Steppin' up!

I had a little (teary) chat with FG about the kids.  I was open and honest about what I saw and where I saw things going and how much it hurt me.  I think sometimes we as parents get into a rut with our kids.  We get used to things being a certain way and whether or not it's good, we don't even realize what is going on.  So I told him and he listened and I think it hurt.  I didn't want to hurt him but sometimes we have to hurt to get better.  I know I'm not #1 Mother of the Year by any means.  I know.  I hear myself saying things and I don't like it. So I try to stop, breathe and change my attitude.  How can I ask my kids to change theirs if I won't change mine?

Anyway, I have to give FG big kudos.  BIG ones.  He has been soooo much easier on them with his tone of voice and his approach to them.  I told him he "barks" at them a lot.  He's working on that.  I told him he's too quick to get really annoyed and on them for things and he's working on that too. I told him it seems like he just wants the kids to go away and leave him alone and (this is where I really cried) he'll get that in a few years when our son is in middle school and we "lose" him - possibly to the wrong types of kids.  So today he took DS golfing.  He planned to stay with him for the kid's lesson and their 9-hole round but was told to just pick him up in 2 1/2 hours.  A few days ago he took the training wheels and pedals off DD's bike and helped her learn to balance and steer.  Yesterday she asked for the pedals to be put back on. He immediately got a wrench and put them back on and helped her learn to ride.  Success!!!! She learned to ride!  He ran along side her, holding on a few times, taught her to brake and never let her fall so she would gain confidence.  It was awesome.

So as much as I dreaded having that chat. I think he's glad I did.  I know I am.

Parenting problems....

First off, I need to get this off my chest.  FG has been in a pissy mood lately.  Let me tell ya, I'm not overly excited for Father's Day because I don't feel like he's being a very good father.  Awful to say about the man I had these children with but hey, it's bugging me and I needed to get it OUT. 

Second, yesterday was the only day we didn't have something to do since school got out a week ago.  Yay!  Laundry and I decided it was a good day to let the kids just chill and for me to clean the upstairs carpets (minus their rooms because that would take a week to get through all the little precious CRAP they have in there!).  Oh. My. God.  I think I went up & down our stairs 100 times.  I was so dead tired.  All the laundry, changing the bedroom sheets AND cleaning the carpets? Am I insane?!

Here's the parenting problems.... my kids.  Ha!  No seriously.  We (I, FG, grandparents) have to ask them about 1000 times to do something before they listen.  I feel like a hard ass, mean mom because I go from  asking in a normal way to bascially yelling at them to do whatever it is I asked.  It's extremely frustrating.  I've tried reasoning with them. I've tried talking to them and telling them that it can't be this way, they have to listen. I've tried counting things down but damn, nothing is working. I feel like I have to STAND over these kids to get them to brush thier f'ing teeth in less than 1/2 hour!  (and believe me, it's not 1/2 hour of brushing, it's 27 minutes of jerking around and usually making some sort of mess and about 3 minutes total of getting the whole brushing process done).  For example, this morning I made breakfast and baked some muffins.  I sent them upstairs after they ate and started in on cleaning up and putting the muffins in the oven. Their instructions were to go make their beds and get dressed.  It's now 11:30 and they haven't done either.  I've asked, threatened, ordered.... everything short of standing there while they get thier shit DONE.  It's getting old standing there and for pete's sake, they are 9 1/2 & nearly 6!  I'm so tired of being ignored. I'm tired of them acting like neanderthals!  Any other advice?  It's going to be such a long summer and hovering over them isn't at the top of my list.  Taking away privledges hasn't been real effective either.

Present but not present....

These are the things keeping me away from the computer..... I'm not present online but I'm present with my family!

1. I think the schools/teachers pack in a ton of stuff at the end of the year so we all really really appreciate summer!
2. Kindergarten Graduation (FG has the pics and hasn't given them to me yet :(  They are so dang cute!!!) and having a "Donut Date" with her teacher and a couple of friends after the ceremony.  I really think I made two new friends this year in both of my kids' teachers. 
3. DS's end of the year "Teach the Class a Lesson".  How cool is that for a 3rd grader to do?  Each kid had to prepare a lesson plan and teach the class something.  DS taught Paper Airplanes and DD and I stayed in class to watch him.  It was great.  They addressed him as "Mr. ____" and they raised their hands to ask questions.  So cool.  His teacher sat with me on the last day of school for quite awhile and gave me her phone numbers to call her over the summer.  I told her how much I enjoyed being in her classroom too and could talk to her for hours!  She said she would love to get together socially over the summer.  That makes DS happy because he ADORED her.  See below. I'm still a bit freaked out to now have a 4th & 1st grader!

This is DS's picture.  He dumped out a bucket of golf balls we have and he said, "Mom! It'a a miracle! It looks like the United States minus Hawaii & Alaska!"  So he took a pic. 

4. Endless Princess Dress up! 

5.  Good times with good friends.  DD and some of her classmates (Told you she is very tall!).  Her BFF is the one with the blue shirt on the far right.  Yes, her teacher really did rent a cotton candy machine and sugar up those kids on the last day of school!  I painted faces and the kids deemed me good enough at it to "go work at a circus or a carnival or somewhere cool like that!"  This pic was obviously pre-face paint.  I am hoping BFF's mom will email me the facepainting pics soon.

6. Playdates Playdates Playdates!  We jumped right in with one the last day of school.  My sweet friend had me bring over my kids to her house instead of them getting schlepped off to FG's office so I could go to work.  The next day DD's BFF and her brother, DS's 2nd BFF, came over for an entire day-long playdate.  Mostly that was to give their mom a break getting ready for their vacation.  We all know it's tough enough to pack and finish last-minute stuff without two kiddos around!  So I kept them here for the day and we made sugar cookies (I had sugar all over my kitchen) and played lots of wii and dress up.  We've had something going on every single day since school got out. Today is the first day it's been quiet and I'm catching up online, with laundry & cleaning my bedroom carpets.  I think I'd rather have another playdate!

This is the result of all the going going going we've been doing.  Poor DD put on too-warm jammies and was so darn tired, she couldn't manage to do much else but pass out flat!

