Monday Craziness...

Yeah, so, it's my birthday. I was trying to keep everything on the down low. I'm not particularly fond of being the center of attention, but That Man and K2 had other plans.
I go into work this morning and was greeted by a huge good morning from the receptionist. She's always very pleasant so I didn't think anything of it. As I started walking to my desk, my boss comes running out and tells me in a kind of stern voice that she needs to see me immediately. I'm thinking - "Oh crap. I'm going to get fired on my birthday" I start walking towards the conference room, but she leads me into our break room instead, where there are balloons, a cake, and fabulous Dunkin Donuts coffee. I look at her and she said "Surprise, your husband and daughter set this up." I'm stunned and almost cry, but don't. Instead I call them jerks (in the loving-est of ways). And then I laugh because one of the balloons is this huge cow. It's hysterical and I knew right away that K2 had picked it. They got up early to gather everything and drop it off before I got there. How awesome is that? My boss tells me to get my cake now, because That Man brought the cake and coffee for everyone and she wanted to make sure I got mine before she sent an email telling everyone about the cake / coffee.
I do that, log in, and head across the street to the store to start my last week of store training. To sum up, it was a good day. I meet more of my coworkers because they went out of their way to come up to me to say Happy Birthday. That was very cool. I had work emails from so many people, including the bosses, which was also cool! (All of this makes me love my job even more!)
K1 and K2 ended up in a lengthy Facebook conversation on my wall. It included a ton of Nic Cage meme's, which had me laughing hysterically even though I had over 110 emails in my inbox as a result. I had a lot of nice messages, too.
That Man made grilled garlic chicken, potatoes, and asparagus for dinner. I didn't have to cook, clean up, or even thing about dinner, laundry, or much else. We did watch Baby B for a little while, which was very good. I missed him and he's so funny. And he loves his Nanners and Pappy! He wanted my cow balloon! (Shush! I'll get him an Easter balloon!)
The only downsides were K4 not feeling well :( and me (I think) breaking at least one toe, maybe two. I was heading upstairs to change into my comfy pants and when I went over the baby gate, I cracked my toes on the steps. Hard. They hurt. Really, really bad - like I can't put weight on them bad. (and no, I had not had one single adult libation!) Which totally sucks, because my feet actually felt good today and now I have to deal with the pain again.
Oh and my awesome parents got me gnomes for my birthday! I love it! They're very cute. I will take a picture of them soon!
So that was my birthday. Awesome! But I didn't get any older. Just so you know...
Behave!

Christmas Eve...

As I sit here at the dining room table with K4, trading funny videos and discussing the plans for today, I find myself looking at Christmas's past and at how much my family has changed.
Fourteen years ago I was heavy with child. It was K4's due date. I was running around like a crazy person trying to make Christmas as perfect as possible - cleaning (again, because it was constant), doing laundry (also constant), cooking, herding three kids ages 3, 8, and 10 and being in the early stages of labor. (and not taking the time to realize it since I was so busy)
This year I am not heavy with child. (ha ha) I am not running around like a crazy person trying to make Christmas as perfect as possible in an attempt to be Superwoman. The house is clean, the laundry is done, the food for today and tomorrow is prepped. I have to pack up the items for going to my parents later, shower, and possibly run the vacuum, but that's all I have to do. The presents are wrapped (except for two things, really four, but That Man is finishing up last minute details on two, and two will most likely not arrive in time) - most are already under the tree, except for K3's and K4's.
This is not the Christmas I envisioned two months ago, but I think it's still going to be a good one. I am blessed beyond words with great kids, awesome grandkids, fantastic family, great friends, and the best friend in the world. We don't have a lot in the way of presents, but we have more than many people - maybe not material things, but with love and a mutual enjoyment of each other's company.
I am looking forward to hanging out at my parents later and the kids coming back here after to do their Secret Santa exchange. We'll also have Christmas with K2 and J since they are with J's family this year.
In the morning, we'll have Christmas with our down-sized family. Just the four of us for the first time ever. We'll have presents, good coffee, tea, breakfast, That Man and I will have mimosa's. K1 & J will arrive and we'll do Christmas with them before switching gears for K4's 14th birthday. Tacos, friends, family, more presents for K4...
I am looking forward to it.
Many blessings upon your family!
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - The Saturday Edition

I always seem to be a day late and a dollar short these days!! Ha!

