I am the MOM and I was here FIRST!

My photo
I am a 44 year old mother of three children and grandmother of one. I am divorced from my children's father whom I share joint physical custody of our youngest two children with. I have been married to my fabulous husband for over 9 near-perfect years. I LOVE this man! He is a wonderful generous, affectionate, tolerant and all forgiving husband. He is also a terrific step-dad/male role model to my kids and an even better grand father to our two year old grand daughter. My oldest daughter attends college to obtain her nursing degree. She has been on her own for over three years now (no longer part of a shared custody arrangement like her brother & sister) My middle daughter is in high school and plays on the freshmen volleyball & soccer teams. She's really creative and talented. My son is in middle school and plays hockey and lacrosse. He is a sweet sensitive boy who still says "I love you Mom" frequently. I work part time running an online ebay store. I have terrific and supportive relationships with my family, friends and of course my kids. I am extremely close to my sister, my Mom and my sister-in-laws. They are my best friends.

THE JOURNAL OF MY LIFE ...


Thursday, December 20, 2007

The Perfect Gift

So I'm really excited about the gift I got my parents this year.

They are well off. They don't need anything that they can't buy themselves. They don't want anything. They asked my sister and I to stop buying them gifts a couple of years back. And truthfully, I was kinda relieved about it. I mean, my Mom... she's a sap. And she likes all kinds of little goofy "stuff" that we would get her. But my Dad? Oh my God. He's impossible. I may have posted earlier this month that he duct tapes his wallet, his slippers, his briefcase, his suitcase and whatever else needs duct taping. My sister and I would make our best effort attempts to give him the new wallet, the new slippers, the new whatever that would joyfully replace the old whatever. But he's still wearing the duct tape slippers. I just saw them by the back door when I went to visit them over the summer.

But this year....

I created a photo book for them from this past years photos. I take photos almost daily and for every occasion and event. (It drives my kids, friends and family nuts, but too bad!) So I chose some really nice choice photos from each month of 2007 and had them created into a hardbound book.

Since my parents retired to Tennessee a year ago and they have missed most of the family functions and yearly events back here in Michigan, they are really going to treasure this album. There's even a picture of all of us with them in it when they were here recently visiting. We were actually able to get all children, all grandchildren and the great granddaughter in one spot at the same time, set up the tripod, set the timer on the camera and wah lah! ... family photo just in time for Christmas.

Now they'll have photos of the kids birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Summer vacation, kids sporting events, Halloween, Thanksgiving (I put a couple of our Vegas vacation photos in there) and Christmas. It's being shipped directly to them as we speak and I can't wait for them to get it.

It didn't cost me much, but they'll think it's priceless... the perfect gift indeed.

Christmas Home

The house is decorated.


We have this village that sits on top of the bar that divides my office from the living/family room. (Our house isn't that big and this is prime seating area, but whatcha gonna do?) Every year, we had more "stuff" to it. It's getting harder and harder to find room to put everything.





The kids picked the perfect tree!





The tree in the living room has red, white and blue ornaments. Patriotic Santa's, stars and stripes bulbs.

What Happens in Vegas

What Happens in Vegas...

Gets Blogged about!

Sorry I've been away for so long. Between a busy business, catching up after vacation and some kind of horrible cold working it's way through my family, I was unable to do get to my Blogsterville home.

I'm feeling better, but my husband and son are sick. Hopefully everyone will be healthy and well for Christmas.

So... On to the Vegas trip!

We left early Thanksgiving morning... like 4:30am EARLY, lol! But this was to our advantage as we found a parking spot in the covered garage close to the shuttle pick up and since I checked in and printed our boarding passes from my home computer, we just breezed through security, grabbed a Starbucks and waited to board the plane.

I usually choose to sit in the middle seat on the way out so that I can enjoy the window seat on the way home. An oversized gentleman took the aisle seat next to me and inevitable "took" part of my "space" as well, lol. Oh well.... small price to pay I suppose.

Upon arrival in Vegas, we were able to check it right away as we were "invited" guests. Woo hoo... I didn't even realize we were "invited" guests, but because we got a postcard 3 days before leaving with a comped winter invitation, we received 3 free nights, some free play and 2 buffet comps.... COOL!!

After unpacking and freshening up, we met my parents and Aunt & Uncle in the Mirage poker room for a fabulous Thanksgiving spread. My (step) Dad has been playing poker there for about 20 years now. They treat my Dad and his family very well. After dinner, I was wiped out and decided to go to be early.

