A title that is not just saying how I feel right now

First off, you guys suck. I know someone reads this thing, because I have that little counter over there on the right, so leave me a comment damn it. Ok, rant over.

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Today is a busy day. I have work, work errands, lunchtime errands, after work running around, costumes to complete, food to make, extra food to make and quality time to spend. So I have no time for you guys, so goodbye.

I'll leave you with a couple pics though

Word up Homie






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and I didn't forget, costume pic of the day

Me, 19, angel, see how I glow

Hungry

It's almost lunchtime here in sunny California and all I've consumed so far today is a cup of coffee. Some of my coworkers were discussing the Halloween potluck we're having here Friday and now I am so ravenous I want to take a bite out of my keyboard. I'm gonna go get a sandwich in a minute *with no damn mayonnaise or cheese thank you very much fucking weight watchers*, but first lets talk about food a little bit more.
I'm making salami roll ups and rolo cookies (thanks Alissa) for the potluck which were both requested of me by other coworkers. They're some of my potluck die-hards. So tell me about yours. Leave me a comment with a recipe if you're so inclined. Do you make something special for potlucks or are you a bag of chips, case of soda kinda participant.



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Oh, and I just realized I totally forgot to update you all on Damien's blood tests! They came back clean thank god! Thanks for the prayers.

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Costume pic of the day, Damien 20 months, little punkin

Moody

If yesterday morning was an event of bliss and relaxation and "ahh, I can actually sit for 3 minutes before I have to leave for work", then this morning was the universe righting itself and sticking it's mean mean tongue at me. I could hear it snickering. I swear.
We all woke up 45 minutes late. Adjustments were definitely in order. I grabbed Cali's favorite outfit so she wouldn't argue with me about getting dressed *worked like a charm* and I got a ponytail instead of a shower. Emily comes from a planet called 'I.will.not.be.rushed' so she gave me an ulcer, but we made it out the door in time. I suppose I should just be grateful that we all got a full night's sleep.


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3 days till Halloween and I haven't finished Emily's costume. Bad bad procrastinating slacker. Oh well, only 3 more days and I can stop worrying about costumes completely. Bring on Christmas!! Ow, my ulcer.

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Costume pic of the day, Emily 4 yrs old, cheerleader

Almost like a vacation

I often forget how easy it is just to get up in the morning, get ready and go to work.
Wait what? Yeah, that's what I said. It's so much easier than getting up, dragging three kids out of bed, dragging them off the floor, haranguing them to please get dressed if they want to eat anything before school, sending them back to their room to put on something weather appropriate, checking on them 10 minutes later to see what's taking so long, yell at them for wasting time, remind them to make their bed, try and straighten my hair without someone unplugging my straightener or burning themselves on it while I'm breaking up a fight elsewhere, dressing the fickle toddler, brushing said toddler's hair, reminding the others *in a yelling across the house sort of manner* to pack your lunch and put it IN your backpack, and while you're at it, do you have your gymnastics clothes and your instrument, what about homework, please get a sweater, no don't get in the car yet, I haven't done the other one's hair, and did anyone brush their teeth? Oh, everyone but me, bleh.

God Bless Teacher Work Day.


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Halloween pic of the day, my brother Noah, 11 as Elvis and Damien again as Captain Hook, age 4

picture mania

I like to snap pics of my kids in the car. What can I say. they're strapped down and can't get away. Yesterday I managed to get this one,

before my camera was snatched out of my hand from some unseen nemesis riding behind me. Since I was driving I let it go and Damien took pictures for the rest of the ride. Here's a small sampling.
Self portrait


Can you see her freckles?


Peace my brother


Yeah, she's picking her nose


I guess he liked her shoes


If you point the camera at someone long enough, you'll get weird faces


See what I mean?



Ok, enough already


Fine, I'll take more of myself



Look at the nice weather we're having





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And Halloween pic for the day, Emily 6 yrs old, Rainbow Brite,
Don't worry, Rainbow Brite always looks freaked out like that.

I am a murderer

A few months ago, my darling husband bought me a plant for my office, just because he loves me, awwww. He knows I have the furthest thing from a green thumb, so he tried to give me instructions on how to take care of it. And I tried to listen, and I tried to do it right, but this plant just didn't like me. It didn't want me for an owner, it acted in strange ways just to mess with me.

*side note* - Yes, I have 3 children. Yes I can care for them and they are happy and healthy. Even as babies, they would tell me when they were hungry, I would feed them, they would stop eating when full. I kissed their cutie little cheeks and cootchie cooed them and they thrived. Easy peesy.