Here's the Feel Good list:


1. K3 turning 17 tomorrow! Oy! I am old, but my boy is such a great kid! I am so proud of him! (and I love teasing him with his presents! They are wrapped and in full view, though he hasn't figured them out yet! Ha!)

2. Getting stuff done today! That Man took care of the furnace. I took care of the shopping and other house stuff (my pantry organizing skills are stellar!). We didn't get it all done, but we made great progress.

3. Shopping with K4! She cracks me up and has the best things to say! I wouldn't trade these days for anything, no matter how horrific they are at times!!

4. Talking to K1 and J. It's very nice to have an adult and meaningful conversation with my kids. These two are very intelligent and wise and have offered a lot of insight into the current family drama.

5. Hanging with K5. She's a hoot! We went for frozen yogurt and then to the toy store for ideas for Christmas. She kept zeroing in on rolled luggage, which cracked me up, but I let her take the cases with her for as long as she wanted to. (Guess what she's getting for Christmas!) And yes, she did get a treat at the toy store! We had such a good time with her!

6. Sleeping in this morning! And waking up to the bathroom being toasty warm and coffee prepared by That Man, and breakfast. And finding out he'd rescued K2 from car trouble.It was a very good morning.

7. Not forgetting anything on our shopping trip. Or... maybe getting more than I'd planned, even though it kind of broke the budget. But whatever.

8. Our new workout room in the basement. Friends were moving and gave us this gym system. K3 and That Man spent last weekend making it awesome! That Man and I have been diligent about using the new equipment - admittedly, him more than me, but I'm getting there! It's still super cool though....

And that is all for now... Tomorrow I will sleep in again. Make birthday cake, birthday dinner, and hopefully clean up my house to make it appropriate for company. I will also do laundry, enjoy my kid's birthday and try very hard not to think about what awaits me at the day job on Monday morning!

Behave!!

Live Blogging the Birthday...

There are many teenagers in my living room. The Xbox is very loud.
Overheard:
"Good for you for understanding that with your second grade education"
"This wouldn't be a good cup if this was a real skull. The fluid would leak out all over your hand."
"I regularly use a cat tail to stir my drinks." (I dunno. We don't  have a cat.)
"You know eating too much cheese will make you constipated."
"Isn't that like the presidential thing or is it the graduation one?"
"I want that to be played at my funeral."
Also, random singing, my sister's dog is wearing a sweatshirt, too many empty pizza boxes, a 3# bag of Swedish Fish demolished, and several 2-liter soda bottles.
Except for K1, J, & K2 I am the only adult in the house. (And since they're participating in the conversation in the living room, I feel very alone right now)
I did make his requested birthday cake - pumpkin spice. It turned out great and was super easy. I used a carrot cake mix, a can of pumpkin pie filling, and 1/3 cup of water. I made cream cheese frosting, too.
The family will descend upon us in a few hours and there will be even more chaos.
The kid is having a really good day so far!
That is all...for now.
Behave!

Feel Good Friday

Another Friday! These weeks go way too fast!
Here's my list:
1. Sleeping in tomorrow!
2. My baby boy turning 16 tomorrow! How in the heck did that happen? Watch out, folks. In a few weeks, (or sooner) there will be a new driver on the sidewalks!
3. A horde of teenagers in the afternoon, then the family here tomorrow night. (I'm going to need an adult beverage - or six - for sure!)
4. Getting the kid the good things from his list. And finding out where most of our Christmas shopping will be done in the process!
5. Overnight guests. K1 and J are hanging here this weekend to help with the party stuff and eat all of our food (kidding - sorta).
6. The Frankenstorm! I love it! And maybe I will prepare for it. Maybe.
7. Being set up to work the day job from home, if necessary. Gotta love it!
8. My new grandson being in his last trimester of incubation! I can't wait to meet him!
9. Getting to spend time with K5 this week. She is a hoot and I love her so much!
10. Even though my house is a mess, we still have no hot water, and I have mega company arriving tomorrow, I feel very settled and peaceful. That's got to count for something, right?
Behave!

