Doesnt she watch the news...

The kids had a play date today. We met for a picnic at the park. The park is a large one with 4 different play areas, woods, train track and a walking trail around it all.

My friend Terri and I were watching the kids as we heard the mom say "Okay Sara watch your brother". The mom then proceeded to leave the park she left the two kids Sara looked about 3 maybe 4 years old and the brother was in a diaper and wasnt walking well but was walking I would guess about 15 months.

Off the mom goes walking around the track. There are several areas on the trial you cant even see the play areas. We were stunned.

We stayed for about 20 more minutes and the entire time the kids were left alone. The baby got very cranky and was crying the girl just played in the sand. Another set of moms were there as well and I heard them talking about calling the cops, but as we were debating on leaving the mom got done with her walk and retrieved the kids.

What kind of mother would do this? Does she not watch the news? It would have been so easy for anyone to just grab those kids. Add to this there is construction going on in the area, a salvation army close, and a blood plasma center. Just several aspects that make a mom even more watchful.

Sell It

Been trying to get the house gone through and ready for a yard sale this Saturday.

The kids always are hesitant to get rid of anything.

This time though Brittney has been quite good and actually has gotten rid of a lot of things that needed gone through and gotten rid of.

I cleaned Braden's room while he was out yesterday and did pretty good. But there were a few things I had asked him about the answer on if to sell or not was always "Not".

We were cleaning in Brittney's room and she had one of those learning lap tops and she wanted to sell it. I asked Braden if he wanted it and he said "yes". I said okay great it is for you to learn with.

He said "It is for learning, forget it sell it". The one thing he wants to sell....figures why do I have visions of him ditching school in 1st grade....ugh...going to have to drag him through school I can already see it.

I guess he will keep us on our toes!

10 years and a day!

We officially passed the 10 year mark of marriage.

Insomnia has me up at 4 am...too much food and excitement last night I think.

Here is the edited version of our anniversary....

Matt woke me up with a sweet card, we had already exchanged gifts (as blogged before this). The morning was uneventful as far as anniversary went had errands and all that to run.

My dad picked the kids up early afternoon. Giving me time to soak in a bath and primp for my date. Even forgoing the usual comfy undies for something with a little more snazziness! We left the house early and stopped by his dads and even WalMart (what can I say even on a special occassion I can always squeeze in a WalMart visit).

Dinner was a surprise at Red Barn where we had celebrated our engagement 10 1/2 years ago. The resteraunt is so neat but kind of out of the way so not something we normally think about. It has individual stalls for optimal privacy. It was VERY nice and the food was wonderful.

Then it was home...I will keep the rest of the evening up to your imagination but it was a wonderful evening, and as I told my sweet hubby yes I would marry him all over again and I look forward to many more anniversaries.

10 year anniversary gifts

Hubby and I celebrate 10 years of marraige tommorow. But since neither of us are good at hiding our surprises the gift exchange was early.

This is what I got.....................

I love it.....10 stones 1/2 total carat not too flashy but really pretty excatly what I have been wanting for so long. This is what hubby got....

Yep a Wagner Power Paint Pro....being the generous wife I am I also got 6 gallons of paint to go with it! I know I was almost too generous.

....something tells me I am going to have to be really sweet when the kids are away tommorow night to make things even...maybe even make good on pool promise from awhile back!

Not quite what I had planned

My parents called last night and asked if the kids wanted to spend the night. "Yes yes yes" and that was just my response the kids were even more excited.

So I planned tonight out in my head. I stopped and rented hubby and I movies not a Disney movie in sight! It was looking good. I planned to make quesadillas (sp?) anyway that was the plan.

The plan started going downhill at 4 pm when mom called and said "Why don't you and Matt go out to dinner with us and then we will take the kids"...ugh...didn't want to but my mom is a master of guilt so okay. I called hubby told him change of plans we would eat at a little catfish place in town and then the kids would go with nana and papa.

Plan continues down hill.....

Kids wanted to go to Fire Mountain and Papa cant say no so we ended up going a little farther than just here in our small town. Then of course since we were going to town Mom said just ride with us...mistake mistake...somehow dinner out took two hours and included a stop at KMart and Home Depot.

