"mothers day weekend......."

Pretty un-eventful. Softball game Friday night.
Celebrated with in-laws Saturday night with dinner. Went to Country Club since it is now open to the public. We are the public. ha ha. Had a half of chicken salad sandwich and some fruit. Wow, I really lived it up. I did have a glass (or 2?) of wine.......... Cooked, cooked, cooked all weekend. For other people!! That's pretty typical too.
Had 3 lovely loaves of bread dough happily sittin' on my stove. Made them for mothers day.
My mom just had surgery so I made her lots of yummy, healthy food since I knew she wouldn't feel like cooking.
Made pasta e fagioli soup, artisian bread, pasta, cut up a watermelon. Made my dad a pecan pie. Cut a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my yard (and maybe one or two from the neighbors yard....hey,, it was hanging on my side of the fence!!). My lilacs were still blooming. Beautiful white and purple. Told her to come into the salon at her convenience when she is feeling better for a pedicure :) And I love to buy my mom funny, inappropriate cards for mothers day. I found a good one. lol. Bought her a new pretty pink nightgown since she is layed up (well, should be! She was up and around when I was there and probably over-did). When she opened it, she just started laughing............She had bought the EXACT same one a couple of days before.
Same store. Same color. Same size. Same pattern.
That is funny......my sister Donna and I tend to do weird things like that too. Will buy the exact same greeting card, at different stores even!!!! Guess we are all more alike then we would like to admit. lol.

Weather was beautiful on Saturday. Nicole took advantage and layed in the backyard with a book. I should have joined her..........

After dinner Saturday night Nicole was staying at a friends house. It was on the way home for gma and gpa Mary so I asked if they would drop her off on the way. Well, now days, Nicole actually drives....................

So they pile in the Suburban...............Nicole in the drivers seat.. (still seems weird).........she adjusts her seat. Puts on her seatbelt. Adjusts the mirrors. As she drives away... I had a little pang of sadness????? When she was little she would always stay one night a weekend with her grandparents. Was always a big to-do when I loaded her up in the car (in her booster seat!!). I would stand on the sidewalk and blow her kisses, wave and wait until they turned off our street and I couldn't see them anymore before I went inside. She would roll the window down and wave, wave, wave until they turned off our street.............and I could always see her looking out the back window smiling at me.................................

Just seems strange that she is grown up enough to be driving away. Not sure if she was looking in the rearview mirror. But I stood on the sidewalk until I saw her turn off our street. Bittersweet moment.........................

I texted my sister Donna with this story and she made me laugh with her response "ummmmmm, if you feed them and let them breathe air, they grow up!!!! Hopefully there was an adult in the car she was driving........." I laughed out loud.....

Sunday was Sunday.

Nothing exciting. Normal. Laundry. I cooked stuff. LeRoy bbq's chicken for dinner. LeRoy and Tyler did powerwash the entire back of the house and patio. And all the lawn furniture and put firepit out and all the fun summer stuff. I really appreciated that! Can't wait for weather to be warm. BBq's in backyard. Kids and their friends with the firepit. Me and my friends and the firepit (we will definately add "wine" to our party!)...

"if you want a really good laugh..............."

take two teenage girls to the grocery store, at 10:00 pm, on a Friday nite and use U-scan........in espanol................OMG...................thank goodness Cassandra is mexican and knows fluent Spanish. SO FUNNY!!!!!!!! Nicole was almost peeing her pants laughing so hard.........(and this picture is from 4 years ago when they were in 6th grade! dying.............)
Not sure how I've gotten away with being so lazy today.
2:00 in the afternoon on a Saturday and I haven't even showered yet!!!!! NEVER HAPPENS.
Was on laptop this morning browsing recipies. Had coffee. Made a really healthy, yummy lunch. Ate. Nap sounds great right about now. So quiet. Nicole's doing homework. Cassandra's reading a book. Tylers on the computer. All TV's are off. LeRoy's at work.............................peace..............actually gonna go to gym (cause I haven't even showered yet!!) Then come home and shower and get ready for dinner. Going to dinner tonight with in-laws for mother's day dinner (so I can have the entire day to myself tomorrow!!) And go see my mom tomorrow and take her some food since she is recovering from surgery.....

