz yet? Cause if not, I'm totally sending them some for Valentine's Day. Forget chocolate.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

2 Years Ago Today

The Man's ship came home for the last time.
Standing on a cliff in San Diego, I watched him come home to us. First a tiny spec on the horizon.

Then the outline of their ship. We were done. Putting the military behind us.
Never thought I'd miss so many things about that life.
I wouldn't trade it though, cause I have him, every day, every night.
He never misses anything anymore.
But those 10 years were worth it.





Friday, December 26, 2008

Blessed We Be

We exchanged gifts, the husband and I. The Man seemed very pleased with his. I got smart this year, instead of shopping at the mall for him, I hit up the local farm supply store. I got some awesome shirts for him and hats. He's loving it. I rock!

At midnight on Christmas Eve our tree looked like it had a bad case of diarrhea after eating a roll of wrapping paper.

But man oh man, Christmas at my mom's turned into 6 bags of presents...geez. Are we spoiled much? I'm loving it.

Our blizzard came and went.....another is on the way. Didn't get snowed in......crap.

Murphy got a new bone/tennisball thingy, instead he loved the paper and boxes. He even stole a pair of scissors. All in all, Christmas Eve rocked.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Eve of All Things Crazy...

Merry Christmas all. Does it feel like Christmas Eve? No, cause I have to go into work today. Till noon. Then take my kids grocery shopping for tomorrow and pick up last minute gifts for some peeps sharing Christmas with us this year. Sigh......

I need a little fa-la-la-la-la right now. Instead I have expenses and filing ahead of me. Not cool.

And tonight I have to drag my ass out of bed and put together an electric scooter for Princess. Luckily Duchess' Santa gift just pees and poohs, no assembly required. Can Santa just leave crap in boxes? Does that count? Cause that fat man is really busy tonight I hear.......

In other news, the highlight of my day is spending this evening with my parents. Christmas Eve gifting with them at their place, fun! So looking forward to that.

In not so great other news, blizzard #2 is expected tomorrow afternoon through the weekend. Holy hell. I can't lift my arms from shoveling so much the other day, I don't think I'll be able to do it. Another reason I adore The Man......who rubs me down while coo-ing that I'm not cut out for manual labor.....that's right baby. remember that!

Today in the holiday spirit, I have forgone heels (pick yourself up off the floor) and work clothes. I'm going in my favorite boots, jeans, a ponytail, makeup (like I would ever go in without my camo) and the ultimate gift from the man who adores me........a ScentLok pink camo sweatshirt. This isn't just shagging, ScentLok is true love (name that movie). They may not recognize me and if security drags me out by my hair, I'll get my shopping done early! Sweet.

Otherwise school is completely over till Jan 10th. Maintained A's in both classes. Biology 2, here I come. Soon Christmas, sledding and blizzard pictures will dominate.....I'm sorry (in advance).

Peace out!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

To Honor Our Forgotten Anniversary

***Stolen from Frazzled Farm Wife

Since I forgot my anniversary yesterday I thought this would be a nice way to make myself look better......all about him.......kinda......

Who is your man? The Man

How long have you been together? 12 years and counting

How long dated? 1.5 years

How old is your man? 32

Who eats more? Him, unless your counting sweets, then me

Who said I love you first? Me, dang it!

Who is taller? Oh yeah him!

Who sings better? Oh him, crap.

Who is smarter? Depends on subject....accounting? me, engineering? him

Who's temper is worse? His by far...

Who does laundry? Whoever's day off it is

Who takes out garbage? Him

Who sleeps on the right side of bed? I do, and Murphy too

Who pays the bills? I do

Who is better on computer? Software=me, hardware=him

Who mows? Whoever's day off it is

Who cooks dinner? Whoever's day off it is

Who drives when you are together? He does, he HATES my driving

Who pays when you go out? It depends if I'm dying for a smoke, then he does, otherwise I do

Who is most stubborn? Toss up

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Him

Whose parents do you see the most? Mine, thankfully they are down the road

Who kissed who first? He kissed me over potato salad fixings while I was holding a knife. I'd met him twice. Very liberal with his sugars wasn't he?

Who asked who out? He just showed up at my house, stalker that he is

Who proposed? He did, in a park after deliberately making me mad

Who is more sensitive? Me

Who has more friends? Him, he is so much cooler than I am

Who has more siblings? tie!

Who wears the pants in the family? not going there folks....

How did you meet? At a gas station, he was on a date with another girl

Monday, December 22, 2008

I so need to move....

This is the view from my office window, at 10:00 a.m. That sucks! It sucks worse since I went in early today (thought traffic would be much worse), missed my lunch so I left at 4. Then spent 15 minutes digging out my car and then still had to have a total stranger dig out a car path for me. Thank you Mr. Red Shirt old guy. You rock.
This is the view of my driveway after I managed to get in ( I can't seem to get my pictures in order these days) ......45 minutes into the journey of digging out my driveway. I was stuck half in driveway, half in street. Not good. Thank you sucky neighbors down the street who hired a company to come clean out their driveway and then wave as they skirt inside while I stand knee deep in snow in my work clothes. You suck.

My car stuck.

