Virtual Craft Day Link-Up

I'm linking up with the fabulous Marcia!

This is what we finished up last week. And by we I mean my cousin and I. I also implying that she did all the work and I'm taking credit!! Bwhahaha!

Scrap lumber, left over paint, and some poly!

She did all the hard work, I painted the names on.

Now that all is said and done, the ladies have little stools to cart around outside!

My cousin stole this idea from another family who has plain little wooden stools, but doesn't like to share. So of course we had to go above and beyond. Our stools rock! She even made one for neighbor. I like to imagine they'll last a few years and we can all sit around a fire pit and roast marshmallows. If not, you can't complain because they were F-R-E-E!

Quick Pick-Me-Up

It's 11 p.m. two nights ago. We hear commotion coming from the street. No big deal as the couple the next street over likes to have a few and scream at each other a bit. It's a cozy neighborhood! But this wasn't her, and there was no male voice accompanying. The profanity freely flowing from this woman's mouth and into my bedroom was enough to rouse me from my bed, no small feat!

So here she is, on a bike loaded down with bags that I'm assuming were groceries. She's screaming down the road to tell whoever to hurry the F*%$ up and repeatedly asks what their g-d problem is. This goes on for a few minutes. She's just yelling and berating this person. I don't even scream at the dogs like this when they crap in the house. She doesn't seem inebriated in anyway, I guess just tired and overly aggravated. Maybe she's just a really big bitch.

Then appears the mystery person. Also on a bike. A small bike. It was a boy. Her son I'm guessing. Perhaps 12-ish. His bike was also loaded down with things. He was virtually in tears and threatened to throw is bike in the water. She told him she didn't care and he could go in too. She continued to berate him as they rode off to where ever they were headed.

I'm sure if you're in the position to need to be hauling groceries by bike, with a kid, at 11 p.m. on a school night then you've earned your right to pitch a bitch. You are totally the poster woman for struggling single mom. However your child is neither the cause of your frustrations or the proper place to let them out. While we all get upset and have rough days, just remember that you're not her. You're better.

That is today's quick pick-me-up.

Go hug you're kids and pat yourselves on the back.

Thank You Chick-Fil-A

Your service knows no bounds!

Our normal routine of not wanting to cook dinner landed us a chick-fil-a this evening. My final total to feed a family of four, $13. As I ordered my 6 piece meal for the girls the lady behind the counter informed me 4 piece meals were free tonight. SCORE!

So I ordered food for myself, husband, and a 4 pack for the girls to share with an extra milk and fruit cup. This genius woman behind the counter changed my order so I got two kids meals and no extra charges for milk and fruit! Then she called over Emmitt! Emmitt took one look at us and told us to have a seat, he'd bring everything over. And he did, with his Chick-fil-A hospitality! I love it. L-O-V-E I-T! He even insisted on getting our condiments. This is what the world needs more of!

What a pleasant surprise, and a pleasant meal. Then the girls worked out the last of their energy in the play place and I didn't geek out! I just read an article about a crazy microbiologist mom who surveyed kid's fast food playplaces for germs and they were the cleanest! GREAT!

Then the other shoe drops.

Sure we had a nice meal out, with outstanding service, and a safe play place. However I received a FB message as a result of my check-in. It simply said, "You know Chick-fil-A is homophobic right?" No, no I didn't. I do know they have awesome iced tea. I do know they are a Christian Organization. I don't keep up with their political followings, sorry.

All night that was on my mind. I'm fully in support of equality, the current topic of equality in marriage is something I support. If everyone can't get married, then maybe marriage shouldn't be recognized by the government. It's the whole separation of church and state, or lack their of, that eats at me but this is not the proper form. My dilemma is I like Chick-fil-A, Chick-fil-A supports an organization that opposes gay marriage. However this organization is religiously oriented and I am not. I'm sure this organization supports a lot of other things both good and bad, but how does that reflect on my chicken sandwich?

Am I really supporting homophobia when I buy my sammich? Was this just a bad business decision spun by the media? I'm a fan of independent business, but I still shop at Hellmart because I like cheap paper towels! So can I support marriage equality and still enjoy my sweet tea?

Do anyone else think about these things when making your purchases?

New Official Blogger App

Let's see if it works this time?!

This Weekend

I just thought I'd inform you of how much I love the new blogger layout and photo uploading!!

This weekend I started the transition to BIGGIRLDOM! It's a slow transition, because I'm not ready to let go of my babies, but these ladies need more room. So to get rid of the changing table that we haven't been using to free up space I built, and finally finished, their bookcase!

I am ridiculously proud of myself for finishing in under a month. Yes, sadly, that is an accomplishment to write home about. But it is done, and fairly cute! That blue tote next to it is full of baby clothes I just couldn't part with but will never use again. I hope to make quilts for their big girl beds. Quilts I probably won't let them use!

So everything on the back wall will vanish. The closet will be cleaned out (THIS IS OUR OFFICIAL WARNING DH!) and I will put the tote inside along with the big, pink bag full of birthday toys.  Behind the bag is a baby bath tub of toys that is being used as a toy box. I wanted to put al their toys in the bottom of the book shelf but since we're not potty trained that will be holding diapers, covers, and wipes.

