Vaseline in the Bedroom. Drama in the Kitchen

Have you ever been sitting in your home and looked at your walls and wondered how you could add a nice sheen without having to go through the trouble of painting? Well I haven't, but if you have then I have the answer for you. It's easy even, and if you have small kids you don't even have to do anything but simply give your two year old a tub of vaseline and a bookshelf. And let him loose. Or if you really want to be surprised, leave the vaseline on his changing table and leave him alone in his room. Don't have a toddler? Well I can lend you mine, he's proven his talent and is a good worker.

Yes this happened in our house last night. Little Man and Sweet Girl were busy busy busy playing together (happily I might add) and I checked on them a few times. They were in Little Man's room and pretending his crib was a boat. The "boat" was filled with every blanket and book from his room. Seemed innocent enough other then the fact Sweet Girl is giving Little Man the knowledge of how to get in and out of his bed.

After a while Sweet Girl comes out and tells us Little Man is climbing on his changing table (she is quite the snitcher), I go to investigate and Little Man is not on the changing table but sitting on his little chair. Some more time passes and Sweet Girl is back to the living room proclaiming Little Man is making a mess with the added emphasis of 'come see mommy daddy'. We both get up and walk to his room. To find him standing on the top shelf of his folding bookshelf, with a tub of vaseline that he proudly has smeared all over his wall. I start laughing and have to leave the room as Leo dishes out the disciplene. It was obvious Little Man KNEW he was in the wrong. We really didn't want the extra sheen on the walls, so Leo got a piece of cardboard and basically scraped it off the wall.

So now it's time for dinner. A lovely meal of grilled cheese, carrots and strawberries or tomato soup if you're Leo. Everyone ate well, it was good. Sweet Girl has to ask to be excused from the table. She is really very good at remembering to ask 'May I be excused please?' so we started this with Little Man. He was not as excited. And damn that kid is STUBBORN. We sat for probably 30 mins before he said it. He had no problem proclaiming ' I don't want to' but never the 'May I be excused' we were looking for. Oh the tears. The tears were flowing. And finally. He was all teary and sad and then one second later, looks at me and says 'Excuse Please' like he was a completely different kid. Poor Little Man had a rough night.

It was probaly the most eventful night we've had in a while. Hopefully there will be no more drama including any time of cream or vaseline though!

I Like Big Organs

I laughed at my title this morning. It's not what you think though. We had a fun Saturday night at the Organ Stop Pizza. It has a big giant organ, The Mighty Wurlitzer to be exact. They claim it to be one of the biggest and finest theater organs in the world today. It boasts a whopping 6000 pipes and it is pretty amazing. There are also other fun things to go along with it, like a snazzy xylophone. Check out the website for more information.
The food is less then stellar, actually it sucked. But you're really not there for the food, it's more for the entertainment.
And it was really quite cool. When it all started the look on Little Man's face was priceless. It was hilarious. I tired to snap a picture of it but the camera changed his expression. Sweet Girl just said it was too loud. Because lucky for her it sounds like she inherited my issues with noise. After the first song though they were both very intrigued. Little Man is an enthusiastic clapper. I loved watching him clap after the songs. It was so funny. Sweet Girl was so excited when he played 'Under the Sea' from The Little Mermaid.
It really was cool. I had a good time, I would go back again but order something besides pizza! Or maybe just desert and just enjoy the entertainment.

Woohoo It's Friday!!

And that means it's time for Friday Fill-In's. Join the fun, here!

1. Cooler weather, going to the pumpkin patch, and going trick or treating with the kids are some of the things I'm most looking forward to in October.

2. Sometimes I like to smell scotch tape.

3. I get up at 4 AM to go to exercise which is something I said I never wanted to do because that is just too freaking early to be out of bed and that's why there is a saying, "never say never"!

4. When I'm down, I unfortunately eat way too much crap (which has resulted in #3 above).

5. Home is where you'll find me most often.

6. A rainy day is good for curling up with a good book, blanket and new socks.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to the fact it's Friday and I don't have to go to work tomorrow, tomorrow my plans include hanging out with the fam and possibly getting new brakes on the Passatt (exciting I know...) and Sunday, I want to just relax!

Little Man's Vocabulary

So Little Man is saying more and more words. He will repeat most of the words you say, but he seems selective like maybe only words he likes the sound of or something. My favorite as of late is 'doughnut'. I don't know why I just love hearing him say it about as much as I love enjoying fried glazed yeast dough.

