She's Back!!!!

My heart has returned. What a tough week....Princess was gone to Science camp and I was beside myself all week. But man oh man do prayers get answered....what an independent confident little girl I picked up this morning! As promised I was one of the first cars at the gate this morning at 0:dark-thirty to pick her up! This was accomplished by driving everyone else in the house nuts so I could leave here on time....opps.

Since I couldn't bear to actually talk about my oldest and firstborn who left me for a week....till now, when she is actually home, snoring in her bed....Here you go! Science camp=

Dropping her off was great. Just me and her, I even took the whole day off work and away we went. We had a blast. It was the perfect beginning!

Camp was amazing. Very rustic yet gorgeous...till they told her she wasn't sleeping in the buildings, that her "tent" was out back, in the trees, with the animals....

She did not freak, much and went on to kiss me briskly and order me to leave, at once! Sniff.

So today was very exciting. I get there and whoa, my girl is one dirty little thing! Apparently they conserve water there, two showers in one week, whew! The Man actually thought this was freaking awesome, go figure. So here she is (above) giving Duchess the quick trip to the INDOOR potty....yeah cause there are alot of OUTDOOR ones too....no thank you, Duchess assured her. lol

The whole way home, The Man's response to everything was "well she's a mountain girl now" or "Well what do you expect, she is hard core now"....

Then we got introduced to the animals....the shown the lodge where they ate and after learning that Princess was in charge of assigning chores and capers, I came home and quickly posted a similar chart, yeah baby! She mops!

So I have my girl back. One who sang and cheered the entire way home, one who had a whole bag full of wet, dirty clothes, a sleeping bag that was way stinky, and a story about a squirrel that kept attaching the inside of their tent ( I was shown the teeth marks, very impressive little teeth Mr. Squirrel had...no camp for me!) and no ticks!

Sigh, I'm starting to recover, although I got my limit of hugs fairly quickly, I was told to "stop now, mom" geez.... Now, she wants to go to horseback riding camp for 2 WEEKS next summer, "Could you hurry up and sign me up please...before all the good tents get gone?" Sigh!

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Duchess Ponders Her Future

With Princess at camp (OMG they haven't called me yet, she just might make it), Duchess has had plenty of mommy/daddy time. Woohoo! We've had ice-cream dates and tickle-fest but the best is the three of us riding around in daddy's single cab truck.

What a cute view.....(note that The Man's porn mustache is gone now though, he finally shaved!!!! I had to buy him a new scope but it was totally worth it!)

So we're driving along....when Duchess ponders this:

I don't want a husband!

The Man is quite happy with this idea and praises her decision.

After college she would like to own a house with lots of flowers and two dogs. Then she sat thinking and wanted to know who would mow her yard though if she didn't get married....(notice the automatic delegation of man duties...I'm raising her right!).????

The Man volunteered stating that this was an easy trade off. Promised that her flowers and yard would be the best in the town.

That made her quite happy and they discussed this for some time. Then she wanted to know who would clean her toliets (notice the automatic disqualification of woman duties....yet again, I'm doing a great job) ?

The Man promptly said your mom can come over and do them for you....since you'll be working and traveling all over the world curing people....since you'll be a brain doctor..... (notice that we aim high)

Duchess thought about that and realized that no, mom couldn't do that....cause she'll be babysitting my daughters....... (here is where The Man almost ran us off the road)

Turns out that with no man, no husband, no marriage....Duchess will have all her dreams come true, including two daughters......oh and a pink dump truck that daddy will wash once a week and a dirt bike, but back to the illegitimate kids......

The Man ponders this and then looks at me and sternly says, she's adopting.

Heaven help this man when puberty gets here. Maybe that is why he is collecting guns.....

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Wordless Wednesday

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My little camper

I blinked. That is really the only thing I can think of right now. I blinked and she grew up into a tween thing. And now she is leaving home to attend a week long science camp, by herself, without her mother, however she is taking her green-green (the long suffering green blanket). That gives me hope that she isn't totally grown yet. Sigh....
So we have spent most of this week, preparing her for camp. She is on a green streak. Everything is green, she picks out trendy, hippie green skirts, skorts and shirts. All of her camp gear had to be green, right down to the little plastic bottles for shampoo and face wash....all green. So I have the car packed, that kid took everything, even a pillow which we managed to get in the duffel bag. So one duffel bag, one super duper hero sized green sleeping bag in an orange case that will protect her wee toes should the summer temps drop below -32 degrees (The Man has his own way of dealing with tweeny woes).... one green carry-all with toiletries (who knew but yeah, she has alot of toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, detangling spray, face wash, deo, lotion, and the list goes on....geez she is only 8 give me a break) and one green backpack which includes at the moment: heavy duty hiking boots, a seriously tuff flashlight and extra batteries, a little red knife set that turns into everything including a fork, spoon and helicopter, a field mess kit for eating, and last but not least, a seriously bad arse bandanna from The Photo Elusive Step-Dad....oh and her stuffed puppy.

