Black Friday...

Man what was I expecting?  Toys R Us was opening up at 10:00 Thursday night.  They had a gift that I am dying to get for Middle Kid. And of course it was at a GREAT price.  Trying to stay within a $$ limit is rough when they are big.  Anywho, a good friend had mentioned shopping together and I told her of this deal.  Thanksgiving morning she emails me that she would like to go to TRU and brave the crowds.  Seems her sister is in town and wants the same thing for her daughter.  We devise a plan.  2 hours early we will arrive, wait and then scoop up our 2 identical gifts.  What can go wrong right?

We arrive an hour and a half early to a parking lot full and roughly 200 people in front of us.  That's ok, not all of these people could be after the same thing.  After being in line (did I mention it was 34ish degrees?) for 10 minutes 2 official people came by offering tickets for high demand items.  Yet, they were sold out of what we both we after.  My friend's sister had a look of 'let's go' but we were all about waiting.  Outside.  In 34ish degree weather.  It was fun.  It was a bonding time.  We talked and laughed.  None more than the kids in front of us who were just 'there'.  Ideas of setting up a coffee booth went through minds.  A porta potty would have been nice. 

About 30 minutes to store opening we were greeting by 2 official security people.  They actually hired security for this event!  We were told that 50 people would be allowed in the store at a time!  We looked in front and realized we were roughly 200 people back.  Crap!!  We looked behind us.  Roughly 500 people were behind us.  Seriously the line was about a half mile long!  People were 4 thick the whole way!  Glad we got there when we did.  People tried to cut.  They were escorted to the back of the line.  That sucks!

Once inside we had 3 carts and 3 women with no plan.  It was chaos in a good way.  We all found what we were looking for, no fights happened but yet, no big gift for Middle Kid.  Did find a few small things for him and Little.  I had an observation though. 

Some people go black friday shopping and skip the shower.  This is a bad idea.  You are going to be stuck in a crowded store shoved around a smaller person.  I They do not want to smell you.  Please use proper hygeine.  It was nasty.

All in all we had a great time.  My friend scammed her way to the front of the line which I loved!  I was still home and in bed by midnight. 

Thanksgiving...

Of course, here it is a day of Thanks and everyone and their mother is telling everyone under the sun what they are thankful for.  I am thankful, don't get me wrong.  I feel like I am blessed in many, many ways.  So, here it is my top ten list of things to be thankful for...as messed up as they may be!!

10.-- I am thankful for my job.  Without it, I would not be able to leave the house and let middle kid practice his trumpet. (practice time happens to coincide with my work hours...purely coincidence) Also without my job I would not learn that I have some pretty normal kids and what I feel is horrible behaviour is really just minor compared to what some little devils do when they go out to eat.  Oh, and also without said job I wouldn't be able to eat, drive, or clothe my kids.  Woo Hoo job!

9.--I am thankful for my bills.  With those bills, I have a house, a car, television, internet, heat, air.  Well you get the picture.

8--I am thankful for the stuff laying around the house.  It is plentiful, and it is a PITA, but it is a sign that we have 'stuff'.

7  .--I am thankful for Diet Pepsi.  Although it is an unhealthy habit, I feel it is better and cheaper than alcohol.  Yet it has all of the good effects on me.  Diet Pepsi people, please don't change your recipe.


6.--I am thankful for the cashiers that have to work today.  We ordered cheesecakes and not all of them came in.  I need some.  Thank you semi-happy cashier at the market for being there today so my family can enjoy some yummy cheesecake.

5.--I am thankful for my business and my customers.  I have a wonderful group of ladies that support me and wonderful customers.  I am looking forward to another great year of success and growth. And maybe the Conference and another girls weekend in Wisconsin!

4.--I am thankful for hockey.  It keeps the boys busy and happy.  It keeps me busy and on edge.  It may be a money suck, but all in all it is worth it.  We have met many friends and people we don't want to be friends with through hockey. 

3.--I am thankful for my extended family.  I have a family like no other.  We laugh, fight, and tease.  Man do we tease.  And if you ever see Peanut (my little sister) ask her to see the scars from teasing.  Yes they are visible.  We play for keeps!!