My husband and I spent the next day hanging out with my Aunt and Uncle. We walked up to one end of the strip and down the other. We checked out the conservatory at the Bellagio which was decorated beautifully for the fall season. My husband won a rubber duck at the new Hooter's resort and casino, lol and he won a keychain at the new Planet Hollywood casino in a slot tournament.

So all in all, we ate terrific food, cashed out here and there will enough money to only have to spend 1/2 of our budget that we brought with us for playing.

The weather was decent. In the 60's during the day and sunny. (I haven't seen the sun here in Michigan in days now!)

On the last day that we were all in Vegas together, we had a nice dinner at The Outback. I really love spending time with my family and I miss them already.











Wednesday, November 21, 2007

I Am Thankful For Much





A LOVING HUSBAND









3 HEALTHY CHILDREN












AN ADORABLE GRANDDAUGHTER










A SISTER & BEST FRIEND
















TERRIFIC PARENTS










GOOD FRIENDS












A COZY HOME




Tuesday, November 20, 2007

I Need To ....

I Need To ...

Get my son's hockey fund raiser money in a marked envelope

Buy hairspray

Ship 2 packages

Fold one load of towels

Turn in the change jar (It's full and we've been saving change for a year for "extra" money for our trip)

Make a deposit

Set a vacation "away response" for my email and my business

Send my best friend a birthday card

Lose 20 pounds before Thursday

If you are in the volunteering mood, please pick one or more tasks from my list and help a fellow blogger out.

Thank you

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Before & After

Here is the shot of AFTER everyone dug into the Thanksgiving feast which is also the shot of BEFORE the kitchen got cleaned up.



And here is the shot of AFTER the kitchen got cleaned up.



The feast was nice. We ate at 2:00pm so that my oldest daughter would able to join us before she had to leave for her afternoon shift at the hospital. Our granddaughter was here for for most of the day. All three of the kids said thanks for the meal, each in their own way.

We watched the football game and my husband even looked like he wanted to take a nap for a little while (If only I'd let him, he said... LOL).

We ran into a small snag when the grandbaby came running down the stairs yelling "poop" over and over again.

Since I was cleaning the kitchen, Grandpa was left to attend to this "poop" matter. He was handling it quite well until he said

"Honey, come here."

I dried my hands on the dish towel and proceeded to the bathroom. There the two of them stood peering into the toilette.

"She dropped her little hair clippy thingy in there" he said.

The toilette hadn't been flushed since the .... shhhhh poop.

"Well, what'd you call me for? I don't want to see it." I said.

"Well, what should I do?" he asked.

I said "What would you like to do? Either fish it out or flush it down."

"Fish or flush, fool!"

He chose to flush it. (I hope we don't have to disclose that to the next homeowners of this house, LOL)

So all in all, it was just like a real Thanksgiving Day, which was our point.

Mission accomplished

Happy Thanksgiving y'all.

The Leaves

The leaves.... are taking a long time to round up with a granddaughter kicking at the piles. Can you tell how upset her Grandpa is about it?

The Turkey

It is 9:10am.

My husband is preparing the turkey for our Thanksgiving feast today. (As posted earlier, hubby and I will be away from the children on Thanksgiving this year)

Husband:
"Ummmmm .... Honey, I can't find the giblets."

Me:
"They're in there."

Husband:
"I don't think so."

Me:
"Did you search both ends."

Husband:
"What??"

Me:
"Did you look in both openings of the turkey."

Husband:
"They are two openings?"

Me:
"Yeah, what'd you do? Just go up the butt?"

Husband: (cracking up)
"Yeah, I guess I did."

Husband: (after 30 seconds)
"Oh, there they are. They're in the neck cavity. Ewwwwww .... yuck!! ... , it's like a birthing packet!"

Me:
"Thanks for sharing!!!! What the hell is a birthing packet anyway??"

Friday, November 16, 2007

Off to a Good Start

Thank God, it's Friday. I have been waiting for this particular Friday for weeks, months even.

Today marks the start of what is sure to be, a fabulous stretch of 11 days for me and my family.

I get my kids today after school. They will be with us until Wednesday at 5:00pm.

I'm making Meatloaf in the crockpot for dinner tonight. Everyone in this house loves it. In a few short hours the wonderful aroma will start to fill the air, seeping out of any tiny cracks in the windows, making the construction guys, who are fixing my neighbors foundation, jealous with envy for a home cooked meal.

