circus is in town!

Make a Smilebox scrap pages

Mark's Awsome Car Video!

Bored in A Car in Texas

Our Texas Trip

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Ever wonder what happens to gum?

Ever wonder what happens to gum? You open it... you chew it... go Swimming with it, lay out sunning with it, and oh yeah....and instead of "chewing" you begin "chawing" of the... I believe Mint green gum! Nice Brittney!

Sorry Britt! It's here forever! Luv Ya!

It's Goo-licious!

It funny, as a mom you are always playing translator with your kids. Even when they're teens, it never stops. I've been meaning to write down Isabella's "Belli-isms."

poppy weee-sawl = Pop goes the weasal

No monkeys jump the bed = No monkys jumping on the bed

Last few months she's been trying to say "delicious" but it kept coming out garbled. She finally settled on "Goo-licious!"

Set scene: Isabella sitting (ok jumping) at the table at Red Robin

Mom: Belly what are you eating?

Isabella: French fri...ummmmm Goo-Licious!

Enough said!

Your Breaking My Jaw!

Your worst nightmare....

Have you ever tried to eat a jawbreaker? You know there's a reason they call it a jawbreaker right? Slimy, slobbery, sticky...uhg! And it's supposed to be good? Who was the crazy person who came up with the idea of giving our kids a gag ball made of sugar? Unless your really into sugary bondage toys maybe you should stay away from these. Most are just big enough to get lodged in your throat...have you ever seen the movie "Jawbreaker"? Freaky!! This girl is kidnapped by her best friends for her birthday and one of them decided to gag her as a joke with a jawbreaker. Well like all moms say "you'll choke on it!" she does and dies! If you haven't seen it, go rent...watch! You'll laugh so hard you'll choke!

Check out Foodnetwork on how Jawbreakers are made! Cool!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/jaw-breakers/1348.html

Gummy Gummy

Oh the wonderful world of Gummy! Did you know they can make just about any shape out of that gummy stuff? There's gummy rats, gummy bears, gummy fish, gummy, gummy burgers, gummy peaches, gummy cola, some of the wierder shapes, gummy brains, gummy bugs, oh and my favorite gummy eyeballs! But we can't forget America's favorite...the gummy worm! Now in my day (not too long ago) they used to be all one color, one flavor. Now with todays technology they make them with stripes! oh and 2 flavors at once...to tantilize the tast buds is insane! ok, ok, so i'm a little crazy for gummy worms. I recently bought a bag for my lil one "Bella" and was surprised when I opened the bag...they were staring back at me! Yes you heard right. Staring at me! Gummy worms now have faces! Now how am I supposed to devour endless gummies when they're looking at me? ugg! Oh well....chomp chomp!

Marisa goes for a spin

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Dream Dream Dream...

Dreams. What are they? Wierd manifistations of our imaginations? Have you ever realized that you were dreaming? I remember always hearing "if you die in your dreams you die in real life" I hope that isn't true. I had the craziest dream this morning. It is a bit detailed to go into but long story short. I made fun of someone and they shot me in the back. I then realized in my dream that I was dreaming and that "if you die in your dreams you die in real life" was going through my mind. I tried to wake up but it seemed like hours. I even felt the intense pain and stinging from the gunshot wound and then the warmth one would feel from bleeding out. I eventually woke up. Probably only seconds in real life. My back hurts.

Just when you think they're getting on your last nerve...

They go and do something cute.

Isabella decided to conduct her own concert

while I listened to Mozart as I was cleaning the house

Donut Drums

Isabella had been bugging me to eat a donut yesterday. After many attempts to get her to eat her lunch, she finally got the donut she wanted. Now one would think she would inhail it like a Great Dane would a burritto, but alas this was not the case. No... she had a sudden urge to eat off all the frosting and play the "Donut Drums." I only knew this was happening because from the kitchen I could hear a "Squishing" sound along with singing. when I investigated I found this.

Ok, my 2yr old has been buggin to watch this "Gummie Bear" song from youtube. When she wants to watch it she asks "I watch Gummie Bear Butt?"

Ok- so I "Survived" this cold...