7.  FG and I also celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary.

8. We took the boat out for the first time of the season.  It ran well and we had a great day!

I am really looking forward to the rest of summer.  We're having an Oscar Mayer Hot Dog House Party next weekend.  That will be fun!  We've got lots of other get-together's with friends coming up too.  The kids are both participating in the community theater acting group that DS did last summer and they have rehearsal 2x per week until performances mid-July through beginning of August.  My Grandma is coming to visit too!

Yay Summer!!!!

This town lives up to it's nickname

FG and I got an unexpected date night this past Sat.  How awesome is that?!  I had to work during the day.  My dad called to see if FG could help him with some stuff at their house.  I asked my mom if they wanted the kids to stay the night knowing that they just don't do well with "we're going to your grandparents house for a 1/2 hour."  Oh no.  These kids of mine would move in with my parents for the summer if all adults were willing.  They have the pool, endless ice cream bars/sandwiches/popsicles/cans of Pringles.  They let my kids get completely covered in mud while helping to plan the garden.  They stay up late, they get whatever they want for breakfast, they order pizza... basically, it's FUN there for a couple of spoiled little kids.  So yeah, my mom said sure, pack them a bag. 
FG and I head downtown to a restaurant that is owned by a childhood friend of his.  He's the Brewmeister of this fun brewery/restaurant and FG knows all too well his past experiments.  This guy is a few years older than FG so he was busy practicing his craft and FG was young & stupid enough to drink it.  Thank goodness he's gotten better at his brewing because now he's got several successful restaurants in our little town and the food and beer is YUMMY.
As we sit on the outdoor patio we are seated near the walking path to a parking area where most people park when coming to this area of our crazy downtown. We seem to have a "locals area" and a "tourist area".  Whatever, it's better than the run down casinos that used to be where we were seated!  Anyway, I see several familiar faces in our short time sitting there.  People I've been aquainted with for years living here. 
We head over to the movie theater to see Iron Man 2 (not as good as 1, RDJr. is still funny but gosh he suddenly looks a bit older and more haggared :( ).  Heading towards us we see and old college friend of mine from my football days.  He & his wife are going to the same movie. 
While sitting and waiting for the movie to start, we make small talk and I ask where his girls are that night.  He says they are with a sitter because this is the first time in awhile he's been able to really relax.  Then he drops the bomb that he was on THIS JURY.  Holy Moly!  This news story rocked our town for weeks!  Where they found this poor girl's body, I had been driving past the field taking my son to his acting class for weeks without knowing it.  All that prevented me from seeing her laying there was some tall grassy weeds and about 10 feet.  It had me freaked out for a long time - before & after they found her. 
So the funny thing about meeting up with Old College Friend is this.... when poor Brianna was missing I knew the house she was taken from.  It is right near campus.  I am still close with several of my "big brothers" from the football team.  I remember telling FG how I didn't realize at the time how lucky I was to have all of them around.  Being the only girl to do what I did (team films) and travel with the team I got to be good friends with so many of them and they watched out for me like they would their little sister.  FG remembers meeting several of them very well because they flat out told him he would die if he hurt me. These guys NEVER let me walk by myself.  They always got me home from the bar safely. They never let anyone mess with me or bug me or pick on me.  They gave me plenty to drink but it was always them making sure I didn't go too far or have some strange guy giving me drinks.  Back then, I didn't think much of it except it was pretty cool to never pay for beer and have all these guys to hang out with. 
So this particular OCF/Football player who ended up on this jury and I had a night class together.  Every single T & Th he walked me back to the sorority house from class.  We walked past his apartment, waved at his girlfriend (now wife :) ) and he would say, "I'm taking her home, I'll be home in a minute."  No matter how dead tired he was, he made sure to walk those extra 4 or 5 blocks and watch me get in the door safely.  He was definitely one who crossed my mind when Brianna was taken.  It hit me how lucky I was to have guys like him.  Now to find out he landed on the jury is just such a coincidence. I wondered if I crossed his mind while he was making his decisions.  If he thought about what he did for me; keeping me safe.  (I secretly think he wanted to date me before he started seeing his wife but I never ever dated any of the the guys; no matter how hard their tried or how much they asked because ewwww, they were more like brothers!).  I hope my daughter is as lucky as I was and has some great guys watching her back!
Then of course, while we were chatting after the movie he had been at the shooting range with the husband of one of my friends I met through a playgroup, a guy that I went to h.s. with and one other guy I've known for awhile.  He works with DS's BFF's dad.... it goes on & on in this strange little city.  It really does live up to it's nickname of "The Biggest Little City." 

Shortcake cookies

Sorry I don't have a picture. I took them over to my parent's house for dinner on Monday and we gobbled them up!  It was a great, portable version of strawberry shortcake.  Easy, fast and delicious!

Berry Shortcake Cookies

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

finely grated zest of one small lemon

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup fresh berries

sprinkling sugar for cookie tops

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment or use a silpat mat.

Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl (I didn't sift, I just dumped and blended with a whisk).  Blend in the butter until mixture resembles fine bread crumbs.  Stir in the lemon zest.

Stir in the sour cream and berries and stir until just combined.  (I had strawberries that I had sprinkled sugar on the day before so they had juice in the bottom of the bowl. I ended up adding that juice to the mixture because it was dry.  I guess you could use milk or buttermilk if your mixture is too dry and you don't have the berry/sugar juice).  (This looked and came together like homemade biscuits.  It is, afterall, essentially a biscut dough.)

Spoon 8 mounds, well apart, on prepared baking sheet (these were fairly large, you could make smaller ones that are more "cookie" size and probably bake them a bit less time).  Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake 20 minutes until golden and firm in the center.

Serve warm and eat on the day of baking.

These really were like a strawberry shortcake biscuit.  I have blackberries and raspberries that I want to try with them too.  Cleanup was easy because I used a bowl, a whisk, a couple of measuring devices and a rubber spoonula.  I make homemade biscuits a lot so it really did seem like I was baking drop biscuts but a sweet version instead of the savory ones I generally make.  It was a perfect way to use up the strawberries I had in the syrup after having berries over pound cake the day before.  Enjoy!

