A dinner and an alarm...

My father-n-law and his wife decided they wanted to take us to dinner. They picked a great restaurant called . I don't think they will ask us to do this anytime soon. Why you ask? Well…
When we get there, we put our names in and it should only be a 10 minute wait. It’s 6:30 on a Friday evening. So 10 minutes is not a big deal. Well…we had been waiting for quite a bit and Paul was looking for something to entertain Connor with on his phone. You see, Connor was the one he was really supposed to be watching while we were waiting. I was nursing Sage (before we were to be seated). I’m sure you see where this is leading. You’d be wrong though. What is the most embarrassing thing your kid has ever done in a restaurant? Yelled they have to go to the bathroom loudly? Passed gas loudly? That is nothing compared to what my son did. Where we were waiting was right by the entrance/exit. The fire alarm is there. And as I mentioned Paul was looking in his phone for something to entertain Connor instead of watching his every move. Connor’s next move was to pull the fire alarm. Yes, pull the . In this restaurant that is full because it is dinner time on a Friday night. Everyone starts looking around. Including me. I look over and Paul has this weird face and Connor is covering his ears. I ask Paul if he did it. He points down to Connor. I tell him he needs to go tell the people at the desk so they don’t start evacuating people. This one man had to carry his son outside because the alarm was LOUD!! Fire alarms don’t sound the way they used to. They have more of a chirpy sound. Maybe just because this was in a restaurant. Maybe because it added to the embarrassment. Once Paul went and told someone at the front desk, the manager came over to look at the alarm. He didn’t have the key to make it stop completely. Every so often a loud chirp would come out of the ceiling. The first time it let out a chirp everyone stopped and looked at us…I yelled we didn’t touch it again! Connor kept his ears covered the whole time. To add insult to injury Sage was done nursing at this point and I just had her standing in my lap. What do you think happened next knowing the history of restaurants and Sage? Yep~ She pooped. Loudly. We finally got seated…no one else wanted to leave like I wanted to. I asked our waiter if the system was fixed. He said he didn’t know what happened but that the fire department came and took care of it. I then pointed to Connor and said he is what happened. He smiled. Paul told me that during one of Connor’s bathroom trips that a man high-fived Connor and said that was awesome-that he pulled the fire alarm. Stormy was concerned the police were going to come and get him. We told her no. We ate our wonderful meal and started to relax about it. Things could’ve been worse. At least the sprinkler system didn’t go off.

1.30.2009~seriously. I have no clue.

I am in no way a mechanic. Proof in point...do you know what this is?I didn't. Paul had to tell me. He has been having issues with his car. I call them issues not him. It makes me crazy sometimes that he does know so much about cars. When there is even the slightest funny sound...he is ready to rip it apart and fix it. Which is again...a good thing and a bad thing. He turns into a complete weenie when he is working on cars...most of the time. And for his sister that reads this blog...I know she is smiling...and knows what I am talking about. Well onto the question and answer...it is a throttle body. You can also see the mass air flow sensor, and throttle and cruise control cables and a few other things...I had Paul type some of that. Really...I don't know. I am glad he does. The stuff he has fixed on cars (our cars, friends' cars, etc) has saved some serious dough. And now he is starting to pass the torch onto our little man...as long as he keeps his serious temper issues calm, I don't mind.

I do know stuff that Paul doesn't. Like how to pay the bills online. I type much faster. I can birth children. Okay that's a given. But just a little smile for you on something else Paul can do better than yours truly...sew. That made me smile. And as for little man and Paul...

funny things my kids say...

A couple of short and sweet items that my darling Stormy said...

Mom~ I wanna take my clothes off and have fun...
ummm WHAT?????????
You know to play dress up...
That's much better.

STORMY~ WHY ARE YOU BEING A PAIN IN THE BUTT?!?
Because I like being a pain in the butt.
duly noted.

1.29.2009~~~Did you chew on that?

Hey Connor did you chew on these?"No Mama"

Yeah right.

