I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Katie to come up with 7 random things about myself. The problem is I'm pretty boring so it was hard to come up with stuff to put...

1. I've tried three times in my life to get pregnant and I have 4 kids. I know, I know, that's not random, it's a cross between impressive and sad.

2. When we lived in Hawaii in army housing we were overrun with cane spiders. They were HUGE and I was freaked out. I kept calling the housing office and they wouldn't come spray immediately so I put a spider in a baggie and went to the housing office and sat on the couch there all afternoon. Everytime someone would come in I would show them the spider and tell them that they were going to have them all in their house crawling all over them while they were sleeping and housing wouldn't do anything about it. I made a really big scene...

3. When Scott finished basic training in Missouri he had to come out here to San Angelo for AIT. I loaded up our Cherokee and drove out here all by myself with no place to live to be with him. Once I got here I went on post to the housing office and told them what I'd done and they found me an apartment and a job.

4. After I drove to San Angelo that month there was a terrible hail storm with tornados. Our Cherokee had a lot of hail damage so I took it to State Farm and they gave me a check for $2700 to get the damage fixed. I didn't know where to take it so I kept the check for about 2 weeks. Then it got really really hot out here and all the dents from the hail popped out on their own. The check was made out to me so I cashed it and Scott and I kept the money.

5. I am terrified of fire. I don't like campfires, fireplace fires, even candles. I am extremely nervous about it. I love to see a fireplace with a glowing fire in it in the wintertime, but I am literally shaking because I also hate it.

6. I have an obsession with rubbermaid and tupperware. I will buy it and buy it and buy it. I love to put stuff in containers and organize stuff. If we had a container store I don't know what I would do...

7. My left front tooth is fake. Actually my real one was injured in a car wreck and slowly died and started turning dark over the years. So now there is a fake one glued on the top of the real one, which the dentist filed way down. One of my biggest fears is that one day that tooth is going to fall off.

Okay, let's go Amy, Karin, Amber, Jenny, Midge, Jin, Jenn, Becca, Lucinda, Sherri....

Ashlyn's award ceremony

Yesterday Ashlyn's second grade class had their end of the year award ceremony. Ashlyn cleaned up! She got voted Best Writer by her class, racked up 134.8 A.R. points (5th overall), got the Good Conduct Award, the Math Facts Award, the Perfect Attendance Award, had an "A" average all year long, and was-TA-DA-the Salutatorian of the class! She had a 96% average while the Valedictorian had a 97%.

Instead of congratulatory phone calls Ashlyn is accepting cash and/or checks.

Hello Mother, Hello Father

This is a song Haley's class sang at the Kindergarten Program. You really couldn't understand what they were saying in mass chaos group form, but when we got home she sang it again and it's really cute.

Hello 1st grade!

Haley's kindergarten year has come to an end and today we went to her school to see all the kids perform a Kindergarten Program. After singing several songs they each got their diploma. When the principal called their name she also told what each child wanted to be when they grew up. With great fear in my heart I realized Haley had given them the name of a profession without consulting with me first. One by one the kids' names were called, followed by "and (so-and-so) wants to be a _____!" The list included doctors, firemen, policemen, soldiers, dentists, veteranarians and teachers. Until it was Haley's turn.

"Haley Starr! And when Haley grows up she wants to be a cowgirl and a singer!"

Of course everyone laughed because how cute was Haley, wanting to be a cowgirl and a singer when all the other kids wanted to be doctors and policemen and such. And everyone knew I was her parent because I was the only one taking pictures at that point. I felt like laughing, because "I want to be a cowgirl and a singer!" is just a teeny glimpse into the Person that is Haley and these other parents really have no idea. I almost started to pity myself...almost, until a little boy went up to get his diploma.

"And when he grows up he wants to be a PIRATE!"

I really feel like that boy has a legitimate chance at marrying Haley one day.

