A Little Behind

No I am not referring to my own caboose. If I was, the title of this post would be "That Large Round Planet I Sit Upon".
No, no, I of course mean how I've gotten behind in my blogging. I blame this on quite a few things.

1. Rock Band

2. Oranges and lemons

3. Sunny California - yeah that's right, I'll blame an entire state if I want to.

4. My basement is cold

Except for #4 you are probably needing some explanation of my excuses for not blogging.

Well you'll have to wait.

My fingers are turning into blocks of ice.

I must go back upstairs.

Hooray for Thanksgiving!

We're off to Silver Dollar City for Thanksgiving, and could NOT be more excited. Seriously. We even have a family motto that we will be shouting throughout the park on Turkey Day, it's "Hooray for Thanksgiving!" Capri came up with it, and we've been practicing it quite a lot. Sunday's drive home from church involved us all taking turns saying the family motto along with our best "Yee Haw!". It may become a lot like our "Serenity now" (from Seinfeld) if the lines are long and it snows. But seriously we don't care, we are just so excited to see the lights, the shows, and generally have a grand ole time in one of our very favorite places.

Since I never got around to posting about our last trip in September, I figured I better post some pics before I get brand new pics. It was the Harvest Festival and we got some beautiful shots. We even got the bejeebers scared out of us by a "scarecrow" that turned out to be a real guy. I didn't get a pic of the scare, but it involved:

1. Seeing a scarecrow that looked kind of like a Bald Knobber
2. Moving in for a closer look
3. Him saying something and moving
4. Jeff and me yelping and then laughing hysterically
5. The kids yelping and then crying and clinging to our legs for the next 15 minutes.

It was awesome.

WANTED: Extra Large Pickle Jar

I've been having some pickle jar moments lately. Again, my kiddos aren't listening, they're growing up against my wishes.

Capri, who's wanted to be big since she was a baby, is really actually starting to get big - in more ways than just size. Her attitude is changing, she's growing out of the fits (good) and growing out of her little girl ways (bad). She still loves princesses but seems to talk more and more of being a "rockin' star". She's aware of her body, and doesn't want people to see her undress - even Daddy. This one threw both me and Jeff. I could SEE both of our hearts breaking a bit when she said, "Daddy don't look, I'm changing."

Rome is getting bigger too. He's still Rome, one of the nicest kids you'll meet. But he's testing the boundries, he's fighting the power more. He's realizing that he has his own voice.

And then there's Sable. She's the guiltiest. If I had a pickle jar big enough I'd smush her into it right now. I can't quite pinpoint it. It's more of a look on her face. It's coming - my baby is leaving me. She'll be a kid soon. She'll be talking, her hair will finally grow, she'll be tall enough to climb in the playplace at McDonald's. She'll turn 2. And my heart will be broken completely.

As a stay at home mom I know I'm lucky. I've squeezed nearly every possible moment of my kid's littlehood out for my own personal joy. I've gotten to experience it all, but it's NEVER enough. I never feel satisfied.
If it wasn't for this stupid, weak, malformed body of mine I'd probably end up having a dozen babies. And when it was over, when my body finally said "no more for you", I'd still cry. But my body IS stupid and weak and I doubt it could endure more than 4 c-sections. My grandma had five, but she's one tough broad.

So knowing that I can probably only endure four of the dreaded "c's" that means I've only got one left. ONE. And that thought leaves me sadder and more fearful of my kids growing than ever. It makes me want to put it off - wait, wait, wait to have the next. This makes my parents happy, it makes Jeff sad and leaves me in the middle. Numb at the thought of being DONE.

To top it all off, the odds are pretty darn high that I'll be completely done having kids before any of my brothers are even married. That makes me sick. Again I'll be left at the top. When they are all jointly sharing in that joy, I'll just be the old lady. All my future sisters-in-law will be giddy and joyful and friends, and then there will be me - the OLDER sister. Not really a sister at all. Yet again.

It stinks and I hate it. But as far as I can figure so far, there's nothing I can do about. If only I can find that extra large pickle jar. . .if only.

Dear SM,

That's right, I've abbreviated your name. Deal with it.

Your second book (which like the first I REFUSE to name in my blog) made me laugh out loud today.