Simply Sick

Simply sick...that's what my friends are telling me. It's not that simple though. It all started with my older son, go figure he dragged something from HS home and came down with a really bad cold. Don't worry, he got over it in about 4 days. Lucky him. The rest of us not so lucky. One by one we have been dropping like flies. Oh and I almost forgot my hubby...he didn't get sick. Go figure?

If you go by my "Tweets" on Twitter it went something like this:

Day 1 (Friday)

Tweet: Brandon is sick as a dog

Day 2

Tweet: Isabella is sick too

Day 3

Tweet: Mom is dying on the couch

Day 4

Tweet: went to Dr. it's official, we're dying...on the couch

Day 5, 6, 7

Fever hits everyone we're all dying in the living room with the shades drawn

Day 7, 8, 9

Almost all are well - no fevers, eating etc...

except me! I have lost my voice. Have you ever tried to run a house with 4 kids, 1 husband, 1 dog, 1 bunny with no voice? I'm finding myself hitting the wall and snapping my fingers at people to get thier attention. Even my darling husband has made fun of me.

Yes! My loving husband of 16 yrs is making fun of how I talk. He was so kind to point out to me that I sounded like a deaf person trying to talk while he made hand jesters at me. "Thanks hunny!" So to complicate things my smart alecky kids got out the sign language book and have been signing to me all day. (BTW I don't know sign language!) That's ok...the days of take-out because mom is sick are almost over and they're going to have to eat my cooking again sometime! Haha

Becoming a "Target"

So here I am in Target again. I was only here yesterday, what was it? Oh yeah, the pharmacy. You notice those people in red shirts staring at you, wondering to themselves..."Didn't I see you yesterday?" Now depending on what your wearing, you either get the "Can I help you find something" or the "Undercover" security following you. You know... the random guy with 2 items in his basket slightly follwoing you down the isle. You know he's security because no guy in his right mind would follow any lady down the Tampax & Poise Pad isle and pretend to choose one and not even pick up a box! let's see, Back to the pharmacy to get an inhailer, down the grocery isle to get milk, (guy is still there following me) Maybe it's because I'm just getting over a cold, I'm wearing sweats and my "Mommy ponytail" and I look awful. Ok had to back track to another isle, I forgot something. This of course is making it very hard for the security guy to follow me, I think he's new - funny! Eventually I round the bend to get kleenex, ah he's gone...

Bam! Our carts collide.

Nope he's back-I've managed to crash into his cart which is still holding the 2 random items.

"Sorry! I didn't realize you were still following me"

Security: " uh uh.. ( I think I stunned him lol)Are you finding everything alright?

Me: (He forgot he was supposed to be undercover security)
Yeah..why? Do you work here? ( I ask, like I didn't know already)

Security: "Yes?" (Still looking bewildered)

Me: In that case, yes. Except your kind of creeping me out following me.

Security: "You shop here alot?" (looking at me oddly, I know what he's trying to do)

Me: Yup! That's what happen's when Target sells just about everything! One day medicine, one day photos, one day milk you know?

Security: (looking rather flushed) "Sorry to bother you mame"

Today I went to Target and became...a Target!

Sometimes...you know...

Ok mom's with kids...you ever feel like this?

Moon Sand ...really?

Who ever thought of Moon Sand should be fired. Have you ever tried to play with it. The commercial makes it look so cool, pack it in special molds (not included) convienient fold up play container.

Let's face reality...it 'aint going to stay contained! Oh and the claims that it's better than real sand because it sticks together...

Yeah it sticks together - if you apply brute force of an adult it might stick together! Otherwise it just clumps and breaks off all over the table, floor and in each others hair. Oh almost forgot the best part! My daughter now had yellow and purple stained hands- so does my couch where she wiped her hands off before I could grab her. Let's just say what it really is... "poor man's play-doh!" I'll take real Play-doh anyday! Come on Moon Sand...really? Should've been left on the moon!

PS It was a gift (I wouldn't buy it), and this is what I came home to after picking up perscriptions from the store thanks to my 12yr old. Nothing like sick kids and sand everywhere...

Boys & Bees!

Boys and bees...never a good combo. There I was laying on my couch sick as a dog (never did get that expression) when I heard a comotion in the backyard and saw two shadows quickly flutter by the closed curtains only to hear...

"Open the door! Open the door!"

"Close the door! Close the door!"

