Crazy 8's

Several of my blog buddies have done this. It is one of those tag your it games. I'm skipping that - if you would like to play you're more than welcome. I still have an award I won and I really appreciate it but, I don't remember where it came from so I apologise now.

8 things I did yesterday

1) made 4 lunches
2) went to work for 6:20 (I left the house at 5:36 AM)
3) ate supper with the family
4) Went to the fire explorers meeting with oldest
5) went to the Barkhamsted Fire District (BFD) meeting
6) nominated people to the BFD board of directors
7) drove my girlfriend and her son home so her husband could stay at the meeting
8) talked to my husband for more than 5 minutes (love our crazy schedules - not)

8 things I wish I could do

1) afford to remodel my kitchen around a viking 6 burner gas stove
2) erase all the mental abuse bio has inflicted upon my children
3) end all war, every where, forever
4) heal Mama Earth (I do my small part)
5) see my husband more
6) garden more and work less
7) visit Barbara at the farm

8 things I look forward to

1) summer vacation (shh, the destination is a secret)
2) Dakini workshop on Saturday
3) owning another little red convertible
4) date nights with hubby
5) Women's Herb Fest
6) lunch with my mom
7) a day with my mother-in-love
8) time at the farm

8 shows I watch

1) Barefoot Contessa
2) NCIS
3) Guy's Big Bite
4) Down Home with the Nealy's
5) Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
6) Two and a Half Men
7) Iron Chef America
8) Big Bang Theory

Best Mother's Day

Last year hubby bought a card for the kids to give me on Mother's Day. The signed it under much duress. My sweet honest hubby had to tell me that part.

Last Sunday I suggested they send a mother's day card to bio and I could take a picture of them to put inside. I got a half hearted OK. That was the end of that. On Thursday I pulled out the cards and had them pick one. They signed it. I pulled pictures of the kids from our spring break adventures, I addressed the card and mailed it. Way more than the woman deserves but....

This morning I received a beautiful card from hubby and one from the kids. Hubby explained that he told the kids he would get me a card for them. Oldest asked him every night if he had bought the card yet until he did. And everyone signed it happily. What more could I ask for? Big contented sigh.

Motivated (again)

Oldest made a comment to bio that I had lost my spiritual power. Oh really! I guess being relaxed instead of stressed all the time means your power is zapped. But, I have been far more than relaxed my energy level has dipped as some of the pounds came back on. I threw out the fat clothes so I would not have an excuse to get back into them. The summer clothes are a wee bit tight.

So, time to get off my fat behind (family thing - that is where ALL of my weight goes) and get moving. I have logged four days on the tread mill so far. I have resumed my food diary which I labeled my health journal. It is not all about the clothes fitting as how I feel. And from the cleaning spurt and the staying up past 8at night I know the exercise is doing me good.

Tonight is a summer bash at a friends house. The kids are invited. Yeah! I made salsa to go with some blue corn chips. I also have a coconut bread to bring. It should be a lot of fun.

Tomorrow I have temple in the morning and then hubby is taking the kids to the movies. It's one I really have no desire to see. It will be a great father - kid event and I will get luscious time home alone. I'm taking my mother to lunch on Thursday to celebrate mother's day. I made the kids send a card to their mother. I included pictures of the kids taken while we were on spring break at Battleship Cove. Mean rotten step mommy that I am.

You do NOT have to give birth to be a mom. So, to ALL of my women friends

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Two in a row

I was going to go to work today but.... When we called mother-in-love for her birthday last night she asked if she could bring me my mother's day gift and visit. That was enough of an arm twisting. She brought a beautiful card and a black eyed susan vine for my garden. My hubby said he didn't buy her a gift but she was free to dig up anything she wanted from my garden. And that we did. I have several things that have spread or divided and we filled a bucket for her to take home.

And more checked off my to do list. House vacuumed, bathroom cleaned, one kitchen cabinet cleaned out, grocery shopping done, tortellini salad dropped off for teacher's appreciation lunch, fruit cleaned and prepped and ready to eat. Supper is prepped and laundry put away. I also worked on bank reconciliations for pay. I can actually relax this week end. How about that.

Tuesday was Cinco de Mayo and we celebrated with tacos, Mexican rice and refried beans.