I've also been into making my own salad dressings lately. I belive I have posted the Honey Poppy Vinegarette one on here in the past but I'll be sharing the Creamy Avocado one and a yummy Lemon one soon too.  Now that I've converted my closet to summer clothes, it's time to start eating more salads and less, um, Restaurant Style Smashed Potatoes.  But man oh man were they good!!!  FG and I enjoyed them with a london broil on the grill last night.  As soon as I tasted them with the green onions (which I love) I knew the kids wouldn't eat them so they had noodles.  But DS declared the london broil "seasoned and cooked to perfection".  Yeah, I watch Food Network a bit.  At least he ate!  Anyway.... the avocado dressing is scrumptious and I'll be sharing that as soon as I can.  For some reason, things have been a bit busy around here!

There is no global warming here? and a menu.

Yep, that's what some of our friends said the other day.  They are conservative republicans who hate Obama.  They said because we've had snow recently and cold temps, that Global Warming is all made up by the govt.  Uh, whatever.  I am amazed that intelligent people can be so stupid sometimes.  Ice bergs melting?  Nah!  90's in the midwest in May.  A fluke!  Warming trends in the oceans?  All a hoax.  ey yi yi.

So yeah, it's been a tad bit chilly here.  As in we've had snow. Accumulating. Are you freaking kidding me?!  Mother Nature is seriously pissed off at all of us right now. 

I'm hoping for a warm up this weekend but Memorial Day is typically not a warm weekend for us.  It always seems to bring cool temps and wind.  So not a lot of fun.  But we may be going to our new friend's cabin near a lake we love.  I told FG we'll watch the weather and if we think it's going to be nice enough, I'll leave it up to him if he wants to take the boat.  It would be awesome to start using it now!

So yeah, this family that I mentioned in my last post and in this one.... part of my "screw it, I miss friends" attitude.  Well I worked on Sat. day and when I got a break I called home and no one answered.  FG has been trying to take the kids to do some fun stuff while I work so I wanted to see what they were up to.  When I reached him on his cell phone he told me he was just leaving the B's house because they called and wanted our kids to come over.  We decided to just have The B's come over for dinner when they brought the kids home.  So they did and a few hour playdate turned into an all day/all evening playdate.  They left at 10 pm and we had 5 veeerrrrryy tired kids on our hands (thankfully, they took their 3 with them ;) ).  It's so nice though to have this seemingly very casual, comfortable relationship with another family.  We've tossed around the idea of going to their cabin this weekend and we tossed it around some more over dinner.

A side note of GOOD NEWS!!!! 
In the past 4 weeks, FG has had a new client on every week.  He's signed up 4 new clients and he's working on a few more.  That allowed him to write a letter to one that owes us quite a chunk of change and terminate their professional relationship.  These people are like getting blood out of a turnip (is that the expression?).  They are so far behind in paying us and when they do pay us a tiny amount, FG has to work his butt off to get it from them.  Lots of phone calls and sometimes driving to their office to pick up a check.  It's ridiculous!  Hopefully all of the new clients will be good, fast pays!  It's just nice that things seem to be moving in the right direction.  It's still going to be a long time before we are more comfortable but at least we are feeling better that things are looking more positive!

Now my wonderful menu for the week:

• Sunday - Fried chicken (I've been so hungry for it!), roasted russett potato wedges, artichokes, fruit, chocolate surprise cookies
• Monday - homemade pizza
• Tuesday - leftover spaghetti (I work)
• Wednesday - chicken nuggets, mac & cheese (FG's makin' dinner - I work)
• Thursday - beef tips & noodles in the crock pot with gravy, steamed broccoli
• Friday - Chicken fried rice w/ veggies
• Saturday - ??? cabin w/ friends.

Not all that exciting. Not even exciting enough to share on Org. Junkie's list!  I told you all I haven't been making much variation from my norm.  Nothing I haven't shared before anyway.  I've been cooking a ton and my dining room is seeing more action than me.  All good things (except the lack of action for me part - as I told FG at 12:30 when we fell into bed the other night.... social life can screw up a sex life) but it's not leaving much room for creativity!

This is where we kick it into high gear

I think the end of the school year is designed to make all kids, teachers and parents really really wish for summer vacation.  Wow.  It has been crazy with all the stuff going on!  I found out who DD's teacher will be next year.  It will be our first experience with a large class and team teachers.  She can handle it, which is why her K teacher feels that will be the best place for her.  DS's 1st grade teacher is retiring (sniff!) but these two women are, as with 99% of the teachers at our school, wonderful.  DD will be with her BFF from K and her BFF from preschool.  She's happy.  She's independent enough and mature enough that she can handle things on her own. Even though the ratio works out to be the same as with a single teacher class, that's still a lot of kids in one room.  DS will most likely get separated from his BFF, which as of late, I'm all for.  He's wild and makes poor choices and is entirely too inappropriate most of the time.  It sort of surprises me that his parents - both very educated people working in schools as one is a middle school/former HS science teacher and the other is a middle school/high school psychologist - do not correct him with his foul language or disgusting jokes.  (Found out last night that DS now knows what sex is, thanks to Carl.)  Anyway, if they want to be friends on the playground or get together sometimes, that's ok but as far as serious, down-to-business school goes, I think it will be better if they are separated. 
So the end of the year is approaching.  We have about 3 weeks total left.  DD did her very last K homework packet where she did double digit math and read a book to me that she had never seen before.  She sounded out the words and read the whole thing.  She has come a long way! And she's still only 5.  One of the youngest in her class.  I do not regret not waiting.  Socially, she is more mature than many of her classmates and academically, she is ahead of a lot of them.  *Proud Mama!*  Even DS's homework has been very very light.  Which is good because we're pretty much in Summer Vacation Mode around here....

Remember when I whined about friends? I won't even link to how many times I've stated my pet peeve of changing things that bother me and how I hate it when people don't even try.  So yeah, I went and did something about it.  FG and I let go of the fact that the backyard has some weeds in the landscaping and the carpet should be replaced inside.  We LET. IT. GO.  Last summer we didn't have one single BBQ or friend over with the exception of SMA and he doesn't count.  This school year I made a conscious attempt to have more of the kid's friends over.  So we've been doing the playdate thing.  In that, we've found some good friends.  We've been getting together as families and it's working out well.  Last Friday at our impromptu delivery pizza dinner one of the women/moms said, "The more I get to know you, the more I like you.  I knew you were going to be in my life for a reason."  cue the warm fuzzies because seriously, who wouldn't like to hear that about themselves? 