We're ready.....I have the map, in the car already. Luggage in the car already. The letters that we pre-wrote so she'll get mail (kid will get like 5 a day!) are in the car. The camp forms and paperwork that is required for the medical screen, in the car....

Mother's panic and tears: Right here baby, but will be in the car, come morning.

Wish me luck. I told her I would spot her a $20 for the store there if she made it in the morning through drop off without a tear.....sigh, she is so not worried about me, it's all about the $20....

Here's to hoping I don't lose my shit in front of a camp full of other mothers.........

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We Occassionally Eat Out...

And I do mean occassionally, as in not a drive through. Since Princess is leaving us to go to science camp (yep, totally comfortable making a nerd out of her!) we were out and about the other night procuring some of the things she'll need....like a daypack, different froma backpack? How? Anyway, so since I'm on a diet (read past posts, sigh) I kept veto-ing places where I knew I wouldn't and couldn't be faithful to my diet, until I got outvoted.

Hello, pasta joint complete with trolley....which of course we had to wait on a table to eat in even though there were empty tables everywhere else, kids......

It was going great. Cause we love carbs....bring on the pasta. We kept busy yaking and coloring as we awaited our food.

Taking cheesy pictures while the waiter looked down my shirt....ewwww babyfaced 18 year olds are so not my cup of tea....

Until Princess let her mouth write a check her butt couldn't cash....that got her here......in the lap....I don't even like to go there, cause it means your arse is grass!!!!

Duchess was just happy that it wasn't her in trouble!

All in all, it was great.......until my plate arrived. Turns out the special I ordered with the really cool name with angel haired pasta with very little sauce (tasty actually) and spinach and peppers and one seriously long sausage........to keep this site G-rated I can't post a picture, it was graphic in shape.

I giggled the entire time I ate..........

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Where Am I going?

Things have really started settling down here in the land of mountains and muskrats. We have worked out a pretty good schedule and we're actually living life. Not just "living" as in waiting for the next move, the next big transition, we're actually living. It's a pretty cool concept, we should have tried this years ago...before I got grey hair and wrinkles and a shelf that has started to grow on my arse........that is another post though.

But now that we are settled, both with jobs and the kids in a routine. I have to ask myself, what is next? Somebody real close to me asked the other day why I'm never content....ummmm I didn't think you were suppose to ever be content? Content is the devil, it means no growth, no reaching, no stretching.....if you're content, can you actually go anywhere? I don't think its a bad thing not to be content. I am happy with my life (except the no smoking part and the arse shelf, but that is another post), my kids are thriving!, The Man is relaxing into family life, and that is swell. But life doesn't stop here.....

So what comes next? The Man and I were driving home last night, with the girlies snoozing in the backseat and I turned to him and asked him if he'd ever though about opening his own business....cause he has skills. True he is working in a completely different industry now that he is out of the Navy,but hey, he still has skills, and great great hands but that is another post....hee hee. We started talking about our 5 year goals and future plans, wow it felt great to plan and reach....cause people, you have to keep going....moving....stretching...conquering!

Next up for me? Finish that darn degree, keep myself on the Dean's List...I haven't made an I heart Myself wall yet but I have a file full of those little certificates that say I have a 4.0 average cause it's important to me! I have set that standard for myself and yep, gonna keep it going if it kills me, I'll sleep when I'm old!

Another plan.....we're planning on buying our first house next year, woohoo!!!!! Although in this valley the houses are as close to one another as they were in California, they don't seem to understand that when I'm standing naked at my sink brushing my teeth, I don't want to wave at my neighbor sitting on their toliet........seriously the houses are that close to together.....hello window blinds!

The Man is stretching too....he is taking his entrance exam today for college. He got accepted and is finalizing his entry stuff, he's joining the working stiffs who are losing all amounts of sleep to study at all hours of the night....guess I'll have to share my stash of no-doze with him now.

