Friday Fragments

I just saw this on Gayla's site and had to join. I am all about fragments. So here goes...
*************************************************
You know you are with good friends when you laugh so hard that you almost pee your pants not once, but twice in the same evening.
*************************************************
I think I'll join the YMCA this coming week. I have, have, have to start exercising.
*************************************************
Absense does make the heart grow fonder. I am really anxious for Kevin to get home from work tonight.
*************************************************
I wish I could figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I really envy those people that have their acts together. Or maybe that's just an act too????
*************************************************
It's good to be home but my house really has a stink. I can't identify it but I will be getting the bleach out tomorrow and doing some major cleaning.
*************************************************
If I were home for four days all by myself, the house would already be spotless.
*************************************************
I am now trained to train people on how to handle crisis situations. Crisis anyone?
*************************************************
This time next week, we'll be here

Join in Friday Fragments with Mrs.4444 here

Conference $1289
Lunches at hotel for four days $52.65
Drinks out with friends $64.90
Presents to bring home for girls $20.01

Seeing my babies after four days...PRICELESS!

I'm Going Home

I get to go home today! Well, this afternoon to be exact. I can't wait. I talked to both girls last night on the phone and their little voices almost brought me to tears. So sweet. It almost makes me forget that I was calling them horse's behinds before I left town Monday night.

What? You've never called your children horse's behinds? Okay, maybe it wasn't all that appropriate but sometimes they just are.

Anyway, it's been a good week. We had dinner out last night and then came back here. We had a few glasses of wine and watched Grey's Anatomy and ER and then decided that TV has become quite a downer. They were good episodes but sad. Dead or not, Denny is still a cutie, and I love him with Izzy.

But we had some good laughs in between the angst of the television shows. My friends are funny, funny people. They make me funny and I get to show off my witty side. My wit is usually lost on the girls.

Today I have to present in class today so I am a little nervous about that. It will be fine but still a little anxious!

Emergency Room

Class was really good yesterday. There is nothing like a good presenter to liven up a four day class. I am going to have to beef up my presenting skills. The good news is that today in class, we talk about just that!

Our other friends got here last night and we went to a pub for a few drinks and dinner. Sheila wasn't feeling well so we ended up at the emergency room with her. You know you are with good friends when sitting in an ER waiting room is fun! Of course the two margaritas prior to that probably helped. Sheila had a really bad bladder infection so we were glad we made her go.

I didn't get to bed until late so am feeling tired this morning. Need. Coffee. Now.

Kansas City

Greetings from Kansas City! I made it here safe and sound last night. As I tried to pack, the girls were driving me nuts. And then I felt bad that they were driving me nuts because really all they wanted was attention. I got them over to Mom and Dad's and they started acting so sweet, I didn't want to leave.

But class today was really good. The instructor made the class lots of fun. This is a class I will be teaching at my new job so I was trying to pay close attention. I went to lunch at the hotel with the lady sitting next to me. She is an RN from Springfield and teaches this class at the hospital where she works. She has taught for four years now so she gave me some good advice. That was nice.

Enola is at class tonight so I am at her house alone. I usually like being alone but it is SO quiet. I miss my girls. Kevin too. I am looking forward to our trip to Oklahoma next weekend. We need some extended family time.

Leaving Town

Monday morning and back to work. It's funny, for so many years, I said that I couldn't do a "traditional" 9-5 job. I hated morning and liked my flexibility. But now that I have gotten into my routine, I love it. Of course, I am up every day anyway, getting Kaelyn ready for school. But I like the mornings now. Wow! That's a huge change for me.

Anywho...I am at work and have just a few things to get done then I am going to cut out of here. I leave for Kansas City tonight for a four day training for work. I have to get packed and the girls packed to go to Grandma and Papa's for the week. I am looking forward to the training and also I get to stay with Enola and that is always fun. Sheila is coming down on Wednesday so we get some girls time.

Our Saturday

It ended up being a pretty good day despite my little alarm clock waking me at 6 am. Doesn't she know it's Saturday and we get to sleep in?

Mom came over and helped me sort clothes and organize my closet a bit. I always work better when Mom helps me. Thanks Mom! Then she took Kate home while Kaelyn and I went to Columbia to get some stuff we needed. We had a nice afternoon. It's time like that when I realize how mature she is getting. She listens (for the most part) and we talk and just enjoy being together.

Kevin works tomorrow so Mom and I are going to tackle the upstairs. We need to take down Kate's crib and the diaper changing table. Sad! She is growing up way to fast too. They drive me nuts but I love them so much!

