Holiday "Ho Hmmmm's"....

I am one who can't wait to get through summer so I can celebrate my 3 favorite holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I honestly LIVE for these three occasions. However, it hit me today while I was in a discussion  disagreement with my significant other that even though I love these occasions they bring me the most stress. I worry about the preparation of the meals, decor, and I am really overly OCD about it all. This Thanksgiving will be especially difficult for me because I am sharing my kitchen with Mike's Aunt who will be flying in from Colorado. Southern Thanksgiving's differ HUGELY from Thanksgivings out West. So we are kind of doing a South meets West dinner and I am so stressed out about it. Don't ask why, I know it will turn out perfectly as it always does but the stress of it all will be brewing inside me until I eat my last bite of turkey and dressing. I need to learn to let go and be thankful that I have someone to help me with the preparation of a large meal but I don't think it's in my DNA. So I may have to have a bit of wine to help me get through it all. It will be 5 o'clock somewhere in the Beemer Bistro on the 24th starting at 11 am when the cooking commences. Cheers!

J. Lancaster Photography for my Concord peeps

Several weeks ago before things became a major roller coaster ride for my family I had a very dear friend of mine take a few pictures of Brody and I on her parents land. It's lovely when you can use God's background as a backdrop for your photographs! We had a pond, weeping willow and a red rocking chair; sounds lovely to me.

My friend Jennifer Lancaster owns J. Lancaster Photography and she does an excellent job with all sorts of occasions, people and pets. I highly recommend her and I am not just saying that because I have to...she really is talented and has a great eye.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from my mini session with her:

Whirlwind

I can't believe how busy my life has gotten in the past few weeks. Seems like it's a whirlwind spinning out of control at times. I don't know if I am coming or going. Hence why I am doing bullet points again for the blog. I can't seem to put down entire thoughts that flow well in a paragraph form so here is what's happening in the Beemer house:

* Victoria came home yesterday with very good progress reports.....A's and B's so we can't complain too much. She is so busy that we usually only see her before she heads upstairs to bed or if we are graced with her presence at the dinner table.

* Mike is loving being a Dad that can attend football games so we will be going to every.single.home.game until the season is over. Yay, me.

* Brody is on week 2 of Preschool and has already learned parts of the "Pledge of Allegiance" and days of the week. I am super proud of him.

* Momma is coming next Thursday to spend 5 long days with us and I can't wait to see her! I have missed both my parents terribly lately. I wish my Dad was coming too but someone has to stay with my ailing Pappaw.

* Pappaw is still doing okay considering the type of cancer he has. I just pray that he doesn't have to suffer too long with this. I have heard bone cancer is very painful.

* My new anxiety medicine makes me eat like a cow and I have went from 76 pounds to 100 pounds in 2 months. I just put over 30 pairs of jeans up in my closet and had to buy 10 new pair so I would have a fall wardrobe. I am now a size 3 and can't even get a size 0/1 up over my thighs. Go me!

* Church is going awesomely well. We are all enjoying the service and social activities. Vic stays busy in youth and we are so proud of her for that. Hopefully some of his good grace will rub off some of her teen attitude ;)


* I couldn't hold out any longer.....ALL of my Fall decorations are out minus the pumpkins that will be added in the very near future!!!! (No matter what my husband says)

Flirtatious Fall

I know, I know.....several months ago I was begging for pool weather but now I am SO over the heat that I could barf. A "perk" of living in Southwest Georgia are it's extended summers aka heat! There are days where I swear I open the front door to hell because it's so darn hot here. We are in a middle of a cool spell with a week of low 90's!

It doesn't help me any that every.single.store that I have entered this past week has all of their Fall and Halloween decorations proudly on display. Just stick a fork in me; I am done.

I don't know if I will be able to hold out on decorating our front porch and the inside for Fall until late September. I mean, tomorrow is the first day of September and that is usually when I put out my Fall decorations but I think it would put off a weird vibe here in Albany since it's still pool weather. You could probably fry an egg in our driveway with the high temps we have had lately.

I also can't wait to break out my Fall clothes!!!! Jeans, sweaters, long sleeve cute shirts, boots....ahhhhh....how I would love to wear those items now.

I'm going to stop typing this blog now because it's only making me more annoyed with the weather. I said what I had to say and hopefully Mother Nature in Southwest Georgia will cooperate sooner than later!

Falling for Fall

I know I shouldn't wish my days away because they already fly by but I am really wishing for Fall to hurry up and present itself in Southwest Georgia....Albany to be exact. I am all for great pool and beach weather but my heart really misses the "feeling" of Fall.

Fall always makes me chipper and happy to be alive. It's like a little fire sparks inside me and I am a different person....a person that I like and the person that I am ready to be.

