Again, pretty ironic with the timing of these questions!
Today just happens to be the anniversary of an extremely memorable date. A friend of mine had met a guy at a club (who was home on leave) and wanted to date him. Since we were 18 at the time, her parents said she had to double date to see this guy again. The guy brought a friend (Hubby) who was also home on leave, and she planned on bringing one of her friends, but that girl got sick the day of the date. My friend called me up last minute, on this day 12 years ago, and asks if I'll go on a blind date so she could go out with the guy she met (Are you following this? Yes? You get a gold star). I was really apprehensive, until she said he was in the military. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for a man in uniform. :)
So, at 6pm on this day in 1998, I went to her house. The guys showed up at 6:30 to take us out. I took one look at Hubby and immediately fell for him, and was beyond excited that he was my date. But even though I thought he was hot, I kept my expectations low- it was a blind date, after all.
About halfway through our date, I knew I was going to marry him. I just knew it. I even tried calling my sister to tell her I found the guy I was going to marry.
We played pool, saw a movie (the theater is now a Babies R Us... ironic, huh?), and went to Dunks (like every date in NH ends up doing). I pulled a ridiculous, obvious move- batted my eyes and feigned exhaustion, then asked Hubby if he would drive with me back to my house. Naturally, he saw right through that and said yes. We had our first kiss, and the rest is history!
It was definitely a memorable Christmas event. This year, we are in NH today and will be going out tonight to kind of recreate our blind date. :)
12/18/10
Day 19- What was your favorite Christmas vacation?
*I'm posting this early because, well, I won't have time tomorrow. You'll see why...
Ironic that this is the question of the day!
I don't usually travel much for Christmas. Sometimes, we'd make it over to my grandparents' house in Long Island. And after Hubby and I got married, we'd spend Christmas wherever we were. But this year is going to be epic.... and it all starts today! We're off to NH to spend Christmas with our families, then Hubby and I are jetting to Spain for a week, sans kiddos (YES!!!).
I'm pretty sure this will end up to be my favorite Christmas vacation of all.
Ironic that this is the question of the day!
I don't usually travel much for Christmas. Sometimes, we'd make it over to my grandparents' house in Long Island. And after Hubby and I got married, we'd spend Christmas wherever we were. But this year is going to be epic.... and it all starts today! We're off to NH to spend Christmas with our families, then Hubby and I are jetting to Spain for a week, sans kiddos (YES!!!).
I'm pretty sure this will end up to be my favorite Christmas vacation of all.
12/17/10
MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #25
1.What is the best gift you have ever received or given?
Wow, that's really tough to narrow down. I'll keep it to this past year. Hubby got me an AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am ticket for Valentine's Day. I got to see Phil, Vijay, and Sergio, and also Tony Romo (ps- not cute in person), Tom Brady, Bill Murray, and Josh Duhamel (the best butt in the entire pro-am, handson... er, down).
I think the best gift I gave were wooden alphabet blocks for a friend of mine who is a new mom. She's from China, and I found these adorable chinese blocks from http://www.uncommongoods.com/. They have pictures with english and chinese descriptions, and even instructions on how to write the chinese character. She really liked them, so I hope that's considered a good gift! :)
2.Do you celebrate holidays differently when your loved one is deployed/gone or do you keep tradition?
I keep tradition. I'm a tradition kind of person. Although, when Hubby is gone for my birthday, I tend to let that one go (I feel stupid celebrating myself). But I still break out the champagne glasses for our anniversary and such. I even danced the couple's dance at GA's wedding with a pic of Hubby (he couldn't be there).
3.If you celebrate Christmas, do you put an angel, star or something else on the top of your tree?
My tree doesn't have a topper this year. The ribbon bow we used to put up was just getting to be a pain in the ass. Besides, I'd like a star on it. Maybe I'll find a good post-Christmas deal.
4.What are your three favorite websites?
Besides the usual email and stuff (I've recently become addicted to Ebay), these are ones I like to frequent to get a good laugh. The youtube link is a band from NH (you may have heard their "Granite State of Mind" song). I went to high school with the lead singer.
http://www.wtfjapanseriously.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperSecretProject
http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com/
http://www.shitmykidsruined.com/
(Okay, so I put down four, but I couldn't choose between them. And, SMKR also has "Shit My Pets Ruined", "Shit My Husband Ruined", and "Shit My Wife Ruined" sites, which are just as good.)
5.On your man do you prefer… boxers, briefs or boxer briefs? Or commando? (yeah, I’m starting to get desperate for questions!)
I prefer..... to not tell! ;)
Wow, that's really tough to narrow down. I'll keep it to this past year. Hubby got me an AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am ticket for Valentine's Day. I got to see Phil, Vijay, and Sergio, and also Tony Romo (ps- not cute in person), Tom Brady, Bill Murray, and Josh Duhamel (the best butt in the entire pro-am, hands
I think the best gift I gave were wooden alphabet blocks for a friend of mine who is a new mom. She's from China, and I found these adorable chinese blocks from http://www.uncommongoods.com/. They have pictures with english and chinese descriptions, and even instructions on how to write the chinese character. She really liked them, so I hope that's considered a good gift! :)
2.Do you celebrate holidays differently when your loved one is deployed/gone or do you keep tradition?
I keep tradition. I'm a tradition kind of person. Although, when Hubby is gone for my birthday, I tend to let that one go (I feel stupid celebrating myself). But I still break out the champagne glasses for our anniversary and such. I even danced the couple's dance at GA's wedding with a pic of Hubby (he couldn't be there).
3.If you celebrate Christmas, do you put an angel, star or something else on the top of your tree?
My tree doesn't have a topper this year. The ribbon bow we used to put up was just getting to be a pain in the ass. Besides, I'd like a star on it. Maybe I'll find a good post-Christmas deal.
4.What are your three favorite websites?
Besides the usual email and stuff (I've recently become addicted to Ebay), these are ones I like to frequent to get a good laugh. The youtube link is a band from NH (you may have heard their "Granite State of Mind" song). I went to high school with the lead singer.
http://www.wtfjapanseriously.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperSecretProject
http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com/
http://www.shitmykidsruined.com/
(Okay, so I put down four, but I couldn't choose between them. And, SMKR also has "Shit My Pets Ruined", "Shit My Husband Ruined", and "Shit My Wife Ruined" sites, which are just as good.)
5.On your man do you prefer… boxers, briefs or boxer briefs? Or commando? (yeah, I’m starting to get desperate for questions!)
I prefer..... to not tell! ;)
12/16/10
Day 16- What is your favorite outdoor Christmas activity?
When I was a teenager and young adult (meaning, before I moved in with now-Hubby), my sister and I would string the lights outside my parents' house. We would bring a boombox outside, put in a CD of the Nutcracker Suite, and spend hours stringing and rearranging. I thought I had a pic of it... I guess I don't, but imagine this:
All white lights.
Strung on about twelve bushes and trees.
Wrapped around three light posts.
Wow, that doesn't do it justice... I'll have to dig up a pic.
All white lights.
Strung on about twelve bushes and trees.
Wrapped around three light posts.
Wow, that doesn't do it justice... I'll have to dig up a pic.
Day 15- Christmas / holiday crafts
This year, I attempted to make Non-edible Cinnamon Ornaments. My mom has made them before, and they always smelled really good. Plus, I thought it would a fun thing to do with the boys. I bought glue and googly eyes, and glitter (yes, glitter with two toddlers... I guess I'm a glutton for punishment). Here's how they turned out:
The googly eyes turned out creepy, because they were huge, but LB loves them anyway. I did this during naptime- I think JC is still a little young to do this craft, but whatever, LB & I had fun and the house smells like cinnamon. :)
12/14/10
Random Tuesday Thoughts
Here are our two carseats with the covers removed:
Which one do YOU think is safer? The one on the left with a hard plastic seat, or the one on the right with styrofoam covering the hard plastic seat? I was pretty shocked at the lack of impact protection with the carseat on the left.
(By the way, the one on the left is the Alpha Omega Elite, and the one on the right is the Evenflo... I guess you really do get what you pay for)
I found this in my kids' Goldfish crackers this afternoon:
Overcooked fishie? Or demonic fishie plotting to take over the world, one toddler at a time, mwahahaha?
I'm so excited for the Biggest Loser finale tonight! Partly because I'm glad this season is over with. I'm not impressed with the contestants, not like I was last season. And I'm beyond shocked that Elizabeth is in the final four.
Target was an interesting experience today. LB wasn't listening at all, so I put him in the shopping cart. Luckily, I know the layout of the store and where to find everything, so besides mulling over a facial clay mask (can't wait to try that tonight), it was quick. Good thing. He threw an EPIC temper tantrum. I mean, you could hear him throughout the entire store. A lot of people stared. I kept talking like I usually do to my kids, then JC started crying. It was so humiliating, it was funny, and I laughed the entire way out of the store. I'm pretty sure I can never show my face in Target again because they all think I'm a callous nutjob.
On a related note, I picked up a six pack for tonight.
How do I address thank you cards for the postman and garbage man?
I get hungry every time Norton tells me it has found and fixed cookies.... mmmmm, cookies. Maybe I'll pick some up to go with my beer.
Head over to The Unmom to link up and find more random shit.
(By the way, the one on the left is the Alpha Omega Elite, and the one on the right is the Evenflo... I guess you really do get what you pay for)
I found this in my kids' Goldfish crackers this afternoon:
I'm so excited for the Biggest Loser finale tonight! Partly because I'm glad this season is over with. I'm not impressed with the contestants, not like I was last season. And I'm beyond shocked that Elizabeth is in the final four.
Target was an interesting experience today. LB wasn't listening at all, so I put him in the shopping cart. Luckily, I know the layout of the store and where to find everything, so besides mulling over a facial clay mask (can't wait to try that tonight), it was quick. Good thing. He threw an EPIC temper tantrum. I mean, you could hear him throughout the entire store. A lot of people stared. I kept talking like I usually do to my kids, then JC started crying. It was so humiliating, it was funny, and I laughed the entire way out of the store. I'm pretty sure I can never show my face in Target again because they all think I'm a callous nutjob.
On a related note, I picked up a six pack for tonight.
How do I address thank you cards for the postman and garbage man?
I get hungry every time Norton tells me it has found and fixed cookies.... mmmmm, cookies. Maybe I'll pick some up to go with my beer.
Head over to The Unmom to link up and find more random shit.
Day 14- Show us your tree
Please excuse the fugly plastic gate that overwhelms the awesomeness of the tree...
The tree is minus three ornaments this year because the little ones can reach over the gate and have broken them. *sigh*
12/13/10
Day 13- What is your favorite Christmas cookie / sweet treat recipe?
Well, like I said before, Martha Stewart's sugar cookies turn out excellent every single time, but with the two boys, I've been reduced to cookie mix level. I know, I'm slacking.
Betty Crocker makes sugar and gingerbread cookie mixes, which turn out really well, too. The boys liked "helping", which was throwing the cookie cutters on the ground and playing with them, and eating the frosting.
My parents love my snickerdoodles. I don't usually make them for Christmas, but since that's when I'll be home, they'll definitely be made for them. :)
Betty Crocker makes sugar and gingerbread cookie mixes, which turn out really well, too. The boys liked "helping", which was throwing the cookie cutters on the ground and playing with them, and eating the frosting.
My parents love my snickerdoodles. I don't usually make them for Christmas, but since that's when I'll be home, they'll definitely be made for them. :)
12/12/10
Reflecting and realizing
Yesterday, I got a package from my dear friend GA. She sent some Vermont maple syrup and maple candies (btw, GA, the boys are all over those!). Because when a good friend is in VT and knows that you are missing New England like crazy, that's what she'll do.
And it got me thinking about another friend who I thought was that kind of friend. At one point this past year, after leaving her voicemails and emails and such, I said to myself, "The ball's in her court now. I'm going to stop contacting her and see what happens." And guess what happened?
Nothing.
I've forgotten how long ago I made that promise to myself. That's how long it's been. It's too exhausting to be on the giving end of a one-way friendship, so I think I need to "break up" with this friend for good.
I read some articles on toxic friends and how to spot them. I admit, I have a hard time with that. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt repeatedly. Sometimes, I end up with friends that are not good for me- either they are too needy, make me feel bad, or are not trustworthy. And since I move so much, it makes it all that much harder to maintain the good friendships.
I don't know why it's so hard for me to break up with this particular person. Maybe it's because I want her to be the friend I thought she was.... perhaps I just need to smack myself upside the head and realize that she isn't a good friend at all (not for me, at least... maybe someone else would appreciate flying 6,000 miles and spending two months back "home" without any effort from her to get together.... oooh, I'm getting bitchy, I'll stop).
Unfortunately, she's been involved in significant events in my life, which is also why it's hard to just say buh-bye. But when is enough enough? When will I stop making excuses for her? When will I stop giving her the benefit of the doubt? When will I stop complaining about her?
I told her once, while we were in college, that I felt like we were always following her agenda. She never came to my concerts or attended any recitals with me, but she expected me to go to her psych lectures. Our weekend plans were whatever she wanted to do. After I said that, she cried and asked how I could say something like that. I'm ashamed to say that I felt very guilty about it and apologized. Apologized. For my own feelings. Horrible, I know- I wish I could roundhouse kick my 22 year old self...
See? That happened years ago, and I'm still friends with her?
It's time to get over the fact that she let me down and just throw in the towel. Oh well. I guess I just have to keep my eyes open more.
And it got me thinking about another friend who I thought was that kind of friend. At one point this past year, after leaving her voicemails and emails and such, I said to myself, "The ball's in her court now. I'm going to stop contacting her and see what happens." And guess what happened?