"dude, I gotta get me some cute workout wear.."

Really...........................
I have cute clothes. And even cute rainboots.
So why don't I wear cute workout clothes to the gym? ( have lots of workout wear?)
Tonight I looked like a lesbian. (not that I have anything against lesbians. Was just scared they were gonna be checkin' me out.) Nicole was laughing at me the entire time.
It was so funny, I had to just go with it.
Maybe I want to be totally unaproachable? I am actually there to work out. Not enter a fashion show.
But there really isn't a reason I shouldn't look better? Tonight I had on these track pants. (Sorry BFF, this is the only pic I could find of myself in ugly workout clothes. This is when we were gonna train for a 5K. Remember????) I am much cuter than this pic. What the heck. I look like a dude here!!!!!!!! And I look squishy............I'm much thinner too................... :)
A free t-shirt I aquired somewhere. Bright yellow running shoes. And a sports bra that was WAY too tight. I was sporting a uni-boob. That's right. A uni-boob. Not pretty. And I couldn't breathe!! cause my bra was too tight! And once we got there and started lifting weights I realized I was wearing my smart-wool socks that are rainbow striped............................Seriously?????
When we go to the gym. I don't talk to anyone (except Nicole). Look at anyone (except Nicole) and always have my headphones/ipod on so I can act like I don't hear anyone (except Nicole). Dudes act like they want to approach us. Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm......NO. And when I see them checking out my 15 year old daughter.....................Ummmmmmm......NO.
Tonight.......I didn't take my ipod...........crap.....a lady that is always there started talking to me from across the way.........crap..................no earphones to act like I didn't hear her. She was really nice and we see her there all the time. She said "I brought my (teenage) son with me to work out since I always see you and your daughter together. It is sweet and I was jealous so I brought my baby with me". Ok..........maybe i shouldn't be so rude and not talk to people....................I told her it was nice bonding time and that is great her son came. But.............see ya................I did smile at her on the way out.......................crap........................ALWAYS BRING IPOD!!!!!!!!!! Tonight I was on the treadmill texting (trying not to fall off!!). Probably not gym ettiquette. And I wasn't working very hard. I did finally break a sweat when I got on the kick-my-butt eliptical. And I lifted weights. And giggled with my daughter. Everything was funny. How could she take me seriously with a uni-boob and bright yellow shoes??????
Why can't I look like this for the gym? Oh, because my ass doesn't look like THAT!!

I need to go shopping..........................

Baggy t-shirts (usually free from somewhere. I'm not a fan of t-shirts so I don't buy them).

Usually baggy track pants. I do wear cute athletic shoes!! But usually look like a hot mess. Whatever. I guess as long as I look good OUTSIDE of the gym in my cute clothes I wear everyday.........that is the end result.

"everybody's workin for the weekend..."

