A facebook friend posted this and I thought it was so funny..Thanks Heather:)

1 year ago

A year ago today my dad went to join my mom. Tonight my kids both got home from being gone a week (one to Florida and one to camp) and I found myself reaching for the phone to call my mom and dad to tell them my kids were HOME!!! I find myself reaching for the phone ALL the time. I miss my parents for ME but I miss them even more for my Kids. I know they are watching down on them but I want them to tell me how proud they are of them. I want my mom to "stick up" for them..ok Tyler..when I am about ready to ring his neck:) I want my dad to see and tell me how much they have grown and say he never thought Nicholas legs would be more then a foot long:) and talk about his fat cheeks. He would be amazed at Tyler as he grew 5 inches this year!! I just want to be able to pick up the phone and have them say HI. I know I was lucky to have them as long as I did as some people are not that lucky BUT that does not make it any easier...
We love you and miss you!!!

The 4th

For the 4th of July we went to our friends Diane and Daniels house. They live out in the middle of NATURE and even though it rained ALL day we had a GREAT time. The highlights of the day was Brian showing us his golfing talents (how many swings to hit the ball:), the WONDERFUL food (fish fry) and the sounds of nature.

Nicholas is 16!!!

Nicholas was 16 on June 25th and that weekend he around 40 friends over for a party:)
It was a lot of fun and I have to say the kids were very good!!! With a pool it is a worry but I did my "little pool rules speech" and I have to say they listed! They swam and ate then hit the basement familyroom which we bought black lights for the ceiling and it was a HUGE hit. Nicholas had said to wear white and there was a lot of "glowing" going on..
Happy Birthday Nicholas..we love you!!

Happy 4th of July

Hank and I took Tyler and a friend of his to the fireworks last night..do not know if it was ME and the MOOD I have been in or what but I was not overly impressed.
Hank is still job hunting and to say that it is not getting to me would be a lie..1 more month of a pay check and insurance!!
The kids go back to school in a month..so not ready for that. I have NO idea what I am doing next year as what I did was funded by a grant and as of now there is NO grant.
I will do a post soon on Nicholas' 16th Birthday party..40 kids, food, a swimming pool and black lights in the basement family room!!!

Happy 4th to everyone and a BIG Thank You to those protecting our Country!!!

Words for Women to Live By :)

1. Aspire to be Barbie - the bitch has everything.

2. If the shoe fits - buy them in every color.

3. Take life with a pinch of salt.... A wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.

4. In need of a support group? - Cocktail hour with the girls!

5. Go on the 30 day diet. (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days).

6. When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

7. Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your personality.

8. I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here.

9. Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.

10. Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you walk funny.

11. When life gives you lemons in 2009 - turn it into lemonade then mix it with vodka.

12. Remember where ever there is a good looking; sweet, single or married man there is some woman tired of his bullshit!

13. Keep your chin up, only the first 40 years of parenthood are the hardest..

14. If it has Tires or Testicles it's gonna give you trouble.

15. By the time a women realizes her mother was right, she has a daughter who thinks she's wrong.

'Good friends are like stars..........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there' 'Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live for today'. Now smile and send to any girl wasting time at work, suffering from a hangover, or just suffering from life , that might need a reason to smile!

Saturday night in Columbus

Go HERE and read this post..it is SO FUNNY!!!
And YES..I am so proud of my husband!!

Prayers and Cards

I have been following this blog for a while. Hannah is a BRAVE little girl that found out 6 months ago she has Aplastic Anemia. It is heart breaking to read all that she has been through. She always has a smile on her face and god in her heart. I think we can learn a lot from her!!! If you could take the time to send a card and say a few prayers it would be GREATLY appreciated. This is the address for at least a few weeks.

Hannah Eriksen
The Children's Inn at NIH (arriving 6/14)
7 West Drive
Bethesda, MD 20814-1509

Thanks:)

How long has it been..

I have been in pretty much of a FUNK lately. Hank still is looking for a JOB and I have to say it is getting to me!!! I really do not want to move (and neither do the kids) but who knows..he needs a JOB!!!