Fun Stuff...

Today the crew went to the Ren Faire for my niece's 21st birthday. 20 of us in 5 cars and all super excited. That man and I hadn't been since K2 was 3 or 4 (we used to go several times a season). K3 had only been once with school, and K4 had never been there. I was so excited for them to go and thrilled that they loved it so much.
The kids took off to spend their money with instructions to meet us at the jail at a specific time so we could decide on lunch. Most of us walked around, checking stuff out, tasting wine, drinking hot mulled wine, or having beer for breakfast, (but just one, because it was expensive!) and laughing hysterically. We ended up changing the meeting place to the mud pit since the show was starting. That was very funny.
Then we moved on to lunch. Food costs weren't too bad. Sure, I spent a little more than fast food, but less than a sit down restaurant. That man and K3 ate turkey legs. Holy crap, they were huge! K4 had pizza and half of my perogies. I had perogies and then a gyro. So good.
K3, K4, and I got sidetracked by one of the musical performances, but we eventually met up with everyone again. More walking. More wine tasting. More shop visiting. Ended up following some awesome music and staying for the show...then buying a cd and getting it signed. K4 loved it because the band had a violin lead who was so super fantastic! When she got the cd signed, the violinist encouraged her to visit her website and check out the sheet music and forums after she found out K4 also plays the violin. So cool. K4 was thrilled.
We caught more music, met up with most everyone at the pub, did a little more walking around, watched the pirate auction, went to some more shops, tasted some more wine, met up at the pub again. Then decided we were done in... it was cold, though most of us have sunburned faces. K4 was falling asleep on the bench, That man's knees were killing him, and a few others were hurting, too. A quick stop at the wine / gift shop for one last wine tasting / tshirt and wine purchasing, then a random group picture (though some of our group had already left due to pain), mayhem trying to get out of the parking lot...met up at the 'rents for hanging out and cake. Pizza first, talking, laughing... then birthday cake (my s-i-l makes the best cake ever!). More hanging out... then home.
So tired, but such a great day!! My love for the Ren Faire has been reignited. I can't wait to go back and my whole family feels the same way!
And, I did my words for the writing challenge! Whoo!
Behave!

Retreat!! Day Two!

I know it's now day three, but I will catch up!
Retreat Day Two was fantastic!
I started off the day by eating too much breakfast. Took a walk, ending up in the deep dark woods with soaking wet shoes. Back to the room to take care of some regular life duties, then hit the new book.
Zombies.
Did I ever tell you how much I hate zombies? Hate with a fiery passion that borders on love? So, yeah, I've had this idea for a while now and it just won't get out of my head. So I'm writing the zombie book. And I am loving it!
I made major word count progress, won the race to 1,000 word challenge, and am feeling pretty good about where this book is going. Our cocktail party was a success with lots of laughter, wine drinking, and kibitzing about everything from books, to our wips, to life in general. It was a really good way to get to know each other.
I crashed earlier than normal and woke this morning with almost a solid eight hours of sleep in me.
...and I will blog Retreat Day Three later on today when I have more to report.
Also...since I missed blogging yesterday...
Happy Birthday to my momma!! (I tried to call you twice!)
Behave!

Merry Christmas!!

And Happy Birthday to my baby!! 12 now! Holy cow...how does that happen?

I hope you and yours have a blessed day!!

Behave!

Weird Wednesday...

