My Little Life

Sitting here in bed, after being short tempered with kids who didn't want to listen tonight, wishing I had been more patient. Tomorrow's a new day, right?! Thinking...remember when I used to have this blog? This blog where I posted every day, where in the beginning I posted TWICE A DAY??? Sigh. I had so much to say back then. I felt so witty and creative. Now I just feel...boxed in. I want that wit and creativity back. I want this place to be the place I come to dump the contents of my mind. The inner workings. The clutter. The constant flow of words and stories and ideas that are all up in there. I have oodles of photos to show y'all from the photo shoots I've done recently. I have some recipes waiting to be brought to life. I have stories to tell and thoughts to vent. Hopefully, you'll still be around when I decide to tell them! My sweet babe is lying beside me...her bandaged arm (I'll tell you that tomorrow) resting gently on my leg. The house...

Well, here I sit, with my family scattered about the house, basking in the goodness that is life,  and recuperating from yesterday... Last night I was the "hostess" for a smashing party for my sweet Tara and her soon-to-groom. I'll level with you guys, I'm not much of a planner...cake? Oh, yeah, cake. Nametags? Whodathunk it? Games? Gah. But, thankfully for me, Tara has amazing people. And, with the new job starting and some photo sessions planned prior to the new gig and a rescheduled birthday party (want some fun? Take five 12 year old girls to a haunted hayride/house...hilarity!!)...and on Wednesday I was panicking...I hadn't been able to give the party the attention I'd wanted to and holy moly I was about to sink. Tara's friend Reggie saved the day (and my life) when she helped with the games and basically just agreed to stand by my side. Then, she also stepped up and manned the door and directed people on where to go/what to do. She was SUCH a b...

Sitting here, going through oodles of paperwork for my new career...still feeling simultaneously excited and scared silly about the new job! Excited about the new challenge and working with a great team...scared, 'cuz well, you know, IT'S NEW. Talked with my big boy who just got home from work...he's been a hunting fool lately, deer, duck, goose, you name it, he's after it. Had our second night of religion tonight and man, after teaching the same curriculum for two years, then switching? Well, shoot...it's tough! The new books are so different from our old ones, that just figuring out what was what confused the heck out of us. Oooooh, guess what? I went shopping today and bought three, THREE, pairs of shoes!! It was like Christmas morning for me! But...the new shoes are for work, I've been wearing pajamas (scrubs) to work for the last 14 years, so this whole "getting dressed for work" thing is foreign to me! And now, I bid you adieu...this Mama...

I've got a post to write...but I bribed my little girl to do me a favor and therefor, the computer is hers. She's sitting right by me, repeating, "How 'bout one more mama? How 'bout one more mommy?"...I think she means just one more letter. I wonder what she thinks when she sees me continuing to type. Oh, now she's momentarily distracted by the iPhone...perhaps I can finish this post afterall?! We're finally home after a busy morning of summer activities. I sat in wet grass--oops, hold please...biggest kid needs his birth certificate for baseball. Okay, back now, waiting for him to come fetch his birth certificate. I'm in a conundrum trying to figure out how we're going to appease our baseball boys who will be playing ball on the same nights for the next several weeks. Ugh. Also, trying to decide if we're going to make the hour drive to watch my biggest boy play ball tonight, or if I'm going to be a horrible mom and take a...

Know what I haven't done in a long time? A "Real Time" post. Currently, in real time, I am listening to my baby snore beside me. And by "baby" I do indeed mean, literally, my baby. The Mr. is a working fool right now, so he's not even home! Missing my man...this spring has set farmers way back in their planting, which wreaks havoc on the Mr.'s business as well and the guy's a worker. He won't let those farmers down and the customer service they provide is phenomenal. Wow. Well, that just sounded like a commercial. Anyway, continuing on... Heard my big boy come in from watching the hockey game with my grandpa. Love the time he gets to spend with grandpa.. I'm hot. But I'm not complaining. After the winter we had, if any Minnesotan so much as complains about the heat AT ALL this summer, I will drop kick them and stick them in the freezer to remind them of what our winter was like. You hear that, Minnesotans? NO TALKING BAD ABO...