Ahhhhh......the weekend.
Needed to sleep in (didn't happen cause I'm getting old and wake up at exactly 6:15 am every morning!)
Wanted to go to Farmer's Market. (didn't happen cause it was drizzling and I was being too lazy).
Didn't even make coffee this morning.
I need people. People to make me coffee, run my errands, pamper me and cook for me. I guess I am "the people". But I did drive over to BFF's house at noon. Walked in the front door (I never knock!) and told her we were going downtown so she could buy herself a new Tyler candle that she has been wanting forever.
We went to Red Robin for lunch. Split a salad. Had ice tea and dt. pepsi. And ate about 2 pounds of fries {each} with ranch. Whatever........we split a salad...................ha ha!
Walked around Kohl's. Nothing. She is not a shopper. lol. But I did make her buy herself some new pretty underwear. Is that TMI? ha ha!
The kids are at friends houses having their own social life. I came home at 4:00 and got into my jammies. I really am getting old!
Hubby offered to take me down the The Vault for appetizers and drinks tonight. Sounds great, and the offer was nice,but we really don't have the funds to be spending on that. And I couldn't wear my pajamas. So as a comprimise we went to store and bought stuff to make homemade guacamole, chips/salsa, crackers, cheese, salami, 1 slice of cheesecake to split, fruit and I already have a wine stash at home. Works for me. And we spent less than $20 total. I haven't started drinking yet and am going to go make the guacamole now.......
But I am dreaming of a great summer..........................
Hoping to plan a trip to Seattle with the family. Kids have never been. It's close enough to drive and I love it there. Want to take them to space needle, underground city, pike's market and will research other fun places.
Also found a great website "localharvest.org" that lists all the farmers markets in our area. Want to plan on visiting as many as we can this summer. Pick berries. Make jam. Buy fresh organic vegies. Support local farmers and have fun in the process.
I wish we had a boat. Or wished my husband liked to camp. Or ride bikes. Or outdoor stuff. I want to go to the lake. Spend as much time with my kids as possible. Get a good tan. Just have a relaxing summer and not work quite as much.
All possible.
Now I just need to make it happen...

"ok, awesome..............."

I had a really crappy week last week..................(I should post that on facebook!!)
I'm not gonna lie. Or pretend life is perfect. Or uphold a fake image that my family is perfect. Like so many people do. It must be exhausting.
I was so excited last Monday to go to breakfast with my boy. He decided he didn't want to go. Like 10 minutes before we were leaving. Whatever. Kind of upset my day.
Tax day was the worst. Not going there but am pissed about so many people that don't work or work the system because they are lazy and we have to pay taxes to support them. I don't pay my taxes, and I go to jail. They get refunds................don't get it. (obviously, we owed)....... Read that 90% of americans gets back an average of $3000. REALLY?
Last week Nicole lost her batting glove................(can't really afford to be replacing that right now!)
And she lost her entire makeup bag. All her makeup and brushes (bare minerals isn't cheap and I had just bought her brand new for her birthday last month). Wasn't sure if it was stolen at school. Left in the locker room? Who knows.......................
Had some medical information on someone close that was very unsettling.
Had to figure out how to feed 14 girls for team dinner on a budget. My night to host team dinner was Friday. It all worked out. Had a lot of fun with the girls.
Just had a really bad week....................with other annoying things too.
The week before I mentioned I needed to schedule a nervous breakdown. Well, I didn't have time. Was on the verge..............close to the edge............................
Normally don't post such negative stuff, but such is life..................................
As moms, wives, friends, people: we all sometimes feel unappreciated, taken advantage of, sad, tired, fed up, pissed off, disrespected, and giving our all, 100% just isn't enough for everyone. Just sucks when it all hits in the same week. (good thing I wasn't PMSing or it would have been a disaster!!!!!)
The good news:
Nicole found her makeup in her MESSY room. Crazy since we turned it upside down last week looking for it. I wasn't about to go out and replace it. For the principle. And the cost. She needs to keep better track of her stuff! (batting glove "showed up" in the dugout this week. Must have accidentally gotten in someone else's bag. I knew it would eventually show up.
Tyler decided he does want to play baseball....we got a call that one of his friends team is short players and asked if Tyler wanted to play. He just left for practice. I'm happy about that. Good to be part of a team. Summer games in my lawn chair :) Good group of kids.
I was looking thru old pictures and will post some when I have more time. My fat pictures. Makes me want to stay on track of being healthy and working out. As soon as I post this Nicole and I are going to the gym. I need it. For my body, sanity and to not get back to the place I was 3 years ago!!
Spent some quality time with Nicole yesterday. She drives (chauffers me) everywhere now. And she took me out for ice cream (her treat!) yesterday. After we went to the gym. Ok, don't judge. I had a small.....
Now I'm off to the gym...............................................................................................

"why do I hate facebook???" and other rants.......