Nothing.
I've forgotten how long ago I made that promise to myself. That's how long it's been. It's too exhausting to be on the giving end of a one-way friendship, so I think I need to "break up" with this friend for good.
I read some articles on toxic friends and how to spot them. I admit, I have a hard time with that. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt repeatedly. Sometimes, I end up with friends that are not good for me- either they are too needy, make me feel bad, or are not trustworthy. And since I move so much, it makes it all that much harder to maintain the good friendships.
I don't know why it's so hard for me to break up with this particular person. Maybe it's because I want her to be the friend I thought she was.... perhaps I just need to smack myself upside the head and realize that she isn't a good friend at all (not for me, at least... maybe someone else would appreciate flying 6,000 miles and spending two months back "home" without any effort from her to get together.... oooh, I'm getting bitchy, I'll stop).
Unfortunately, she's been involved in significant events in my life, which is also why it's hard to just say buh-bye. But when is enough enough? When will I stop making excuses for her? When will I stop giving her the benefit of the doubt? When will I stop complaining about her?
I told her once, while we were in college, that I felt like we were always following her agenda. She never came to my concerts or attended any recitals with me, but she expected me to go to her psych lectures. Our weekend plans were whatever she wanted to do. After I said that, she cried and asked how I could say something like that. I'm ashamed to say that I felt very guilty about it and apologized. Apologized. For my own feelings. Horrible, I know- I wish I could roundhouse kick my 22 year old self...
See? That happened years ago, and I'm still friends with her?
It's time to get over the fact that she let me down and just throw in the towel. Oh well. I guess I just have to keep my eyes open more.
Day 12- What is your favorite Christmas song / carol?
Wow, it's tough to pick a favorite. "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson is a favorite, even though it was written in July (true story... that's what you get asking a music major about this kinda stuff). And I really like "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch". And any Burl Ives song from Rudolph is very festive, too.
The traditional ones remind me of being a kid, especially when I was learning the piano. I had an entire book of Christmas carols, illustrated and autographed by Tomi dePaola.
I would sit at the piano for hours, learning all the songs in the book, even the ones I'd never heard before. My favorite one to play was "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "What Child Is This". For some reason, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" always tripped up my fingers- it still does.
But I can't narrow it down to just one. Sorry!
The traditional ones remind me of being a kid, especially when I was learning the piano. I had an entire book of Christmas carols, illustrated and autographed by Tomi dePaola.
I would sit at the piano for hours, learning all the songs in the book, even the ones I'd never heard before. My favorite one to play was "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "What Child Is This". For some reason, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" always tripped up my fingers- it still does.
But I can't narrow it down to just one. Sorry!
12/11/10
Day 11- Show us your Christmas decorations (indoor / outdoor)
The Evolution Of A Gingerbread House:
9pm- Gingerbread house is completed post-bedtime.
8am- Gingerbread house is discovered by two toddler boys (note the missing head of the gingerbread man).
8:05am- LB breaks off a piece and gives it to JC.
8:30am- LB transforms the picture-perfect house into something from a war zone.
9:00am- LB succeeds in breaking off the roof.
10am- Destruction of gingerbread house complete.
Somehow, the snowman ended up losing a nose in the scuffle...
12/10/10
MilSpouse Friday Fill-in
1.What do you see your life like in 10 years?
Hubby will finally be retired from the Navy, so hopefully settled down somewhere. The boys will be in middle school, so I'll probably be going to band concerts and soccer games. As for me, I hope that I'll be back at work.
2.What do you like most about your job?
Well, to some people, I don't have a job. To me, my kids are my job. When Hubby asks "where'd they learn that?" or when people say "your boys are so cute and well-behaved" when we're out, I consider it my job review. And even though my job satisfaction is variable, I'd rather be doing this than putting them in daycare or getting a nanny.
3.What are three things you do every day, no matter what day it is?
Check my email / facebook / whatever, take my pill with a cup of coffee, and stretch. Obviously, stuff like brushing my teeth and peeing is a given, so I didn't include those. :)
4.What would you do with an extra five hours in your day today?
It depends- five hours of daylight? Not sure, but I know I'd be exhausted, because it would mean five more hours of entertaining & refereeing the kids. Five hours of night- I think any mom would say, I'd SLEEP.
5.What is your favorite Christmas (or whichever holiday you celebrate) cookie recipe (please share!)?
This year, I left it up to Betty Crocker and used the pre-made mixes. Just add eggs and butter? Yes, please! I suppose I could share my favorite sugar cookie recipe, by the one and only Martha Stewart. I'd like to try these uber-cute cookie sticks, but I don't have the patience for them. Seriously, she's neurotic but amazing.
Hubby will finally be retired from the Navy, so hopefully settled down somewhere. The boys will be in middle school, so I'll probably be going to band concerts and soccer games. As for me, I hope that I'll be back at work.
2.What do you like most about your job?
Well, to some people, I don't have a job. To me, my kids are my job. When Hubby asks "where'd they learn that?" or when people say "your boys are so cute and well-behaved" when we're out, I consider it my job review. And even though my job satisfaction is variable, I'd rather be doing this than putting them in daycare or getting a nanny.
3.What are three things you do every day, no matter what day it is?
Check my email / facebook / whatever, take my pill with a cup of coffee, and stretch. Obviously, stuff like brushing my teeth and peeing is a given, so I didn't include those. :)
4.What would you do with an extra five hours in your day today?
It depends- five hours of daylight? Not sure, but I know I'd be exhausted, because it would mean five more hours of entertaining & refereeing the kids. Five hours of night- I think any mom would say, I'd SLEEP.
5.What is your favorite Christmas (or whichever holiday you celebrate) cookie recipe (please share!)?
This year, I left it up to Betty Crocker and used the pre-made mixes. Just add eggs and butter? Yes, please! I suppose I could share my favorite sugar cookie recipe, by the one and only Martha Stewart. I'd like to try these uber-cute cookie sticks, but I don't have the patience for them. Seriously, she's neurotic but amazing.
Day 10- What is your favorite Christmas recipe?
Uh, it used to be Martha Stewart's sugar cookies, but now it's Betty Crocker's sugar cookie mix. Seriously, I don't have the time or patience with two toddlers to make sugar cookies from scratch!
As far as recipes I like that I don't make, my mom makes her fettucine alfredo every Christmas Eve, which I could eat buckets of. And I love her chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies and the nut cookies she makes. Oh man, I'm salivating thinking about them...
I want to try Non-edible Cinnamon Ornaments this year. I guess it's considered a recipe, even though I won't be eating them. But beware- I haven't done these yet, so I have no idea if they turn out well or not!
As far as recipes I like that I don't make, my mom makes her fettucine alfredo every Christmas Eve, which I could eat buckets of. And I love her chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies and the nut cookies she makes. Oh man, I'm salivating thinking about them...
I want to try Non-edible Cinnamon Ornaments this year. I guess it's considered a recipe, even though I won't be eating them. But beware- I haven't done these yet, so I have no idea if they turn out well or not!
12/9/10
Day 9- Christmas party: are you having one or attending one?
We will be attending Hubby's annual family Christmas Eve party. His mom's side of the family is HUGE, and they mostly live within a 20 mile radius of each other, so they all get together on Christmas Eve. Hubby and I attended once... that's what happens when you're in the military, I guess!
They have a Yankee Swap, and this year, Santa will be coming and bringing toys for all the little girls and boys. Everyone pitches in and brings a dish (we're in charge of beverages, since we won't have a lot of time to prepare a dish). It's a very busy, very loud party, but it's also very fun.
When Hubby and I went, it was before any of the grandchildren (who lived in the area) had kids, so there was no Santa. This year, the boys will be there, along with Hubby's cousins' kids (I think there will be six total?), so the focus will definitely be on Santa and the children.
I'm really looking forward to this! The boys haven't had much time with Hubby's extended family (his sister has not even met JC yet!) and I think it's important for us to spend special holidays with each of our families.
They have a Yankee Swap, and this year, Santa will be coming and bringing toys for all the little girls and boys. Everyone pitches in and brings a dish (we're in charge of beverages, since we won't have a lot of time to prepare a dish). It's a very busy, very loud party, but it's also very fun.
When Hubby and I went, it was before any of the grandchildren (who lived in the area) had kids, so there was no Santa. This year, the boys will be there, along with Hubby's cousins' kids (I think there will be six total?), so the focus will definitely be on Santa and the children.
I'm really looking forward to this! The boys haven't had much time with Hubby's extended family (his sister has not even met JC yet!) and I think it's important for us to spend special holidays with each of our families.
12/8/10
Day 8- What is your least favorite thing about Christmas?
Oh boy, it has got to be all the crazy people driving out there... oh wait, that's my least favorite thing year-round. ;)
No, I really think that's part of it. When I was preggers with LB, someone smashed the front end of my car in HI... while it was parked. This was a week before Christmas. They didn't leave a note, but they did leave a large dent and white paint on the fender. Luckily, I wasn't in the car at the time (because it was parked), but it just seemed so obnoxious to hit someone's car and not 'fess up. I would have been less mad if that person had just told me about it. I mean, how does that happen to a parked car (did I mention it was PARKED)??
As generous and joyous this time of year is, it really brings out some of the worst in people. I mean, a Marine in GA got friggin' stabbed on Black Friday while running Toys For Tots. He was helping to catch a shoplifter and got stabbed in the back. Seriously, the guy was doing two good deeds: helping to provide children with toys and stopping a thief, and that's what he gets??
It makes me want to stay home and avoid the general public until January 2nd.
But with one extreme comes another. Even though people get out-of-control, bat-shit crazy around this holiday, there are plenty of instances of good deeds. Enough to not make me a hermit.
No, I really think that's part of it. When I was preggers with LB, someone smashed the front end of my car in HI... while it was parked. This was a week before Christmas. They didn't leave a note, but they did leave a large dent and white paint on the fender. Luckily, I wasn't in the car at the time (because it was parked), but it just seemed so obnoxious to hit someone's car and not 'fess up. I would have been less mad if that person had just told me about it. I mean, how does that happen to a parked car (did I mention it was PARKED)??
As generous and joyous this time of year is, it really brings out some of the worst in people. I mean, a Marine in GA got friggin' stabbed on Black Friday while running Toys For Tots. He was helping to catch a shoplifter and got stabbed in the back. Seriously, the guy was doing two good deeds: helping to provide children with toys and stopping a thief, and that's what he gets??
It makes me want to stay home and avoid the general public until January 2nd.
But with one extreme comes another. Even though people get out-of-control, bat-shit crazy around this holiday, there are plenty of instances of good deeds. Enough to not make me a hermit.
12/7/10
Thank you, Secret Santa!
Okay, maybe Santa's not so secret any more. But a huge thanks goes out to Uncork & Unwined for my Secret Santa package!
Btw, if you haven't checked out her blog, head on over. Like, now. I'll wait..........
This chick is awesome. She obviously read about my obsession with Yankee Candle, because she tucked in not one, not two, but three votives, all in my fav color red and in different scents. She must have known that I'm a Martha Stewart wannabe, because she also put Christmas cupcake liners and napkins in there. And, a beautiful scarf to keep me toasty warm and an adorable blue glittery ornament for my much-obsessed-over tree.
Wow. Just.... wow. Thank you so much!! :)
Btw, if you haven't checked out her blog, head on over. Like, now. I'll wait..........
This chick is awesome. She obviously read about my obsession with Yankee Candle, because she tucked in not one, not two, but three votives, all in my fav color red and in different scents. She must have known that I'm a Martha Stewart wannabe, because she also put Christmas cupcake liners and napkins in there. And, a beautiful scarf to keep me toasty warm and an adorable blue glittery ornament for my much-obsessed-over tree.
Wow. Just.... wow. Thank you so much!! :)
I have a fifth sense. It's like I have ESPN or something.
What do you think about forseeing the future? Do you believe in a sixth sense? ESP? Clairvoyance? Precognitive dreams?
Personally, I've had a long history of precognitive dreams. Usually they are small and insignificant. I'll dream about a mundane conversation with someone, then the next day, I could predict exactly what they were going to say because I've heard it in my dream. Kinda like deja vu, but not, because technically it hadn't happened. These lame dreams of the future happen frequently, but sometimes they're much more significant.
When I was 6, we moved to a different town in NJ. I had a very vivid, colorful dream about a large pool with two diving boards. When we arrived in our new town, we checked out the community pool, and it was exactly how the pool in my dream appeared, right down to the landscaping.
When I was 10, I had a dream that my grandfather died. When I woke up, my mom came into my room, visibly upset. I said, "Grandpa died, didn't he?" She asked how I knew, but I didn't want to tell her something so absurd that I had dreamed it.
And just last year, I was napping on my parents' couch at their house. The phone woke me up, and I had a feeling it was my aunt telling us that my other grandfather died. It wasn't a precognitive dream, but more like a feeling I had.
Last night, I dreamt of a friend back on the east coast. I saw that she was very pregnant, wearing a red shirt. I told her about it, and she wrote back saying she is 7 weeks pregnant.
What do you think about all this? Coincidence? Or a sixth sense? Or do you all think I'm just nuts? :) Now, if only I could dream up the winning lottery numbers...
Personally, I've had a long history of precognitive dreams. Usually they are small and insignificant. I'll dream about a mundane conversation with someone, then the next day, I could predict exactly what they were going to say because I've heard it in my dream. Kinda like deja vu, but not, because technically it hadn't happened. These lame dreams of the future happen frequently, but sometimes they're much more significant.