This is how our things have been the past week....
Last Thursday - brought kids home from school for a playdate.  The mom (same one mentioned above) stayed for 1 1/2 hours chatting with FG and I.  She didn't leave until 7 pm and everything was thrown off for the night - dinner, bedtime etc.
Friday - same woman sends me a text just when I'm headed, literally walking to, the Redbox. "Pizza & beer tonight?"  Thus I backed away from the Redbox and it turned into an impromptu gathering with two other families.
Saturday - I worked all day (normally my Sat. off).  Got off at 4:15, had to be at a college graduation party by 5. In bed after midnight.
Sunday - send the kids off to church with my parents & get ready for friends and their kids to come to dinner that night. In bed after midnight again.
Monday - former neighbors are in town from Hawaii. They are like grandparents to my kids.  We have them over to dinner and invite my parents and another couple.  They stay late because we only see them once a year!  In bed well after midnight again.
Tuesday - work in DD's K classroom making graduation hats (sniff sniff!). Bring kids home, pass FG in the garage & go to work.  Come home from work and there's a group of guys here for poker (I knew he was doing it but I wouldn't have really cared if I didn't know).  Finally everyone leaves and FG and I watch Lost in bed. I fall asleep around 11:30 and miss the end. Hey, at least I was asleep before midnight!
Today/Wednesday - taping our show from our local ballpark.  Should be fun, just a lot of extra work.  Working tonight and then the kids need showers (they have been taking them at totally odd times due to our crazy social schedule!).
Tomorrow/Thursday - meeting a friend for lunch or tea in the afternoon.  Whew. I think that's it!
Friday - 1/2 day of school and it's Volunteer Appreciation that the teachers throw for us who work for them all year.  Then there's a book signing event at work that I plan to take the kids to and get the book for their teachers.  FG is playing poker at an event.
Saturday - work again then COLLAPSE.

Sooooo, you see I remedied the "woe is me, we have no friends" by being a bit less uptight and a bit more outgoing.  Ahhhh. I gotta tell ya, as tired as I am, it feels goooooood!  Also, no new recipes still.  I've been sticking to what I know well given the frequency and chaos. 

Cookie cutters, cake pans & a chocolate fountain, oh my!

I was helping out in DD's classroom a few weeks ago when I heard her teacher ask the kids if she had told their parents to bring in a cookie cutter.  The kids all just stared at her.  Then she said, "Tell your parents to bring a cookie cutter to school with you tomorrow."  Being the mother of two children I ask everyday how their school day was.  I usually get a very short answer.  If I do get any other info, it's what so & so did to so & so or some other crazy thing that happened.  I do not get a lot of important info like "bring a cookie cutter today" until we are practically at school.  So I piped up to the teacher, "I have a ton of them, I'll just bring mine tomorrow and the kids don't have to worry about it and then you just know they are all mine." 

That night, I set out to sort my cookie cutters so they weren't such a crazy mess.  I used some of my handy Ziploc giant zipper bags from my Ziploc party.  Once I had them all gathered into one spot and sorted into various themes I realized I have a LOT of cookie cutters.  Holy Moly do I have a lot of cookie cutters!  DD's class is a whopping 16 kids.  I showed up the next day with my arms FULL of cookie cutter bags.  Needless to say, she used 16 of them and it didn't make much of a dent! 

When I offered them up to her, I also told her that if she ever needs cake pans, I've got 'em!  I have, uh, a few bins in my garage of mostly Wilton shaped cake pans and various items to go with it.  I have several from when *I* was a kid and my mom made my birthday cakes.  Cool ones like Holly Hobby and Ziggy. (yeah, so I was a girl in the 70's, gotta problem with that?).  When I was putting all my cookie cutters away and trying to keep them organized, I realized I probably should work on my cake pans & supplies too.  I've outgrown the bins I have and they are now scattered wherever I've found a place. 

I think this summer I'll tackle that project.  The chocolate fountain.... I use it once a year and I've offered it up to friends too.  Really, what am I doing with all this stuff?!

Absence

Sorry about that, all 3 readers of mine! (Dooce gets a TV show, Pioneer Woman gets a movie -WTF?).

Things have been a bit topsy-turvy here.  Not just our weather, which today we woke up to snow. Yes, MF'ing snow (sorry, I'm done being nice about it) and it's predicted to be 80 by this Sunday. 

No, last week my dad was back in the hospital.  It wasn't good and it hasn't been good since. I just got off the phone with him and he's still really bad off.  He's been throwing up since he got home. He feels simply awful.  He went into the hospital for more heart and breathing trouble.  My parents actually called an ambulance.  That means it's really bad.  When two nurses call an ambulance, you know it's serious.  Anyway, it's been tough.  I've been doing what I can but there's really not much I can do.  I made FG drive us all out to their house on Sat. afternoon after I got off work and mow their lawn.  The LAST thing I needed my dad doing was stressing over the long grass.  FG grumbled, I told him to get over it and be a decent humand being. 

Then there has been a ton of stuff at school.  First, it was Teacher Appreciation Week.  I worked on a really awesome project with another mom for DS's 3rd grade teacher.   She loved it and that makes me happy. 
Then there were two unnerving phone calls from the school.  Last week, I got a call about 20 minutes after school was supposed to begin.  From The Principal.  That is just never a good thing. They don't call you to say, "Your son is just awesome."  No, they call when there's a problem.  Oh, the week before it was the nurse who called to tell me that she took my son's temp and it was normal.  Uh, OK.  Then she wanted to send him home because he informed her his "salivary glands hurt" and he had told her his eyes were crusty when he woke up that morning.  I told her that I sent in a note letting the teacher know that his seasonal allergies were acting up and they have a tendency to settle in his eye when he sleeps.  Thankfully, the nurse did not make me bring him home.  Back to the call from The Principal.  She knows me. Heck I'm at school enough she knows me by name.  The reason for the call was that the bus got in an accident on the way to school that morning and some children were being checked out for neck pain.  She let me talk to my son who was not injured.  Actually, none of the kids really were hurt at all, they were just being super-cautious.  DS told me how cool it was when the car hit the bus.  Typical boy.  He was fine.

