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My oldest affectionately (I hope!!) named me that, and I figured it was only appropriate - for both me...and this blog ;o)


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Monday, December 15, 2008

Are you stealing my Christmas list???!!!

So...I posted last week, my desires for Christmas this year. In the #1 spot, was the one thing I have wanted for the past 2 years - a Blackberry. Robbie has always argued that he doesn't see the point in these smartphones. We just need phones that dial and receive calls - blah, blah, blah. What a poopie head! Oh, but it gets better...Saturday, he calls me to ask about eh Blackberry. My heart jumped for just a minute - until I realized that he was asking for his own interest. Yup, that's right. Mr Ionlyneedaphonetocall is now getting a Blackberry. WTH??!!! Okay, okay....I'm really not mad (disappointed a tad maybe). After all, he does so much for us - including allowing me to get a monstrous dog. He deserves it...and we're excited to see him enter the new millennium!

He was ready for change...

You know....my life doesn't have enough chaos, or so it seems. Today we added a third school to the mix. Garrett has been unhappy at his charter school this year, and decided to chck out our zoned elementary school. Initially this morning, we stopped by for a tour to aid in out final decision about switching - after the winter break. The school must have an incredible marketing campaign for the kiddos, because by the time we finished, Garrett had his bookbag and was heading into his new classroom!! I don't tink I have seen him this happy and "sparkly" since w moved here. I'm hoping for an incredible remainder of 4th grade. If this afternoon was any indication, it should reach far beyond our expectations. Garrett had his homework completed before I even got home from picking up the girls! Kinda makes it worth the added chaos - time crunchd schedules, volunteer time, etc.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

All I Want for Christmas is....

I'm taking on a new strategy this year for my Christmas list. I figure if I blog my Christmas list...and my kids see it, they can nag at Robbie and make sure that I get something other than candles this year :). So here goes....

Blackberry
Rainbow boots (if you haven't seen them, but they are the boot version of the flip flops - sooo comfy!!)
Sterling silver "peace sign" necklace
Steam cleaner for floors
Ski weekend for the family
New cord for my laptop
Planet Earth DVD box set
Toe socks (so if I don't get the boots, I can still wear my Rainbows!! ;)

So this is a start...with gifts in many price ranges. Everyone print out their own copy to pass along to Robbie. Pleeeeaaaseee, NO MORE CANDLES!!!!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Happy Birthday LuLu!!!


Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Lana,
Happy birthday to you!

Today is the day...my baby girl is 12! We started the celebration with a lunch with the grandparents yesterday...today we shall shop. Having girls is a blast!!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!


On this eve of Thanksgiving, I relect on all the blessings in my life...

* I have an amazing husband who works harder than one should - so that I can be home with the kids.

* And those 3 kids are happy, healthy, beautiful, bright, and successful.

* I live close to my family and am able to see them on a regular basis...and can watch the nephews grow up <3.

* We have a home, heat, and food (although I do complain about cooking it :)

* I (this is not a we - LOL) have 2 cool dogs (well...Athena is cool when she's not using the kitchen as her personal bathroom - or sticking her nose in the pots on the stove!) and a sweet kitty.

* I walk outside every morning amazed by the beauty the mountains that I am so lucky to live in.

* I have wonderful friends.

* Our country has an promising new leader!

In troubling or stressful times, it can be difficult to remember that there is so much good in life...but everyday really is a Thanksgiving.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Christmas, Christmas Time is Here...

We are embarking on my favorite time of year. The holidays are met with happiness - it's the season of family and giving and great tv Christmas classics. Although all of things warm my heart, my real reason for loving this time is much more calculated and cynical than that. Simply put, my kids are on extra-good behavior. With the promise of Santa and loot, they tiptoe around kissing bootie...in hopes of getting more and more and more. This year, the gift of choice is cell phones. Quite the biggie in our home - as I have fought the purely materialistic want for years. As the kiddos get older and branch out away from me on a regular basis, I am actually considering the idea. Here's my proposal: If they housebreak Athena, cook dinner every night, do all the laundry, and massage my feet...they just might be texting a Merry Christmas to all!

**Hey guys, read this carefully - especially the last sentence, okay??
Love ya all!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

10 things you don't know (and probably don't want to know) about me...

1. I was born in Honolulu, HI.

2. A policeman had to bring me home when I was 3 for playing in the middle of the street (and we wonder where Garrett gets it from???).