When I was 6, we moved to a different town in NJ. I had a very vivid, colorful dream about a large pool with two diving boards. When we arrived in our new town, we checked out the community pool, and it was exactly how the pool in my dream appeared, right down to the landscaping.
When I was 10, I had a dream that my grandfather died. When I woke up, my mom came into my room, visibly upset. I said, "Grandpa died, didn't he?" She asked how I knew, but I didn't want to tell her something so absurd that I had dreamed it.
And just last year, I was napping on my parents' couch at their house. The phone woke me up, and I had a feeling it was my aunt telling us that my other grandfather died. It wasn't a precognitive dream, but more like a feeling I had.
Last night, I dreamt of a friend back on the east coast. I saw that she was very pregnant, wearing a red shirt. I told her about it, and she wrote back saying she is 7 weeks pregnant.
What do you think about all this? Coincidence? Or a sixth sense? Or do you all think I'm just nuts? :) Now, if only I could dream up the winning lottery numbers...
Day 7- What is your favorite thing about Christmas?
Gah, it depends on how old I am, haha. When I was a kid, of course it was Santa and the presents. As a teenager, getting ready to go off to college, it was spending time with my family. As a young adult, it was the food (I partially blame Christmas for the freshman 15) and midnight Christmas mass at church. And now as a 30-something parent (oh gross, I'm friggin' old), I think my favorite thing is giving presents. Watching LB's reaction to unwrapping and playing with his new toys is priceless.
There are also some favorites that stick around, no matter how old I am: putting up the tree, singing Christmas songs, watching Christmas movies, baking cookies, getting and sending Christmas cards, and of course all the chocolate that my mom used to leave in little dishes around the house. My family joked that they always knew where I was because they could follow the trail of Hershey Kiss wrappers.
I suppose as I get older, my favorite thing about Christmas will change again. But for this year, I'm really looking forward to spending Christmas day with Hubby, the boys, and my family, and seeing everyone's reaction to the boys opening presents, and watching the boys go nuts over their toys.
There are also some favorites that stick around, no matter how old I am: putting up the tree, singing Christmas songs, watching Christmas movies, baking cookies, getting and sending Christmas cards, and of course all the chocolate that my mom used to leave in little dishes around the house. My family joked that they always knew where I was because they could follow the trail of Hershey Kiss wrappers.
I suppose as I get older, my favorite thing about Christmas will change again. But for this year, I'm really looking forward to spending Christmas day with Hubby, the boys, and my family, and seeing everyone's reaction to the boys opening presents, and watching the boys go nuts over their toys.
12/6/10
Day 6- Show us your Christmas cards (sent/received)
Well, here are the pics that we sent in our card (I blacked out Hubby because he doesn't want his pic on the blog, no other reason). I didn't scan the card before sending it, oh well. The boys didn't want to smile, but I think they still look cute.
I know, we're totally Americana in all Ralph Lauren, but aren't these boys adorable?? :)
12/5/10
Day 5- What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Hands down, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The original one, not the Jim Carrey remake (which wasn't really that bad).
Hubby thinks it's so weird that out of all the Christmas movies, that's my favorite. I guess I just identify with the Grinch. I'm pretty Grinchy- I find too much holiday stuff nauseating, I can make homemade stuff like a Santa costume, and I can lift a sled full of toys over my head.... okay, the last one was a fib. But I'm not so bah-humbug that I'm Scrooge. I just understand how the Grinch feels. Besides, "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is such a friggin' awesome song!
I also like Elf, A Muppet Christmas Carol, and Christmas Vacation (Hubby's fave), but The Grinch tops them all.
Hubby thinks it's so weird that out of all the Christmas movies, that's my favorite. I guess I just identify with the Grinch. I'm pretty Grinchy- I find too much holiday stuff nauseating, I can make homemade stuff like a Santa costume, and I can lift a sled full of toys over my head.... okay, the last one was a fib. But I'm not so bah-humbug that I'm Scrooge. I just understand how the Grinch feels. Besides, "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is such a friggin' awesome song!
I also like Elf, A Muppet Christmas Carol, and Christmas Vacation (Hubby's fave), but The Grinch tops them all.
12/4/10
Day 4- Write a letter to Santa
Dear Santa,
This Christmas, I'd really appreciate a day of total quiet and no responsibility. If you could also drop off a big bag of 100 dollar bills so Hubby and I could go shopping and golfing and see a movie and pay a sitter, that would be great. Also, please fix the clusterf*ck that is government spending.
Thank you,
NHGirl
This Christmas, I'd really appreciate a day of total quiet and no responsibility. If you could also drop off a big bag of 100 dollar bills so Hubby and I could go shopping and golfing and see a movie and pay a sitter, that would be great. Also, please fix the clusterf*ck that is government spending.
Thank you,
NHGirl
12/3/10
Thank you!
What? Three posts in one day? I know, it's crazy, but to be honest, my first two were typed last night.
I want to say a huge thank you to Julie the Army Wife for my new book, Battlefields & Blessings! I won her giveaway and received the book earlier this week. And inside, it was autographed by one of the authors, Jocelyn Green.
I don't know Jocelyn Green, but I know her hubby well. It was pure irony that I won this particular book, because her husband just happened to be my prom date way back in 1998! Small world, right??
He was in school at a different state, but we had met when I was on a band trip (I know, I'm an uber-geek, okay?). I was a freshman at the time, and we stayed in touch through my four years of high school. When prom season rolled around, I thought it would be great for him to go with me. It took some convincing, because he was supposed to graduate the next morning, but he eventually made it there. He wore his uniform (I'm such a sucker for that) and we had a really good time! After high school, we fell out of touch for several years, but thanks to Facebook, we've managed to catch up. And now I win a book written and signed by his wife- what a coincidence.
So thank you, Julie, for the book!
I want to say a huge thank you to Julie the Army Wife for my new book, Battlefields & Blessings! I won her giveaway and received the book earlier this week. And inside, it was autographed by one of the authors, Jocelyn Green.
I don't know Jocelyn Green, but I know her hubby well. It was pure irony that I won this particular book, because her husband just happened to be my prom date way back in 1998! Small world, right??
He was in school at a different state, but we had met when I was on a band trip (I know, I'm an uber-geek, okay?). I was a freshman at the time, and we stayed in touch through my four years of high school. When prom season rolled around, I thought it would be great for him to go with me. It took some convincing, because he was supposed to graduate the next morning, but he eventually made it there. He wore his uniform (I'm such a sucker for that) and we had a really good time! After high school, we fell out of touch for several years, but thanks to Facebook, we've managed to catch up. And now I win a book written and signed by his wife- what a coincidence.
So thank you, Julie, for the book!
Day 3- Gifts: What you're giving
LOL, I'm not going to post here, on a public blog, what I'm getting for everyone! What a spoiler that would be!!
I can say that we've already bought presents for my brother and sister and our niece. We know exactly what we want to get for my parents, Hubby's mom, and our nephew. I have no idea what we're getting Hubby's sister yet, but we definitely want to take advantage of tax-free NH.
We've also sent out 8x10s of the boys in their Christmas outfits (taken by JCPenney... they have a 50% off military discount for the portrait studio, hooyah!) and boxes of homemade jams and fruits. Hubby takes all the credit for the homemade stuff. As Martha as I am, he's the one that can... well, can. He cans all kinds of yummy stuff, like blueberry jam and orange slices in a honey syrup (which I used in an orange upside down cake I created... soooo good).
We're also donating money to charities this year. I've already given to the MSPCA and MDA, and Hubby gave to a program that helps Iraqi War vets when they get back home. All these charities hit close to home for us, so we felt it was important to give to them specifically.
Naturally,we Santa will be buying the boys a few presents to open at Gma & Gpa's house, but we're not going all out since Santa already visited here in CA.
And that's all I'm saying! :)
I can say that we've already bought presents for my brother and sister and our niece. We know exactly what we want to get for my parents, Hubby's mom, and our nephew. I have no idea what we're getting Hubby's sister yet, but we definitely want to take advantage of tax-free NH.
We've also sent out 8x10s of the boys in their Christmas outfits (taken by JCPenney... they have a 50% off military discount for the portrait studio, hooyah!) and boxes of homemade jams and fruits. Hubby takes all the credit for the homemade stuff. As Martha as I am, he's the one that can... well, can. He cans all kinds of yummy stuff, like blueberry jam and orange slices in a honey syrup (which I used in an orange upside down cake I created... soooo good).
We're also donating money to charities this year. I've already given to the MSPCA and MDA, and Hubby gave to a program that helps Iraqi War vets when they get back home. All these charities hit close to home for us, so we felt it was important to give to them specifically.
Naturally,
And that's all I'm saying! :)
MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #22
1.If you were given $1,000 right now, how would you spend it?
I would hire a sitter for the day and take myself to the outlets. My wardrobe (and my me-time) is seriously lacking.
2.If you had to choose a movie title (a real one that already exists) for your life story, what would it be?
Sheesh, that's too hard for me. But if I could pick a real movie that mirrors my life fairly well, I'd probably choose Meet The Parents. The first year of our relationship was rocky between Hubby and my parents! :)
3.If you were a teacher, what subject would you like to teach?
Been there, done that. I taught middle school chorus and general music, and I think if I were to teach again, I'd pick math. In the school I taught at, it was well-known to the students that they didn't need to pass my class (or any non-core class) to progress to the next grade. Hence, I had a lot of students who could have done well but didn't give any effort... which pissed me off, because I tried really hard to adhere to standards and make it as interesting as possible. Come to think of it, I might not teach again!
4.Has being a MilSpouse changed how you view holidays or how your holidays are celebrated? If so, how? If not, what hasn’t changed?
There are two things that I can't do because of being a milspouse: spend every Christmas with my family (my parents and siblings) and play my flute in midnight Christmas mass at my parents' church. Other than that, it's been very much the same, but only because I make a conscious effort to keep it that way.
5.What is your favorite Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) memory?
When my sister and I were 6, we got a Nintendo DS from my grandparents. It was the most glorious toy on the face of the planet in 1986, and we knew that our parents would never purchase a video game system for us, so we were uber-grateful. Somewhere in my parents' photo collections, there is a picture of me with my mouth and eyes wide open and my sister mid-jump, arms flailing and hair all askew. That was a very memorable Christmas for me!
I would hire a sitter for the day and take myself to the outlets. My wardrobe (and my me-time) is seriously lacking.
2.If you had to choose a movie title (a real one that already exists) for your life story, what would it be?
Sheesh, that's too hard for me. But if I could pick a real movie that mirrors my life fairly well, I'd probably choose Meet The Parents. The first year of our relationship was rocky between Hubby and my parents! :)
3.If you were a teacher, what subject would you like to teach?
Been there, done that. I taught middle school chorus and general music, and I think if I were to teach again, I'd pick math. In the school I taught at, it was well-known to the students that they didn't need to pass my class (or any non-core class) to progress to the next grade. Hence, I had a lot of students who could have done well but didn't give any effort... which pissed me off, because I tried really hard to adhere to standards and make it as interesting as possible. Come to think of it, I might not teach again!
4.Has being a MilSpouse changed how you view holidays or how your holidays are celebrated? If so, how? If not, what hasn’t changed?
There are two things that I can't do because of being a milspouse: spend every Christmas with my family (my parents and siblings) and play my flute in midnight Christmas mass at my parents' church. Other than that, it's been very much the same, but only because I make a conscious effort to keep it that way.
5.What is your favorite Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) memory?
When my sister and I were 6, we got a Nintendo DS from my grandparents. It was the most glorious toy on the face of the planet in 1986, and we knew that our parents would never purchase a video game system for us, so we were uber-grateful. Somewhere in my parents' photo collections, there is a picture of me with my mouth and eyes wide open and my sister mid-jump, arms flailing and hair all askew. That was a very memorable Christmas for me!
12/2/10
My plan worked!
I weighed in this morning at 155. Whew!
It's not a terrific number, but it isn't any more than what I weighed before Thanksgiving. So I guess I'll consider that a success. It's a little ridiculous for me to expect to lose weight during the holidays. I suppose I just don't have that much willpower. So to stay constant is the best I could hope for, and it worked!
I'm sure it helped that I ran over two miles last Saturday. It's hard to believe that just a few months ago, I had a fractured pelvis. Now I feel so great, although my knees were achy the next few days, but I suppose that's cuz I'm a friggin' old fart.
So, yay me! I'm going to keep trying to lose some weight, but my expectations for Christmas (with travel and vacations and the holiday at "home") will be the same- to stay constant.
It's not a terrific number, but it isn't any more than what I weighed before Thanksgiving. So I guess I'll consider that a success. It's a little ridiculous for me to expect to lose weight during the holidays. I suppose I just don't have that much willpower. So to stay constant is the best I could hope for, and it worked!
I'm sure it helped that I ran over two miles last Saturday. It's hard to believe that just a few months ago, I had a fractured pelvis. Now I feel so great, although my knees were achy the next few days, but I suppose that's cuz I'm a friggin' old fart.
So, yay me! I'm going to keep trying to lose some weight, but my expectations for Christmas (with travel and vacations and the holiday at "home") will be the same- to stay constant.
Day 2- Shopping: Your best bargains, favorite stores, game plans and shopping team members
This year, I actually did the whole midnight to 5am Black Friday thing. My partner in crime was Hubby- in fact, I think he wanted to go more than I did. We brought the kiddos along, which was a huge mistake... next year, they'll be sleeping at Grandma & Grandpa's, for sure. We made sure to hit up Carter's, Toys R Us, Best Buy, and Target, mostly for kid stuff, in that order. Believe me, with the craziness of the outlets, I definitely had a plan.