Bubbles

When Kate is being especially demanding or unruly, I will suggest that she take a "bubble" which is Kate language for a bath. This usually gives me thirty to forty mintues of peace.

I am thinking it's a bad sign for today that it's only 7:10 am and Kate is already in the bubble.

Nevermind!

Nevermind my last post...my new design is already up. Now that is fast service! Shabby Creations is that awesome!

New Look!

Stay tuned for my new holiday blog design. I know traditionally, one shouldn't decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't wait. I just purchaed my new design from here:



Which is the same place where my current design came from. I love her work...check it out!

The Atlasta

You wouldn't have found it on any historical registry, it wasn't located in a historical district and it wasn't protected by the Friends of Historic Boonville, but in my opinion they tore down a Boonville landmark this week.

The Atlasta Motel ceases to exist. During high school and my early days of college, my friends and I would rent a room and use it as a home base for our night outs. We had some great parties there. When I moved to Nebraska, and came back to town to visit, I would always stay at the Atlasta. It may not have had many amenities, but it was cheap. And it was home.

The Atlasta sat like a beacon, there on it's prime location next to Interstate 70. How many times did I drive by it and not even think about it? I had lived here for many years before I even realized what it's name stood for...I just always thought of it as the Atlasta. At Last A Motel...get it? And for many years, that is probably what many people thought as they drove that endless stretch of highway. Now the Super 8 and the Comfort Inn catch the travelers befre they reached the Atlasta, but thost motels just don't have the same appeal.

Oh the Atlasta, the stories your walls could tell, if they hadn't torn you down. Except my stories...those are best kept hush, hush. Just between the two of us, okay?

Day Out With Thomas

Yesterday we made the most of the beautiful fall weather and went to St. Louis to see Thomas the Tank Engine. It was a lot of fun. Here are some pictures of our day:
Thomas the Tank Engine. He was so cute in person!

The girls waiting to get on the big slide. Kate is catching up to Kaelyn in heighth!

Kaelyn on the train, all smiles.

The view of St. Louis during the train ride.

Me and the girls on the train.

Kate on the train, not so certain!

Riding the little train.

Tattoo time...Hey, it's Thomas on my hand!

Kaelyn's tattoo. I had to scrub that sucker off this morning before she went to school.

Kate and Sir Topam Hat...she wasn't going to get too close.

Daylight Savings...

There is no such thing as an extra hour of sleep with a two year old in the house. Kate has been up at 6:30 on the dot for two mornings in a row now.

Better Late Than Never...80's Day

I am going to have to get out my old box of photos so I can join in the fun of 80's Day! Although I don't remember looking anywhere near as goofy as some people did during the 80's (not you Gayla, you looked totally rad!)

Here they are, in all my glory!

This is circa 1987. My hair wasn't too big yet and was still it's natural color but I was working that banana clip! And the must have footwear...KEDS!


My cousin and I before the big Christmas Dance. Don't you just love mint green and pink together? We must have, since we were both wearing ths same colors. You can't see it in this picture, but I had pink tights on and mint green heels. Really I did.

The same cousin and I, this time before the Freshman dance. Don't you love the preppy collar on my dress?

A few years later...wearing my Guess sweatshirt. With Shorts.

The hair was much bigger here, around 1988. And it had gotten much lighter. I used Peroxide on it. And lots of Aqua Net hairspray. Remember how the bathroom counters would be coated with the stuff?

I am almost too embarassed to share this picture...almost. But I loved that coat, loved it! Kaelyn just saw this and asked if I was going to a Disco Ball! Wrong era, Sweetie!

Okay, I have to admit I had to share this one, not for the 80's look but because my legs looked that good.

Men #$@%^^@

Is this really necessary?

This is Kevin's side of the bed. Is it that hard to take your cup to the trash in the morning?

Embarassing Moment #1

On my drive to work today, the radio station was asking people to call in and share the strangest thing they ever did to meet a person. It reminded me of something I did in my younger days, not to meet someone, but to try to get their attention. His name was Brian and he was my Physics lab partner, which meant that we were together three afternoons a week for an entire semester. Brian was the cutest, funniest guy I had met at the University of Nebraksa at Kearney. We had a great professional relationship, meaning I was better at Physics than him so I think he was using me for my brains.

I wanted so badly to ask him out but I was shy. So, one day I got the bright idea to drink a beer before I went to lab. Beer...courage in a can. I was hoping that it would relax me enough to start a real conversation with him. Our class started at 1 pm, so I drank a beer in the car before I headed in. We were listening to our professor give the days instructions, when Brian leaned over and whispered to me "Have you been drinking?" Yes, he could smell beer on me...at 1 pm in the afternoon!! Now the guy I was trying to impress, thought I was an afternoon alcholic. I was mortified and stumbled out an answer about having a beer with my lunch. Looking doubtful, Brian asked me what kind of beer I had drank. "Busch Light," I answered, the first beer that popped into my head.

