Two Reasons

As many of you know the fam and I packed up and hit the road heading south to be with my family since my grandmother had passed away. There are many things I enjoy about the south, but this here "Yankee" has two MAJOR (ok only to me but still....) reasons as to why I will at all costs avoid living in the south.

Two Reasons I can never live further south than Northern Virginia

1. I would weigh about 500 pounds.

See they have these things called butter beans... OMG I inhale them. Love them, I think they are one of my favorite foods and I truly believe I could subsist on them... And perlow, perlou, perlo however the heck you spell it. The carb-aholic in me slightly twitches when I smell a good perlow cooking... And the gravy?!? Holy freakin' cow! So. DAMN. Good! I just can't stand it. I think I would never leave the kitchen... Man do those southern ladies know how to cook a meal.... Did I mention the sweet tea? Or should I say sugar water with a splash of tea... YUMMY! Yup, I'd be pushing 500 pounds... EASY!

2. Fire Ants

I hate those bastards. They're mean, hateful, nasty, and OMG do those suckers hurt! The whole fam (and I do mean whole: aunts, uncles, first, second, and third cousins, the WORKS) were at my aunts hgouse eating a FABULOUS meal, catching up, and reminiscing about my grandmother... The kids were all outside playing and having fun. Jason was watching the minis  (we looked for the minis quite often)

side bar: we were reminded, repeatedly, how we must be Yankees since we don't quite know how to raise a child in the south :).... Apparently, they tend to fend for themselves outside and mamas and daddies aren't helicoptering them as we do up north... 

Ok... back to the ants.... Jason had ran in the house to get something and told the minis to stay on the driveway. He warned them the ants would get them... (I was bit up a few years ago and he must have remembered how much I WHINED!!) Jason walked inside and 2 seconds later Madison is being carried in SCREAMING by her cousin. The poor child is FREAKING out and rubbing her legs. That meant one thing: Fire Ants!

I stripped her down, threw her into the tub, but the damage was done. My poor baby was COVERED in bites. They were everywhere. The buggers even got in her panties... I washed her down, sprayed her bites, and consoled her... My poor baby girl asked to go home "cuz our house dos not have the biting ants" Broke my heart... The bites are healing... They now have the uber attractive white heads... Preschool is gonna think she's got something for sure!

Note to self: Explain why my child has white heads up and down her legs and on her tush....

So while the south can be fab, this "Yankee" will be staying in the land of the cold and often times unfriendly.... Just how I like it ;)



Absent

I unexpectedly had to go out of town as my grandmother passed away... It was for the best as she was in a lot of pain...

I am home now and LONGING for my comfy bed! Tomorrow I will return to the regularly schedule chaos and mayhem... pray for me hahahaha!

Wordless Wednesday: Can we all just smile ONCE?

I don't ask for much, just everyone smiling for one picture would be nice!

For more WW: Wee Shenanigans, A Beautiful Mess, Look at What Mom found... and Dad too,  Momspective, Five Minutes For Mom, 7 Clown Circus,  MomDot, Wordless Wednesday , , Life @ 30, Three Peas in a Pod, & Conversations with Moms

Disappointment...

About 2 weeks before Anthony's birthday a package arrived addressed to Anthony and Madison from my mother in law... The kids were pumped and we opened it and Madison was OVERJOYED! The box was filled with dresses, barbies, coloring books, story books, My Little Ponies, and a brand spankin' new purse! I could barely lift the box, it was that HUGE!

Madison could barely contain herself!! Anthony? The poor guy got a shirt and a a pair of shorts. Honestly, he was pissed, but I explained we need to appreciate what we receive and that its the thought that counts. He was NOT getting it, maybe he'll grasp that at the ripe old age of 6? My mother in law called and told him a package was on the way for him, as his things did not fit in the box. So he waits. It never comes. He asks, but at this point what do you say? It really breaks my heart...

Then on his birthday, my mother in law calls to wish him a happy day and says she mailed him a gift card for trains. The missing package is forgotten for now, but yet he still waits and I KNOW nothing is going to come. See this is the drill. Promises are made, but never followed through. Things are done for one and not the other. This has been the trend since we were married 15 years ago. It's nothing new and Jason and I are totally used to it, BUT it makes me so MAD when it happens to the kids....

Then, my parents were supposed to come for Anthony's birthday party, but unfortunately, they had to cancel. Anthony cried all the way to his party because "Grand mom and Pop Pop were missing it" We felt so bad. But what can we do?!? We explained that they would come soon, but that things had happened and they could not visit this time... Once we got to the party all was forgotten and fun was had.

But still each day I hear, "Mommy did my package come? Did my money card come? Its supposed to be coming mommy, when will it be here?" It makes me feel bad. I want to lay it out there and tell him how it will never come, but I just hate to break his heart. Maybe I'll go buy him a damn gift card and cover the mother in law's ass... just this once!