So where am I going? Up baby.....in my own time and my own way....across my own hurdles! Sometimes it's good to reflect on your path huh?

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I Said Good Day.....

There is nothing like a child that knows her own mind...a child that will stand up for HER beliefs and her wants/needs rather than even think of yours....this is a child that will go places....I have to tell myself this or I will cry.

This is pretty much the response I got earlier from the 4 year old duchess when told to clear the table.....yes well as interesting as that may be (heard in my head in a Dexter voice) I am much too busy playing restaurant and dealing with all that drama...I'm sure you can make the older child clean your kitchen.....

With a flick of her ponytail I was dismissed....crap, should have given them less royal nicknames on here, it's bleeding over into their personal lives! And hair tugging is not bad parenting, not when said hair was flicked in your face....

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Beauty Day....

I decided to stop fighting nature. I'm gonna quit trying to obtain the glamorous streaky natural looking (but not really) hair color that I see on just about everyone else but me and I'm gonna stick with as close to natural as possible. I'll just fight my grays when they come back, cause yep, I have a ton of gray hair but The Man refuses to let me "go gray".

Except, my natural is wayyyyyyyy natural. Let me explain, my true hair color is extremely similar to that of my daughters, however over the years, L'Oreal and I have done alot of changing. So as the years go by, my roots get darker....and darker until it's now almost as dark as The Mans......I'm kinda in shock here......

So while I'm at the salon "going natural", Princess and Duchess were angels. I mean truly they were angelic. It was down-right scary! I think The Man bribed them, or their Mimi, somebody got to them before me.....lucky girls.

They kept everyone entertained as they did each other's hair....cause as Duchess put it, "mommy was getting her hair painted".

There was braiding involved and luckily we looked up in time to get the shears away from Duchess who was fixing to scalp her sister! Then they put in mousse and other assorted products the women kept tossing their way, cause they were too cute....and they got me a discount on some awesome iron spray.

So here I am in my natural glory! The Man kinda likes it. My eyebrows haven't actually matched my hair like this since 1993.

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Why Don't I Remember This?

Last night over dinner my mother (who lives in my basement) and Princess were chatting. At one point, my mom starts telling her about how I reacted when she said No, I couldn't go to prom my freshman year.....

Apparently I pushed her into a display of canned goods in the grocery store....

Why can't I remember this? This would have been awesome! Sorry mom but come on....

Meanwhile Princess has these huge eyes as she looks back and forth between me and my mom. So I find myself justifiying why I was so angry therefore pushed my mother. It went downhill from there....

Well thanks to you, my boyfriend turned around and took my best friend as his date!

Yeah well be glad, his kids are really ugly...... (silence)

That is so wrong, take it back. All kids are cute.

Nope, my mom assured me, not true.

Uh-huh....

Nope, U-G-L-Y......

I can't help but wonder what Princess got out of that whole conversation?

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There she goes

Princess is determined to grow up. Sigh, this hurts my heart but it's true. She volunteered to cut her Princess hair off, and by that I mean the hair that has been waist length for quite some time. With science camp coming up very soon, we were worried that she would have trouble keeping her hair under control by herself cause face it, it's kinda roughing it people...it's not the Mariott.

So this past Sunday, I welled up and got the sniffles and had to leave the salon and go shop while they finished cutting her hair. Sigh, it's still below her shoulders but not by much.

Oh and they found curls in there too....huh!

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Wordless Wednesday

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Somethings Gonna Give

Well since I've quit smoking (^$#$^&**%$# *). It's been 39 days. And 21 hours. Cause yeah I am detailed oriented and I know it's also been 27 minutes too. Since my last smoke.

However, I can officially confirm that the whole "quit smoking and gain weight thing" is true.

I have gained 20 lbs in those 39 days, 21 hours and 27 minutes.


F***!

The only bright light at the end of my tunnel is the fact that even at my current weight I'm still smaller than I was when I graduated high school, yes!

So this is my no-sh*t calling out...gonna start addressing this.... this weight thing!

Sigh, I miss smoking. Everything was alot simpler.

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Left the House again...

Call the World Records Books, cause we actually left the house again, to sight see....twice in six months! We're on a roll people. Full of pancakes, ham and hashbrowns....we lost ourselves high in the mountains....
I love this shot, the sun coming through the trees gave off this awesome blur as we were heading downhill, quite fast actually, The Man kinda likes the sharp turns....it was also where the girls started to lose interest in the trees and really got into the Root Beer and Starburst from the emergency snack run before we started the mountain climb.

