French doors pack a heavy punch!

taken from the internet, not my hand or my door :)
Just needed an example

Saturday was a typical day in the house of crazy... I was rushing to get dinner on the table because my family hadn't eaten in 6 hundred years (more like 2 hours...) Of course, as I went to throw something away, the trash was overflowing AS USUAL. I pulled out the bag and was just going to set it outside the backdoor, because I had starving people STARING at me MOANING...

I whip open the door and get ready to drop the bag onto the step, but.... haha there is ALWAYS a BUT in this house...

The bag that I put there at lunch was still there! Ahhhhhh! So I grabbed the door frame and leaned down  to place the bag further down the steps...

My angelic daughter, used this opportune time to slam the back door with all of her 4 year old might! Right on my hand!

The words screaming from my mouth were sure to make a sailor blush. OMG did it hurt! I lost my balance and the only reason I did not fall down the stairs was because my hand was STUCK in the door! The door was shut on my hand....

Once my screaming dissipated, I finally used my good hand to free my smashed one. I couldn't bare to look... Finally, I snuck a peek and that's when I saw it... The blood was squirting from my finger, i just new it was chopped off... The pain was unbearable. Miserable. The worst thing I had ever felt. My C sections after pain meds wore off were a piece of cake compared to that...

I ran in the house crying, begging my daughter to get her father from out front (how he didn't hear me is beyond my comprehension) and threw my hand under the ice cold sink faucet... I couldn't dare look. I just knew  my finger top was lying on the steps in my backyard cold and all alone...

My son was in hysterics at my feet... "mommy are you ok" he wailed... I calmly yelled for Madison to get her father NOW! Her response? In a minute, I'm watching TV..

Are you kidding me? At this point I was ready to shoot her! SHE slammed my hand in the door for no reason. SHE did NOT apologize. And now SHE won't get me help?!? She must have felt the fury building for she finally got up off her tush and got her daddy...

My hand was finally numb from the water, the bleeding had stopped, and I could finally inspect my injuries. Three fingers got smashed. The middle took the worst of it. My nail is cracked and it had a funky lean (later that night I gathered up the courage to pop it back into place :/ and once I did it felt a ton better). I was gonna go to the emergency room, but I could not find my insurance card and damn it I was starving... So I decided to wait it out.

It still hurts. My nail is most likely gonna fall off. It still sticks out a bit funny... but it could be worse. At least it was my fingers and not the palm part of my hand. Now that would have been bad... The thing that still bugs me though is that Miss Madison did not even apologize until Jason prompted her too! grrrrr... This so called "phase" she's in needs to end ASAP!

Wordless Wednesday

All I want for Valentines is my two front teeth!

For more WW: A Beautiful Mess, Look at What Mom found... and Dad too,  Momspective,  Wordless Wednesday ,

Winter blues

Dreaded winter blues... Oh how I hate you! I get them every year... I really dislike them... they make me blah and lazy. Sleepy and grumpy. Pale and ghostly.

They really are NO fun!

This winter hasn't even given me a fun play all day sled riding snow day! I mean, if it's gonna be cold and dreary at least give me a little slice of joy in a good old fashion snow day! I just want to stamp my feet and pout while yelling, "no fair!"


just around the corner...

 I have been keeping myself busy with pinterest projects... I hope to snap some pics of my copy craftiness tomorrow. I made an uber preppy argyle valentine wreath today... I am totally digging it! I do believe that was my happy of the day :)

Well, that and the fact that today was a 2 hour delay :) I could use one of those EVERY day! It was so nice to not rush out the door for a change.

I hope to pop myself under some UV rays this week (terrible I know, but they do improve my mood immensely) to help beat my funk... But for now, I will take comfort in knowing that spring will be here soon! Fresh air, sunshine, and flowers... Bliss!

Kidisms

Anthony: Mommy! Come help me beat this level!
Me: Mommy doesn't know how to play video games. Just keep trying!

20 minutes later...

Anthony (doing a major fist pumping happy dance): Mommy I beat the level!
Me: Awesome! See, what you can do if you don't give up?!
Anthony: Nah. I just went on you tube and watched a video on how to beat level 11...

Yeah, he is ONLY six and way too smart for his own good!

Mom: 0 Anthony: 1

****



After playing with Madison for quite a bit, I had to get some work done... As I was making the beds, I see little miss staring at me...