So how do you handle it when people let your kids down? I am sure we are not handling it right... Jason refuses to call his mother out, because he knows she is a shit, but I think he should. He just avoids, that's his way. Me? I hate confrontation, but I won't lie, this mama bear comes out when her cubs are done dirty.... Thoughts?

Gone Fishin'

This year we were SO excited for Anthony's birthday party!! He wanted a fishing party and even though Jason and I have never really fished we went for it... This year I tried to scale it down some and invite only the kids he plays with and talks about, but we still ended up with 17 kids! I started to get a bit nervous about 17 4 and 5 year olds casting lines and just KNEW someone would lose an eye, but luck (and some very helpful parents) were on our side!

The poles were bought (you should have seen us putting them together and hooking 17 rods OMG nightmare!!), cupcakes were baked, and my fishy glycerin soaps were made! Anthony could barely contain himself so we were ready to fish!



Totally got the idea from HERE... SO CUTE!



As the kids arrived we had lunch for our fishermen (and women) and enjoyed our fishy cupcakes!

The kids could not wait for us to bust out the worms! OMG so nasty!! The kids LOVED them though and I think would have played with them for HOURS!

I LOVE the expressions this picture captured! They were having SO MUCH fun with the worms!

Madison caught the first fish of the day and it was perfect for her: It was mini sized just like she is :)

Anthony caught the next one and it was pretty big (at least I think so!!) Someone said it was a small mouth bass?

It seemed like every few minutes someone else caught one! It was so neat and that little lake was STOCKED! The fish were LOVING our ewey gooey worms! The kids fished, ran around, and had a blast playing! It was a great sunshine and laughter filled day! When the party was over every left with their fishing poles in hand and a smile on their face :) I hope to plan a fishing play date soon!

5 Question Friday!

Happy Friday!!! I only have one more day (early morning soccer game) of waking up to the screeching alarm clock! Hip Hip HOORAY!

 

1. What is the first nightmare you remember?
This was SO long ago... I was just little! I can remember Count Dracula chasing me through his castle and every door I would open he would be there waiting... I remember saying "Ok, you can catch me in a minute, but first I have to pee" Low and Behold, I woke up because I peed the bed! Gross!!! My mother still remembers me screaming because I peed the bed. (I think, ok hope, that was my only bed wetting experience!) Fun times...

2. Even if you're not a sports fan, what's your favorite sport to play/watch?
Yeah, I so don't like sports... If I MUST watch one, I prefer it to be action packed, with lots of movement... I get bored easily. I would say Hockey, but I can never follow the puck, Basketball bores me, I HATE Football, Baseball? Snooze... Maybe Soccer?

3. If you could pull off one piece of trendy fashion, what would you want it to be (jeggings, hats, thigh high boots, etc.)?
I wish I could do the whole leggings, slouchy boot, flowing tunic, uber bohemian look, BUT my thighs touch, my butt is huge, tunics are big on top but too tight at the hip, so I just end up looking like a stuffed sausage!

4. Did you make good grades in school?
I did. I did well in school with little effort... I even managed to pass (with good grades) all but two classes in high school (PE and biology) even though I skipped 90% of the school year... PE for summer school is NO fun!

5. What magazines do you subscribe to?
I receive a TON in the mail, but I do not read most. I signed up online for them which is a waste because they pile up, the piles overwhelm me, and I just throw them away... I have good intentions though... The only one I actually subscribe to and PAY for is Us Weekly. OMG... I DEVOUR it each week!

Mr. Nobody

I have recently learned that a squatter has come to live at casa de CRAZY... He has entered the world of chaos and appears to be staying a while. I discovered Mister Nobody by accident... Anthony was very slyly grabbing a yogurt out of the fridge just before dinner when I reminded him to ask first!

"But mooooom I did ask!"

"Daddy said you could have one?"

"No, I asked Mister Nobody, and he said YES. Mister Nobody ALWAYS says yes!!"

Hmmm.... How do you argue with that logic?!? As Ant was devouring his yogurt, I got the scoop on this say yes man...

Apparently he:

• is invisible
• lives in Ant's room
• told Anthony he can ALWAYS use the tape (side bar: tape is a hot commodity at my house... It finds itself EVERYWHERE... I must speak to this Mister Nobody, as Mama SOMEBODY is getting a wee bit tired of scraping tape off of her furniture)
• likes to wear only underwear
• says yes or good idea to everything
• is TONS of fun

Well well well... I am sure hoping Mister Nobody finds a new home quick because I can already see the mischief he is about to unleash!

Sometimes being a grown up SUCKS!



Murray the Fabulous

 Majorly...

The last few weeks, my beloved Murray, has been ill. He is not eating, barely drinking, and sustaining on the food the minis drop him and doggie bones. Last week, he was having a hard time getting up and I had to start helping support his back legs as he stands... Friday, he started refusing his doggie treats...

