5QF: mowing and spaghetti...what more could I ask for??

It's Friday, yay! Hubbs and I are holding down the shop by ourselves today, and this weekend is our anniversary weekend :) I'm so pregnant and the weather's so nasty there isn't a lot we can do, but all the Mister's family and Chloe will be gone this weekend so we will be totally on our own for two days. I can't wait!

Until then, I'll pass some time with 5QF.

1. Who mows your grass?

I do! I do! I love to mow. Even 9 months pregnant you can drive by our house and see me bouncing my baby bump around on the lawn mower. It's my me time. I can plug in my ear phones, listen to my "mow" play list (Jamey Johnson, beachy songs, Hank Jr, and I'm Yours are my MUST LISTEN songs) and just ride, not being interrupted or bothered. Hubby is kind enough to take care of the weeds, and since I've been pregnant he's been mowing the ditches and the steep parts. He mowed while I was visiting family a couple of weekends ago and I pouted for two days. He laughed and told me I had to be the only wife who would throw a fit and get mad because her husband mowed the yard :) And yet he still loves me.

2. Do you have a picture wall or picture gallery in your house (show us! <--- my addition to the question)?

I have a few pictures on the two "big" walls in our living room. I really want to make a picture wall in the dining area, but right now it's occupied by turkey fans and a coon. I'm not sure my picture wall will fit into our woodsy themed decor =/

I have a really cute frame set that I want to put up, but again with the not matching. Maybe one day we will re-do our room and I can do one in there :) Until then, it's just the most important pictures above the couch, and a hodge-podge of eclectic shots and mis-matched frames on a built-in bookshelf in the hall.

3. What book has influenced your thinking the most? Or, what blog? (I want to read what gets people thinking!)

I don't think there is any book or blog that I would say influences my thinking. There are books and blogs that make me think. Some of which have been "The Deadline," "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," and "The Atonement Child" as well as Mama M (most specifically her "Talkin' Shop" posts) and Chibi Jeebs because she just gets it, and always has a fresh perspective :)

4. Do you have allergies? If so, how do you handle it this time of year?

I do. And with the mowing, they are even worse (and yet I still LOVE it!). My fall allergies are worse than my summer ones, but they all give me fits. Alamast eye drops and Benadryl are my friends.

5. What's your go to meal to cook in an hurry?

Spaghetti and tacos. Hubby doesn't care for spaghetti, Chlo and I don't really like tacos, so we eat them on the same night. I come home, grab a bag of burger, fry it up and boil my noodles. I take out a little meat for our spaghetti, then make the taco meat for hubbs and we have a meal ready lickety split. I always keep spaghetti and taco fixin's on hand so we can have a dinner in a pinch.

5QF: Dinner plans, Easter treats, and life

I've been a lazy blogger lately. Just the other day I had a great post RD'd in my head, but now I can't remember what it was even ABOUT. Not for the life of me. Sigh. Pregnancy brain. I only have five more weeks to blame it on something other than old-age or poor brain cells :)

Anyway, it's Friday, so I'm going to do five questions and call it good :)


1. Would you prefer having people over for dinner or going to their house?
I would prefer to have dinner at "their" house, whoever "their" might be. For many reasons, most of them selfish and somewhat snobby :) First of all, I'd much rather bring a dish or a dessert than cook for other people. I get all nervous when I'm cooking for someone else, and in my attempt to make my dish perfect, I usually screw it up somehow. Something I've cooked amazingly for my family a million times becomes something too dry or too brown or too salty when other people get involved.

Also? Dishes. I'll help load your dish washer and rinse your dishes if we can eat at your house so I don't have to scrub pots and pans and dishes in my sink at home. Because I'm sans dishwasher. And I'm NOT bitter. At all ;)

Finally, and this is the snobby-ish rude one, but the one you'll nod your head at and say, "Oh yes that sounds like Andrea." By coming to your house I can end the night whenever I want. And no, I'm not intending on wearing out my welcome. I HATE when you have people over and they JUST WON'T LEAVE. I'm like a two year old when it comes to socializing. When I'm done, I'm done, and any further interaction just annoys me. So if I come to you I can say, "Well we better get going. I have to get Chloe in bed," or something similar. And you'll be happy. And I'll be happy. And as long as you don't say "OH NO! You can't rush off yet!" we'll be good to go :)


2. Favorite Bible verse and why?
I really don't have a "favorite" one. There are some that I memorized growing up. In fact I think we had to memorize a whole chapter or book or something one time....and while I remember the content, I don't remember the locations of all of them. But I guess if I had to pick one that I like best, or that always fits is the one from 1st Corinthians 13. ...and now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.  <3

3. What was the first concert you ever attended, and the most recent one?
I'm not sure on my time-frames, but I'm pretty sure the first one I ever went to was Alan Jackson/Randy Travis with my granny and dad. My grandma saw Alan Jackson on Star Search or something and she fell madly in love with him. And they've been having this one-way affair ever since ;) I've been with her to see him probably six times over the years, if not more. She's in love. Back then he was a nobody, and was opening for Randy Travis at the MO State Fair. When Alan was done Granny was ready to leave, and my dad was irritated because we hadn't even seen the "good" act yet hehe.

And the most recent one?  Hahahahahahaha. Ironically, you guessed it....Alan Jackson. This time with Jerrod Niemann opening for him, and a million new songs since that first album. What's funny is that I wouldn't necessarily consider myself an AJ "fan," but I've seen him lots of times.

4. The year is 2025. What are you doing, and what have you done?
Well, I've probably had some sort of melt-down over my age. Geesh. Forty-four. But hopefully aside from my melt-downs I will have been a good farm wife and mommy, and will be in the home-stretch of raising two (maybe three?) wonderful children. Chloe will be 19 and will have been out of school for a year, and hopefully have some college courses under her belt, or else be an actress or dancer or something extremely profitable ;)

If you ask her, though, we will all be living in her mansion on Pensacola Beach. The one she attained by marrying a rich handsome prince AND being a tv star like Victorious. And by "all living," I mean Hubbs and I, the bebe and her, as well as her Nana, Uncle Coco, and anyone else she invites into this communal family. If she's right, I may be having a meltdown much more epic than the 44 one ;) Even living on the beach wouldn't make it easy to cram all of our extended family under one (enormous) roof.
But back to reality. I will be starting the Dark Ages aka teen years with bebe by then, so hopefully I will be of sound mind :)

Either way, all I really hope to have accomplished is to raise happy children in a loving home who are indpenedent (but still need their Mama sometimes) and self-assured. The rest is just life.

5. What's your favorite Easter treat?
Before I was preggo I would've said Reeses Eggs for sure. Last year I ate them by the bundles! They were definitely my PMS go-to food and calmed many a raging hormone. But since I've been pregnant peanut butter tastes weird to me. It's more....nutty? than normal. I don't know. It's not sweet enough or something and I don't care much for it.

As a kid I always loved those Sweet Tart chick/bunny treats. They were my favorite thing to get in my Easter basket. And once I learned the truth about Mr. Bunny, I started telling 'him' directly just to hook me up with a couple bags of those ;)

Happy Good Friday :)

I need a vacation!

It's Friday!! Hooray! I haven't had the time or write-mindedness to do a five questions in a long time, so I thought I would break the cycle today. Something about the beautiful weather just makes it easier to write.

 

1. Will you run to the store or to pick up a kid looking a mess?

Years ago this would have been a big fat NO. Not under any circumstances. Being a teacher meant running into people I knew CONSTANTLY. And I just couldn't have my students see me in sweats and a pony-tail with no make-up!