As we skulked back to the makeshift garage, I contemplated my luck. Only a teenage boy would agree to this: deceiving both our parents while repairing dangerous vehicles using money meant for my college education. He didn't see anything wrong with that picture. Jacob was a gift from the gods.

I estimate this laugh was worth about 35 cents. Therefore, the check I am eagerly awaiting from you now can be for a mere $7.65.

I was also very glad to have somebody else, Jacob, enter the story. I was just about ready to drive to Forks and strangle Bella.

I know, I know, she's fictional. But it would have been very dramatic nonethless.

Thanks (still no luvs),
aby

Dear Stephanie Meyer,

I must be in a letter writing mood.

I just wanted to write you and say, you are making me crazy.
That's all.

No wait. I'll explain.

I was FORCED to read your first book. FORCED.
OK, so I ended up liking parts of it. Mostly the parts that had nothing to do with Bella's constant descriptions of Edwards "perfect face and marble chest". I liked Jacob, I liked the rest of the Cullens. Frankly I wished the book was all about them.
When I finished your first book I was left thinking, "THAT'S the end?". This made me mad. You had left it so open for a sequel that I knew I'd have to read the next one. So I went BACK to the library and got on the waiting list. This time I was somwhere in the 300's. So I waited. And waited. Then I got sick of waiting for something that I really didn't even WANT to read so I bought the darn thing. That's right. I BOUGHT it.
And now I am reading it. And all of the Cullen's are gone, and Jacob is nowhere to be seen and I am having to endure PAGES and PAGES of Bella's whining and "numbness". For goodness sakes, does the woman have any self esteem AT ALL??

This is why you are making me crazy.

Therefore, I would like my money back. I think you can swing the 8 bucks. I'll be awaiting your response, and check.

Thank you (no luvs),
aby

Ding Dong the Cast is GONE!

Last friday,














And then, while eating lunch in the HOSPITAL cafeteria, Rome not only "spilled the salt" - he broke the entire salt shaker. Literally, he hit the shaker by accident and it shattered everywhere. Let's just hope that our impending bad luck doesn't involve any more broken bones. We're DONE with that for while.

Knock on wood.

Dear Fellow Bloggers,

First I want to say that I think you are all just grand. And extra special. And dandy.

Second, I want to say that I HATE your automatic music players (or whatever they are called). Does HATE seem like a strong word? Sorry. But it's true.
I really, really, really HATE them.

Here's why:

1. I don't keep my speakers on all the time. What can I say, I like the gentle hum of my computer. So when I do NEED to turn them on to watch one of your videos that you so brillantly figured out how to download (something I've never been able to accomplish) I am blasted with whatever music you've loaded onto your blog. I hear no kiddies, no birthday song, no funny baby gurgles. Therefore I have to FIND your music player, turn it off, go back to the post and then restart the video clip.

2. Here's where it gets REALLY hairy. I use Firefox, and as you may know, Firefox keeps multiple pages open with tabs at the top of the screen for easy access. I like this. What really throws me off is when I have a blog open, then use a link to get to another blog. Then I go to play a video on the second blog and so I turn on my speakers - BLAAAST!! Music instead. So I search for the music player and turn it off. But the music doesn't stop, "*$%#**#!", the OTHER blog ALSO has one and I have to go back to the first blog and find that player and turn IT off.

So as you can clearly see this is causing me great problems. And distress. And cursing.

It's not that I don't love Y-O-U fellow bloggers. I do, I DO love you! It's just that I really, really, really, REALLY hate your music players.

Oh yeah, I also really hate your word verifications. This is another source of frustration when I leave a perfectly snarky comment and then have to type in something that looks a lot like this:

JojoBOSkojilLSKION

luvs, aby

Kid Dates Part Deux

Another successful round of kid dates, 1/2 a few weeks ago and the other 1/2 yesterday and today - though no pictures this time.

Imagine if you will. . .

1. Aby & Rome date: Rome's choice, Chuck E Cheese. Noise, chaos, french fries, soda, games, rides and a smile from ear to ear on Rome's face the entire time. TONS o tickets = Rome gets a mini rocket shooter, a soft ball and some candy. There is little better in this world to Rome than rocket shooters.