Just like me

This is exactly the same position I sleep in every night, except I hug a small pillow. It's also Skylar's favorite. She will sleep for hours nonstop like this!

This picture also showcases what is going on with her hair. As you can see, it's falling out all over the place. In person it looks better (if that's possible) and not so much like she has the mange.

Tummy Time

Last week Skylar started rolling over. She is very very good at it and the moment you lay her down she flips. Now she's even pushing herself up a little bit.

I'd forgotten how fun it is to change a diaper when all you can see is butt.

The pot of gold

In case you ever wondered what is really at the end of the rainbow...

Impersonations

(inside joke alert)
Is it Owen? Or is it Lud? HAAAAA!

The votes are in

Me: Haley, what award are you going to get today at your kindergarten promotion?

Haley: I don't know yet. I think Mrs. Smith will tell us this morning.

Scott: Most talkative? Most tardy? Most boyfriends?

Me: Well Haley, you know what award I got in high school? Best legs. So there's something to shoot for...

Scott: I got Most Fertile.

Home

Now that the cat has been let out of the bag as far as Grandma is concerned, I'm letting everyone know that the kids and I will be coming to Rome for a visit. We will be getting there sometime on the 18 of June and Scott will be joining us around July 1st or 2nd.

I think my dad is planning a big cookout for us for sometime after Scott gets there. Maybe it will be on the 2nd of July, if not, them maybe on the 7th. Scott and I haven't made any final decisions. Even though we want to see everyone, please remember that this is a vacation, and a much needed one, so we will be on our schedule the entire time. Please do not make plans that involve us until you've checked with us first, because we may already have stuff to do. We plan on going to the new Atlanta aquarium and possibly Six Flags and the Atlanta Zoo. It's been a long time since Scott's had the ability to take off work so we could do fun things as a family that do not include giving birth to a child.

We are all excited about our upcoming family vacation and the opportunity to see family for a few days. Please use the upcoming weeks to prepare for Owen to come to town, and when you think you're ready for him, prepare some more.

Happy Memorial Day!

Phase Two-Nicole Richie

I am now entering Phase Two of my diet/exercise plan, commonly known as The Nicole Richie Phase. During this phase I will only eat food when there is a camera taking a picture of me, and, as evidenced by this blog, there is never, ever a camera on me, so I will pretty much not be eating at all. When I do eat, I plan on it being a piece of turkey rolled into a cigarette through which I will smoke liquid xanax.

And then my flat iron died

Friday night we went to the mall after Scott got home from work to try to buy me some new jeans, because I only have two pair and I'm getting tired of wearing them over and over. This turned out to be a big mistake because I couldn't find any that fit me the way I wanted to so I became depressed.

Then we went to Sam's, which went relatively well. Feeling depressed always makes me want to spend money. If I feel bad I will buy anything, ANYTHING, that is offered to me on a so-many-months-same-as-cash basis. I also tend to use a credit card. Luckily, we got out of Sam's without the monstrous swing set that I really really tried to get Scott to let me buy.