I love the smell of Fall...the scented candles that fill your house with warm and spicy scents. The fireplace crackling with wood and producing a warm glow throughout the living room. Pumpkins, acorns and pine cones happily decorating the house and front porch steps. I love that it's cool enough to cook your fall/winter favorites like large batches of beef stew or mouth watering chili.

And the wardrobe...God Bless the autumn wardrobe! I miss wearing my fall favorites....jeans, sweaters and boots. I love my "fall" clothes and wishes that I could wear them year round. There is nothing more comfortable than slipping on a pair of jeans paired with a cute long sleeve top and head out the door in a pair of boots. I can't wait to bust into those fashions soon. My 'fall' clothes are getting a little lonely and ready to be pulled into my everyday wear.

I love everything about Fall and the holidays that surrounds it. Fall means Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are near. All of the three are a big deal in the Beemer House and we decorate accordingly and I am always trying to do something fun with the kids to help decorate for the occasions.

So, the countdown is on in my mind for Fall....hurry on up summer, do your thing and make it a wrap....I am ready to see you go.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm?

I am not sure what has gotten into me lately but I have been getting up early (for me) and I am starting to enjoy the stillness of the quiet house.

A month ago I would have shot down any opportunity to rise early so I could catch a few more Zzzz's but now I am ready to start my morning so I can get a few one hour to my myself before the house awakens.

Mike leaves early for work and Victoria has had band camp for the past week so she is out the door early too....that just leaves me and the little guy here for most of the day and once B is up then it's on like Donkey Kong. I don't stop running around the circles he runs around me.

Luckily, Brody is normally a late sleeper (just like his Momma...used to be) so that means I can enjoy a good cup of coffee and catch up on my DVR, Facebook & Emails or just get little things done around the house that would be virtually impossible while he was awake.

I can honestly say that I am enjoying these "free" hours and look forward to going to bed somewhat early so I can rise early and not be too tired or grumpy. Maybe this is just another part of aging...who knows. I find myself doing a lot of things lately that I once defined an "old" person doing so that is why I chose to use the old wives tale as my header....

"The Early Bird Gets the Worm"

..... and in my case it seems to be a proven fact that you get more done and feel better about things the earlier you rise. Who knew that my grandparents really knew what they were talking about!

Google or Bust

Oh, Google, how I love you so....I think I use Google more than any other application that is available online....even more than my beloved Facebook.

Google is my "Go To" for EVERYTHING; I might I know that I am addicted to it. I mean honestly what can't the site answer?!?!

I thought it could answer everything until I ran across this little blurb above. It hit me right in the gut because it's so true and we rarely stop to think about some things only God can answer; there isn't an "earthly" explanation for it. We can try to use Google for the answer but sometimes there just isn't one or it's not the answer we truly need. It's an answer only "He" can provide.

So, with that weighing heavily on my mind I may stop trying to always find the answer or reason for all of my worries, woes or concerns. I should just leave it up to him anyway; he will shed light on the situation when the time is right. Sometimes I think we don't even need to know the answer immediately; it's his way of letting it "stew" so we can think about things.

"Always believe in God. Because there are some questions that even Google can't answer"

Packing Memories

Tomorrow we will be heading to Concord for a long weekend to celebrate Brody turning three! So that means I have been busy doing last minute loads of laundry and packing as I go.

I always feel so anxious when I pack for a trip because I always feel like I am not packing something I should and it's magnified by 100 when I am planning a party 8 hours away from home!

We decided to have Brody's party this year at my parents because a.) it's cooler there than here b.) our entire family and close friends live in Concord c.) and lastly (and the saddest) this is probably the last Birthday that my Pappaw will be able to celebrate with Brody.

I always tend to over pack which every single time I return home and have 50 loads of laundry to do I remind myself not to pack so much the next time....never fails....I still over pack.

With that being said, I better quit blogging and get back to packing!

Home.Sweet.Home

This morning I woke up early and decided to use the time for myself and catch up on TV and my computer while enjoying a fresh brewed cup of Kona coffee. As I was catching up on one of my favorite blogs; my dear friend Susie's. She mentioned that her husband made statement that hit me hard...."How are we ever going to live anywhere else?".....wow, that is a bold statement but a realistic one that has haunted my mind as well.

I ADORE  ALBANY (more like LEESBURG), GA.

Did I really just admit that??? I mean, this is the person who was terribly homesick (and still is) months ago and also the person who second guessed moving here. This is the person that cried the minute she walked into the front door, had a panic attack and was sent to the ER for heart palipations the very day we arrived on Doublegate Drive.

However, something has changed my mind and my heart about this quaint little town. Most people that were bred, born and raised here ask the same question "Why in the hell did you move here?".  I can't tell you the number of people I have heard that sentence from....more times than "Oh, you will love it here". I don't think I have ever heard that sentence uttered. Seriously.

