Scrappy's Pond Adventure

Yesterday was a rough day. It was one of those days where my energy was nonexistent and the house was in turmoil. The kids couldn't get within 5 feet of each other without fighting. Over the phone Dr. Hubby agreed to hurry home so I could escape to my scrappy schoolhouse for a few hours.

When he got home he must have changed his mind because he loaded up our little family in his "play" truck. (Notice the thumb tacks holding up the ceiling) Cutie Patootie had to "help" him drive. We were headed to the pond...perfect!...cause I was already feeling like a grumpy old toad.

I grabbed my camera on the way out the door. I am not a fisherman so I needed a way to entertain myself while being eaten alive by bugs. This is the view of our home from the pond.

There are so many interesting things around a pond.

This prickly little plant was so cute...at this moment I am sure that if I was a pond plant I would have been this one. If this were the desert I would have been a cactus.

I heard Cutie say "I broke it." I thought "Oh no...she broke a pole or something like that." But she had "broke" a worm. Now my mind started thinking about how gross it is to break a worm...so I started to gag...gag...gag...gag. Cutie was overtired and started doing the throw-yourself-on-the-ground-hang-on-your-dad's-leg diva cry. We looked at Wild Child and her eyes were so swollen (allergies) that she looked like a bug-eyed chihuahua. Manga Dork caught some snail filled pond scum and refused to remove it herself. Dr. Hubby reeled in his line and declared it was time to go home. Hallelujah.

I bathed the little ones...gave Wild Child some Benadryl and a cold rag for her eyes...gave Cutie some milk and her "bappy"...then put them to bed. Manga Dork curled up on her bed and watched Grease 2. Dr. Hubby and I watched the end of "Lucky You" and then I went to bed.

Have a happy fun-filled weekend!

I've Been FIRED!

This guy...

has nothing on this little girl...

Yesterday evening Wild Child kept pestering her kitten on the porch and mean ol' Scrappy told her to leave it alone or she was going to get a "butt smack." Well...the situation ended with a "butt smack." Wild Child marched in the house...then turned back, opened the door, and said, "Mommy...you're FIRED!"

Ouch.

Move Over OC...Jersey's In Town

We traveled home (much quicker than we traved to NC) yesterday. The kids were all glad to be home and I was glad to be in my own bed! I miss Lil Sis and BIL alot...I am hoping not to have my normal pity party after parting. So far so good.

On the way home (in the rain) we passed Chapel Hill and Manga Dork practically threw herself out the car window. Do you know why?

BTW...I have a new obsession. First it was Orange County Housewives...then NYC...I never really got into Atlanta...and now...NEW JERSEY! I love them...they are so funny and interesting. You HAVE to give in and check them out on Tuesdays at 10pm on Bravo...it will have you saying "Buh-bees" and "Fabulous" and maybe even "Delicious and Juicy." My fave is Teresa. Last night one of them went in "Props for Today" in NYC....I was practically bouncing off the couch saying "I WAS IN THERE!" My mom now thinks I have went off the deep end...

I Could So Use A Few More Days...

here in NC with Lil Sis and BIL. Here's the lowdown...

On Day #1 we went to my fave scrap shop in town...they were closing and going on-line only! Then we went to my fave used book store...I got 2 Nicholas Sparks books. We ended the day at the awesome park...I even played a little tennis.

On Day #2 we headed for the beach!


We love Emerald Isle.

I get so excited when we drive over the Atlantic Intracostal Waterway!

The kids loved the beach. The little ones hung onto Manga Dork's back and played in the waves.

Cutie was either trying to hear the ocean...or pretending to talk on a cell phone. It could be either one...

Wild Child wanted to be buried in the sand...they even gave her a boob job! We were wore out at the end of the day.

On Day #3 we headed back to Emerald Isle.

Our fave place for mini golf and other fun is the Golfin' Dolphin.

Then we tried to soak each other on the bumper boats...my Betsey Johnson sunglasses sank to the bottom of the pool...never to be found again...boo hoo!

Then we felt the need for speed on the gokart track!

We ended our last day with a walk on the beach. How romantic!...except for the kids with sand in their cracks! We said "WALK" not "ROLL!"