Yes you guessed it. My husband Mark and of course my older son Mark Jr were trying to dodge a swarm of bees!

See my husband has this "Trashcan composting" thing going on in the back yard and hadn't turned it in about 3 weeks and well It was a matter of time before bees decided to set up camp. What a camp it was! We had BeeCause Inc. come out and remove them this morning. Kelly and her son Justin came prepared to remove the bees. I watched from the safety of my sons room while my 2yr old jumped up and down on the bed declairing "I like bees!"

I'm glad we found someone who knew what they were talking about, and instead of killing the bees they relocate them safely near a wildflower farm. They only charged a donation fee as they are a non-profit organization. Way better for our wallet and for our earth! Bee-sides they were just trying to find a place to make a home and now they'll have a safe one! Thank you Kelly!

The Brownie Bandit

Ahhh, the wonderful smell of a well baked pan of brownies. Ok I admit it's not the best snack but hey...they we're 2 for $2. (Like that makes it ok) Say so long to the waistline!
You know it's bad when you finally take the pan out and start making the cutting lines in your head. Is it that time of month again? why am I craving brownies and why is it taking them so long to cool down? (And no I'm not pregant -mom)Finally! They're cool enough to cut. Two lines lengthwise, 4 lines widthwise. Ok so that makes 12 beautiful brownies. Yes- I was counting them. It was so bad last night I even wrapped them ever so carefully in tin foil a special way so if there was to be a discrepency in how many were left I would know "It wasn't me!" I was right to do so! There's a Brownie Bandit among us. Two of my presious brownies are missing! When you have as many kids as I do it's sort of like having mice in the house. They don't make a sound, leave crumbs everywhere and when caught they look so cute.

Until you realize "They ate my damn brownies!"

Let the interrigation begin!

As I back tracked to the precise second of when I wrapped them in foil I recalled each and every conversation I had had up until tonights dinner. (Amazing how I could remember that since I can't even remember what I ate for lunch) Mark Jr...has been cleared. He exchanged 1 brownie for doing dishes last night. Dad..cleared. (he had heard me hollering about brownies and declared "I haven't even had 1! I didn't know there where any!" ) Next is Brandon...All I have to do with him is point my finger at him and as "Did you eat a brownie without asking?" (eyes piercing his very soul) Because he's 7 he busts out giggling...yup he's telling the truth. If he wasn't he'd be looking at the ceiling rolling his eyes. Isabella didn't get any so she's clear. That leaves one person.....Miss Alicia!

Mom: (looking at her sternly) Did you take the brownies?
Alicia: Um....(hesitantly) Yeeeah?
Mom: You Brownie Bandit!
Alicia: I took some to eat with lunch, but I didn't pack much. (now realizing I now know she basically ate brownies for lunch)
Mom: Alicia!
Alicia: Well I wasn't going to say anything unless you asked!
Mom: Right! You stole my brownies!
Alicia: uhhhh (sheepishly grinning) I'll do the dishes....?

Well at least I don't have to wash dishes, my lovely daughter Alicia has offered to do them in exchange for "Mercy for the Brownie Bandit"

Darnit...now I have to make more!

What Did You Feed Him?

Ok so Brandon has been learning to play baseball for the very first time. He's been doing pretty good until a week ago when his mood just fell like a comet on fire from the sky. What happened between game 4 and 5? Was I too hard on him, not encourageing enough? It's like the old saying, "You can lead ahorse to water, but you can't make him drink." Well Brandon was far from the water hole and was turning himself into glue! You ever been to a baseball game where someone is rattleing the batter with..."Hey batter batter...saa- wing batter!" Brandon was psyching himself out and it was beginning to show. What can I do? Mom's always want thier kids to do well, but you can only do so much, and just how does a 7yr old cope with always striking out? It's tough I tell you.

Brandon was not looking forward to this week. He is ready to quit playing baseball. We have 3 games! Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. I tell you Monday was like trying to roll a dung beetle down a hill of molassas! We even had a tantrum in fustration (hitting the bat on the ground while yelling) Let me tell you he was stressed!

Come Wednesday I wasn't looking forward to trying to cheer him on. It had become a ritual of smiles and "You can do it buddy!"s Except today was going to be different!