1.28.2009...much needed break

Sometimes I get so frazzled with everything I should be doing and what needs to be done and what I already did. I complain about Paul's job even though I am beyond thankful that he has a job. I complain that I am a married single mother.While I am complaining and so busy running around I forget to stop and be thankful for what I have right in front of me. In my STRESSED OUT moments sometimes it is just nice to look and smile at...Nothing but pure beauty. I think she feels when I need a smile most. How can I not smile back at this little sweetie? She pulled her blanket up all around her in her little swing and then peeked back at me. I, of course had to take some more photos after that...AND WARNING...I have been playing with some photo editing software... :)

I think that my therapy session is done for now. I hope you enjoyed these little pictures. I feel much better now. Deep breath in...Time to dig in to the housework that won't get done with me sitting here on my computer. I might take a little more time to blog-stalk some friends...and then the housework!

names

Okay--you may notice...and if not I guess this will bring your attention to it... I updated the kids' profiles (and PD and mine). I put the names on there. Why? Because they have beautiful names. I used their initials for so long because I thought that would be best...so their names showing may be short lived. Maybe I will come up with nicknames and will only use those... you'll just have to wait and see I guess. I thought it would be cool to list what their names mean. So here they are...
Shayne: God is Gracious Emily: To Strive Or Excel Or Rival
Stormy: Impetuous Nature Maureen: Sea Of Bitterness
Connor: Wolf Lover Wyatt: Son Of Guy
Sage: Herb Or Prophet Ryanne: King
So...there you go! If you can think of some cute nicknames let me know...Also...I like to stick to themes...

Just in case you were wondering...

Just in case you were wondering how CW's lip was after his shaving incident...

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly my kids heal. And his facial expression is because he wanted Scooby on...

How can you tell if your baby is hungry? 1.27.2009

SR hardly ever cries. Even when she is hungry. It takes her awhile to build up to that cry and usually I feed her before she realizes she needs to eat. One of the advantages of nursing I suppose. I feel it first so I can take care of the issue before it becomes a problem...Anyways- this morning we were running around trying to get ready for school and my sweet baby hadn't eaten since 6AM..we were going around 8AM which isn't a big deal but I knew she was going to be hungry soon~within the next hour and a half anyways. She was trying to eat anything that would get close to her face...

one more...

As I mentioned I had a busy weekend. I went Saturday to a friend's house for an At Home America party (got to talk to a good friend! Emily!) and on Sunday I went to a baby shower which is what I want to talk about.
Where my husband grew up was very special. On this block...everyone was close...and many years later...still are. The houses aren't there any longer thanks to being in a flood plane. But the friendships are. I feel very blessed that I was welcomed into this close-knit "Gladstone family." Everyone had children of the same age on this block. So now...when someone gets married...or has a baby (hence the shower) people come together to celebrate the next round of family. It is so much fun! I love talking to all the girls. They talk to me like I was there with them...growing up. In a way...that's true...we have all gotten married and started our own little families (in my case a BIG family) so to the Gladstone crew...THANK YOU for letting me become a part of that!

1.26.2009...the wheels on the...

A quick picture this morning. Every morning we have a routine...not that I want to bore you with all of the details but in short...this is what my little SM does after eating and brushing teeth and getting hair done...etc...

SM is watching for her bus to pick her up for preschool. SM loves to ride the bus to school. It is wonderful! The bus comes to pick her up every morning for school and it brings her home after. AND IT'S FREE!!! I don't pay for bus service because of where her school is located. It's a win win. SM loves it and I love it because it's convenient.

Nope~ I didn't forget 1.25.2009

I had a crazy busy weekend (which is no different than any other weekday I guess) and didn't get a chance to post so without further ado...onto the show!

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What happens when you mix a naked 3-year-old boy with shaving cream and daddy's razor?

While Momma was feeding the baby I decided to climb -naked-onto the bathroom counter. While I was up there I decided to get into Daddy's shaving cream. Well of course once you have shaving cream you have to shave right? Well...I tried to shave above my lip like Daddy. But unlike Daddy I cut my skin...and it hurt. I didn't cry right away though. Momma said she smelled the shaving cream and had to put SR down to come check. That's when I said OWIEEE. Momma quick grabbed a washcloth because I had all this red stuff all over me. She carried me downstairs and laid me on the counter so she could get the owie to stop the red stuff. I had a lot of the white packages on me to get the red stuff to stop. It took forever. And my butt was cold because she had me lay on the counter while I was still naked! Momma finally got the bleeding (that's what she called the red stuff) to stop. But it hurts. Then she took these pictures...to show Daddy. I won't be doing this again...if it's gonna hurt this bad who needs it?????

1.24.2009~To find peace

What do you do when you need to get a few things done and have a 3-year-old attached to your bottom? To get him away from you so you don't go crazy can get stuff done...
Here is what I do...
Yes~he's in my shower with a ton of toys. He loves it! I don't worry about him getting water everywhere like when he takes a bath or drowning for that matter. And as gross as this is...when he pees...at least it goes down the drain instead of him just sitting in it. Such is the life with a boy!!! I LOVE YOU CW!!!

one last funny for now...