I still *prefer* to have my hair washed and chiiiied the day of any outing, but there are times when I will bite the bullet and go in public looking less than normal. If I don't have to exit the car, absolutely. If we're just going to feed cows, sure. If it's an emergency that requires me to leave (ah hem, hubby needs jeans because his just ripped), then I will do what I have to, but I am still super self-conscious about it.

2. Do you finish a book if it's boring or you don't like it?

Nope. If it doesn't grab me in the first few chapters I quit. I don't feel one bit bad about it, either. Even if it was for an assignment, I would give it up and read the cliffs notes...or spark notes :) But shhhh. English majors (or degree-holders) aren't supposed to do that! That's like a math geek using a calculator for 9x6 or something hehe.

3. Beach or mountain vacations?

I loved loved loved our mountain vacation. BUT. Given the choice I would choose beach over mountains anytime. I just love the beach. Specifically the Gulf coast. It's where I want to be most of the time. The smell of salt in the air gets me every time. And somehow the sun just *feels* different down there.

Take me now.

Someone?

Anyone?

Please?

4. What thing/event says "winter will end and spring is right around the corner" to you?

GREEN.

When the weather warms up it's very nice. But if things are still dead and brown I just can't feel spring. It's after the first rain and the subsequent sunny day when the grass starts to green and the trees begin to bud that it really FEELS like spring to me. A day much like today. I noticed the grass becoming lush for the first time this morning, and finally came to terms with the fact that winter is over. We got NO good snow, and it's time to move on and get in the spring/summer groove.

5. Would you prefer couples or family vacation?

I dunno. I wrestle with that a lot when I'm dreaming of taking off one weekend to go somewhere. I had SO much fun on my girls only family Pensacola trip. Chloe enjoyed it SO much and STILL talks about it. But I also kinda got gyped on my honeymoon with the mister having Bells Palsey and the onset of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, so we didn't get to fully enjoy a couple's vacation.

So I need one of each, please.

One beachy adult vacation complete with non-pregnancy, fruity drinks from the tiki-bar, and lazy days on the shore.

And one fun-filled family vacation with lots of activities, kid-friendly stops along the way, and my video camera.



Now I want to go on vacation pretty bad :(

Let's talk about....5 Questions

It's Friday and thank goodness it is! I worked a (almost) full week this week and I haven't done that since before Christmas! Look at me go! But I'm just SO glad to be feeling well again.

I haven't done a 5QF in a while, so I thought I'd do one today. It distracts me from the BS I'm being forced to listen to right now with two old farts in here blowing hot air ;)
1. What have you done recently that you are proud of?
I think Chloe's room is my proudest accomplishment right now. We moved her to the basement, at HER request (we've had some tsk tsk moments suggesting we stuffed her in a dungeon). I painted it hot pink by myself (with some little helping hands), found a funky purple carpet and bought it, and arranged her room. It's very pre-teen meets toddler and she absolutely LOVES having her own space down there. She's never had much in the way of decor or set-up, so I feel proud that she finally has a room designed just for her.


2. What is your favorite way to work out? Or if you don't workout, what are you wanting to try?
I love to walk outside with my MP3 player. If only the weather would always be sunny, breezy, and 75.

Otherwise I don't mind doing my Wii Fit or Just Dance...or a combination of both. I like to do steps while I watch tv and I love the boxing :)

I wish I had an indoor bike. I always loved that the most when I went to the gym.


3. If you knew you best friend was cheating on spouse would you tell?
Nope.

Whether she is right or wrong, my loyalty is to my best friend. It's not my place to judge her decisions, and even if I don't approve of what she's doing, I wouldn't betray her. I might talk to her about how I felt about it. I might encourage her to "shit or get off the pot" or to tell him herself, but I would never take that into my own hands.

And I'd be there through it all, because that's what best friends do.

4. If you could afford a live-in maid or nanny, would you have one?
I wouldn't want a stranger living in my home for any reason.

But if I could afford a full-time maid I would definitely take one! With a maid I wouldn't need a nanny, and I wouldn't ever want a nanny. I like mommy-ing too much, and I'm too possessive of my babies to allow someone else to mother them.

But a maid? Bring her on!


5. Do you stress out about birthdays (specifically the age) or do you enjoy them?
It varies from year to year. Twenty six was a melt-down year. Thirty didn't bother me. Thirty one about sent me over the edge again. I'm nice and unpredictable like that :)

And, a bonus question from Scott, that I wasn't brave enough to put in as a regular question...answer at your own risk, or not at all! (Or something...)

Bonus: Lights off or on?

Lights off...but I like a little glow. Candles. Night light. Full-moon. Alarm clock...whatever ;)

I love my bulldog, my granny, and Dairy Queen

Ohhhh I'm so happy it's Friday. Not AS happy as I was a few days ago, when Chloe had a dentist appointment today that was RUDELY  moved to Monday. I could be on my way to Springfield right now, holiday tunes blaring, thinking about what delicious lunch Chloe and I would be having.....

Guess I have a reason to look forward to Monday now.

Anyway, it's Friday and it doesn't feel like Friday without five questions. So here we go.


1. What's the last thing you spent too much money on?

Rocky. Our full-blooded, champion blood-line English Bulldog.

We felt so guilty after we got him that we tried to pass him off as a pound puppy...hehe. But no one was buying. And while we DID get a great deal on him AND can make mucho moolah off his er, ah..."goods," we still spent too much for a farting, stinking dog.

But at the time, we didn't think a baby was anywhere in the near future.  Oh little did we know that two weeks later one would start a cookin' in there!

But look at this face. Can you REALLY put a price on it???

 

2. What celeb chef would you want to make you dinner?
I'm going to go with Rachel Ray. She doesn't make anything that is too "out there," she cleans as she goes, and she makes dinner in 30 minutes or less :) That's my kinda cooking. She knows how to give old favorites a new twist without going too crazy.

I also wouldn't mind having Michael Simon...but mostly just because I like to hear him talk :)


3. Where do you hide things when visitors pop over or do you let them see the real deal?
Right now everything goes in the spare bedroom. It's got everything from our gun cabinet to our wedding stuff to our photos.

But that's not going to be a "spare" bedroom for long. In about six months it will have a squishy baby inhabiting it.

At which point, I'd say I'll start packing stuff to the basement.



4. Who is your oldest living family member?
That'd be my Mimi

She is my dad's mom, my only living grandparent, and pretty much the best grandma anyone could ever even dream of! Oh my goodness I could write post after post after post about her! She lived down the street from me when I was growing up, and we did everything together! She sewed all kinds of things (even Barbie dresses) for me. She took me all kinds of shopping. She baked and cooked like a REAL grandma. She rocked me even when I was too big and too old to be rocked. She is an amazing woman and I am so glad to have had her in my life all these years!

She turned 83 in July :)


5. What is your favorite DQ treat and/or Sonic drink combo (ie: cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper)?
Oh man. I sit in the DQ drive-through debating what to get EVERY. TIME. Hubby always says, "You know what they have, why do you have to read the menu?"  To which I reply, "I know, but I can't decide."

My top favorite things? The chocolate-covered strawberry waffle bowl sundae, and the chocolate brownie blizzard. But there are a million other things I LOVE.

As for Sonic flavored drinks? I like chocolate Coke and cherry Coke. But not choclate cherry Coke :)

Give me a bubble bath and a DVR...