We decided to stop by Petco and get Sally a new food dish. Up until this point we were feeding her out of two plastic bowls and it's gotten to the point where she picks them up and carries them around the house while they are full, so we needed something a little more stationary. I left Scott and the kids in the car to run in and buy the dish. I went straight back to the dish aisle, picked it up and walked straight back to the register. The guy in front of me had a buggy full of dog crap and Jerry, the cashier, was brand spankin' new working at Petco so it was taking a while. This enabled me to make an impulse buy and get a laser pointer to mess with Sally with. So the guy in front of me found out his total was 188 and he handed Jerry a 10% coupon, which, say it with me people, would have let him save 18.80. Well the coupon was expired so the guy decided to take some stuff off his purchase. Jerry had no idea how to do that so it took quite a while. The guy took a total of 102.00 off so his new total was 86.00. I don't think I need to go into what kind of an ass he was to do that. I mean, he new going up there it was going to be expensive and he was willing to pay 170 when he got in line. Then he paid with a gift card that had 6.00 on it and Jerry again fumbled around.
By this point in line there was me, then a lady behind me in line holding two fish in a baggie with a 4 year old laying on the floor beside her screaming because she wanted to hold the fish, a girl with a brand new itty bitty puppy, a couple with a shaggy looking dog, a girl with a cat (who was not enjoying his time near the dog which was resulting in a massive barking/hissing fit), and a policeman with no animal.
Finally Jerry called a manager or something who came and straightened everything out and it was my turn. I do not have a P.A.L.S. card so I was instructed to fill out a form to get one for free. I was then told that I have to have a P.A.L.S card to receive sale prices and since I was just signing up that day I would be eligible for sale prices the next purchase I made. So I didn't get the sale price on the stupid dog food dish. I was in the store for about 30 minutes, 28 of them standing in line. Oh, and the laser pointer wasn't just like the link above, it was only 2.99 and it's a piece of crap and it already doesn't work. Crap, crap, CRAP!

And Saturday morning I got up and my very nice, very expensive CHI flat iron, that I got on ebay for an incredible deal, that I use to straighten my god-awful hair so there is enough space for me and another person to sit on the couch, that works better than anything possibly can on my hair, BROKE. For the love of God, when will I catch a break?

No rest for the weary

Skylar is in the process of getting her first tooth, and let me tell you, she's taking her sweet time with it. I thought she may be teething because she spends the majority of her awake time either screaming her fool head off or cramming her fist into her mouth.

Then came the diaper rash.

Then came the end of all sleep as we know and love it.

This weekend was a screamfest with huge cryfests thrown in to break up the monotony of it all. She won't eat, she won't sleep, she doesn't want to be held, but she doesn't want to be by herself. I could go on and on about all the things she doesn't want to do, but it would be much easier to just list the things she does want to do. There are two of them. She either wants to be outside sitting on the swing or she wants to be watching Baseball Tonight. That's it. So naturally if it rains, as it does so often this time of year in West Texas, we are screwed. And once Baseball Tonight goes off and it's too dark to sit on the swing (if it's not raining) we are screwed.

And all for what? For this. One little tooth. The first of 20 little teeth that will all grow in her mouth between now and the time she is two. Each day spent with Skylar brings joy, joy like we have never known. Can you tell?

My what BIG eyes you have!

Don't worry though, her cheeks balance everything out.

Sally's recliner

I guess it could be worse. I mean, we have all this baby stuff and Skylar hates every bit of it. At least someone's using it!

Military Appreciation Day

Saturday was Military Appreciation Day here in San Angelo. The Chamber of Commerce puts it all together and it's held out at the Rec Camp. They had a climbing wall, face painting, horse rides, bouncy houses, and lots of other stuff. The food was hot dogs, brisket, baked beans, potato salad, slaw and cookies. The rain held off but because it was so cloudy it never got hot so it was perfect!



And here a just a few pictures from the day...

Remember Me

Thanks Tina.

Yippee Ki Yay

Tonight was MSG Holder's retirement party so we went out to his house, which is very very far away from our house, so far away that I would not like to make that drive in to work everyday. He actually lives on a ranch called Hold Yer Horses Ranch, and he does various things involving horses and the training or breaking or roping -or something to that effect- of horses. While I was there I saw 7 horses, but I could have seen 2 of them twice so maybe there were only 5 total, who knows.

Sitting in the house talking to other people who were there I was struck by how nice it was, the simplicity of it all. There's nothing fancy about the house, nothing fancy about the stuff in the house, it's just a nice house with nice stuff on 15 acres with some horses and how pleasant! Then I went outside in the backyard and saw all the horses in the little stalls and whatnot and you know it makes you just want to be a cowboy or something. Then I walked out to see the horses up close and the smell hit me and the flies blurred my vision and I learned I was glad I was not a cowboy. I also learned something else pretty valuable: after it rains on a ranch with horses you do not want to step in any yellow puddles because folks, that's not exactly rain.