Albany is very diverse and it's still very much small town living....although it is very divided it reminds you a bit of Andy Griffith times on occasion. Everyone knows everybody.... and their business. If there is something "shady" going on you will hear about it. People are cordial here and show manners that many large cities are lacking. It almost feels like you stepped back in time....that can be a good and bad thing.

I will be the first to admit that this small town does have it's own share of problems and inconviences. Race is very much a factor here and it seems that the town is still very much stuck in a 1950's "bubble". The phrase that comes to mind is "To each their own". The communities are still divided in a sense but I have never felt any animosity; although I am sure it's there in certain situations.

Living in the "Deep South" also means we are very much a part of the "Bible Belt" so being part of a church is a big thing. I think there is seriously more churches in this town than I can count on my two hands and feet. It's basically a ghost town during worship hours because people are attending a church service somewhere. However, if you ever want to skip church to get your grocery shopping done then that is the best time to do it because you are not part of a huge chaotic crowd....trust me, I have done it and it worked out well....no lines or aggrevation. However, if you are wanting to buy alcohol on that Sunday trip you are out of luck becuase there are no alcohol sales on Sunday in Albany....so you have to plan ahead if your wanting a drink while lounging by the pool or catching up on whatever sporting event is on TV that day.

We also live in what Georgia calls the "Plantation Trace" because there are tons of Plantations in the area. Agriculture is a big deal here and our biggest crops are Peanuts and Pecans. Quail hunting is also another big deal in these parts. We are also the only city in the WORLD to house a World Series MVP, Super Bowl MVP and an Olympic Gold Medalist....so I guess the city is doing something right. We are also the home of Paula Deen (yum!), Buster Posey (Go SF Giants!) and Ray Charles! I can't forget to mention the entire reason we moved here....the Marine Corps! Albany has one of the largest logistcal bases on the East Coast.

As far as educational things in the area we have The Parks at Chehaw (Zoo) and Flint RiverQuarium. There are several other things like the Civic Center, Museum of Art and several theatres of the arts that we haven't had the time to endulge in.....but in due time we will .We also have Albany Panthers which is a SIFL (Southern Indoor Football League) team.  For such a small city there is so much to do and see!

While all of those "perks" are fine and dandy it's not what made me fall in love with this city. My heart is in love with the house and neighborhood we live in. I am happy that our children seem to thrive in this enviroment. Victoria can't be in a better public school system than Lee County and she is so involved in school activities/sports that make her beam with pride. Brody loves his friends he has made in the area and even has a cute Geogia twang that echoes in my ears (ex: Drink =Draannk). I have met some great people whom I am lucky enough to consider really good and dear friends.

There is so much more than I even blogged about that I haven't had a chance to discover yet. I am excited about being here and I am hoping one day my parents can move closer to us because I share the same thought with Susie's husband JB....

"How are we ever going to live anywhere else?"

"You've Got Mail"

There was a time where I longed to hear the words "You've Got Mail" from my Gateway Desktop computer. I believe that we all used AOL as our first email accounts when the Internet hit big in the mid to late 90's....you know back when we still used dial up connection and had disks not discs. 


I think technology is a wonderful thing and it's proven to be awesome in my case once we moved away from home. Without Facebook or Email our family would be lost. That is our main form of communication on a daily basis...usually multiple times a day. If my parents don't hear from me once a day through some form of online source they will worry and you can be sure one of them calls to check in with me that evening. 


With that being said I must admit I think we have become too dependent on technology when it comes to communication. What happened to sending a greeting or letter through the good 'ole USPS? Our mailboxes (the ones at the road not on your PC) are overloaded with bills and junk mail but we rarely if ever get a nice greeting from a friend or loved one. Maybe I am old fashioned but every time I see a HANDWRITTEN card from a familiar name in my mailbox I instantly get a smile on my face. 


I am a card sending fool....maybe on the verge of crazy. I enjoy making & mailing cards/notes to my family and friends. There is something about a card that says you took the time to buy or make that person a greeting, hand write a quick hello, put a stamp on it and actually put it in the mail. You took time out of your day (and we all know we are ALL busy) for that person instead of just hitting the enter button on your computer. I completely agree it's faster, more convenient and just plain easy but sometimes I wonder what that says about us as people.


I guess I had this on my mind today because in Bible study we were talking about all of the "things" we have in our life that keep us so busy like technology that we forget what it was like when things were simple. Things that took time and showed effort.....a real effort. Sometimes I don't think we do take the time to do the simple things that mean the most. I know some people aren't "card people" and I totally respect that and I this blog isn't a slam to those who fall in that category. It was just a thought that was in my head and happened to be discussed today at church.