Gma Polly came over to babysit the kids while I was keeping score at Mark Jr's track meet that afternoon and I left chicken defrosting and instructions on what to do with it for dinner because I would be picking Brandon up for his night game. To my surprise...Gm Polly had make the most wonderful, flavorful, most aromatic chicken I had ever smelled! Dinner was made when I arrive at 4:50pm that afternoon. All I could think was yum!!

I had already brought dinner from Carl's Jr in my feeble attempt to bribe Brandon in having a good attitude for the game, but Gma's chicken overwhelmed the house and him..he ate the kid's meal and a bowl of Gma's chicken.

That night it was like day into night...Brandon came to play! He was fielding, cheering his team mates on, and swinging (and missing )but he had the best game face on!

Just about all the parents and even the coach commented..."What did you feed that kid? What's gotten into him?" I couldn't answer...I was eating my carefully packed dinner of Gma's magical chicken...and then it hit!

I yelled "Grandma's chicken!"

Coaches recommendation for Saturday's game...

feed him Grandma's Magic Chicken for breakfast!

Glass! Glass! ...

You ever have one of those moments when you think &!@#?

Like when you drop a curling iron and you go to catch it out of instinct and think $@#!# because you thought it burned you, yet it didn't even come close? Or in an instant how you can anticipate how much something is going to hurt like when you swing a hammer and you know in a split second you already missed the nail and it's heading for your thumb?

Or like me tonight, reaching for the top shelf of the refrigerator (picture it...large glass bottle of apple sauce resting half on the top shelf)

As I reach for it, I already know..it's coming down baby! Big glass bottle and me standing in my bare feet.

In my feeble attempt to spare my feet from shards of applesauce and gloppy glass, despite giggles from my children who are sitting like Kings and Queens at my round table - I become the worlds worst jester juggler...

"Glass!" (panic has already set in)

"Glass!"( 2nd attempt to catch not going well...)

"Glass!" (half way down...)

"Holy Crap!" (as it bounces..yes bounces at my feet)

Whew!

One bottle of Ralphs Apple sauce $2.00

Money saved in paper towels $5.00

Watching mommy juggle glass apple sauce bottle while yelling "Glass! Glass! Glass! Holy Crap!"

Priceless

Work Work Work!

It's Friday and my husband is working from home.

He decided to work outside since the weather is so nice,

except he had to go to the restroom.

Dad: (running) I have to go, I hope she doesn't grab anything. (Duh...)

Mom: goes outside to check just in time to see Isabella swinging her legs

and messing with? Yup... his computer!

Mom: Isabella! What are you doing?

Isabella: 'nut 'ting (nothing, big grin on her face)

Mom: Isabella? What ARE you doing?

(looking at her as sternly as possible without cracking up)

Isabella: uuummmm, working?

Mom: (Sorry I cracked up!)

Silly Dad...Sports Are For Kids!

Let's see, do I have everything?

Chair - check

blanket,sweatshirt, check, check

camera, camera battery, video camera, snacks, sports equipments.

Yup Looks like I have everything.

Oh wait...Brandon get in the car!

What is it that drives parents to be so competitive when it comes to thier kids sports?

Is it pride? Honor? Fun of the sport? Hell no..we just want to win!

Sports Dads: Have you ever...

...been tortured?

(of course you have, standing for 2 hours watching a game when you know very well there's a freezing cold bleacher with your name on it behind you)

...eaten snacks just because there's nothing better to do?

(Of course you have, sunflowers/peanuts...wierd especially since you never eat those)

...coached your kid from the sidelines? of course not...it's called "Encouragment!" ;-)

...told your kids "That's ok you'll get it next time!" when your secretly thinking %$#@!

Let's face it Dad...sports are for kids!

Congratulations Mark Jr!

He won both his races in Track & Field

110 Hurdles

300 Hurdles

Those Spandex must be helping! :-)

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Ok long story short...


Found lump in neck awhile back (we all know what "Lump" means to a woman)


After many Dr. visits had lump ultrasounded-lump to large for comfort


Had FNA schedualed for lump (FNA= Fine Needle Aspiration, I think it really means Frick'in Not Alright!"


Admitted to hospital for procedure


Scared as hell...until...


1)I counted all the dots in the ceiling tile. By the way there's 480 holes.