We head home tomorrow!

North Carolina!

Hello everyone! We spent 12 hours traveling to Lil Sis and BIL's home in NC. It is so exciting to be here...I am looking forward to 3 days of fun! Today we are going to my favorite used book store. Hopefully I come out with a few by Debbie Macomber, Jan Karon, Sophie Kinsella, and Nicholas Sparks. They are my faves! Oh and we are going to her fabulous scrapbook shop. I am hoping to unwind at the end of each day by posting pics and thoughts on here. Have a great holiday weekend!

Surprise...It's A Foal!

I was talking on the phone this evening and stepped out on the back porch. I glanced at the horses and noticed something was a little "off." That's when I noticed the baby horse...

I didn't even know we had a pregnant horse. Isn't it cute...I think it is a girl...I didn't see any conspicuous evidence of a boy. I could be wrong.

FIL came up the hill this weekend to mow grass....he is such a better mower than MIL...

This is what happens when you stand too close when MIL is mowing! LOL!

Valueable lesson learned this week....Somedays you are the dog...Somedays you are the tree.

Why'd Ya Have To Go And Do That To Me, Will Smith!?

Last night was Dr. Hubby's turn to pick the movie. He chose Seven Pounds from the PPV selections. I like Will Smith so I was feeling pretty good about his choice.

DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO WATCH THIS MOVIE UNLESS YOU ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY! I'm talking "It's my birthday and I just won the lottery" happy! This movie is haunting and thought provoking. It will tear your heart out and stomp on it...a couple times. I do suggest you watch it...just go into it happy! You feel what the characters are feeling. Beware of the "WHAT IF" game...this is where the tears fell the MOST! In the end...I felt it was one of the best I have seen in awhile. Just give it time to put everything together.

Enjoy.

If you've seen it...What did you think?

Fuzzy Wuzzy Was A...Catepillar?

Yesterday we enjoyed being outside in our backyard. Cutie Patootie and Wild Child found a new friend...

Meet Fuzzy Wuzzy...the "Cat-a-pid-er"...I don't think I have heard anything cuter than Cutie saying "Cat-a-pid-er."

I am amazed how fearless these 2 are...petting him! Ew.

I told Cutie to put her face close to him and LOOK at him...not TASTE him!

Thanks for the entertainment Fuzzy Wuzzy!

Annie Louise didn't like all the attention Fuzzy Wuzzy was getting...so she started nudging the girls with her nose and rolling on the grass.

Hope you enjoy some beautiful weather this weekend!

Live & In Concert

Last night Manga Dork performed with the all girl's choir. She is on the top row...6th from left. They did so well. All the songs sounded so pretty. This would have been a good time to use my other lens...but I forgot it.

One week til I go to Lil Sis's house!

TGIF!

Buy One...Get Two Free!

**American Idol & America's Next Top Model Spoiler...just in case you haven't watched last night's shows**


MIL will not let it go that I am going to AI concert and didn't invite SIL. SIL called yesterday and gave me the "I didn't know anything about it" line and said she would have liked to take Niece. I found out that SIL and MIL both talked to Dr. Hubby's aunt that is going with me yesterday. Honestly if they keep that up no one is going to want to do anything with me...cause they get "guilt tripped" about not inviting those two also. Why is it so hard for them to let me do things without including them? Argh.

I am planning on going to the beach for a 3 day weekend with the same aunt...SIL told her yesterday that she wants to plan a beach trip with her. MIL knew about the beach trip and has told SIL. SIL said that she can't do it on a weekend....so we need to go during the week. Argh. A perfect example of why I don't plan anything with her anymore. She has to change EVERYTHING to suit her. Sorry you had to hear more about them...I just needed to vent.

I was SO sad last night when Danny left AI. And I must add...I think the guest performers should not be allowed to show "favoritism" for any of the contestants. Katy Perry's cape with "Adam Lambert" on it was tacky and in poor taste. Not that I expect much from her anyway.

I was also disappointed that Allison did not win ANTM...loved her big eyes and gentle personality!

Happy Thursday!

Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut...Sometimes You Don't!

Don't forget to weigh in today! I am taking a leave of abscence from weighing because I have been "absent" from my world for at least half of this week. I did not deal well with having to go on medication for my thyroid (today is day 2 of taking my pills). I am not a medicine taker...I hate taking anything. I have made peace with it (for now).

My trip to my parents' home for Mother's Day was hard. It was hard to only get to see them for 15 hours and then come home. I miss Lil Sis so much I can't type this sentence without tearing up. My grandparents have quit living and only talk about death and sickness..I came home and had a "melt down."

I miss my parents...I miss my sis...I miss my grandparents...I miss my side of the family...I miss BFF Ruth...I miss getting to go to events regularly for my family.

Then when I came home I pulled into our driveway...I found every flaw possible...I looked for them...I found a problem and I took it on myself...I found everything that needed to be done and became obsessed with how it was never going to get done because I couldn't do anything about it.

I scared my mom....I worried my husband...I hurt Manga Dork's feelings...I was ugly and I was going to wallow in it. How did my inlaws react? They somehow decided it was all about them and gave me guilt trips about "not liking them"..."not wanting them here"..."not feeling like they are important"..."not asking SIL to go to AI concert." Boy...that was not helpful at all. I became numb and retreated inside myself.

I was selfish...and now I am over it. Time to move on...

"Most people are only as happy as they make up their minds to be." --Abraham Lincoln
"When you reach the end of your rope...tie a knot and hang on."--Abraham Lincoln

I Can't Believed It Happened On Mom's Day...

On Saturday I drove to my parent's home in WV. Lil Sis was there! My grandparents came to eat dinner with us and you don't want to know what we ate! My skinny butted Lil Sis requested a menu of fried chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, baked beans, and breadsticks.

On Sundaywe went to breakfast with BIL's family at Bob Evans...more bad food! It was at Bob Evans that the most horrible thing happened....something that had only happened maybe one time before...something that threatened to ruin the day...my heart started pounding...then I could do nothing but throw up my hands, sigh, and declare...




"My camera battery is DEAD!" Argh.

My kids gave me scrapbook stuff and some cute trinkets from Micheals...Dr. Hubby gave me an air conditioner for the scrappy schoolhouse and 2 hanging baskets (geraniums).

We gave my mom chocolate and a $50 gift card to Michaels. We gave MIL a rose bush and binoculars...this is what she told Dr. Hubby she wanted! Now I just need window blinds for our house..LOL!

Happy Belated Mom's Day to all the great mom's here in BlogWorld!

Bad News & Good News

Bad News: My TSH was 10...should be lower than 4...I am now taking Synthroid

Good News: Maybe this medicine will help me not be so sluggish and fatigued all the time!


Good News: On August 22 Manga Dork and I will be attending the American Idols Live Concert with Cousins Kay-Kay & B and their mom in Pittsburgh, PA.

Bad News: I mistakenly (is that a word) got 4 tickets instead of 5.


Argh.

When I Grow Up...

Yesterday evening while talking with Wild Child she uttered the words of yet another milestone. For the very first time in her 4 years she said...

"When I grow up I want to be..."

Then she didn't finish it...I was on the edge of my seat...

"Wild Child...what did you say you want to be when you grow up?"

I am just imagining what it could be...a mommy like me...a doctor like daddy...a nurse like SIL...president...

"When I grow up I want to be a pirate."

"Uh oh....somehow I am going to get blamed for this."

Hey...I think I am safe as long as she doesn't say...

VAMPIRE!

Don't Just Stand There! Scrap Something!

I won a photo challenge on AMR at the National Scrapbook Day Crop. We had 7 assignments...one was to capture a picture of your desk RIGHT NOW! Well as you can see mine has 2 little hands on it...before I put the camera down she turned over the can of Coke...luckily nothing was ruined.

We were to use 1 patterned paper...1 cardstock...one $1 stamp...stitching...staples...2 flowers...and the words "dream come true."

A card I made for a scrappy friend who is going through a really hard time. AMR is going to have an auction for her family...I will give you more details closer to the day!

