1980''s

Rick and Ryan took off to Kansas City. They have tickets to all Big 12 games.

The camera is in the back seat. So that means..... all the photos that I was going to post tonight.... are in the back seat. :(

So, I thought I would share something that I've been thinking about lately.

THE 1980's

The Woes of a Stay-at-home-mom (who is never home)

I used to wonder what "stay at home mothers" do.

Do they watch "Young and the Restless"?

Eat Dove chocolates and paint their toes?

Do they take three hour naps and long hot bubble baths?

Well, not this chick!!!

Lately I have found that I barely have time for breathing. I tell myself after every busy season, "Whew, finally a breather"! Then another busy season starts. My friends are neglected, my family has forgotten my face.

Even you may not recognize me for all the black and gold paint on me. It might be because I bleed MU colors. (lol)

or.......

It may be that I have been painting Ian's room black and gold. With a little more black and gold, then I'm finishing it off with more......black and gold.

I am seeing a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. Boy o' boy. I cannot wait to post pictures of the finished product.

This is the beginning of the tiger I am painting above his bed.

So forgive me if I have neglected this blog. It's just been pushed to the bottom of my list these last couple weeks.

and these things have been bumped to the top.....

I feel guilty so I thought I would end todays post with some pretty stuff. It's an ostrich egg. A real, honest-to-goodness ostrich egg.

That has been fluffed, prettied and loved on.

It makes my heart happy.

I WILL NOT SHARE IT!!!! THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT!!!!

Because it's MY BLOG

This basketball season started back in October with Ryan's middle school basketball. Friends, it's March, and we are still playing!!! Ugh!! I now have a bleacher butt. hehe

Ryan's Y team was undefeated. That turns the corners of my mouth up.

He loves the game. That's good, because he plays it well.

Last Saturday we watched Ian play 4 games. (All before 12:00 pm, might I add) If I didn't love the monkeys so stinkin' much, there would be NO WAY!!!

I'm gonna brag a bit because........ it's my blog and I can do what I want!!!

Ian is a natural on the court. He has always played basketball but something has "clicked" in him this year. HE IS GOOD!!!

and because I cannot leave her out...............

My lil' Gracie. I had a funny conversation with her yesterday that I thought I would share. But before you read on, please understand that this may be a "had to be there moment". I'm quite sure that my writing abilities will not be able to equal the laughter over the situation. So, you have been warned:

It's 11:21

She comes into my bedroom and says, "Mom is it breakfast time or lunch time".

I say, "Well, we are going to have breakfast for lunch".

She starts crying.............

I'm seriously confused by the flood of emotions.

So I ask, "What's wrong"?

She says, "I haven't even had breakfast yet and your making lunch. I'm going to be SO HUNGRY!!!"

I do not get the logic of her sometimes. That's OK, I just laugh. (But I don't dare laugh in front of her. That is her little pet peeve.)

The Easter decor is out! I'm so sad that a few of my favorite pieces didn't survive. I had a little memorial for them. (sniff)

These are some Jadite eggs that I've had for eeeeons. (what is a eon?)

A nice find from Marshalls

I've also been adding some live plants to the decor. I'm so ready for some outdoor blooms. How about you guys?

I made this yesterday for the monkeys. It was gone in less than an hour.

I also made a cheesecake for the family.

I'm still not sure why I make things like that when I KNOW I cannot have it. It doesn't make sense. Somehow though, it fills a sort of void watching someone else eat it. Am I crazy? Probably.

Well better get off the computer and get my day started. I see "painting a tiger" in my future.

Spring countown

I just put the monkeys on the bus (sniff... sniff). There is something about putting them on that big, yellow, tank on wheels that gets to me. Most mornings, I send up what I call an arrow prayer for their protection. (I call them arrow prayers because they are short, direct and to the point)

Although it's Thursday, today is Friday to us. NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!!! Normally about this time of year, I become tired of school. I want my babies home!!!! I want to sleep in most mornings and make them big a big brunch.

I will make note: around mid-July, I am ready for school to begin again.

The snow is still everywhere friends. Despite 40 degree temperatures this week, the white stuff lingers.

Gracie has started a Spring countdown. For the last 5 days, she has given told us how long we have till our misery is over. Today, it is 16 days (at least that is what she says. I've not done the official count myself).