3. I once told my little brother that he flushed our baby sister down the toilet.

4. I was once blamed for peeing on the floor of the bathroom that I shared with my 3year old brother.

5. I cheated ONCE on a biology test...and felt so bad that I told on myself.

6. I had a summer job as a California Raisin - complete with costume and dancing.

7. I pawned my roommates tv (while she was out of town) to fund a trip to the beach...and yeah, she was ticked!

8. I was a radio DJ.

9. Robbie and I got married 3 months after we met.

10. I love Clay Aiken (and have seen him in concert...twice!!!).

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Crazy or Not...I'm AWESOME!!

Inspired by one of my favorite daily blog reads, I decided to make my top 10 list of why I'm so incredibly, wonderfully, awesomely, crazily AWESOME!! Check it out...and then make your list...why do you rock?!

1. I am known as the cool mom with my 14 year old daughter's friends!!
2. I must have done something right with my kids - they are always respectful and kind (outside of the home ;)
3. I'm smart enough to understand 8th grade math and algebra.
4. I can get up multiple times in the middle of the night with the Great Dane puppy, and still love her in the morning.
5. I am the queen of pulling it all off in the last minute - all while no one is the wiser.
6. I can fight hard for something - when it's important...
7. I can let it go when it's not.
8. I have awesome taste in music!
9. I have awesome taste in friends!
10. And last, but not least...I have awesome taste in blogs!!! Check out my fave:
Womb At The Innsane

Monday, November 10, 2008

Cutting for a Cause

So....last night Kaylee and Lana were in their room doing girlie stuff, when they came out and told me that Lana had finally made a decision. About her hair, that is. She was ready to cut it for Locks of Love. She has been discussing this for a year...and it seemed like the right time. I'm so proud of her!

Check out the before and after:



Saturday, November 8, 2008

Fun in the Leaves

Our task at hand today is reaking leaves. In a rare moment of kindness, the kids offered to help. I was so excited for the help...but then I realized this is what I was getting. What can I say? Kids will be kids - they had a blast!




Friday, November 7, 2008

Natural Beauty

Lana's class took a field trip to Grovestone Quarry and Nature Trail yesterday - to learn about rocks. As interesting as the presentation was (note the sarcasm ;o), I was more interested in taking pictures of our surroundings.











Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Breakfast Celebration!!!

Excited? Oh yeah....


Change is Coming....





What an eventful night we had last night...democracy at its finest. I must admit that my need for sleep prevented me from staying awake to watch election results, but never fear...Athena to the rescue. She woke me up with her whining around midnight for a bathroom break. Since I fall asleep with the tv on, I noticed Obama giving a speech - what type of speech, I couldn't determine in my sleepy stupor. Concerned, I headed straight for the computer, and there it was on my home page....Obama wins, McCain concedes! A victory (HA to you Robbie!!). Change is finally on its way!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

What happens when you take five 6th grade girls, load them up on sugar, and drop them at back to back Halloween parties? They morph into this:

Pre Halloween costume...my cute little Pippi Longstocking


Post Halloween (party #2) costume...Strippi Longstocking - a mother can be so proud!!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Boredom



This is what boredom looks like...Nothing to do, no where to go, no money to spend, and a sister who's gone. Poor, poor, pitiful girl. (Actually, she is enjoying this!! ;)

**In case you're wondering...she's watching Hannah Montana 3D - YUCK!!

Happy Halloween???

It could be because of the cold, the fact that the kids are getting older, or that Lana wasn't home, but last night turned out to be an anti climatic Halloween. Kaylee, Garrett and I started the night at the church's Hallowest festival. As we walked up to the festivities, Garrett pulled his costume off realizing that it was crowded - with a lot of adorably costumed children...young children. Garrett played on a few inflatables while Kaylee and I hung out in the cold looking for a familiar face (never found one :). After 45 minutes or so, we decided to try for a change of pace and went to the bf's baseball game. Another bitter cold activity. Kaylee and I finally succumbed to mother nature and joined the bf's parents in the car to watch, while Garrett claimed his stake at the concession stand - 1/2 price on everything! Garrett played for a couple of hours, we chatted and watched. Then the game ended, we went home, and the kids fell into bed. The end. No trick-or-treating, no candy, no major excitement. Is this what Halloween is for us now?