I am alone. For the moment. The quiet in my house is near deafening - except for the dog. This is odd to me (not the dog). Usually I am surrounding by chaos that is hard to explain and the noise level has got to be at illegal volumes. But none of that matters for the next few minutes while I am blissfully alone.
***
Tomorrow is my baby boy's fifteenth birthday. I'm not sure how he got to be that old. And in high school. I clearly remember his little blond head and his spiderman undies. Now he's talking about college and girls and all kinds of things I'm not ready for.
***
There is a mosquito flying around me. Shouldn't they be dead now?
***
On the writing front, I am settling on what to write next. And, of course, instead of grabbing a perfectly good idea out of my idea folder, it's something brand spanking new. I'm getting excited. It's been a while since I've put fresh words on the page. I've missed it. I will finish the zombie book at some point, just not now. I need to start it completely over and at this moment, I'm not that passionate about it. (This decision is subject to change without warning - just saying) This new book is coming together in my mind. Which is good, because there for a while I truly thought my brain was broken. Really broken. Apparently, what I needed was some time off...
***
By the way, today was markedly better than yesterday. Which is good because if today had been the same, you'd find me rocking in a corner somewhere.
Tomorrow night is trick or treat night/birthday celebrating, following by more birthday celebrating the following night and new Supernatural.
That is all...
Behave!

Oh Geeze! It's Almost Friday!

What's up with that?
Last I looked it was only Sunday! We've had "stuff" every single night this week....stuff like:
My granddaughter's 1st birthday! She's one! She's walking and she has a few teeth. And she's a very funny baby!
We ran over to see her last night and have a little cake. She was a riot! Instead of picking up her cake, she just stuck her face in it. Her "official" party is this weekend and I am still mostly stumped on what to get her.
We've also been helping K5's mom find a new car. That's been lots of evenings spent at car lots and carrying K5 around so she could see herself in mirrors.
Oh, and let's not forget the dentist! I broke my temporary crown a few weeks ago. I got my tooth fixed and am once again the owner of a temporary crown because the dentist said it's not worth putting a "real" crown on that tooth. That kind of freaks me out. I'm not sure I want to know what the next step is. I'm just happy to be able to eat right again. Or you know...until I break this one!
What else?
We won't talk about how busy work has been for me and that man I live with. Or the various kid activities going on. Or the five bazillion water balloons I filled for scouts. Or the fact that, yet again, my washing machine is acting up. And the house computer. Or the leg cramp that woke me up twenty minutes before my alarm when off this morning.
Long weekend coming up! That's what I'm focusing on!
Behave!

Answers!

Answers...because I know you can't live without knowing...ha!
1. I got my hair caught in the leaf blower. Yes. I bent down to grab something as B ran the blower beside me...
2. When I got home from the retreat, my truck was out of gas and no one told me. Also true. Argh.
3. I think my cat missed me more than the humans that live here. I don't think he cared I was gone.
4. While on retreat, on Saturday, I did not go to the Internet cafe even once. True.
5. When I crawled into my bed Sunday night, there were five stink bugs under my pillow. Nah.
6. I just had an ant crawling on my computer screen. Yes.
7. My granddaughter is the cutest baby ever. Absolutely. She is equal in cuteness to my own children, only made cuter by the fact that I don't have to get up with her in the middle of the night, or change nasty diapers.
8. There was a scout function on Friday (while I was away) and all of the firetrucks B organized got called away for emergencies leaving him with nothing. True..
9. We are getting baby chicks soon. Sigh. Also true.
10. The wood bees are so bad on our front porch that the railing collapsed. (They're like stink bugs, only more destructive) No. But there are about a million of them out there.
Sorry this one's a lame-o. I came back from the retreat to a heavy busy week and work's been the same. (I wasn't sure what day it was earlier. Yes. That crazy) But I have at least done something on the book every single day, and that's a good feeling.
I'd also like to wish my mom a Very Happy Birthday!! Love you, Mom!
And that is all. My pillow is calling me, and if I'm lucky, the psychotic water bed leaking has stopped. (It doesn't leak all of the time and we can't find the hole!)
Behave!