I am and always will be that card person. I like receiving greetings in the mail as do my kids. They can't wait to get to the mailbox to see what's in there from Nannee. Sometimes I just mail things to them so they have something to smile about. The crazy thing is that they really do appreciate it and it's something that makes not only them smile; it makes their heart smile too. 


Which brings me to this question....it's kind of like presents....do you really like the gift bag or does it mean more when it's wrapped. Just something to think about. Anyone can throw a gift in a bag with some tissue paper....wrapping it just seems more personal. 

FAIL.

Today is a day that I know some (or most) parents deal with several times a year and I shouldn't be hard on myself but I feel like a failure. I feel like I am constantly getting sick now that I have two kids in school and it seems like I always get the worst of it. After being beat down with multiple sinus infections and colds I am at an all time low and it's only May!! 


I was lucky enough that Mike was able to take the day off because in all honestly I would have been worthless when it came to watching Brody. When I'm sick it really gets me down and my every day life & responsibilities  magnifies being under the weather by ten. I feel horrible for being in the bed all day, I feel horrible for not being able to take care of the kids, I feel horrible for not enjoying a beautiful day, I feel horrible for not being up to par and cooking my family a dinner....you get the picture. I feel horrible, period. 


I will also admit that I felt immature and bad that I called my Momma in tears because I couldn't take it anymore. I know that sounds so childish but something about her soothing voice always tends to calm me down and make me feel better even if it's temporary. She usually talks sense into my snot babbling sobs and reminds me that I am not the only Momma in the world that feels utter disappointment when I'm not functioning in my normal perfectionist state of mind. Her usual remedy was take some Advil or Tylenol for the sinus pain, eat a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup and drink something warm to soothe the throat. Wonder how many years Mothers all over the world have told their youngin's that?! 


I did manage to make a Doctor's appointment and was informed I had a nasty sinus infection (the green snot didn't give it away?) and was given a round of antibiotics. I was a little disappointed that it was just your normal Amoxicillin and not the awesome knock-any-nastiness you have out Zpack. I guess it will take longer to work but beggars can't be choosers. I was desperate for anything that would make me feel better when I made the appointment and thankful that I could get seen today. 


So I will wrap up this complete self involved blog post and take my last dose of antibiotic for the night before I forget! This will be the third one I have crammed down my throat since 2:00 this afternoon; hopefully I will feel a little bit better in the morning AND I can function enough to get out of bed to transport my son to preschool for his last week of school before summer. 

Conflicted

Mike and I have been discussing taking a mini family vacation for a couple of weeks now and I have been pondering where we could go that would be close, cheap and kid friendly...having a two year old and thirteen year old in tow really narrows that list down so I was excited about finally making a choice. We had thought about the beach but that is always pricey this time a year plus it's a pain trying to keep up with Brody around the ocean because he thinks it's a giant bathtub! It's also a pain in the ear hearing your teenage daughter huff and puff out of boredom while complaining that not having a friend tagging along sucks. 


We are stuck in between the Gulf and Atlanta so with the beach sounding like a nightmare our only alternative other than staying home is Atlanta. I have been to Atlanta several times and honestly had no idea what it had to offer other than a racetrack and Buckhead (nightlife) but after a friend told me about all of the "kid-friendly" activities it sounded like a dream!


Atlanta is a smorgasbord of educational fun waiting to happen for the family and I think we would all enjoy a trip to "Hotlanta"! I know the heat will be an issue but we already live in the Deep South where we're already hitting a toasty 85+ degrees so it's not like we aren't used to it. Half of all the attractions I am interested in are indoors so that will provide some relief from the sun in the big city. 


A few of places that I am eager to check out are the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Zoo Atlanta, World of Coca-Cola and the Children's Museum. 


All of this sounds great, right?!?!? Right, if your not conflicted like I am! For once when I get stoked about a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of our normal every day life I am only greeted with more hustle and bustle in the form of a school letter. Victoria cheerfully threw a letter at me this evening and after reading it my smile turned upside down into a frown. There is an after school event for her soccer team the weekend we had planned to go out of town. You have GOT to be kidding me...sEriOusLy?!? And not only is it the weekend we were planning to get away it's an overnight school thing so we can't just push the trip a couple of hours back. 


I know I probably sound just as shallow as she does at the beach grumbling about not having a friend to pal around with but I was really looking forward to getting away. My life has been nothing but 24/7 errand runner, Band Mom, Soccer Mom, Chef, Laundromat worker, Diaper changer, Wife and the list could go on & my husbands list is equally as long so this little retreat was a welcome break. 


I guess we will have to wait and book all vacations once we retire and the kids are out of school because it looks like their extra curricular activities will keep us very busy for the next 20 years or so!