This doesn't involve something the kids said. It's something I did. And I am sitting here typing this with a smile on my face. So get ready...it's kind of mean, kind of sad and a whole lot of funny...
One thing I do to my kids every once in awhile is scare the begeezes out of them. It amuses me. I think it stems from my big sisters scaring the life out of me when I was little too. Anyways...the best one to scare it SM. Poor little thing. I get her most often because she is well, the easiest target. So onto my tale...The Lambies

SM has two lambies (thanks grandma mimi) that she has to sleep with. Well one evening she left her lambies in the living room. I told her she needed to get them because momma was tired of running up and down the stairs (not really but I had a plan). So down the stairs she goes...very slowly because only the hallway light was on. So she gets to the bottom stair and she sees her lambies sitting on the fireplace. She starts walking to them. I start yelling to her from the top of the stairs (over the railing so I can see her) that the monster down there is going to get her. I don't think I've ever seen that child move that fast in her short little life. She started screaming and flew up the stairs. Her little heart was beating as fast as a hummingbird's wings flutter. Normally I have the light over the kitchen sink on so I wouldn't have been able to get her if it had been on. It was just luck that it was off. I stopped laughing a little while later and told her that there wasn't a monster and momma was sorry for scaring her half to death tricking her. She didn't appreciate my humor very much. I gave her a kiss goodnight and sent her to bed...with both lambies clutched firmly in her grip.
Lesson of the story: don't leave lambies downstairs ever again and don't go down if it's dark because the monster momma will scare the crap out of you!
p.s. she has not left her lambies downstairs since!

The things kids say...

I have to write down things that the kids say if I want to remember them...I thought I would share one with you. There will be more as I remember them but for now...
The first one involves SE... Let's go over our conversation.

SE: Momma~my scratch is itchin' on my forehead.
ME: Okay sis. We'll put some ointment on it.
SE: EWW. No way...ointment's for butts.
ME: (with a smile)...how about non-butt ointment then?
SE: okay then
Here is a picture of the scratch in question...And as long as we use non-butt ointment SE is happy..

1.23.2009~ what's yours is mine if it gets too close!

SM wanted Baby SR time...until SR decided her hair was too close. In this last picture...their faces say everything!

Blog obsessed...

You could say I am obsessed. I think that when I have my blog printed into a hardbound book I will look back and realize...yep I am obsessed.

Something I wanted to share with a few people. For those that don't have little boys and those that do... Check this out...

Did you know what a Thomas Train silverware set can do on your plate that makes a momma crazy after you've been told to stop a few times?

Drive through ketchup of course.... AND then to be safe...better say CHEEEESE!

CUPCAKE FOR A CUPCAKE

Anyone else addicted to cupcakes? No--not the kind you eat.

This kind...

My big girl. I am obsessed with all the cute cupcake print items that are out there right now for little girls! With my other two it was always ladybugs. Now...cupcakes/turtles/giraffes and elephants! crazy right?

as mentioned...

As mentioned before, I said I had more to say...so yep I do.
A story of visiting the land of Target with 4 children and a crazy lady mom...

A long long time ago~ okay not really. It was last night. I decided to take the kids-yes all 4 of them- to Target. The girls' birthday party is in a week and they need swimsuits for their party. So we go shopping. I grab the HUMONGOUS cart (you know- the one that seats 2 in the big plastic front and then the normal cart that is attached to it). I put the big girls in the seats. SR in the front part of the basket (in her car seat of course) and CW in the basket part-so he can lay down. Man that cart was heavy! So I heave ho them around the store. SM decides after seeing the bra section in the girls area that she needs a bra. LOUDLY. Once I take care of this we head to the swimsuits. CW starts pulling things off the rack. SM is picking out which suit she wants and SE is trying to decide. I make a quick decision for them and we head into the fitting rooms. Keep in mind I am still pushing/pulling the HUMONGOUS cart. There is one fitting room-at the end that will fit us...barely. So we go in. CW is saying naked in the most disturbing way. So we get the suits figured out. I try to open the fitting room door. I can't. It's blocked by a cart. Here is the conversation that followed:
ME: Is that your cart?
ANOTHER WOMAN: yeah.
ME: I can't get out...can you move it please?
ANOTHER WOMAN: I'm trying on a suit.
ME: I can't get out and I need you to move your cart.
She huffs and puffs...She moves her cart which has her little boy in and says "then I guess we'll take the big fitting room."
WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!!
So we are done at Target at this point. TG!
We head home and I give the big kids a quick bath. I get them to bed. I then decide that SR needs a bath but I don't feel like getting her tubby. But it would be nice if I just ran some water in our big tub and sat with her. A little time together right?
She was looking up at me with the sweetest smile. (And I can't believe I am going to blog this...) I then notice the water is changing...yep, she pooped. In the water. That I am sitting in with her. EEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW! I drain the tub and get out. We head into the shower. After we get all cleaned up (BTW did you know that it is tricky to hold a slippery soapy baby and clean yourself up?) and head to bed. I am exhausted. It's still early though. Only 9PM. Here comes CW. "Momma--I sleep wif you?" Absolutely dude. He climbs up on PD's side since he is at work...grabs my hand...says I love you Momma and goes to sleep. THE END.
Did ya like my story? I wish that it wasn't all true. I wish I could have more to embellish. But what's the point? It is my life...it needs no embellishing!