Finally home and Braden who had changed his mind and didn't want to go at dinner had decided that he did want to so cool all systems go evening still able to be salvaged. No go....now Brittney decides she doesn't want to go and crys and Braden does want to go and crys...ugh back and forth. Of course then my mom has to add in that I am not handling the situation correctly.

The evening has now taken a nose dive.

Ugh...Mom and dad end up going home. With a promise to take both kids next Friday night. Yes they will even if it includes hog tying them....because that night Matt and I will be celebrating 10 years. So I have already told kids both will go next Friday.

We ended up salvaging the evening we played out in the pool some good family time. Of course my original plan included hubby and me alone out there but alas that will wait for another night.

Of course I am

After weeks of trying to convince dear hubby that we did indeed need an above ground pool he finally relented. I even had to fill his head with images of the two of us sneaking out there after the kids were in bed. He grumbled a little but relented, we bought it and put it up this weekend.

It isn't anything fancy one of those with the blue inflatable tops but it is 18 feet across and 4 feet deep.

Well tonight was our first night as a family in it. I have to say it was wonderful as this seems to be a bit more stressful week than usual. Also it is wonderful for Braden's physical therapy. About 5 times Matt said "wow this is really nice", "this is a great idea", and so on. I grinned and said "I was right wasn't I...huh huh"? He agreed.

Now if I could just get it through Matt's head that I am always right then things would be perfect...HAHA.

Tagged

First time I have been tagged...(thanks Anne..ugh...here goes)

Here are the rules to this meme game:

Remove the blog at #1 from the following list and bump every one up one place; add your blog's name in the #5 spot; link to each of the other blogs for the desired cross pollination effect.

1. Beth: http://www.bethw54.blogspot.com
2. Liza: http://www.kittenhead66.blogspot.com
3. Marie: http://scorpio1970.blogspot.com
4. Anne: http://dakotablueeyes.blogspot.com/
5. Kelli: http://busybusymommy.blogspot.com

Next: select new friends to add to the pollen count. **No one is obligated to participate & anyone else can play**. If you've already been tagged by this one, sorry! :)

1. Middle America: http://middle_americaworldview.blogspot.com/
2. White Noise: http://manababies.blogspot.com/
3. Nixons Memiors: http://nixon1971.blogspot.com/
4. Kelli Belly http://kellibelly.blogspot.com/
5. Miss Zoot http://www.misszoot.com/index.php/

What five things do you miss about your childhood?
1. I miss the nonworrying. If I wanted a shirt mom bought me a shirt no big deal. Not the case anymore, I have to calculate okay if I spend that then this or that.
2. I miss playing with abandon.
3. I miss the blanket feeling of safety never even thinking something might happen.
4. I miss my grandparents.
5. I miss the childhood friends that I lost touch with.

What five things don't you miss about your childhood?
1. The structured routine of school
2. The hurt feelings I was soft hearted still am but at least I can hide it now back then if you hurt my feelings you knew it because I couldnt keep my eyes from being teary).
3. The constant need I felt to fit in, now I am who I like to be more than who I want everyone to like (I still like everyone to like me though which makes me say yes to things when I should say no but it is better now...believe or it not I was an even bigger push over as a kid).
4. Having my mom fix my hair....oh I hated that.
5. Having to move whenever dad had to go (He was in the army) and we lived on base so if we werent moving then our neighbors did it seemed.

Fancy Schmancy

Tonight we had the opportunity to eat at a very nice resteraunt here in Pennsylvania. Matt gets gift card rewards with his coorperate credit card one of the cards was for a resteraunt that normally we would not just go to.

Matt had wanted to go Saturday night but we had been out and about all day and were hot and sweaty and when I saw the vallet parking sign (it was optional but it was still there) I was like no way not in my jean shorts and tshirt. He has been there twice before on business and said it would be fine but I was like no way. Tonight we were all in our decent clothes and hadn't been out in the hot and sunny weather so off we went.

The food was wonderful BEYOND wonderful.

A wonderful change from the normal places that we go.

An excellent place for the kids to use their nice table manners and try new foods.

There was tons of leftovers that they nicely boxed up for us.

The waiter eventually warmed up but at first it was like okay is this guy going to act like a snot who is better than everyone who would dare dine at the resteraunt.