2..--I am thankful for the kids.  They are a handful.  They run me to a drop of sanity.  They fight, cry, yell, and cry.  They make me smile, laugh, and cry happy tears.  They are resilient and flexible.  They are understanding.  They are some pretty good looking kids too, but that is just superficial.

1..--I am thankful for the Head Honcho.  He works hard.  Every.Day.  He is understanding of my shopping habits and very forgiving when the shopping habit gets out of control.  He also has a way to reel me in.  He is a great father and a wonderful husband. 

Happy Turkey Day everyone...

Happy Birthday Middle Kid!!

So yesterday, November 17, 2010 Middle Kid celebrated his Tenth Birthday!  What a whirlwind of 10 years it has been...

Middle Kid was born a little early in Thousand Oaks, California.  He is my California Baby!  He may have been early then, but that was the last time! He was a good baby right from the start.  He was a great sleeper, no problems with eating and happy all the time.  That is one thing that hasn't changed to this day! 

We celebrated his birthday last night with his Grandparents and the Head Honcho's family.  He got to pick out the meal that Gramma made and it was actually a success.  Weird but a success.  He got his long sought after DSi XL and all of the games on the list he carefully prepared.  We split the DSi XL with his Granparents and then we also bought him HIS OWN hockey jerseys.  No more association jerseys for this kid.  They never fit right and are always worn and dirty looking.  So since the number he HAD to have was WAY too small for him we invested in a set of a bit too big jerseys with HIS (and his favorite player's) number on it.  He was beaming.  He got everything he wanted, but mostly he was the center of attention again, just like he was that day 10 years ago.

Happy Birthday to a Special Middle Kid!  Mommy and Daddy love you and can't imagine a second without you and your smiling face!

Christmas Downsized...

So, I have been reading blogs and getting ideas in my little head... one that I especially liked was about a family that was trying to downsize on EVERYTHING.  Now, I am all about less is more, for somethings.  And I could proably get the kiddos to jump on board, but one thing that I think is going to be a hard sell is Christmas.  I am pretty sure that downsizing Christmas just may not happen here this year.  Here is an example.  One family is trying to do 4 gifts for Christmas for each child.  A gift they want, one to read, one to wear, and one they need.  I thought about seeing how the kids would react starting with Big Kid.  He is 15, surely he understands economy and that they truely are blessed with things year round.  This would just make the holiday that much more special.  We would have more family time.  Um, I am thinking he is not interested in family time.  This is what he came up with:

A Gift he wants:  Xbox Games *there is a list...of about 10 games he would like*
A Gift to read: a laptop
A Gift he needs: XBox Kinnect and sports game (you know for exercise)
A Gift to wear: Hockey Gear--skates, chest protector, jersey, pants

We will re-work the Christmas Gifts list and give him a budget to work within... The current budget he is working within is that of a small country...

Happy Birthday Little Gramma!

So, tomorrow Saturday November 13, 2010 is my Grandmother's Birthday.  My kids call her 'Little Gramma'.  Mostly because she is well, little!  I think she is 4'8", but I could be wrong.  I know I TOWER over her and I am a grand 5'1"!  Gram is an awesome lady.  We don't get to see her very often, but love it when we do!  She is a fun lady and enjoys the kids company.

She gets nervous around Little Kid though, he is a bit, active for her!  Who would have thought.  But now he is a little more 'calm' (and by calm I mean he has stopped jumping off the back of furniture)so I think we will soon visit her and see how it goes.  Besides the Big Kids like to see if they are bigger than her.  Newsflash Big and Middle Gram isn't having a growth spurt at her age (which I won't divulge but should because she should be so proud to be her age!).  You guys are totally towering over her!  Big Kid is 5'11.5" you have over a foot on her and you still have a few spurts left I have been told.  Middle Kid is 4'10" so guess what, you too have surpassed Little Gramma!  Congratulations in your 9 years on earth you have grown taller than her...a feat I might add took me until I was 14, but Gram was taller then too!

I always find it hard to buy gifts for Gram.  I mean what do you buy for an older adult who has the means, transportation and will to go and buy whatever she wants?  When she wants something she goes to the store and buys it.  Simple, she doesn't need anyone to get it for her.  Besides (I see me in her in this way) someone else may get the wrong one.  I (like her) know what I want and that is that.  We are both a little stubborn.  We are both little.  That's ok...that is what I like best about us. 

