Meltdowns

I am one of those parents that if my children are pitching a fit in a store, hauls them out of there. I don't like to hear other peoples kids...I am positive they don't want to hear mine. Goober has been that mad tantrum queen at our house lately. Really, both of them have been. I took Goober and Bug to the store to go shopping for Nana and they tried to run(playing follow the leader, where they were fighting on who could be the leader) I yelled at them to stop, they ignored me, and I grabbed them and hauled them out of the store. I might mention the clerks were smirking the entire time. I get out there and I am telling them that they disappointed me. That isn't how we act in a store. Poor Goober, who is bawling at this time, asks me if I still love her. I gave them a second chance and they were much better the second time around. Maybe it was the threat of not ever getting Nana a present for Christmas.

Bug has been a little snot as well. On Friday we had the knockdown of arguments. I let them sleep in my bed on Fridays as Hubby visits his dad. Well they were both in my bed and I was downstairs when I heard excessive giggling. I had warned them when I tucked them in that if they were not quite I was going to kick them out of my room. When I entered the room they were fighting and having a good time. I told them out and into their beds now. Bug and Goober didn't want to but eventually dragged themselves into their own beds where Bug informs me that she doesn't love me anymore and she would wipe off any kiss I give her. I told her that it was her choice and that I loved her. 10 minutes later, Goober was sent downstairs to deliver a message that Bug didn't love me anymore and that she was very angry. 10 minutes after that my SIL was sent downstairs with the same message. SIL then had a talk with Bug and after laying it out very rationally that it isn't fair the always give 2nd chances that maybe she should listen better. I was then asked to come upstairs where I was given an apology and a kiss and said I was the best mommy. She has been awesome since then....darn, just jinxed it.

Picture day

We took the girls to get their pictures taken today. I loved all that turned out. Poor Hubby, he didn't really like any. Goober was so eager to have her picture taken today. She was all smiles and lifting her chin and generally frustrating the bejebus out of us. She was being such a ham. Bug on the other hand, is a teenager trapped in a 5 year old body. I spent about 20 minutes argueing with her about her clothes. I won. She wanted to wear a shirt under her dress and I wanted her to look "normal". Now, before you yell at me...This is the girl that will wear a pastel rainbow dress with lots of flounce, black tights, brown slip on sneakers with polka dots, lime green sweater under the sleevless dress and a pink sparlkly headband...and yes we do let her go to school like this. her reasoning is that very grown up and one we should all live by,

"It's not how pretty you look on the outside it's how pretty you are on the inside...since I am beautiful inside than I am beautiful outside."

Why on earth would I argue with that logic. She is happy picking out her clothes and as long as they are clean, in good shape, and aren't hootchie...I am a happy camper.

The best part about Goober being 3 and so very easy going is that you can put her in whatever you want her to wear...tell her she looks "just like a baby unicorn" and she is good to go. A very happy girl.

Overall very nice pictures...It will soon be the new profile pic as soon as it comes back.

The Girls

I took Bug and Goober to see the Princess and the Frog. I thought it was a great movie but I don't think it is the right kind of princess movie. It was more adult humor and not really little girl girlyness. They did enjoy it though. After the movie ended and the credits started rolling Goober went into the walkway and started dancing. This girl dances whenever there is music. She can belt out most music on the radio and I just love to watch her. She is just just a free spirit.

Bug is my artist. She is very much into drawing and can spend hours just drawing pictures of everything. She draws dinosaurs, butterflies, flowers, scary snakes. She drew this fantastic picture of us out at the beach clam diggin'. She is so freaking talented. I love watching her mind work.

sick girls

Well one sick girl. Poor Bug has just had a fever for the last week. She missed 2 days of school and when she woke up on Wednesday with a 98.6 temp, I felt she was fine to go to school since it was only a half day. Hubby wanted to keep her home but Bug was begging to go to school. I thought let's go with this since soon she will be begging to stay at home. However, by the time I picked her up and got her home her fever was back to 100. What kills me about this fever is that that except for being a bit tired she has no symptoms. Except for yesterday(friday) where she starts complaining that her legs hurt. The doctors are not concerned because of the illnesses that they have been seeing all over the harbor. They told me if by day 10 she still has a fever bring her in for blood work. Otherwise plenty of fluids and motrin when needed.

