5QF

Tigers won last night!!!  And it was hottie night in Tiger Stadium (Verlander and Inge.)  Honestly, I don't know how much more I can take....but it's fun to be cheering on a team.  The boys are really getting into it too.  C. is enjoying the numbers, and A. is just obsessed with baseball.  And cute booties in tight polyester pants are pretty awesome.

1. Do you prefer your ice cream in a bowl or in a cone?

Based solely on health alone...I have to go with a bowl.

But I do miss the waffle cones.

2. What three things do you love the smell of?

Oh gosh....you're gonna think I'm crazy for this. 

Do I dare tell you?

Ok....please don't think I'm weird!

Gas.  Freshly blown out matches, and anything baking in the oven.

To help you think I'm NOT crazy...I prefer the latter one.

Does that help? 


3. Giftcards or no? (In regards to gift giving...)

Unless its been asked for, or it's for a service...I really don't like giving gift cards.  One of my love languages is "gift giving."  I really like thinking about person and figuring out the perfect gift for them.

What's weird, is that I prefer gift cards as a received gift from time to time.  I like going and picking out exactly what I want or need.  And then I can bargain shop, and get even more for it.  Unless that person thinks about the gift they're giving and know it was something I would use/want.

4. What sports did you play in high school if any and do you still play them?

BWAHAHAHA!  No, I was not a jock.

5. Were you in band in high school? What instrument did you play?

I was in marching band, but played no instrument.  I flipped my flag in the color guard.  Those are my best memories of high school- where I made the best friends- ones I still stay in touch with, where I felt the most like myself.  Perhaps that's one of the reasons I love fall so much.  :)

Happy weekend!

My kid sucks this thumb....or I should say suckED!

Anyone who has ever met C. from 8 weeks on knows that the boy loves his thumb.

Heck, when he was 8 weeks old (and sleeping through the night), I loved his thumb.

When he woke in the middle of the night and needed a "fix" he just popped the thumb in and went back to sleep. 

A. was much different.  He had a pacifier....the lost that pacifier every night.  So, I'd put 4-5 in there with him, and he'd loose them too.  It was a very sleep deprived first year.

So, we were grateful for C and is ever-loved thumb.

Until he wouldn't give it up.

After 2, we started hounding him about it.  At 3, we were trying gentle coaxing, yelling, discipline, etc.

Nothing was separating that boy's mouth from his thumb.

Everyone said that once he started preschool, the social pressure would cause him to quit on his own.  We waited a whole year....and nope....he was still sucking.

Then he turned 4!

And was still sucking his thumb.

Then we went to his first dentist appointment a month ago.

I knew she was going to say something about his overbite.

I was hoping she would be stern with my boy.

No such luck.  But she did write something on a piece of paper for me to get.

Malava.

That's what she wrote.

So, I looked it up.  It's actually called Malava Stop.

I painted it on C's thumb nails (both for good measure- just in case he's an ambidextrus thumb sucker), and he stopped!  It has a VERY bitter taste in the polish, and really tastes like what I imagine a skunk smell would taste like.  Really, it's awful.

It wore off after 5 days (during the bath).  I just reapplied it again, and off we went.

Now, after 20 days, I believe he's kicked the habit!

I applied it 3 times so far, and hope I'm done with it for good!

Brain Purge

- I had a dentist appointment today.  I hate the dentist.  I really hate the dentist.  I've been known to throw up on them (nerves), and occasionally bite.  And one time I pushed the hygienist out of my mouth and walked right out of the office.  Somewhere in my home town, there's a purple star on a chart with my name on it.  Yep....I'm a "special" patient.  I spent all night getting sick.....to find out my dentist is ill today.  Really?!?!?
-  I watched my friend's kids for a while last night, and I watch my other friend's kids tomorrow night.  Let's just say, now more than ever, I'm convinced that God knew what he was doing when he gave me boys.  Totally grateful.

-  I've been sleeping funky and am in need of a good back massage.

-  My dear friend, Melody, took me to the Melting Pot for dinner last Friday night.  I'm STILL thinking about it and it's yummy gluten-free-ness.  Seriously....best.meal.ever.  I'm already trying to figure out how to get back there. 

-  A. doesn't have school on Friday.  C. still has preschool.  It's worked out so that I don't have to drive either way on Friday....so, off to school he goes.  :)

-  Am I the only person in America that's horribly annoyed at the Obamas?  Seriously....they talk, and I wish I was deaf.  ((shudder))

-  How is it fair that on GNO nights, I still have to make dinner for the rest of the clan?

-  U of M and MSU square off this weekend.  Can't wait to kick some green hiney!

-  I'm feeling strangely zen-like about turning 35.  I'm really enjoying life right now, and I'm loving where I'm at.  I feel a lot of gratitude, and am really comfortable in my own skin.  It's taken me 35 years to honestly say that last part.....and I'm loving that I can say it.

- With great nutrition, I'm finding that my fingernails are stronger and growing longer.  How did I realize this?  I went to bite one, and about cracked a tooth.  Bad habit, I know.