1. Where do you escape to when you've had enough?

I used to drop Chloe off with Mom and go walk. But that's not an option anymore, and if I go, she is tromping behind me, whining, wanting me to stay, or take her, or pull her wagon, or something. So usually I go to the bathroom. I run a full bath and lock the door. If I'm lucky hubby doesn't pick the lock, and Chloe doesn't bang on the door yelling, "MOM! I HAFTA PEEEEEE!"

But I'm not all that lucky ;)


2. What shows are you watching this fall?
Let's see. I'm watching X Factor and Grey's Anatomy. I WAS watching Teen Mom/16 & Pregnant until they RUDELY ended the season and replaced it with I USed to Be Fat. I'd be watching more if we had DVR. But we STILL don't. So I'm not. And I'm not ONE BIT bitter about it. Nope, nope, nope.

3. What was the longest roadtrip you've ever taken and where did you go?
The longest road trip I've ever taken *literally* is to Wyoming. I went twice, once with my granny and grandpa, and once with my youth group. But I've blocked out the latter, so I shall say Wyoming with grandma and grandpa at age 12.

The longest *seeming* road trip was the trip home in a rented mini-van whose a/c went out and whose belt was squeaking with a grouchy (now ex) husband, a stressed-out mom, a relatively cool brother, and my own self (which can be as bad as a rotten toddler at times he he). I'm pretty sure I spent the whole trip with an empty apple-juice bottle filled with ice stuck down my shirt.

4. Do you plan on taking your kids to Disney World?
I don't plan on it, no.

I'd like to, I really would. But there are just so many OTHER things we could do with the money a Disney trip would cost us. Probably two family vacations that would be JUST as fun and memorable.

But we'll see. You never know what the future holds. I'm not against it, I'm just certainly not planning it.


5. What is something people would surprised to know about you?
I don't know that there is much of anything that would surprise "people" in general.

People I only know professionally or as acquaintances might be surprised at how *not* shy I can be.

People who have known me my whole life might be surprised at how quiet I am (sometimes).

Most people are surprised that I don't eat any water-dwelling creatures of any kind, and that I don't like Chinese, but YOU probably already knew that :)

Some people might be surprised at how sensitive I am, and how easily my feelings get hurt (though I try not to show it).

While others would be surprised at how sarcastic and mouthy I can be.

Depends on who you are I guess.

Fridays aren't what they used to be...

It's FRIDAY!!!!!!! A few short months ago Friday was so much different. Fridays were always eat-out nights. We might eat local and get a big juicy cheeseburger, or go out in Springfield and have steak. Maybe Applebee's or Olive Garden. I was staying home then, so the house was always clean and the chores were done by Friday afternoon. The coming weekend either meant one-on-one time with my hubby while Chlo was gone, or lots of fun family activities. If we were sans Chloshmo, a few drinks on Saturday night were always a possibility, whether playing cards with his family, or building a bonfire, or just relaxing at home. I cooked a big breakfast and dinner on Sundays. I rode along for farm work, or took Chloe to the park. We'd be outside a lot, and always had something going on.

Now I look forward to Fridays because it means the end of the work week. I can go to bed at 9:00 and sleep as late as I want. I can take my medicine and take a nap on Saturday. I have extra time to finish laundry and catch up on house work. I don't enjoy eating at all. I mostly look forward to two days curled up on the couch with my blanky and my unconsciousness :)

Either way, Friday means Five Questions, though...

1. Do you prefer your ice cream in a bowl or in a cone?

Hand-dipped chocolate chip on a sugar cone, please :)

But I'll eat ice cream pretty much any way you serve it. I love it. Especially in the fall and winter (weird?). It's my favorite night-time snack, and lucky for me, the bebe tolerates it well and lets me eat it often :)

2. What three things do you love the smell of?
Bread baking is my favorite smell. Ahhhh I love it. It reminds me of holidays at my grandma's house, and it reminds me that very soon there will be warm, fresh bread to be eaten. Mmmmm.

Newborn babies come in next. That sweet, yummy baby smell--there's nothing like it. When they out-grow that "fresh" stage, they still smell good in all their powder and lotion and baby goodness. Mm.

Finally, don't laugh. . . Hubby's pits.  His deodorant smells soooooooooo good (Degree) and although he shakes his head at me, I think he secretly likes when I nuzzle up next to him, stick my nose under his arm and say, "Mmmm babe your pits smell soooo good."  What. You don't sniff your hubby's pits? Interesting...

3. Giftcards or no? (In regards to gift giving...)
I love getting gift cards. Don't get me wrong, I love cash, too, but I'm too often tempted to spend it on groceries or gas. With a gift card to a restaurant we love, or a store where I shop, I have no choice but to use the funds at that particular place. I always enjoy the week after Christmas or my birthday when we get to go eat out "for free," and I don't feel guilty having dessert or a pricey appetizer. Or when I get to go to Maurices and get new jeans or a cute new top and not use my plastic. I always think of the giver and appreciate getting (or eating) something I really enjoy.

I used to never give gift cards, because I feel like it's a cop-out and I'd rather choose a gift, but then I realized that I tend to appreciate the "choose-for-yourself" gift just as much as one with thought put into it, and usually the gift card is more practical, so I finally let go of that stigma and started using them frequently, trying my best to choose a store/restaurant that I know will make the recipient happy. (that was a really long sentence...)

4. What sports did you play in high school if any and do you still play them?
I "attempted" to play basketball in 8th grade. I stuck it out for the whole season, but I hated it and never played sports again. The end.


5. Were you in band in high school? What instrument did you play?
I was not in band. When we went to band orientation the first few days of 6th grade I really thought I wanted to be in band. The band teacher even called my mom and told her that my testing showed I had an ear for music (tell that to my singing voice!) and that he could help fund my instrument if I wanted to join. However, the band room was not air-conditioned, and those first few August days flared up raging migraines for me, so I wanted no part of it. If I opted out of band I would be safely in an air-conditioned windowless classroom learning about speech or something. So I didn't join. Tragic, eh? But if I HAD joined band, I wanted to play saxophone (like Lisa Simpson hehe).

I heart bread (more than flowers)

I know, it's Monday. I'm late to the game. But better late than never? SURE!

1. What is your go to comfort food or sweet?


When I'm sick I want soup. Vegetable beef (preferrably home-made) or Mom's chicken and noodles. Mm. With bread.

Otherwise, I'd say bread. Nothing makes me happier than fresh baked bread or rolls (nothing, except if someone else took the time and trouble to make it then brought it to my house for me to enjoy). Add to that donuts, croissants, toast.....anything in the bread family.

And, if I have a really bad day, there's not much a plate-full of spaghetti (with garlic BREAD) and a brownie won't fix :)

2. What is the most romantic place you've ever been to?

Well to me, it is Pensacola Beach. But I've only been there on a mother-daughter-granddaughter trip with Mom and 'Shmo.

The most romantic place the Mister and I have been together? Probably Vail. But he was sick. So we didn't get to enjoy the romanticnessss so much =/

You know what I think is the most romantic place for us? Our house. At Christmas time. When we're snuggled up on the couch together after Chloshmo goes to bed, and there's a Christmas movie on, snow flying, and twinkle lights blinking. He looks stunning by twinkle-light :)

Maybe he'll take me to the beach one day....

3. What is your favorite thing about fall/Halloween?

Halloween, shmeh. I liked getting dressed up for it as a kid, but once I out-grew that (like Santa, it took me a little longer than most), I was pretty-well done with Halloween.

Best thing about fall is weather and food. And I've gone into detail about that before, so I'll spare you :)


4. How would you spend 24 hours alone?

With a hoodie, my blankie, a pillow, the TV and a book.