Living in Mid-MIssouri, in close proximety to St. Louis and Anheuser Busch country, Busch Light was a common beverage but in Rural Nebraska, it was not common. I am not sure you could even purchase it there so my answer was not a good one. I didn't talk to Brian the rest of the class period.

There you have it, one of my most embarassing moments! I have another one, and oddly enough, it also includes Brian. But you'll have to wait until tomorrow for that story.

Sisters!

I just went upstairs to let the dog out who was locked in one of the bedrooms. Obviously I am the only one who can hear him scratching at our 100-year-old wood doors. When I got upstairs, this sign was taped to Kaelyn's door. Well, what used to be Kaelyn's door, and is now the room that holds Kaelyn AND Kate's beds. You see the problem? It's a good thing (or bad, depending on who you ask) that Kate can't read yet.

It's hard for me to understand how Kaelyn feels, probably because I was the pesky little sister. Tracy is the only sister I remember living with and I idolized her. I still do! She had a queen-sized waterbed in her room, while I had a measly twin-bed. I remember her letting me come to her room and sit on the edge of the bed. I was instructed not to move from that spot and she put on her Grease album for me to listen to. I even got to hold the album and look at all the pictures on it. That was great! Thanks Tracy!

Halloween Sneak Peak

I got some pictures at the Halloween party we went to. I love Halloween and dressing the girls up.
Alice in Wonderland, Bat Girl, and the Queen of Hearts before the party.

At the party. Alice hadn't let go of her blankie yet but it looks like the Queen was happy to see one of her subjects.

Alice loved the cake walk and insisted on walking in the circle even after she had won.


The Queen.

Criss Cross Applesauce

I just googled Criss Cross Applesauce to see what the words to the rhyme were. Come to find out, my version is way off. This is how I learned it and have taught to Kaelyn:

Criss Cross Applesauce
Spiders running up
Spiders running down
Spiders running all around
Crack an egg
Yolks running up
Yolks running down
Yolks running all around
Cool breeze
Tight Squeeze
Now you got the chillies!

It is also the term they use in school to get children to sit cross-legged or Indian style. They sit criss cross applesauce, spoons in your bowl! This means you clasp your hands and put them in your lap!

So, share with me. How did you learn this?

The Host

I finished The Host and have to say that is is an excellent book. I am afraid that many won't like it as it isn't a Twilight book but it is a good book in it's own right. I recommend it.

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!


OMGosh, I just saw this on Scott's page and had to share it. I am in awe of the talent, vision and creativity that some people have.

TGIF!

It has been a very looooonnnnngggg week. But it's Friday now and time for a little relaxation.

We actually have a fun weekend planned. There is a Halloween party at the Baptist church tomorrow. I need to get the girls some tights for their costumes. Kate is Alice in Wonderland and Kaelyn is going to be the Queen of Hearts. On Sunday, we are going to the pumpkin farm and corn maze. There is a big maze in Columbia that we are going to. Kaelyn has wanted to go through it the past few years but I thought she was too little. I think we will go this year.

What else? I have some house cleaning to do and need to get ready for a candle fundraiser that starts on Monday. The Prairie Home junior high and high school cheerleaders will be selling my stuff for a fundraiser. I think that is it.

But tonight, I am putting the girls to bed and plan to crawl into bed with a good book. I am reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer and although it's no Twilight, it is pretty good.

Paper Weight or Mouse Catcher?

Blogging would be much easier if I didn't have this to contend with:

Big Girl Beds

I have been back to work for a month now and Kate is already potty trained...thanks to the baby sitter! She can also almost count to ten but that's another story. I had worked with Kate all summer and we made a lot of progress but she was still using diapers at night and sometimes during the day. If I let her go naked, she would go to the potty independently and come tell me when she was done but as soon as I put clothes on her, she would have an "accident". By the way, her nudist tendencies are going to follow her for years to come in our small town. She was seen naked on our front porch by neighbors too many times this summer, to their delight. I can't go places in town without hearing about it, so I know she will never outlive it. You're welcome Kate!

Anyway, she hasn't worn a diaper since last weekend when Kevin put her to bed, forgetting to put a diaper and pajamas on her. He did take her shoes off. When I went to get her from bed, she was still in panties and dry! She has been in panties ever since. But that posed a problem, as she was still sleeping in her crib. She would wake up in the night screaming for me, saying she had to potty. So, we got the new beds for the girls and so far she is doing great.