-  My cousin is getting married in November.  I'm trying to figure out how to get there and what to do with my kiddos.

-  I wish there was a naptime for adults.  I think the world would be a much happier place.

Top ten things on facebook that annoy the heck out of me....Take 2.

Ok...apparently, I'm annoyed by facebook from time to time.  While writing my previous post, I realized that I had to prioritize the annoyances to ONLY ten....and realized that I had ANOTHER ten (or twenty) to add.  So, here's part two.  If you missed the first one....you can find it here.



11.  Relationship status.  I once talked to our high school babysitter who realized that her boyfriend broke up with her by changing his relationship status from "in a relationship" to "single."  Really, kid?  If you're old enough to date, you're old enough to act like a man.  Grow some.



12.  Bible verses.  Only bible verses all the time.  You know, I'm a Christian.  I love the Bible.  I love reading it, and learning new things.  But when you only post Bible verses on Facebook as a means to evangelize....you need to know that atheist friends are not only NOT reading them, but they're hiding your feed.  Lead by example.  Show your joy.  Meet people where they're at.  Don't get hidden in feeds.  This is the best way to evangelize, in my opinion.



13.  Checking in.  You know that four-square thing, or the checking in on facebook?  Jane Smith is at the Big House with Jon Smith and 8 other people.  Yep...you have a great life.  You're having fun.  But you've just let your 490 friends (some of whom you may not have actually met in real life) that you are not home and won't be home for the next 5-6 hours.  Reeeeeaaaaal smart, socialite.  One of these days, you're gonna get robbed....and scratch your head as to how they knew you weren't home.



14.  Tagging photos.  Really?  When you take a picture of my big fat bootie....#1- don't post it in the first place.  and #2- Don't tag me in it!  Like I need another blow to my fragile ego.



15.  Your culinary expertise- or lack thereof.  If you're making roast beef for dinner....you don't need to post it.  It's boring and mundane.  I'm probably also cooking roast beef for dinner too, but it isn't really status update worthy.  However....if you're cooking something worthy of mouth watering.....by all means, post it.  Don't be surprised if I show up on your doorstep with plate in hand.  Just to be clear- grilled cheese, don't post.  Pecan crusted rosemary infused baked chicken with a side of coconut curry quinoa....post it.  And make an extra helping, please.



16.  Deleting other's comments.  I have a friend on facebook who is notorious for this.  She posts things that piss people off, and if they comment (and aren't in agreement with her), she'll delete it. I just think that if you're going to post crap like that, you need to have the ability to accept other's responses.



17.  Serious (or condescending)  responses to funny updates.  This was an addition by my friend Michelle.  And I wholeheartedly agree.    She put up a funny update to let others know she was having a rough day (we moms deal with rough times with humor) and someone posted a very serious comment.  Another friend of mine posted the other day about going far far away for a month or so for sanity.  One of her commentors stated, "As soon as you leave, I'll give your husband the name of a great divorce lawyer.  No joking.  You don't up and leave when the going gets rough."    Wow....know who you're commenting on.....know what they're day was like before you harpoon them.



18.  People with more than 800 friends.  Really?  Do you really know 800 people that well?  Unless you're using it to further your business (i.e. realty, mortgages, public image), really?  800? (Don't even get me started on people who have more than 3500----eye roll).   I doubt you know them all that well to let them know you're out of your house for the entire day.  See #13.  There's an official Facebook "unfriend" day.  It's basically to make you think about how many people you let see your personal information.  The last day, I unfriended 22 people.  It really made me think, and I'm grateful for that.



19.  Blurred lines.  I recently read that one school district requested of its teachers NOT to be facebook friends or twitter followers with their students.  And the teachers had an issue with this!!!  Really?  Why should this even be an issue?  Don't our teachers know to draw a line with their students between personal and professional?  This is an issue for me.  I, as a parent, don't want my sons in a class where their teacher would friend them on Facebook.  In addition, teachers put personal information on there (such as religious affiliations, politics, and personal family stuff) for immature children to see.  Note:  if you friend your students on facebook, please be prepared at some point for it to come and bite you.  If you don't want to get bitten, establish the line.



20.  Your schedule.  "On my way to Meijer for groceries, then to work (ugh) then home for dinner (grilled cheese) and to bed.  Busy day for me!"  Ok...so this is violating rules #13 and #15 too!  This is a mundane schedule, we are all busy, and again....you're just asking to get robbed.



Note:  if you are reading this, and we are facebook friends....this post does not reflect you.  I promise!  Those that do this don't know I have a blog...and if they do know, they're not reading it.  They're too busy violating rules #1-20.  :)  Thank you for being my friend, on Facebook and in real life and for reading my blog....and most of all, for not being annoying!

Not Me! Monday--- rerun the embarassement

I posted this a loooooong time ago.  But someone at church yesterday brought this post up and said that they couldn't find it to read to their spouse....so I thought I'd post it again.

Enjoy.




This is a different kind of Not Me! Monday- I'm mixing it up a bit. Here's a fun, but embarrassing story from the past week.