Yesterday morning I got up late and decided to shower after DS got on the bus.  Dumb Mommy Move of the day was to send DS on the bus in the first place with his diorama for class.  But dammit, I didn't get much a rest on Mother's Day, that extra 1/2 hour of sleep was great, especially on a cold Monday morning.  So my selfishness was rewarded with a frantic phone call from DS's teacher 15 min after school began.  (But now I have her cell phone number - woo!) His diorama fell apart on the way to school and he was in a tizzy.  The sensory part of the kid could NOT calm down over it.  "Could you please come down and help him fix it?"  was her plea and then his plea.  So after a super fast shower and got DD ready, I was at the school about 40 min later, hot glue gun in hand.  I went into disaster relief mode and became the Red Cross for Dioramas.  I got it all fixed up and then stayed to listen to his presentation.  He got an A+, whew!  After looking (and yes, admittedly comparing) at the other kids' dioramas, I was super-proud of my son. 

I've also been absent from the computer for a few other reasons. 1) the one I'm using sort of limps along. I dont' like it and miss having one that works well.  2) I'm trying very hard to focus on real-life relationships.  Not that cyber friends aren't exremely important to me!  I'm just doing a lot of in-person interacting.  I'm trying to use the phone as opposed to email so much.  I'm trying to have more playdates and social dates with friends.  I've lamented before on how I miss being social and having close friends at times and I've also shared my pet peeve of not attempting to change things that bother a person.  So I am trying to remedy that part and so far it's working well.  But there are only so many hours in a day, which means the computer time gets cut.

Also, I haven't made ANY new recipes lately!  I need to, as DD told me the other day (made up from her head), "get off the spatula and get cookin' again!"

Great book on less toxic living!

I checked out this book from the library weeks ago.  I stuck it on a shelf when people were coming over and didn't pull it back out until I realized it was due back.  Then I started thumbing through it.  I renewed it.

Better Basics for the Home by Annie Berthold-Bond.  Simple solutions for less toxic living.  It is full of recipes for various household formulas.  I plan on mixing up a batch of weed killer this weekend!  Salt, vinegar and liquid detergent.  I just have to go get some better liquid detergent.  FG and I have a huge battle of the weeds. They are out of control in our rocks.  Literally.  He will whack them down and then BURN them.  Uh, we live in the DESERT.  Burning is not a good idea!  He does it regularly and I'm just waiting for him to get in trouble.  It's such a big no-no!!!  Thankfully he's always got the hose right there but still. Dude. It just seems stupid to me!  Anyway, he doesn't like to use harsh chemicals on the weeds.  I know we could literally erradicate them in an instant but our animals and our kids play in our yard.  Do I really want that crap on their bare feet or their hands when they are exploring?  So we just live with a jungle of awful weeds.  We pull, we do use some weed killer on areas that they don't play, he burns.  Yet they seem to be always present.  I'm hoping this formula, used on the rocks will help.  Even if we do have to do it every few weeks, it's non-toxic so I don't mind. 

There's recipes for just about any & every household product in this book.  Right down to shampoo and homemade hair dye.  I plan to copy many of them and eventually buy the book.  I will draw the line at using whipped egg whites as a hair mousse though. 

I have been happily using baking soda and vinegar for a few years to clean.  Yes, I do still use the occasional Comet but most of the time, it's baking soda and vinegar.  It works well and it's super duper cheap!  I also told FG that I am switching from OxyClean to Borax after this box is gone.  I do love the way OxyClean gets out stains so well though!  Does anyone know how awful it is for the environment? I know it's derived from hydrogen peroxide but don't know how bad that or any of it's other ingredients are. 

So check out the book if you are looking for some alternatives.  I need to hit up our health food store for some items to make a salve for DS's eczema spots.  The Dr. gave us an oil that worked well and it was mostly made of peanut oil (thankfully, no allegies here!).  I'm hoping I can use the recipe in this book and make it with peanut oil and give him some relief!

forgot....

two things.

I have hesitated sharing this but thought I would anyway... sexy FG and his dumb broken thumb!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk1WFAOKNg0

And my April Fools Day sushi for DD's class....

I haven't got a clue

for a title, that is.
I'll do a little update...

• FG had a good day skiing.  He claimed he was cautious.  At least he didn't re-break his thumb so I didn't have to cut it off.
• We've been getting the bills for his broken thumb.  Uh yeah. I will never ever go to the ER again unless one of us is truly dying.  Do you know they charge you while you are in the waiting room?  Yep. They charge you for every minute you are there, waiting or being seen in a room.  The ER bill was 2 grand.  For like, 15 minutes of actual service.   Then we got a separate bill for the Dr. yesterday. The ER doc who we saw for about 5 minutes and wasn't the one who put the splint on charged him $400.  $2,400 for a short ER visit?!!! Wow.  I knew I should have sucked it up and gone to med school!  The ortho visit, much more thorough and lengthy and included a real cast with our choice of colors.... $350.  We'll get another bill for the 2nd ortho visit with an x-ray but the majority of the $350 was for the cast so I don't imagine that the next bill will be that much.
• Spring break....  eh.  It was nice to sleep in, nice to not have to pack a lunch for the boy but we're on day 2 and they are being naughty.  I'm headed to work in about an hour & 1/2.  While I'll have to deal with OKP & OPK, I know they will eventually leave!  I am hoping to take the kids to an indoor swimming pool in a nearby town on Thursday.  I'm hoping that some friends can join us.  I'm hoping we all make it to Thursday.
• Speaking of that, we didn't do squat last Friday when I wanted to do something.  ugh.  I hate that!
• I have no idea if anyone will be able to make it on Sat. night for FG's birthday.  He may just get a party of 2.  That's ok but I am hoping a couple of his friends will be able to come and wish him a good birthday.
• I broke the news to him today that I'm not getting him anything for him for his birthday.  I feel bad but he understands.  We're doing everything we possibly can to dig out of this hole and I hate to make it any deeper than it is, even if it's a small amount, I'd rather go up than down farther!  We're taking what we do have and going out of town for a night. I'm hoping that we can relax a bit and it won't be stressful.  I know I desperately need a bit of downtime.
• "Mom, can I....?"  "Mom, I want......"  "Mom! Will you ....."   AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
• I made baked fish last night.  None of our favorite meal but I tried to explain to the kids that we don't always get our favorite meals.  We have to eat what is good for us and that isn't pizza or cereal every meal.  I am so mean huh?