The distance we were able to drive up in the mountains was amazing. The temp dropped 22 degrees from the valley below to the top, all up in the canopies of trees.

It was about here that the first massive Root Beer and Starburst burp rattled the windows...Princess had some depth in there!

We came across a perfect fishing spot, The Man was fit to be tied that he didn't have ANY fishing gear at all...cause what kind of woman goes anywhere without her rod and reel in the trunk?

Did you know that Root Beer and Starburst combined makes alot of gas?

Again, we were going a little too fast for a great shot. The Man really is quite the driver, he was actually trying to pass this one cyclist who kept passing US! The old guy was a stud!

I've got this thing about fences. Probably cause I have this obsession with the white picket fence. I so need to get me a house with a white picket fence. The blur on this last pic isn't from the speed as we drove by when I took the picture. I literally jump out of my skin when the last Root Beer and Starburst burp ripped through the car....

So I leave you with this....do not mix Root Beer and Starburst!

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OCD? Maybe a tiny little bit?

Pretty sure that they offer help for this....next up, the hair and nail accessories!

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Down Right Irritating

Sometimes you just have to be silly, or you could be normal like most people and go through your entire adult life being serious and productive. I prefer silly.

There are many stages to silly: laughing so hard you begin gasping for air and try not to wet your pants or giggle fest or even silly face time....

The Man can be silly with the best, however when he's not in the mood, it kinda just eggs me on...
So here Duchess and I are doign the whole cheesy picture thing....

Then the tongue comes out and we do all sorts of weird mouth moves.....

Then we combine the two......

Can you see why I lost it here and the gigglefest quickly went into hysterical, can't stop my self, can't breathe laughter.......he was so not in the mood....

Duchess didn't let that bother her either. Her and puppy joined right in.........

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She's Got This!

Duchess is our youngest! In the past two years, her health has taken such an amazing turn for the better, that we still tend to shelter her. However, she is growing up and really trying new things. The latest is her bike. The bike that has sat in the garage since Christmas. She has sat on it twice, not pedaled, sat. So the other day, when I was talked into taking Princess on a bike ride, Duchess decided she was going, and as a bonus, so I couldn't say no, she volunteered to wear the hat.....she hates the safety hat. So The Man decided to tag along....here we goooooooooo

Starting out, she was very excited! Woohoo, I'm going for a bike ride. And I'm wearing new flip flops, yes!

I can almost see the sweat popping out on her forehead here, she is starting to pedal and keeps looking back at me like, "You gonna push anytime soon?"

Princess is literally flying around her in circles. Princess is a die hard bike fan, can you tell, that is a monster of a mountain bike she has there.....

We finally got off our little street and onto the main drive. She is determined to catch up to her sister, who is out of sight by now, waiting at the flagpole. But that didn't stop Duchess from yelling at her....constantly....while gasping for breath and pumping those little legs....

At this point, she is really going along. Good speed, good pace, only slightly red-faced.

Until she hit the fence and bumpy road...then she kept veering towards the fence. She was also really tired but refused to give in. So The Man kicked in to keep her on the straight and narrow.

We finally turned around and on our way back, the *&$&^()_ sprinklers came on, so we hit the road as so not to get soaked. Princess is moving right along....

And here is Duchess on the home stretch, the house is in sight and she couldn't be happier. She is already muttering about needing to lay down with a milk and watch some cartoons cause she is really hot. Poor little red face....

What impresses me the most is that once she made her mind that she was gonna ride that bike, she went whole hog. She gets that from The Man.

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Mental Vacation

I love a good book. I read for "mental vacations", the losing oneself in another reality. I have traveled through time, I have danced in Victorian ballrooms and I have taken care to not read NOT ONE love scene. The Man can vouch for that, I would never read those......ummm ever.

Any who....occassionally I come across a writer that I stalk become a loyal subject of. Yep, I have stalked eagerly researched several writers, I know when to the date their next book is coming out. I belong to their newsletters and I have even written them emails, how utterly un-cool, but true. I adore them, they are like really good friends, who have no clue I exist or even care that I exist....hmmm sad really.

To the ever growing list of writers: I add the Paladin series, just click on the washboard abs to go to the website to get an idea of this series. I dare ya.....just finished the new one. Now I've already set a calendar notice for the next one coming in December! Yeah baby!