There are so many reasons..............................
*I don't care if you are changing your kitty litter today.
*Who the hell has time for "farmville"? If I get one more request I'm gonna......I don't know what.
*It confuses me.
*Annoys me.
*I just wanna get on and clean up requests and get off................Of coarse someone see's you are online and wants to "chat". ummmmmmm......Gotta go...............
*Since I'm complaining so much............................."why do I have facebook?" you ask??????
Because I signed up way before it was so popular (not cause I'm so cool, but cause a friend had one and said "I sent you a request to be my facebook friend, make one. It's easy". Now don't get me wrong. I really like blogging (kind of a snail-mail approach to facebook?) Facebook was great last summer getting updates for my 20th class reunion (and looking at pics later!).
And I keep an eye on my daughters facebook :)
*So since I'm bashing facebook, I have to eat a few of my words.
I just logged on to check my emails..............
Holy Mother Of Pearl................................ I had 275.
Really......................not because I'm really cool or popular (I don't think Kohl's coupons and Borders book specials make me cool). but I haven't checked them or facebook in about 3 weeks. So cleaning out my emails I come across a facebook "tagged" photo.
I'm dying. This pictures makes me smile. My good friend in high school Traci tagged this photo of us at a prom. (I can't even remember who my date was!!)
1987
I was a sophmore......she was a junior........good times.
So I guess facebook isn't so bad after all. I love to look at old pictures and have a few other funny ones that have been posted from old friends in high school.......
But if your house is on fire............call 911 (don't post it on effin facebook!)
If you send me a message. Please don't be expecting a comment for about 3 months. (sometimes I do comment, believe it or not! I had to send Traci a comment on this one!)
If you need chat with me............send me a text. (email isn't the best idea ever cause I'm such a SLACKER). and a sucky facebook friend......sorry.....
I guess if I had access to a computer during the day I might be a "farmer", chat, report my mundane daily tasks? who knows. But I don't get on often so its very overwhelming!
Blogging/blog surfing is fun and relaxing?????? I'm weird...............I know.........................
(I showed my kids this pic and they said "who is that?" ha ha. Once they knew it was me Nicole said (again), "mom, we have the same face" :)
Now that I got all that off my chest................................

I need to schedule a nervous breakdown.............................
but I don't have the time or the energy. If I break down, I might not recover. Being strong for EVERYONE is exhausting. So much on my plate. We went to Nicole's softball game tonight at Cresent Valley. I was hoping it would get rained out and rescheduled. I was doing the rain dance all day. I suck at dancing. Obviously even the rain dance. Too much going on tonight.
Make up game at 4:30, out of town.
Had client scheduled for 4:00 appt.
Trimester awards at high school at 7:00. Wasn't sure we would be on time because softball game was out of town and Nicole still needed to change clothes.
I REALLY stress out when I am rushed for time. (Ironic because my entire life is on someone else's schedule!)
It all worked itself out.
*Moved client to next week.
*Game was over earlier than expected and we took Nicole home with us instead of riding the bus to save time.
*Nicole decided to wear her softball uniform to awards (which was awesome because it was for "Athletic All Star Honors" and academic for her 4.00 GPA. (I'm not biased but SMART. ATHELETIC. AND BEAUTIFUL)..............................
And I wore my awesome rain boots to the game so it didn't rain. It never rains when I wear them. Just when I wear my good, clean tennis shoes, is it muddy! I decided these are my "official" footwear to games.
Because they are cute.
Practical.
And match my "Rebels" sweatshirt. Always must look cute for a softball game.......................right?

I found a pair on line that are GORGEOUS..........................I want these!!!(who gets excited about rainboots? I said it before............I am weird). And I live in Oregon, so it's practical....

Kambria......................I found a pair for you too!!!!

Awards banquet was weird.

I am VERY social and never feel ackward or uncomfortable in social situations. But there is something about some parents at these events. (A few parents that I adore and really like to talk to though).

So clique-y. Middle-school-ish. Rude. Competitive (weird). Hate it!!

Once the freshman awards were given out I texted LeRoy (sitting across the table from me. ha ha) and Nicole and said we would quietly slip out the back. Luckily we were sitting by the back door.
Couldn't get out of there soon enough. Family was ready to roll too.