2. Jeff & Capri date: Capri's choice, lunch at On the Border. Capri LOVES to go to lunch or dinner with Daddy, or really anybody for that matter. All our kids L-O-V-E to eat out. We have apparently trained them well.

3. Aby & Capri date: She didn't get to choose but I knew she really wanted to go get ice cream at Cold Stone. So we made it a "shopping" date followed by ice cream. The Salvation Army was having a 75% off sale for all the clothes, so we hit that. Capri was HILARIOUS while we looked through all the racks. She kept picking out the ugliest things - ok so MOST of the clothes there are the UGLIEST things - and then saying "this is for you Mom, HA HA HA HA!" or "This is for Gramma, HA, HA, HA, HA!" I nearly bought one of the shirts she picked out for Gramma and was going to MAKE her wear it when we come to visit. You lucked out big time Mom!

4. Jeff & Rome date: Rome's choice. . . Chuck E Cheese. Shocked? Well don't be. It's pretty much his favorite place on earth. I'm sure the experience was pretty much like the date with me - except this time he came home with a tiny dinosaur and a couple of candies. Needless to say, Mommy is WAAAAY better at winning tickets than Daddy.

A Peter Pan Halloween

Well we did it, another successful Halloween. And this year, all on our lonesomes. Grandma was extra busy and so I was left to figure out how to magically transform us all into the cast of Peter Pan. With a little luck on Ebay, a little luck at the Salvation Army and a LOT of luck sewing I was able to get us looking the part.


(Note: Due to a seriously unfortunate choice of hand placement, I look pregnant in this picture. I AM NOT PREGNANT. I'm just fat.)


I was especially proud of Jeff's hat. It was a black witch's hat that I converted and covered in red felt. Took a while but was totally worth it.



My costume looks the easiest, but I did have to shorten the sleeves and add elastic. I did have the comfiest costume though!


Capri has worn a wig three Halloweens in a row. She truly excels at what we call, "committing to your costume". We tell the kids, you've got to commit to your costume. Hot, cold, uncomfortable - sometimes you have to sacrifice to look the part!


I'm really not sure that Rome's smile could get any bigger than in this picture. Doesn't he have the REDDEST lips ever?




Our ticking Crocodile. You wouldn't believe how coveted crocodile/alligator costumes are. You CAN'T find them in a store, and online they are snatched up like crazy. It took me weeks to finally win one on Ebay at a price that wasn't INSANE.

YUM!!

Gown Giveaway

This is stunning and being GIVEN AWAY! Check it out, click here to see the gorgeous-ness!

Anniversary - VERY belated post

I wrote this post back in September, but NEVER posted it. Let's blame it on "Mom brain" - yeah, that sounds good.
_________________________________________________________________

September 8th was our anniversary, SEVEN whole years. I'd say it feels just like yesterday that we were married, but I'd be a big fat liar so I won't. I mean come on, it HAS been 7 years and that's nothing to sneeze at.
I kind of can't believe everything that has happened in these last 7 years:

- September 11th (this actually happened while we were on our HONEYMOON in VIRGINIA. My maid of honor was at Reagan National Airport in D.C. TRYING to fly home the day the pentagon was hit. Needless to say, she didn't get to fly that day. Or for the next 2 weeks.)
- 2 states
- 5 moves
- 3 kids
- 3 C-sections
- 10 jobs
- 5 cars
- 1.3 million fights
- 1.31 million make-up kisses

Like I said, I'm no liar. I'm not gonna write that we've never fought, never disagreed, never looked at each other like the other one was CRAZY. Anybody who knows me knows that I pretty much lay it all out there. Like I said to a friend the other day, "I've told ALL of my secrets at least once to at least one person." So hopefully you'll believe me when I say that for each fight or disagreement we've had, we've always forgiven and forgotten and moved on.
I know that I've grown to be a better person because of knowing Jeff and being loved by him. And I hope that he feels he's grown because of me. I do know this for sure, we ARE best friends. We have fun together, we make each other laugh. We keep each other strong, and we work together (most of the time) to be good parents. We love our kids, we love each other.