View of afterwards......
This is why I think of moving with such fond thoughts. I am NOT cut out for this winter maintenance upkeep. The Man will surely deal with this when he gets home. Surely. Unless he gets stuck at work. Oh please don't let him get stuck at work..........please.......








Sunday, December 21, 2008

Duchess is 6, I need drugs

The blizzard came a day early so we managed to pull off Duchess' birthday party. What fun. Thankfully since the kids weren't skating around at 20 mph, I was able to get lots of shots. Duchess welcomed her 6th year with a cowgirl party.
I'm loving the new hat daddy got her, but for me it's the mud splashed boots that really work this pic. This kid really is fearless. I so wished we lived in the country and could get her a real horse of her own. She just adores them.

So they played games like "needle in the haystack".

Simon Says with Dad.....

Stick horsey races.....

And cake, there was a huge horsey cake.....and ice cream. Meadow Gold ice cream is now my fav. I had three bowls.

Presents were a huge hit. Scooter from mom and dad made a splash!

Blow baby! One left!

Princess was on hand to keep things running smooth as we got to feed all the animals. Incident free except one adult got headbutted by a goat while trying to feed the babies.

Then, then.........then........they brought out the big guns. Duchess got to feed, nuzzle and pet a real live 17 year old pony. What a sweetie. Brought him right into the room!

Boot stomp was a fun game.....

Lots of prep work on that one, but it was a hoot. Boy can those girls scream.

I love the sisters' shot.

Another visit to the animals.....

Last pets to the pony.....and it was a day.
My girl had a great birthday.
Now, instead of trying to top an ice skating and cowgirl party next year for the girls, we're gonna have home parties. We figure we'll alternate each year. Wimps that we are........

A Wrap!!!

Tonight was the end of Psysh I and Accounting II. Grades will come out later this week.

My finals consisted of a 40 question test, a 5 page paper, 4 discussion questions, 13 problems and a cowgirl birthday party in the slight snow.

I am done. It is after midnight but I did make the deadline and then took a bath in celebration.

Fascinating news and updates coming.

I've neglected all my fav blogs lately so be forewarned, here I come. As I have a two week break in school and I'm using every spare second to get caught up on everything! Laundry comes a very close second to blogging.

Till then, I'm recommending a site (rarely do I do this, everyone has different strokes) cause man oh man, I'm proud for her, I'm pissed for her and I'm anxiously awaiting the next and hopefully final entry.......visit the Redneck Mommy and show some love.

See you peeps tomorrow, I'm back to daily blogging as of.........now!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Big 1-0

Turning 10 is quite the bid deal......and we did it in a blizzard, on ice. Everyone should have at least one ice skating birthday, what fun. Thank you boss for the discount too.

Turns out Princess is pretty good at ice skating. Although some of her friends needed coaching, and thankfully Cec came out, she's my preggers hockey playing momma friend. Go girl.

Okay so alot of her friends couldn't skate. But notice that at this point, Princess is skating backwards......does not get that from her momma.


The Man was nice enough to provide all the blurry pics, take pity on me.

And by the by, who gives a 10 year old fake nails for her birthday? Not I.....although we did misplace the karaoke CD's we bought to go with it. I've tossed this house twice, no sign. Not good!
Princess was born 10 years ago this Christmas morning. Her's is my favorite birth story of ever. The Man and I were living it small back then. Little apartment, perfect sized for us with a nursery set up awaiting our princess. Warm California was experiencing a slight cold snap. The Man had given up cigs and wanted to step out for a stoggie after dinner. So I waddled out with him and sat on the steps outside while he puffed away. When done, he reached down for my hand and I refused to let him pull me up. Cause I'd wet myself, or so I thought. Turns out my water had broke. How utterly embarrassing for both of us. (and unlike my aunt told me, I didn't have a little glass bottle of pickles with me to drop and mask it) So when we got to the hospital, we walked and got drugs and walked and walked. Till we stopped at the elevators to call the folks on the payphone. I'm pretty sure that afterwards my mom spent the entire night in her rocking chair crying back home.
It was about this time that labor hit and I realized I was completely unprepared to have a baby. So I tried to crawl into the elevator and go home. So The Man (navy to the core) got in my face and told me to "suck it up and stand up and let's go have a baby".....the first and last time he's ever spoke to me like that. I tore him up.
After the drugs kicked in and I stopped telling everyone in the room that he was illegitimate (ba*tard got me pregnant, it was his fault), they had to make me put the playing cards away to actually push.
I've never been the same. She may look like him, but she's all me. It scares the living crap out of me. But back to the big 10.
All in all, a great time had by everyone. Especially since I stayed off skates, spending my time rescuing her little friends who fell and couldn't get up. Poor things. It was quite the comedy show. In a blizzard. Wonderful timing.
So next up: Duchess is turning 6 tomorrow. Where did the time go? Oh wait, I remember...
Just 6 years ago I was going to go into labor in the middle of the night. Then make it to the hospital too late for drugs. Then climb up the doctor's tie until he gave me straight shots of morphine, then deliver a sweet, black haired little chub who took one look at me and screamed. Love at first sight. Right about the time that my bestest friend in the world was leaving messages on my cellphone demanding to know where I was, cause she was gonna kill me for worrying her, when she was actually three floors beneath me working at her desk. Also, I'm pretty sure in my undrugged, semi-natural birth state that my mother was on speaker phone at some point in this, poor thing. I was not at my best.
Duchess came into this world with a bang. She was early too, probably the last time in her life she'll ever be early for anything.
And her birthday party? Saturday at the local Farm. Cowgirl style, all indoors except the covered pony rides. And once again, a predicted blizzard.
Irony, peeps, irony.
Leaving you thinking those deep thoughts as I finish up my last half week in my classes. Two finals, two papers and some homework due by Saturday. Cross your fingers (and legs) for me.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Guest Photographer: Princess