In Christmases past, I usually put off the shopping for as long as I possibly could. I didn't hate shopping- I just didn't know what to get. My brother and sister were pretty bad at letting me know what they wanted, and my parents never asked for anything (although my dad has wised up and will now let us know which dirtbike accessory he wants... cuz it's always a dirtbike accessory... and yes, the man still dirtbikes, at 63 years old).
Christmas shopping is also pretty overwhelming when I'm on a time limit or if I'm with the kids. When I go shopping, I want to have as much time as I need (which means I usually go alone... no one to rendevous with), and I definitely don't want to be responsible for changing diapers and feeding and keeping kiddos quiet. Pretty much, I want to be selfish and care only about myself. Yeah, shopping doesn't bring out the best in me...
I don't have favorite stores year after year, and I can't remember my best bargain, but I hope (and isn't this the point?) that everyone I buy for likes what they get.
In Christmases past, I usually put off the shopping for as long as I possibly could. I didn't hate shopping- I just didn't know what to get. My brother and sister were pretty bad at letting me know what they wanted, and my parents never asked for anything (although my dad has wised up and will now let us know which dirtbike accessory he wants... cuz it's always a dirtbike accessory... and yes, the man still dirtbikes, at 63 years old).
Christmas shopping is also pretty overwhelming when I'm on a time limit or if I'm with the kids. When I go shopping, I want to have as much time as I need (which means I usually go alone... no one to rendevous with), and I definitely don't want to be responsible for changing diapers and feeding and keeping kiddos quiet. Pretty much, I want to be selfish and care only about myself. Yeah, shopping doesn't bring out the best in me...
I don't have favorite stores year after year, and I can't remember my best bargain, but I hope (and isn't this the point?) that everyone I buy for likes what they get.
12/1/10
Day 1- What are some of your Christmas traditions?
Hm, Christmas traditions... we don't have many. But my most important one is putting up the Christmas tree on Black Friday instead of crazy shopping.
This year, I did both. In fact, I think I stayed awake the entire Black Friday, from midnight to midnight. Made me very cranky for the rest of the weekend, but at least it was productive.
And yes, I said "I", because I don't get any help putting up the tree. It's not that Hubby doesn't like the tree, he just doesn't want to do it. And honestly, that's fine by me, because that means I can get it done exactly the way I want it to be done (and let's face it, the way it should be done, because if it was left to Hubby and the boys, the lights would be all clumpy, the branches wouldn't be fluffed, and the ornaments would only hang on the bottom, kid-level half of the tree).
I put on Christmas songs and unearth all my tree branches and decorations. Hubby leaves the room and lets me obsess and critique and rearrange the damn thing. It only takes me about an hour- I have it down to a science, people! And for the past two years, when I'm done, I put a nice, fugly plastic gate around it, so little hands can keep off of it (which, apparently, is all in vain now).
When I was nine months pregnant with LB, I put up that damn tree all by myself. I sat almost the entire time, with the exception of putting on the top part. I was out of breath, in pain, and completely swollen, and it took about three hours, but I was friggin determined to uphold my tradition. That's how important it is to me!
Hubby made the asinine suggestion of not putting up the tree this year, considering we won't be here Christmas Day. I think daggers shot from my eyes... He must have got the point, because this Black Friday, he quietly took the boys out shopping while I basked in artificial evergreen goodness.
Moral of the story- don't mess with me and my tree. It's my most favorite tradition.
This year, I did both. In fact, I think I stayed awake the entire Black Friday, from midnight to midnight. Made me very cranky for the rest of the weekend, but at least it was productive.
And yes, I said "I", because I don't get any help putting up the tree. It's not that Hubby doesn't like the tree, he just doesn't want to do it. And honestly, that's fine by me, because that means I can get it done exactly the way I want it to be done (and let's face it, the way it should be done, because if it was left to Hubby and the boys, the lights would be all clumpy, the branches wouldn't be fluffed, and the ornaments would only hang on the bottom, kid-level half of the tree).
I put on Christmas songs and unearth all my tree branches and decorations. Hubby leaves the room and lets me obsess and critique and rearrange the damn thing. It only takes me about an hour- I have it down to a science, people! And for the past two years, when I'm done, I put a nice, fugly plastic gate around it, so little hands can keep off of it (which, apparently, is all in vain now).
When I was nine months pregnant with LB, I put up that damn tree all by myself. I sat almost the entire time, with the exception of putting on the top part. I was out of breath, in pain, and completely swollen, and it took about three hours, but I was friggin determined to uphold my tradition. That's how important it is to me!
Hubby made the asinine suggestion of not putting up the tree this year, considering we won't be here Christmas Day. I think daggers shot from my eyes... He must have got the point, because this Black Friday, he quietly took the boys out shopping while I basked in artificial evergreen goodness.
Moral of the story- don't mess with me and my tree. It's my most favorite tradition.
11/30/10
Wanna play?
I'm playing this little game that I found out about from Jess. I'm actually not that great with posts that I have to do every day, and I'm sure I'll combine days (especially towards the end), but it's something that's not related to poop (literal and figurative), so I thought it would be a good way to give you something pleasant to read for a change, ha. Here are the Qs:
Day 1. What are some of your Christmas traditions?
Day 2. Shopping: Your best bargains, favorite stores, game plans and shopping team members.
Day 3. Gifts: What you're giving:
Day 4. Write a Letter to Santa.
Day 5. What is your favorite Christmas Movie?
Day 6. Show us your Christmas Cards (Sent/Received):
Day 7. What is your favorite thing about Christmas?
Day 8. What is your least favorite thing about Christmas?
Day 9. Christmas party; are you having one or attending one?
Day 10. What is your favorite Christmas Recipe?
Day 11. Show your Christmas Decorations (indoor/outdoor):
Day 12. What is your favorite Christmas Song/Carol?
Day 13. What is your favorite Christmas Cookie/Sweet Treat Recipe?
Day 14. Show us your tree:
Day 15. Christmas/Holiday Crafts:
Day 16. What is your favorite outdoor Christmas activity?
Day 17. Show us your Christmas/Holiday Decor:
Day 18.What is your favorite family Christmas recipe?
Day 19.What was your favorite Christmas vacation?
Day 20. Show us your favorite ornament:
Day 21. If you could play Santa this year and could give coal to anyone, who would it be and why?
Day 22. Show us your stockings:
Day 23. What is your most memorable Christmas or thing about the Holidays?
Day 24. Christmas Eve: What are you doing?
Day 25. Christmas Day: What are you doing?
11/26/10
Happy Drunksgiving
You know what I'm thankful for?? Vodka. Know why?
*It really helps take the edge off when LB headbutts me in the temple and breaks my Burberry glasses (my first pair of non-BC glasses... you milspousers know what that means).
*It really helps take the edge off thinking about how pissed I am that anything nice I own is destroyed by the three amigos living here, thus causing me to exist in a state of cheap trash until the boys outgrow destruction (which I don't think will ever happen).
*It helps me smile when Hubby passes out on the couch from 2pm to 5pm, leaving me to clean up after the turkey festivities and take care of two little boys who are on a sugar high after eating only potato chips and chocolate truffles all day.
*It makes me not care so much when the boys smash my antique sleigh bells on the ground, break my glass ornaments off the tree (even after I gated the loving crap outta it), and when Hubby pokes fun of my tradition of watching the Macy's parade.
*It helps me relax when I've stayed up all night for Black Friday shopping that Hubby did, while I sat in the cold-ass car with two screaming, overtired toddlers.
*It also helps me relax as everyone takes turns napping for several hours except me.
*Vodka also helps me be happy with the fact that I made an enormous turkey dinner for us but the boys only ate rolls. (To his credit, JC also polished off his stuffing, but a carb's a carb)
So thank you, Absolut, for a wonderful Thanksgiving. I just have one last request- take of this headache, will ya??
*It really helps take the edge off when LB headbutts me in the temple and breaks my Burberry glasses (my first pair of non-BC glasses... you milspousers know what that means).
*It really helps take the edge off thinking about how pissed I am that anything nice I own is destroyed by the three amigos living here, thus causing me to exist in a state of cheap trash until the boys outgrow destruction (which I don't think will ever happen).
*It helps me smile when Hubby passes out on the couch from 2pm to 5pm, leaving me to clean up after the turkey festivities and take care of two little boys who are on a sugar high after eating only potato chips and chocolate truffles all day.
*It makes me not care so much when the boys smash my antique sleigh bells on the ground, break my glass ornaments off the tree (even after I gated the loving crap outta it), and when Hubby pokes fun of my tradition of watching the Macy's parade.
*It helps me relax when I've stayed up all night for Black Friday shopping that Hubby did, while I sat in the cold-ass car with two screaming, overtired toddlers.
*It also helps me relax as everyone takes turns napping for several hours except me.
*Vodka also helps me be happy with the fact that I made an enormous turkey dinner for us but the boys only ate rolls. (To his credit, JC also polished off his stuffing, but a carb's a carb)
So thank you, Absolut, for a wonderful Thanksgiving. I just have one last request- take of this headache, will ya??
11/24/10
Not my finest
This morning, I've been a bitch troll from hell. I know it. It all started at the gym, when some a-hole made a comment about how we don't need the military and we should stop spending money on them and how we shouldn't be butting into the North Korea vs South Korea thing. That got my blood boiling, so I took it out on myself at Body Pump and actually had a good workout. But then I came home and the morning from hell has commenced.
I wanted to make the pumpkin and chocolate cream pies today, so I'd have less to do tomorrow. When I came home, the kitchen was an absolute mess. The dishwasher hadn't been started, the sink was full of more dirty dishes, and the stove top was covered in dirty pans from last night's dinner (and I barely even cooked anything, wtf?). I figured I'd take advantage of the fact that the boys were semi-behaving, but just when I had to "constantly stir" the pudding, they just turned into complete brats.
LB kept hitting JC and yelling at him. JC kept crying over everything. He wanted me to pick him up, then put him down, then pick him up (I'm keeping one hand over a hot pot, mind you, trying not to burn the chocolate cream pie, which btw is my cooking bane). LB slammed a drawer on JC's fingers. They took all my cooking utensils, including a very sharp vegetable peeler and pizza cutter, and dumped them on the floor (yay, more stuff to clean) (and don't suggest we child-lock them, because I'm not drilling that stuff into a rental kitchen). They hit me, pulled my pants down, and yelled at me. Just as I was closing the dishwasher, JC stuck his head in and I smacked him (by accident) with the door. Then, something in me snapped and I screamed at them.
It was a horrible, screeching scream, and I said a very, very bad thing. I said, "SHUT THE FUCK UP!!" Yeaaaaaaah, not my best moment in mommyhood, but they (for once) got very silent and backed away from me.
I feel a little guilty about it, but not really guilty. My personal space is very important to me, and for the past three years, it's been puked on, pulled on, pooped on, and completely invaded 24 hours a day. The level of yelling and noise with these boys is enough to torture someone, I swear. LB whines with this "Eh! Eh! Eh!" sound, which he got from Hubby (thanks a lot, dear), and it drives me up a fucking wall. They're not content if they aren't making the loudest possible noise with their cars on the hardwood floor. And they also aren't content to just leave each other the fuck alone. I've tried separating them, but it's like they like to annoy each other. What they don't know is that not only are they pushing each other's buttons, but they're pushing mine, and there are a few days when I just completely snap.
The pies are almost done, and I need to make the cranberry sauce and pre-make the rolls. I have a god-awful headache right now and I just desperately want to hit something. I don't want to plop them in front of the TV and rot their brain, but I might- I really need a few moments to myself right now. Actually, what I want is a sitter so I can just leave. No agenda, just get out of the house for a few hours and do nothing. Ahhhh, that would be nice.
I wanted to make the pumpkin and chocolate cream pies today, so I'd have less to do tomorrow. When I came home, the kitchen was an absolute mess. The dishwasher hadn't been started, the sink was full of more dirty dishes, and the stove top was covered in dirty pans from last night's dinner (and I barely even cooked anything, wtf?). I figured I'd take advantage of the fact that the boys were semi-behaving, but just when I had to "constantly stir" the pudding, they just turned into complete brats.
LB kept hitting JC and yelling at him. JC kept crying over everything. He wanted me to pick him up, then put him down, then pick him up (I'm keeping one hand over a hot pot, mind you, trying not to burn the chocolate cream pie, which btw is my cooking bane). LB slammed a drawer on JC's fingers. They took all my cooking utensils, including a very sharp vegetable peeler and pizza cutter, and dumped them on the floor (yay, more stuff to clean) (and don't suggest we child-lock them, because I'm not drilling that stuff into a rental kitchen). They hit me, pulled my pants down, and yelled at me. Just as I was closing the dishwasher, JC stuck his head in and I smacked him (by accident) with the door. Then, something in me snapped and I screamed at them.
It was a horrible, screeching scream, and I said a very, very bad thing. I said, "SHUT THE FUCK UP!!" Yeaaaaaaah, not my best moment in mommyhood, but they (for once) got very silent and backed away from me.
I feel a little guilty about it, but not really guilty. My personal space is very important to me, and for the past three years, it's been puked on, pulled on, pooped on, and completely invaded 24 hours a day. The level of yelling and noise with these boys is enough to torture someone, I swear. LB whines with this "Eh! Eh! Eh!" sound, which he got from Hubby (thanks a lot, dear), and it drives me up a fucking wall. They're not content if they aren't making the loudest possible noise with their cars on the hardwood floor. And they also aren't content to just leave each other the fuck alone. I've tried separating them, but it's like they like to annoy each other. What they don't know is that not only are they pushing each other's buttons, but they're pushing mine, and there are a few days when I just completely snap.
