the girl who is going to be an aunt...again!

My sis is pregnant! Woo hoo! I get to satisfy the baby lust I've been having lately by living vicariously through her. Which will probably be cheaper in the long run, lol! She's due in January, so I get to add ANOTHER b'day to that particular block. Seriously, from Nov 30 - Feb 4th it's just mad around here with b'days and such.

11-30: our anniversary
12-12: MIL b'day
12-16: G'parent's Anniversary
12-19: DH b'day
12-22: DS#2's b'day
12-25: Christmas
12-26: Florida Dad's b'day
12-31: BIL's b'day
01-11: newest arrival's EDD
01-18: DS#3's b'day
01-21: Dad's b'day
01-27: Mom & Dad's anniversary
02-04: Brother's b'day

Whew! That's alot of presents. No wonder we're always broke at Christmas!

the girl who is a cleaning machine!

lol, ok maybe not, but that is the hope. I woke up this morning to an entire box of Fruity Pebbles masquerading as carpet in my living room. It wasn't a large box, but, then again, I don't have a large living room. One box was sufficient to carpet the entire floor. And just to add some interest, my interior decorators (ie, my three boys) had switched to cocoa pebbles for the kitchen. Carpets are not supposed to crunch. They are not supposed to turn soggy in milk. Carpets are especially not supposed to bring to mind a Jackie Gleason cartoon knock-off yelling, "BARNEY!"

So for the past hour, my eldest has been vacuuming away. Strange, how a chore that would take me 15 minutes takes him an hour,but still, I wasn't the ringleader in this little scam. The eldest had to vacuum, the youngest got sent to his room indefinitely (because, even though we didn't witness the crime, past experience tells us he probably did most of the damage) and the middle guy pretty much gets off scott free except for the no tv restriction they are all on. Ah, parenting at its finest.

Since my landlord is coming by tomorrow to sign the new lease, I figure the public areas of the house need to be as spotless as I can make them. Although there is no way I can cover the crayon and marker on the walls, perhaps it will serve as an incentive to her to let me paint. I really don't know why she is so hesitant. But its her property, not mine, so its her right. Still, I hope to announce a painting party soon!

Ok, off to clean. Anyone who sees me online should kick me off!

the girl who is having a day

And not necessarily a good one, either.

Came home from work really early last night because, on top of the ongoing headaches that I have complained about previously, now I am feeling nauseous and dizzy. Great, so I get the usual "are you pregnant?"
lines, and I get to respond with my usual, "don't think so, we figured out how that happens" line. Tried to take off from work today and was told my services were ABSOLUTELY needed, so there ya go. I'm going in for a teeny tiny four hour shift, because, quite frankly, I think that's all other people can handle. By that I mean I am flying off the handle today and easily irritated. My poor kiddos haven't heard anything but a yell from me today. Then they stop and hug me to make me feel better and I just feel worse because now I have GUILT on top of whatever irritated me and made me yell in the first place!

So I finally did something about it and made a Dr's appt. I don't have a doctor. I should, but I don't. So I made an educated decision with tons of research and investigation and found a doctor for my health care needs. (Actually, I picked the woman doctor closest to me who took my insurance. Very scientific ya know.) AND they were able to work me in today. So I just got back and here is the verdict: migraines. The dreaded "M" word. I always figured they were just a catch-all excuse for a really big headache and kinda dismissed anyone who claimed to suffer from them. Yeah, well, no more. I believe, I believe! And I believe that I will take these pills that the doc said WILL knock me out, and I believe I will do that the second my shift is over, and I believe I will sleep for the next three days, since I don't have to be back to work until Tuesday, thanks to this handy Dr's note I have.

So there.

Two good things that happened today. 1.) I got a letter from DCF informing myself and my husband that we have been cleared of any abuse or neglect for Matthew's adventures back in May, and 2.) I got some Island Girl Scrapwear in my mailbox today and will definately take a pic and post it for my scrapping bud!

***********************

New scrappy love: my effer dare!

the girl who has been tagged!

Got this tag from my pea pal Michelle, and if someone could puh-leese teach me how to link, I'd introduce her.

Seven things I'd like to do before I die:

1. Return to Italy with my children and husband and see my Godparents again.
2. Reach a point of financial stability. And by that, I mean always having enough money for the things that I need and also enough money for the things I want. (within reason, of course)
3. Have another baby.
4. Own a pool table.
5. See my children grow up and have wonderful lives.
6. Find a way to pay back my parents for all they've done for me.
7. Win MMM or HOF.