Plants are complicated!!!! I need water, but not every day, but if you don't give me water I'm going to flop over and look pathetic and then you give me too much and I'm going to grow freakin mold!! How about some sun lady? But no, not by the window I might burn.

I hate you stupid plant!!! You're ugly and you make my life complicated! You're dumb and lame and I'm glad you're dead! Ha!
This is guilt rage.....I'm really sorry Hunny, I tried. Maybe next time.........jewelry?



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I'm cheating today because this isn't a costume picture, but it's damn cute anyways. Emily, 2 1/2.

Ow ow ow

So last night at dance class we continued learning our routine, and part of it includes a certain *bend your knees and drop your big bootie all the way to the floor and stand back up without holding onto anything or falling over* move. Yeah, you know the one. You've seen it in many a video I'm sure. So, after practicing said move about um...10 times, my thighs buuuuuurrrrrrrned. Not fun, not fun! On the upside, I am going to have rock hard thighs and buns come January when I'll be doing this little stunt on stage in front of people. Lord help me.


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Costume pic of the day, Damien, age 5, vampire.

Grown up talk

Damien and I were riding around in the car the other day having deep philosophical discussions about politics and the meaning of life and exactly how many more days till Halloween. And amidst all of this he told me he's decided now for sure what he wants to be when he grows up. More power to you little boy, I'm 27 and I'm still not sure. Anyways, I know you're dying to know, my son is going to be a doctor, a cop and an engineer. Now that's what I'm talking about!
Of course, I'm a realist and told him that as he gets older he's going to have to pick just one of those because most jobs want you to work like 8 hours a day. He was none too pleased with this information. He knows he's at school for 6 hours a day. His response:
"Wow, now I know how hard it is to be a grown up"

Yes son, now you know, I am vindicated. Being a grown up is hard. I wasn't making it up.



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Remember Emily's complicated costume that I'm making? It required a short sleeved white leotard, which sounds easier to find than it actually is. We finally found one at a dance boutique that was actually her size and I swooped on it. She was checking it out in the car later and glanced at the price tag and promptly had a cow.

"MOM! YOU SPENT 17 DOLLARS ON A PLAIN WHITE LEOTARD!!?!"

Yes darling, why so indignant, I did it all for you.

"Yeah Em, that's what things cost, I spent $30 on your boots. Remember I told you it's not cheaper to make your costume"

"Geez, now I understand, they should be called Rip Off Rodney"

Indeed. $17 for a leotard, who ever heard of such a thing.


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Costume pic of the day
Emily, 2 years old, Aurora (store bought for $40 in case you were wondering)

I'm cool

So Emily wanted to be sailor moon for halloween and if you don't know who that is, I'll forgive you..point being I had to make the costume, and I was doing alright till I got to the sailor collar...so I was like crap, I'll have my mom do it, and she was like, I don't know how find a pattern, so I was like double crap and then I couldn't find a pattern so I was like triple crap... but then you know what, I sat down and used my brain and some construction paper and I made my own pattern and you know what...I rock!
I rock because I can write a really really long run on sentence, and because I can make a sailor collar and attach it to a leotard, and it looks good and my daughter loves me and thinks I rock, so there! You so wish you were me.

Here's me at 23, a witch duh....a really really pale witch...I think it was the flash, yeah, let's go with that

In case you didn't know

I am a klutz. Some days I hide it better than others. Today, not one of those days. This morning as I lifted the toilet seat to sit down, I threw my brand new still wrapped tampon into the toilet water and I knew, it was going to be one of those days.
When I got to work I spilled coffee ALL OVER my white sweater. Brilliant. I actually got some of that coffee down my throat so maybe the rest of the day will go ok. I'll keep you updated.

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I have 5 siblings. I have an older sister, 2 younger brothers, and 2 younger stepbrothers. I never had an older brother and I've never had a younger sister. I had to tell you all of that just for no reason really, except I LOVE watching the relationship between my two youngest. Little sisters have a lot of power with older brothers, and he adores her.






Have a great weekend everybody

Halloween pic of the day
The costume that cost me over $100 and hours of slaving over a sewing machine
Emily, 8 years old, arabian princess

Trying to be content

I have a good job (not doing what I want to do) and make decent money (which is all gone the second I get paid), we have a decent (small) home (that we rent for way too much money) and I should feel good about all of that. I really struggle with it though. I want more, I want to own my home, I want more space, I want a second car, a bigger car, more more more more, now now now now, mine mine mine...

At church right now, they're talking about being content with what we have and not make money and stuff so important,and IT.IS.HARD. I love stuff. I love giving my kids stuff.
I make the median income for my neighborhood and I know there are others struggling and losing their homes, and losing their jobs, and feeling absolutely hopeless. The grown up side of me knows that and sympathizes and is thankful for all I have.