I will fill my gas tank up today in my lil' red Pontiac G6. What's so great about that you ask? It was exactly 2 weeks ago that it last needed a fill up.

We are decorating the house for Christmas this weekend. It is a family affair. It is fun. It is tradition. We will listen to Christmas music favorites. All family members will help and all will be joyful.

The University of Michigan will play (and beat) rival Ohio State in a great football game tomorrow.

Our pre-Thanksgiving family feast will be cooking in the early morning hours on Sunday. My children will awake to the smells of the holiday and the bustle of happy parents. The oldest daughter and granddaughter will join us for dinner. Everyone will recite what they are thankful for.

The kids are off from school on Wednesday and I plan on spending every moment of that day doing whatever they'd like to do with "Mom."

After the kids leave for their week at Dads at 5:00pm on Wednesday, I will start packing for our early morning flight that departs on Thanksgiving day out to Vegas. At about 8:30am (Vegas time), I will be re-united with my Mom and Step Dad whom I have been desperately missing. Later that day, my favorite Auntie Betty & fabulous Uncle Karl, will join the rest of us in the poker room for Thanksgiving dinner. We will watch the Detroit Lions in the sportsbook and retire to our rooms early, tuckered out from all the fun.

Friday morning, we will get up early and go walking to see "whats new" since last year. I will win a huge jackpot that day and bestow large amounts of cash and gifts on all my family and friends.

The rest of the Vegas vacation will be terrific. We'll come home on Monday afternoon, have the evening to relax and get the kids from school on Tuesday. The children will be thrilled with the "Vegas" T-shirts we got at 3/$10.00.

The End

Thursday, November 15, 2007

A Visit with Grammy

My granddaughter came over today for a little while. Her parents work schedules overlapped a bit, so she was here for about an hour.

If you give her candy, she'll say I love you.
If you give her candy, she'll smile for you.

She picked something out of the candy bowl. It was sour something or other?
Can you tell?


Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Evil Step Monster Is At It Again

The horrible evil Step Monster is at it again. She has spent the weekend spewing hateful hurtful comments at my two youngest kids.

My son had a hockey tournament this past weekend. It was hosted at the home ice arena of the hockey team that my oldest daughter used to play on. Her team, the Michigan Capitals won the State Championship, for their AAA travel hockey division, back in April of 2002 and then went to Alaska to compete for the National title.

So, as State Champs, my oldest daughters hockey team picture is still proudly displayed in her home ice arena's showcase. My son and younger daughter were so excited to see their sister's picture. My son was told by his Father "NOT" to mention the photo or his sister to his team mates. My son told his team mates anyway when his Dad wasn't around. I am so proud of him for that!! My two youngest kids are barely allowed to acknowledge the very existence of their older sister when they are with their Father and Step Monster. Because my oldest daughter no longer has a relationship with her Father (because of Step Monster), Ex-husband and Step Monster like to pretend that she no longer exists.

FIRST HATEFUL COMMENT:

When my youngest daughter mentioned the hockey picture of her older sister to her Step Monster, her Step Monster said, "Well, if your sister wouldn't have gotten herself knocked up, she'd still be playing hockey."

What is really CRAZY about this comment is that the reason my oldest daughter stopped playing hockey is BECAUSE HER FATHER STOPPED PAYING FOR IT 4 DAYS BEFORE THE SEASON WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN! Step Monster convinced my ex that it was just too expensive and that if "they" were going to ever be able to move away, (from me) he would have to eliminate that bill.

I believe that my oldest daughter's Father taking away the very sport that almost identified who she was, and rejecting her, had much to do with her getting pregnant at 18 years old. She was an honor roll student every year. She was a talented hockey player, the top goal scorer for her team, with huge potential. She was being scouted by 2 colleges for hockey scholarships. She graduated from high school with honors and academic scholarships. She was a great kid who is know a GREAT young woman and GREAT Mother despite her Father's betrayal and absence.

And for that horrible woman to say such a degrading UNTRUTHFUL thing to a child who loves, adores and looks up to her big sister is nothing short of EVIL. It's HATEFUL!!