The majority of the italian dishes were a mystery to me, as I had no clue what they would be.

Braden got antsy with no crayons or kids menus to entertain, but he didn't get to antsy till the end. Toward the end he was half laying down half not.

Of course it wasnt so fancy considering that when I crossed my legs under the table my knee encountered old bubble gum stuck under the table....ewww....good thing I had on capri pants and not shorts I used one of my portable shout wipes and got it off.

But all in all a nice experience and a definte step up from McDonalds!!

Too many one ways

The kids and I dropped Matt at work. The plan was to head to the zoo, but it was raining so decided to go to downtown Philadelphia to go to the Children's museum.

I found the museum with little trouble, but finding a parking place was MUCH harder. Our rental for this week is a Chevy Trailblazer, which is a very nice vehicle, but oh boy trying to parallel park on a busy street..NOT FUN.

Took about 40 minutes to find a parking garage ($9.00 for parking...YIKES) then walked to the museum.

The kids had fun and the rain had let up so we decided to head to the zoo. I think I have now went up and down everystreet in Philadelphia. Luckily the kids were great while I was lost for an hour. Someone would say take a left well that would be a one way to the right only. We finally found our way, after seeing lots of sites such as china town and more.

Luckily we finally made it back to the hotel and hopefully I will be staying away from one way streets for the rest of this trip.

31

It's official I am in my 30's not just 30 not 29 but in my 30's. Turned 31 today. It was a great birthday.

We are in Pennsylvania for a week so for my birthday we took the kids to Hershey Amusement Park. It was so much fun. The kids and Matt gave me my presents first thing this morning and then we headed to the Park. Braden is going to be my ride partner. Brittney was all brave until we got there, not Braden the higher the better, the faster the better. It was fun.

After the park we met a fellow mom that I have been chatting with on one of the moms groups I belong too. That was fun too, and Brittney had to tell the waitress it was my birthday so I got Happy Birthday sang to me.

Back to the hotel to find my sweet thoughtful hubby had arranged for roses in the room. Wow what a surprise.

Planning on taking the kids to the zoo tommorow while Matt works!

Well since it is past 9 pm and with my age advancing I better head to bed!

In Pennsylvania

Home for 9 days from Arizona and now we are gone again.

This is a much different trip, for one it is not medically related so that is nice. Braden is excited no doctors for a week.

I was a little nervous to fly but it really didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. We drove to Dallas on Thursday and flew to Pennsylvania on Friday. After being in Arizona for 5 weeks it makes Pennsylvania seem more closed in and cluttery. Definetly a lot more graffitti and things on the roadways here.

We got in late Friday but still managed to go to Ephrata (we lived there when Brittney was a baby before moving back to Oklahoma). Brittney got to see the house she lived in when she was a baby. Matt and I got to see how much the town had grown. There were talks of them building a WalMart when we left but actually seeing it in the small town (lots of Amish and Menonite) it was weird.

Today we rode the ducks this was a fun experience. Got to see the historic sites and the kids got to have fun so it was a win win situation. We left there went to a small flea market not much at it but the kids did find a few pokemon things so they were happy. Went to Bennigans for dinner we dont have one near us and it had been forever since I had eaten a Monte Cristo so had that. Walked the huge King of Prussia mall, and then late milkshakes at Ruby's diner. All in all a full day.

Tommorow I turn 31, and I will do it at Hershey Amusement park. Looking forward to that, both kids are saying they are going to ride their first roller coaster we shall see how that goes.

I have been very impressed with our hotel here so far the Hampton Inn very nice even have complimentary dinners on Mon-Wed, which we didn't know about till checking in. They have the breakfast every morning, and it was a good breakfast this morning.

More from PA tommorow, if I can remember to write....with getting older!

1974

1974

I found this on blogthings.com and thought it was neat, since I turn 31 Sunday.