But the selfish kid in me is throwing tantrums all day long

We might have to use clothes we already have for Christmas pictures *foot stamp*

I might have to buy Nutcracker tickets in the balcony section *stamp stamp*

And just what if I don't get a Christmas bonus this year!! I might have to spend only like $50 on each kid!! *gasp* *stamp stamp* *kicking and screaming*

Ok, I'm done. I'm trying hard on the perspective thing, for real. I am, stop looking at me like that.



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Costume pic of the day:

Cali the bunny 15 months with grandma:

Round 2

Damien went yesterday for his second blood draw. Please keep him in your prayers that everything comes back normal. Then we just have to wait for the 6 month tests and this nightmare will be over.

Costume pic of the day is my baby boy at 7 months, he was a froggie

A sneak in the night

I woke up at 3am. I didn't have to pee, I wasn't being nudged for some nocturnal nookie, I wasn't sick and I didn't have a bad dream (well, I did dream I was 6 months pregnant, and that could be considered a bad dream, but that wasn't it). There's only one other thing that gets me up at that time of night. It's this:



Since she learned to open doors, she has been sneaking into our bed every night with all the stealth a 22lb 2 year old can muster. Well, apparently last night daddy got wise and locked our door, so I awoke to someone knocking rather insistently and yelling
"mommy, open dooooor, my seep your bed wis yooooouuuuuuu!!!"
I know for a fact Patrick was not sleeping through that, but I guess he assumed she was talking to me. I took her back to her bed and snuggled and got her water and sang ABC's and Tinkle Tinkle (hehe) and Baby Mine and eventually snuck back to my own bed.

This morning I found out Patrick had taken his own turn with the midnight mirauder. He went downstairs in the middle of the night and found this:


That would be her best "I know I'm not supposed to be up in the middle of the night watching movies and eating a cookie, but aren't I the cutest thing you've ever seen?" smile.

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Costume picture of the day
Emily 17 months, as a lamb, not a BUNNY!!

Monday funny

I don't know if you guys have noticed the little happy face at the bottom of my blog who gives us random things to ponder. Some are funny, some not so much, but this one had me rolling. Maybe I have a sick sense of humor (I'll blame Patrick for that) but tell me this isn't he-lare-e-us!!:

"If you throw your pet cat out the window of your car, does it become cat litter?"


Teeheehehe!! My answer is yes!

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My nails don't grow. Well, I guess techinically they grow...just as soon as they extend beyond the skin of my finger, they rip, bend, tear, and never last. My toenails however do need to be clipped. I know, it's monday morning, you don't really want to hear about my toenails. Whatever. Typically when I go to clip Caliana's nails, I find they don't need to be cut. I assumed she had nails like my fingernails and they just took care of themselves. Well, I finally found out the real reason. I swear these are not my genes at work.




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And finally, costume picture of the day.
Damien, age 3, he was a spider and an awfully adorable one at that. I know I have a better picture than this, but I couldn't find it, so this is what you get.

Fall

It's cold today. I have a window in my office so I can see the trees dancing in the wind. And I don't think anyone has turned on the heater yet this morning, so it's a bit nipply in here. It's the kind of day where you want to go home, put on cozy jammies, crank up the heater, drink cocoa and do indoor-y things like make holiday crafts, decorate, bake goodies and just be.....not at work doing stupid sales tax reports.
My phone just rang, but I let it go to voice mail. You can't trust the phone, you know. It tries to make me work. I'm gonna go check on the heater and maybe get another cup of coffee. 7 hours till the weekend. Pray for me, I may not make it.



Costume pic of the day

Emily's 1st halloween, a penguin, she was 5 months old

scatterbrained

This post will probably not make much sense. I can't seem to gather any coherent thoughts together this morning. It's Thursday, my most hated day, BUT it's actually been good so far.

- My scale read 2lbs less than it did yesterday
- Caliana actually slept all night in her bed
- Which means I got a full nights sleep and woke up on time
- Which means I wasn't a crazy raving bitch all morning
- Which means the kids actually listened and got ready on time
- Which makes us all happy

Damien actually said this was the best day of his life when I was dropping him off. For no reason in particular. Amazing how my mood affects everyone so profoundly. I am so very important.

And because I'm so important, I'll post another Halloween picture of ME

I was 16, and my best friend Jen (sorry Jen I had to do it) was 14. If you don't know what we are, your childhood was lacking.

I'm Maleficent and She's Aurora (in the BLUE dress thankyouverymuch) from Sleeping Beauty (homemade costumes...aren't we precious!)