I know he is old, 14 1/2 years old to be exact which is long for a Golden Retriever. He has been deaf for sometime, but he was still perky, playful, and happy! This all changed in the last few weeks. The pooch we all loved was no more. I was shocked when I really took in what I was seeing.

Murray was a beautiful golden. His coat was stunning, his charm unbeatable, and the way he was with children was uncanny.... Especially considering he was nearly 10 when Anthony was born! He would sit by my babes and bark if we did not tend to them as fast as he liked.... He kept an eye on them ALWAYS! Watching, waiting, playing, loving....

Long gone was my spirited puppy, who would knock over beer bottles so he could get in a few licks. The pooch who would run circles, howl and sing with Sugar Rays "Fly" EVERY time he heard it, catch snow balls, who was always looking for who evers lap was open, and snuggle with slobbery smooches was not to be seen...

In his place was an old dog, my first baby, who was crippled, had bones jutting, and patches of fur missing...  But still we love him, patted him, smooched him, and laid with him... He had a fantastic life... Spoiled, loved, and enjoyed as a best friend should be.

Today we had to take that terrible drive to the vet and say goodbye to a member of our family. A member who was with us for 14 years. Always by our side ready to play or just be.... Today SUCKED! Being a grown up SUCKS. Leaving the vet was the hardest thing I have done in my 32 years and I hope to never experience it again....  I miss my Murray and we were so lucky to have had him in our lives...

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's the Thunderbirds!

Jason and I decided to take the minis to the Air Show... We though they would enjoy it and for the most part they did :) We had to walk about a mile and a half from the parking "lot" (AKA a mowed over corn field)and the minis legs were tired, BUT we made it and their eyes lit up when they saw all the "huge-normous" planes and "awesome" jets!

The kids loved being able to walk through and explore all the jets and were AMAZED by all the shows in the sky :) We checked out small planes, large planes, helicopters, and crazy flying things that I have no clue what they were... It was a great day :)

However, in true casa de Staci fashion nothing ever goes smoothly, we ALWAYS experience a BUMP in the road and this day was no exception.... Madison was getting tired, and she's three (need I say more?!?), so of course she had a melt down and not a little one either! She collapsed on the air field kicking and screaming, over what? No clue.... I tried to calm her but she was having none of it so I did what I do best: ignore and pretend these heathens are NOT my children ;) After a few minutes of wailing and seeing she is getting no where, she stops peeks, and moves 2 feet closer to me... Like that worked. Jason leaned over and whisper yelled "People are staring!" To which I replied "Let them stare... "

Jason "trying" to reason with the unreasonable....

Just as the main even was about to start she realized her tantrum was getting her no where so she stopped and climbed in my lap to watch the Thunderbirds! Holy cow were they cool!!! All four of us were amazed by how loud, how fast, and how awesome they were! It was a great day and I think we will definitely attend next year!

Five is HUGE!

Yesterday was my baby boy's 5th birthday! How is he five already? As I stretched and yawned bright and early yesterday morning I couldn't help but think of September 9, 2005... I was a bit afraid of my impending c-section but I was over flowing with excitement... I could not wait to get to the hospital... Jason was crazy quiet but I chatted enough for the both of us! As, 9 approached Jason was taken to get all "scrubbed" in and I was off to the OR... Once Jason was by my side I was BEAMING and if it weren't for the epi I would have been bouncing on the table... We were getting ready to meet our baby boy! Our Anthony... I do not think Jason and I truly understood such joy and love until we heard that first cry and gazed into those beautiful dark eyes....

Yesterday started out with a bang... Anthony bounced into our room as we sang happy birthday! He was so excited to see how fast he could run since he was now FIVE years old! Five is HUGE!!! We have heard about it for months...

Anthony headed to school where one of his teachers started singing to him as soon as we rounded the corner... So sweet! He was over the moon! After school we went to Micky Dee's, per his request, and then headed home for PRESENTS... He was so excited and LOVED them all....

We had some yummy cupcakes for a snack... which were well received even though I ran out of time and bought them.... Of course we spent the afternoon playing with all his trains old and new, making tracks, telling stories, and of course creating crashes... It was a perfect day!

We ended with a trip to his fave:  the brown bread restaurant AKA Outback Steakhouse where our awesome waiter doted on him and sang the loudest Happy Birthday EVER! Anthony was in his glory...
 

As we read his new book , It's Hard to be Five, before bed my beautiful birthday boy leaned in and whispered "This was the bestest birthday ever"! I though so too! My handsome little guy has truly changed our lives forever and I cannot imagine a world without his contagious smiles! Happy Birthday Anthony!!! We LOVE you always.....