Some random Friday thoughts

• FG went skiing today.  Bastard.  If he breaks his dumb thumb again I'm going to just cut the damn thing off with my kitchen shears.  He's had his cast off less than a week! His arguement:  "I didn't break it actually skiing. I broke it because some idiot ran into me and I fell on it."  He's just pissed because he can't golf yet and it was warm out and he had to stay inside actually WORKING all day.  That isn't the norm for him on nice sunny days.
• It's Friday and I'm itchy for social plans.  I hate it when we don't have any plans for fun stuff for an entire weekend.
• Spring Break starts as of 3:00 this afternoon.  I think we are the only family I know NOT leaving town.
• I am working a bunch of extra days next week.  Whoohoo for the paycheck. ewww for shuffling my kids around all over the place and not doing anything fun.
• Next weekend is FG's birthday.  My parents, bless them, are taking the kids for the whole weekend.  I think MIL is going to take them during the day on Friday and my mom will get them from her after she gets off work. 
• FG and I are going away for ONE night.  We're headed to a home design center in a nearby larger city to look for a new entry way light.
• My friend who Feng Shui's houses was here and told me we need a new entry way light.  DUH!  FG and I have known that for years. We hate it!  We have always said we want one that is lower and has the lights aimed down instead of up.  She told me that is exactly correct.  It's our "career path" and it needs downward lighting.  Whatever the case, we hate the light and hey, it can't really hurt right now to have a little goodness headed to the career path!
• We are also going to a couple of our favorite wineries in N. CA.  ahhhhh!!!!!!!
• Sat. for his actual b-day we are headed to a friend's local brew pub.  It's housed in the same building where FG and I had our very first date.  I invited a ton of people but about 4 can come because WE ARE THE ONLY ONES NOT LEAVING FOR SPRING BREAK!
• FG and I had the discussion/disagreement the other night about watching friend's marriages fall apart.  I think it makes us work harder and appreciate our marriage more.  He thoguht it didn't have anything to do with us.  I think that by listening to his friend woe about his ending marriage should make FG appreciate that I am not a bitch like his friend's wife!  She's the one who used sex to get what she wanted, is very materialistic, cheated on her husband and thought she was pg (hubby got fixed, needless to say, he wasn't happy when he found the pg test!), dragged them to therapy and claimed she wanted to work on things while they lived separately, decided to try "date nights" and when it was going a bit too well the hubby found out that she had been texting her lover the whole time they were out together.  Really FG? That doesn't make you a teeny bit appreciative that I take care of you/kids/our home,  flirt with YOU via text message, am scraping and sacrificing and dealing with getting us out of debt, try to make our lives fun and happy and minimally complain?  Really? 
• A guy in the office is trying to get me to watch Food Inc.  When our financial situation improves I might. Until then, ignorance is bliss (and affordable).
• DS's class has been studying nutrition.  I'm quite sure his teacher has watched Food Inc.  He now busts us on every thing in the house that is less than stellar.  ha! This is from the kid who gags on any and all vegetables and fruits with the exception of about 2.  If it will get him to eat better, I'm all for it!  It's not like I want them to not eat well!!  I buy the good stuff, they generally refuse it.  ugh. Maybe now the correlation will sink in.  DS actually asked for lettuce on his buger last night (home made - no McDonald's.  Low fat ground beef.  yes, I do cook 95% of our meals from scratch).
• BOTH of my kid's teachers are amazing.  2 weeks ago today I had a breakdown at school.  I was frustrated and it all just came out.  DS's teacher held me like a mother with a child.  I am still embarassed but she was so kind.  Then DD's teacher brought me a gorgeous calla lily plant to the toystore the next day (Sat.) while I was working.  She said she just wanted to brighten my day.  What wonderful human beings I have entrusted my children to!  Both so kind and truly caring not about their paycheck and getting through the day, but the family behind those children they teach.  I'm still touched and amazed.
• One final note... what the heck is up with all these old women piercing their noses?!  I've seen more older women with these shiny dots on the sides of their noses lately.  WTF?  Now I'm nearly, gulp, 40, and I wouldn't do it.  I am talking about women in their mid 50's & 60's.  Nope. I don't get it at all.

My Ziploc Party

Awhile ago I was invited to a website called House Party.  I went and checked it out briefly but didn't do much about it.  Then I started getting emails from them and a couple caught my eye. I also read on another blogger's website about one that they had.  So I looked into it further and decided what the heck, I'll apply for the Ziploc party.  Yay! I got accepted. I still had NO idea what to expect.
I followed along on their website and invited some friends.  I knew my biggest obstacle was going to be getting everyone to understand it wasn't a "come buy stuff" type party.  Though I didn't know that Ziploc was going to be quite as generous as they were!  I expected a few little things to be sent along to pass out.  I kept the whole event casual and just told everyone, "Just come over and chat. We'll figure this thing out together."

I didn't have an enormous turnout but it was nice to see the friends that did come.  I learned about how these House Parties work.  About a week or so before the event (they schedule the day for you), I got my giant box from Ziploc.  Holy Moly! I opened it up and found a plethora of containers and big bags.  These items weren't centered around food storage but the theme was home organization.  You all know I love that!

In the end, I made up some goodie bags, had some light snacks because I held the party in the middle of the afternoon, came up with a couple of creative ways to give away some of the items that I only got one or two of and had a wonderful time chatting with my friends.  They were happy to get the goodie bags and coupons too.

I've applied for a couple of other House Parties now that I know how they work.  This one was so impressive, I hope any others I get selected to host don't fall short!  Here's a couple of pics of the goodie bags & table I set up.