I am amused that through all this Goober who is usually the one sick hasn't been. She has been solid as a rock. I was finally able to get the H1N1 shot for her after weeks of irate phone calls to doctors offices who wouldn't see me cause she wasn't a regular patient or DSHS. So very happy. I am not one of those parents who were convinced that the swine flu was going to kill my girls. I am just worried about the fever with Goober's history of seizures.

Both girls are sleeping and seem to be fine for now.

Holy Cow!

I can't believe it has been since August since my last post. It's amazing how time flies by! I am going to try to post at least once a month...just so you all know what is happening with my girls!

Bug(5 years old)is now in kindergarten. I am so happy that we chose to go with the smaller school district...even thought it is a drive...but she is going to the school across the street from daycare so she already knows all the kids and is well liked. My daycare lady knows all the teachers so she is able to get answers from them that maybe they really don't want to tell me. Not that, that, has happened! She is doing very well. She has placed above her grade in almost every section. Math, reading, science and art. She is on track with her grade in writing, health, social studies, P.E. and music...surprisingly(sarcasm) she needs to work on her study skills. If you were to look at my report card from kindergarten ...Tina needs to spend more time with her work and not her friends. Same with Bug. I am very proud of her. She is very proud of herself.

She is still very tiny though. She weighs 40 lbs and at her last check was only 42 inches tall. She is the shortest one in her class. What is great is that she has managed to become good friends with the biggest girls in her class. A little brawn to back up her smart mouth.

Goober is doing great. It's hard to believe that my baby is 3 years old. She is almost potty trained...night times being our only obstacle. I just need to start waking up every few hours to take her to the potty like I did with Bug. I love that little girl with all her facial expressions and her general happy loving mood. She is happiest pretending to be a cat or some type of "girly" animal. She is also happy bugging the heck out of her sister. It is so funny to watch. She is a twirly dancy type of girl. She is learning from her big sister. It's awesome to watch Bug try to teacher Goober to read. This is usually done when Goober really has no interest.

Goober is quickly catching up to Bug in size. She weighs 36 lbs and is 39 inches tall. I can't really tell if Goober is big for her age or if Bug is just really small or the two of them normal? I guess I could get on a website and look and I just might to that.

newness

So my SIL doesn't want to read the sadness that is the previous post so I will tell you all what I have been doing on my summer vacation.

SIL and I went on a road trip in the last week of June to several places. We left home at 630pm on a Friday and she drove all night and day until we made it to Jackson Hole in the Tetons. We set up camp(it was cloudy and raining) and we went and explored the Yellowstone area all over again. I really love that place. We also stopped at Earthquake Ridge National Monument. After staying the night here on Saturday.(huge storm) We packed up early the next morning and headed to the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park. This place is so beautiful. It's nestled up on this ridge/plateau so you don't even realize it's there. It is this very very deep canyon in Colorado that is only 1/2 miles across at the widest point but 1/2 mile deep. The campground is amazing and there is no light pollution so the stars were amazingly bright. I had a hard time picking out constellations and I am usually decent about that. We hiked around this area and had a fine time. Monday morning came quickly and we headed out towards the Great Sand Dunes in eastern Colorado. If you get a chance to go....do it. This place is amazing. Huge dunes 700ft up and you can climb to the very top. SIL and I didn't only because the sand was very loose and very hot. We did climb up one dune and felt pretty good about that. There is also a nice small stream that runs along the edge. Great place to play on such a hot day. We then headed towards Colorado Spring to set up our camp for the night.

Tuesday: We were going to go up to Pike's Peak on the cog railway out of Manitu Springs. We arrived in Colorado Springs and decided to check out the Garden of the Gods. This place is unreal! Huge red rock monoliths rising out of the ground. I recommend this place to visit as well. Tuesday arrived and we headed to the train to head up to Pike's Peak. It is a 14, 115 ft tall mountain. You can hike, drive or take a train to the top. We took the train. We had also planned to hike to the bottom. Didn't work out as parts of the peak were still under several ft of snow. Let me tell you, the view is amazing at the height. The weather was amazing and clear so you could see several states. SIL got a little bit of rocky mt high! I was doing okay. We finished up there and just walked around Manitu Springs and headed for the motel.