SECOND BOUT OF HATEFUL COMMENTS:

The ice arena that they were at for my son's hockey tournament is in my neck of the woods. So ex-husband/ Evil Step Monster and the kids wanted to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to eat dinner. My youngest daughter obviously knows her way around our city as she's lived here her whole life. So she says the street name of the Buffalo Wild Wings near our city of Lincoln Park.

Step Monster says, "We're not eating in Stinkin Park."

Daughter says, "It's Lincoln Park, NOT Stinkin Park. I don't like it when you call it Stinkin Park."

Step Monster says, "No... it's Stinkin Park."

Daughter says, "My Mother lives in that city and I live in that city and I don't like when you call it Stinkin Park."

Step Monster says, "No, you don't live in Stinkin Park. We moved you out of that city. You live in Canton."

Daughter says, "I live in Canton with my Father 1/2 the time and I live in Lincoln Park with my Mother 1/2 the time."

Step Monster says, "No, you live in Canton with your Father. You go to school in Canton. Your Dad's address is what is listed on your school records."

Daughter says, "I don't care what address is listed on my school records. I live with both of my parents. One lives in Canton. One lives in Lincoln Park."

Step Monster says, "Well, I don't care... I"m still going to call it Stinkin Park."

Side note:
The city that I live in is the same city that my children live in when they are LIVING with me 1/2 of the time... it's the same city that my ex-husband shared a home with me and lived in for 6 years .... it's the same city that my ex-husbands Aunt/Uncle live in, right around the corner from me.... it's the same city that borders the city of my ex's parents home that they've lived in for over 20 years now.


My kids are getting old enough now to stand up and fight for what they believe in. They used to show indifference, out of fear of fighting back, to nasty negative comments about me, or their sister, or the city that I/we live in. But the kids are growing up. They don't like having their identity and loved ones trashed anymore.

Their Dad and Step Monster can pretend I don't exist. They can try to deceive my son's team mates about him having an older sister. They may fool the school into thinking that the kids only live with their Father and not me too. They may even delude themselves into thinking that I am only a visitation to my children and not an actual participating parent.

None of that matters to me or to my children.

After all ...
The relationship between my children and I, that endures and grows, despite evil attempts to extinguish it, ... does indeed exist.

And we grow stronger with each one of their efforts to snuff it out.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Grocery Husband

Since we are going to Las Vegas to meet my Mom/Step Dad & Aunt/Uncle for Thanksgiving, my husband suggested that we have a Thanksgiving dinner celebration with the kids this weekend.

Great idea honey!

So he calls me from work at lunch yesterday to go over the menu for our feast. He was oddly excited as we talked about food. Turkeys are on sale. If I buy a turkey and $10.00 worth of food and 2 cases of Pepsi, I get a $15.00 rebate. (He says maybe he'll go back again tomorrow, do the whole deal/rebate/buy/spend thingy and have another rebate sent to my oldest daughters house. Only one rebate per household. You know the drill.)

He volunteered to go to the grocery store on his way home from work to get the goods.

Ok... what gives?? He doesn't like to grocery shop... And... he hates doing anything alone, let alone grocery shop.

Anyway, he calls me on his way home from the store, after he has shopped, to tell me to get the kids ready, unlock the back door and turn on the porch light.

Why?? Have you been drinking??

No, because I have a lot of stuff and I need all your help. Be ready to help in 5 minutes to come outside and give me a hand.

So the kids happily and with much excitement (NOT) got their shoes on and waited by the back door for him to get home.

We all grabbed bags and filled our arms with groceries. Between the 4 of us, we managed to get the food in the house in just two trips!

My husband placed a 19 pound turkey on the kitchen table and made us all "come see"

Come see what? The turkey? In it's plastic wrapper? What are we looking for .... or at? And why do you have that goofy look of satisfaction on your face? It's just a turkey, right? Or is there a winning lottery ticket up it's butt?

No... no lottery ticket, but look how much money I saved on the turkey.

Oh.... I'm sorry.... ok...of course.... good savings honey (children giggling in the background)

My daughter asked "What is all this stuff for anyway?"

We had wanted the dinner to be a surprise, but with enough food to open up a shelter, I had no choice but to reveal the pre-Thanksgiving feast plans.

"Oh great" she says. "Who else is coming over?"

Ummmmmmm...... no one, why?

Mom, we just filled two refrigerators with food. The turkey will take 4 days to thaw. Come on Mom... who else is coming?

Nope.... no one else.... Just go with it honey, your Step Dad is not too familiar with moderation.