Oh, and we love to eat. Therefore, for our anniversary we of course went out for dinner (and a movie, but the dinner was the part we were both really looking forward to). When we were trying to figure out what we should do for our anniversary Jeff said we'd probably end up doing our staple activity, dinner and a movie. When we couldn't come up with any other options he then said, "I wonder what other people do?" To which I said, "They probably think of doing whatever it is they really like. If they like music they end up at a concert, if they like scavenger hunts they end up at a mall looking at ties (you know who you are). We like food. . . we end up eating." So we did.
First we went to Journey to the Center of the Earth. I just couldn't bring myself to sit through the 2 1/2 hours of Dark Knight. Come on people, is it really the BEST action movie ever? REALLY??
Then we ate at a little Italian place we found online. We were really excited about how they use only ingredients imported from Italy, but were disappointed at how they put those ingredients to use. My pasta was so mushy that I really couldn't eat it, luckily when I told the waitress she didn't charge us for it. But the olives were DELICIOUS and the Caprese was great. And they had vinegar that was OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD.

In the end it was just good to sit, be still and quiet, and hold Jeff's hand. It's something that we don't get to do nearly enough, but it makes me smile and blush the same way I did over seven years ago when we first did.

I love you Jeff, times infinity plus three.

Short Cast

Glory GLORY Hallelujah! Last friday Capri got a short cast and can now straighten her arm (no her arm is not stuck in a bent position, I just neglected to take a pic of it straight). She chose green to match her Tinkerbell costume she'll wear for Halloween because she WON'T be getting her cast off Halloween day like we hoped. In fact she'll have it an extra week, making it a total of 9 weeks in a cast. Bummer. Hopefully it will come off then and won't be delayed any more. The doctor told Jeff (who took Capri to her appointment, did a FAB job and then took her to the AWESOME Children's Mercy cafeteria afterwards) that in an adult a break this severe would have required pins and surgery. But in a little kid they heal so much easier that she was able to avoid them - but isn't able to avoid a long cast time. It's just not healed yet and as much as I'd like to see her free of the darn thing, I want her bones to be strong as steal when it comes off.
Capri of course is still a trooper about the whole ordeal. She really is a funny girl. She will cry ENDLESSLY about the tiniest of scratches and owies - but a broken arm, shed only a few tears. Seriously, she cried FAR FAR more the other day when she burned her finger on a lightbulb at a friends house. FAR MORE.
Golly do I love her though, how boring life might be without the drama that IS Capri!

PS - if it looks like her clothes are on backwards in the picture, that's cause they are. It was backwards day at school today, and she refused to switch them around frontways when she came home.

Agro and New Socks

Meet Agro, our new fish. He's named after Steve Irwin's favorite crocodile - I mentioned our love of Steve right? Right??
Anyway, he has only been with us for a couple of hours and already we can tell he's a different fish than Steve-o was. He's smaller, faster and fiestier - I think he must be pretty young. He seems to really like hanging out at the bottom of his bowl (hopefully not an omen of things to come), but then can zip to the top so fast I worry he'll come flying out.
Welcome to the family Agro!

In other equally important and RIVETING news, I bought Rome some new socks. When you see the picture below you will fully understand how important this was. The top two socks are the two sizes he's had for I don't know how long - the middle being from his "bigger" pairs. The bottom is one of the new ones. The bottom one fits him, really. That's how long it's been since I've bought him new socks. Poor Rome. Pardon me while I hang my head in shame.

RIP Steve-o

Yesterday, when I went to feed Steve-o, I couldn't see him right away. Upon closer inspection I found
him. . .at the bottom of his bowl.
Sob.

We really loved Steve-o. He was named after Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter), a person that Jeff and I both dearly loved. Steve inspired us both in many ways. Mostly he showed us a love for life and the world that we'd never seen before. Oftentimes we'll say to each other, "We need to remember to be like Steve in this situation". His love for animals, and all creatures for that matter was amazing - us being the biggest babies on the planet when it comes to critters. When Steve Irwin died, we cried. Honestly. Both of us. It seemed that we had lost a friend, even though we were never fortunate enough to actually meet the man. Therefore, it seemed fitting to name our first pet after him.

Steve-o was such a "with it" fish, so attentive and he actually noticed when you came by his bowl. Seriously. When you went up to his bowl he would swim right over to you. Especially to me, I usually fed him and whether you choose to believe it or not, he seemed to recognize me every time. Jeff swears that he waved to Sable, not just both fins flapping - but only one.