This is one of the two horses that were in the yard in front of the house when we pulled up. Of course we couldn't keep Haley away from them. Ashlyn and Owen were interested too, but nothing like the infatuation Haley showed. And like some kind of loser tourist, I took pictures of my kids with the horses. **The only thing I need now is a pillow and a large unfolded map.
Owen liked this horse, which was in a corral off to the side by himself because apparently he can't get along with the other horses because he's too wild. Which explains why Owen liked him the best.

This is a picture of Owen and Matthew Ludwigsen. You can barely see them because the first thing they did when we got to the back yard was run 15 acres away from us. I had my camera zoomed all the way out and you can still barely see them. Also, yes, that gray stuff is smoke, which is coming from random fires (?) that were built around in the scrub. (I have no idea whatsoever as to why there were fires here and there, but there were. It must be a "ranch" thing.)
This is Ashlyn, Haley and Haley Ludwigsen running to us from across the 15 acres. I think someone said "marshmallow" or something.
This is Owen standing out in the field, thinking how wide open the spaces are out here in West Texas and how he could easily get away from me if we lived in a place like that because I'm not very fast.

Then Greg (Holder) put Haley on a horse. I must say the party started at 11 this morning and we got there at 6 this evening and Dave Burkett, who brews his own beer, had brought several kegs out there and by the time we arrived no one was in any shape to saddle a horse. (we have great friends, huh?) So there was no "riding" of the horse, there was just "sitting" on the horse. Still, it made Haley's day...probably her week.

And of course here's Ashlyn on the horse.

Even Owen decided to show he wasn't a scaredy cat and get on the horse too. He was excited, but only sat there for a few seconds before he told Greg to "get me OFF please!"

And last but not least, this is ALWAYS what you want to see when you are at someone else's house, in someone else's yard, at someone else's party with a lot of other people around, most of whom you don't know because they are from Bravo Company.

**inside joke

Bored

I'm bored. Bored with my layout and mad because I can't find any interesting ones that I can get to work. I much prefer my myspace page!

Yesterday at the Commissary

(in the check-out line talking with the cashier, a girl roughly 20)

Oh, your face is red, do you have a sunburn?

No, no, I got a chemical peel Monday night.

OH, I've thought about getting one of those. Did it hurt much?

Uh, yes.

Really? Well are you sorry you did it?

You know, it's just kind of like one of those things that seems like a great idea at first. I mean, at first you're all excited, and then by the time the pain hits and you realize it's a big mistake you're too far invested to just quit.

(about this time Ashlyn pushed Haley down, Owen did a flip off the side of the buggy and Skylar threw up and started screaming)

Oh.

Yeah. It's like having kids. Totally the same thing.

Gettin' all fancy

Owen has now discovered the opening on the front of his underwear. He calls it his "pocket". His underwear! They have a pocket! A pocket! Right in the front! Do you see my pocket?! In my underwear?! It's right here! Right in front! A pocket for my....

--Now here's where I'm going to show a teensy bit of decency and not repeat the exact word he uses, because, well, my mother reads this website and there's really no need to put extra stress on her heart and all that because I'm pretty sure all my ramblings about tequila does that enough. So anyway, Owen's word for his privates rhymes with, um, alley-backer. And before you judge know that I have heard boys call it much worse (Karin!) and the best way for me to get through the day is to pick my battles and my sheet is already full. Plus, who wants a little wimpy kid who calls it a wee wee or hoo hoo or some other name that's only going to get him beat up when he's 10 and discussing it in the bathroom at school?--

Where was I? Oh yes... A pocket! Right here in the front! A pocket for my (rhymes with alley-backer)!!