Searching for a recipe

I'm going to stalk the internet for this and hope that someone out there has already accomplished it.  If not, I'll keep you posted on my trials!  I need to find a good recipe to make my own pizza Lunchables.  DS, my uber-picky eater, hates lunch. 
FG and I learned when he was very young, like before he was 2, that he simply could not eat in a loud restaurant.  He was always well behaved, didn't throw fits, throw food on the floor or scream to get out of the high chair (partially because I never gave him any other option.  He was in a restaurant, he sat.  In. The. Chair.  No opions, no fits to get something better.  Same went with shopping.  In. The. Cart.  No running around.  He had no idea there was any other way to go to a store.)
Enter in The Preschool Lunchtime.  ACK!  Kids! Talking!  EAT?!  It seemed like I packed the exact same thing 3 times a week  for 2 years.  It was a comfort thing for him.
Enter in The Elementary School Lunchroom.  Even worse.  Super noisy no matter how many times the lunchroom duty teachers turned off the lights and told them to quiet down.  The poor boy with the sensory issues didn't stand a chance. 
I loathe was I pack him for lunch every day.  He won't eat sandwiches.  Never has.  Literally vomits with peanut butter.  He has never ever liked peanut butter in any form.  Put lunchmeat on bread. Ewwwwww!  So yeah. I struggle daily with what to put in his lunch. He likes hot food so I got him a good Thermos.  But his all time favorite foods are not good for him.  He likes, and will sort of eat, pizza rolls, bagel pizzas, pizza hot pockets, pizza lunchables (ah, get the theme here?).  I hate it but I pack it because I would rather he eat SOMETHING than go all day without eating anything.  Yes, he gets some applesauce, juice or milk.  But the other stuff, pure crap.
When I had my Ziploc House Party one of the items they sent was the divided rectangle containers.  Holy Awesomeness!!!  It's a Lunchable container!!  I ended up with 4 of them.  FG and I both had the same idea - we'll use them for our boat lunches this summer.  One for each of us!  Yay!  But now, I want to figure out how to make my own lunchable pizza crust.  Since DS will eat that, I would absolutely love to just make my own and use this container.  I'm going to start with my regular pizza crust recipe, use 1/2 whole wheat bread flour and bake them in small rounds or small squares.  They just have to stay somewhat soft but still be cooked.  I also figure this will save me some money!  I can use my own pizza sauce and grate my own cheese.  The container is PERFECT-O for this and DS still gets to have the fun of making up his own little pizzas.
Thankfully DS's class is studying nutrition right now.  It's getting him to eat a few things.  Today I sent a hot dog with homemade "chili" (no beans, not a lot of chili powder. It's more of a meat sauce) in his Thermos.  He told me that hot dogs are one of the worst things you can eat.  No duh kid. That's why I don't buy the cheap ones. I buy the good ones or I get the TJ's ones with no nitrates because ALL YOU WANT IS PROCESSED MEAT!  So I asked him if I could pack some carrots and ranch dip.  "Eww! No!"  How about one of my homemade blueberry applesauce muffins?  "I don't like that stuff."  Would you like a ham sandwich?  "You know I don't like that!"  An apple? "No." I finally got him to settle on some grapes along with his hot dog/chili.  Baby steps I guess.  At least it wasn't pizza!

If anyone knows of a good pizza dough recipe that will work for my task, then please pass it along!  I'll let you know how it works with my regular recipe and my search of the internet to see if anyone else has success with this.

****UPDATE****

In response to Kim's comment.... I'm not sure he would eat pita bread. I may try that or have thought about trying english muffins also.  But I'm fairly sure that my best bet is a tried and true pizza dough.  Then I also have control over what is in it. I just have to figure out how to get it just right to pack.  I haven't had time to attempt it yet so we'll see how it goes when I can spend some time experimenting.  Here's a picture of the container.  I am really loving them!

The great thing about these little "bento boxes" is that each portion individually seals.  The best thing I see with kids is there is less chance to lose a piece.  The only problem I forsee is that they won't fit in a kid's lunchbox. At least not the kind that we have.  It is working great for when I pack up a lunch for FG though.  I called him at the office yesterday and he & the guys were having a Bloody Mary making contest.  Yes, on a Tuesday morning. These guys are bad influences on him!  Anyway, I figured he needed some food so I packed up a container and took it to him after the K teacher told me she didn't really need me in class.  I say Way to Go Ziploc for this great container (and for sending them to me free :P)!

It's the little things....

It is the little things that make me feel like I'm doing an ok job at this Mom gig. 
A big thing happened the other night too.  Poor DS just had a meltdown. I think quite a few things just built up and he let it all out at once.  He so very rarely cries and he cried on me.  We talked and talked it out.  I got FG involved.  DS said a pretty serious thing that made my heart break into a million pieces. It wasn't about me or FG or anyone else but it showed the depth of how upset he was.  At one point during our talk FG said, "Buddy, you are only in 3rd grade.  It can't be that bad."  I reminded FG that while we tend to think of DS as a mini-adult, he isn't.  This is what he's living.  He doesn't know anything past 3rd grade and being 9 so yeah, this is as bad as it gets to him.  FG wasn't trying to blow it off at all, he was struggling just like me with the right things to say to comfort DS.  All seems to be ok now.  I let him know that we are behind him, here to talk to and protect him always.  I'm going to have him go in and talk to the school counselor because he seems to like that.  I sense therapy in his adult life, he really feels better after that. 

Anyway, the little things yesterday were....
I picked the kids up from school. I rarely do that unless I'm already at school.  I don't often leave the house to go sit in the parking lot because it's so small I have to get there early to get any sort of decent parking spot.  (Hello run on sentence).  The bus lets the kids off on the side of the house and they don't ride it long.  I just don't see a big point in going to get them every day.  But they like it, it was nasty weather yesterday and I wanted to see them. I've started working on Tuesday nights as well as Wednesday nights so I knew I wouldn't really get to see them much.  It took some of my "me" time away but it was worth it.

Earlier in the day I had picked up some library books for all of us.  DD knew one was coming - she had been waiting for it since we reserved it.  Instead of just putting them on their beds to find I decided a scavenger hunt would be fun.  So I made up 7 clues and hid them in various places.  Not too long ago, DS made a mailbox and we hung it outside of his bedroom.  We pass little notes back & forth in it (he raises the red flag when he has "outgoing mail" for me or FG to read).  I put the instructions and the first clue in there.  They had a blast!  They only spent about 10 minutes or so reading, solving and hunting down the clues.  They finally found their library books hidden in the dryer with a "Good Job!" note. 
They both thanked me about 20 times for that silly little scavenger hunt.  It was the last thing they both said when they went to bed too.  After I left for work, DS made up one for FG and DD to follow.  So it continued on well into the evening.