Happy (or not) Halloween...as promised here are the pics of Lana and Garrett's costumes. Kaylee was too dignified to dress up (LOL)



Friday, October 31, 2008




After the daily nagging phone calls, I was worn down and finally voted today. It's not that I am disinterested in politics (quite the contrary) or that I didn't want to do my civil duty...it was actually a result of pure laziness this past year. We have been in Asheville for over a year, and moved once since here, but neither Robbie or I have changed our drivers licenses - which means that we never updated our voter registration. As I missed the deadline, I accepted the fact that I wouldn't be able to vote. Then came the daily calls...the incessant nagging from the parents insisting that I find a way to vote. So, I did. And you know what? It was incredibly simple. One-stop registration and voting. Not only did I get to update my registration and vote, I voted early...and was in and out in 20 minutes. I must say that the volunteers working made the process a breeze. Let this be my nagging to all out there...GO VOTE!

**Disclaimer: Potential voters who are leaning towards or are planning to vote anything other than the Obama/Biden ticket need not register, change registration, nor take part in this general election (LOL...just kidding - unless you're my dear hubby who kept getting misinformation on how to change his registration. Don't know how that could have happened - OOPS!!).

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Wanna Play?



Put The Big Red Button on your site

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

ARGGGGGHHHH!!!!

What do 2 dirty dogs, one sick teenager, loads of makeup work, a 6th grade essay, and a bored 9 year old boy, have in common? THEY ARE ALL DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

More Snow!!

I find it totally appropriate to post again about the snow. YAY!!!! Although we didn't get any more than a dusting in our neighborhood, check out what they got down from Lana and Garrett's school (about 5 miles east of home).

BTW...that is a bull eating in the background...can't explain how it came to be, but the kids and I drive by on a regular basis to give a big shout-out (literally, out the car windows) to the bulls. We like to think of them as our pets - LOL, maybe that's why she calls me CrazyLady!!!

It Snowed Last Night!!!



Okay...just a little flurry dusting on the car, but still...IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT!!! (and it's only October ;o)

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Halloween Is On Its Way!!!

If there is an upside to being sick, I found it today. With the pounding head and blah feeling, I had no gusto to clean or straighten up...allowing me more time to spend with my kids - talking. After a much needed nap, we have planned out Halloween costumes without stress. Amazing how it can take wiping you out to get you to stop and smell the roses.

So, without the normal concern for the dishes piled up in the sink, we had the time to scour for the internet for some cute ideas. As for now, I'm not allowed to share, but rest assured, pictures will be posted soon!

Field Day

I have officially succumbed to this sickness. Now, please don't think that means that I am laying around or resting in bed...only dads get to do that!! No, I continue with life - I just get to feel terrible while I do it.

Yesterday, Garrett had his field/awards day for fall baseball. After 6 Advil and numerous breaks in the car to get warm, it proved to be a fun day for all!

Click to play 2008 WNC Fall Baseball
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Friday, October 24, 2008

A Valuable Lesson

I learned a lesson today - one, like most, that would have been so valuable a long time ago. It began with Garrett reminding me about the birthday party (that we had both forgotten!) tomorrow night. So began the panic in deciding what gift to buy. No fear - Garrett to the rescue...a Bakugan. I know, don't ask me. It's a cross between Yugi-O and Pokemon, and evidently one of the hottest boy toys around - and reasonably priced (YAY!!). As we were heading to Target, Garrett told me that all of the discount stores were out of them. I felt a severe anxiety attack coming on, because this could mean only one thing....Toys R Us!

I haven't been there in quite a few years (actually since Garrett was a toddler) for a reason - taking my 3 kids there was a living nightmare. If you've been around my kiddos long enough, you have seen that they are quite adept at the tag team effort. The premise behind it is if they beg, whine, run around crazy - one after another, then they will wear me down enough to give in. Sometimes I was strong. Sometimes not. It was enough to send anyone over the edge. Right as the stress peaked, the Toys R Us in Rocky Mount closed...allowing me to keep what remained of my sanity. Never, ever again would I have to go to Toys R Us....until tonight.

Through breaths in the paper bag, I gave Garrett (and the girls) a run-down on my expectations. I will buy the gift with a $10 limit, and you each may have $5 to spend on yourselves (no doubt that $5 would cause an issue - when's the last thing you've seen a toy that cheap?). We walked around the store for about an hour...browsing and looking at prospective Christmas gifts. The shock of all shocks? All 3 kids were amazingly well behaved. There was no running, riding the bikes, playing with the balls, or begging. The girls didn't find anything, and decided to save their money until tomorrow, Garrett chose the gift and his toy, and we were on our merry little way. Nothing short of a miracle!! The lesson learned? Kids under 9-10 years of age should not be in Toys R Us. Waiting until less than half of the store appeals to them cuts down on what they actually want to ask for. Sounds almost like common sense now. If only I had waited...it would have saved a whole lot of crying (mine!).