Ni Hao!

So, we went to Furniture Factory Outlet yesterday (or is it Factory Furniture Outlet?) I can never remember. Anyway, the girls and I went there to get a twin bed frame for Kate. Yes, my almost three-year-old still sleeps in her crib. We were there for quite awhile, waiting for Kevin to get off of work and meet us. While there, the girls laid on every bed in the place and also sat on every couch. They were trying out all of the recliners when Kevin finally got there.

We were walking back across the store, and Kaelyn was a bit behind me. Three people walked past us but I didn't pay any attention to them UNTIL I heard Kaelyn say "Ni hao". I turned around, and yes, all three people appeard to be of Chinese descent making Ni hao, an appropriate greeting as it does mean hello in Chinese. All three people stopped and repeated Ni hao to Kaelyn and they laughed saying how cute she was. They were as surprised as I was! Kaelyn was pretty proud of herself. That's my girl!

Camp Fire Girls

It's been a long week...a good week, but a long one. I only worked three days at the office and then to the Lodge of the Four Seasons for a conference on Thursday and Friday.

Yesterday the kids drove me nutso all day. As if my two weren't bad enough, I let my niece come over for a sleep over. We drove to Moberly to go to a cookout at Enola's house. That was fun but the trip there was H E double hockey sticks as three kids in the backseat does not make for an enjoyable car ride. At least on the way home, Kate fell into a sugar coma and slept all the way.

Here are the girls and I by the fire (can't you just smell that smoke?)

I have so much more to write but it's late and I am tired. Tomorrow is another day.

Some Days....

they just don't pay me enough for this parenting thing.

And today is one of those days.

Weekly Recap

We've had a quiet day and that's been nice. It's been so busy the past few weeks as we've acclimated back to me being gone during the day. And some nights. I do really, really like my job. The people are amazing and I am learning a lot. I took the job mainly for the experience, so I am glad that it is appearing like it will be a good one.

I go next week to the lake for a conference. The brochure showed some interesting sessions so I am looking forward to that. A bunch of us went last year and had a good time but I don't think any of my old co-workers are going this year.

Then next month I am scheduled to go to Kansas City for a four-day conference. I am not looking forward to the conference as much as I am looking forward to staying with Enola those days. I miss my friend!

Kaelyn and Kate are doing great. Kaelyn loves school and hasn't missed a day yet. Kevin and I went with her to her classroom on Friday morning for Pastries for Parents. The afore mentioned pastries were glazed donuts. I guess Donuts for Parents doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well. Anyway...we spent time in her classroom seeing the different reading centers they use. She got another perfect progress note this week. I just asked her why she was so good at school and not so good at home and she answered, "because I don't want to go to the principal's office." That's logical!

Shoes

Why is it that even though I have at least a dozen pair of black shoes, that in the mornings I can't find one single PAIR?

My BFF's mom died last November after a gallant fight with breast cancer leaving behind two beauiful daughters that still needed their mother. It was then that the Race for the Cure became very personal for me.

My friend and I decided to have our own fundraiser and donate ALL of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in the memory of her mother, Patsy Wiseman.

We are selling all jar candles for $20 apiece. These are an amazing, long-burning candle that are made from natural vegetable waxes and are made in the USA! Please consider buying one and help us raise money for this very important cause.

YOU MAKE YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES

Your destiny isn't a matter of chance, it's a matter of choice.
It's not something you wait for, but rather something you pursue.

Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities.
Seize common occasions and make them great.

Opportunities sometimes come disguised in the form of misfortune
or temporary defeat.

Start where you are.
You're at this moment standing right in the middle of opportunity.

Act on your dreams and you can have them.

Progress Report

Kaelyn received her first weekly report from school today. It just doesn't get any better than this! I am so proud!

Moving On Up!

I have officially made it!

I have went to school for the past three and one half years to become an administrator. There is a big difference between a manager and an administrator. I am happy to say that in my new job I am part of the administrative team. They are a small agency, but hey, I have never had a problem being a big fish in a small pond. Today I was talking to another new employee who has a very difficult job. I should know because it is very similar to the high-stress position I held for the past ten years. She supervises residential employees and she told me that they were upset that I was hired and did not understand why the agency needed me. Well, not ME exactly, but someone in my position. I laughed and realized that I had finally become an administrator...not only do employees not understand what I do, but I have sat around for two weeks saying I have nothing to do!

(I am starting to have work to do now!)

Renaissance Festival Pictures

Since this has been so boring lately, I think I will post some pictures from the Renaissance Festival.