You can see what happened the year you were born to http://www.blogthings.com/yearborn.html

In 1974Gerald Ford becomes president of the US

Hank Aaron hits his 715th home run to beat Babe Ruth's record

Impeachment hearings are opened against President Nixon by the House Judiciary Committee

President Nixon resigns

President Gerald Ford issues an unconditional pardon to ex-President Nixon for all federal crimes

Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman in the eighth round to regain the heavyweight crown in Zaire

Heiress Patty Hearst is kidnapped by and eventually joins the Symbionese Liberation Army

Dungeons & Dragons officially releasedPeople magazine is published for the first time

Kate Moss, Alyson Hannigan, Penelope Cruz, Alanis Morissette, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ryan Seacrest are born

Oakland Athletics win the World Series

Miami Dolphins win Superbowl VIII

Philadelphia Flyers win the Stanley Cup

Blazing Saddles is the top grossing film

All the President's Men by Bernstein and Woodward is published

"Killing Me Softly With His Song" wins Grammy for song of the year

Tears streaming

Even though it was Fathers day we decided to get the yard work done. We live in a culdesac and the dogs stay in the fence (1 Chihauhua, 2 that are 1/2 Chihuahua and 1/2 minerature rat terrier). Today they got out and ran while we were mowing. Brittney came around where I was in the front yard looking for Rascal, but I told her that he would come back in a minute he always did.

Well tragedy struck, a lady in a corner lot has one of those wide spaced fences. For some reason little Rascal got in there and the big dog mauled it to death. Oh it was awful. Rascal is Brittney's dog and she love love loved him.

The lady whose home it happened at didn't come to the door, so Matt had to get a stick and go get Rascal's body out of the back yard. The big dog didn't bother him. I dont think it meant to hurt Rascal. But of course a 7 year old doesnt understand that. Our neighbor from across the street was talking to me in the yard when it happened. Her and her daughter care for our dogs when we aren't home and they were both crying. Brittney was crying and talking about Rascal in heaven with my grandfather who passed away 2 years ago. Which got me to boohooing. Matt was doing fine till Brittney started in about Epa Harlen playing with Rascal in heaven and how much she was going to miss Rascal all the while crying. So then Matt got started too.

Been a sad day here. We buried Rascal beneth the shade of a tree in our backyard and I am going to take Brittney to pick out a rose bush or something pretty to plant too.

It is so hard to see her crying and so upset. She is so soft hearted anyway and then this it was just awful, you just want to protect your kid and then this and it was just such a terrible accident. So the tears were streaming from us, the neighbors, even Boots (Rascal's brother and Braden's dog) and Pheobe (the momma dog and my dog) have been laying on each side of Brittney this evening, like they know and want to be there for her.

We had a church program as well tonight and Brittney didn't want to go sing but I talked her into it. She said she would sing to Rascal in heaven. Well during one of the songs she cut her eyes toward the ceiling, no one else knew what she was doing but I did she was singing to Rascal. The tears were flowing from me watching that.

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to my dad who is great, but a BIG Happy Fathers Day to dear hubby!

Braden colored him a pic, and Brittney wrote him 2 poems all by herself (really cute). I got him two of what I just call "Matt movies"....they are shoot them up Steven Segal movies. His birthday was last week so Father's day was slimmer! The kids also did him a coupon book. Matt loves to watch the news the kids of course scream in agony when it comes on. One of the coupons was for him to be able to watch the news for 30 minutes. Braden promptly informed him that he could only use that coupon 1 time and he had to use it in the bedroom.

Matt is a great father, and sometimes just watching him interact makes me get all tingly.

So, Happy Fathers Day Sweetheart!

A little young

Brittney spent the night with my parents last night. Mom and dad brought her home this morning. Mom asked whose last name is Chronister. I said Dillon (boy in Brittney's class that she calls her boyfriend). Mom said well she asked your dad and I what we thought about the name "Brittney Chronister".

Today was Dillon's birthday party, his mom had to reschedule it because we were out of town on his actual birthday and Dillon refused to go if Brittney wasn't there.

We get to the skating rink today and Dillon's mom tells me he has a surprise for Brittney. He bought it with his own money. Brittney got her first piece of gold jewelry form a boy today. It is a princess necklace and Dillon said it is because Brittney is his princess.

I said this is cute now but I am really dreading the teens if it is already like this when they are just 7!

I am going to save the box too and put it up in Brittney's keepsakes with a note about what was in it and who gave it to her. But I think Matt and I just got a glimpse of our future with Brittney and boys and I dont think either of us like it!