The pies are almost done, and I need to make the cranberry sauce and pre-make the rolls. I have a god-awful headache right now and I just desperately want to hit something. I don't want to plop them in front of the TV and rot their brain, but I might- I really need a few moments to myself right now. Actually, what I want is a sitter so I can just leave. No agenda, just get out of the house for a few hours and do nothing. Ahhhh, that would be nice.
11/23/10
Shoulda seen this coming...
Well, I've had my first public moment of utter embarassment, thanks to LB. Sure, he's screeched and thrown fits and all, but that stuff I can handle. Sorta. This one, though, threw me for a loop, and I still have no idea if my reaction was appropriate, or what I should have done, or if I can ever show my face in the commissary again.
I took the boys grocery shopping with me. I was only on the second aisle, going through my very lengthy list, when LB saw two girls in a cart next to him. He said hi and started to say something rather unintelligible. Pretty much the norm. However, as I passed them, LB looked straight at one of the girls and asked "Are you a spider?"
I couldn't figure out why in the world he would ask someone if they were a spider. I mean, it's not like she was dressed up or anything. Then, omg, it hit me. The little girl had her black hair up in tiny dreads, and he thought they looked like spider legs. Oh dear god, someone please hit me with a bus....
"Are you a spider??" he asked again, much louder. I tried to hurry along, but theswarm of old people crowd was moving oh-so-slowly. He shouted, "Are you a spider????" LB, shut up, shut up, shut up!
Oh god, what do I do?? I didn't want to get beat down for something completely offensive my kid said. So, I played dumb, sort of, and said, "What are you talking about? I think you're the spider, Spiderman." That totally switched his attention from the little girl to pretending to be Spiderman.
Whew.
But seriously, how am I supposed to explain race to a two year old? How is he going to understand that there are many different people out there, and it's not polite to comment on their appearance like that? I didn't think he would, which is why I went the distraction route. But I sure as hell wanted to just stick my head up a turkey's ass. I'm sure it would have been more pleasant.
I took the boys grocery shopping with me. I was only on the second aisle, going through my very lengthy list, when LB saw two girls in a cart next to him. He said hi and started to say something rather unintelligible. Pretty much the norm. However, as I passed them, LB looked straight at one of the girls and asked "Are you a spider?"
I couldn't figure out why in the world he would ask someone if they were a spider. I mean, it's not like she was dressed up or anything. Then, omg, it hit me. The little girl had her black hair up in tiny dreads, and he thought they looked like spider legs. Oh dear god, someone please hit me with a bus....
"Are you a spider??" he asked again, much louder. I tried to hurry along, but the
Oh god, what do I do?? I didn't want to get beat down for something completely offensive my kid said. So, I played dumb, sort of, and said, "What are you talking about? I think you're the spider, Spiderman." That totally switched his attention from the little girl to pretending to be Spiderman.
Whew.
But seriously, how am I supposed to explain race to a two year old? How is he going to understand that there are many different people out there, and it's not polite to comment on their appearance like that? I didn't think he would, which is why I went the distraction route. But I sure as hell wanted to just stick my head up a turkey's ass. I'm sure it would have been more pleasant.
11/22/10
Who are you?
Ugh, there are some things I'd love to blog about right now. The trouble is, it's a public blog and I don't know if certain people would be reading this, and since I want to keep the peace (at least, superficially) during the holiday season, I can't unload it all here.
Boooo.
Maybe I should. It would certainly be a relief to get it all out there and to tell certain people off. I know I'd feel a lot better. But would it actually be better? Don't know. Sometimes I think I'm better off just keeping it to myself that I think some people are controlling, selfish, back-stabby, etc.
Besides, how do you tell people really what you think of them? There's no good way to do it without hurting someone. And I guess if they're pissing me off that badly, I shouldn't care if I hurt them, but it's not really in my nature to be hateful so I do care.
Yes, maybe I should start a private blog (perhaps I already have, wink wink!). I guess I need more than one, considering I have more than one circle of friends reading this. Hm. Stuff to think about.
What about you? Do you tell it like it is, regardless of who's reading, or not? What kind of topics are off limits on your blog?
Boooo.
Maybe I should. It would certainly be a relief to get it all out there and to tell certain people off. I know I'd feel a lot better. But would it actually be better? Don't know. Sometimes I think I'm better off just keeping it to myself that I think some people are controlling, selfish, back-stabby, etc.
Besides, how do you tell people really what you think of them? There's no good way to do it without hurting someone. And I guess if they're pissing me off that badly, I shouldn't care if I hurt them, but it's not really in my nature to be hateful so I do care.
Yes, maybe I should start a private blog (perhaps I already have, wink wink!). I guess I need more than one, considering I have more than one circle of friends reading this. Hm. Stuff to think about.
What about you? Do you tell it like it is, regardless of who's reading, or not? What kind of topics are off limits on your blog?
11/19/10
MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #22
1.If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs – such as food and water – were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?
Well, I'm assuming my hubby and kids are there with me, since they have become part of my needs, soooo.... my laptop and a solar charger, so I can still do Milspouse Friday Fill-ins. :)
2.If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have?
Hm, my dressing would be italian, because that's what I am. Boring, si, but I don't have any other bright ideas.
3.If you had to live on a ranch, what kind of animals would you raise/own?
Cows. You can milk them, and then when they get too old, have a big steak dinner. Plus, no crowing at dawn. My college had a cow farm right next to my apartment building. It was a little stinky, but the most pleasant farm animals to live next to.
4.If your life was was portrayed as a movie, who would you choose to play you and your significant other?
Based on looks, people always tell me that I look like a young SJP or Debra Messing. People say Hubby looks like Henry Rollins, so maybe them? I don't know who I'd pick if the decision was left solely up to me- possibly Anne Hathaway?... Probably myself as me andDaniel Craig Jason Statham (how could I leave him off the list????) or Brad Pitt as my hubby, so I can smooch one of them. :)
5.What was the last thing you put a stamp on (envelope, duh, but what was in the envelope)?
Our Christmas cards. I know it's early, but next month is going to be ridiculous, so I feel much better getting them done now.
Stop by Wife of a Sailor to have some fun with this week's questions!
Well, I'm assuming my hubby and kids are there with me, since they have become part of my needs, soooo.... my laptop and a solar charger, so I can still do Milspouse Friday Fill-ins. :)
2.If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have?
Hm, my dressing would be italian, because that's what I am. Boring, si, but I don't have any other bright ideas.
3.If you had to live on a ranch, what kind of animals would you raise/own?
Cows. You can milk them, and then when they get too old, have a big steak dinner. Plus, no crowing at dawn. My college had a cow farm right next to my apartment building. It was a little stinky, but the most pleasant farm animals to live next to.
4.If your life was was portrayed as a movie, who would you choose to play you and your significant other?
Based on looks, people always tell me that I look like a young SJP or Debra Messing. People say Hubby looks like Henry Rollins, so maybe them? I don't know who I'd pick if the decision was left solely up to me- possibly Anne Hathaway?... Probably myself as me and
5.What was the last thing you put a stamp on (envelope, duh, but what was in the envelope)?
Our Christmas cards. I know it's early, but next month is going to be ridiculous, so I feel much better getting them done now.
Stop by Wife of a Sailor to have some fun with this week's questions!
11/17/10
Dear dentist, thanks for the exorcism
So, I've figured out how to get the crazy toddler temper tantrums to stop: take the kids to the dentist.
I had an appointment today for a cleaning, which I totally forgot about. I didn't feel like calling a sitter at the last minute, so I pack up a humongous diaper bag, plopped the kids in the car, and drove to the dentist, praying and pleading for the best.
LB was pissed because I took off his football pajamas, then wouldn't let him wear his robot pajamas. He wanted fishies, then juice, then an apple, then a book, then a flashlight, etc. JC was pleasant, but the poor kid is a sniffling mess right now. Both of them let me know exactly how unhappy they were.
I showed up and apologized for the company. I said we can reschedule, but I was told that it was actually good to bring the kids, so they get to experience the dentist a little. We waited. LB touched everything in the waiting room about a million times. The boys both then demanded apples, which I thankfully had. LB asked a bunch of questions andpestered had conversations with the girls at the desk, while JC flirted with just about every person in the waiting room. But once we got into the exam room, magical things started happening.
Silence overcame both boys.
I think there was a lot to look at, and it really helped that they had a little flat screen TV tuned to the Disney Channel. The boys sat there (almost) the whole time, watching Special Agent Oso, and just took it all in. It was the most quiet part to my day, including nap time. I can't believe I actually enjoyed going to the dentist.
PS- No cavities and everything is just dandy. Woo hoo!
Anyway, the boys both got new toothbrushes and LB was given a little hand-held game, which is currently in his death grip- it's his new favorite toy. He even got a "ride" in the exam chair, which he thought was really cool. They were both fantastically well-behaved, although a lot of my thanks goes to the staff, who kept peeking in and oohing and aahing over them and playing little games with them.
I'm seriously looking forward to my cleaning in May.
I had an appointment today for a cleaning, which I totally forgot about. I didn't feel like calling a sitter at the last minute, so I pack up a humongous diaper bag, plopped the kids in the car, and drove to the dentist, praying and pleading for the best.
LB was pissed because I took off his football pajamas, then wouldn't let him wear his robot pajamas. He wanted fishies, then juice, then an apple, then a book, then a flashlight, etc. JC was pleasant, but the poor kid is a sniffling mess right now. Both of them let me know exactly how unhappy they were.
I showed up and apologized for the company. I said we can reschedule, but I was told that it was actually good to bring the kids, so they get to experience the dentist a little. We waited. LB touched everything in the waiting room about a million times. The boys both then demanded apples, which I thankfully had. LB asked a bunch of questions and
Silence overcame both boys.
I think there was a lot to look at, and it really helped that they had a little flat screen TV tuned to the Disney Channel. The boys sat there (almost) the whole time, watching Special Agent Oso, and just took it all in. It was the most quiet part to my day, including nap time. I can't believe I actually enjoyed going to the dentist.
PS- No cavities and everything is just dandy. Woo hoo!
Anyway, the boys both got new toothbrushes and LB was given a little hand-held game, which is currently in his death grip- it's his new favorite toy. He even got a "ride" in the exam chair, which he thought was really cool. They were both fantastically well-behaved, although a lot of my thanks goes to the staff, who kept peeking in and oohing and aahing over them and playing little games with them.
I'm seriously looking forward to my cleaning in May.
11/16/10
Random Tuesday Thoughts
Holy crap, the entire morning has been spent dealing with DMVs that aren't even in my time zone. I received a lovely bill from the state of VA, saying that I haven't been paying them taxes on my car since 2007 and that I owe them $1200... that's because I moved in 2007. I notified the DMV, sent my forwarding address, and registered the car in HI, but that didn't help because apparently they still think we live there. I called to fix this and they said I needed proof from HI that I registered the car... um, I don't even own the car any more. Luckily, I still had the VIN. The HI DMV told me to request in writing, which is going to take a metric butt-ton of time... at least I didn't run into "hawaiians not helping people".
Yeah, "hawaiians not helping people" was a phrase that caught on while we were stationed there. Some of our good friends and we noticed that natives were not exactly up-to-par on the customer service end, hence the phrase. We would say it whenever we experienced some kind of horrific service on the island, like how the Wendy's on Pualoa never got our order right.
Oh, but I ran into "hawaiians not helping people" here in CA! The drugstore where I refill my meds has an older asian lady working there, who looks and sounds a lot like most of the people in HI. She told me that I had to go to a different pharmacy because that's where the Rx was filled last. A nicer woman stepped in and said, "just call them and have it transferred over the phone". The first woman did not look thrilled at having to put in the extra effort, but I can't expect much from "hawaiians not helping people".
Gahd, I'm in such a bitchy mood right now. Sorry, ladies and gentlemen. :)
My Christmas cards are addressed, stamped, and ready to be tossed in the mail. Go me.
My entire body is telling me to go to McDonald's and get a cheeseburger happy meal, then pick up some chocolate on the way home. My brain is telling it that I just worked out this morning and to STFU. Hm, who do I listen to??
When my kids get sick, they don't really get sick. They're a little miserable and have stuffy, runny noses, but thankfully it's not the sick-in-bed, dragon-breath kind of sick. They're such troopers.
Prince William is engaged. Dammit. I guess my teenage plan to marry him and become a princess has failed.
Our basil plant is slowly coming back to life after Hubby nearly fertilized it to death. Methinks a big batch of pesto is coming up.
This DMV thing is really bothering me. Why can't the military get, like, a national license and registration so we don't have to go through all this shit every time we move? They could make it only valid with a military ID card, just like our health care cards. It's just annoying to have a NH license, CA plates, and deal with a VA and HI DMV. *sigh*
I kinda hope that jawbone in Aruba is Natalee Holloway's. That poor family has to go through so much with all those unanswered questions about her whereabouts. At least it will bring some kind of closure. And wtf is up with that Joran asshole?? How is it possible that he can confess, then say "oops, I take it back"? How is he still alive? Damn, I don't think I could stop myself from hunting him down if he did that to my kids.
On a lighter note, I think I'm going to bake cookies.
Head on over to The Unmom to link up.
11/15/10
My weekend to-do list
Things To Do:
Clean and mop stairwell, living room
Take out trash and recycling
Clean microwave
Run oven self-clean
Address Christmas cards
Change boys' bed sheets
Things That I Need to Redo Today:
Clean and mop stairwell, living room, and kitchen
Take out trash and recycling
Clean microwave after baked bean explosion
Clean oven after last night's messy dinner
Change boys' bed sheets again after forgetting to change them into overnight diapers last night
Things To Do In Addition to the Weekend Chores:
Wash kitchen linens
Drop off packages at UPS
Buy stamps and mail car payment
Stamp Christmas cards to be sent
Do more laundry
Buy milk, bread, and other items we ran out of
Drag a very cranky LB and sick JC with me all over to get it all done
*SIGH* A mother's work is never done, I guess...........