Sigh.

Just poop in the pot already!

Here is a closer view of the back. Animals are fun and it was totally their choice. DH and I liked the more modern leaf print that would have worked with the existing tree silhouettes. 

That safety first kit I couldn't waddle my pregnant ass out of the store without after my shower. These are just some of the things that we had from before the girls came and still have yet to use. Also on this list is a few bottles of baby power, baby oil, diaper bins, and a metric shit ton of receiving blankets among other things. 

Anyone having a baby?

So be proud of me, I followed through! What did you do this weekend?

I'm still not read to convert the cribs to toddler beds, but am totally willing to if potty training get serious. I can't wait to buy little bed sets! Tiny pillows and blankets!! God, when did I get so soft?! I still haven't officially heard when you can give them pillows and comforters....anyone? Bueller? Maybe I'm just not ready for them to grow up. 

While The Ladies Play...

I can play too!

This is my baby-eating Turkey Vulture in honor of the Turkey Vultures that came swooping down into the yard this week! I was scooting some baby butts back into the house before they were carried off!

And this is Mr. Quaaack. He was promptly decapitated and smashed to smitherines mere seconds after his close up. 

Do you play with your kids?

Mines

The girls started to get possessive late last week. The word 'mine' as entered their vocabulary. I knew this day would come. I'm not upset or surprised. I am annoyed and starting to get crabby over the fact that it is being pronounced MINES.

Guess what ladies, it's not plural!

It is making my skin crawl. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's the cultural connotation? I don't want my kids to sound uneducated. I certainly don't speak that way and I won't tolerate it. I will say that I am a bit of a grammar nazi. I have a certain reputation at work continually correcting people. I've even corrected memos from the big bosses, buyers, and customers! I wish I could stop it, I'm sure I'm a total nudge. It just aggravates me to no end! You have a F-R-E-E public education, let us all pretend that we earned it!

Am I the only one?

I can excuse pronunciation, mine is far from stellar. There are phrases, that are increasingly common, that will one day make my head explode. Things like:

• I be...
• I been, I seen, They be and all other s-v agreement and tenses!
• We ain't got...
• Aight (All right), Sup (What's up), and slang in general
• Can I vs. May I 
• SPEAKING IN LETTERS and ACRONYMS!!!

A boy at work said to me as I was leaving last night

I L Y less than three G N

What the hell is that? Turns out it means I love you, heart, good night. I guess "text speak" is going to be a new language soon. I can LOL in emails, text, and even blogger fodder; I don't say LOL aloud! Kids use it in school, in papers! How is this acceptable? Am I really that old?!

This makes me feel super old! I had to ask one of the boys at work what GTL meant and all these says with 'BRO' in them. I was told it was okay for me not to know these things since I don't watch television. Either way, I felt about 85 asking. The laughter didn't help either.

So I'll be adding this to my parenting book. Teaching your children to properly speak and write, or at least teaching them to fake it, is essential and if totally your responsibility! I used to get my head bitten off for saying ain't and heaven forbid if I wasn't looking at my mother and annunciating when I spoke! I totally sound like I'm 85.

Again, I can't be the only one here!

P.S.
I also think the should start teach penmanship again!

Grandparent's Day Craft

Thank you Hallm.ark for another made up holiday! Grandparent's Day! The best parts about this project was not that it killed a rainy day afternoon nor it scoring me a trip out to print pictures, it will be hearing my praises sung by the grandparents LOL! Even when it's about them it's still about us, right? For under ten dollars a total of 7 grandparents over 3 little ladies will get a smile. Plus it's magnetic so the gp's can see their smiling faces every morning from the fridge!

Did you do anything for Grandparent's Day?

Rain & Pain

In case you're not from around these parts, it's be raining. A lot. I'm sick of the rain, the flooding, and headache it is causing for everyone. (But I'm totally psyched to report my basement D-R-Y because I'm a rockstar DIY-er!)

Today however I really go to think about life, scary stuff. In this family we're great Hershey Park enthusiast. Who doesn't love an amusement park based off a chocolate factory?! If you're bored to tear from the rain you should goog.le the flooding along the Susquehanna and in Hershey, PA. It's pretty bad. I read last night that they had to put down two of the Bison in ZooAmerica because they couldn't be saved from the flash flooding. I said "Oh" aloud and went about my evening. Today I view a slide shows of the dead bison floating. I also read the backlash of FB commenters. This is what pains me.

People are so far removed from real life and I worry that I will raise my ladies to be just like that. Things die, things are killed. It's not always vicious. Many argued that the animals should have been moved to higher ground or removed from the zoo. Does anyone think about how difficult it is to move an animal let alone finding some place to move an entire zoo to? This was a flash flood from a broken up hurricane, I'm sure no one anticipated it to bring so much rain so quickly. They call it flash for a reason folks! Would it have been better let the bison run free into oncoming flood waters? Watch them thrash around as they drowned? It was a humane decision, a difficult one I'm sure, but from the information presented-humane.