Then I made the night of a child shopping in the toystore last night.  Just another little thing but he spent his allowance money on something small while his sister made up her birthday registry.  They were in the store for quite awhile.  All of a sudden he came up to me at the counter and exclaimed, "I lost my tooth!" and proudly held up his tooth and showed me the hole.  Now when someone comes in with a cast on, they get a desginated present.  So I felt we just HAD to do something for this little boy.  We have these little tooth fairy boxes and I asked him if the tooth fairy comes to his house. He said yes. I asked him if he has a little box and he said no.  So I led him over to the display and told him to pick one out.  With big round eyes, he said, "Do I have to pay?"  I told him nope, I was going to give it to him.  He was thrilled.  His father had stepped out of the store to make a phone call and I told him to make sure he told his dad I let him take it for losing his tooth in the store.  I later overheard him tell his dad, "She's a really nice lady, isn't she dad?"

Now I'm about to go do another small thing for a store customer.  She called for the second day in a row asking about instructions for a kit that were not in the box.  Her daughter wants to make the kit for a school project.  I just happen to have the same kit at home.  When she left her name, phone and email asking that the store owners Please call her soon, I told her I would just email the instructions to her today.  She was SO thankful.  So I'm going to scan the 3 pages of instructions and email them to her.  It will probably take me 10 minutes.

All of these little things have made me feel pretty good and hopefully made others feel good. I know my kids were happy with me, I know the little boy will probably remember losing that tooth over some of the other ones and hopefully this mom will help her daughter who will in turn get a good grade on her project. 

Will you do something little to make someone's day today?

My life lately......

The new bathroom!

Wacky Wednesday at school with good friends.

My Ziploc HouseParty (more on that soon).  These are the goodie bags I had for my guests along with some prize giveaways.

DD dressing up the every-patient cat.

Probably my only political post

You won't find me posting much about politics.  I am frankly disgusted with our country's attitude and lack of respect.  Like him or not, he is the President and to say some of the awful things and toss out some of the awful names about him is disgusting.  I wouldn't say those things about my child's teacher or Principal and I certainly don't want to teach my children that is how to respect anyone, especially a person in an authoritative position!  Anyway, I'm glad there's some attempt at a change in the heathcare of this country.  No, I'm not a fan of 100% of the bill but I am a fan of attempting to make a change.  I've stated before that one of my biggest pet peeves is when people complain and complain about their lives but sit and do nothing about it.  I feel the same way about this.  Not every attempt to make things better works.  Maybe this will, maybe it won't but at least they aren't sitting on their ass, picking their nose and bitching about it! So go cry to the government when you need help but then call socialism.

A friend shared this and I just had to repost it.  I for one don't think that what our government is doing is socialism.  No more so than any other part of what our government has done, past or present.  We have a government for a reason.  I just luuuuuuve it when people with government jobs (and healthcare coverage!) complain about it.  Really?  Pull YOUR head out of the fucking sand.  I guess I just get to get punished because we have our own business.  Starting up a thing for ourselves and building it from scratch.  We would be better off being corporate drones and following the direction of Mr. Fat Cat. 
Now I'm rambling because I'm so pissed off.  Here is what I read and loved it! 

This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US Department of Energy. I then took a shower in the clean water provided by the municipal water utility. After that, I turned on the TV to one of the FCC regulated channels to see what the National Weather Service of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration determined the weather was going to be like using satellites designed, built, and launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I watched this while eating breakfast of US Department of Agriculture inspected food and taking the drugs which have been determined as safe by the Food and Drug Administration.







At the appropriate time as regulated by the US Congress and kept accurate by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the US Naval Observatory. I get into my National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved automobile and set out to work on the roads built by the local, state, and federal departments of transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the Environmental Protection Agency, using legal tender issued by the Federal Reserve bank. On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to send via the US Postal Service and drop the kids off at the public school.






After work, I drive my NHTSA car back home on the DOT roads, to a house which has not burned down in my absence because of the state and local building codes and fire marshal's inspection, and which has not been plundered of all it's valuables thanks to the local police department.






I then log on to the internet which was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration and post on freerepublic.com and Fox News forums about how SOCIALISM in medicine is BAD because the government can't do anything right.

Computer's DEAD

Recipe Review

The Southwest Taco Pie from yesterday's menu post went over fairly well.  I added corn & black beans to about 1/4 of it.  I did use taco seasoning on the meat instead of mixing it with salsa.  The kids ate it up even though they said, "It was Ok."  But DS sure plowed through his!  FG had seconds.  It was good and a nice change from regular tacos.  I make tacos a lot because it's a good way to get some lean red meat into my kids.  It's fairly inexpensive too.  But lately I've been bored with regular tacos.  A couple of weeks ago I made nachos which were a HUGE hit with DD.  She said it was the most fun dinner ever.  She liked that I let her eat entirely with her hands.  They both love nachos so I used some Velveeta I had and melted it. I added some hot sauce and some milk to thin it out.  It turned out very well - better than the jar stuff.  Either way, nachos or taco pie, I've now got two recipes in my aresnal as a change up from regular tacos.

A couple of side notes I realized I didn't mention.... FG got his permanent cast on Friday.  We got him black so it will blend it with a suit when he's on the air.  He didn't say a thing about his splint on last week's show and I have a feeling he will keep quiet about it until he's healed. 
My dad is doing well.  He gets very tired but he's doing better.  Yay!!!
FG and I are witnessing yet another marriage fall apart.  This one we don't know which way it will go.  I am betting that they split up.  I just don't think they want to be married any longer.  Sad because they have two kids under 5.  But they really aren't good for each other either.  I found out the girl (who I do not know well at all) plays mind games with her husband.  She will use sex to get what she wants.  FG and I talked about it at length on Friday when we had a date.  We agreed that is a terrible way to have a marriage.  I think it was good for him & I to talk.  A few weeks ago, we were annoyed and irritated with each other.  I certainly didn't want to spend any time with him and I think the feeling was mutual.  Then he broke his thumb and I think things changed in his head a bit.  I think it woke him up a bit to realize what I do for him & our family and my feelings of being unappreciated and neglected were recognized.  Since then he has been thanking me more, appreciating me more too.  I have been nagging him a bit less and picking up slack because he simply cannot do certain things (like dishes, dammit, he can't do the dishes! So now instead of getting mad that he just leaves his dishes I just do them because I know he can't. What's weird is he's usually very good about helping with things like that and then when he wasn't, I was irritated.  And yes, I do thank him for helping out when he does even though he doesn't thank me for doing the dishes every day).  Funny how things happen and can have an effect on your emotions.  Watching a marriage suffer and seeing faults of others helps us too.  Neither of us want to end up there and we know it so a little wake up call once in awhile is good for us!