Seven things I can't do:

1. Keep my house clean for more than an hour or so.
2. Make frosting or gravy with any reasonable amount of success.
3. Speak Spanish (and I should, considering who I'm married to!)
4. Turn down chocolate.
5. Walk by a place that could possibly have SB'ing supplies and NOT look.
6. Fit everything I need to do in the day.
7. Sleep through the telephone. Most everything else (including fire alarms) I CAN sleep through, but not the telephone, which is why I set the alarm on the cell phone. It's the only way to wake me up!

Seven things that attracted me to my hubby:

(disclaimer, the funny thing is, I wasn't initially attracted to him, but he won me over)

1. His romantic nature. Really, he does have one, it's just a soft side he doesn't show.
2. ***censored*** lol!
3. His cheesy flirting. I love cheese! Everything is better with cheddar!
4. The way he made me feel so special and sexy.
5. The way it just felt "right" (We were enagaged within three weeks of me granting him a date)
6. The way we could talk for hours.
7. The new interests he introduced me to.

Seven books (or series of books) that I love

1. Heralds of Valdemar
2. Dragonriders of Pern
3. Chronicals of Narnia
4. Chronicals of Prydain
5. Harry Potter
6. Children of the Earth series
7. Anything by Douglas Adams or Robert Heinlin

Seven movies I'd watch over and over:

1. Breakfast Club
2. Bring it on!
3. Princess Bride
4. Little Mermaid
5. Shawshank Redemption
6. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
7. Charlie's Angels

(as you can tell, I'm a sucker for teen movies!)

Seven people I'd like to tag:

1. Cool Jen
2. and now I'm blank because I don't have a ton of blog buddies, lol

the girl who is having a conversation

So I asked Zachary to clear the lunch dishes off the table--including the stuff UNDER the table that his brothers dropped, or threw, and this is the conversation we had.

Z: "Sometimes I think my brothers just like to make me work. Work, work work!"

Me:"Welcome to my world, child." (I have this thing about calling all the kids "child"

Z: "Well, Mommy? (most sentences are started this way, with the well, mommy question) Some things are different in my world."

Me: "Really? Like what?"

Z: "I can't tell you, it's a secret."

Me: "Of course you can tell me! I'm your Mommy!"

Z: "I really can't. (then, with vehemence) "I don't even tell my imaginary friends!!"

Lol! Just my giggle for the day, resume your lives.

the girl who wonders at the stupidity of people wearing a badge

And not a policeman's badge...a Universal Security officer's badge. Could someone please tell these people that they aren't REAL police and until their threats to me contain the words, "and we will call OPD" I am not likely to respond nicely to threats made by such people? And when they do utter that phrase, I will be the first on the phone to 911 begging them to send someone with ACTUAL authority to diffuse the situation and explain to the woman who is mad that she wasn't born a man but will act like the biggest frat jerk anyway that if you confiscate my ID because the picture is faded, I cannot show it to you to gain access to the parking garage? And if you are going to report me to my manager (big laugh there since I know nothing will come of THAT) for going through an OPEN security gate with no VISIBLE guard posted, that I will protest on principle alone? And if you tell me I am "rude" for suggesting that the guard be stationed BY the gate rather than around the corner, out of my sight, sitting on his tookus in the shade, that I will have to bite my tongue to keep from showing you what "rude" is? And if you tell me that I cannot park there (my ASSIGNED parking, mind you) until I go and obtain a new ID to replace the one YOU confiscated, by which you mean NOW THIS VERY MINUTE when, because of you, I am already 15 min late to work, I will simply go park at my actual place of employ after calling OUR security on the phone and explaining the situation to them.

GRRRRRR...jerks. Go back to guarding SpongeBob and waving guests through the lanes of orange cones.

the girl who is POTD!

WoW! What an honor! I mean (totally gushing here) I never thought I was on anyone's radar, much less someone who "qualified" as a true Pubster. I really like the vibe over there, plus the work is generally on a different level than General (and this is a generalization and in no way meant to be condescending to General, I still hang there too) so I get more inspo. ImPearia had such nice things to say about my work and she picked one of my favorite (but little loved) lo's. I really loved Spidergirl's comment about me. I've been smiling all day when I think about it.

8 lo's last night (one of them a double page spread with 11 pictures--seriously!) and 3 the night before. I've run out of page protectors for my Matthew album. I decided it was just easier to focus on one kid at a time to get caught up. Tonight , the plan is to do another possible MMM layout that's been kicking in my head, and then do a little bit of sketching and product pulling. I need to be in bed earlier tonight than last night, lol. (4am two nights running!) Two o'clock is early enough, isn't it?