I love using sketches to scrap...this one was FUN! I can't wait for Cousin Kay-Kay to come visit this summer!

We had to use something clear on our layout...I cut the letters F_U_N out of clear plastic packaging and then inked them underneath. I won this challenge too...the winner was chosen randomly.

Happy Thursday! I have exciting news I am going to share in a couple hours PLUS I get my blood work results back today...I will let you know!

Mother/Daughter

I went to the preschool today to have a snack with Wild Child.

She was so excited. See the little "cheeseburgers" on the table...they were vanilla wafers, peppermint patties, green dyed shredded coconut, and some red and yellow icing. So cute...they made them "all by myself."

This little tote was on the table with a special love note. They glued 8 flowers on the front and 8 on the back...they were counting to 8 that week!

After our food the kids lined up and sang 2 "Mom inspired" songs. So fun!

Before I went to the preschool I did something I have been putting off for too long...I went and had my blood work done...gonna get the results for my thyroid.

Happy Thursday! (The 2 little ones are with their grandparents outside and Manga Dork is walking to her dad's office after choir practice....aaaahhhh) Can you hear me relaxing? Probably not with with washer going in the background...LOL!

WEIGHT LOSS WEDNESDAY

This was not the case for me this morning! I was feeling good...I hopped right on!

Last week's weight was 215.0
This week's weight is 208.6!
I lost 6.4 pounds this week!
I know that the first week is mostly water BUT it still feels good!

My BMI last week was 40.58
This week it is 39.38...I am still obese.
I hate the word "obese"...it is in the same category as "snot" and "vomit" LOL!

I am only 3.6 pounds away from my goal to lose 10 pounds by May 31st!
How did your #s look this morning?
The person who lost the most will receive a handmade card from me!
But you had to beat me too!

EXERCISE

Ok...I am a bad bad girl...exercise is my toughest challenge. I did NOTHING! BOO!



Did you exercise?

FOOD JOURNAL

One thing I didn't do this week was keep my food journal...I also did alot of "grazing." Food journaling would have kept me a little more "honest." Here's what I had yesterday...



*Note...I do not measure my foods in the beginning...I wait until I start reaching the first plateau.



Breakfast: 2 Special K bars Strawberry and a Diet Coke



Lunch: Grilled Classic Chicken Sandwich from McD's, a salad with FF Catalina, Coke



Snack: Coke



Dinner: To celebrate Cinco de Mayo! 2 chicken fajitas, refried beans FF, chips/salsa, ChiChis sweet corn cakes, Diet Coke



Water: I barely got in 1/2 of one bottle...BOO!



What did you eat?

Most Improved...

I created 36 layouts (2nd place to Melonscrap's 50)...won 8 times (just me and one other girl won that many times)...at least once in each of the 4 categories...I was tied to win two categories...and I received this button. The message along with it said I was the Most Improved Scrapper and totally deserved it. I must admit I was offended at first. Most Improved?! I think I competed well with the best of them! In the end...I am honored they recognized my effort. Time for some new goals...

Don't forget to weigh tomorrow! Can't wait to see how everyone has done!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Anoop Day and More...

In my bid for Mother of the Year...at midnight last night I was cheering "Happy Anoop Day" with Manga Dork. In Chapel Hill, NC...May 4th is officially Anoop Desai Day. To put me over the top for Mother of the Year...if all goes well...August 22nd Manga Dork and I will be in Pittsburgh, PA at the American Idol concert.

We watched Bride Wars Friday night. It was cute...but not as good as the previews suggest. It is one of those where they show most of the best scenes in the preview. Still...it is a fun movie and Anne Hathaway can boogie down.

Last night we watched Fireproof (finally). This is such a good movie. It does have some acting that makes you cringe at times...I am sure they did not have the blockbuster budget. Unfortunately...I think Hollywood deducts a thousand dollars everytime God is mentioned in a movie. It makes you take a good look at your marriage and the little things that can build up over time and become HUGE. It makes you think about how you must work on your marriage daily. I love a movie that makes me want to be "better."

Two "chick flicks" in one week...something tells me Dr. Hubby is wanting to go see the new Wolverine movie!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Happy Monday!