If one more person says...

We were in Arizona for 5 weeks with 5 hour doctors appointments with Braden, come home to a mess, then start the week with me teaching vacation bible school in the mornings and going directly to basketball camp in the afternoons, followed by Braden's speech therapy.

With the above information people can honestly assume that yes I am tired. Why do they keep having to point out how tired I look? That just makes me feel more tired and like wow I must look really bad for them to point it out.

This week it seems at least 5 people a day say "you look like you are tired"...or "you must be exhausted because you really look it".

So apparently I obviously look pretty bad this week. Yes I am tired, I am trying to catch up from being gone for 5 weeks, get my paralegal work done that has piled up and up, organize things to leave home again next Friday for another week away, teach bible school, take the kids to camp, and just general things. As if that isn't enough now I get to hear about how bad I look.

I am like yes I know I apparently look like crap and look tired, because I am, but just comment on my hair that I tried to fix even though I was tired or the 2 pounds I have lost or even better the cool shoes I bought on clearance for the best bargain price ever!

Quiz...How Old Do You Act?

How Old Do You Act?

This quiz was on blog things. I took it and it is pretty close....actually so I guess that means I act my age. Since I have the number 29 maybe I can just keep it through my birthday in a few weeks that is suppose to be 31.

My number was 29

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe.

13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!

40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatagequiz/

Extremely busy

Finally getting settled in from the 5 weeks away still more to do but it is starting to get there.

This week is going to be extremely busy, I am teaching vacation bible school this week it is from 8:30 am to 11:30 and then at noon will be taking the kids to basketball camp and it runs from 12:00 to 3:00. Add in speech for Braden at 4:00 each day, and 2 doctor appointments for him as well. Babysitting for a friend of mine 3 days this week, not that I will be sitting much I will be taking her daughter to vbs and camp as well and only be at the house about 2 hours. Also going to be trying to catch up on paralegal work for teh 3 attorneys that I freelance for...5 weeks of mail to go thru as well...ugh getting tired thinking about it.

My kids are excited for the week to see their friends. I am excited to see my friends too! Now if I could just wave a magic wand and get everything organized back in it's place and get meals prepared for the week, and so on and so on then it would be perfect. Since no magic wand seems to be available guess it will just be an extremely busy week.

Home Again...Sort Of

What a trip what a trip.

We ended up leaving Arizona about noon on Thursday. Thinking we will be home Friday evening instead of Saturday and could rest.

Well this plan didn't last...

First off...van trouble...going to have to do a fuel injection thing this week with it. Up hills, down
hills, hitting gas it was cutting out. So Arrggghhhh on that.

Second we make it home finally about 4pm Friday...Our neighbors that were so great with watching our house and all had told us that our cats had gotten fleas. Well when we are home we vacumn every day and bath t dogs and cats often and so on and so forth well 5 weeks away we came home to an infestation it was AWFUL we had to take the kids immediately back outside call my parents. My mom who grew up in the country said no way will just bombs and stuff get rid of them (our neighbors had already tried this too for us). So we left the van packed, got it to mom and dads and stayed the night there and met the exterminator at 10 we had to mow and all of that so he could treat inside the house and out. Now we are back in the house. Kids are still at mom and dads. Braden cant come into this until it is all settled vacumed cleaned and so on.

So hopefully by tommorow we will all be settled at home.

I had to get a computer break in though, I was having withdrawels...haha...now I will get back to my brushing of cats, washing of all linens and all that fun stuff.

Still with all above still good to get back home....even if it wasnt quit what we wanted to come home to.

Not as young as I used to be

Looming close to my 31st birthday and I have to say this evening I feel it.

It could have something to do with climbing up ladders, through tunnels, going over bridges and down slides. My hubby and I played like kids with the kids. We went to a place here in Arizona called Makutus Island. http://www.makutusisland.com/

It was set up very neat so that the parents and kids could all climb and have fun. There were some arcade games but they werent the center theme of the place, the main feature was the huge climbing, slides and fun area. I have to say I wore out first, but Matt wasn't far behind me.

This evening I am feeling the sore muscles, and am recalling the Toby Keith song that talks about him not being as good as he used to be.