:::Warning:::Warning:::System oVerLoAd!!!!

I am not really sure what is going on with me lately but whatever it is needs to be, well, moving the hell on. I have been in a horrible funk since this past Sunday and I can't seem to pull myself out of the dark hole that I have decided to hide in. Each day I venture out a little more from this deep pit only to hunker back down it around dinner time. I absolutely *hate* feeling depressed, sad, tired, anxious, overwhelmed and I have all of those going on at the same time. Not good. This system is on overload and my warnings are sounding off LOUD and CLEAR(Don't worry folks I would never hurt myself or others....no need to admit me anywhere)!

I know I have a ton on my plate and usually I am very good at managing it all but lately it seems time is running the show and I have no "say so" in the matter. Re-reading that makes me sound completely OCD and I will be the first one to admit that I am and I get completely out.of.whack when my world is the teeniest bit disrupted from it's routine. Go ahead, feel sorry for my family...they need some love and a pat on the back for dealing with me. Thankfully, they (for the most part) understand it's me "just being me" and accept it without a ton of static.

I have kind of taken a break from blogging because I haven't really had anything nice to say and I don't want to bore you with griping or whining about things. I try to blog about happy things going on in my life and right now I am still trying to get out of the hole pit to see the sun. 

I know it's shining and I am ready to see it's rays and warmth. Hopefully warm and sunny blogs will be coming your way soon :)

Break Is Over - Yesssss!

Hip, Hip, Hooray....Hip, Hip, Hooray....Today was the last day of Spring break for the kids from Lee County Schools so guess what that means?!?!? Once tomorrow rolls around we will officially be back to our old schedules and Lord, do I love having a schedule and sticking with it. When holiday breaks for school come around I kind of wince and whine about it because I am the worlds worst when it comes to being around kids 24/7 without a break. I really do enjoy the hours when the kids are doing their school thing because it allows me to do my stuff around the house without being bothered and I can take care of errands that need to be ran.  I feel like with the kids out of school I get behind with everything and it's just that much harder to get back in the swing of things after having a "break" from it all. I mean, don't get me wrong, I did enjoy having the kids and their company this week but I think that Victoria is more than happy to go back to school so she can see her friends and boyfriend. Breaks to her are like being grounded because it forces her to go a week without the normal drama from the usual day to day activities that are going on in the 8th grade. Ah, the pain <hear the sarcasm> of losing a whole week with friends, drama and school work. That's gotta suck <insert eye roll>.

I am really excited about this coming week because Brody starts preschool on Tuesday after being out for a month!!! Yes, FOUR whole weeks!!! Talk about insanity. I would probably have to commit myself somewhere if he were out another week. He was out 2 weeks for that nasty flu bug we had and then Mom was here last week and they were closed for Spring Break this week. The poor kid will not have a good first day back (because he's been out so long) and I will probably leave him at his classroom door screaming but he has GOT.TO.GO and I will *not* look back once he's dropped off! This Momma needs a kidless day and Tuesday can not come soon enough! 

You "Sago" What?!?!???

Since we have closed on our house and we are the "official" home owners of our "Doublegate Escape" it's time to do a little landscaping. I have been out of commission the past few days with some awful stomach bug aka "The Stomach Flu" but now things are back on track and the work shall begin...

Earlier this evening Mike and I were out in the back yard trying to figure where we were going to place Brody's playground, make a dog run for our fur babies, make boxes for my garden beds, build his work shed (and my "dog house" as Mike so eloquently called it) and extend the entertaining area around the pool for the humans of the house. We have been blessed with a very large back yard so we have plenty of room to make all of the above happen but making it happen on a tight budget is where we butt heads. My wants and our needs are two totally different things but with Mike's analytical thinking we always seem to make it work. He usually drives me CRAZY when he draws things out on paper or over thinks things for hours on end but in certain cases  I truly  appreciate it (ouch, that hurt to type). Hmmm, maybe opposites *really* do attract? Noted.

While drawing the "map" < insert my MANY eyerolls>  of our plans for the backyard it became evident we would have to use part of our neighbors privacy fence as backing to our dog run. We will have to nail boards at the bottom of their fence due to gaps where the land has settled and could possibly be areas where our dogs would/could dig out. Thanks to good timing our neighbor came home and we were able to ask him for his permission to nail boards to his fence and he gave his consent after we told him about all of  the things that would take place in the next couple of weeks. Whew, I was relieved he gave the go ahead because sometimes you can get the "neighbor from hell" who agrees to nothing. Check that off the list!


Mike and our friendly neighbor were chatting it up about  their careers in the Marine Corps and somehow we got to talking about dogs and landscaping they had done recently. The neighbor had mentioned that their young Labrador had eaten two of the plants they had discarded from their side yard recently and it made her very sick. He wasn't really describing it all that well so Mike pushed a little further because he was concerned since we also have dogs that will eat anything and everything. As this man starts to describe this mystery plant it becomes evident to me he is talking about a Sago Palm plant. 