Well then Scott showed him how to actually use the pocket and you could tell by the look on his face that he truly feels his life is better now, somehow. He is now all fancy and does not pull his underwear down when he just has to go #1, and here's a picture to prove it (as decency flies right out the window). This does not, sadly, help him AT ALL with his aiming ability, which I'm told will pretty much never get any better.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there! Hope you had a great day! Here is a picture of me and my many many children sitting on my mother's day present. My other present (not pictured) was a bottle of tequila-ha ha-just kidding!!! I had a very nice day spent with my family capped off with Texas Roadhouse take-out for supper. The Portobello Mushroom Chicken was very good (though they were just regular mushrooms, not portobello, right Amber?). I got two nice cards from the girls and a door mat (?) from Ashlyn that was all painted up to say Families are Forever. Don't I know it! Sometimes I feel like there will be kids hanging on me forever! Anyway, I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, wherever that may be! And love love love to Nana and Meena!

And special thoughts go out to Jill and her kids Nathan, Sarah, and Marcus on the loss of her husband Kirk yesterday morning. We love you guys!!

Sally and Frosty--BFF

Hey Amber...

Thanks for the boppy!

Bed Buddies

The Tooth

This is going to be really weird, but here goes...

Everyone knows we had a birthday party for Owen on Saturday, April 28th. You've all seen the pictures here and here. Well, there is a tooth at my house that needs to be claimed. I KNOW, I throw GREAT parties!!

See, Haley lost her tooth earlier that day. That night after the party Haley Ludwigsen spent the night. That night the Tooth Fairy couldn't find Lucy Toof because the girls had it somewhere in the bed with them buried under the covers instead of in the window sill, where it is easily and quietly accessible. So the next morning Haley whined because she didn't get any money and Scott told her it was probably because she had Lucy Toof in the wrong place and blah blah blah put it in the window so your mother or I the Tooth Fairy can find it.

Sunday night as Haley was going to bed she mentioned that she was excited because she was going to get $2 from the Tooth Fairy. I asked why and she told me that Haley Ludwigsen had lost a tooth the night before and since she didn't take it home with her Haley would get her money too. I KNOW, I raise GOOD-HEARTED children. All for one and one for all! Yeah, not in this house. Anyway...

I told Haley she could not sell someone else's tooth the the Tooth Fairy and I took the tooth. And forgot about it. Until the next week when I was cleaning off the computer desk and saw it. This past Saturday we went to a Hail and Farewell dinner and I mentioned to Haley Ludwigsen's mother, Kelly, that I had Haley's tooth. (I know this is very confusing because they are both named Haley, but such is my life-you're going to have to get past it) Kelly looked confused and then said Haley hadn't lost a tooth. I argued with her and this went on for several minutes before we agreed to go home, check all our kids' teeth and call each other. Well, turns out it's not Haley Ludwigsen's tooth. I guess my Haley was rubbing off on her and she decided to cash in on someone else's loss and claimed it. Or my Haley could have been lying. Which is a strong possibility.

Okay, so now I have this tooth sitting here beside my computer screen. Looking at me. And I don't know what to do with it because no one will own up to it. ATTENTION KARIN-I know it belongs to one of your kids and you are doing this to totally freak me out!! So please, if you were at my house on Saturday, April 28th and you have a child please check his or her mouth and see if he or she is missing a tooth. Then, even if you don't see any tooth missing, ask him or her if it is their tooth.

Oh, and "Ha! Ha! let's mess with the obsessive compulsive Jennifer and rearrange her picture frames!" Well whoever did that has an ass-kicking coming their way!

Happy Birthday Katie!!

"Like Pops"

Owen has a pair of camoflauge sunglasses that he wears all the time, rain or shine, inside or out. When we're in the house he insists on wearing them on his shirt. I asked him why and he told me "because it's just like Pops!" (and you thought they don't remember you when you leave)

My workout from hell

With the army ball fast approaching I decided I needed to take some type of serious attitude toward working off some of my fat. It seems the only exercise I enjoy is doing a sit-up to flip my pillow to the cool side and really that needs to change. So I enlisted the help of SSG Nicole Powell, who trains the fat overweight soldiers. Nicole came over, all 95 pounds of her, with a written exercise plan for me to follow for the next 6 weeks. She also assured me that if I stuck to the plan and watched what I ate I would lose one size by June 16th and fit into my dresses.

