If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.

So DID Lance remember my birthday? Well, yes and no. More NO than yes. ************************************************************************* Mind you I reminded him Saturday - that is why I had a girls night out. And I reminded him Tuesday - again. So how could he forget by Wednesday - because he sucks! *********************************************************************** I called him twice on Wednesday, to check in - as usual. We talked about him picking up the kids, and what he would cook for dinner - normal stuff. He said he was cooking spaghetti, clear sign that he 'forgot' it was my birthday. Aside from the fact that he never said 'happy birthday'. *************************************************************************** I get home around 5pm, and I see a cake hidden (not very well) behind the coffee pot. Yes, it is a small round cake. ha! I giggle to myself...that is him winging it. I bring in the flowers and necklace the lady in my office bought m...

Today I get to add one more candle to my birthday cake, I am 33. So the story goes..... 33 yrs ago my father was given the opportunity to name me. My mother was 17 when she had my brother, and she named him. At 19, she knew my brother could not be an only child - so I entered the world. I 'think' around 11am in the morning. The story is told that my father named me *Michelle*, without much hesitation. My mother waited for the rest, he looked at her as if to say, 'what else do you want?' My mother waited for my middle name......my father looked around the room, acted thoughtful and then said Rose, we will call her Michelle Rose Bates. My father must have been rather pleased with himself, which sent my mothers red flags up, and after he left she gave the entire situation additional thought. She says she was looking around the room, noticed the box of maxi pads on her hospital tray and it listed all of the months and their flowers. I was born in June, and the flower is a r...

Well, we rented a room at the Casino / hotel. This is Rachel and I BEFORE everything went awry. As a disclaimer, I LUV this girl. We have been friends since kindergarten, she knows everything about me and still loves me anyway. As usual when we go out, we had the buddy system. If one girls leaves, we both leave - it does not matter where or when. We skip to the bathroom, holding hands and smiling. Here we are in the Bottle Neck Blues Bar. L-R (Misty (sister), Me, Rachel and Angie). We are ready to have an adult good time and SO glad we do not have to drive. I am puker, it is a known fact. My husband would have expected nothing less. And Rachel, also knows that I am a pucker. So at midnight, after my second shot of god knows what, I had to excuse myself. Hand in hand Rachel and I made our way to our hotel room, and like a great friend, she held my hair while I was folded over the toilet. Then I made my way into my PJ's and found a soft bed. I was out from midnight unti...

Here is the next meeting.....if I cannot swing a sitter, the hubby will stay home with kids. update on my weekend coming shortly.....

Here are the kids yesterday, feeling poorly. After dinner, Lance plays with the kids while I pick up. Last night, everyone was feeling better and ready to have some fun. This was just the beginning of them running around. It is nice to see them all smile again. This series notes how my husband refuses to get rid of things. We set the pool aside last year, in order to use it again this year for the kids. Well, as you can see it is being used, BUT not in the way it was intended. It is also surrounded by the landscaping rocks that Lance HAD to have, but has done nothing with. This is how the people in Jeffo Co go swimming - ha! I don't know about your kids, but my kids can have a great time with items I 'think' are useless. This pool is useless, but somehow they have decided it is their next new toy (or nap location). It will make its way to the trash pick-up for next week. ********************************************************************************** The kid...

I have been mending sick kiddo's.... Tuesday I took Rylan to the Walgreens doc-n-a-box, because our doctor is on vacation. I knew he had swimmers ear, so I thought it would be a no-brainier. Just issue me some ear drops and send us on our way. PLEASE. The kid was in pain Monday night, woke me up at 3:30 in tears because it hurt so bad. I gave him some pain med, and a heating pad and sent him back to bed. That seemed to hold him over until we could get in at 8am. The doc gave us some ear drops, while giving the doc Rylan's medical history I stressed he is cleft and he has tubes. The doc states, I cannot see his tubes, but his ears are infected. He issued me drops, I went to get them filled and we waited for the relief. Today is Thursday and STILL no relief. Well, let's back up. I get home last night around 4:30 and Pyper is alseep. Warning flags go up, this is not like her. Lance states ' the sitter says Pyper started running a low fever around 2pm, and was cli...