Madison: Mom, can you play with me now?
Me: Mad, I have to get a few things done and I just played with you...
Madison: But mom I need someone to play with!
Me: Madison, you should play by yourself. Its fun. When you play by yourself you can do everything YOUR way...
Madison: But I don't WANT to play allbymyself (yes one LONG whiny word)
Me: Well, your going to have to right now. Anthony always plays by himself and has fun!
Madison (hands on hips): I have MY life NOT Anthony's life. We have different lifes. God makes us all different. I only like my lifes! NOT ANTHONY"S!  (With that, she flipped around and marched off...)

Mom: 0 Madison: 1

****

Anthony: When I get my new mom when I'm old, I just might have to shoot her...
Me (totally interrupting): What!? Shoot who? Why would you have a new mom?
Anthony: You know. When I grow up and gets married... Its just a spression mom, like I'll be really mad!
Me: Oh, well when you get married, she isn't you mom its your WIFE.
Anthony: That's what I said mom. If my wifes doesn't let me have my friends over I think I'm just maybe gonna shoot her, like be really angry, because even with a wife, I need to play still! I will still like my toys and friends....

****



My couch cushion... Incriminating much? Oh was she lucky she was in bed!!! Really though, I just shake my head because THIS is the perfect example of why I am NOT getting new furniture yet!

Taking it back...

WAY back!

Today was supposed to be a fun mom and daughter day. We met some girlfriends at the movies to see Beauty and the Beast. It was GREAT! The girls were so excited and loved the movie :) Once it was over?!? Not so much!

I dumped the popcorn, couldn't find the 3D glasses (which I knew would later cause hysterics, I mean they were uber cool with the beauty and the beast logo splattered all over them after all), and Mad couldn't find her coat. Once I had semi gotten it together, we joined some of our friends in the theater lobby.

In typical fashion, the girls all started begging for a playdate, because one special thing is never enough ya know... I told Mad no because we had other things to do, which of course was met with tears and WHINES... My friend said the girls could come over tomorrow which perked my little princess right up until she realized it was TOMORROW and NOT today... So the fit began and to the car we went; where I informed her no way in h-e- double hockey sticks was she going to be attending the playdate tomorrow. Of course THAT really set her off!

Seriously?!? I mean did I want to pay 22 dollars to see a movie that we ALREADY OWN? No! We went because SHE would enjoy it. Did she ever even say thanks for taking me to the movies? Nope! It's just expected and NOT appreciated.

It's not just Madison, nor is it just my kids. Most of my friends have voiced at one time or another how "spoiled" or "entitled" their children can be. Am I implying these are BAD kids, by no means. They are sweet, loving, and great kids, but they do all have this give-me mentality in some way, shape, or form.

My kids ask almost every day, what are we doing special today and if I have nothing planned I'm met with blank stares. I mean they are truly stumped. Nothing? Hmmm, now THAT'S a new concept.

Each day on the way to pick Anthony up from school Madison pesters me about having a playdate after school with her best bud. If I say no? I get MAJOR 'Tude. Why must there be a playdate EVERY day or even 3 days a week? It's too much!

As soon as Anthony greets me with his afternoon hug, he looks at me and asks if I got him anything special today... Yeah, no! You do not get something special everyday. It's HIS job to go to school and behave. He is not getting rewarded for what he is EXPECTED to do!

McDonald's? Yeah not a treat here. They want Dairy Queen, ok let's go. Jason and I like to get ice cream and majority of the time hitting the drive thru is a necessity or poor planning on MY part.

My kids are not the kids screaming in Target because I said they weren't getting a toy.
However, they are the kids who expect to be entertained All. The. Time.

Jason and I waited to have children a LONG time. We waited because we wanted to be better financially. We wanted for me to stay home with them., so we waited We waited because we wanted to give and do all the things we were not able to as children.

Being home with them was sometimes LONELY. I finally made some friends (we lived in a new area) and I began filling our days with day trips, playdates, and all kinds of fun stuff. I enjoy it, I really do! This is what I waited for. Getting together with friends is good for them AND me!

BUT, where exactly did I go wrong? Somehow, I find myself with children who EXPECT and DO NOT appreciate all that I do for them. We spend a day at the children's museum, do I hear thank you? Of course not. If we meet up with friends at the park, do they appreciate it? Nah. I just hear what are we doing next.