A couple blogs that I have been following forever got their daughters from China. One is home and one is there NOW!! Congratulations to Tracy and her new daughter Eme and Pugmama and her daughter Harlow. I am so happy for both of you and your growing families:)

Nicholas is swimming, swimming and teaching swimming. He is at the pool for around 10 hours a day between swim practice, teaching Frog lessons, Practice again and Preteam lessons!! Surprise surprise we went to the ENT for his ears as they were seeping pussy stuff (sorry) and found out he is MRSA in his ears. The ear Dr was SHOCKED as I was also. He is on drops and pills!!

Tyler is in Band Camp for the month of June each morning..(Sax) and going to camp camp in July. He is playing baseball and is the catcher and loves it. Personally I can not squat so I could never be a catcher. Here is a pic of him and his BF Jacob:)

I have a ton of pictures on my camera I need to download.
Happy Summer:)

Bunco..Derby Style

Friday Night was BuNcO and we did a DERBY theme one..As requested, here are the Bunco minutes..lol
Bev came dressed as a JOCKEY (with a horse and whip) and wins the BEST dressed Jockey player there!!!
(OK..maybe she was the only Jockey player there BUT she LOOKED great..we ALL agreed she did not just buy that whip as we all know that Bart can be a Bad Bad Boy sometimes:)

Denise's Hat was BEAUTIFUL!!! and she even matched her clothes to it!!!!
Tracy had another beautiful hat also and it even had BIRDS nesting in it:)
Mine had a horse on top as I am a A$$
Sue, Jennifer, Jill, Lora, Joanne ALL had Hats on..)
Hummm who am I missing..SUZANNE and DIANE did not wear a HAT!!! I have to say I am SURPRISED at Diane as she usually has a costume for everything!!
Kathy had another beauty on even if at one time it was a Baseball cap and she even had a Derby scarf..since we are talking about KATHY..OMG..she brought a Beautiful Fruit pizza that she cut into lovely squares that someone..not trying to point fingers at anyone SUZANNE did not see and cut into triangles..needless to say KATHY spent sometime trying to make the cuts look pretty again (I even saw some fruit pizza anger as she pitched (with her hands) some on a plate..lol
KATHY also brought tortilla pizza things she has MARKED so Diane (WHO DID NOT WEAR A HAT) would know which to eat with out veggies in them..
Tracy made some quiche thing that was WONDERFUL...I need the recipe as I know it really is a Diana's famous Quiche:)
The FOOD was ALL wonderful..desserts, pizza dip, wontons (Yummm), chicken, pizza things..Honestly NOTHING heatlhy which makes for a GREAT Bunco night..Jill has Bourbon slush, different beers and wine coolers..
Snacks on the table were GREAT..we (SUE) loved the M&Ms as she wrote LOSER in them to Jill when Jill was looking for her score card that somehow ended up in Sue's shirt..That SUE is such a instigator:)
Kathy went to the bathroom ONCE and learned her lesson as she came back and her chair was missing..(I am sure SUE had something to do with that also:)
So..what do we know about OUR group..
1. If you go to the bathroom. Take your chair with you:)
2. Never leave your score card at the table
3. Do not say if I post a picture of YOUR Muffin top you will DIVORCE me as YOU better believe I will post a picture of YOUR Muffin top and A$$!!!

Feels like Summer

Hank finished the deck this week..he did most of it in Sept./Oct. and added to the length of it and added the top this week..Can I say how nice it is. It gives us more space for sitting and entertaining:) PLUS some shade!!!
We also got our new pool liner this week and I have to say I like it better then the other one which did not last at ALL!!! We only had it 3 years and it had ripped in numerous places and look like cr@p!!
My sister and Kaitlin came over yesterday for both of their Bdays and we floated and layed out and I am so SUNBURNT!!! I should know better!!! So today there will be no floating for me:(

Tyler's DI Group

Tylers DI (Destination Imagination) group went to State this weekend. They ended up getting 3rd which was GREAT!! Last year they ended up going to Globals and they had a GREAT time but honestly we were not sure this year if we were even going to send them as it would have been around $5500 to send just the team and 2 parents!!! There challange was called "A New Angle" and they built a structure (you can not see in pictures) that weighed 24 GRAMS and it ended up holding 102 pds!!! AMAZING to me:)
We had a fun day and we were all very proud of the kids.