Now, I know most of you probably do not know or even care what a Sago Palm is but being the Southern girl I am these plants are like heaven on earth. It has "SOUTH" written all over it's prickly leaves and body. It's a sure sign your in the South or somewhere tropical and that is somewhere I want to be! 


After I recovered and pulled myself together from hearing him say he "threw the bushes out back" I excused myself because all I could think of is how I would have loved, loved, loved having those beautiful babies somewhere in my yard (away from the animals, of course). I atill can't stomach hearing them called "bushes"....seriously, dude, bushes??? Sago's do not come cheap so he basically threw $200 worth of sunshine out into the wooded lot behind his house. Too bad it's days since they were uprooted and tossed  aside because I would be stealing those things from their final resting place and put them in pots for my front steps!  


It also occurred to me afterwards that I was actually a tad insulted he did it...did it make me feel bad??? Nah, it's just another reminder that I am a true "Southerner" through and through.

Leaky Pipes, Plumbers & Birthday Bliss?

I believe that today was one of the oddest Birthday celebrations that I have ever had with my husband....maybe it was the lack of celebration that saddens me. As many of you know I am a HUGE party person and love planning these shindigs so when my immediate family member doesn't get "their" special day planned by me I get a little bummed. Mike has never been big on celebrating his Birthday and he would be perfectly happy with receiving cards from everyone and calling it a day. However, I am the exact opposite and I want the balloons, flowers, gifts, cards, dinner and cake. I want it "all" and I also like to give that "all" to my family and friends. Tonight my husband got take out from Sonic and a card from myself...the kids card will have to wait until Wednesday when both are together to give it to him. Victoria had a soccer game tonight and didn't get home until after 9:00 and Brody was already in bed so I didn't want him to open their card until tomorrow because Brody was excited about it. However, that plan won't work because she has a soccer game tomorrow night so celebrating as a family will have to wait until Wednesday night. I know that it's probably my OCD kicking in because I like everything "perfect" and I want to control everything and this isn't the "perfect" scenario and I'm completely out.of.control concerning this situation. Eeeeekkkkk! 


The closing on our house is fastly approaching and the homeowners are trying to get everything fixed before Friday. Needless to say the past two weeks have been insane and our house has been a revolving door of plumbers, pool guys and handymen. As you know from my last post we had a water line break on Saturday night so that was top priority today and thankfully we *believe* it's fixed! The poor plumber was here all day and had to work on every single toilet, faucet/drain and water line inside our house but he got it all working so we no longer have red clay dirt running out of our faucets and the pressure is back to normal. Another problem arose when they were under the house and sometime this week they may have to pull my jacuzzi tub out of the master bath to fix a leak...praying that doesn't happen and there is NO leak. Mike's shower will be under construction later in the week so they can  pull all of the tile out and put new in. That should be interesting. I am starting to feel like we are Tom Hanks and Shelley Long in the movie "The Money Pit". Our house is showing normal wear and tear so I shouldn't complain; it's not really as bad as it sounds (and feels). 

I am keeping my fingers crossed that no problems arise this week other than the ones that are currently being fixed. I also PRAY nothing major happens after we close on Friday. How bad would that suck??? I can't even think about it. 

Compromise, Curtains and Chaos

This week I have been dealing with Compromise, Curtains and Chaos. I know today is only Wednesday but I have been on a roller coaster ride the past 3 days and I am ready to get off (please and thank you). 


Compromise has NEVER been something that I have been good at. I hate compromising because I always want it my way and to *me* that is the only/right way. I know, I know, that is totally narcissistic but it's who I am and changing that part of my personality is an ongoing thing that I deal with daily. I have had to learn that *my* way isn't always the best or right way to do things and you have to meet in the middle. I also can't have my cake and eat it too. Ugh, typing that was like nails.on.a.chalkboard!!! This week I have found that if I want certain luxuries in life then I have to be willing to give up some of my current luxuries (boo, hiss). 


Our house stays in a constant state of disarray because I don't like to clean and I am too busy to deal with it. It may also be that we have a 2.5 year old and a 14 year old who rarely pick up after themselves! What little free time I do have these days shouldn't be used to clean the house. It should be a law for all mothers -- seriously. With that being said, I had mentioned to Mike that we could possibly use a housekeeper to help with the nasty, deep cleaning that neither one of us like to do. I honestly thought he would completely shut my idea down but he didn't...I was floored when he said to look into the cost of having one come every couple of weeks. Excuse me, where is my husband? He needs to be returned immediately (well, maybe not if this version likes the idea of a housekeeper). Now I know my husband and everything comes at a price and this is where compromising comes in on my part! I have to compromise by spending less time & money during my weekly Wal-Mart runs and less money on craft supplies. Easier said than done. I can drop $50 in a minute at Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby so this will be a big learning experience. However, I am willing to do that so I don't have to sweep, mop and clean nasty bathrooms! 