Last week, I was in a store, and realized I needed to use the restroom right now. So, I brought the boys and the stroller into the woman's restroom where there were two stalls. If the boys are with me, I usually go into the handicapped stall with them so I don't' leave them unattended. But it was occupied, and I had womanly things to do, so I was grateful that I didn't have to answer any questions.



I parked the stroller (and boys) in front of the other stall door (you know, so I can watch them through the huge crack in the door) and proceeded to go about my business. The rest is what you could have heard if you were a fly on the wall in that bathroom:

A: Mom, how long will this take?

Me: A few seconds. Please stay on the sit-and-stand with your brother.

Sound: toot echoing in the toilet bowl

A: Mom....WHAT was that?!?!?

Me: It was a toot. A...can you talk to C about school buses? What color are they?



A: It sounded crazy mom! Like an alien fart!

C: Anien fart!!!

Me: That's enough talking about toots, guys...let's talk about something else.



A: Yeah! Like how much it STINKS in here!!! Wheew, mom...WHAT did you eat?!?!?



Me: A, that's enough. What would you like to eat for lunch today?



A: Not what you ate! You stink sooo bad, mom!!! You're stinkier than daddy!



Me: A, that's enough. What's next on our list of things to do today?



C: ppppp eeeewwwww, momma! You tink!



A: Mom, it stinks so bad in here. Can I go to the toy department and look around so I don't have to smell you?



Me: A, I'm almost done. I'll wash my hands and we'll be on our way.



A: Mom, it stinks so bad, I think I'm going to throw up!



C: Momma- you TINK!!! EEEE WWWWW Ouchie Nose!

Me: That's enough, boys.



A: (gagging )



I finish my business, wash my hands and leave. Then I found a secluded spot in the store, and had a little chat with the boys about bathroom etiquette. You see, I was not the one having a BM that day, it was the woman next to me. I can only imagine what she was thinking. So, yes...this is truly a Not Me! Monday.

5QF

1. What is your go to comfort food or sweet?


Ohhhhh, I'm an equal opportunity food lover.  But, I do prefer sweets over salt.  I think I'd pick ice cream over all else.

Side note:  The boys and I stopped for ice cream after school (for my birthday).  I had an Amaretto Chocolate Truffle.  It was amazing.  Chocolate amaretto flavored ice cream with chocolate covered cappaccino chips and marshmallow running throughout.  Oh.my.yum.

2. What is the most romantic place you've ever been to?

I'm not really a romance-y kind of girl.  We've been to Paris (which is supposed to be the romance capital?), but we found it dirty, smelly, and the people rude.  I prefer to find romance in the little things- a walk with my husband, a back rub when I wasn't expecting it, praying together.

3. What is your favorite thing about fall/Halloween?

Since we've already answered the fall question, I'll go with Halloween.

When I was a kid, I would have said the CANDY!  Now that I'm an adult, I say CANDY!  No, really....I enjoy watching my kids on Halloween night.  I remember that enthusiasm.  Plus, we go out with friends from our small group- so D and I have fun too!

4. How would you spend 24 hours alone?

Hhhhhmmmmmm, what wouldn't I do?!?!?!?  First, I'd sleep in.  Then I'd slothfully sit while enjoying a cup (or 4) of coffee.  I'd take a rediculously long shower, take a long time to get myself ready.  Then I'd take a nap.  Then I'd watch a chick-flick.  Then I'd take a nice long walk- all by myself.  Then perhaps go shopping and try a whole bunch of clothes on.  Then I'd go out to eat at a nice restaurant, come home- watch whatever I wanted on tv.....and go to bed whenever I felt like it.

Or, in reality, I'd spend the day at my computer catching up on work.

5. Does you husband bring you flowers? Are you the bring-me-flowers type of girl?
 
I used to wish my husband would bring me flowers all the time.  Then, I got real.  They're expensive, they die, and if he gave them to me all the time they would loose their specialness.  He's brought me flowers probably 8-9 times since we first met.  And everyone of those times was special.
 
Here's the latest he brought me for our 10 year anniversary:
 

These were cool because this is about half way through the arrangement.  They put some buds in there as well as full blooms.  When the full blooms started to die, I pulled them out, and the buds opened.  I had two different arrangements for the price of one.  Our anniversary was on the 22nd of September, and I just threw them away 3 days ago.

 
 
On a totally separate note:  Happy Birthday to my Big Daddio!  75 years young!  Love you!

Half way to 70.

Today is my birthday.

Today I am half way to 70.

I'll let you do the math.  :)

In all honesty, I had more of an issue with 30 than I do this age.

I'm really feeling comfortable in my own skin.

Able and proud to stand up for things I believe in.

Not sticking around to deal with optional garbage.

I know the things I want, and I'm not afraid to go for them.

I guess, for me, age and wisdom come with a confidence.

I dig that.

So anyway, a few of my favorite pictures from the three and a half decade journey.

(that was for those of you who have trouble with division)

Today, I'll be working and catching up from having a way-to-slow-to-be-productive computer.

Well, perhaps a little family party with the boys.  :)

But tomorrow the celebration starts!

I.am.so.blessed.