Wednesday: We took off for Rocky Mountain National Park. This place is amazing. Just go! We explored it for several hours until the huge lightening storm came in. Then we hightailed it out of there! When we came out of the park into Estes Park, there were elk everywhere! There had to be at the very least 100 elk just wandering in and about this town. Like it was nothing! It was then time to start heading to Nebraska. We were going to check out Chimney Rock and Scott's bluff. We were headed toward Bayard, Nebraska. Don't ever ever never ever stop in this town! When the SIL and I headed toward this state park to camp in this town, we couldn't find it so we stopped and asked. The local's refer to it as the "pits" and that is what it looked like! We had to drive along the railroad tracks, pass by 2 horrid trailer parks(the kind that breeds horror movie villains) and a rundown gas station. To top it off when we got to the pits to get our camping pass I noticted a clipping on the message board waring about two level 3 sex offenders who were transients in the area. UMM no thank you! So off to the only motel in town to be scared off by the 400 year old lady with the leather skin in a pink mumu with a beehive, chain smoking and dragging off this cigarette. Glaring at us! Off to the next town...Bridgeport. This is a good town. Stay here.

Thursday: We spent the day checking out chimney rock and Scott's bluff and then we headed north into South Dakota through the Badlands. This place is amazing as well. We eventually made it towards the Wind caves and Mt. Rushmore. Not bad in one day we must say. These are all awesome places you must visit. The Wind cave especially was neat. We camped outside of Keystone, South Dakota.

Friday: We headed outwards Devils Tower, where during the month of June they ask you not to climb the tower out of respect for the Native Americans who view the tower as holy. Most people follow this rule and don't climb during this time. However, we did pass by a group of people in full climbing gear where my SIL remarks, "It must be nice to to have respect for people", or something to that effect. After Devil's tower we headed north to Little big horn battlefield in Montana. This place just confirms that fact that Custer was the biggest dumbass in the world. Done with this place we headed out towards Butte, Montana, where we tanked for the night.

Saturday: We just drove and drove and drove and drove till we got home. And it felt GOOD!

All in all...Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota.

Earthquake Ridge, Yellowstone, Tetons, Black Canyon, Great Sand Dunes, Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak, Rocky Mountain, Chimney Rock, Scott's Bluff, Wind Caves, Mt. Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Little Big horn Battlefield.

We like road trippin'!

Dementia

I finally made the decision to have her put down. Everyone for the last few weeks, months really, has been telling me to do it. I was still holding out that there was something that we could do. She was the best indifferent dog.

She developed these ear infections and we treated them. They just wouldn't go away. She had them off and on for about a year. About 2 months ago they went away. Hooray, I thought. The medicine is finally working. Nope. She started to grow this massive abscess on the side of her face. Took her to the vet. He told me it was just an infection in about a day or so it will rupture and drain and she will be fine. It ruptured alright but didn't stop draining. I took her back and he thought it was possible that some foreign material was in there. So in for a day surgery she went. He couldn't find anything. She seemed better for about 2 weeks when the day I took her to get the staple out I noticed that her abscess was back. This time when the did they surgery they put a dye in the wound. They wanted to find out where it was starting from. They took an x-ray and discovered that she had a tumor in her inner ear. The ear infections were irritations to the tumor. With all the ear infections that cartilage calcified and the drainage had no where to go. Enter the abscess. He gave us some aggressive antibiotics to help with any infection and told me this was the last effort. He could take out the tumor but it would cost thousands and with her being a Westie it was most likely to come back in little time. I took her home and prayed that she would get better. I know it's a "dog" but to me, she was my baby. Who else would "read" with me on the couch curled against my legs. Or play with the pink stuffed pig?

This last monday after hearing her cry out in pain if she twisted her neck to far, watching the abscess grow back again, the ear infections start back up, and the fact that we couldn't take the cone off her, I made the call. I told the vet it was time and if I could bring her in on wednesday.
I took the long way to the vet. Driving the back roads as slow as I could. Mentia sat on my lap with her head out the window the entire time. I even gave her a piece of chocolate. I debated the entire way if I was being selfish to put her down. She seemed fine but, about halfway there, she started to yip in pain with every sharp move of her head and I knew this was what was best for her.

I got to go into the room with her and I held her scratching her chin as they gave her the injection that would take away her pain. She was so happy in those last minutes as a scratched her, even thumping her foot. I really loved that dog. Rest in peace Dementia.