He also found another word I suspect he learned at school. We are eating dinner at the Red Brick Pizza place the other night. Excellent pizza if you've never tried it, give them a go. Little Man is sitting there eating his cheese bread when all of a sudden he blurts out what sounds like 'butthole', now I'm like 'what did you say? did you say back hoe?' Back hoe would make sense because we see them driving to school and read about them in his truck books. But he keeps saying it and I don't think it's back hoe, I really think he's saying butthole. I am starting to giggle a little bit. BAD IDEA. I know it's a parenting rule that you shouldn't laugh because it encourages behavior, I know this yes. But when he got up on his knees and basically screamed out 'BUTTHOLE' to the entire restaurant, I broke that rule and laughed my ass off. It was funny. I'm sorry but it was. Luckily there was only one other person in there and the restaurant is kind of loud.
The reason I know he heard it at school and not home is, if he had heard it at home, he wouldn't have been saying 'butt'hole...

Recommit To Our Country

I have no intention of turning this into a political blog and do not want to post anything about the upcoming election or anything like that so don't worry, I'll keep those opinions to myself. But with the recent passing of the 7th anniversary of 9/11, I have been feeling a little more patriotic then usual. If you remember #81 from my 100 Things post, you know that I cry when I hear the national anthem. I also get goose bumps when I say the Pledge of Allegiance. I love this country, I love what it stands for and the freedoms it offers me. So with this post, I am asking you to love our country too. Love and protect the freedoms we have so they do not go away. Recommit to this great country in our troubled times so we can rise above and come out stronger. It will only happen if we do it together. It doesn't matter if your democrat or republican or neither really. You are still American and that is what you should focus on and remember. YOU ARE AN AMERICAN. BE PROUD OF THAT FACT.

Leo and I bought this book at Cracker Barrel. It's all about the pledge. It's a wonderful book and extremely moving (yes I cried) , so I am going to share some of the book with you.
Note I did not write this, all credit should be given to the author of this book D.K.Webb. Buy it.

Reprinted from the book:
"Introduction.
Thirty one words...We learned them as kids when we were too small and too naive to understand them. We simply committed them to memory with no regard for their significance. We recited them morning after morning, year after year, never realizing the price that the proud revolutionists paid to make them real and the price our brave contemporaries would pay to keep them real. We've become so familiar with them that we seldom stop to consider what they should mean to us now....now that we're grown...now that we are the ones responsible for sustaining their legacy.

Whether we were aware of it or not, these thirty-one words carved out a place in our hearts-in the shape of a true patriot: a lover of liberty, a defender of faith, a promoter of unity, a champion of peace, a protector of democracy, and a guardian of all things sacred to life.

One morning recently, I paused in the midst of my busy routine to reflect on these thirty-one words. I was stunned at the emotions that stirred within me as I sat in respectful contemplation of not only these thirty-one words but of the wealth of history that lay behind them. Before I knew it, I found myself wanting to stand with my hand over my heard and recite them aloud with a renewed commitment to America- past present and future. And I did.

Perhaps it's time we all recommit to America - to her values, her traditions, her history, her heritage, her majesty, her nobilty, her compassion, her humility, and her holy awe. Regardless of our party preference or political stance, regardless of which presidential candidate we supported or which amendments we opposed, we are - in all of our diversity - one people with one heart and one mind. We are benefactors and beneficiaries of a powerful democracy - the strongest republic in the civilized world. We are the most liberated, most prosperous, and most blessed people on the face of the earth. And we owe it all to a sovereign God, to our American citizenship, and in part, to these thirty-one words.

Do yourself a favor. Do all of us a favor. Take the time right now to reflect on these thirty-one words and allow them to take root in your mind and heart. It is highly likely that your patriotism with be reaffirmed and your passion for this country reignited as you consider the thirty-one words you learned in elementary school.

What thirty-one words? You know them. I'll say the first three and you can take it from there - the last twenty-eight are a piece of cake!

I pledge allegiance....

to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the Republic

for which it stands,

one Nation,

under God,

indivisible,

with liberty

and justice

for all.

"

The rest of the book is very good as well. I hope you enjoyed my diversion from the normal kids are doing this and that. Tomorrow I will share with you what Little Man screamed out in the restaurant at dinner. Good times. Good times.

I Got Caught!