1.22.09~~challenge and more to come

Well here is my "challenge" photo...I have a few items to post during the long afternoon nap but for now...enjoy!

Sorry about the focus...I wasn't using the flash and of course...they wouldn't hold that still. SE absolutely adores her little sis. She had to get in a snuggle before heading to school.

Can't leave my sight

This was the other day. I just wanted to share. My kids think that when I am out of range that they can do whatever. Including this:

First CW did it. Then he got a light swat on the bottom and was told to not do that! If he wanted his Thomas Color Book he needed to ask. Well- he did ask...SM that is. Where was I? switching laundry while they were climbing. But they are too scared to get down. So they just wait for me to rescue/punish them! The best thing about this challenge is that my camera is always within hands reach for moments like this!

One of my favorite things...

I absolutely love this little girl's chubby little hands.

I love when I am nursing her and she looks for skin to rub with her little fingers.

I love that it takes her whole hand to wrap around one of my fingers.

1.21.2009~~Load it Up---no wait--not that!!

So I have been busy cleaning (as usual) around the house today. CW was too. Check out what he loaded into his truck...

Can you tell what it is?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~yes...baby wipes.

I swear I go through a box a day!!

A Funny email I got that makes me laugh every time I read it!

This is an email I have received a couple of times. No matter how many times I read it, I giggle. Mostly because I can picture PD doing this exact same thing. So keep your hubby's in mind when reading this. Send me a message after you read it and let me know...what would your hubby do?

This was submitted by a guy who purchased his lovely wife a "Pocket Tazer" as an anniversary present. (What was he thinking?)
Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 22nd anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Toni. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized tazer. The effects of the tazer were suppose to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your Assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety... WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arch of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. Awesome!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Toni what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave. Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right? There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of A second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong? So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, tazer in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a Three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries. All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries) thinking to myself, "no possible way!" What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best...I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don't do it master," reasoning that a one-second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad... I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for the heck of it.I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and HOLY MOTHER, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION @! @$$!%!@*!!! I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, and then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, "do it again, please! do it again!" Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a tazer, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative. SON-OF-A-...that hurt like he**!!! A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantle of the fireplace. How did they up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I'm still looking for my testicles? I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return.
Still in shock,
Tommy

Challenge in more than one way...1.20.2009

Do you have an enemy that is constantly on your mind? It just sits and mocks you? Makes you wish for days gone by...

Enough said...

1.19.2009---a normal day for me...

What I have already done today (and it is still early)

and in no particular order...

cleaned CW's room AGAIN 2 loads of laundry loaded the dishwasher & ran it unloaded the dishwasher fixed lunch cleaned up lunch mess (i.e.-loaded the dishwasher again) took trash out got dinner going (it's a slow cooker meal) gave CW a quick shower took a shower (thank the dear Lord for that) swept the floor sprayed SR's outfit that she exploded in this morning had SM work on writing her name had SE work on writing our phone number colored with CW played with SR

And now---it's my time to play on the computer because all the kids (my daycare kiddos too) are down for nap. AGAIN- thank the dear Lord for that!

so onto the blog and my picture challenge...

Sometimes CW can really be super sweet with SR...I need to remember these precious moments

Have you ever just looked at pictures that made your heart smile?

1.16.2009

Follow the destruction

There you are you little messy pain in Mommy's...

Thank goodness you play so well.

Even if it does take Mommy forever to pick up after you go to bed.

I love you CW...