Cancer Walk

We had the cancer walk this last weekend. 25 years ago, a doctor from Tacoma decided that he wanted to raise money to find a cure for cancer. He ran for 24 hours around a track by himself and his community paid for every lap he did. I believe he raised 24,000 dollars. The best part is that this Relay for Life is now done across the Nation and in many other countries. A portion of the Money raised goes to the American Cancer Society. A small part also stays in the community to help with outreach programs(wigs, support groups). I love this event. It makes my heart very happy to do it. Our little community has a jobless rate of about 14%. Weyerhauser has completely pulled out of our town. We still manged to raise at the relay 450,000 dollars. That is amazing. I can't believe the generosity of this town. I like living here. People really do look out for each other.

Now on a personal note. I will not be a captain of a team next year. I was just too stressed out about getting things down. To planning fundraising events, to getting teammates to even participate, to thinking we are not raising enough money, to getting the campsite set up. I was angry a lot of the time and I don't think I should have felt that way. This was supposed to be for a good cause and I was so mad that people couldn't see it the way I did. Heck, I still get mad at my mom for smoking! The woman has MS and had thymus cancer. They had to scrape cancer cells off her lungs! But she is still wasting this second chance she has been given. Back to the relay. I have decided that I want to be a 24 hour walker. They are people who walk the track for 24 hours with 10 minute breaks every 4 hours. I can do this. I am starting to train now. I am so excited for this. I walked 36 miles at this last relay. I wonder how many I can do on the next one.

I urge all of my readers to find out more about the relay. I know all of you have someone in your life you has had cancer. It is an awesome event and very....words can't really describe it. Find out where one is in your area.

girls

Bug graduated form preschool. I was very very cute. She went up on stage with her class in her pink girly dress. Thank goodness it had layers because she proceeded to pull the gauzy layer over her face and growl at the boy next to her. Of course I am sinking into my seat shaking my head, while around me others are laughing. She did look cute when you could see her face. She was called up on stage to receive her packet of stuff and the teacher was telling the story about how ever year the smallest girl has the greatest authority, well that was Bug. She is barely the smallest but let me tell you she has one of the bigger attitudes. She is so funny. I can't wait until next year when she has to go to school all day, five days a week. Goober won't know what to do.

Funny stories...I have lost two arguments with Bug this week. She got a gift card for her birthday and we went to toys r us. While we are there I am trying to get nice educational toys or games. Nope, she decides on this foam, plastic, pink unicorn. I try to explain to her that if she gets it we won't be able to play together. Let's get the princess dominoes set. Yes, that is true we would be able to play dominoes together....but you have a yellow horse at home you can play with. Also you can play with Rarity my unicorn. You could also just buy yourself the other unicorn and they we can play together. She got the unicorn. I am playing with Rarity.

The second argument involved Goober. Goober likes to say Butt. alot. I finally had enough and told her to stop. Where Bug steps in to inform me that there are two different kinds of "butt" "Like what you sit on or if I say but mommy there are two kinds of but. I guess I could use however though." I really can't wait until she is a teenager.

I tried to scold Goober today. It really didn't work. We were driving home and she was throwing a fit. I told her to stop or she was going to sit in time out. Now, I meant as soon as we got home. She says, "but mommy I don't see a time out chair." Ah, the age of reasoning. Beware those parents to young ones! Don't feel bad when you lose.

We took Goober to see Up as Hubby took Bug to see grandparents. She really didn't care for the movie. I loved it. On the way home she started to panic about going to the bathroom. I knew for sure that she is completely potty-trained since she was wearing a diaper and refused to go in it. So very happy I am!

careers/shows

Why is it that my husband has a career and I don't? I work don't I? True, he has that Degree and works for the government but still! I have an AA and I work in a grocery store. I enjoy my job very much. I don't like some things that go on buy for the most part I love what I do. I make darn good money and have awesome benefits, so why on earth do people look and and say "oh" when I tell them I work in a grocery store? Maybe it is because I work part-time? I really wonder. I also wonder what I should say to these people when they look down on me for not being a lawyer, teacher, or whatever. So sorry I don't have a noble profession! I really need to just let it go.