And he's way to excited about all the money he saved. I will stroke his genius, money saving ego some more, and I may never have to step foot in a grocery store again.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Happy Birthday Dad

Hi Dad,

I remembered your birthday today. You would have been 68 years old. I can't believe it's been 21 years since you left this earth when I was just 21 myself. The only granddaughter that you ever so briefly laid eyes on is now 21 herself.

I think about you all the time. I miss you terribly. Every year that goes by, my love and appreciation for your presence in my life continues to grow, almost as if you were still here. The impact you had on me shows itself more strongly as I creep up to the age that you were when you died.

My self-worth and self-love stem from the constant and consistent love you showered on me since the day I was born. If it's only one thing I was ever ever sure of growing up, it was my place in your heart. I knew I was special because you told me so. I knew I was the most important thing in your life, because you told me so.

Even though you and Mom divorced when I was in the third grade, you never missed a Sunday visit with me. Not once in all those years. Those Sunday's were crammed with a weeks worth of quality. You introduced me to Abbot & Costello, Shirley Temple and The Three Stooges. My love of baseball comes from you. Your silly sense of humor made me light and easy going. The sensitivity and empathy you displayed towards others led me to reach out and love without fear. You taught me to laugh, to live in the moment, to cherish friends, to take nothing for granted and to give back.

Even though you're not physically here, you're always within me. My life is a perfect example of all you ever cared about.

The world is no better for having lost you, but heaven is happy to have you. This I know.

Happy Birthday Dad. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

The Detroit Institute of Art

Last year, in between Christmas and New Years, my Aunt Sandy had one of her watercolors displayed at The Detroit Institute of Arts.

My Mom & Dad, Sister & Brother-in-Law with kids in tow met my husband & I, with our kids in tow, downtown to check it out.

Pretty exciting!

She and my Uncle Jack , whom is also an artist, are as close as my family gets to celebrities, lol

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Bullseye

I was telling my sister the missing sock story and she said that her husband had done something funny just last night.

After he exited the bathroom, he said "Do you want to see something?" to my sister.

She's said, "ummmmmm I don't know if I want to see something after you've just left the bathroom"

He pulls up his shirt and there is a BIG RED round stain right there on his chest.

Apparently a red pen in his shirt pocket had leaked. The leak wasn't apparent from the front of the shirt.

My sister said it looked just like a bullseye.

That'll teach him to carry pens around in his pocket, (nerd... lol)

Funnier Still ...

So my husband calls me for second time this morning.

Husband:
"Do you want to hear something else that is funny?"

Me:
"Of course, I do"
(thought bubble in my brain .... "oh what stupid thing did their step mom do or say now? LOL!"

Husband:
"I got to work and went to rest my arm on my desk and felt a bulge in my shirt sleeve."

Me:
"OH THE MISSING ELUSIVE SOCK!!!"

Husband:
"Yeah, the sock. I walked around all morning with this shirt on. I drank coffee. I brushed my teeth. I shaved. I put my coat on. I drove the kids to school and then drove all the way to work. And it was only when I put my arm on my desk that I realized there was a BULGE in my sleeve."

BACKGROUND ON THE MISSING SOCK:

There are times when I've done the laundry, as most have, and come up with a missing sock. The missing socks in our home always turn right up in the next load. A sock is never alone for long here.

But two weeks ago, a sock was missing it's mate and it didn't turn up in the next load... or the next.... or the next.... never!

This really troubled my organized (anal) husband. He was sincerely bothered about the missing sock. He was concerned about it's whereabouts.... what happened to it.... well, where was it.... how can a sock just disappear?? ....

And not only was he concerned about the missing sock.... he simply did not know what to do with the "non-missing" sock!

I put the lone sock in his sock drawer with sure anticipation that it's mate would turn up. My husband took the lone sock out of his drawer. (He couldn't have the lone sock in his drawer... it apparently messed him up, LOL)

So the lone sock sat on top of his dresser for a couple days. This must have mis-aligned him with the planets because he moved it to the top of my dresser, which bothered me. Why do I have to have his lone sock on my dresser? Why do I have to look at a lone sock for weeks anyway??

So... I put it in a place where it could be found when the mate turned up.

After my husband called to tell me about the "bulge", I went to retrieve the mate.

I can't find it!

Funny ... . But Sad

On the mornings that my kids are with us, my husband drops our high school-er off at her bus stop on his way to work. Then he pulls into my ex-husbands driveway to drop my son off so that the boy can catch the middle school bus from there 1/2 hour later.