Happy Birthday Little Gramma for Big, Middle, Little, Head Honcho and me...your favorite Granddaughter!

Hot Dog Hot Dog Hot Diggity Dog...

As much as that show annoys me... I find entertainment value elsewhere while it is on.  Wait, you don't know what awesome time suck I am talking about?  Why, it's the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, come inside, come inside.  I have been VERY successful at keeping Little Kid's television choices limited to Nick Jr for 3 years.  If he didn't like the choice we turn of Law and Order turn off the TV and listen to music. 

A few months ago I went away, and Head Honcho's Mom came and stayed with the boys and cleaned my house, SPOTLESS, but I digress.  I think part of her master plan was to get Little Kid hooked on the most annoying show possible.  Score one for her!  We can't go a minute without the dang Disney Channel on anymore.  Little Kid doesn't know numbers yet, but can accurately tune into that channel. 

But I will give this to the freaking people at Disney.  That dang song, well really all of them, are so dang catchy.  Little Kid stands proudly and in front of the TV and sings all of the songs.  And the topper, the final song, it comes with a dance and Mickey fading out through a circle.  We just re-enacted that scene right here in our living room.  The song, the dance, and Little Kid jumping in a laundry basket (empty) and covering himself with a blanket.  So, it must be over, right?  Maybe now Mommy can have a few minutes of Grown-up TV?  Nope, there are about 40 more episodes of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse slated to run today and Little Kid can hear the channel change from everywhere in the house.  I am stuck!  This show will be running all day and all night. 

PLEASE.SAVE.ME.

Super Mom--Just stop it!!!

We all know one...that Mom, she is beyond a helicopter mom. She not only hovers over her child(ren) she could literally be in their skin.  She is the room mom, the cubscout mom, the soccer coach, the church group teacher.  She is THERE!  I have no problem with a super mom...per se... I have a problem with the Super moms who 1-let everone know they are the super mom.  Fantastic!  You have virtually no other life than all of these things you do for your kids.  Don't get me wrong, if a volunteer is needed I am there.  If someone doesn't step up to run the bake sale, I can do it.  I am however not going to look for awards at the completion of the bake sale.

I also have a problem with super moms who schedule themselves too thin...you know the one.  She shows up at soccer practice in her cubscout neckerchief and then carries her bible with her PTA minutes.  Give yourself a minute to cook dinner.  Oh of course, you already made a roast in your slow cooker this morning while you were making an organic lunch for each of your children.  But seriously, keep scheduling yourself so thin and you aren't going to enjoy all of your child's moments.  Sometimes it is nice to sit and watch your kid kick the soccer ball around and not have to worry about little Jimmy sitting on the opposite goal line picking his nose.

Another thing that grinds my gears about Super Moms is the ones that say they can do it all, take the 'job', you know the one that I would have happily done without complaints or constant reminders that I am doing you a favor, and then don't follow through.  And they always have that excuse...I am so busy... there is not enough hours in the day.  Well there is plenty for those of us who are not trying to be Super Mom.  Give me a volunteer job for each kid's activity...one per kid, per activity and I am done.  I am not going to try and do it all.  I know I can't.

My final complaint about Super Moms are the ones that have multiple kids and tries to do everything for everyone.  This causes her to be late for just about everything and does not give off the impression that she is anything like a Super mom.  She is never sure where she should be and she she is going to be late, but you understand...she is afterall the ONLY person that would do this.  Let me let you in on a little secret.  The only reason you are the only one doing these things it is because us 'regular' folks can't stand to be with you Super Moms for more than two seconds without wanting to hang you by your neckerchief.

Oh, Halloween, how I hate you!!!!

I use to be such a big fan of the holiday.  Really, I was.  I would relish in the costume process.  I loved every second of it!  We would pick out the coolest costumes and dress the boys up and take them to visit the family and then trick or treat and just love every second.