Wow...I sure can't handle partying like a rock star anymore! Last night (my brother and sister-in-law's wedding reception) was a BLAST! Have fun stories and photos to share...but for now? A "Real Time" report! Currently in the house... I have two girls in my bed...one trying to get to sleep and the other watching Pioneer Woman episodes on the iPad . Hubby is cleaning the kitchen (boy, oh boy do I love that man...). Two little boys are sleeping soundly...one big boy visiting his girlfriend. I'm trying to get geared up to write a post, need to dump the photos from last night onto my computer, and thinking that my 3 hour nap today was NOT long enough. I should've just slept all night. Excited...GIDDY about some news we received today: MY BROTHER AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!! I can NOT wait. I mean, you know, I CAN wait, ' cuz I know I have to, but man alive am I excited to have a new baby to snuggle. SQUEE !!!!!!!!! Okay, that's all...ha...

Currently, right AT THIS VERY MOMENT (that is, while I'm typing, likely not while you're reading, but maybe...) I am tired. Exhausted. See, I had to get up at 6 am and 6 am is pretty much dead to me. I hate 6 am. 6 am is stoopid . 6 am shouldn't exist. Especially after working until 11:30 the night before and not getting to bed until 1 am. 1 am bedtimes stink. 1 am bedtimes are stoopid ...especially when you have to get up at the butt crack of dawn (aka "6 am"). Belle had a dance competition about 30 minutes away. We drove there, watched all these little girls with make up and BRIGHT RED (ugh, really?! More on that in another post) lipstick on shake their booties to inappropriate songs (more on that in another post) and do their high kicks, were done (and took 3rd...more on that in another post) by 9:40, raced back home to make it to church at 10:30, were 10 minutes late to church (awards, traffic, and okay, so it's more like 35 minutes away), went to our week...

Here it is, 11:30 at night, and this is the first chance I've had to sit down at the computer?! Sheesh. Where are my priorities? ;) A quick "Real Time" run down... Baby sleeping beside me...all warm and squishy. Just finished hanging s treamers with post-it note hearts boasting reasons why we love our kids, from their bedroom doors. Hubby meandering through the house...hopefully switching over the laundry. Laundry. Ugh. I need to write a little love note in the Valentine's Day card I grabbed for my hubby. Valentine's Day, over-rated made up holiday, or a fun little opportunity to declare your love? I'm 90/10 on that one. Except if I'm on the receiving end...then I'm more like 10/90. ;) Looking forward to making heart shaped eggs and pancakes for the kiddos in the morning...hopefully I won't accidentally hit the snooze button and over sleep! See you on the flip side...

Currently in my household... I am lying beside a baby who is playing with my iPhone. Somehow, we've gotten into some very bad sleep habits with her. Sigh. Like everything else in life, she's proven to be SO different from our other kids! The "other kids" are peacefully sleeping in their respective beds...well, actually, I think Hambone chose to sleep with Belle tonight. Belle, who is patiently awaiting the arrival of the (she knows) " toothfairy ". Again, sigh. # parentfail Did I just use a hashtag in a blog post? Ugh. I keep loving glancing at my "new" camera . Okay, so it's not new. In fact, it's almost one, but I just received a new battery grip for it and it looks all grown up and "new"! See? That piece I'm holding onto at the bottom is the grip. I haven't really decided if I prefer it's "functionality" yet, but the feel and the look? Love it...even if it is a bit heavier! Totally enjoying a text conve...

Ahhhhh ...bed. Currently, in my life: I'm lying beside a certain Baby Girl who is whining because my bedside lamp is on. To which I say, "Get in yer own dang bed, then!" ;) Wondering why asparagus makes your pee smell. Grody . Not looking forward to my three day work week. I know, I know THREE WHOLE DAYS, right? Yeah, well...it's one more than I usually work and one less with the family and boo. Two people in our house are celebrating birthdays this week...anyone remember who? Had a delicious supper at my parent's tonight...replete with DQ's for dessert! Yum. *burp* Trying to decide which Mexico post to do next...random Mexico madness or Mama's Epic Meltdown? Hmmmmm ...decisions, decisions. Have a new BlogHer giveaway post coming up tomorrow...gotta get that all scheduled to post. Make sure you stop back tomorrow and enter! Realizing that I need to pick back up on the Reader's Digest posts ...those are fun for me. Well...I think that's it. The ...