I would read.

Then nap.

Then watch a movie and eat something yummy.

Then finish my book, maybe. While sipping hot lemon tea (decaf, sure sure).

Then I'd take another nap.

Eat again.

Movie.

And it goes on. Until my 24 hours is up.

Unless you also want to give me unlimited funds. Then I'd shop 'til I dropped, take a power-nap, and shop some more!


5. Does you husband bring you flowers? Are you the bring-me-flowers type of girl?

No. He doesn't. Hasn't. Probably never will.

It's not so much that I'm not the bring-me-flowers type of girl as it is HE isn't the bring-her-flowers type of guy.

And he knows flowers are lost on me.

But he writes notes on the mirror with a dry-erase marker.

He sends me texts for no reason.

He snuggles with me before he gets out of bed.

And I'd take those over flowers any day <3

Ooh or a bouquet of bread. That would really get him some points he he.

TGIF!

'Tis Friday again. Thank goodness! I didn't think this week would EVER end! Pregnancy weeks go by soooooo slooooowly anyway, but when you're spending as much time with the Porcelain God as you are with your family, it tends to make it go even mooooooooooore slooooooooooowly. Bleh!

Anyway, to pass the time, how about five questions?

1. Do you apologize to your kids if you're wrong?


I believe we have discussed this before, but yes. If I'm in the wrong, I apologize to little Chloshmo. She is very sensitive, and gets her feelings hurt very easily, and she will let me know if she thinks an apology is in order ;) But by admitting when I'm wrong and apologizing, I hope to instill in her the tendency to do the same. She is a little guilty of playing the blame game, and we're trying to stop that. For example, if she was running in the house, tripped, and broke my expensive vase (should I have one), rather than saying, "Sorry, Mom. I know I shouldn't have been running," she might argue that it's not her fault because I didn't sweep the floor today and the dust caused her to slip. She can be somewhat outrageous, but we're learning.


2. Do you have a class ring, Letterman's jacket, or similar obscenely priced high school "must have"?

To have a letterman's jacket, one must "letter" in something. This mama not so athletic. I'm very tall, and was always prodded to play basketball, but that requires coordination, which I have not. So after a terribly failed attempt in 8th grade, everyone finally gave up on that.

I did letter in academics...........and I had some math club medals..........ok, so you get it now, right? Why I didn't buy the jacket ;)

I did, however, get a class ring. And they saw me comin' they did. If I'm going to have this beautiful heirloom and treasure it for a lifetime, I'm getting the real deal. Gold. Yellow gold. 10k. And those tiny diamonds on the side? NO CZs for me! No no no. And I want my name engraved in it. Not just my name, but my signature.

Mama broke the bank paying for that ring.

And now it sits in my jewelry box, absolutely no refelction of who I was, or who I am. Merely a big gold ring (not one of those new style ones that looks like a pretty girl's ring, no no) with an ugly green stone (It HAS to be the school color!) that I've considered hocking for the gold in desperate times, but was thwarted only by the echoing of the Josten's man's words, "A precious heirloom you'll cherish for years to come...."

I guess I'll wait 'til I'm dead and let my grandkids hock it for a new cell phone or something =/
Other things I got suckered on: Senior pictures, senior book/t-shirt/keyring/key/boxers/invitations/thank you cards/name cards/everythingunderthesun

3. If you could be one age for the rest of your life, what age would you choose?
I used to say forever 21, but really I like 27. I'm not sure why. I think because it's kinda old enough to know better but still too young to care. Old enough to be responsible, be "grown-up" but young enough you can still be "young" when you want to.

But really I'd take anything under 30 and over 21.


4. What is your favorite (unused) baby name?
I can't tell you that.

Because the lil Bebe in my belly has not been named. The Mister and I have not discussed it, and don't plan to until we know the gender.

But, don't tell anyone this.....Mama already has her mind made up :) She just has to figure out how to plant the ideas in Daddy's head so he thinks *HE* thought of them.  Hehehehehehehe.

So. Sorry, world. You no get to know Mama's favorite baby name...because it just might be used soon.
As a kid I always liked the names Kelli and Stephanie (I watched Saved by the  Bell and Full House btw) for girls.

If Chloe was a boy I was going to name her Brady (odd coincidence...Chloe and Brady on Days of Our Lives)

But none of those names are in danger of being used anytime soon, so the secret is still safe ;)


5. If you could make your child like something what would it be?
Vegetables. All of them. Potatoes. Carrots. Green beans. Peas. Peas and carrots.

And organizing.

If only....

 





1. Did you make any fun purchases this week?

It's probably not what you'd consider a typical "fun" purchase. I didn't buy new shoes or a cute purse. Didn't get any new electronic gadgets. I bought my daughter a dish-rag doll at Casey's (gas station/convenience store if you're unfamiliar).

I took her to meet her dad and she saw the hand-sewn doll hanging in the window. She fell in love with it. I had just given her the weekly allowance, which would pay for half. Burned out and tired of always being the one to fork over the cash (we had just spent my entire paycheck on school supplies and clothes the week before), I told her she could either save her allowance until next week and buy the doll herself, or see if her dad would kick in the other FIVE dollars for the doll.

When he arrived she ran out to his Jeep Liberty and begged him to come see it. He told her no, he just didn't have the money to pay for half the doll (then proceeded to drive her three hours away to visit his new girlfriend whom she's never met, but that's a story for another day). She didn't cry. But her face. She was heart-broken.

So what did I do? Instead of putting in five and paying for half the doll I went in after they left and bought her the stinking doll. It's not worth ten dollars. It's a dish rag with a stocking sewn on, but she loved it.

But when she came home and found the little rag doll lying on her pillow, her face was priceless. And because it was such an emotional journey for her, she's super attached to that silly little rag. And those moments are what being a mom is all about :)
2. If you could go to any musical concert, what would it be?

LIKE you don't know! Ok, ok if you're not my Facebook friend you might not.

My favorite musician of all-time is Jamey Johnson. Of all genres, all years, all bands, he is my one and only. I love everything about him. His voice. His songs. His troubled eyes. His demeanor. *swoon* And I have YET to see him live :( One day I will. One day. But until then, I just listen to his music and pretend he is here with me in spirit. We mow together. We go for walks together. We commiserate when I have a bad day. We go backroading (although the Mister often crowds him out). And although he's big and hairy now, beneath that ZZ Top beard is a burly, sexy man with piercing blue eyes that have a real story to tell.
He seriously sings my soul. If you want to listen to a smattering of his music, my short list includes "Place Out on the Ocean," "That's How I Don't Love You," "The Last Cowboy," "Give It Away," (a song he wrote for George Strait) and "In Color." And that's my super short list. I love all his music. All. But my favorite song ever ever ever is "High Cost of Living."

3. What is your least fav/ most fav house chore?
My least favorite is dishes. MAN I hate dishes! HATE HATE HATE! I miss my dishwasher SO much! Sometimes I refuse to cook JUST because I don't wanna do dishes.

But I LOVE to mow. It's that one thing I can do where NO ONE will bother me. The sun shines on my shoulders, I plug in my MP3, pour myself a refreshing beverage, and spend some time with myself (and Jamey!). It's truly the best.