Things That I Need to Redo Today:
Clean and mop stairwell, living room, and kitchen
Take out trash and recycling
Clean microwave after baked bean explosion
Clean oven after last night's messy dinner
Change boys' bed sheets again after forgetting to change them into overnight diapers last night
Things To Do In Addition to the Weekend Chores:
Wash kitchen linens
Drop off packages at UPS
Buy stamps and mail car payment
Stamp Christmas cards to be sent
Do more laundry
Buy milk, bread, and other items we ran out of
Drag a very cranky LB and sick JC with me all over to get it all done
*SIGH* A mother's work is never done, I guess...........
11/12/10
MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #21
1.Were you named after anyone?
My middle name is after my Grandma.
2.What color, if any, are your toenails usually painted?
Strawberry Margarita in the summer, I'm Not Really A Waitress in the winter.
3.How do you flush a public toilet? Hands? Feet? Something else?
I kick the lever with my shoe. Probably not the best way to go about it, but I don't want to put my hands on something so grimy.
4.When you were a little kid, which TV character did you have a crush on?
I didn't watch a lot of TV, but I guess I liked Zach on Saved By The Bell (didn't everyone?).
5.Let’s say you had to lose one of your five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell). Which one would you choose? Why?
I made my decision by the process of elimination. I rely way too much on sight and hearing (which ironically are my most abused senses), so I would keep those. I also really love tasting good foods. I think life would be awkward without the sense of touch, so smell it is. After all, I could go the rest of my life without smelling dumpsites and farts. :)
I would really miss the baby smell of the boys, but I'd rather be able to see them, hear their voices, and feel their hugs. And I wouldn't mind missing the smell of their poopy diapers.
Go check out Wife of a Sailor to link up!
My middle name is after my Grandma.
2.What color, if any, are your toenails usually painted?
Strawberry Margarita in the summer, I'm Not Really A Waitress in the winter.
3.How do you flush a public toilet? Hands? Feet? Something else?
I kick the lever with my shoe. Probably not the best way to go about it, but I don't want to put my hands on something so grimy.
4.When you were a little kid, which TV character did you have a crush on?
I didn't watch a lot of TV, but I guess I liked Zach on Saved By The Bell (didn't everyone?).
5.Let’s say you had to lose one of your five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell). Which one would you choose? Why?
I made my decision by the process of elimination. I rely way too much on sight and hearing (which ironically are my most abused senses), so I would keep those. I also really love tasting good foods. I think life would be awkward without the sense of touch, so smell it is. After all, I could go the rest of my life without smelling dumpsites and farts. :)
I would really miss the baby smell of the boys, but I'd rather be able to see them, hear their voices, and feel their hugs. And I wouldn't mind missing the smell of their poopy diapers.
Go check out Wife of a Sailor to link up!
11/11/10
Pedia-Not-So-Sure
I forgot why I stopped giving LB Pediasure. He seemed to like it and it was touted as being nutritious. Then I took a look at their nutrition label and remembered.
Eighteen grams of sugar in one bottle!!
Holy crap, that seemed like an awful lot. So I Googled candy bars and this is what I found out:
There is just as much sugar in one Pediasure as 1 package of M&Ms Almonds or 1 Take 5 bar.
There is more sugar in one Pediasure than 1 roll of Smarties, 5 pouches of SweetTarts, 1 packet of Fun Dip, 12 Runts, 9 Gobstoppers, 10 Bottlecaps, 1 tbsp of Nerds, or 7 straws of Pixie Stix.
Yes, 7 straws of Pixie Stix. Straight-up sugar.
Ugh, I urge anyone with kids that is using or thinking of using Pediasure to stop. All that sugar has no place in the daily kid's diet!
Eighteen grams of sugar in one bottle!!
Holy crap, that seemed like an awful lot. So I Googled candy bars and this is what I found out:
There is just as much sugar in one Pediasure as 1 package of M&Ms Almonds or 1 Take 5 bar.
There is more sugar in one Pediasure than 1 roll of Smarties, 5 pouches of SweetTarts, 1 packet of Fun Dip, 12 Runts, 9 Gobstoppers, 10 Bottlecaps, 1 tbsp of Nerds, or 7 straws of Pixie Stix.
Yes, 7 straws of Pixie Stix. Straight-up sugar.
Ugh, I urge anyone with kids that is using or thinking of using Pediasure to stop. All that sugar has no place in the daily kid's diet!
11/10/10
Debbie Downer has left the building
Sorry for the heavy post this morning- I'm feeling a tiny bit better about the day and I think I should give you all something positive to read, for a change. :)
My girl Jess gave me an award, yay! Jess, you rock! And it's super-cute in black and silver, love it. Here's the deal: I say seven facts about myself then award it to 15 people (which we all know I can't do, ha).
1. I have year-round allergies (stole your topic, Jess). I don't know what I'm allergic to, but I'm constantly stuffy... although, a heavy snow fall in NH makes them better.
2. My shoe size is a 10. It was a 9 pre-kids. I always thought shoes were great because your feet wouldn't grow. I was wrong. Now, I love wallets & purses- pretty sure my shoulders won't grow!
3. The Hubby is working late tonight, which means I get a full dose of E! News. Wahoo!
4. On a related note, I don't get some things about pop culture... heels with spikes, Katy Perry's Fireworks song, the fascination with Teen Mom... The things I do get: Anne Hathaway and tall boots. Both are gorgeous and timeless.
5. I've fallen off the weight-loss wagon lately and have gone up to 155 lbs. It's tough when the boys are driving me nuts and the only pleasing thing in the house is a big brownie. But as the holiday season sneaks up on me, I'm not beating myself up about it. After all, I'm not going to skip that pumpkin pie!
6. I can do my own car maintenance. Hubby usually does it because he loves doing that stuff, but when he's gone, I can totally hold my own.
7. Hm, one more thing about myself? I still mix up my right and left. It drives Hubby absolutely nuts.
A strange day for me
Today would have been our first baby's 4th birthday.
I can't really comprehend it. It seems so long ago. It's still hard for me to talk about it.
Hubby and I weren't planning on having kids at that point. But one day I realized that I was a few weeks late. I was so caught up in my teaching job that I wasn't paying attention to myself. And sure enough, I found out that we were pregnant.
I cried. I didn't think Hubby would be excited, since we hadn't planned on this and things were stressful enough with his dad going through chemo. But he gave me a huge hug and said he was thrilled.
Everything was fine until the 12th week. I figured that I was nearly out of the first trimester, so I began telling my students. Literally two days later, I began to see that something wasn't quite right. I called the doc and he brushed me off. I waited. A few days after that, things took a turn for the worse, in a very scary way. I called the doc again, and he said it was normal and that I was overreacting. I went to school, but ended up in the vice principal's office during lunch, sobbing. She told me to go home, which I did. When Hubby arrived home, I told him to take me to the local ER. We spent the night there and they ran a lot of tests. I knew something was wrong because they wouldn't talk to me about it. Finally, at 4am on April 27, 2006, they said the words I had been dreading.
There's no heartbeat. I'm sorry.
I don't remember much after that. I was admitted to the naval hospital where they did a D&C. They gave me a lot of vicodin. Then I went back to work and had to tell my students. That was just as hard as hearing that the baby had died. They were middle schoolers and didn't understand why it had happened. I had no answers because I myself didn't know why.
There were lots of things wrong with this pregnancy. I drank for the first six weeks because I didn't know I was preggers. I was on 800 mg of ibuprophen three times a day, which is dangerous for babies. I was on the pill. A week before the loss, the school tore down my classroom and I had to move two pianos by myself. I had an undiagnosed thyroid problem, which causes neurological problems in babies. And most of all, I didn't have a doctor that took me seriously. I think that bothered me the most.
The naval hospital is now defunct, in case you were wondering. And personally, I learned from this experience to speak up when I don't think something is being done right. Maybe it made me more of a bitch, but at least I didn't have to go through this again.
I always think of that baby on November 10th. I put the blame partly on myself for being so out-of-touch with my body, but I also put a lot of blame on the fact that the naval hospital completely failed me & the baby. Yeah, I'm bitter. I guess people are supposed to get over that as part of the greiving process, but I don't think I ever will.
Happy Almost Birthday, little baby.
I can't really comprehend it. It seems so long ago. It's still hard for me to talk about it.
Hubby and I weren't planning on having kids at that point. But one day I realized that I was a few weeks late. I was so caught up in my teaching job that I wasn't paying attention to myself. And sure enough, I found out that we were pregnant.
I cried. I didn't think Hubby would be excited, since we hadn't planned on this and things were stressful enough with his dad going through chemo. But he gave me a huge hug and said he was thrilled.
Everything was fine until the 12th week. I figured that I was nearly out of the first trimester, so I began telling my students. Literally two days later, I began to see that something wasn't quite right. I called the doc and he brushed me off. I waited. A few days after that, things took a turn for the worse, in a very scary way. I called the doc again, and he said it was normal and that I was overreacting. I went to school, but ended up in the vice principal's office during lunch, sobbing. She told me to go home, which I did. When Hubby arrived home, I told him to take me to the local ER. We spent the night there and they ran a lot of tests. I knew something was wrong because they wouldn't talk to me about it. Finally, at 4am on April 27, 2006, they said the words I had been dreading.
There's no heartbeat. I'm sorry.
I don't remember much after that. I was admitted to the naval hospital where they did a D&C. They gave me a lot of vicodin. Then I went back to work and had to tell my students. That was just as hard as hearing that the baby had died. They were middle schoolers and didn't understand why it had happened. I had no answers because I myself didn't know why.
There were lots of things wrong with this pregnancy. I drank for the first six weeks because I didn't know I was preggers. I was on 800 mg of ibuprophen three times a day, which is dangerous for babies. I was on the pill. A week before the loss, the school tore down my classroom and I had to move two pianos by myself. I had an undiagnosed thyroid problem, which causes neurological problems in babies. And most of all, I didn't have a doctor that took me seriously. I think that bothered me the most.
The naval hospital is now defunct, in case you were wondering. And personally, I learned from this experience to speak up when I don't think something is being done right. Maybe it made me more of a bitch, but at least I didn't have to go through this again.
I always think of that baby on November 10th. I put the blame partly on myself for being so out-of-touch with my body, but I also put a lot of blame on the fact that the naval hospital completely failed me & the baby. Yeah, I'm bitter. I guess people are supposed to get over that as part of the greiving process, but I don't think I ever will.
Happy Almost Birthday, little baby.
11/9/10
Random Tuesday Thoughts
Is it just me, or does the shop vac in Handy Manny sound very gay... especially when it suggests "Maybe I can suck it out?".......
I can't stand how cute our boys are when they throw their arms up in the air and yell "touchdown!".
WTH? I have a pimple the size of Mexico. Attractive.
If you are doing 35 mph (sometimes 30) in a 55 zone, then you will have a line of seven cars behind you. Don't get pissed at me because I'm the one directly behind you. Oh, and I think sticking out my tongue is a much better option than flipping the bird. It definitely riled up Mr. Slowpoke and made me feel better. :)
Butternut squash soup with dinner tonight, yummmm.
I'm sick of LB not listening to me- I've become that broken record that I used to hate as a child, but I don't know what else to do. Oh and JC's screeching for the hell of it is getting on my nerves, too.
Speaking of that, some a-hole said that the perfect job for JC would be opera singing because he's loud. I take offense to that because 1) almost every baby does that, but it doesn't mean they'll all be singers; 2) there is much more to opera singing than simply being loud; and 3) STFU and mind your own beeswax.
And speaking of stupid people, for the third time this month, someone asked if the boys were twins.... Let me say this loud and clear: They are 20 months apart. One has blond hair and brown eyes, the other has light brown hair and blue eyes. One is running, the other isn't even walking. One can have a conversation with you, the other can say "daddy". And one is nearly three, while the other is 14 months. Get a clue.
I ordered Christmas cards. They're the photo kind where I don't have to write anything if I don't want to (hooray!). And they look so stinkin' adorable... mostly because the boys are totally decked out in Ralph Lauren. (What? We went to the outlets. And I simply could not pass up those clothes because the boys look like friggin models in them)
It's getting cold here lately. My snowflake symbol came on with a little *bing* while driving to the gym this morning. And in related news, our energy bill has almost tripled.
Alrighty, I should wrap this up- I'm definitely Ms. CrankyPants today and it shows. I have butternut squash soup going and need to work on the turkey before Hubby gets home. Go to The Unmom to link up and have fun.
11/8/10
Lacking motivation
I don't know what is up with today, but I'm just feeling lazy today. No reason, just because. It doesn't help that I also ate a brownie (which had 285 calories and 13 grams of fat, holy sh!t) and have been letting the boys do whatever they want. I didn't teach them anything today or do anything enriching.
I did a few productive things, all of which occurred while sitting on my ass. I talked to my mom for an hour, then removed some programs from my computer and defragged the hard drive (um, was that supposed to take over two hours??). But other than that, I didn't even get to the laundry.
Blech. My mood is also compounded by the Mexico-sized pimple on my cheek. WTF?