Thanks, Mother Nature...

What a gorgeous day! And, as it happens, today is my birthday. Usually I am not a fan of my birthday, and while I'm not so sure about this getting older thing, I've learned from my very good friends that your birthday is yours to relish.
Here are my gifts today:
1. Kids up and ready for school without the usual moaning and groaning.
2. Coffee made for me by the husband, along with a note that made me smile.
3. Flowers from my co-workers.
4. A cool cabinet that I didn't expect to get to bring home with me.
5. Not even thinking about what's for dinner - no cooking, no shopping.
6. Getting to talk to very good friends.
7. My parents stopping in and bringing me presents.
8. Strawberry shortcake.
9. Texts and Facebook messages.
10. The three tiny gnomes K4 got me. They are so cute. (don't worry - they can't fool me)
So there you have it. It's been a good day.
Behave!

Zombie Party!

The first of many pictures from the Zombie Prom!

These are the shirts we made - well, we didn't actually make the shirts. We put the stuff on the back and sleeve. They had "Zombie Response Squad" on the front. I'm sure you'll see pictures of that soon.

We had a lot of fun putting our costumes together, and we made a shirt for the birthday girl as well. And, as you can see, we all had very cool tattoo sleeves.

And there you have it!
Hopefully I'll get Tall Tale Tuesday done tomorrow!
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - The Christmas Edition...

It just occurred to me that yesterday was Friday and I totally missed Feel Good Friday...
So...Now Feel Good Friday includes Saturday and Christmas and here we go...
1. My baby girl and her birthday. Though I don't know how she can be 11 when I'm still the same age I was when I had her 21 year old brother.
2. A fun Christmas Eve with good friends and family. Yay for surprise visits and backporch rapping Christmas songs. Oh wait...what happens on the backporch stays on the backporch. Ha!
3. Breakfast for dinner for the birthday and chocolate cake.
4. The kids being happy with their Christmas booty. (until the Great Cat Poop incident of 2010 - more on that later)
5. Getting to see my granddaughter this morning and having her reach for me.
6. The complete and utter mess that is my house right now because it means everyone had a good day.
7. K2 having her bff over for the night and their laughter.
8. Dr. Who Christmas Special.
9. Snow in the forecast.
10. The job I start on Monday.
More tomorrow...where we'll discuss cat poop, my flat tire, and the potential for snow...
Behave!

Random Saturday...

*Today is K2's 19th birthday. I don't understand how she can be older and I still feel the same age I did when I had her. Happy Birthday, baby girl!
*My dryer is done in. It makes a terrible noise and is putting holes in all of the clothes. Plus, it shuts itself off after only a few minutes. We are out of towels, socks, and dishrags. Sigh.
*It's cold today! I spent my day tossing Christmas trees with the Boy Scouts. I'm sore, but it's done. Unbelievably, the entire time we've been in scouting (15 years) I have never been there for tree sale set up. Now I know why.
*While tossing trees, I dropped one to the ground only to have a mouse in my face. He was cute, but he surprised me so I screamed a little.
*I usually don't get poison. A lot of the trees were covered in poison and I moved them. I'm taking bets on if I will get it this time.
I think that's enough. We're not having a party for K2, but we are having game night and I'm about to have a house full again. Like any minute now...
Behave!

Post Birthday Party Saturday

A list:
1. While at a birthday party with tons of food, don't hang around in the kitchen. You are sure to consume far more food than you should, resulting in gastric distress.
2. Little kids can occupy themselves for a very long time with a cooler full of ice and a pair of boots.
3. Cover your ears when my family sings Happy Birthday. It's bad. On purpose.
4. Just when I thought my sister's house couldn't hold another person, more people showed up.
5. It was too cold to stand outside and talk.
6. I missed B. He has the flu and stayed home.
7. It was fantastic to see friends we haven't seen in ages. Though we didn't get too many chances to actually talk.
8. New babies! There were three babies there, including my granddaughter. One was only three weeks old.
And now I'm home. Exhausted, with really really sore feet and a headache. And looking forward to the extra hour of sleep tonight.
That is all.
Behave!