While reading last night to Sweet Girl, I skipped a few pages. It was a book I really didn't like so I didn't feel too guilty. Until I got to the end and tried to move on to the next one. Sweet Girl says 'You didn't read the cereal page'
Me: 'Yes I did'
SG: 'No you didn't' and she gets the book and finds the one of the pages I skipped, and also another one that she pointed out. 'You missed this one too'

So I read the two pages that I missed. Between you and me I really skipped like 6 pages but she didn't' realize I skipped that many!

I think this book will need to get lost behind the bookshelf. I will be happy to replace it with a better one!

Happy First Day of Fall

Today is the first day of fall. It's my favorite season. Before it surrounded me, now I have to drive to find it.

If you have a real fall, will you enjoy it for me?

Happy Birthday Leo!

Today is Leo's b'day. He is the big 3-7 today. He is now a member of the "late 30's" club.
We got up and went to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel. It was enjoyable.
I do feel a little bad because I am woefully unprepared due to our extremely abnormal and out of sorts week. I guess it's really no excuse.

But we'll have a good day and here's to you Leo! Happy Birthday. Love you lots!

The Week is OVER! YAY!

And it's time for Friday Fill-Ins

1. There is no need to dwell on the past.

2. Where in the heck did the time go? Sweet Girl is going to be four, what the hell?

3. Sleep is all I managed to do.

4. Prospects for an unseasonably cold Arizona fall and winter.

5. Karma can be a bitch so be nice is the message.

6. Simplicity and tranquility are pipe dreams.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to enjoying the fact the work weeks is over, tomorrow my plans include going go the Scottsdale Gun Club with Leo and Sunday, I want to do nothing but enjoy the day with the family celebrating Leo's birthday!

I want this...I want that...I want EVERYTHING

I knew it would happen. My mom told me it would. I thought I was prepared. I thought I was prepared for the continuous stream of 'I want that' out of Sweet Girl's mouth.
Lord the kid seriously does want EVERYTHING and she even admitted it last night.
It started a while back.
A commercial will come on and she says "I want that".
Repeat for next four commercials.

Sometimes I don't even think she realizes what she wants. She is a victim of the sly advertising.

ME: Sweet Girl you want a lot of stuff.
SW: Yes.
ME: Is there anything you DON'T want?
SW: No I want everything. Her eyes are wide and serious, like Duh Mommy get with it.
ME: Yes I see that.

This also extends into the store. I can only hope she doesn't remember all the stuff she wants. She alternates between wanting it for her birthday or Christmas. I mean it even includes food (like fruit snacks or hell even strawberries made the cut once). It is kind of funny. I just say, we'll see. And that seems to pacify her at least right now.

A Fun and Relaxing Visit

We had a great time with my friend Kelly and her daughter. It was so nice to have them here. It wasn't uncomfortable or weird like it is sometimes when you have company. It was as comfortable as having family visiting. We went to the splash park, indoor play area and the Phoenix Children's Museum. We ended our trip with a visit to the zoo. Kelly and I were also able to relax and do some reading. It was just nice.

** A side note here, the indoor play area was really quite cool. Although it will make you feel wicked old as you try to climb in and around these things. I did something to my back in there which made it feel like someone kicked me in the kidney (or maybe Leo did when I was sleeping..hmmm....I'll go with the fact I injured myself trying to act 10 instead of 32...)

Sweet Girl had a great time with her friend there. They were very cute together and got along nicely. There was minimal drama (sad to say that when Sweet Girl is around there is always some kind of drama...).

And now they are gone {Insert sad sigh}. I am back to missing them again.

And now Sweet Girl has strep {Insert a freaked out, OMG please don't let this be the beginning of like what happened when we first moved here sigh}.
There is nothing better then sending your friends home and your kid getting some horribly contagious illness on the last day of their visit. I can only pray that she kept this to herself and didn't send them back with a souvenir like that.

Friday Fill In's

As I've been reading other blogs I've seen that on Friday a few of them do something called Friday Fill In. I thought this was a good idea, then I realized that they were getting them from here.
So if you have a blog and want to also do Friday Fill In's, get the questions and have some fun!!

Here you go!