Two years ago, when my son was in elementary school and my daughter started middle school, the kids started school too late in the morning for my husband to drop them off and still get to work on time. So I would do it. In the beginning of that first year, when the kids had different start times, I would drop my daughter off at her bus stop and then drop my son off at his Dad's so that he could catch the bus 1/2 hour later.

After about two weeks of doing this, my son begged me not to drop him off at his Dad's anymore on my mornings because his step mom was bothering him. She would analyze his outfits, his backpack, his lunch, his teeth, his hair... etc.... and make critical remarks about anything and everything. She took the key chains that he was collecting (from me) off of his back back and told him "they look gay". She made him take off his rubber "support our troops" bracelet (from me) and told him "it was girlie". Her behavior towards him literally made him sick to his stomach in the mornings.

So for two years while my kids had different start times, my son and I would "hang" out for the 1/2 hour difference so that he wouldn't have to deal with her.

Now that the boy is in the middle school and his Dad works from home, (Dad wasn't working from home two years ago and wasn't there to witness, stop, prevent or protect my son from his stepmother), my son feels like he can deal with her better or just avoid her in the mornings if he has too. (Remember the "Are you trying to grow a mustache?" post?)

So today, my husband calls me right after he dropped the kids off and said "the kids were really excited when I dropped them off this morning."

So... here's me..... before he could tell me why... I'm thinking.... oh... maybe they're going away over the weekend... maybe their Dad got them a surprise... Oh... what wonderful thing can it be?

Finally, I asked him "What are they so excited about?"

My husband said.... "Because their Step mom's car is not home."

"You would have thought they were going to Disney World"

Funny..... But Sad

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Weird Boy

The Boy Can be so Weird




















Scary Donation

My husband took Friday off, which was really great. He helped me get the grocery shopping done for the following week. He filled my car up with gas and was nice enough to accomplish a couple other "assignments" that I needed done around the house.

The last few bags of donations from my massive clean-out were placed in my car trunk on Friday with the intention of dropping them off at the local Good Will before picking the kids up from school.

Well... time ran out and we didn't get a chance to deliver the bags on Friday like planned.

On Saturday evening, my son and I were preparing baked french toast for Sunday's breakfast when I realized that the 24 pack of eggs that my hubby and I bought on our Friday grocery run had NOT made their way into our cart or car .... grrrrrrrrrrr

So my son and I decided to run up to the local store to get MORE eggs. As I parked the car and turned off the radio, we heard this faint noise from within the car. It was kinda muffled. It was a deep voice. It was groaning and grumbling. It was a scary sounding.

My son slowly turned his head towards me in the driver seat with a look of sheer terror on his face. His eyes were really wide; His body movements were delayed as he strained to listen "where" the horrible sounds were coming from. He whispered... "Mom... what in the heck is that??"

I immediately recognized it as the talking Morphman monster that my son had decided he no longer wanted two weeks ago when we sorted out his room.

Apparently something was pressing up against it, making it talk. It was only in the silence that it could actually be heard. That toy always sounded as if there were a murder taking place so I was glad to be rid of it.

I was cracking up so hard once he realized what it was. And then he laughed too, although he admitted he was "REALLY freaked out" for a bit.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Go BLUE!!

Today's the day!

The biggest college football rivalry in my home state.

University of Michigan (Gold & Blue) vs Michigan State (Green & White)

My husband and I are die hard U of M fans.
My son wants Michigan State to win.

I have friends who are die hard Michigan State fans. My best friend went to Michigan State. The game is at Michigan State, so she told me to watch for her and her hubby on TV today .... they'd be the two in the green shirts, LOL!

We are flying our U of M flag and having friends (Only the UofM fans, LOL) over to watch the game.

GO BLUE!!!



The losing teams die hard fans have to fly the rival flag for one week.

Again... GO BLUE!!!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Halloween Pics

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!!














UPS & XBOX

Our XBOX 360 broke down a few weeks ago!

I couldn't believe it. It is less than a year old. It was the only gift that my son got (and wanted) for Christmas last year. It was almost $400.00 so it became his birthday gift for this past March too.

10 months of use and the hard drive crashed. RIDICULOUS!

However.... XBOX is fixing it for free because luckily it is still covered under warranty. They sent a box for it to be returned to Microsoft for repair. We sent it out about 3 weeks ago.