Like breaking up.....again

Caliana has learned to open doors. This is a tragedy of epic proportions. We have to make sure both the front door and the garage door are locked at all times, and now she can escape her room in the middle of the night. I am the deepest sleeper of all time and it literally takes a 2 year old playing hopscotch on my abdomen to wake me up.....and for the past two nights this has occurred with disappointing regularity. So by 3:00 yesterday I was feeling less than fresh....wait, that sounds wrong....exhausted is the word I'm searching for. So I left work early.

When I arrived home Dan was standing there peering into my fridge. My irritation level notched up a couple points. Then he turns to me and says "Don't worry, I'm leaving" real snarky like, but I didn't care, can't hurt my feelings, it's the words that count, and those words are pure gold.
*irritation level drops back to normal*
Since I tore into Patrick for not backing me up, and for screwing up the whole "telling Dan to hit the road" thing, he must have decided that he likes being married and fixed the situation. Dan was none too happy about it, which I just can not comprehend. I'm real sorry you've got to go be a grown up now, but you did stay here over two months. Where's the appreciation? Where's the gratitude? Where's my medal for most caring ex girlfriend in history.
Oh well, I get to walk around the house in my underwear again, and that's reward enough for me.

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Costume pic of the day
Damien, devil (2 yrs old) and Emily, Kitty (5 yrs old)

At least she's honest

Cali- "Mom, my hab a chockit milk?"

Me- "Hmmmm......are you going to be a good girl?"

Cali-" Hmmmm.................................JUICE!!"

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We tried on her Halloween costume and went for a walk to the store last night. She was being her usual crazy monkey self and she zipped around one of the aisles and this lady screamed "AH, IT'S A LEPRECHAUN!!"

Miss monkey grinned her evil grin and took off in the other direction. Halloween is going to be such a blast.

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Costume picture of the day
Emily, Tinker Bell, 7 years old

Translator

Emily: "What's a Sharpay?"

Patrick: "It's a dog"

Me: "Uh, I think it's a girl from High School musical...why?"

Emily: "Our cheer coach was asking us what we're going to be for Halloween, and Katherine said she's going to be Sharpay, and I KNOW Katherine, she'd want to be the girl and not the dog."


Halloween picture for the day
Baby Cali-pillar, she was 3 1/2 months

camera ninja

If you have a camera in your hand and direct it at her, she will duck, dodge, do backflips and ninja kick you in the nuts, anything to prevent you from getting a good picture of her.




"Nope, NOT looking at you"



"Come on, just one good one???"

"Don't make me ninja kick you woman"




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And Costume picture for today is......

Damien, age 4, Captain Hook



Happy Friday everyone! Arrrrr!

Weight Watchers stole my boobs

Ok, so I'm not officially a member of Weight Watchers, but I've been following their point system lately, and it's working! I've lost 2 lbs in the past week, and more in the weeks before that. I'm loving it, but.....but....why did my boobs have to be the first thing to shrink??? They aren't that big to begin with, my hips and butt and belly...all are bigger. Take all the fat from there and leave my boobs alone! After nursing 3 kids, they are now only a B, and they closely resemble half filled water balloons.

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Guess who forgot her clarinet and music book this morning? Yeah we didn't see this one coming, did we? Grandma is bailing her out this time, but I vow it will be the only time. That girl needs a larger memory chip.

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I decided that I can't deal with Dan anymore and he would have to go by next week. I volunteered Patrick to be the one to tell him. Big mistake. I swear my husband is so damn strange. He told Dan what I said and also told him he thinks that's a little harsh, and if he wants to stay until after the 15th when he's supposed to get school money, that would be fine. WTF? You would think it was his ex, and I was the jealous wife. I'm livid. Last time I trust him to represent me.

Ok, here's the costume picture for the day

Emily at 3 yrs old, she was a ballerina

October!!

This is my favorite month. For a combination of reasons really. It feels like the beginning of the holiday season, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and ahem.....my birthday are all on the way.
I love Halloween, the spookiness, the decorations, the costumes, the excitement, the candy.
I love the fall weather. It's not exactly cold here, but it just gets a nice little crisp in the air.
October is also a special month in my relationship with Patrick:

October 1995- We shared our first kiss at the skating rink (we were 14)
October 1999- First time we uh....got jiggy with it (18)
October 2002- He convinced me to leave my abusive relationship with Dan and be with him forever *heart* (21)


In celebration of this wonderful month, I'll be posting a different Halloween picture from past years with each post.

To start, here's one of me at 17, I was 2 months pregnant with Emily