1. I enjoy reading.

2. What it will be like having teenagers is something I wonder about often lately.

3. In your heart, you knew Leo and I would be married.

4. Take beer, add a little vodka and limeade and you end up with some yummy summer beer.

5. Life has gifted me with sarcasm.

6. A snowy day and no work is an instant vacation. (yeah don't see this happening in Chandler...)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to hanging out with my friend from TN, tomorrow my plans include the pool and having fun and Sunday, I want to enjoy the Phoenix Children's Museum!

The 7th Anniversary

Today marks the 7th anniversary of 9/11/01. I will never forget this day as I'm sure you will not either. Leo was actually living in Phoenix still and I was back in TN. I was alone and I was totally emotional. I watched Fox News constantly and I couldn't turn it off because I was flooded with guilt when I did. How unfair that I can just turn it off and so many who lost someone couldn't. There was no break for them. It still breaks my heart and brings tears to my eyes when I think back to that day.

I wish the patriotism that was displayed during that time was still displayed and felt today.

Please take a moment of silence and remember those who lost their life on this day, not just Americans but all those who were in the planes and buildings. Remember their families as well.

Sweet Girl The Negotiator

Sweet Girl has started using our countdown tactic to her advantage. So when we are getting ready for bed or getting ready to leave somewhere we do the countdown. We'll say five more mins, four more mins, etc. So she has started doing this as well. When asked to do something, say for example get up and out of bed in the morning. Her reply: five more minutes.
Or to get dressed...Her reply I'll get dressed in two minutes.

Sometimes she gets her minutes and sometimes she does not.

I should be afraid of what this will turn into when she's a teenager.

The Good, The Bad, The Stinky

The Good: Little Man has no more fluid in his ears after two continuous months of fluid. Not infected fluid (shocking I know considering my luck) but just fluid sitting there, making us all sound like we're talking to him underwater. Proven by his pronunciation of Sponge Bob (and how ironic that SP lives underwater...).

The Bad: Little Man failed his hearing test even with no fluid. Boo. Well he failed at 4500-5000 Hz. This is equivalent to a siren on a fire engine. A little dangerous, no? What does this mean? Not sure until we go to the full audiological workup. Hopefully he does as good at that test as he did for the one in the office otherwise he will have to be sedated. Yeah no fun. Hoping we don't have to go that route.

The Stinky: I really didn't think the Phoenix metro area had skunks, I don't know why. I guess I was wrong as our house has smelled like skunk since SUNDAY NIGHT. Yeah it's great. We were on our way out to bid farewell to Leo's cousin as we were getting to the door (still in the house mind you) we all kind of said that smells like skunk and sure enough we walked outside and we were smacked in the face with the lovely ode du skunk. Let me tell you I do not miss that. And we all agreed it smelled like it was right around there. It must be close in order for us to smell it in the house, right? I thought when I woke up this morning I could still smell it. But I thought nah...it must be stuck in my nose. Then I walked in the house after getting home from work. Surely the skunk is not IN HERE or the attic I thought. How would it get in the attic? He would surely slide down the roof tiles and how the hell would he get up there in the first place. Leo said he didn't really smell it, obviously he has some nasal issues. Maybe it has sprayed the a/c units and it's filtering the lovely aroma throughout the house? It doesn't make any sense really because our a/c units are surrounded by our block fence so how would it even get in? There are so many questions. But the house stinks and it smells like nasty skunk and I do not like it. So I don't really care how or why, I just want it to go away.

UPDATE: The skunk smell seems to have gone away this morning. Either that or I'm just that used to it! But I think it's gone since I went outside and came back in and it didn't stink.

Weekend Surprise

We had a weekend surprise. One of Leo's cousins stopped by. I was totally shocked when I opened the door and saw him standing there. He lives in AZ but lives in Yuma which is to the south west of Phoenix. It was unfortuante the reason he had to come to Phoenix (his doggie had to have emergency back surgery, but is doing good and recovering well!! Yay!!), but we all were excited to see some family!!

Sweet Girl was totally smitten by him. She wasn't too sure she liked him when he got there and ended up locking herself in her room but after about 30 mins she was all about having him there. To have a new playmate! And he was so good with her and played in the playroom with her and had tea parties with her. She was totally stoked to have him there. It was sweet.



It was just nice to have company. We prepared a nice steak dinner on Saturday night, which was yummy. And went to total crapsville (foodwise) on Sunday! So it was good we went to the zoo to burn some of those calories and also that I got up at the ass crack of dawn today to work off my weekend at the spin class.