Then I discussed with a few people and I thought some more. Animals are killed everyday. Those same people who are bitching about a bison being put down probably had a cheeseburger for lunch yet I'm sure they're not advocating to the ethical treatment of cows! I think it's safe to assume that a lot of people don't think twice about where their food comes from or how it is treated and handled prior to being served. Do most people know how animals are processed? It's graphic to say the least and the assembly line style is far from compassionate. But I'm sure these outspoken people, so concerned for these two poor bison, are totally in the know.

As far as I'm concerned, the staff took responsibility. They took ownership of the problem and did what needed to be done. There isn't enough of that in this country today. From this I gained that I need to broaden my own horizons to make sure my children are more knowledgeable about the world around them. More importantly, I want to teach my children to ask question, to always question everything around them and never be afraid to do so. I want them to strive to always be fully informed, to question what's happened and who's telling you. I don't want to raise anonymous commenters!

Think before you speak and always asking why-valuable life lessons.

P.S.
We won't be going to Hershey Saturday.   :(

Great Weekend

I had a great weekend!

How about you??

I Was Wondering What You Charge...

Wednesday, out of the blue, my cousin calls. Not that cousin, another cousin. A cousin I have seen maybe five times in the last ten years. A cousin who hardly acknowledged me at his father's wake. He's never met my husband or my children, nor could he tell you their names. He's still in contact with my father, so I guess that makes everything copacetic?! I wasn't invited to his wedding or baby shower, nor would I have gone. I've never met his now wife or daughter. We don't know each other! None the less, he called.

He wanted me to watch his kid.

Really? What the hell?

If you leave a message that starts out "Hi, this is your cousin Jason..." then maybe you should break the ice a little.

I am seriously flabbergasted. I think it's fantastic he trusts me with his kid. Not sure I would trust someone just because they are family, nor would I use fb pictures to judge their competence with children. I wouldn't want to shell out a week's worth of childcare payment for just two days either, but I certainly wouldn't start picking names out of the phone book.

With all that said, I was a little flattered. The thought did cross my mind for all of three seconds of just watching kids out of my house. But that is crazy speak! I have two kids of my own, two large dogs, and a half destroyed play room. I am unlicensed, uninsured, and far too judgmental about other people's parenting. That would be a recipe for failure! It would be a great reason to quit working though. LOL! I'm quite happy with how things are going now, no need to stir the pot.

 Who the hell picks childcare from facebook?! Redonkulous!

September Goals

Time to update the monthly goals. Thank you Marcia soo much for doing this! 

This was August's list.

Get a quote and appointment for car detailing I just cleaned it myself for the time being

Weed the yard

Order DH's new school clothes

Book hotel stay for September A big THANK YOU to Irene for blowing that out of the water

Order lumber for table (SUPER EXCITED) I even cut and assembled and chose paint!

Re-patch wall in living room Purchased and ready to go

Paint the living room The can laughs at me everyday

So for September...

Collect, wash, and organize fall clothes for the family

Book hotel for October trip

Finish ditch and fill

Patch & Paint living room

Trim hedges and think about re-landscaping

Re-work the budget(sigh)

What are your monthly plans? 

I avoid putting things on that I know I just won't do. It makes me feel less accomplished. I really should start working out. My body has going to flub since having kids. But I'm not terribly displeased. I just don't have the motivation or energy to make that change right now. Maybe if I quit working... LOL!

Welcome Back Fall!

I'm so excited that it's starting to feel like fall! Everything seems to be starting anew. Everything is cleaned up from Irene, minus the ditch in my yard, and the power is back on! Hooray! I woke up this morning and it wasn't hot and sticky. I slept FANTASTIC without the sound of generators to disturb me. The air was crisp and I am ready for everything with pumpkin, apple, and spice in it's title!

I see blogger has upgraded too. I guess I'll survive this change too.

Yesterday we went shopping for some fall clothing essentials and I discovered that I am way too picky about my children's clothing. Outfits that go together get me every time. I have to buy in even numbers too. Thankfully they have enough to make it through and my dear cousin surprised me with some more finds this morning! I guess this means I have to switch my clothes out soon too. Hooray for sweaters, sweats, and fleece! I'm not even going to moan about having to wash 27 million loads of laundry!

What are you most excited about for fall?

There are so many things I want to do this fall, I'm not sure how I'll fit them all in. Perhaps if I didn't work we could...

• Pick pumpkins & apples.
• Wander a corn maze (I'm thinking of going to the Paradise Stop on the Strasburg Railroad, has anyone been?).
• Can apples and applesauce, maybe even fried apples!
• Renn Fest!
• Sea Witch Festival!
• Our First Trick-or-Treat.
• Go away for teacher weekend.
• Start sewing Christmas dresses and crocheting winter hats and mittens.
• Lastly, cleaning the house to close it up for winter. 

Needless to say, I am excited for fall. It also means hurricane season is on it's way out and if Irene was the worst we get I will be thrilled! Hoping everyone has a great day!