I am aware I have created this. I am aware that I must FIX this, but I question how? The first thing, we are SO NOT doing a playdate tomorrow FOR SURE! We are staying home, just the three of us. Enjoying each other. I do know that we are NOT going to be getting together at every whim and I am not planning out everyday. That is my start, but I am not sure where to go from there....

I have two great kids. They are both funny, sweet, loving, compassionate, and they have captivated my heart in a way I cannot even begin to explain. I love to "do" for them and I love to experience the world through them, but I think I have been selfish and all they have gained from my selfishness is a lack of appreciation... So, casa de crazy is going back. Way back. Back to the basics. We are going to be pretty boring until they begin to appreciate versus expect the things we do...

Any words of wisdom? Please tell me I am not the only one that feels this way!

A new year and a new do!

Naturally, my hair is a plethora of colors. There's some browns, some dirty dishwater dingey colors, reds, blondes, even, much to my dismay, grey. Quite a bit of grey actually... Getting old kinda stinks!

I usually get some blond highlights every so often, because I am so NOT about maintenance... I am BAD about maintenance. Lately though my blond just goes brassy and I hate it. I tried my hand at DIY box color, and aside from having a HUNK of hair in my hands when it was said and done, it just washed out too fast and, yet again, went brassy...

I've been peeping out peoples hair color and decided I wanted to go dark... Pretty dark. Drastic dark. I went to some friends salon (love) and the girl asked quite a few times if I was sure... I assured her I was and she confirmed that it was gonna be DRASTIC!

One hour and forty five minutes later, I was colored, cut, blow dried and styled. When she twirled me around toward the mirror, I was stunned. OMG! What a change, but what a GOOD change. I LOVE it! A LOT! I think next time I will get a few face framing highlights in a carmel-y color...

I still do a double take when I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror, but I really do like it. Madison thinks its cool because we match! :) I think I am liking my walk on the dark side!

So here's the new 'do whatcha thank (yes that was said in my mock ghetto voice)?!?

I

Green makes me happy!

I LOVE green. All shades of green. I think its one of my most favorite colors aside from HOT pink.

My office was finished a while ago, but I just realized I never shared the finished pics, so here they are!

When I first, decided to change our office from the junk all hot mess into something a bit more grown up and fun, I was met with resistance. Especially once I showed Jason the shade of green I wanted for the room...

His initial response? Hell to the no! But me being me, I pouted and whined and nagged for a few days until I FINALLY got my way :) (Yes, I take full responsibility that this is where Madison gets it from. However, I do understand that being on the receiving end is no where near as fun!)

As he rolled on the first few swipes of paint, I won't lie. I almost crapped myself. This was a big oops, but I so could NOT admit my wrong, so I just kept my thoughts to myself and PRAYED that it would pull together as I imagined...

The paint went up, Jason added a trim piece under the builder's crown molding to give the illusion of thicker molding (super cheap fix and gives a pretty big impact!!), and then I had to put my pouty pants back on until he agreed to build me the Ipex book shelf I found on Ana White's web page...

I found some funky and fun panels for my windows, a few accessories, and a new desk and chair and we were pretty much done. My final touches were the silhouettes my friend Alissa made (and I just mounted them on scrapbook paper). They were PERFECT and just what I wanted! I LOVE the room now! Its calming yet modern. Clean yet comfy.

I would like to add a comfy chair and get a plant that is HARD to kill (no green thumb here) for my grandmothers plant stand. When I stumble upon them I will know it! So, what do ya think?
Pin It

How I became a short order cook...

As I was putting dinner on the table (Pulled pork for Jason and I, Madison's leftover Outback, and Anthony's standby; the infamous chicken nuggets), I hear Anthony explain to Madison, "You see Mad, God made me different from my family. I just don't eat like that. Only if its pizza, chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, steak, or chicken. I'm just different from this family like that. It's just how he made me. I can't help it!"

***



I was the perfect mother BEFORE I had children. Honestly, aren't we all? Ha! What little I KNEW!!!

I VOWED I would NOT be a short order cook, making different meals for each member in my family. They would eat what was served, or not eat... Is anyone with me here?

Look who lost his front tooth!