4. Would you prefer new appliances or clothes?
If you would buy me a dishwasher (and figure out a way to install it in our kitchen..therein lies the problem), I would wear the same t-shirts and jeans for two whole years.
If we're just talking about a washer and a fridge, I'd rather have all new clothes.
5. Miracle Whip or Mayo?
EW and double EW. I have a texture issue and I do NOT eat anything creamy. This includes all salad dressing (clear-ish only) and condiments. No yogurt. No sour cream. No French onion dip. No, no, no. Chocolate pudding is the only real exception to that rule, and I could live without it. Bleh!

5QF: I hate love my brother, and other things

1. Do you have siblings and are you close with them?

I have a baby brother. And by baby I mean he's 26.

When we were growing up we didn't exactly get along. Maybe once in a while when we were forced to join forces at my grandma's house to pass the time, or with a baby-sitter we hated, but mostly we fought. And by fought I mean he said something mean to me and I said something mean back and we kept doing that until he'd had enough and chased me screaming through the house to my bedroom where I'd hold the door shut with all my 70lb might and he'd beat on it with a hockey stick until he either a) busted the door, b) got it open, or c) my mom intervened. In the event of scenario b, he would then beat on me until my mom intervened.

Then we grew up and I moved out and we were like hmmm...I kinda like you now.

And then I moved back home for a couple years and we were at it again...in a more mature way this time. Like I'd say "potato wedgie" over and over again because it grossed him out that food was called wedgie, and he'd finally yell at me, go in his room, and slam his door leaving me to be chided by my mother.

Then I got married and left home for good and we were like oh yeah, remember how I kinda liked you once? Yeah.

And now we're close. Close as in I don't pry into his life and he doesn't pry into mine, but we talk when we want to and send each other hilarious texts at family get-togethers. Close like we want each other to be happy and support each other in whatever it is that makes us that way. Close like we don't say I told you so, or I wouldn't if I were you. Close like we have to bite our tongues to keep from laughing sometimes because we know what the other one is thinking. Close like I can laugh about it now when I see the broken jamb at my mom's house. :)




My brother and me on my wedding day



2. Would you rather be slightly UNDER weight or slightly OVER weight?
UNDER.

Duh.

Next question!



3. What's your favorite State Fair food to splurge on?
I have to have a corndog.

And a funnel cake.

And it's not splurging if you just pick one, so I have to have both :)

4. What are your thoughts on your kid(s) going to school in a few weeks?
Now that I'm helping out with the family biz, I'm happy I won't have a sitter fee anymore. I'm excited that Chloe will get to see her friends again, have a schedule and structure again, and so proud that my baby girl is starting kindergarten.

Then I'm like WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY BABY is going to KINDERGARTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sniff
sniff
sniff.
*wipes tears*


5. Pool or Ocean?
I love the ocean love love love, but even if I lived at the ocean I think I'd want a pool. You can't float in the ocean and that's what I love to do. Just float around on my raft. So I pick pool. Must include pool boy ;)

I'm kind-of back

I'm back. Kind of. I just haven't been in the mood for blogging lately. I've been kind of stressed, and while food used to be my "control" item, now it's social media. Odd? Kind of. It keeps me from getting stress skinny, though, which I dislike ;)

Anyway, it's a long weekend and I'm looking forward to it. Cooking out. Friends. Family. Being together with the people I love the most. That's what life is all about. At the end of the day, that's all that matters.

Anyway. I guess I will do Five Question Friday. I know, it is my only blog all week. I will try to get back to my regular blogging soon, but I'm going to guess I'll be in and out for the next two weeks or so. But don't give up on me! I am coming back. Just have lots going on in my "real" life that keeps me busy!

Ok let's do this.




1. Do you apologize to your kids?

Absolutely. If I over-react in anger, or say something hurtful, or knock her down trying to squeeze past her, I say I'm sorry. If she is just mad because I'm making her pick up her toys, which is SO! MEAN! then I apologize like this, "Well, Chloe, I'm sorry you feel that I'm being unfair, but everyone has to be responsible for their things, which means YOU have to pick up YOUR toys when you're finished." :) She treasures her feelings, and a sincere apology is very important to her recovery process if she's been wronged. Lord have mercy on her future husband.


2. What color are your nails right now?
The only time I have painted my nails in the last year was for my wedding. I just don't do it. I like them short and "clear." No one ever sees them anyway, and the polish always chips. I'm one of those people who has to have them perfect, or take it all off. I won't wear chipped polish, so it's pretty much a worthless effort. I keep my toes all painted maroon or some variation of it at all times, and that's just good enough for me.

3. When you were growing up, how difficult was it for you to stay home from school sick? (As in, did you have to vomit or just say "I don't feel good".)
Well, my mom didn't let me just "skip" school. She would never approve of me taking the day off for nice weather, or just because I felt like it. If we were out late for a youth group activity (which was rare) or if we were doing something as a family on a Friday or something she might, but that was it. But she also knew I was very self-motivated and independent. Even if I was truly sick, if I had too much to do at school, or a big test, I would go anyway, and she knew that. So when I did need or want to stay home, I pretty much just had to say I wasn't feeling well, and I wasn't missing anything too important at school. She didn't make me prove my temperature or save my vomit or anything outrageous like that.

4. When is the last time you bought a new comforter for your bed?
2005...but I don't have/use that one. I was ready for a new one, and hubby actually ordered me one for Christmas the first year we were together, but I ended up moving in before Christmas and leaving my old bed behind, so he sent it back.

I don't know when my hubby bought the one we use now, but it's been here since before we moved here. We could use a new one I guess, but I like the one we have.


5. Favorite website(s)?
I use 3 websites consistently.

Facebook
Blogger
Gmail

My Internet connection is via Smartphone, and living out in the boonies means I have very little service. So I don't really "surf" the web. I enjoy the occasional YouTube video, but for the most part, I guess Facebook is my number one.

Facial Hair and a Bad Vacation

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I'm so tired of rain! This is NOT April anymore, Mother Nature. Remember how it was all sunny and 80s and BEAUTIFUL most of last month? Yeah. Haven't you heard April showers bring May flowers? You're really starting to bug me, lady! I can't get out of bed much less get in the mood to be all house wifey when it's pitch black in the house and thundering. So. Clean up your act, lady, or else!

Whew. Ok. I feel better. The good thing about this weather? I don't feel a bit guilty about snuggling up in my covers and spending the day with Gerard Butler. Not one bit. :)

Anyway, I'm between PS I Love You and Law Abiding Citizen, and Chlo is playing Polly Pockets (while blaring classic rock?), so I'm going to do some Five Question Friday for ya.

1. Do you and your spouse go to bed at the same time?

Pretty much. He has to get up early and I don't, so I could stay up a lot later. I'm a bit of a night owl. But if we want any good quality time together, we need to go to bed together. With the exception of Tuesdays (I watch 16&Pregnant/Teen Mom at 9 and Chelsea Lately at 10) I usually get Chloe in bed by 9 and we are in bed by 9:30. We spend a lot of time talking, whether it's mushy love yous or old grandpa-and-grandma-style bickery banter. That's when we have time to find that connection and wade through the separateness of our days back to a place where we're all in love. And...yanno...... ;)


2. A question for the ladies...What kind of facial hair do you like on your man?
NONE. I dislike facial hair and always have. I guess it looks ok on some guys, but I don't want it on my man. It's prickly and scratchy. I think it's just...gross. Ugh. The idea of growing hair on your FACE of all places just squeems me out. For real. I mean. You know it gets food and drool and Lord knows what else all caught up in it. Huh uh. No thank you. Keep it baby-butt smooth for me :)


3. What's the worst vacation you've ever taken?
Well, while no vacation is awful, of all the ones I've taken, there's one that was worst I suppose.