While I was at the store yesterday. I bought some artificial Spring. Flowers!!!! I know it isn't the same friends but my soul is crying for anything!!!!!

I even put out my Easter decorations. This has slightly improved my mood.

Today, I am going to expose myself to some fake UV's. The infamous tanning bed!!! (gasp)

Oh my, I'm jumping into this photo!!!!! See ya when the snow melts. hehe

Kajitsu furenzy

Wow, I am running on fumes right now. I'm tackling a decorating project in Ian's room that is sucking the battery life right out of me. When I'm working on it, well, I'm working. Then when I'm not, I'm feeling guilty about not working on it. Ugh!!! Why do I start things like this? I really hope that it turns out well cause I'm NOT STARTING OVER!!!! I will post pictures of it when I complete it. However, don't hold your breath. It's gonna be a while!!!!!

Last Saturday we loaded up the monkeys and headed to Aunt Pam's and Uncle Mike's. It's such a nice reprieve to be with family. No ironing, no laundry, no scrubbing toilets. They took us to a Japanese steak house and I had some FAB chicken and shrimp. The kiddos enjoyed them cooking in front of us. I loaded up a few photos below to show you, however, the lighting was terrible there for photos. I'm apologizing in advance.

Ian and Colten are trying to figure out what they are eating.

Gracie & Nate

The onion volcano

Heather & Eric

Rick and his little buddy, Macy-Boo

Kajitsu furenzy, to-ku temae asu

(this is Japanese..... it says "Good day friends, talk to you tomorrow".)

Orange-a-licious!!!!!

I've unknowingly been on an "orange kick" recently. I was unloading groceries from my recent store run and noticed alot of the same colors popping out of the plastic sacks. I bunched them all together and realized that I have a fettish for orange.

I didn't know this about myself!!!!

This is my new favorite room spray.

Wanna know a secret? I've been spraying it on me........ on purpose....... (shhhhhh)....... as a perfume!!!!

I'm so afraid someone will ask what scent I'm wearing. I'd have to admit that it's Wal-mart brand Cranberry Mandarin Odor-Neutralizing ROOM SPRAY.

Please don't tell.

I also bought something else with an orange package.

It's to make this......... Reese's Brownies

If you know what is good for you, you will not click on that link.

WARNING..... WARNING..... WARNING!!!!!!

No fears..... I will not partake. :(

Through The Eyes of Gracie

Yesterday didn't start off so well.

I was doing my "normal" morning ritual. Pry my backside out of bed. STRETCH!!!!!!!!! Let the dog out to potty. Then go herd the monkeys out of their cozy beds. Ryan and Ian are usually first. (although I never have to wake Ian up, he gets up with the roosters. He is usually dressed and reading when I go upstairs.) Then I make a right hand turn to Gracie's room. When I said, "rise and shine". She said, "My tummy hurts mom". I embarrassingly mistook this for, I don't want to go to school. Boy did I learn my lesson quickly when she ran to the bathroom vomiting! Eeekk!!! Needless to say, Gracie got to stay home.

Normally when one of the kids are sick, it's a snuggle day. However, I am knee-deep into a painting project in Ian's room. So, she took in a lot of TV time yesterday. I feel so guilty about that.

Anywhoo, after 12:00 p.m. she started feeling much better and was bored out of her mind. So I gave her my camera and said "snap away". (Her only rule was, no mommy pictures. No make-up, black paint in the hair, not pretty!!!)

I think for 8 years old, she did a fab job. All the photos below are Gracie's. She would love for you to comment below and tell her how wonderful she did.

Gus standing at the back door. This usually means, "I need to potty".

These are crosses hanging on the wall in the hall bathroom. Gracie said she liked their design. (gasp........ she IS my child!!!!!)

Our deck. Or what used to be our deck!

Yes, this is pretty Gracie!!!

Her Waterford crystal horse that Aunt AltaLou gave her.

A pretty rock. Notice that she balanced the rock in one hand and the bulky camera in the other. Very impressive!!!!

Congo Bongo laying on my Bible bag.

This maybe my favorite photo of all. Not because it's the best photograph that she took, but because she staged it. She came into my room and asked to borrow my phone. When I asked why she said because it would look good next to the flower. By golly, Gracie, it does. What an eye for details, I must say.......

I hope that you enjoy my budding artist. I'm off to the dentist today. Hopefully he'll fix the achy tooth I've tolerated for months.