Finally It's Friday

All I can say is boy am I glad it's Friday. I have done great with my working out and eating this week. Although I did bail on the spin class this morning. My trainer dude has literally been kicking my ass so my entire body is sore and it feels like I've been run over. I thought I would take a break. I am thinking about heading in tomorrow to make up my spin class. I did enjoy it the best you can enjoy that kind of torture at that hour of the morning. I still think it's nuts, but since trying to fit any decent amount of cardio in at any other point of the day is nearly impossible I will keep it up.
I did feel pretty good all day long actually even with getting up at 4:30 in the morning. So that is a good thing.

We don't have much going on this weekend, maybe I will try to hit up a Goodwill. I am seriously jonsing to buy fall clothes for the kids. I don't, however, have any idea WHEN exactly they will be able to wear them. Although I know we'll be able to wear them when we're back in TN for Thanksgiving. I can't wait to feel the cool crisp air. I think I feel another trip to the mountains coming on soon...I'll need to get some pumpkins and other assorted fall goods to decorate in order to complete my own personal fall in the house...

Big Eaters

We've had a bit of role reversal in our house. Little Man went from being the big eater to slacking off a bit and not eating nearly as much. But whoa Sweet Girl has cranked into high gear. I imagine it is a possible growth spurt, but she is becoming a member of the clean plate club nightly at dinner. And not by force either! Last night she ate ALL her broccoli AND cauliflower, chicken and rice. She is also eating a lot of snacks, and we're trying for healthy snacks such as cheese or apples or other fruits. She is a lover of carrots as well.

Little Man on the other hand has slacked off from eating to just making a mess. He likes to move his food from his plate to the table or the floor. He doesn't eat nearly as much as he used to. But I guess that was expected as he grew a little older. It is just weird since he used to eat so much, we were amazed at what the kid would put away and now not so much.

I guess it's just another phase of their little lives so far. To keep me on my toes and keep me paying attention.

No One Should Be Up That Early for Exercise

So I convinced one of my friends to meet me at the ass crack of dawn (5:15 AM) for a spin class at the gym. This in my effort to crank my cardio into high gear in my attempt to reach single digit clothing sizes by Thanksgiving. I have been doing good with my workouts, I enjoy the trainer and he helps me. But I have been lacking in my cardio and need improvements in my eating.

So I made the the re-commitment again that starting tomorrow I will kick my own ass into gear and make it happen. And that includes a diet change as well.

Now I shall tell you I am an idiot. I am an idiot because I picked PMS week to start this. What the hell was I thinking? But I'm not waiting anymore so I will have to deal with it and poor Leo and kids will have to deal with a food deprived PMS'ing mom...say a prayer for them.

I am almost there, I have one size to go before I hit single digits so hopefully that will keep me motivated.

The war on fat has been waged and I will be victorious...

All The Good Stuff Happens When You're Gone...

I had to travel back to TN last week for a couple days at the headquarters of my company. It was a torturous trip that was exhausting and aside from seeing our favorite cousins, a few friends, my favorite aunt and uncle and my mom, it was not fun. It was all work work work. UGH. Although I did enjoy eating THREE dinners with no children attempting to take over my lap so that was nice.
But I missed ALOT of kick ass stormy weather here in the AZ. Damn I was pissed. How long have I been waiting for that and then it happens when I am gone! NOT FAIR!!!!

I also missed Sweet Girl flipping Little Man off the end of her bed.

I also missed Leo, well I just missed him. Since he considers himself a funny fucker I no doubt missed something hilarious (and probably slightly retarded).

I also missed NO HUMIDITY, even though I'm sure with the rain it was up much more then normal but it was NOTHING compared to the 93% that I walked out into on Thursday morning. Can you say yuck? Because it is yuck I have decided. I mean I always really thought that but now after being away from it for so long ,yeah going back just kind of sealed the deal on my dislike of it.

I also realized again just how I miss my parents being around. Send them some quick selling vibes so they can get out here.

I am going to miss the changing of the leaves terribly so I've decided to make the leaves change in our home with a crap load of fall and harvest decorating. Yes watch out I'm going EXTREME here...I would say I would post some pics but Leo will probably not let me due to his personal embarrassment as a result of my extreme in home fall fest.

I will tell you what I DON'T and WON'T miss, and that is crazy University of Tennessee football fans. Sorry to all you Vol fans out there but I'm going to stick with...Roll Tide...and it's a much better color.