2)Found out my sister "Rocked" a hospital gown 80's off the shoulder style once (only because the damn thing was too large and kept falling off)





3)My lil sister's stomach sounded like to old men fighting...roda roda roda


(she didn't eat this morning)





Laughter really is the best medicine! The good news? Lumps seem to be getting smaller so no need to needle it, just have to watch it for a while just to be sure.

Come on...does anyone really what one of these things coming at them?

Now if everyone keeps burping and farting in public...I should be fine!

LOL

Marshmallow & Sugar...Are You Insane?

Ah those ever so looming baskets leftover from Easter. Filled to the brim with chocolate bunnies, jellybeans, Easter eggs, pain-in-the-$%#!& grass, and yes...the infamous Marshmallow Peep!

Have you ever wondered as you follow a trail of yellow sugar "Who invented these cute monstrosities and why is it all over my house?" Well I have been schooled, just when I thought I knew it all. (You know because Mom knows everything)

Fun Fact #1 In the early 1950's, it took 27 hours to make 1 Peep, it now takes 6 minutes

Fun Fact #2 Over 70 million Peeps lined up beak to tail are needed to reach New York to LA

Fun Fact #3 Peeps Chicks and Bunnies come in 5 different colors

Fun Facts from http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/

Glitter Text Generator

Fun Fact #1

In April 2009 it only takes 6 seconds to fall out of my kids mouth and it has taken me approximately 27 hours to clean marshmallow off of furniture

Fun Fact #2

I have over 70 million inches of sugar left on my floors from Marshmallow Peeps

Fun Fact #3

I already KNOW Peeps and Bunnies come in 5 "difficult to wash off hands" colors

Set scene after dinner:

Isabella: I want mash-mellow! Peeze!

Mark Jr: (heart in right place-brain not) hands his little sister a handful of Peeps

Isabella: (runs off giggling with glee smashing as many as she can in her mouth)

Remember I assumed her big brother sat her at the table to eat these. Not!

As I chased her down she did the inevitable... she spit them on the carpet. You know like she was a lizard being chased and she had to get rid of her tail, except it was mushy sticky marshmallow.

On the floor,

On my carpet,

oh and all around the edge of the couch because - yes I forgot. I chased her!

So I say to the Marshmallow Peep-ole....

Marshmallows & Sugar...Are you insane?

Bunnies and Swiffers

No one ever tells you when you have wood floors installed that dust bunnies move in. The first week we had Pergo floors it was all "How beautiful, the floors look great!" Now it's the subtle head turn downward when a dust bunny rolls by thier feet. The solution? Swiffer to the rescue! No no no...not that overpriced mop and spraybottle junk.

Take Brandon (age 7) 1 pair of socks add a running start and ... voilà! Instant swiffer sweepers :-)

Just When You Thought You've Heard It All

Just when you thought you've heard it all. My son is in track and field. We're new to these sports. Always learning new things, like what spikes are and 4x4's and sack tapping. Yup you heard right, I said sack tapping. In my infinite ignorance I asked my son...

"What is sack tapping?"

Did I stop to think before I asked? Nope...I'm not that quick!

Jr simply said "Mom? Think about it...I run and jump over hurdles...I need spandex under my shorts...."

Mom: huh?

Jr: (A Look of duhh mom came over him) If I don't make it over the hurdle or I'm low...

Mom: ohhhh!

I bought him his spandex today

Terrible Two's

"Time To Go"

By Stacy Christian

Terrible two's are totally tough,

They won't get dressed so they run in the buff.

She kicks so hard your black & blue,

But don't worry, she's only two.

She'll say No,

You'll say Yes,

Still in the buff and still no dress.

One shoe off...one shoe on...

a cute little smile - that's the con.

More screaming

More shouting

More "No mama Nooo!

Then in the blink of an eye,

for no reason why...

"No mama Nooo" turns to "Mama let's go!"

The Power of A Slurpee

When was the last time you found yourself bargining with your children? Yesterday, today, 10 minutes ago? I used to be one of those mom's who would question other mom's who would load up thier kids with a Slurpee in the middle of a store. Making all sorts of excuses as why my kids didn't get one, too much sugar, not good for your teeth, and the list goes on and on.

Ok so I got lucky - 3 out of 4 kids never really needed to be silenced with the almighty Slurpee.