Birthday Season

We're heading into it around here.
We've already had three in B's family and that's just the beginning.
Today is my dad's birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad! (and I'm sorry about the senior citizens comment I made earlier! Ha! Okay, I'm not.) (It's a joke. He gets it, trust me!)
It gets birthday crazy from here on out. Luckily, we're not doing a lot of parties this year, which is sad because we miss hanging out with everyone, but we might get at least one "ultra pseudo birthday gathering" in while our very good friend visits in October and November. I hope anyway. There's also a baby due soon, which is exciting, but adds one more birthday to the mix. Ha.
***
Oh and hey! Four days until new Supernatural!
That is all...
Behave!

Things...

I'm thinking about...
1. How totally sad I am that the RWA National Conference started today and I am missing it.
2. How hot it is again! Though I hear we have a beautiful weekend on the horizon. And maybe some thunderstorms tonight.
3. Why on earth I wore a white t-shirt to eat spaghetti.
4. How many people I know with birthdays this week.
5. Not being able to sleep in tomorrow. It'll be worth it. Especially if this place is a go for the writing retreat.
6. The weekend.
7. Getting starting on my editing...
Guess that's what I'm going to do next. It's going well, though my bones are like a tiny baby mouse and they need to be tyrannosaurus rex sized. I am getting there though.
Behave!

Monday Stuff

My day started out bad!
Woke up late after a terrible sleep and my truck wouldn't start. Called B. He was too far out to come and help me. So I called a friend who I knew would be driving my way on her way to work. She came to help jump me, only it wasn't working. Now, I'm not stupid. I know how to jump start a car, but no matter what we did, it wouldn't start. She called her husband, and don't you know it started for him - on the first try. My pride was a bit wounded at that, because, after all, I do know how and have done it several times. Not that it really mattered, but still...
I then found out that I'd messed up a bunch of stuff (after being pleased with my progress) and had to go fix it all and then do it the right way.
Needless to say, my day didn't start off very well...
But it got better. Much better.
Here's why:
1. I have the best friends anyone could ask for. I just do. They are excellently awesome and I'm amazed and humbled by them.
2. I somehow managed saved a really huge dragonfly from certain death without hurting his wings or getting dive bombed.
3. I didn't have to cook dinner, or clean up.
4. I got to snuggle baby K and wish her momma a very happy birthday.
5. When we left the baby snuggling and birthday partying the sun was setting. The sky was amazing with reds and oranges and these awesome clouds. The clouds on our right looked like mountains. The ones in front looked like two angels and stayed directly in front of us the whole way home - never losing shape or spreading out like the other clouds had. Pretty spectacular.
6. Sleeping in for a little bit tomorrow.
7. A fantastically beautiful day today. Not too hot and a very nice breeze.
That's a pretty good list for a Monday, especially one that started out so crappy.
Now I must sleep.
Behave!

New...

Lots of new today.
New babies, new parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents. New birthdays. New families.
My granddaughter arrived at 7:50 am after a long night. She weighed 8#11oz and is 19" long. She is beautiful - perfect and healthy.
Mother and child are doing well, though S hasn't gotten much sleep since sometime Monday. She did a fantastic job through her labor and kept on even when she didn't think she had anything left. Watching K5 enter the world was one of the most awesome and beautiful things I've ever experienced. Yes. I cried. A lot. Watching my son take care of the woman he loves as she labored to deliver their child was also an awesome and beautiful thing. Watching her reach for him during her worst moments and seeing her respond only to his calming touch also made me cry.
Yeah, I'm pretty much an exhausted emotional wreck. ha! I've only managed to grab about 2 hours of sleep today after being up for 27 hours straight. I will be going to bed early tonight.
Behave!