After you finish drooling over these, I highly recomment: Janet Evanovich, Linda Lael Miller, Nora Roberts (ohhh loving the Irish ones), Julia Quinn and my all time favorite.... Karen Marie Moning.

So read away, take a mental vacation on me....send me a postcard. Oh and if you have any authors that I can stalk enjoy, send them my way.

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Feisty Monkey Bites Back

I had intended to write today about my ongoing project: quitting smoking. However when looking for an appropriate picture, graphic or cartoon, I got this instead "Feisty Monkey Bites Back". Well that was good reading, took my mind off smoking.

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He makes me melt....

Yep, The Man and I are approaching 10 years of wedded torture bliss. However, we have actually been together longer. Very rarely does he surprise me, but when he does....watch out. Like the midnight dinner cruise for two around the bay for one anniversary? Yep, killer. Candlelight people, it was by candlelight!

So I know that he can do wonderful things....

No matter what you say, a diamond is truly a girls' best friend.....he picked it out: three stones....one for each daughter and one for him.....that makes me melt.

Yeah, this is me driving to work, looking at my hand. Can you tell that I like it?

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They Clean Up Good...

Heading to Church *Yes that is an ax on my wall. We collect alot of Native American things.

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I agree.....

"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other constant bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."

ARTICLE I: You do NOT have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes . (This one is my pet peeve...get an education and go to work....don't expect everyone else to take care of you!)

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! (Lastly....)

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!

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What did you do for the 4?

Fourth of July was spent stuffing our face with way too much food. Ribs, two different kinds of marinated shrimp, potato salad, rolls and you get the idea. Way too much food. So afterwards instead of a nap (like The Man) us girls went to the park. My kids are just too cool!

Princess just finished up tumbling for the year. Next year she moves onto ballet, sniff sniff. So off she goes.......
And when she lands, she did this.....tuperware people, she is tuperware!

Duchess then announced that she would also perform that trick....

So she starts off, and then tries again, cause in her tumbling class .... hello.... there is a spotter. Where is my spotter????? I can't work under these conditions!

Ahhhh, here is her spotter, to the rescue......

At this point, I got snacky and put the camera down and was licking shrimp off my fingers. Duchess might not be tuperware but dang, she is persistant and gives a good show!

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Planning the Party

The Man and I will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary soon. I can wait. Simply cause we are horrible planners. We can plan a 1700 mile total house relocation but we can't agree on date night plans. We have issues.


However, I can't believe I'm saying this....we're trying to plan a cruise. Several people we know have went recently and raved about it, so we're looking a cruise.....

Do you realize how much planning goes into one of these?

Very little. Pick a date, pay for it, you're done!

So why is it that we can't even pick a date yet?

10 years and counting, and still learning to compromise!

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Countdown Begins...

The countdown to the 4th of July has begun. I love the 4th! It's not just that I get a paid day off work, although that helps! It's not just because of the idea of freedom for our country! No, it's mainly because I love food.

There are so many ways to cook All-American food that I lose count. But my favorite is the hot dog. I don't want to know what's in it....I just love it.

I'm not a hot dog snob. I don't care if it's beef, chicken or turkey. I don't care if it's Chicago style (yeah baby!), Chilli-ed up, or even plain.

However, the 4th is the time of year to publically declare my love for the SAUCE DOG.

A small diner in my hometown served SAUCE DOGs when I was growing up.

The secret to the bbq-ey tasting sauce was so heavily guarded that the owner supposedly made it at home, brought it in and when that batch was gone, that was it people. I ate there often, smacking my way through sauce dogs left and right. Never thinking that there could be a world without sauce dogs. Until I left home. I even told The Man about them and on the first "Family Visit" trip back home, he got to taste the bliss that was a sauce dog. And didn't even question why I ordered six to go and then put them in my purse.

But after that fateful visit, the diner closed and withit, the recipe for SAUCE DOGs....closed with it. Sniff, sniff, the though makes me tear up still today.

Now, does the memory of the sauce dog taste better than the actual sauce itself? Has the sauce dog become the "one that got away"?

Stay tuned, I think I've found a recipe people and I'm gonna try it out....on the 4th....With my new hotdog grillers*....

*You know I would never buy anything so tasteless, so I'm gonna have my friend purchase them for me. The look upon The Man's face will be compensation enough....

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