I would just like to say that I am not going to meet my goals following this plan because instead I am going to be dead.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday
1 hour walk on the treadmill (or (2) 30 minute walks)
1-3 min: incline=1.0 @ 3.0 mph (warm-up)
3-6 min: incline=10 @ 3.5 mph
6-9 min: incline=3.5 @ 4.0 mph
9-12 min: incline=9.5 @ 3.5 mph
12-15 min: incline=4.0 @ 4.o mph
15-18 min: incline 9.0 @ 3.5 mph
18-21 min: incline 3.5 @ 4.0 mph
21-24 min: incline 9.5 @ 3.5 mph
24-27 min: incline 3.0 @ 4.0 mph
27-30 min: incline 1.0 @ 2.5 mph (cool down)
REPEAT!!

Circuit Training
30 seconds of each exercise. Don't rest between exercises! After one rotation, rest for 1-2 minutes. Do 3 rotations.
1. wide arm pushups
2. ball squat (use wall)
3. leg raises
4. ball dips
5. good mornings
6. ball crunches
7. eight count body builders
8. meet the queens
9. flutter kicks (which are straight from the devil himself)

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
1 hour walk on treadmill (or (2) 30 minute walks)
1-2 min: incline 1.0 @ 3.0 mph (warm-up)
2-4 min: incline 5.0 @ 3.5 mph
4-6 min: incline 3.0 @ 4.0 mph
6-8 min: incline 6.0 @ 3.5 mph
8-10 min: incline 2.0 @ 4.0 mph
10-12 min: incline 5.0 @ 3.5 mph
12-14 min: incline 3.0 @ 4.0 mph
14-16 min: incline 6.0 @ 3.5 mph
16-18 min: incline 2.0 @ 4.0 mph
18-20 min: incline 5.0 @ 3.5 mph
20-22 min: incline 3.0 @ 4.0 mph
22-24 min: incline 6.0 @ 3.5 mph
24-26 min: incline 2.0 @ 4.0 mph
26-28 min: incline 5.0 @ 3.5 mph
28-30 min: incline 1.0 @ 2.5 mph (cool down)
REPEAT!!

Circuit Training Pyramids
Follow the same rules for M,W,F rotations except the time changes: Round 1-20 sec, Round 2-30 sec, Round 3-40 sec, Round 4-30 sec, Round 5-20 sec, for a total of 5 rotations.
1. Plie' squats
2. Lateral raises
3. Twist
4. Lunge kicks
5. Push up knee pull
6. Plank

I have made a major decision regarding this workout. If it doesn't work, then I am going to ask my dad for my inheritance up front and I am going to have Dr. Rey from Dr. 90210 suck it all out!

Happy Birthday Papaw!

10 Years!

Happy Anniversary to me and Scott!!

Today is Scott's and my 10th wedding anniversary.
He's at work.
I'm doing laundry.

Folks, it just doesn't get much better than this.

The Hair Situation

I feel I may have mentioned that Skylar has awful hair. The part in the middle is long, but right beside the middle and above the side it is very short. It is also blonde, so you can't see it unless you're outside and the sun hits it. This makes her look like she has a receding hair line. I have all these bows I want her to wear but there is no place to put the bow because her hair on top won't comb in any direction. To make matters worse, on the back of her head most of her hair will only go straight up, which gives her a horizontal part about halfway down.

I think I have now figured out a way to put bows in her hair though. All you have to do is brush it straight up a la Don King and then clip the bow on the front of the hair sticking up. This holds for almost 10 minutes, sometimes longer if she doesn't move her head much. Here's a few pictures.