Preschool Princess

Yesterday was Madison's first "real" day of preschool! (Last year, they let her go one day a week because she cried when leaving her brother and she was potty trained... Oh how I love her school) Now she is an "official" preschooler and is joining the preschool set three days a week! Such a big girl!!! My little mama has been super excited and has been asking for weeks when she gets to go to her school. Finally the day arrived and she bounced out of bed (before her brother... unheard of I tell ya) and was all smiles! My baby is a big girl now...

so excited!!!

ready for her big day!

look at that FABULOUS "M" she made... NOT at me lol

hard at work!

Wordless Wednesday: Best Friends

For more WW: Wee Shenanigans, A Beautiful Mess, Look at What Mom found... and Dad too,  Momspective, Five Minutes For Mom, 7 Clown Circus,  MomDot, Wordless Wednesday , , Life @ 30, Three Peas in a Pod, & Conversations with Moms

Five Question Friday

Happy Friday everyone! I am SO  looking forward to three days with NO ALARM buzzing me awake and jolting me out of my cozy bed... Anthony has 2 weeks of school down and Madison's first day is Tuesday!!! I just want to hang out, relax, and enjoy this weekend. Maybe I can actually get some housework done....  Hope you all have a good one!


 1. What do you do when you have time to yourself?
Shop, get together with friends, read, peruse the Internet... all that standard pretty boring stuff!

2. When you look out your kitchen window, what do you see?
My back yard filled with toys my minis have abandoned when I made them come in :)

3. Who/What would you want to be reincarnated as?
I have NO clue! Maybe a sleepy well loved dog? Or a beautiful soaring bird? Or maybe an A-list celeb.... hmmmm!

4. What is your biggest pet peeve about other people's kids?
I enjoy most kids so this is another tricky one! I guess I would have to say when they are mean to mine... I have not encountered this too much, but if you are mean to my kid, the mama bear comes out :)

5. Regular or Diet soda?
Easy Peasy... DIET! Why waste the calories on a drink when food is where its at! :) I used to drink about 2000 calories a day! YES 2000! I drink a lot! Then I turned 25 and I started to put on a few pounds... I switched to diet and lost about 10 with NO OTHER changes... I wish it were so easy now... darn 30's, pregnancies, and carbs :) I just want my metabolism back!

It's weally weally true

Madison wanted to tint her bath water pink tonight for tubby time... Pink with lots of bubbles she squealed and of course super mom (ha ha) complied! She was splishin' and splashin' and having a grand ole time. When she was all splashed out I set out to wash her hair and she so sweetly explained:

Madison: But Mommy, if you wash my hair, I will turn into Pinkalicious. Mommy, I don't want to be pink Pink PINK! Mommy, its weally weally true. I is gonna be a pinkalicious girl now!

Me: But I weally weally think you will be a cute pinkalicious and you are gonna smell so pink and sweet! Maybe being pink would be lots of fun?!

Madison: Ok, but I only gonna be pink for 3 days because I is 3 and I don't want to be pink! Anty will laugh at me!!

And away I washed, scrubbed, and conditioned, all the while she was peeking at her skin waiting for it to turn pink... As she dried off and got all snuggled in jammies she looked at me with those big browns and said:

Sorry mommy, but mayme tomorrow I can be pinkalicious instead....

"Ruined Up My LIfe"

Bedtime stories are one of my minis FAVORITE times of the day. They LOVE them and we LOVE reading to them. Its usually such a quiet snuggly time. Usually. Last night? Not so much! The minis were fighting, hitting, crying, whining, and just all out MISERABLE. After repeated attempts at story time, Jason finally snapped and explained they lost their stories and off to bed they went...

I was downstairs as it all unraveled... Madison was quite upset. After Jason tucked her in, I could still hear her crying and carrying on...

I gonna give pop pop a kiss, and grandmom, and mommy and Anty (insert mean devil voice here) BUT NOT DADDY! HE NOT MY BEST FRIEND NO MORE!!! Mommy, i need a good night hug! Mommy! Mommy! MOOOMMMY!

So upstairs I go, dry her tears, smooch her up, and explain that she should have been listening to the stories instead of fighting with her brother....

But MOMMY, daddy just ruined up my whole wife!!

How do you respond to that one? I almost laughed, but instead I kissed her goodnight and said tomorrow she would get some more stories and back downstairs I went. That's when the real theatrics started... I heard her hop out of bed and come to the edge of her doorway when she collapsed to the floor and yelled over and over:

My wife is ruined! My whole  wife is over! Mommy, my wife is ruined!!

Jason and I stood in the edge of the foyer barely able to contain ourselves. She was SO over the top dramatic! It was hilarious!!! I have no idea where she gets it from!! (If you ask Jason, I am sure he could answer that REAL quick!)

After about 5 minutes of drama, she finally gave up, crawled into bed and drifted off to dreamland ♥