I finally got around to using my sewing machine that my sweet husband bought me months ago but I don't know what in the hell I am doing. I didn't even know what a bobbin was and thankfully being the analytical type my husband is bought one that basically does it all for you. If it didn't, I would be lost and the machine would collect dust. It took me 2 hours to get the thing threaded and a bobbin made even though it's all automatic. Sad. I wasn't going to let the machine intimidate me and I was determined to make something this week.....and I did! My first project was making Victoria some zebra print curtains for her room. I used the dust ruffle of her bed set as fabric because she has a sleigh bed and the ruffle couldn't be used. I know a child probably could have completed this mini project because it basically was just sewing a straight line but I was really proud of the finished product. I definitely need to take some sewing classes because I don't think I can teach myself. Sewing with a machine is so much harder than I remembered and I have a new respect for seamstresses. 


Brody has been crazy this week; he is all about using the "potty" but the problem is that he doesn't *use* it! He thinks it fun to undress from the waist down and sit on the potty only to sing and read the day away. It's really becoming a problem and I don't know what to do about it. I want him to use the potty but he thinks that it's for entertainment purposes so we aren't getting anywhere. The Doctor (and friends) keep telling me it will happen when they are ready and not to stress about it but I can't help it. Nothing is more annoying than being couped up in a small bathroom while your child sits on the potty for an hour singing, giggling and telling you to "sit on the potty". I can only do the "potty dance and song" for so long before my rear starts to hurt! I am sure there is an indention where my butt has been on our poor spare bathroom toilet because that is where I have spent most of my time this week. And if I have to sing "Pee Pee in Potty, Poo Poo in the Potty" one more time I may rip out my own vocal cords. I.AM.OVER.IT.

Really??? %$^&*!!!

Today was one of those days that I was faced with several of my pet peeves. The list below does have some exceptions so don't take it too personally. I am blaming these peeves on my OCD even though I know that isn't a real excuse....but I am sticking with that because it makes me feel normal :) These are not in any particular order! Here goes.....

Arrogant people really get under my skin; I honestly think it's a sign of major insecurity. They need to get over themselves.

People who take their TIME while walking in a cross walk. It really pisses me off when I actually stop to let you go and it takes 10 minutes for you to cross. I am not talking about people who have a legitimate reason; those people, I completely "get". 

Individuals who are not a "people person" but continue to work in the Customer Service field. Don't you know the "Customer is ALWAYS right". No.Matter.What!

Dishes being left in *my* (not anyone elses) sink when the dishwasher is available and willing to accept them! To me it's a sign of laziness. There is no way it takes you longer to put them in the dishwasher; if you want to place them in the sink then start washing them by hand. 

Okay, so this one may strike a nerve in a few readers but it's a major peeve of mine. I can.not.stand when someone has a handicapped sticker/plate and abuses it. Yes, I know you may have some sort of "illness" or disability that can't be seen by the naked eye but does it *really* qualify you to get a parking spot right up front when you are capable of walking? The worst is seeing someone who needs the space and can't use it because your ass is to lazy to walk.

This sign is self explanatory -- what is up with gas prices? Today it was $3.14 a gallon. I have a Suburban and let me tell you....it feels like a crime every time we fill it up. I could be a little more graphic but you get the point. 

Old drivers that are still allowed to get a license and roam the roads when they really do not need one. I am not referring to slow drivers (even though that gets on my nerves, too) but the drivers who honestly are a hazard to MY health and theirs behind the wheel. If you have to think twice about your elderly parent or grandparent driving then you should really consider taking their car keys. 

Ah, another driving peeve....Texting while driving! This is the most dangerous thing you could do behind the wheel besides driving drunk. I know we all have probably done it once or twice so I am not going to say I am innocent BUT....I do know it's wrong, very dangerous and deadly and I honestly try not to do it. The ones that make me see RED are the drivers who are texting, smoking and changing gears. Really??? 

This is another "home" type pet peeve (also gets me in a public restroom but that's more of an inconvenience) that drives me up the wall!!! I never.ever.ever run out of TP in our house and I keep rolls underneath every bathroom counter and there is always spare somewhere under our roof. If you use the last piece of toilet paper, please....please....please....replace the roll. Is it that hard? It also makes me wonder how well you wiped your privates which is a gross thought in itself. 