Hi. How are you? Me? Oh, I'm just a harried, frenzied mother of five who tries her darndest every dang year to ENJOY the Christmas season, but always seem, somehow, to fall short. I'm sitting here beside a little girl who DOES NOT want to go to bed, staring down a massive pile of gifts that need wrapping, trying to organize in my mind what I want to bake for sure, realizing that I really need to go through all the gifts to see who still needs what under the tree. Went to confession tonight and absolutely adored the priest I went to. He was chatty, warm, friendly...I went "behind the screen" and part way through my confession nearly got up to go sit in front of him! At the very end of my confession, after the prayers and blessings he asked me, "Do you have a cell phone?" "Yes." I replied. "Imagine, if you gave as much attention to God as you did your cell phone...*friendly chuckle*...you'd be a saint!" HOW DID HE KNOW THAT? Seriously.....

Been awhile since I've done a "Real Time" post...today is perfect and here's why: I'm currently snuggled into bed. I was relaxed until Baby Girl came in just now and asked to snuggle but it turns out all she wanted was "Daddy's light", which is a fun little finger flashlight thingamajig. I see where I rate. I'm pooped...and I shouldn't be. I left work sick today (not sure that I've EVER done that before...) with a horrible headache, dizziness, and queasy. Went to the chiropractor where I learned my neck is way out of whack, then came home and slept for hours. Sitting here, all proud of myself 'cuz we got home (from dance, hockey, running around like crazy) at about 7:55...we ate supper, one took a shower, got ready for bed, brushed teeth and ALL were in bed one hour later. Except, oh look, Baby Girl is back in my room. Now I'm getting "daddy's light" shined (shone?) at my computer. Fab. And now...I'm trying to de...

What a weekend! Flurry of activity...didn't leave me much time for blogging, so here is my "Real Time" Report... I'm listening to the sound of my now functioning (better than ever) washing machine. Dreading what tomorrow holds, since the washer was down for 5 days. 5 Days of no washer + 7 people wearing clothes = HOLD ME. *whimper* I just ate (yes, at 9 pm...what would Jillian Michaels say?) my traditional Sunday brunch. Hubby was nice enough to give into my whim of eggs, bacon and hashbrowns when I should've been brushing my teeth and crawling into bed. Feeling sad, but trying really, really hard to remember it's not about me, that The Pal has chosen to change teachers for religion. It's gonna be hard to not have him, but I respect his comfort level with this subject, so I guess it's gotta be. It was our school's marathon today, and afterward there were all sorts of fun things to do. My girls got feather extensions and Belle talked me into gettin...

' Cuz Sunday nights seem to be a good time to do my "Real Time" reports... Currently, in "Le Casa de Wonderful"... I'm resting in my bed ( hallelujah !!) next to my two favorite girls in the whole world. One is snoring softly and the other is grinding her teeth. My neck is bothering me and I'm trying to decide if I should get it looked at or tough it out. Either way, it can't have my attention until after Labor Day because life currently has me in a head lock and is forcing me to run a marathon with it. At speeds I'd prefer not to run. Speaking of running...after a fabulous start, vacations got in the way. Same goes for my healthy eating habits. Can you say " chubba "? How 'bout "jiggle"? Or, maybe "Fatty, fatty 2 by 4, can't fit through the kitchen door"? I'm listening to my two little boys settle into bed...one of them very excited about the haul he just made from his birthday party t...

Sitting here, picking dried, peeling, flaky skin off my nose and thinking that next time I go in the sun, Imma buy me some of that zinc stuff that the lifeguards wear in the movies. Trying to decide how best to plan our day tomorrow...the Belle had part of a filling fall out this weekend (ouch) which needs to be fixed ASAP, she has tennis, and The Pal starts his Sub- District Playoffs tomorrow for VFW baseball. The Mr. and I have a baby laying between us (I know she's 3...but she will always and forever be our baby and that is how I will always and forever refer to her. Even when she's 50 and griping to me about menopause.) who is restless and hot. Dang, what is it about kids and their ability to crank out the BTU's ?! Is that right? BTU? Is that a measure of heat? It sounds right, so I'm going with it. Okay...I'm off to write up some much more interesting and visually appealing posts for tomorrow...and, I've gotta get that Creamy Cucumber recipe up that I pr...