Then, I had children. I have willful children. Doorknobs they are not! I have a child who is a picky eater. A child who screams thrashes and vomits over is freaked out by the texture of ground beef.  A child who's most favorite food is pizza yet will eat no other food with red sauce. A child who has not had a drop of milk (chocolate, vanilla, you name it I have tried) since the bottle went to the trashcan (said child will devour ice cream and yogurt go figure...). A child who once saw me pour milk into his beloved KRAFT ONLY mac and cheese and refused to eat it because there is milk in that. A child who will eat any meat (other then the ground variety) as long as I say its chicken or steak and provide a condiment for dipping. A child who snubs Kraft singles but will eat a pound of YELLOW only deli cheese in 2 days if I let him. The list could go on, I will spare you from the phase where nothing on his plate could touch (thank god we have moved on from THAT)...

The nights I actually find the motivation to cook I have to finagle dinner in a way that there is at least ONE thing Mr. Picky will eat. Broccoli is usually a go, mashed potatoes too. So we eat them. A LOT. 

There was a time that the sight of me in the kitchen would evoke tears from both of us. I can still vividly remember the days when he would climb up the bar stools with his chubby fingers, peek over the island with those big browns, spying what I was fixing on the cook top. If the said item looked funny, smelled funny, had red sauce, or ground meat the tears were instant. I'm not eating that he would scream and begin to gag in his ever so dramatic way...

I will never forget one night I made spaghetti. I mean who doesn't like spaghetti? I decided I was OVER this whole game and damn it he was going to eat it or he was going to be hungry. I mean how the heck did I turn into the short order cook I vowed to never be. Spaghetti was dinner and he was eating it.

That little turd sat at the table for what felt like hours. I begged. I pleaded. I yelled. I cried. He refused. Finally, I somehow coerced him to "try it". He dipped (if you can even call it that) his fork into the spaghetti and it barely passed his lips when he vomited. OMG Major fail.

That night my little guy went to bed with no snack and no dinner. It was terrible. I never have felt so guilty in my life. It just didn't work FOR ME. Others do it and that's SO TOTALLY FINE. I just could not.

Fighting over food was NOT a battle I was / am willing to pick. According to Anthony, he was "just made this way". So I have become the short order cook I vowed to never be. On average, I fix Anthony a separate meal 3 nights a week, we eat out 2 nights a week, and he will eat a meal I actually cook for the entire family ONCE a week (again this is just an average). I suppose one day his palate will grow bored of chicken nuggets and pizza and he will one day be adventurous and try new things. BUT...  Until then, I guess I will be a short order cook and pray that no one has ever died from a chicken nugget only diet....

I think to myself...

what a WONDERFUL life!

I hope everyone had a a wonderful Christmas making lasting memories with those you love. We had a wonderful and most magical Christmas. The kids had a blast and were so fun to watch. Their excitement was contagious and I love seeing the holidays through their eyes! Such a wonderful gift....

Our break was fairly quiet. We didn't really even leave the house (aside from a few excursions we were home bound for nearly 11 days.... HEAVEN)! I had a shopping day with a girlfriend (OMG bought the best boots and jeans EVER), the kids and I hit up a local bounce house (MOB scene), and Jason took the minis to a train museum (Anthony's most favorite holiday tradition).

Unfortunately, Jason and I ended up SICK! New Years Eve I was in urgent care due to some major sinus issues... Holy cow the pressure. My one eye was swollen shut, bright red, and SO sore. My vain self refused to remove my HUGE sunglasses until I was in the patient room and the doc's eyes about popped out of his head as he  asked "Did someone punch you in the face??!!" (Jason's lucky he is on my good side because I could have spun one wild tale and he would have been looking at some trouble haha) Yeah, it was bad, but 24 hours with a Zpack and life resumed :) Fortunately, the minis were so content and happy for jammy days, movie watching, and massive toy playing...

We (yes, I even helped this time!!)  did manage to start working on our kitchen cabinets... 11 are complete, so only 30 to go (what a JOB)... More info / pics will come later, but for now think beautiful black, bead board, crown, and  a new and improved white island... It will be BEAUTIFUL (at least I hope) once its all done... The stainless steel appliance shopping has begun and my counter top fund has started... Patience will be key in this process...

Even though I was sick, my birthday was great :) My family and friends all spoiled me and it was just a great day... Again, QUIET, but GREAT! The only thing that would make it better is if I was turning 30 instead of 34 haha!

I hate that the holidays are over, that Jason's went back to work today (his company shuts down between Christmas and New Year's), and that the kids are back in school.. Such is life, but on the positive, it will be nice to get back into the good old routine of things...

I hope 2012 brings all of you wonderful opportunities, happiness, and most importantly love! Happy New Year!