When we first got Steve-o he wouldn't eat for about a week. Or so it at least seemed because every little red pellet I put in his bowl ended up at the bottom. I was so worried he was going to die that first week, until I started tapping the water right where I put in the pellets. That got him swimming right to them and he'd eat. Funny fish.

So when I found Steve-o I was truly sad, and when I broke the news so were Jeff and the kids. No, we didn't cry. He was, at the end of the day, just a fish. But he was a good fish, we loved him, and we will miss him.

For: My Cousin Emily (and any other living, breathing woman out there)

The reason I was willing to be freaked out of my mind for a good 4 years straight.

Finished

Several days ago I finished the book I refuse to call by name. You all have heard the name ENOUGH in one lifetime anyhow.
My final thoughts on in it:

1. Too scary. Yes, I am a weenie. Those 50 pages of actual action were scary for me. Again, I admit to being a weenie. I don't like being scared. And Jeff was working so I had to be scared all by my lonesome.
How then did you ever watch the X-Files you may ask? Good question. I spent every year I watched the X-Files in a state of constant fear. It is a true testament to David Duchovoney's hotness and Fox Mulder's awesome character as to WHY I ever endured that show.

2. I REALLY REALLY REALLY didn't like what Bella did to her Dad. I don't care if he was in danger, that was just not cool.

3. Man is this book rigged for a sequel or WHAT?? You finish the darn thing are are left saying, "That's the end?".

4. I did get a little sick of how perfectly perfect Edward is. It makes him IMPOSSIBLE to imagine. Plus, I really don't like pretty boys. So I found myself imagining him looking a lot like Duncan MacLeod from Highlander. Now THAT'S perfection.

5. I liked it enough that I'm considering reading the next book. But I don't know. Mostly I'd read it because I ended up liking the side characters a lot. Alice and Jasper are great, so is Jacob. Really all the side characters ended up as my favorites. So I'd be interested in reading more about them. Course I'd have to wade through more descriptions of Edward's "perfect face" and "marble arms". That could be rough.

Your thoughts??

Broken Arm Update

No gory details Dad, I promise.
Capri is doing great. She pretty much NEVER complains, no make that she NEVER EVER complains. Not even that it itches.
She had an appointment yesterday and her X-Ray looks great, don't panic Dad I didn't post it this time. Even though I should have because it looks pretty much like regular bones now.
She got a new cast, it's waterproof and bright orange -for Halloween she says. She can wear it in the bath, and in fact HAS to get it wet everyday so it doesn't stick to her skin. So far so good with it, again no complaints. The first thing she said when they took her old cast off? "It's COLD!" Meaning the air hitting her skin.
In two weeks the doc says she should be able to get out of the high arm cast and into a lower one so her elbow will finally be free. Then another two weeks and she should be able to get it off for good - seeing as there aren't any problems between now and then. That means she MIGHT be getting it off on Halloween day. Hooray! Maybe we can avoid the ever popular question which is sure to be asked at every house where we trick-or-treat, and that Capri refuses to answer, "What did you do to your arm??" She just looks at me. . . which doesn't look good!




PS - Last week Capri posted this sign on her door. She informed me that it says, "No people allowed". When I replied, "No PEOPLE?" She said, "Well boys and girls can go in." "Oh" I said, "You mean no adults." "Yes" she said, "NO adults."
Apparently I have a 5 year old going on 15.
Great.

That CERTAIN time of day (come on, don't make me write it)

I can't BEAR to write the name of this book as the title to my post, on MY blog where I have oh so openly shared my feelings on the darn thing.
So I won't.

Since I'm being FORCED to read the book that I can't bear to name, here are my thoughts so far. I'm about 2/3 the way through.

1. It's a quick read. I am by far the SLOWEST reader in the entire world. So if I think it' a quick read, then it really must be.

2. When I take it someplace to read, like McDonald's or the gym - I VERY much want to rip the cover off so that nobody can see what it is I'm reading. Seriously. That is how embarrassed I am to be reading it. But I haven't done that because I'd be MORE embarrassed if somebody thought I was reading a romance novel or something like that with a ridiculous picture on the front. Not that this ISN'T a romance novel, let's just face it - it IS.