Then, we became homeowners.  The Head Honcho thinks we should stay home and hand out candy.  We live in a pretty decent development so he figures we are withholding the loot from the little neighbor kids.  Well, last year was our first year here, and we had 50ish kids.  Now I am certain 50 kids do not live in the immediate area.  I am aware that people bring their kids in their rusted out minivans and drive them, block to block.  This is what ruins Halloween for me.  Stay in your own hood or at the very least, WALK!!! Park at the church behind my house and walk the 3/4 of a mile through the neighborhood.  Not only are people lazy for free candy, they are also greedy.  Here are the top 5 memories from Halloween 2010 (or soon to be renamed...the reason my kids will no longer trick or treat)

1. 60+ year old woman trick or treating at my home before dark--While still eating a 'family dinner' an eldery lady walks up to the door with 3 teenagers.  She promptly says to Head Honcho "Trick-or-treat".  Head Honcho who is mad he is now not eating his hot McRib Rib dinner says "aren't you a little old for this?" Her reply "Nope! I am trick or treating for my three grandchildren" And shoves three pumpkins in his face.  His answer "Sorry, we don't even have anything ready" and closed the door in her face.  Seriously?  You are trick or treating for your grandkids?  Go get them a freaking candy bar!! You are the new reason that there will be a sign at the end of the driveway next year... One bucket, one kid, one piece of candy.  No siblings home sick, no grandma's trying to be the hero.  One bucket, one kid, one piece of candy.

2.  Babies trick or treating--I wound up taking the two Biggest to their friends' house in the 'popular' development.  Like popular as in the police block of streets and stuff.  The swag in our hood is going downhill, and they would rather go out with friends and have fun.  I like to go hang out with a pretty cool lady and her sometimes funny hubby so it is a win.  Well, because they are in a 'known halloween hotspot' they get all of the 'good ones'.  Tops is Babies who can't even look in the right direction on demand.  Yet, their (most of the time teen) parent walks up with them on their hip they tell them to say 'trick or treat'.  Yep, that ain't happening Mom.  How about an award for you instead of candy for the 4 month old.  A Mom of the year Award.  It is 40 degrees out and you have your infant out begging for candy.  Get a clue...you aren't fooling anyone.  Baby isn't going to say Trick or Treat and the candy is really for you!! We know...this is the only way to get candy.  Next year, you will be receiving Enfamil samples and binkys.  Enjoy!!

3.  Teens trick or treating--This one really burns me up.  IF they are not good kids.  I am under the assumption that Big Kid and Buddy behaved, were polite, and gracious.  If they weren't they would be DEAD!! I am sure they horsed around with friends.  That is their nature.  They feed off from each other.  I am pretty positive they weren't like Stoner Steve or Greedy Greta that came to Cool Friend's house.  Stoner Steve couldn't even look at Cool Friend.  He put his hands out like he was at communion and looked somewhere in the distance for his line.  As she put the candy in his hands he turned his back, opened the package, and ate the candy bar.  That is the one we should have put razors in.  Put his poor parents out of the misery of raising this boy!!!  While Stoner was taking care of his candy Greedy Greta moves up in line, Cool Friend drops a candy bar in her bag.  She replies with Can I have a snickers instead?  Cool "what? What did I give you?"  "A milky way" "no, all I have is snickers, you are rude go away" Seriously...how about a thank you?  If they were at all related to me...Stoner and Greedy would be standing in a corner for hours.

4.  Dumbfounded Kid--This kid was a riot!! He was some kind of dragon-ish thing.  Cool Friend says "awh, who are you?"  Dumbfounded kid looks at her confused, rips the hood off and says "Zachary Jones" Cool was dying hysterical, the Dumbfounded Dad is dying hysterical and Dumbfounded Kid goes... "Trick or Treat"  His Dad says he is the evil dragon from Sleeping Beauty.  Dumbfounded Kid just turns around disgusted that Cool didn't recognize him.

5.  Cost--Halloween isn't what Halloween is because it is cheap.  Add up the costs... Costumes for the kids...$19x2 and $95 for one.  $4x3 for the bags of candy.  $20x3 for the co pay for the dentist.  $20x3 for the certain cavities that will arise. $10 for the snacks for school.  $10 for the little prizes we will certainly have to have.  $20x2 for the halloween jammies that we HAVE to have!! $15x5 for the Halloween teeshirts we also HAVE to have.  Nope next year it will be a bag of candy per kid,  a dinner out and call it a day.

OOPS!! Just remebered a runner up for #6...I am forced to dress up for work...enough said!!!