Also, I was reading a book about toddler development, and Hubby and I found that LB is a "high-intensity" toddler. We figured, but to hear it put in words is something else. I have more of an understanding of why he does what he does, which also gives me just a little bit more patience. Not a lot, but a little is more than nothing. :)
Sometimes when I have days like this, I fight it. I try and try to make it a good, productive day, but today I'm just surrendering to the laziness. I think it's beneficial. What do you think?
I did a few productive things, all of which occurred while sitting on my ass. I talked to my mom for an hour, then removed some programs from my computer and defragged the hard drive (um, was that supposed to take over two hours??). But other than that, I didn't even get to the laundry.
Blech. My mood is also compounded by the Mexico-sized pimple on my cheek. WTF?
Also, I was reading a book about toddler development, and Hubby and I found that LB is a "high-intensity" toddler. We figured, but to hear it put in words is something else. I have more of an understanding of why he does what he does, which also gives me just a little bit more patience. Not a lot, but a little is more than nothing. :)
Sometimes when I have days like this, I fight it. I try and try to make it a good, productive day, but today I'm just surrendering to the laziness. I think it's beneficial. What do you think?
11/5/10
Omg, this looks so friggin delish, I can't stand it.
My dinner tonight (please disregard how empty the wine bottle is, heehee):
Coupled with brie & crackers, holy crap... and yes, it's as delicious as it looks.
Coupled with brie & crackers, holy crap... and yes, it's as delicious as it looks.
MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #20
1.A different twist on last week’s question. This week, the first question is: what’s the nicest thing a MILSPOUSE has ever done for you? (brought to you from navy_smurfette)
Wow, that's a tough one... a friend of mine would bring me Oreo milkshakes from Jack In The Box while our hubbies were deployed and I was preggers. She also helped clean my house after the pigeon incident. It's too bad we're not friends any more...
2.How often do you drive faster than the speed limit?
All the time. Speed limits should be renamed speed suggestions, especially in the northeast. At least around here, you can do 55 mph on a main road. The same road in NH would be 35.... and I'd still do 55. Of course, "speeding" with the kids in the car is just a few over, but by myself, I'm usually up to 10 over.
3.Did you have a nickname in school? If so, what was it?
In middle and high school, I had the nickname Larry. It came about from a bowling game when the computer couldn't fit my entire name. By college, it was shortened to just L. I think for one summer, it was L7.
4.If your life was a book, what would the title be and how would it end?
It would probably be the same title as my blog, and I have no idea how it would end, because my life hasn't ended yet. Although, I have been thinking about writing a book about Millie. ;)
5.Look back (in your planner if you have one) to September 14th… what did you do that day?
No need to look back- that's my baby's first birthday!!
Go link up at Wife of a Sailor and check out other milspouse's blogs. :)
Wow, that's a tough one... a friend of mine would bring me Oreo milkshakes from Jack In The Box while our hubbies were deployed and I was preggers. She also helped clean my house after the pigeon incident. It's too bad we're not friends any more...
2.How often do you drive faster than the speed limit?
All the time. Speed limits should be renamed speed suggestions, especially in the northeast. At least around here, you can do 55 mph on a main road. The same road in NH would be 35.... and I'd still do 55. Of course, "speeding" with the kids in the car is just a few over, but by myself, I'm usually up to 10 over.
3.Did you have a nickname in school? If so, what was it?
In middle and high school, I had the nickname Larry. It came about from a bowling game when the computer couldn't fit my entire name. By college, it was shortened to just L. I think for one summer, it was L7.
4.If your life was a book, what would the title be and how would it end?
It would probably be the same title as my blog, and I have no idea how it would end, because my life hasn't ended yet. Although, I have been thinking about writing a book about Millie. ;)
5.Look back (in your planner if you have one) to September 14th… what did you do that day?
No need to look back- that's my baby's first birthday!!
Go link up at Wife of a Sailor and check out other milspouse's blogs. :)
11/2/10
What I am doing with my life
I recently friended two people on facebook- one was a student with me in college, the other was a professor. The student is now an opera singer in Boston and the professor still teaches at my college. It was pretty cool to see what they've been up to for the past few years, but then I started wondering if they looked at my profile.
Both of these people only knew me in college when I was studying music and we weren't close enough for them to know that I was dating my long-distance bf (now hubby), who I definitely saw a future with. On the surface, it seems like I was just a music student, preparing to enter the world in the teaching profession.
There was more to that. I knew that I'd end up marrying Hubby and that our lives together would mean giving up my career temporarily. I knew that we'd have kids and I'd be a SAHM. I knew that whatever person I appeared to be in college would not be the same person I am now (thankfully, I was right!).
I don't do anything with my degree. I haven't taught music since 2006. I haven't held a job since 2007. My heart is still in music, and I performed with the Honolulu Concert Band until 2009, but on paper, it looks like I'm not the same person I was back then. I am the same person, just with different priorities. In college, I should have realized that my major wouldn't work for me in this lifestyle and I should have studied something else, but I had invested a lot of time and money into music and didn't want to give up on that so easily. I'm glad I stuck with it- now I know for sure that it's not exactly the right fit for me and our life.
I'm also much different in other ways, too. College was when my thyroid really started to get me down. Literally. Some days I barely had the energy to crawl out of bed, but didn't know what was wrong with me. My eyebrows were falling out, I was wearing sweaters in the summer, and my whole digestive tract just stopped working (gastroparesis, I believe it was called). It was depressing- I thought that maybe I was just being a lazy piece of shit and that brought my self-esteem down. I was falling asleep in my classes and my memory was completely shot (not good when you're trying to memorize composers and dates and time periods). The whole college experience has ended up to be a blurry, hazy time to me, and I'm afraid I was perceived the same way: blurry, hazy, out-of-it.
I'm definitely more myself now. I feel like I've really become the person I knew I was deep down and barely recognize my college self (although, Mother Nature, if you could please give me my early-twenties body back, kthxbai). So, in case you're wondering, this is what my life is:
I'm a SAHM for now. I plan on going back to school for a degree in accounting, and possibly studying music instrument repair. Once the boys are in school full-time, I'll be going back to work, so my accounting degree will happen within the next few years. I have no idea where we'll be living. Hubby and I will both work, which hopefully will help with college tuition costs with the boys when they are 18 and will set us up for retirement. I plan on staying involved in music, either fixing instruments or performing in a local band, but I don't see myself returning to the teaching profession, at least not in a public school setting. Major details of my life are still to be decided, but my direction is set and I know what I want, and more importantly, I have the conviction to go out and get it.
So there you have it, my college acquaintences. I'm not the head-in-the-clouds mediocre person I once was. Sorry if you have to get to know me all over again. :)
Both of these people only knew me in college when I was studying music and we weren't close enough for them to know that I was dating my long-distance bf (now hubby), who I definitely saw a future with. On the surface, it seems like I was just a music student, preparing to enter the world in the teaching profession.
There was more to that. I knew that I'd end up marrying Hubby and that our lives together would mean giving up my career temporarily. I knew that we'd have kids and I'd be a SAHM. I knew that whatever person I appeared to be in college would not be the same person I am now (thankfully, I was right!).
I don't do anything with my degree. I haven't taught music since 2006. I haven't held a job since 2007. My heart is still in music, and I performed with the Honolulu Concert Band until 2009, but on paper, it looks like I'm not the same person I was back then. I am the same person, just with different priorities. In college, I should have realized that my major wouldn't work for me in this lifestyle and I should have studied something else, but I had invested a lot of time and money into music and didn't want to give up on that so easily. I'm glad I stuck with it- now I know for sure that it's not exactly the right fit for me and our life.
I'm also much different in other ways, too. College was when my thyroid really started to get me down. Literally. Some days I barely had the energy to crawl out of bed, but didn't know what was wrong with me. My eyebrows were falling out, I was wearing sweaters in the summer, and my whole digestive tract just stopped working (gastroparesis, I believe it was called). It was depressing- I thought that maybe I was just being a lazy piece of shit and that brought my self-esteem down. I was falling asleep in my classes and my memory was completely shot (not good when you're trying to memorize composers and dates and time periods). The whole college experience has ended up to be a blurry, hazy time to me, and I'm afraid I was perceived the same way: blurry, hazy, out-of-it.
I'm definitely more myself now. I feel like I've really become the person I knew I was deep down and barely recognize my college self (although, Mother Nature, if you could please give me my early-twenties body back, kthxbai). So, in case you're wondering, this is what my life is:
I'm a SAHM for now. I plan on going back to school for a degree in accounting, and possibly studying music instrument repair. Once the boys are in school full-time, I'll be going back to work, so my accounting degree will happen within the next few years. I have no idea where we'll be living. Hubby and I will both work, which hopefully will help with college tuition costs with the boys when they are 18 and will set us up for retirement. I plan on staying involved in music, either fixing instruments or performing in a local band, but I don't see myself returning to the teaching profession, at least not in a public school setting. Major details of my life are still to be decided, but my direction is set and I know what I want, and more importantly, I have the conviction to go out and get it.
So there you have it, my college acquaintences. I'm not the head-in-the-clouds mediocre person I once was. Sorry if you have to get to know me all over again. :)
10/29/10
MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #19
First and foremost, Happy 15th Navy Anniversary to my wonderful Hubby!!! Only five more until retirement! We are so appreciative of your hard work!! :)
Now, on to the MilSpouse Friday Fill-in. Thank you, Wife of a Sailor, for hosting!
1.What’s the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
When I was preggers with JC, I flew to NH with LB while Hubby was deployed. For reasons I won't go into, I couldn't lift LB's car seat onto the plane seat. The flight attendent just stared at me when I asked for help, so a wicked nice guy helped me with it. He also waited after the plane landed for everyone to get off between us so he could come back and help me off the plane, too. I seriously hope karma rewards that guy!
2.If you are having a hard time going to sleep, what do you do to help yourself?
Nothing. I've been a bad sleeper for the past few years, so I just wait it out. Eventually I'll fall asleep, but I know I won't stay asleep, so I don't worry about it.
3.Name something that makes you wish you were a kid again.
It would be a blast to go trick-or-treating this Halloween, then stuff myself full of fat and sugar and not worry about gaining any weight. :)
4.What is something you never believed until you experienced it?
True love. Sounds cynical, but I never thought someone would love me completely. I had given up on the whole concept and accepted my fate as a perpetually-single old maid, then I met Hubby. I also never believed in the whole "if you stop looking for love, it will come to you" thing until that night!
5.What can’t you say “no” to?
Mmm, chocolate. Although, my second choice would be sex. ;) Kidding- just wanted to see if you made it all the way through this post, heehee!
Now, on to the MilSpouse Friday Fill-in. Thank you, Wife of a Sailor, for hosting!
1.What’s the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
When I was preggers with JC, I flew to NH with LB while Hubby was deployed. For reasons I won't go into, I couldn't lift LB's car seat onto the plane seat. The flight attendent just stared at me when I asked for help, so a wicked nice guy helped me with it. He also waited after the plane landed for everyone to get off between us so he could come back and help me off the plane, too. I seriously hope karma rewards that guy!
2.If you are having a hard time going to sleep, what do you do to help yourself?
Nothing. I've been a bad sleeper for the past few years, so I just wait it out. Eventually I'll fall asleep, but I know I won't stay asleep, so I don't worry about it.
3.Name something that makes you wish you were a kid again.
It would be a blast to go trick-or-treating this Halloween, then stuff myself full of fat and sugar and not worry about gaining any weight. :)
4.What is something you never believed until you experienced it?
True love. Sounds cynical, but I never thought someone would love me completely. I had given up on the whole concept and accepted my fate as a perpetually-single old maid, then I met Hubby. I also never believed in the whole "if you stop looking for love, it will come to you" thing until that night!
5.What can’t you say “no” to?
Mmm, chocolate. Although, my second choice would be sex. ;) Kidding- just wanted to see if you made it all the way through this post, heehee!
10/28/10
I RAN!
Big milestone for me: I started the morning by RUNNING!! If you've been a follower for the past few months, you know that I had a fractured pelvis, which sidelined me from doing anything physical. For the past several weeks, I got out of the pool and back into the gym, doing the ellipticals and bikes and Body Pump classes. Don't get me wrong, I love Body Pump and I'll keep doing it, but what I really wanted to do, the only thing that gets the weight off, is run.
And I did it!
I was scared. I didn't want to set myself back and I have no idea if my pelvis is actually ready for that kind of abuse, so I took it slow. Ran 4 minutes, walked 1 minute, for a half hour. Wow, I felt like I could run the entire time, but I didn't want to push my luck. It felt so good, though! No pain in my hips, no pain in my knees, and most importantly no swelling in my throat. I didn't even need my once-necessary piece of minty gum.
If you haven't known me for a long time, you probably don't know that I struggled with a thyroid problem for years before it was finally diagnosed. During that time, my throat would swell so much that it was hard to breathe- I would literally choke just tilting my head back. So running was very hard for me- I usually ended every run in tears, which I think freaked Hubby out. Chewing a piece of minty gum while running helped a little bit, and I'm pretty sure that I solely kept Dentene in business. Now that my hypothyroid is under control (and my throat isn't swollen shut), I feel AWESOME. No gum required.
Go me!! I'm so motivated right now, it's ridiculous. :)
And I did it!
I was scared. I didn't want to set myself back and I have no idea if my pelvis is actually ready for that kind of abuse, so I took it slow. Ran 4 minutes, walked 1 minute, for a half hour. Wow, I felt like I could run the entire time, but I didn't want to push my luck. It felt so good, though! No pain in my hips, no pain in my knees, and most importantly no swelling in my throat. I didn't even need my once-necessary piece of minty gum.