So... I got an automated phone call from UPS today stating that a package from Microsoft was due for delivery tomorrow (Thursday).

Yahoooooo..... my son will be so excited (and my husband too!)

The package will be delivered between 8:00AM and 7:00PM.

Ummmmmmm..... thanks for narrowing that down for me UPS!!!!
(Worse than the cable guy!)

Tough Love vs Spanking

Most of America 's populace think it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of "those moments."

One that I found effective is for me to just take the child
for a car ride and talk.

They usually calm down and stop misbehaving
after our car ride together.

I've included a photo below of one of my sessions
with my son, in case you would like to use the technique.



I think this will work with grandchildren, nieces, and nephews as well.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Last Years Halloween Pics






Halloween is tomorrow. This is the first year that all three of my children will not be going out for trick or treating from our home. Of course my oldest daughter stopped going a long time ago. My 14 year old daughter and 12 year old son will be at their Father's this year.

Luckily, we have a 2 year old granddaughter to start all the traditions that my 3 kids will eventually outgrow. She was a pony last year. I can't wait to see what she comes over as tomorrow.







Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Vegas=White Trash??

Please allow me a petty gossip moment.

If you've read my "Viva Las Vegas" post, you know how much I love to vacation in Vegas.

And if you've read my "The Answer of Avoidance", "She Sends Her Evil Comments" or "Am I the Only One" posts, you know how much (and why) I don't like my children's Stepmother.

I share joint physical custody of my kids with their Father, therefore, I let my ex-husband know when/where I'll be when I go on a vacation. (This also means that his 2ND wife, my children's stepmother also knows where I'm going)

Our yearly trip to Las Vegas is approaching next month and recently my kids stepmother told my kids
(and I quote) ...

"Las Vegas is for white trash"

Up until that comment, I truly did not know exactly what white trash meant, so I've taken the liberty of copying the definition that I found on the Internet below.

DEFINITION OF WHITE TRASH


an offensive term for White people who are impoverished


White trash is a derogatory term with a classist component targeted almost exclusively at non-Latino white people and connoting low social status or poor prospects (i.e., downward mobility) or lack of education. ...

That poor woman is just so obnoxious!

Hockey Parents


Hockey has been a big part of our family life for about 15 years now. My ex-husband has played on a "senior" league since I've know him. He's been playing hockey since he was a child. This interested our oldest daughter who started playing hockey at the age of 6 and until she was 16 years old. Our son has been playing hockey since he was 4 years old.

Recently we attended one of my 12 year old son's hockey game. It started out nice enough, but progressed into something ugly and loud by the third period. And I'm not talking about the players. I'm talking about the parents. As our home team pulled ahead by two goals in the third period, several parents from the other team started shouting and hollering at the ref's about every call and one lady screamed "HIT HIM" at the top of her lungs, several times, I presume to her own child. This comment got some parents on our team heated and "talking back" at the other team's parents. It became difficult to just enjoy watching my son participate in a game he has loved since he yielded a mini hockey stick in diapers.


The children on these two teams are still tweens. They're out there skating and having fun, trying to enjoy the game, while some parents are projecting their own emotions and passionate need to win on their children. I truly was disgusted by some of the parents display of poor sportsmanship and their aggressive demeanor. Their anger was written all over their faces and clearly amplified in their shouts.

These kids are not going to be professional NHL hockey players. They're not going to the be in the Olympics. I just hope the good memories these children should have by just loving to play the game are not overshadowed by their parents ignorant embarrassing behavior.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Las Vegas


My husband and I go to Las Vegas every year. We're never there alone. It's a big production.

It all started 15 years ago with my sisters wedding. About 30 of our family members and friends met out there for the event. Many of us have been going back every year since. My parents along with my husband and I have consistently met up in Vegas with whoever else could make it that year, for the last 9 years. I guess you could say we are the constant consistent originals of the group.

Most people might assume that vacationing with other people, let alone a bunch of people would be difficult. But, somehow from the beginning, it's always been easy and tons of fun. Obviously we can't, nor would we want, to do everything together all the time, but we plan a meal a day together and coordinate itineraries to meet for cocktails, sight-seeing, or shows etc. throughout our stay.

Some of the very best times in my entire life have been while vacationing with these people.

The month long countdown before we all leave our various locations in the USA to meet starts today. I truly can't wait.