I'm starting to see a trend...my "Real Time" posts are becoming my go-to Sunday night post! Anyway, I had zero to none computer time...wait..."none computer time"? Sounds like my 3 year old. Where was I? Oh, yeah...none computer time. This weekend. Busy. Work. No play. More work. I'm sitting here, trying to keep mine eyes open (hey, may as well stick with the 3 year old grammar) and wondering how on earth my belly got so jiggly. And my thighs. Oh, yeah...and my butt, too. Just ask my kids, they'll giggle and laugh and just about die from humor telling you about my jiggly butt. Back to Real Time...I just finished a giveaway post. Have you checked out the one I've got going on with BlogHer and Gatorade? Good stuff! I'm dreading the morning, for two reasons. 1. I know I'll need about 37 more hours of sleep, and 2. It means I have to face the pig sty that is my home. Oh, yeah...the Mr. was a crazy workin ' fool this weekend too (and, I use ...

In real time (unless, you know, you are reading this at 9:13 am, then it's not real anymore...) :) I'm sitting here, in my bed, having just watched "Salt" (which I scratched my head and said "I'm confused" throughout most of), and anticipating the Memorial Day holiday tomorrow. I'm not sure how many times I've said it here before, but I am SO grateful for our military, past and present, and their families. The sacrifices you ALL make (made) for us, for our freedom, for our ability to live the American Dream is so incredible, that I find myself at a loss for words to express my gratitude... So, I will just say, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. And God Bless you. In further "real time" news, I'm tired, fighting off the plague that is causing the younger two of my children to bark like seals, and worrying about the forecast. With all the horrific storms in Missouri and, what feels like, the rest of America, when I see a forecast...

Just finished watching Shrek 4 with my Baby Girl...she was incredibly snuggly , and I soaked it up!! Feeling blessed...had a wonderful Easter with family. A gorgeous day (with plenty of pics tomorrow), amazing food, and incredible company. I'm waiting for my Benadryl to kick in...slept like poo last night, so hoping that I get in a good night's sleep tonight. Completely DREADING my disaster of a home and what I need to do to get it back in order. Oh dear. I do believe the Benadryl is kicking in...I can't form a coherent thought anymore! I do have one last thing...my grandpa was admitted to the hospital yesterday (no, not the "Pot Plant" grandpa). Not sure what's wrong with him; fevers, disoriented, weak...he could definitely use some prayers! God Bless you all on this joyful Easter Sunday!!

Currently, right at this very moment (well, you know, unless you're reading this at 10:30 pm tonight...) here are the happenings in our home: I'm making " eggies " for my baby who is suddenly addicted to eggs and requests them for breakfast, lunch, supper, and every snack time in between . While said eggies are cooking, she's munching on Sixlets ...I know, Mother of Year, right? Sixlets are her second addiction...good thing about this addiction is she can't open the package yet, so I do it for her and she always lets me have the first one. Yum... Sixlets could solve the world's problems. I'm convinced. I'm cursing out our "nearly" brand new land line phones...either AT&T sent out some bad phones to Sam's Club, or we got a bad package. Stoopid phones won't keep a charge. Grrrr ...which means, now I have to return them to said warehouse store and lose our adorable answering message that Baby Girl says. :( Waiting on a phone...

In real time, here is what I'm doing: Snuggling with my baby. Praying for the victims of a large car accident in our small town that we just learned of. Hoping I can sleep after my hours long nap this afternoon. Wishing Red Bull Vodkas were never invented. Cursing this blasted snow...and wondering why it couldn't have come on a day when our kids had school. We'd love a snow day this year! Welcoming in child #2 to our bed. Wondering why my mom has to be so stinkin ' good at Words with Friends. Remembering I need to get this week's Date of the Week up. Saying goodnight to the baby that just left our bed, in search of greener pastures, apparently. (PS...Baby Girl: daddy's pasture is not greener. He doesn't like to play bedtime games. Consider yourself warned!) Hoping, praying that the heaviness in my heart starts to lift soon. Thinking I'm going to go grab myself a Benadryl . And that, is the end of your Real Time Report! Good night!