I'd been married to The Donor for a year. There was no baby yet. And we decided that a family vacation would be a good idea. We would rent a van and drive to Myrtle Beach with my mom and brother.

Good in theory.

But the truth is, it wasn't. Ok ok there were fun parts. We had a "nice time" so to speak. But I swore I'd never do it again.

The Donor was easily irritable and difficult to get along with. In a perpetual state of moodiness. Mom didn't always say the right things, which led to tension there. Tension I was left to bear ALONE. The Donor and my brother kind of stuck together doing fun "kid" stuff (night swimming, golfing, pool time), and I stuck with my mom. But I wanted to be a "kid" too, not another parent. So at night when they went out and about I was torn. I wanted to go with them, but felt bad leaving my mama alone to watch tv in the room. It was just a weird dynamic. And on top of it, we ended up with a real clunker of a van that broke down AND the AC went out while we were in SC. So the trip home was less than fun. It was June. It was sweltering. There were four of us who were sick of each other and hot and sticky. You do the math.

BUT. I got to go para sailing for the first time ever, and that was awesome, and you can't make the beach a bad place. You just can't. It was beautiful and I would love to go back.

Alone.

:)

4. What's the first-ever blog you followed?
I think the first blog I actually followed was Traveling Light. From there I looked through her readers, because she is someone I know personally and knew had good blog taste ;) 

The first blog I found on my own was Chibi Jeebs and the Neurotic Struggle, though that wasn't the name of it at the time, and she wasn't all supah-populah yet. Yeah. We go way back, me and the Cheebs :) I'm kind of fickle about what I will actually read, so I don't follow a whole lot of blogs, but the ones I do I absolutely love!

5. Do you enjoy amusement parks?
LOVE them. I can't wait until Chloe is tall enough to ride on the big rides. We took her to a big amusement park last year, and since it was just the three of us, we didn't get to ride any of the big stuff. We went back a few weeks later without her (shhh she still doesn't know!) and re-lived the fun on all the "big-kid" stuff. I love the whole atmosphere. I like the rides, the food, the sounds. Love it.

Well, I gotta get back to Mr. Butler now. Have a good weekend!

5.13 5.Q.F.

1. Tube socks, calf socks, crew, ankle, none?

If I'm wearing my boots, it has to be tall socks.

Otherwise it's none, or below-the-ankle. I hardly ever wear socks in the house, and if I wear them [at all] with tennis shoes, they have to be the super-low cut ones.


2. Was your childs (children's) name a mutual decision or was it a debate? If you don't have children, do you plan on giving your spouse a say, or do you have a name you MUST have, regardless if your other half likes it or not?!

Um. I had always wanted Michaela for a girl's first name, and Chloe's dad agreed to that. However, when I was pregnant with her I was teaching and had a girl in class named Kayla who I despised. I worried people would shorten Michaela to Kayla and I would be eternally reminded of the scoundrel. So. We went with my second choice, which was Chloe. It took some arm-twisting, but in the end I got my way. And Mae was my pre-determined middle name for a girl no matter what.

3. What is your favorite type of weather?

A sunny, upper-70s day with a slight breeze, but no wind.

Or.

A super dark stormy afternoon. I hate nighttime storms, and I don't want any tornadic activity, but I love when it's almost completely dark in the middle of the day :)


4. If left to your own devices, what time would you wake up every day?

I pretty much am left to my own devices. Hubby's alarm goes off at 7 (several times) so I'm semi-awake then. If I want to go back to sleep, I do. The latest I usually sleep is 9am (unless I'm taking Benadryl or something, in which case, WHO KNOWS).

5. Have you bought your cemetery plots yet?
Uhhh. No.

5QF 5/6/11

Ahhh it's Friday. Yay. It's been a busy week here at our house, and my poor house/dishes/laundry have suffered. But, there's always tomorrow, right? It's Mother's Day weekend, which I'm always excited about. I love being a mama, and I'm lucky to have a good mama, and now a super great mother-in-law. I feel blessed.

Anyway, it's time for Five Question Friday :) I have another post brewing, so stay tuned for that today or tomorrow.




1. Have you ever had roommates?

I had a great roommate my first year of college. Her name was Amy and she was sweet as could be. We had a mutual friend, so there were many fun times had in our dorm room that first semester. She left me, though, before the semester was even up, to marry a guy she had just met. Almost twelve years and three kids later, they're still together, and while I was sad to see her go, I'm glad she found her path in life!

The next year I had a roommate named Aundrea. Yeah. Who DOES that? Hmm Andrea and Aundrea. Let's put them in the same room! It was terribly confusing. She was a  nice enough girl, but she liked to be up late, and out late. She liked to party. She liked to talk. A lot. She got on my nerves. A lot. I was never really cut out to have a roommate. I like my own space and my own things. I have to really really love someone to tolerate living with them!

2. How many names do you/your children have? (i.e. Prince Charming William Phillip Arthur Louis John Jacob Jingleheimer-Schmidt)
My Chloshmo just has the traditional three. Chloe Mae Lastname. I flirted with giving her two middle names, but decided against it.

3. Did you watch the Royal Wedding?
That's a big fat NO. I watched one or two clips of it just to see her dress, but the rest of it was of no interest to me at all.


4. What is the messiest room in your house?
Chloe's room. I clean it about every other month, when it has got to the point that I can't walk in there without my blood boiling. Then by day three she's undone everything I did. I leave her in there unsupervised for a matter of minutes, and she's done it. She lacks the skills to pick up as she goes, and I lack the vigor to punish her for it.


5. What is your ideal mothers day?
I would love to have breakfast in bed, spend the day doing something with my hubby and Chloe, like going fishing or out to eat. I would also like a gift certificate for a massage.

But that's not going to happen. We each have mama's who we need to honor, too, and I don't foresee a massage in my near future. So. I'll go to church with my mama and Chloe while he spends time with his mama, then hopefully we'll get together and spend the rest of the day as a family.

A Mini-Van, Bad Dates, and True Love

It's Friday again :) My baby girl "graduates" from pre-school today! Can you believe that???!!! I can't! I'm gonna be all "big mama" though and not bawl like a baby. I'm happy for her. She's learned so much and done so well this year! I'm proud of my baby girl, and I know she will do great in "big kid school" next year.

Anyway, to distract me from that, let's get on to Five Question Friday, mmk?





1. If you could buy any car, money not an option, what would it be?
I know this is going to make me totally "old" and "uncool," but I'd SO get a brand-new [wait foooooorrrrr iiiiiiiiiit....] mini-van. I know I only have one kid! I KNOW! But how nice it would be to sometimes strap that one kid in the BACK with a DVD and actually LISTEN to the radio :) Oh and have lots of room for trips and stuff, too. But I'd still keep my car, and not be completely confined to said mini-van.
2. What was your worst first date ever?
Well, probably my date with Wally as seen in "A Tale of Two Prom Dates," which is a must-read if you haven't read it. But sicne I've already elaborated in great detail about that horrific date, I will tell you about my runner-up.

It wasn't really a date in MY opinion. There was a lady from my church trying to set me up with this kid she knew, but it just wasn't happening. I didn't like him "like that," and thought that we were cool being "just friends" who hung out at church and stuff. Well this guy asked me if I wanted to go see Titanic with him. [I also have trouble telling people no]. I kinda wanted to see it, and figured it'd be something to do at least. So we planned to go on Saturday night.