Princess was the recepitant of a brand new 10 mega pixel camera from my mom and the Photo-Elusive-Step-Dad for her birthday. My baby is 10. Thankfully they gave her the present early so that we have some chance of being anywhat cool after that gift. My karaoke machine may not live up peeps.

But since she has her very own camera. She has been so good to volunteer to provide photos for mommy's website. Especially since mommy has been swamped and hasn't put up any photos lately, sorry. :(

But in other news, Princess sang last night at a national hockey game. How cool is that? The Man and I love hockey and well we've passed that gene on to Princess. Duchess could care less. Figures. So when she had the chance to sing with her local choir at the game last night, she jumped at it. The Man accompanied her.

Can I just say that in this picture above, my 10 year old looks much older. I'm very uncomfortable with how teeny she looks here. I'm in so much trouble, as that means I'm getting old. I hate that part.

Here are all the kids getting lined up for the event. Lots of freaking kids.

See my girl doing the YMCA? Yeah, she was totally on the JUMBOTRON. The Man said her head was as big as my car up on the main screen. She totally rocks.

And just steals my heart. My baby is graceful, poised, and spunky. I adore that about her. Even the talking back part, cause she totally gets that from her momma.

Welcome to a carpet eye view of my living room. Princess takes alot of different methods when trying to get the perfect shot.

Although this one, is just perfection. Hi Duchess, kisses! This is pretty much how she goes through life, relaxed, chilled and in no rush. She does not get this from me.

Murphy and his beautiful blue eyes. He hates it when Princess goes downstairs and he can't get to her.
A very cluttered but honest look at my foyer these days. We were in the awkward new house stage of "where the F(((()))) do you put the tree". Can anybody spot The Man's new preditor caller creation? Designed to lure in coyotes for him to snipe? Redneck much?

OH yeah, it's treat day. Speaking of the Photo-Elusive-Step-Dad......back from winter hunting at camp and keeping it real!
I promise more pics from Princess as we go here. It's always interesting to see through her eyes what is important.......
So pray for me.
It's starting the first blizzard of the season. Princess has a birthday party today, at the ice skaing rink......sigh.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Heimlich For Your Dog

It does actually exist.

Desparate times call for desparate measures when Murphy swallows a pet shop animal that gets lodged in the throat.

Luckily he spit it out before I finished reading the directions out loud.

Ummm, the word "hineylick" popped up too, ewwwwwwww gross.
********************

Crisis averted, I'm going back to writing my paper on "Deja Vu".

Oh and Princess just told The Man that she had "junk in her trunk", I think he's got a bald spot now. Never noticed that he was a hair puller.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Mean meaning for productive...

So lightening struck my house today. I actually "crafted" something. This is highly unusual for me. I'm NOT an artsy crafty person at all. Does not happen. I have no excuse. I got this idea and just had to follow through the inspiration.
So this is a tiled photo within a huge deep frame. I have to only figure out how to permanently attach the tiles to the back of the frame and hang it. I'm in love with it. I'm wondering if it's good enough to do and make as presents........Christmas presents? Cause after 3 hours figuring it out, I can knock this baby out in an hour. Whew!

Turn your head and take a peek at the unframed version........

That came from this photo..........Aren't they just adorable? I almost forget the sheer amount of vinegar in these kids when I look at this pic. My coworker was by yesterday and after 15 minutes with them, she tells me that they are exactly like me but like me on crack. Wow, thanks.

All this creativity prompted Princess to start on her Indian project due next week. This is our Indian campground. A barbie horse, some bamboo skewers and a little beef jerky with paper mountains in the background. Soon they'll be a teepee and some corn too........
She don't get this from me. I was seriously following directions as the thoughts hit her. Tie this, skewer this, tape this...........aye Captain, arggggh.
So today I woke up early with a strange feeling.........I think its called, I am ahead of my schoolwork and don't have to spend most of the day slugging through accounting problems (did you know if you buy an adding machine from Wal-mart that you can't destroy it no matter how many times you throw it, and now I have to paint a spot on my door, damn it).
So I cleaned my house. De-junked my junk drawers, cleaned my oven. Then high on fumes from said oven, I did the art project. Obviously the Great Value Oven Cleaner for $1.97 in lemon scent is to blame.
School Update:
Accounting: A
Psych: A
Two weeks to go before Christmas break.......
After break:
Biology 2
Peace Out:
Hope4Grace