Number 5..not so lucky. It's amazing how quickly I give in to the fussing in the middle of a store. How such a simple cup of frozen sugar and Co2 can silence even the loudest of kids. Yes...I admit it. I have joined the Slurpee club, and the Target popcorn club and any other club that will get me through the store without embarassing time-outs or the ever so calulated "side-swiping' of things off the nearest shelf within her reach. You know, the immediate response to the word "No." I find my self saying "Isabella no swiping, Isabella noooo swiping!" ("Dora The Explorer" reference)

The pros:
#1 kid is quiet
#2 chance to escape store without paying for broken items after tantrum
#3 Hey..the kid is quiet

The cons:
#1 kid is quietly prying lid off and dumping it on herself
#2 kid is now screaming because she dumped all her Slurpee out
#3 you breakdown and buy her another Slurpee because lets face it, you have to drive home now.

Props to the creator of Slurpee! Now if I can only drive by a Seven-11 without her noticing it...

Is she serious? Or is she Cybil?

Is it just me or does anyone have one of these? Your precious little one, cute as a button ever so generous with the hugs and kisses...and then she turns on you.

All she asked was for me to help her with her shoes. Simple? You would think. Everything was fine until I told her it was on the wrong foot. Then the fury was released from hurricane Isabella.

Note to self, duck next time she chucks a shoe at my head.
Am I wrong to want to keep her from tripping over her misplaced shoes? Doesn't she see the point? Nope she's 2.

Damn..I forgot to duck (Ow!)

What happened to my darling 2yr old? Where were the puppy dog eyes and the "I 'yove you mama's?"

Shoes flying past my head, not exactly sure where the other 4 pairs came from, all the while she's screaming because yes dare I say it? I plopped her butt down for a "Time Out"

I find myself asking...
Is she serious? or Is she Cybil?

By the way she declaired "I'm over now..." (biggest grin on her face you ever saw)

To Dress or Not to Dress?

Don't you just hate it when the alarm goes off? That's ok, that's what the snooze bar is for. Except today is Tuesday, and there are 4 kids in the kitchen fighting over who gets the last of the cereal. Usually one would think of getting up, quick trip to the bathroom and off we go to school! Not! I have only one question that needs answering...to dress or not to dress? That is my question. As I sit up in bed (cereal fight still ongoing) I debate "Should I wear my pj's and are they school acceptable?" Can you imagine if I had to go to work? Yikes!

2 minutes later the pitterpat of tiny feet are heard down my hallway. It's my 2yr old.

Debate over - pj's win!

Let's hear it for PJ's!

One for the money, two for the show....
Leave the PJ's on and let's go go go!

When is a tantrum, just a tantrum?

Do we ever really just think for a second, "When is a tantrum just a tantrum?" When was the last time you had a full blown tantrum? I know exactly when I last had one, so do my kids. I'm not sure who started it first, Isabella is 2, ok 2yrs and 3 months old and has definatly hit the "Terrible Two's". Who ever said they were terrible lied, thier out right nerve wracking! I found myself arguing with a 2yr old over breakfast. Kind of went like this...

Mom: Isabella, eat your breakfast

Isabella: no mama, I done! (Throwing food to the ever so eager dog)

Mom: You need to eat sweetie (Picking up what food I could rangle from the dog, 5 second rule applies)

Isabella: Nooooo! (Throwing cup)

Mom: Yes! (picking up cup)

Isabella: ahhh ahhha hhh! (more kicking and hitting)

Mom: ok ok fine! (taking her down from the table) There! go play! (frantically trying to compose myself)

Isabella: (in the sweetest voice imaginable, and cutest expression) 'tank you mamam
(as she skips out of the kitchen as if nothing had happened

Mom: (Thinking to myself...hello cybil!)

Next kid tries to get away without eating.

Brandon: Mom...I'm done (food not even touched)

Mom: You need to eat too! (already frustrated from dodging Isabella's kicking and screaming)

Brandon: I did...(tone is snotty as hell, BTW he's 7)

Mom:No...you didn't

Brandon: YES!! I DID!..(yelling at me and flailing his arms)

This triggered my flailing arms, only I had a new mop in my hands. Lets just say...

Tantrum had...and the mop lost! :-)

PS had to buy a new mop!