Well Friday night I stayed with my BFF. We were out late that night, chasing boys and sipping Sonic slushies, and then in the middle of the night some boys showed up and broke snuck into her house. They were a bit intoxicated, and had no good judgment whatsoever. We tried desperately to get them out, and amidst the comotion, BFF's mama woke up and found said boys in her bedroom with FOUR of us girls. Not in "that" way, but still. Mama no likey. We were all up all night long.

I worked at the soda fountain all the next day, then was supposed to go to the movies that night. The time came, and my date friend picked me up. We went straight to the theater in a neighboring town, and on the way he said something about "our first date." GULP.

You've seen Titanic, right? The first thirty minutes is a little less than exciting. Combine that with being up all night, having worked all day, and being with someone I was less than excited about and that, my friends, equals unconsciousness. I slept through most of the movie, in fifteen minute intervals, waking when something loud was happening. I thought I had hid my snoozing well, but at the end of the movie he said, "You missed the best part!" I argued that I'd seen it, but he wasn't buying. Then after all that excruciating time, he insisted we go out to eat.

I listened while he talked. And talked. And talked. FINALLY we headed home, and I ducked out of his car as fast as I could, praying he'd never ask me to do anything again after the horrendous "first date." Spoiler: he kept trying.

3. How old were you when you fell in love for the first time?
"I was just seventeen, and you know what I mean...."

I was sure I was head-over-heels in love with "Doug," (who I wrote about on the 'first real date' question) I was crazy about him in that way where you can't think, can't eat, and just wanna be together all the time. We had a short-lived romance, though, and years later I realized I had been infatuated with him and in love with the idea of him more than in love with him as a person.

You might not wanna believe me, but I truly believe I never knew what being IN LOVE was like until I met my Mister. I loved the people I had relationships with. There was sometimes attraction, and sometimes deep caring love, but I was never really IN LOVE until I met him. I never had that crazy combination of loving someone more than anything, caring about their well-being and their future, as well as being insanely in love with them and having chemistry and attraction. I never believed people were "meant to be," until I met him and JUST KNEW it was him. So the mushy puke-in-your-mouth-a-little answer would be that I was 28. But we can stick with my first puppy love if you want :)
I wouldn't find that again until I met my Mister more than ten years later :) Aww. We're in love. <3


4. When was the last time you reconciled your checkbook?
It's not that hard to do when the bank statement says you have 52.00 and you look at your check book and you do, indeed, have 52.00. The only thing I use MY checkbook for is my car payment and insurance, so I keep track of it pretty well. When I was in charge of a family account, though, I reconciled it every month. I've always been in a situation where every penny counts, and we have to make sure we know exactly how much we have so we don't over-spend.


5. If you were going to fashion a "Wanted" Ad for a best friend, how would you word it?
30 year-old mommy with a 21 year-old mentality seeks BFF. Must be accepting, loving, and understanding. Must not expect telephone calls, but should be active texter and e-mailer. Must love good bad food and good movies. Must not diet or exercise. Spouse and/or children optional. Must be fun, loving, and willing to let me be myself; never mothering me even if she thinks I need it. BFF should support me in all endeavors, and never EVER say "I told you so," ever.

But why would I do that when I have one just like it?  :)

Five [Easter] Question Friday

Happy [Good] Friday!! I'm very excited for this Friday. I have my first date with my new HUSBAND tonight :) There are talks of a little couple's turkey hunting in the morning, and many other festivities this weekend! We're going to fry the turkey the boys got yesterday and have dinner with Uncle Dave, color eggs, and spend time together. The big bunny should be by tomorrow night, and we're heading to church with my mama on Sunday. I'm excited :)

Anyway. All that said, the other great thing about Friday is 5QF!!




1. What is your favorite Easter tradition?
That's a tough one since Easter seems to be a little different every year. One thing that The Mister and I started last year, though, was having Easter dinner at home, just the three of us. We are so often bustling around trying to see family on holidays that we don't get time to JUST be a family. So last year my mama got her choice of Easter service with us or dinner, and she chose service. After doing it, we found we really loved it, and we are going to continue it. We will go to church with Nana, come home and have our little family dinner, then probably see Mister's mama in the evening. I like taking time to just be together.


2. Are you a "shower" or a "long, hot bath" kind of person?
Looooong hooooooooot baaaaaaaaaaaath. I take a shower if it's morning, or if I need to get ready to go somewhere, but if there's no hurry and my only purpose is to get clean before bed, you better believe it's a bath. Sometimes I run it full of hot water, then let the water warm up again and finish filling it to the TIPPY! TOP! Then I lock the door, put my earbuds in and be gonnnnnne! Ahh.

3. Can you parallel park and if so when is the last time you did it?
I can. I think. I was really good at it in driver's ed, and that would be the last time I did it! We had a ton of snow on the ground when I took my driving test, so all the parallel parking spots were full of plowed snow and I got an automatic score on that part. I've lived in small and smaller towns since then, and really never have a need to parallel park. When I do need to, there is usually a double-space open and I just slide right in. People NEVER stop for parallel parkers around here, either. Just a little random gripe ;)


4. What is your favorite Easter candy?
Reeses peanutbutter EGGS!!!!!!!!!!!! I start buying them the day after Valentine's and probably keep them in business throughout the Easter season. I mourn for a few weeks after Easter when my eggs are all gone and there are no more to be found. They are THE BEST!

I'm also with Mama on this one, I LOVE the SweetTart chicks and bunnies. Those were always my favorite in my Easter basket. I would eat them until my tongue was raw.

5. Easter: do you go all out with the Easter Bunny or focus on the religious part of the holiday?
I think it's a pretty even mix. The Easter Bunny visits, but I don't put a lot of emphasis on any of the holiday characters. I let her believe, and I help the ol' bunny out with his deliveries, but I don't hype it up. I'm still having problems with the whole idea of "lying" about such characters. So I prefer to keep a neutral stance on that, and when asked, I will tell her the truth. I think.

We go to church on Easter, even if that's the only Sunday we go all year. Yeah. We've become "those" people. We used to go every Sunday, but lately that just doesn't happen. But we talk about the true meaning of Easter and I feel we put as much emphasis on the religious part as we do the bunny stuff.

A Very Late 5QF

I realize it is Wednesday, and a new 5QF will be up soon, but I liked the questions on this one and decided to go ahead with it, even though it's super late. I was in the middle of Wedding Week '11 so you can just excuse my lateness, right? I thought so ;)

1. What is your favorite sign of spring?

GREEN. We can have warm days out the wazoo, but it doesn't *feel* like spring until I start seeing some green. I get so tired of the literal dead of winter, and when the grass and trees pop, I feel all springy and happy :)

2. What was your best birthday ever?
I would say the year I turned 28. My life was in the dumps at that point, and I was at pretty much one of my lowest points. However, my friend Robin and her girls had a birthday night for me, and it was so much fun. We played Taboo, we drank dog-shampoo (hehehehe), we watched Katt Williams. I'm positive Robin made me brownies (hers are the best) and I had a whole night away from the chaos that was my life at that time. It was memorable at least.

Behind that? As far as all-time birthdays? I guess my 16th birthday was my favorite. We [girl scouts] were at Tan-Tar-A at a retreat for my birthday. The girls put together a little surprise party and cake for me, and we had a great weekend. And of course after that I could drive BY! MY! SELF! which was an amazing new freedom for me, and for my BFF Lindsey :)


3. What is your favorite dessert?
What ISN'T my favorite dessert? I love sweets. I'm seasonal. In the fall and winter, pumpkin pie, hands down. In the spring and summer? Strawberry pie. I'm also a sucker for those Reese's bars. When I'm out? Olive Garden's lemon cake is at the top of my list.