I was thinking about all of the 'men' in my life (no not like that!). There have been alot of men that have contributed to my notion of a father, these men include - my own father, my grandparents, and my uncles. When I break it all down all of these men have one thing in common, they all work manual labor. Mechanics, auto body, construction, carpentry, farming, etc. You can tell by their face and hands that they put in a hards day work, they are the gentle giants of my world. Their tempers are weathered, and are only soothed by a good woman and a stiff drink. They have a sense of macho-ism about them that warms me to my soul and infuriates me at the same time. They like to walk into a restaurant with 'you' on their arm, they like that other men find you attractive, but get pissed when anyone acts on it. They have an angry streak that will put holes in walls and total cars. Then they have a loving streak that will take your breath away. They work daily to a pr...

There was a time in our life when we could just spell words and our kids would not get them. Such as, Rylan is T-I-R-E-D and hubby and I would nodd and get him to bed. Now that Rylan is 7 (going on 14), he is reading and spelling like a champ. The last time I said Rylan is T-I-R-E-D ; he responded with 'I am not tired, I want to stay up.' Or when I would need to sneak to the store (because it is easier than bringing kids), I would spell 'G-O-I-N-G' and the usual nodd would happen and I would attempt to sneak out. Now Rylan states 'Where are you going? Can I come?' Which inevitably sends Pyper to find her shoes, and I end taking both kids to the store rather than going alone. If hubby and I wanted to get 'friendly' after the kids went to bed, we would spell out words, and nodd in agreement. We have stopped spelling, bottom line. Now we have resorted to speaking code, and that goes something like this (last night). We are in the kitchen, Lance is maki...

*******************************************************************************' Last night Rylan stayed at a friends house, so we had Pyper. We went to a local Mexican rest, Pyper hammed it up with some unknown locals. I tell her it is time to go, (she is standing next to table of two couples) she kisses each one of them good-bye. This child does not know a stranger - I almost fell over. ****************************************************************************** Drove to Costco last night to pick-up 4lbs of shrimp for Fathers's Day. They do not get the delivery until Friday -GRRRRR! Picked up wine instead. (smile). **************************************************************************** This lady at work is about to get 'whacked' up side the head. She is a Secretary, and she finds it necessary to tell me how to do my JOB. How does one 'politely' tell her to shut her PIE hole? Perhaps I could stuff it donuts? ************************************...

Dear gosh, my car smells like garbage. Why you may ask - because apparently the cooler plug came off and the water drained into my car / at the same time the lighter fluid also leaked into my car. Guess who was in charge of packing the car and sealing these items - dear ol'hubby. I called him at lunch today, stating 'my car (trailblazer) STINKS!!' **************************************************************************** Apparently, my spare tire has a compartment in the bottom of my trunk rather than on the side. Which equals a pool of YUCK - because the cooler water and lighter fluid are resting next to the tire iron. *Only, I didn't know I had a pool of YUCK, until it started growing hair, feet and arms. It is the type of smell that burns your nose hairs. I think I smell like garbage, you know how smells 'stick' to you. Sort of like being in a smoky barr - only I am in a stinky carr. ugh. **************************************************************...

The boys set up a tent to camp. The girls spent the night at my mom's. *Maybe next year, I will try to camp with Pyper . Lance cooling off. With the help of Pyper . Words not needed! The kids LOVED it! Poor tadpoles. Pyper squished one of them, she is still learning how to be 'soft'. We did 'round up crawfish , tadpoles and small fish to bring back to my dad's pond. Happy Father's day....on the cheap side. We had a great weekend at the river. My kids are totally worn out - they are still trying to recover. Sleeping like rocks for the last two nights. *Happy to report no one got sun-burnt. ************************************************************************* One more thing, if you get time - head over to 'little bald doctors' the mom is feeling down and could use some words of encouragement. http://littlebalddoctors.wordpress.com/