The Crud

Crud season is officially here! Not that I would know firsthand or anything, because Mom's are not allowed to get sick - under any circumstances. I have fought the urge to share with my children that I have felt a little under the weather for the past week. Why? Because once I show my weakness, the hell begins. With the 3, it usually happens in this order: #1 says she's not feeling too great either (a ploy to sleep in and miss school? I think so) #3 realizes that it's PARTY TIME!! Mom will never have the energy to fight him when she's down (and I must admit, he's right). #2 usually comes to my rescue and keeps the home running somewhat smoothly (a sweet gesture that ultimately drains her and lands her in the sick bed). Add to that the fact that life will not stop - there is still school, homework, activities, and the dogs (especially the puppy) - which means that sick or not, I still have to get up and function like every other day.

So for now, I will cowboy up, go to the baseball awards, help with projects, and amuse the kiddos - while they are utterly clueless, and hope that they are in "sweet mode," which just might give me a chance to rest this off.

Monday, October 20, 2008

I find myself wondering who it was that insisted that we get a Great Dane. I mean really...couldn't they foresee the amount of pee and poop that could come out of a dog (even a puppy) of that magnitude! And then I am reminded by Robbie that it was indeed me that begged, pleaded, and cried for months for this dog. To which I must respond...since when do you start giving me my way?! Wimp!! (Love ya anyways, though ;o)

Pee and poop aside, Athena is here to stay. And she is darn cute...especially her love affair with Frank.


Sunday, October 19, 2008

Ballgame!

Just as the umpire calls the end of the game, we bid adieu to the baseball season. It's official...it's over. It's a bittersweet time. I must admit some relief that our weekday afternoons and evenings (and Saturdays) are now free for homework, old-fashioned playing, and earlier bedtimes. But I will miss the fun, excitement, and social outlet that Little League games bring.

As we figure out what to do with our new free-time, take a look at some highlights of Garrett's 2008 fall season....

Click to play 2008 WNC Astros
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Saturday, October 18, 2008


Just like the Red Sox Thursday night, the 2A Astros came back from 7-2 in the last inning to win the game. An exciting feat, and the best part? Garrett had the tying and winning RBI's. Looks like he's back!! After last week's triple (a real one - not because of an error on the other team) and a close slide under the tag to steal home, Garrett's mojo is back!! Now if he can just keep it until spring....WTG Garrett!!!

PS...Don't you wish you had stayed 5 more minutes? LOL

These nights must end soon, right? Right?!!?

Puppy life has proved to be nothing less than eventful. Athena is settling in and making herself comfortable...with Frankie watching over her each and every move. He has become quite protective over his new baby - actually growling and nipping at Kaylee and Garrett for getting too close to Athena. He is never far from her side...when she sleeps, he lies beside her watching her breathe. Sweet, but maybe a little obsessive - LOL.

The first 2 nights home were sleepless - for me, that is. I have had puppies before, and crate trained them successfully, knowing that at first they might whine and bark for a few minutes before they quiet down. Not Athena! She would bark all night (and I mean literally all night) long. Yesterday I put her in the crate, and she barked for 4 hours straight!! Not wanting to start a feud with our new neighborhood, I knew I had to find an alternative. So, to the ballgame she went, where she was played with and gawked at for 2 hours, and then I brought her home, fed her, and put her and Frankie in the kitchen with the gate. They seem to be getting along well, so I assumed that they would be safe left alone together - and they were. Just short of a miracle, they both stayed quiet until 4:30am...quite the feat considering that Thursday night, I was up at 1:00am and finally 3:00am for the day. It is amazing how good 6 hours of sleep feels. Today I am totally refreshed - and ready for a couple of ballgames. Here's hoping that we have broken the no-sleep habit....

Thursday, October 16, 2008

It's a Girl!!!




It's official...we added a new member to our family. A 4-legged one. We are now proudly owned by a 7 week old Great Dane, Athena. Isn't she sweet?

Monday, October 6, 2008

She's Baaaack!!!

Lana has returned from the Green River Preserve GRITS camp. The weather was pleasant - warm days and only slightly cold nights, the surroundings were gorgeous, the food was good (with an entire vegetarian menu option each meal), and the girls were happy...what an awesome first camp experience!!

Click to play GRITS Weekend 2008
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