Sharing my Buddha love. I know my limited blog audience has already seen it, but, who knows, I'm the Pub Princess today, that means SOMEONE is going to check out my blog, right?

the girl who is yawning

At what point did my husband decide that I was his human alarm clock and if he had to be up, I had to be up? Seriously! It's my day off and I stayed up late scrapping and then (re)organizing my scrap space. I wanted to sleep in since I didn't have to be anywhere in the am. But no, 6 am and the alarm starts going off and the only way to get it to turn off is if I get out of bed to do it myself. (Alarm clock is in the bathroom). This goes on until 6:30--which is the routine. Whay not just set the alarm for 6:30 to begon with? Then he gets up and gets in the shower and asks me to pack his lunch for him and make coffee. Why don't I just tell him where to go? Because I know where I want to go--back to bed! Then, I must find his hairbrush, his wallet, a pair of socks. I swear, my 7 yo is easier to get off to school! But I love him. I must, because any sane woman would hqave killed him!

the girl who is all over the place

Please! Someone stop me before I bitch again!

I've been noticing lately I have a tendency to nit pick at little details and blow things out of proportion. Like the Universal employee who spoke to me like a child when I asked for help unlocking the automated lockers. Or the bagger who put kitty litter on top of my frozen pizzas and crushed them. And don't let a Subway's employee within ten feet of me! Am I just entirely too picky, or is everyone in the service industry a nitwit? And if the latter is true, than what about me? I work in the service industry! Maybe that's why I take it so seriously...I know the expectation from both a consumer and supervisor sides, so it bugs me when it isn't done correctly.

Change of subject...

I took Zachary and his friend to Universal recently. It was fun, except for the other idiots also at Universal. I'm starting to really dislike the general public. Pushing, shoving, jumping in line, swearing, insulting, etc, etc, etc.

Ok, maybe its the same subject.

Moving on, we managed to have a good time after all. Zacky got his face painted like Spiderman and it looked wonderful for about five minutes. His friend David was painted like a tiger and he was perfect for the rest of the day. Amazing! We rode Jurassic Park and I HAD to get the picture they take on the ride. It was hilarious! (ignore the fat lady who needs a tan and a root touchup sitting next to the boys--she's not important) I love the bugged-out eyes of Zack's friend, and the way Zacky is trying to duck. I'm a sadistic mom, aren't I?

changing subject again...

We had a death in the family. Yes, Sharkey the fish died. Zacky's first experience with the death of a pet. We had the requisite toilet funeral. Zack was solemn as he addressed the deceased:
"Sharkey, I'm sorry you're dead. I'll miss you!" Seat down, toilet flushed, and a sobbing hug. Then, off to cartoons. They heal so easily when Foster's Home for Imaginary friends is on.

Of course, we've been having problems with the toilets stopping up recently (I suspect the littlest one has been flushing prohibited items) so I had to double check after Zacky left the room. Sure enough, Sharkey was still belly up in the bowl. I had to take care of that, with two little ones in potty training, I didn't want to take any chances with scaring them into diapers for life. Seriously, how traumatic would THAT be? GO to use the potty and there's a dead fish in the loo. Unfortunately, Sharkey was too big (or too stiff, I think rigor mortis had set in) to flush, so I had to scoop him out and try to sneak him out to the garbage. Well, I was caught, so we had to have a SECOND fishy funeral, this time digging a grave with a kitchen spoon. Ah, the circle of life.

and now for something completely different...

Saw King Kong recently too. It was ok, kind of slow in some places. What I loved was this one scene where, after surviving a shipwreck, vicious natives, dinosaurs, King Kong himself, plus a fall into a chasm off of a thrown log, they are attacked by creepy crawlies of all sorts. Including tube worms, or as I like to call them, penii with teeth. Seriously, that is what they looked like. I was describing this scene to my friend "Cool" Jen and she asked (in total deadpan) "Were they circumcised or uncircumcised?" ROTFLMAO!!! That conversation was on pause for a good two minutes while I dissolved into laughter. Then, after consulting with hubby, we decided they were definitely uncircumcised penii with teeth.

again...

Had a b-day and was totally blown away with scrappy love on 2Peas. The Jens organized a tag celebration for me and I can't wait to get them! I'm already thinking of how to display them! B'day was low-key, actually no key. Didn't do anything special, BUT I did manage to find the super secret scrapbook store and buy myself a present. Now, I just need to use all the goodies!

again...But somewhat related

With hubby starting a new job, we decided the time had come for a new vehicle. And my Florida Dad very nicely offered to fund the venture. I'll post pics later, but I'm now the proud owner of a new (to me) mini-van. A '99 Plymouth Voyager SE. Loaded too. I am resolved to keep it pristine. (let's see how long that lasts) Seriously, it is NICE and I got a good deal. More that FL-Dad wanted to spend, so I was able to work out an affordable deal on payments. And I actually met an honest car salesman! That will be another post though.

'k, that's it for now. An abbreviated version of the past couple weeks. I will SERIOUSLY try to keep this updated, but we'll see how that goes.