If you haven't known me for a long time, you probably don't know that I struggled with a thyroid problem for years before it was finally diagnosed. During that time, my throat would swell so much that it was hard to breathe- I would literally choke just tilting my head back. So running was very hard for me- I usually ended every run in tears, which I think freaked Hubby out. Chewing a piece of minty gum while running helped a little bit, and I'm pretty sure that I solely kept Dentene in business. Now that my hypothyroid is under control (and my throat isn't swollen shut), I feel AWESOME. No gum required.
Go me!! I'm so motivated right now, it's ridiculous. :)
10/27/10
I feel like I'm 14 all over again... but with beer.
Last night, my friend K and I went to see the Gin Blossoms. They put on a free concert at a local comedy club (FREE, one of my favorite four-letter words), and it was good, very MTV Unplugged. The singer and the guitarist were the only band members that could make it, so it was very acoustic... and short. It was so short that K and I decided to go out.
We did trivia night at a local bar, then went to another to do some karaoke. The karaoke was a little insane- we did Shoop. I don't think I've ever rapped in my entire life, and I think that's the last time because I'm pretty sure I sucked. :)
Anyway, it was a really, really fun night! Probably drank a little more beer than I should have (simply because I was dehydrated this morning), but I had such a good time knowing that Hubby was taking care of the boys, not some stranger, and that my friend K is a fun person to hang out with.
Seeing the Gin Blossoms was surreal. I felt like I should be a freshman in high school! Totally flash back... but at the same time, it was a little weird to see the guys get so... old. We met the singer after the show and he definitely wasn't a heartthrob. But let me tell you, that guy can sing. Definitely a band worth seeing live! It's so disappointing to see musicians who suck live and they are clearly created in a studio, so I was impressed with the GB's talent.
Yeah, my cell takes crapalicious pictures, but there they were!
We did trivia night at a local bar, then went to another to do some karaoke. The karaoke was a little insane- we did Shoop. I don't think I've ever rapped in my entire life, and I think that's the last time because I'm pretty sure I sucked. :)
Anyway, it was a really, really fun night! Probably drank a little more beer than I should have (simply because I was dehydrated this morning), but I had such a good time knowing that Hubby was taking care of the boys, not some stranger, and that my friend K is a fun person to hang out with.
Seeing the Gin Blossoms was surreal. I felt like I should be a freshman in high school! Totally flash back... but at the same time, it was a little weird to see the guys get so... old. We met the singer after the show and he definitely wasn't a heartthrob. But let me tell you, that guy can sing. Definitely a band worth seeing live! It's so disappointing to see musicians who suck live and they are clearly created in a studio, so I was impressed with the GB's talent.
10/25/10
Happy 101
Wow, I got tagged! Thank you, Jess! I've never done one of these before, but I have to list 10 things that I like.
1. The color red. Thankfully Hubby likes that color in the kitchen, so all my appliances and cookware are decked out in my fave color.
2. New socks. So comfy.
3. Cheese. I love all kinds.
4. Diminishing numbers on the scale.
5. Body Pump class.
6. My fantastic Jetta Sportwagen TDI.
7. Autumn- the fashion, the food, the weather, all of it.
8. Football. A perfect Sunday would involve beer, good food, and the NFL.
9. Homemade cinnamon-craisin bread. It makes the house smell good and it's yummy.
10. Peppermint tea.
Now I get to award 10 friends with this, and I choose...
1. Cannot Predict Now
2. Diapers and Wine
3. Legend of Me
4. New England Country Girl
5. Our Navy Nest
6. A Monkey in the Navy
7. Pennies From Heaven
*Eh, so I only chose 7. Whatever.
10/24/10
A new low for Microsoft
"Windows gives me the family nature never could." That's the new catch phrase for Microsoft's Windows 7, promoting their photo editing software.
Did anyone else find offense in this??? I think it is an absolutely horrible, negative, disgusting line that ever existed in a commercial, and I can't believe Microsoft decided to include this concept in its marketing.
Why? Because perfection is not what family is about. Duh, Microsoft.
Hubby and I recently had family pictures done for our Christmas cards. The photographer took a lot of pictures and guess what- the boys still didn't smile or look in the camera at the same time. It's called being a child and I'd rather have pictures with personality than cookie-cutter, plastic smiles frozen on their faces in an obvious attempt to feign the ideal family.
When I was nine, my family had a rare occassion where all the aunts, uncles, and cousins visited my grandparents' house at the same time, so we took a family portrait. Some of us had weird looks on our faces and my Uncle B had to jump into the picture after setting the timer, so he's giving this odd finger-point, but it was memorable and funny to look at now. I wouldn't want to photo-shop generic forced smiles just to get the perfect picture because everyone's personality showed through.
Listen, I know that it's hard to get everyone seated and in a good mood and happy to be dressed alike (btw, matching outfits is just nerdy), but that's life. Take a few shots, pick the best one, and move on with it. The idea that we can photo-shop isn't what I don't like- it's the concept that the natural state of your family isn't good enough. I would never want to conceal my boys' energy and personality just to make it seem like they can sit and stay like trained dogs. Our Christmas card this year will include a smile from me, a half-smile from the Hubby, and no smile from the boys. JC didn't smile in a single picture because that's how he was that day and I never want myself or them to feel guilty for being who they are.
So Microsoft, please rethink the tagline. And fire whoever thought of it and the people that approved it.
Did anyone else find offense in this??? I think it is an absolutely horrible, negative, disgusting line that ever existed in a commercial, and I can't believe Microsoft decided to include this concept in its marketing.
Why? Because perfection is not what family is about. Duh, Microsoft.
Hubby and I recently had family pictures done for our Christmas cards. The photographer took a lot of pictures and guess what- the boys still didn't smile or look in the camera at the same time. It's called being a child and I'd rather have pictures with personality than cookie-cutter, plastic smiles frozen on their faces in an obvious attempt to feign the ideal family.
When I was nine, my family had a rare occassion where all the aunts, uncles, and cousins visited my grandparents' house at the same time, so we took a family portrait. Some of us had weird looks on our faces and my Uncle B had to jump into the picture after setting the timer, so he's giving this odd finger-point, but it was memorable and funny to look at now. I wouldn't want to photo-shop generic forced smiles just to get the perfect picture because everyone's personality showed through.
Listen, I know that it's hard to get everyone seated and in a good mood and happy to be dressed alike (btw, matching outfits is just nerdy), but that's life. Take a few shots, pick the best one, and move on with it. The idea that we can photo-shop isn't what I don't like- it's the concept that the natural state of your family isn't good enough. I would never want to conceal my boys' energy and personality just to make it seem like they can sit and stay like trained dogs. Our Christmas card this year will include a smile from me, a half-smile from the Hubby, and no smile from the boys. JC didn't smile in a single picture because that's how he was that day and I never want myself or them to feel guilty for being who they are.
So Microsoft, please rethink the tagline. And fire whoever thought of it and the people that approved it.
10/22/10
A day in the life of me
5:00- Wake up and drive to the gym. Forgot to roll windows up last night before it rained and sit in wet puddle the whole way.
5:30- Start my workout with a wet ass. Mid-elliptical, realize the boys need dress shoes for tomorrow.
6:15- Read newspaper, including a letter to the editor about how we need to "take a meat ax to military spending." Feel my blood pressure sky rocket.
6:50- Get home, kiss Hubby goodbye, and realize the boys are still asleep.
7:30- Boys wake up, chaos ensues.
8:30- Plop boys in front of The Cat In The Hat (tv show, not the stupid movie) and wash my face. Notice that I am looking tired and old and make a mental note to pick up foundation while out.
9:00- Get my lady moment and immediately take three Midol.
11:00-Sesame Street ends. Put the boys in the car and begin quest for brown dress shoes.
11:20- Arrive at Target. JC is sleeping. LB and I chill out....
...11:50- JC still sleeping. Wake his ass up so we can get going.
12:30- Leave Target empty-handed, enter Payless.
12:32- Leave Payless empty-handed, put boys in the car again.
12:50- Arrive at outdoor mall, notice it's pouring, and turn right around for indoor mall on the other side of the peninsula.
1:30- Arrive at mall and start looking for shoes at Macy's.
1:40- Leave Macy's empty-handed.
1:45- Enter Crazy 8's. Find nothing.
1:50- Enter Children's Place. Find nothing.
2:00- Drag children to other side of the mall for Sears. Force LB to try on shoes. He screams they're too tight. Try a size bigger. He screams they're too tight. Try clown-sized shoes. He screams they're too tight. Give up and find nothing.
2:10- Stop at bagel place for some milk for the boys, root beer for me, and bagel to split. Killer cramps settle in.
2:15- Obnoxious asshole sits next to us and says I need to control the boys because it'll just get harder when they're teenagers. Give him a nasty look.
2:25- Obnoxious man starts talking loudly to coworker about how children aren't controlled enough these days and that's what's wrong with America. Feel my blood pressure sky rocket again, get up, and leave with the boys.
2:26- Pick up a tantrum-throwing LB and carry him under my arm the entire length of the mall. Receive plenty of stares and ignore them all.
2:40- Put kids in the car and leave for home. Realize I didn't get foundation or shoes, that I spent $6 today and have nothing to show for it.
2:41- Kids fall asleep.
3:15- Arrive home. Kids still asleep. Do a little happy dance and eat a scoop of ice cream.
5:30- Start my workout with a wet ass. Mid-elliptical, realize the boys need dress shoes for tomorrow.
6:15- Read newspaper, including a letter to the editor about how we need to "take a meat ax to military spending." Feel my blood pressure sky rocket.
6:50- Get home, kiss Hubby goodbye, and realize the boys are still asleep.
7:30- Boys wake up, chaos ensues.
8:30- Plop boys in front of The Cat In The Hat (tv show, not the stupid movie) and wash my face. Notice that I am looking tired and old and make a mental note to pick up foundation while out.
9:00- Get my lady moment and immediately take three Midol.
11:00-Sesame Street ends. Put the boys in the car and begin quest for brown dress shoes.
11:20- Arrive at Target. JC is sleeping. LB and I chill out....
...11:50- JC still sleeping. Wake his ass up so we can get going.
12:30- Leave Target empty-handed, enter Payless.
12:32- Leave Payless empty-handed, put boys in the car again.
12:50- Arrive at outdoor mall, notice it's pouring, and turn right around for indoor mall on the other side of the peninsula.
1:30- Arrive at mall and start looking for shoes at Macy's.
1:40- Leave Macy's empty-handed.
1:45- Enter Crazy 8's. Find nothing.
1:50- Enter Children's Place. Find nothing.
2:00- Drag children to other side of the mall for Sears. Force LB to try on shoes. He screams they're too tight. Try a size bigger. He screams they're too tight. Try clown-sized shoes. He screams they're too tight. Give up and find nothing.
2:10- Stop at bagel place for some milk for the boys, root beer for me, and bagel to split. Killer cramps settle in.
2:15- Obnoxious asshole sits next to us and says I need to control the boys because it'll just get harder when they're teenagers. Give him a nasty look.
2:25- Obnoxious man starts talking loudly to coworker about how children aren't controlled enough these days and that's what's wrong with America. Feel my blood pressure sky rocket again, get up, and leave with the boys.
2:26- Pick up a tantrum-throwing LB and carry him under my arm the entire length of the mall. Receive plenty of stares and ignore them all.
2:40- Put kids in the car and leave for home. Realize I didn't get foundation or shoes, that I spent $6 today and have nothing to show for it.
2:41- Kids fall asleep.
3:15- Arrive home. Kids still asleep. Do a little happy dance and eat a scoop of ice cream.
And the winner is...
...Jess! Message me your addy, and I'll have your large jar of Autumn Fruit delivered! Btw, discovered that last year, too, and it's Hubby's fave.
Congrats!
Congrats!
MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #18
1.Are you a night owl or an early bird?
I used to be a night owl, but last night I was pooped at 9:30pm. Having kids has made me an early bird now, but I definitely have days where I want to get to bed early and sleep in!
2.What makes you jealous?
Autumn in NH when I can't be there. I love everything about fall in New England, and I miss it very much.
3.Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping yet? When will you finish? (There’s only 63 days left!)
Technically, no. We're going to buy presents when we get to NH (so we don't have to pack them in our suitcases), so sometime between the 19th and Christmas Eve. But we have given thought to what we want to get for each person.
4.What would you have a personal chef make you tonight?
Oh, the possibilities!! Probably something I can't make very well, like thai food. Or maybe something I like that Hubby doesn't, like lasagna, just so I can blame the cook. :)
5.Where was your first kiss?
I think it was at recess, but the one that I really remember was at band camp my freshman year in high school. Yeah, band camp.... that says a lot about why my first kiss was in high school and not earlier, ha!
Go visit Wife of a Sailor to link up!
I used to be a night owl, but last night I was pooped at 9:30pm. Having kids has made me an early bird now, but I definitely have days where I want to get to bed early and sleep in!
2.What makes you jealous?
Autumn in NH when I can't be there. I love everything about fall in New England, and I miss it very much.
3.Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping yet? When will you finish? (There’s only 63 days left!)
Technically, no. We're going to buy presents when we get to NH (so we don't have to pack them in our suitcases), so sometime between the 19th and Christmas Eve. But we have given thought to what we want to get for each person.
4.What would you have a personal chef make you tonight?
Oh, the possibilities!! Probably something I can't make very well, like thai food. Or maybe something I like that Hubby doesn't, like lasagna, just so I can blame the cook. :)
5.Where was your first kiss?
I think it was at recess, but the one that I really remember was at band camp my freshman year in high school. Yeah, band camp.... that says a lot about why my first kiss was in high school and not earlier, ha!
Go visit Wife of a Sailor to link up!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