So proud of my girl. She had alot on her plate too. But is keeping up.

I have tomorrow morning off. Tyler has no school. I'm going to take my boy out to breakfast.

He gets to pick the place. Excited I get to go on a date with my son...............then off to work. Game scheduled for tomorrow night. Make up game on Saturday. Boys and Girls Club annual auction on Saturday night. Kam hair and makeup Sat. at 2:00.

Haven't been to the gym in 2 nights. Need more sleep. Need to grocery shop and get gas in my car.

Not complaining.......................just being real.............................Peace out.

"sadie hawkins dance!!!!! and other stuff"

Finally...................some pics from the dance. I still need to post some more but I need to steal them from Nicole since my camera was being stupid and most of mine are yellow. Here are the girls all gorgeous and primped. Lucky Trenton (Jasmine's date) was the first one here so he got to hangout with all the pretty girls. Of coarse I did all the hair. This was my "work station" in the bathroom. That's all I needed. The "after" pictures after all the girls got done with make-up etc is hilarious. I think they had more fun in the process of getting ready than the actual dance itself.
Giggles, eating, running around in their underwear, being silly...... I made them food and snacks and just let them hang out. They all came over about 5 hours before the dance and bonded and had a great time.

This picture makes me laugh!!!!!! We had about 45 minutes to wait for Nicole's date to arrive and all of the other mom's came over and took pics. The girls aren't used to wearing high heels so the shoes were already off! They said they took them off at the dance too. Oh....... I remember. Nicole was smart at Winter formal to wear her UGG boots under her dress!

This was the "after". I cleaned it all up after they left and my bathroom was as good as new.

On to other stuff..........................................On the last 2 days of spring break the girls had a tournament for softball in Coos Bay.

Really.....................an outside event...............in Oregon.............on the coast...................in March?????????????????????? Of coarse all the game got rained out!!!!!!!!! I have never in my life seen it rain so hard! They did end up playing kickball with the other team in the gym. We rented a motel room next to the one the teams were staying at. The girls had fun anyways and bonded on the bus (4 hours each way!!) Not all was lost. I got to spend time with my boys :) On the way home we stopped at the Mill Casino in North Bend and took some pics of Tyler on the boardwalk. Such a cute boy.I love the goofy pictures I get of my kids. The traditional posed ones are great too. But I prefer the goofy ones. They make me laugh!!

The rain had let up enough for us to be out without getting drenched! Skies were stormy and the rain did come soon after we were back on the road.

A huge ship was docked, unloading sawdust.

My boys....................................

On the way home we decided to stop at our friends Mark and Becky's house for a visit. Had a great time. Dinner. Wine. Conversation. You-tube (lol). Kids played and had a great time. We listened to music. Made fattening cake!!! Didn't get home until late.

Tomorrow is Easter. Pretty low-key here. I just made up a very non-traditional menu.

Breakfast is homemade cinnamon rolls, juice, coffee.

Dinner........

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad.

Grilled potato skins.

Roasted asparagas.

Home made artisian wheat bread.

Weight-Watchers Strawberry pie.

Pomegranate Coolers (non-alcoholic).

My newest obsession is making homemade bread??? Not sure why. I don't really eat alot of it. The kids love it! I just enjoy making it. My house smells wonderful. Maybe it's a sense of accomplishment? And it only costs $0.40 a loaf. And it's so easy? So funny cause I always "claim" I don't like to bake. LeRoy said it's because I'm getting old. Seriously. He just said that an hour ago.

I've made white bread, honey bread, wheat bread, honey-wheat bread, pizza dough, artisian white bread, artisian wheat bread, peanut butter bread (yummy toasted with jelly). And cinnamon rolls tomorrow with homemade dough.....

I think cooking is my therapy. And shopping. Retail therapy is the best.........Donna when are we going?

..................and I am really enjoying the closeness I am feeling with my sister Donna. :) Love ya!