Job Description

PARENT

Job Description

This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way,
I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging
permanent work in an
often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include

evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :
The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.


Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do or have done

on a daily basis,
letting them know they are appreciated
for the fabulous job they do...
or forward with love
to anyone thinking of applying for the job.





** AND A FOOTNOTE **


**

THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! **

If you are fortunate enough, you will become grandparents!

Do you think you can DANCE:)

Happy Easter

Last night we were invited the our friends house for Easter. Diane is a AMAZING cook and hostess and she went ALL out. She had a Basket at everyone's chair filled with ALL homemade cookies, candies, and treats!!! We ate a HUGE dinner, laughed, ate more and laughed more (I was more then 1/2 sick). They fished, played pool, fozz ball, airhockey and we watched Marley and Me. When we left Dianes there was a HUGE ORANGE moon and I said look at the moon and Tyler said GRANDPA:) I agree Tyler, it was a sign from Grandpa!!!When we got home there was a Bunny sitting in the yard so I am pretty sure he was one of the Easter Bunny's friends:)
Today we went out for a great breakfast and Hank worked in the yard and is now watching the masters and the kids and I have cleaned their rooms and closet..OMG is all I can say on that one:) We are grilling steaks out for dinner. It has been a great weekend and a Happy Easter spent with GREAT friends:)

The Bunny Cake lives on..

My mom made a Bunny Cake EVERY year for Easter. This is the 2nd Easter without my mom (and the first without my dad) but the Bunny Cake lives on in her Memory!! My sister is off to FL tonight so we are going to some friends house tomorrow for Easter! My sister even said "are you making a Bunny Cake". We do not remember all the "stuff" we were bought when we were kids..we remember the Cake my mom made every Easter....
I hope the Bunny Cake is something my kids carry on also!!
Happy Easter and We love and miss you Mom and Dad!!

Hank & Diana plus 2

Both boys are gone tonight so Hank and I ran out and got a quick dinner and then we ran into the grocery store. We needed to get eggs to color for Easter so said to get 2 dozen..Hank picks them up and starts putting them in the cart and I said "You need to check them" ..he says "OK KATE"..like in Jon and K@te + 8..Can I tell you I CRACKED UP!!
**He did follow it up with "she is so mean to him.."
Gosh he needs a JOB..we are together way to much:)

And the HEAT is ON...

Tyler had his first soccer game of the Spring Season today..His team is called The Heat!! They did really well and won 2-1. It was a BeAuTiFuL day on the soccer fields!!! He is now getting ready for Baseball evuations!!! I had him try his baseball cleats on..he said well they feel find..maybe a little tight. I ask what size they are and he said 6!!! He wears a 8 or a 8 1/2. Guess I need to go buy new cleats!!
PS..Yes this is 3 post in 1 DAY!!!! WoooHooo!!!

BuNcO BuNcO BuNcO

Last night was BuNcO and as usual it was FUN!! Tonights "theme" was Uncle John. It was at Samantha's house who has a Uncle John and he gave then a framed picture of himself for a gift..Uncle John is a NICE NICE older man who has never been married and he had more fun then he probally has had him his 72 years:)
The song of the night was "Lets get in on"..and then Jill added "with Uncle John"..This is WHY I LOVE Bunco. Where else can you go and have this much fun with a FRAMED picture of Uncle John:)
PLUS I won most losses ($20), Diane was most wins and last BuNcO, Suzanne was MOST BuNcO and the New Sub, JOY (I got Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my Heart, WHERE, Down in my HEART) got the Thank You for Coming:)

Are You Smarter Then a 5th Grader

Tyler and some other kids from his room were ask to be on Are You Smarter Then A 5th Grader at the one High School here. It was part of a girls Senior project and it was CUTE!!! They went "up against" the head of the History Dept. who happen to be Tylers soccer and basketball coach for 2 years. The kids did GREAT and he made it a lot of fun for them:)