3. What is up with this author and DASHES? The book is riddled with them! When I started reading it I said to Jeff, "What is this, a blog entry, an e-mail, WHAT?"

4. I still don't care for Vampires.

5. All that said, I don't hate the book. I won't say that I LIKE it. But I don't hate it. It's actually surprised me a bit.

6. I do like Edward's character. I think it would be sort of impossible to NOT like him. I mean, he's the ultimate male. I CANNOT picture his face (and in my mind his hair is very dark, I know it's not really), but I can picture his persona. He's the guy that frankly every woman wants. We ALL want a guy who is enough of a man that he can and will rescue us, that if he bosses us around sometimes it doesn't bother us. And if you're shaking your head and saying "No, No, not me." Then you're a big fat liar.

7. I think that everybody is going to be VERY disappointed by the movie. There is just no way possible that they can capture these characters correctly. And I've seen the guy they cast as Edward, HE is supposed to be indescribably beautiful? Whoever cast that movie should be ashamed.

8. I still don't get why this series became so insanely popular. I'll admit that it can be a fun read, but come on! Is it really the best story ever? I guess there is something to be said for a book being written at the right time.

So that's that. So far.

Corrie, I hope you're happy.
But if you EVER compare this book to X-Files again, or Edward to our beloved Fox Mulder and Bella to our also beloved Dana Scully - I will have to disconnect my video phone.

A VERY Short Story

The kids and I were on the deck eating lunch when Rome turned to me and said he had a story to tell. It went pretty much exactly like this:

Once upon a time there was a Daddy spider. His name. . . was Daddy.
Then he pooped on the ground.

This was followed by HYSTERICAL laughing from both him and Capri.

Ok, from me too.

Gramma & Papa

My Mom and Dad visited last week and we had so much fun I forgot to take a single picture. Darn me.
But we did have a great time visiting some KC hot spots - Union Station, Crown Center, Science City, the Zoo, the T-Rex restuarant, Cabellas, McDonalds, McDonalds, Wendy's (nearly McDonalds again).

We even all headed out to Kearney for the Jesse James Festival. It was there that we experienced rednecks galore, $3 snow cones, oppressive heat, guys with 3 teeth (seriously), and music so loud it made you want to saunter over to the lurky carnie by the speakers and ask him to turn it down (which was requested of me to do, and I DID do because everybody ALWAYS asks me to do stuff like that. I'm like the "Mikey" of my family and friends). Sounds like fun right? Actually it was fun, in an after the fact kind of way. I mean if we hadn't of gone we would have never have gotten to experience this:



Mud volleyball. Maybe more like muddy puddle volleyball.
We didn't play. We DID stand there in stunned silence.

Thanks Gramma and Papa, we love and miss you already! Dad, next year bring your swim trunks. I've already got you signed up to play.

The Bandwagon

Ok, so normally I don't hop on bandwagons. Or at least I seriously try not to.
But this is a bandwagon that deserves some hopping on, so here I go.

If you haven't already heard or read about the tragedy that came to fellow LDS members - Stephanie and Christian Neilson, then you should click here.

Be forewarned, it's sad. Sad enough to make you cry. At the same time, it will give you hope. It will make you want to be a better person, it will remind you of your blessings.





And if you want to contribute to their fund, there is going to be an Etsy benefit sale tomorrow and Wednesday.

Schoolio IS Coolio (But sometimes it's HOTIO because there isn't any air conditioning on the bus)

Capri and Rome both started Headstart (pre-school) two weeks ago. They're both doing great, LOVE the bus (even though it's hot), and sometimes even eat the breakfast and lunch they are served.
They come home asking for apple juice, with pictures in their backpacks and jabbering about their day (they are in separate but adjoining classrooms).
I LOVE that they get to go, it's so good for Capri especially - she missed the Kindergarten cut-off date by 9 days. But it's bittersweet to send them out into the world, hoping. . .they don't come back different.

Mailbox of Doom

Two days ago THIS arrived in my mailbox.



My best friend, Corrie, sent it to me.

She sure is lucky that I love her.

Cause if anybody else had sent this to me I would have to hunt them down, Vampire style.



I think I'm gonna puke.