So, I guess I did save one of the BIGGEST for last....this peeve makes me want to ram my Suburban in the back of the vehicle waiting on that "perfect" spot. You have to know what I am talking about....the ones who wait for the closest spot when they may have already passed 1 or 2 good ones but are too lazy to walk the extra 5, 10, 15 feet?? I love it when I am behind that person, find a place to park and get inside the store while they are STILL waiting for *their* spot. And before anyone gets their panties in a wad, I understand somewhat if your elderly and have issues walking, you have a arm full of kids or it's raining like mad.

Alrighty, getting all of that off my chest made me feel better :)

Hunting, BBQ & Martini's...

Mmmm, Sounds like one big oxymoron if you ask me but it worked for us this weekend. Well, maybe the martini numerous martini's part wasn't such a  good idea but the rest of it was great (the Martini's were great at the time, too). 

We started off our long holiday weekend by having a "double date" with our friends JB and Susie. It was  their first weekend in town as residents of Lee County so it was a night to celebrate! We started off at "Austin's BBQ & Oyster Bar" -- I know, I know, that sounds like an oxymoron too but their fried pickles and Pineapple Martini are to.die.for!!! You would never think this little hole in the wall would have fantastic service and food but they do. Not only are their appetizers and spirits good but their main dishes are too. I prefer the raw Oysters but my husband will debate that the BBQ is better. We had a great time listening to live entertainment and catching up. Mike was even serenaded twice by a hot chick with a not so hot voice but we were drinking so it all sounded good...um, maybe not. The pineapple martini's weren't *that* good to make you think you were really hearing an angelic voice. But hey, she tried and I give major kudos for that. We ended the night at "Harvest Moon" and that is where my inner 21 year old self thought I could hang but I need to face the facts; I am 32 years old, I can't drink men underneath the table anymore & hangovers last a HELL of a lot longer now. However, I enjoyed the evening and had a great time even though my head was fussing at me the next morning -- well, the entire next day. Ugh. It was a good reminder on why I don't, can't and shouldn't drink like I used to.

After my body felt somewhat human again on Saturday we decided to take a road trip to Tallahassee, Florida. That's right....Florida! We are only an hour a way from the Sunshine State and Mike has been salivating for a week over the BBQ Festival the city was hosting this past weekend. As soon as we pulled up I knew that these people were all about some BBQ because they went all out for this festival. They had rows and rows of competitors entering their BBQ, ribs, chicken, brisket, goat meat and whatever else you can smoke or grill for trophies and money. It was insane to be honest but Mike was in HEAVEN. The event was definitely a "Man's Festival". After a final attempt to feel better (and a old remedy that *used* to work) I tried to drink a beer and eat a soggy, greasy BBQ sandwich but it didn't help and I do believe it made my hangover worse. After walking around eating heart attacks waiting to happen, purchasing things we didn't really need, getting the kids temporary tacky tattoos and riding the extremely loud and annoying choo-choo train for Brody we called it a day and headed home. I took a hot bath and went straight to bed to lay in a world of hurt until I fell asleep. I was praying to fall asleep fast just so I could be put out of my self-induced misery.

Thank God today was a new day and he listened to my woes because I slept pretty good and I woke up ready to start the day. We decided to skip our normal cleaning day and spend it "Geocaching". I know many people don't understand or "get" the whole activity but it's so much fun and very addicting. It's really hard to explain so just check out the site www.geocaching.com and read what it's all about. I promise if you try it then you will want to do it every weekend. This ridiculously fun hobby gets you out of the house, exploring new places and gets your mind working. It doesn't really cost you anything but  a GPS, gas (I know it's a fortune these days) and your time. Today we explored "Well #39", "The Moose is loose in the woods", "Devils Playground" and several others. It's a real mind tease when you have all of the clues and can't find the cache but it makes it all the more interesting. Your family starts off working together but then it's to each his own; who doesn't want to find the "prize" first?!? Playing with Mike and Victoria can get a little ruthless. We came home tired, with a few ticks and thorns as battle scars from our scavenger hunts but it was a good "Family Day".

Tomorrow will be the dreaded grocery shopping day....not looking forward to it because I let the pantry run dry and that means it drains the banking account, too. Not that we are broke but seeing a large number on receipt tape makes my husband go into "Gunny Beemer" mode and I don't particularly like that form of my husband. Guess that's what happens when you marry an analytical Marine who is great with numbers and knows where every single penny goes. I hate when I do let the pantry get a little bare because that means I have to buy EVERYTHING and then Mike freaks when he gets the mile long receipt. It's like coming home to your parents with a very bad report card; it's h.o.r.r.i.b.l.e!

So with that...I am signing off and maybe I will be alive after tomorrows shopping trip to tell you all about it. There is always something I need to vent about after a day of buying groceries from Wal-Mart. God help me.