4. What is the best excuse you've ever used to get out of a ticket?
I've only been issued a ticket once, and it was NOT my fault. It was later thrown out.

I've been pulled over a few times, but my submissive nature and sweet demeanor have always come through for me and got me off with a warning. I usually don't speed by enough to GET a ticket. The only time I do is on 83 when I sometimes go faaaaaaaaaaaaaast if I'm by myself. And I already have my plea ready for that one ;) You know, how I've NEVER had a ticket. I NEVER speed. And just this ONCE I wanted to see what it felt like to go FAST in my car. The car I've had for almost three years that's never been over 80 (er ah, almost never). Think it'll work??  ;)


5. Do you wake up before your alarm, with your alarm, or after hitting snooze several times?
Oh the alarm clock. Such a thing of the past. I wake up when I feel like it :) But back in the day when I USED an alarm clock? I always hit snooze twice. I can NOT just wake up. I need time to stir. If my alarm is set for later than 8:00 though, I can usually wake up before it goes off.  Usually!

Five Questions on an April Friday

It's FRIDAY. My weekend has kind of been hijacked due to the fact that my daughter's dad is unreliable. Therefore I am somewhat grouchy, but I shall press on. It's not the end of the world, and I always love having my Chloshmo at home with us, but when we KNOW she is going to be gone, we plan to do all the things we wouldn't normally do with her.

We had planned one last night out together tonight before the wedding. A quiet dinner. Some last-minute wedding shopping, things like that. Now it's going to be a table for three (probably at Steak n Shake) and shopping with a preschooler, which isn't bad, but it's different.

Tomorrow night we have our nights out with "the guys" or "the girls," and I was quite the pouty Patty last night when I thought I was going to be home playing Mommy while my Mister was out footloose and fancy free with his stooges posse. I was able to work it out, though, and have a girls night of my own planned now, and a baby-sitter. So it's all going to work out.

Anyway, being Friday, I have five questions for you ;)




1. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Ughhh geez. That's a pretty loaded question.

If I could ONLY change one thing about my physical self, it would be my sticky-outy ears =\  I've grown to accept them, I guess, but that's what I was tormented over as a kid. It's been the reason you won't see me out without my hair washed, dried, chiiiiiied, and sprayed. It's the reason my wedding hairstyles are limited, I don't own pony-tail holders, and I keep it cut short. Some days I'd do anything to just have it hanging long and luxuriously past my shoulders, then put it in a pony tail, or wear a hat. Oh and second in line would be my post-baby belly. I wish I had appreciated it more before baby. Oh to wear a bikini and a pony tail....

If we're talking about self-improvement that is non-physical, I'd like to change my worrysome ways. When something is on my mind it plagues me. Keeps me from sleeping. Forces my mind to places it doesn't wanna go. Imagines the worst. I'd like to be able to let go of certain things a little more.


2. Write about a time when you got lost.
The one that stands out the most is from when I was a young teen. Our youth group had gone on a day trip to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, and my mom had driven separately. On the way home she followed the van, which was driven by our youth guy at that time. We stopped to eat somewhere, and when it came to getting back on the right road, Mister Youth Man was long gone before my mom could figure out where he was headed (why are all Baptist ministers such crazy drivers??). My mom was driving, and my brother and I were in the back. An older girl rode with us, one who used to babysit us from time-to-time.

Long story short we ended up in downtown Raytown at about 9:00 at night. It was dark, and it was scary. My mom stopped at a really sketchy gas station (you know, bars on the windows and doors, and probably a gun behind the counter) and asked for directions. We finally got home, but in the back of my mind I was sure a bunch of thugs were going to shoot us and steal my mom's Nova :)

After that I have alwas sat up front and been the navigator.


3. Camping or 5 star hotel?
It can be a 2 star hotel for all I care, I HATE CAMPING! I hate it! I need hot water and my chi to function. I hate the dirt, the bugs, and the toilets (or lack thereof). Oh and the packing and un-packing. NO THANK YOU!

Maybe if we had a super fancy camper or motor home or something, and we were going to stay in the mountains or near the beach or somewhere really great for a while, and could drive to town occassionally, and someone would pack everything we needed for us...then I MIGHT consider it.

Otherwise, no thank you.

These crazy people who pitch a tent at Pomme de Terre for a week and live on baked beans and fish, and don't fix their hair or take real baths are crazy in my book.

4. Have you donated blood?
I've only willingly given blood once. All the other times it was taken against my will for tests or things of that nature. I hate needles. It's not all that bad when you do it, but the anticipation is what kills me. I was supposed to donate another time but I chickened out.


5. Do you have a budget or do you 'fly by' most months?
We don't have a budget at all. We pay the bills every month, and whatever is left-over (which isn't much, usually) we buy groceries with, put in savings and/or spend for fun money. Our bills are basically our budget. It's hard to budget what you don't have in the first place ;)

Back from hiatus....it's 5QF!

It's FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!  It has been a crazy busy week for me, and I expect the next several weeks to be the same. I've been neglecting my blog, but I managed to get another Beast installment up, and I'm working on the conclusion to that episode as we speak.

I have been busy with all things wedding, and have been checking things right off my list. I feel like most of the hard stuff is done, and now it's just the fun little preparations :)

Anyway, without further ado, back from hiatus, it's time for FIVE Question FRIDAY!!








1. Have you ever had surgery?
I had a minor surgery after I had Chloe due to some complications I had with her. I was losing blood too quickly and they had to knock me out quick and get me to the OR. I didn't have time to be scared or panicked, because by the time I knew we were going, I was getting sleeeeeeeeeeppppppppyyyyyyyyy.

2. Ever ride in an ambulance?
YES. When I was in sixth or seventh grade my dad wrecked his El Camino (bahahaha). Of course we weren't wearing seatbelts (I'm not sure it even HAD seatbelts...because I've always clicked), and my brother was sitting on that middle arm rest thingy. When we hit, my dad threw his arm across, whacking my brother in the mouth, but keeping him intact.  I don't remember the impact, but my knees were bloody and my head and neck hurt something FIERCE. There were knee prints on the very top of the windshield where my legs had hit (if you know me, you know I wasn't sitting upright with my feet on the floor). Worried about my complaints, the paramedics took every precaution: putting me in a collar, on the backboard, and in the ambulance. No one rode with me :( and I was pretty sure the driver hitting all those potholes was doing more damage than the accident did. Turned out I was ok, just needed some big muscle relaxers and to take it easy for a few days.


3. How are you in a medical emergency? Panicked? Calm?

It's kind of hard to say. I've not had many medical emergencies, and when I have had them, I've had to be the calm, rational one. Chloe fell out of our bed one time, and while inside I wanted to be the freaking out, schizoid Mama, her dad was playing that role a little too well, leaving me to be the calm rational one who was trying to handle hurt child and freaking out parent. And like I said earlier, when I was in the midst of a medical emergency, I didn't know what was happening until I was already pretty well drugged. Knowing me, though, I'd be keeping my emotions under the surface, calm and taking it all in, then break down as soon as the storm was over.

4. Do you have a garden? Flowers or veggies?

We have a garden, but it's not planted =/

However, we have five colorful little flower pots out front. Three with veggies and two with flowers. Chloe calls it her 'garden.' He he.

5. When did you move out of your parents house?

Welllll I went away to college when I was eighteen, and lived there during the school year. Then half-way through my second year I moved back home and began commuting to school. I did that until I got married the first time when I was twenty-two, and haven't been back :)