And I should probably get off the computer as the thunder sounds like it is fast approaching.

Day Off

I actually have a day off during the week with nothing on the schedule until this afternoon. It seems like forever since that has happened. I actually could get some of my to do list done.

So far, I have done laundry, walked two miles, made four loaves of bread (two coconut and two pistachio), made toner for my face, made two batches of soap (lemongrass & calendula and Lavender & lime) had breakfast and read my mail. I still have a few more things on my list to get done. This afternoon I have to take oldest to the doctors. She needs a physical before entering 11th grade. Wonder if I'll be arrested for taking her. Bio threatened that at one point. Hmm, I've taken all the kids to their appointments for the last five years and she has never met their doctor. She really cares.

Seth, my oldest son called this week end to brag about seeing the new X men movie. He may be twenty but has the maturity level and thought capacity of an eight year old. He is a huge energy vampire. I'm so glad he lives far, far away. His phone call did manage to upset the kids as he intended. He also had youngest so worked up that she was in tears at school on Monday. Apparently they are closing the Hoover Dam to the public and Seth had to go on and on about how it's too bad the kids couldn't come see it before it closes. I would have liked to have seen it as well but airfare for five is not in our budget. The funny thing is I highly doubt he goes to see it. Some how it is our fault that they can't visit bio. It has nothing to do with her poor parenting skills.

Saturday

The pulled pork was really good. We have plenty left over and have decided to have it tomorrow night over pasta. Tonight we are having an appetizer party. It's just us but it breaks up the routine a little bit and the kids enjoy it.

Hubby is off to his rope rescue class. Oldest is at her last driver's ed class and I am off to temple soon. Hubby and son are going target shooting this afternoon and I will take the girls to Michael's for picture frames and crafts and then maybe to the book store.

I even suggested the kids do something for bio for mother's day. I have some pretty blank note cards they can make into a card. I said the could make a poster that says happy mother's day and I will snap a picture of them holding it. That will be bio's present. Youngest made a wheelbarrow planter at home depot. It has Happy Mother's Day stickers on the side and came with a marigold. Guess who received that? That would be me, I say with a huge smile. Bio calls less and less and I think the kids enjoy it that way.

Last night son and hubby looked up the rifle bio claims to have purchased. It is a cheap model with horrible reviews and a tendency to jam or blow up in your face. Son read the reviews and said, "I guess mom bought a piece of crap." He will call her on the carpet about it to. I don't think she really bought it. I think she saw it at Walmart and used the name to impress son. Son is far smarter than that.

The Greatest Hubby

I have the best Hubby in the world. This morning he came home from work and brought me coffee - decaf. And on top of the lids was a hand written message. If the picture isn't clear enough it says, "I love you (heart symbol)!

Oldest ordered her class ring this week. She was so excited. She got a symbol for the fire department on one side and the symbol for Capricorn on the other. Hmm, sounds like a girl wanting to switch schools. Hubby took her down to the boat house today to apply for a summer job and this afternoon they go look at a car for her to buy.

Apparently the job bio has won't start until they complete the new jail. They are just pouring cement now. And, she will be working in the kitchen not as a guard. I'm not sure what qualifies her for kitchen duty - making a mean batch of ramen noodles in the microwave is her specialty.

Son is making pulled pork sandwiches for supper. The pork is simmering on the stove and it smells heavenly. It was supposed to go in the crock pot but the piece of pork was way to big for that.

Hubby took youngest to Home Depot this morning. The first Saturday of each month they have a free project for kids to make. They also receive an orange apron and a pin each time they go. She loved one on one daddy time. While they were gone I vacuumed, started laundry and steam cleaned the shower.

I have been really busy at work. I love it. The day just flies by and adding an extra day really helps at bill paying time. Besides spending time with the kids I went part time because I was so bored. I don't mind being there if I have something to do.

And, pop,pop,pop.... the flowers are just bursting forth. The yard is covered in violets and dandelions. I even found a new patch of colt's foot (Tussilago farfara) blooming in my back bed. Trillium is blooming and leaves have pushed forth on trees. Last week end the kids helped me move the day lilies, bearded iris and Siberian iris to there new homes.

And I finished reading Lessons in Becoming Myself by Ellen Burstyn. I really enjoyed it. And now, I have a list of movies I'd like to see.