And I thought I was too old to use a *fake name at the barr. I also thought I was too old to stay out until 2am on a work night. Well, apparently last night I regressed. Lance and I *had* a game plan, prior to leaving we agreed, we would leave the benefit prior to 11pm and get home in time for bed and work. Well, as usual we got caught up in the moment - enjoyed ourselves and by the time 11 o'clock rolled around we not ready to go home. We thought out loud 'why go home, the kids are in the country until Saturday - and we will be able to get up tomorrow.' All I can say is - bad idea!!! We should have stuck to the game plan. The benefit went well, everyone seemed to have a good time and money was raised. Plus, for me personally, I had friends and family around - so I was happy. The friends that I invited all won some sort of prize - from a BIG bottle of wine (5 liters) to cards tickets. I laughed, ate, danced and drank. For real, what could be better?? As we were leav...

I thought last night would be smooth and easy transition, but apparently the kids took an extra dose of 'crack'. All 6 of them were terrors - and we had to drive 1 1/2 hours south. DEAR GOD!! I made it to my sisters in record time - 5:30pm. We loaded up the van, only this load was an extra load. It had 6 kids, 6 over night bags, two adults and a pool from Sams. That's right, a big pool from Sams for my mother. In order to load the kids and pool, we took out the middle seats, put the pool and 3 kids on the floor. *I know, they should be in seats and have belts - next time, I swear . (My mother requested the pool due to the fact that it was going to be so damn hot, and it would give the kids something to do.) ******************************************************************************** So, the three little kids get buckled in the back seat and the three older kids gather on the floor around the pool. We stop at McDonald's to grab dinner - *because we are AWSOME...

Is it Wed already?? I woke up this morning thinking it was Tues. This evening I will run around like a chicken with my head cut off... I will pick up the kids from the sitters. Go to my sisters to load them up in her van (w/her 4 kids) and we will ALL make our way to the country (down past Farmington). My mom is going to keep all of our kids until Saturday. -Thursday night I have a benefit at Andre's to attend from 7-11. My sister put the benefit together to help her friend who lost her husband recently. Anyone is welcome to come... *For $40.00 you will get dinner, drinks (beer, wine, and mixed drinks-open BAR) and music from Johnny Rocket. -Friday night, I 'think' we might go to Ameristar to see the Wild Stallions. If we don't do that, then Lance and I will do something fun- I demand it. I suggested to him that we either go to a dinner theater or go to the funny bone. We will see what Friday brings. -Saturday we will head to the country to pick up our kids - bu...

Let me set the tone ..... I leave last night around 6:30 to attend a night meeting. I have to attend two night meetings a month. We ALL understand this schedule, so it should be no big deal. I get out of the meeting by 9 and I am home by 9:30. My kids are, normally, in bed by 8:30. I get home, walk thru the kitchen and I hear the TV still on. No big deal, I figure Lance is up watching the history channel. I round the corner and see Pyper laying on the couch, next to her dad. Her dad is lounged out, arm behind his head, hand in his pant and snoring. Pyper on the other hand, pops her head up as soon as she see's me and grins. She jumps up, starts talking and trys to get past her dad - as she passes him she stops, places her little finger to her lips and states 'Shhhh mom, dad seeping.' I snort -IMAGINE that! Dear heaven - what is he doing???? I nudge him once, twice - THREE times. He looks startled ' uhh, what are you doing home?' And the beat goes on.............

Dear god, if you hear me PLEASE give me strength, wisdom and the words to keep my children safe. I know this first line is really sobering, but I am 'afraid' my son is being abused by the neighbor boy (who is only 8). If you are not looking for a 'downer' today, then stop reading. If you continue to read, and could offer me a bit of advice, I could use it.......... My neighbors are weird, they have ALWAYS been weird - I think they are swingers and were feeling us out the first two years we lived there. But since 'we' gave no indication of wanting to talk about our sex life and did not prompt them to continue with half-ass drunk advances, they began to leave us alone. For the most part, Lance and chalked it all up as a couple that were a bit more open about their bedroom activities than we were. But keeping it in the back our minds. We don't hang out with them, we are polite and say hello if we see them, but nothing else. They have two kids a 15 yr old ...