Another thing. I was talking with one of my friends about movies and shows. She kept going on about if the show/movie didn't have a good script or if the cinematography was crappy she just couldn't deal with it. I like shows because they speak to me. I know a lot of people didn't like Superman returns for many reasons...I like it. I liked that here is this man coming back to his foster planet and realizing that time didn't stop while he was gone. It's the emotion of the story that gets me. I am secretly always rooting for people to hook up. That's why I endured 10 years of Friends. GO ROSS AND RACHEL! This is the reason I am loving Bones. True the writing is great but I don't focus on that. I forget that these people are actors. These people have this amazing chemistry, even from the pilot episode, that just grabs you. I guess I just have simple tastes.

stuff

Goober is potty-trained! We only use diapers at nighttime. I can’t tell you how nice it is. They only downside now is finding a potty any time we she needs to go. It isn’t too bad as Bug has the same needs.
Bug turns 5 years old in a few days. I really can’t believe it. She is so petite that she just doesn’t seem like she is old enough. I was telling her today that she was going to be turning 5 and Goober of course just wants to be like her big sister, so she wants to be 5 too. It took me telling her that 3 is one of my favorite numbers along with 5. Bug then asks me why I like those numbers so much. “I just do I tell her.” “Is it because you can put something in the middle? Like, a dot with dots on either side?(this is honestly how she talks) That’s why I like them. I like things to match up.” That is the thing with Bug she just can fire anything at you. If she likes you and can calm down enough to talk to you, you will soon realize that she has a crack wit. Nothing gets past her.
Goober really wants to see her Uncle Matt. We went to a few garage sales last weekend and everytime we saw a man with a goatee, Goober would yell Uncle Matt! It was pretty cute and really sad when I have to explain that not everyone is Uncle Matt. Uncle Matt lives in California with Aunt Camille. The girls don’t understand that it’s farther than Olympia. Poor things. I am thinking that Hubby and I will be taking the girls to see them some time this year. No rush!

5 and potty training

Bug turns 5 next month. It honestly seems just like yesterday that she was born. She is such a wonderful girl. So full of life and just fun to be around. She is in preschool and received a progress report last week. She is at or above in her class. The only thing we really need to work on is not always doing things her way. Three times her teacher wrote that Bug will listen to directions/rules but really wants it to be on her own terms.

She is a wonderful sister. Always wants to take care of Goober. True this could also be tormenting her, but DANG IT! It's her sister and only she can pick on the Goober!

Inventive too. Bug wanted to buy a toy and I told her that if she wants toys then she can start making money by doing chores. This way she can buy the toy herself. "I already know how to make money!" how? "Well first you get a piece of paper and a green and brownish crayon, then you draw a rectangle and color it green with George Washington's picture in the middle. Then you cut it out, then you draw the backside green to. Then you have a dollar. Then you just make lots just like it. Then you have lots of money to buy all the toys you want." That's right people...my daughter is a future counterfeiter.

Goober is learning all about the potty. Now with most kids that I have been around, #1 is the easist to learn #2 is the scary one. Don't really know why. Goober is the oposite. She is not shy at all to drag me into the bathroom to look at the pooh in toilet. We have finally gotten to the point where going pee is not an issue. She spent all day yesterday and today in panties. She was even at the dentist and daycare and she hasn't had an accident yet. I will be very happy when this is all over. Oh and when she goes potty...she gets a dollar(a real one)

ER visits and sickys

This last week has been fun filled excitement! Goober, has had 2 febrile seizures due to fevers, so when she developed a fever on Saturday afternoon, we were very concerned. We did the usual stuff, Motrin/Tylenol schedule, diaper only, set down the thermostat, cold wash clothes and baths, and plenty of drinking water. By Saturday night the fever was not responding. It still hovered around the 102 area with occasional spikes to 104. So we went to the ER. They checked her heart rate and didn't like what the heard so we were off to a room where they hooked her up to an EKG. That test came out just fine. So off to do chest x-rays. Now, I really need to discuss with Goober's doctor about not doing chest x-rays. The poor thing has had so many that she knows exactly how to perform. The doctors comes into the room about an hour later and tells us the she has bronchitis with a touch of pneumonia and gives us a double dosing of antibiotics and sends us on our merry little way.

I have had to deal with medications for Goober. Usually with the antibiotics the the fever starts to go down. Not the case with Goob. Her fever stayed the exact same all day on Sunday. Where finally, I said we are going up to the ER, after doing everything I could to get the fever down. We get up there at 8pm and didn't leave until 4am. After putting in an IV and getting blood work they couldn't find anything wrong. Just keep doing what you are doing and follow up with her doctor.

I go home and sleep for a couple hours and I go off to work. I know you are probably thinking why even go to work. I work part time and to get my medical insurance for my family I need to work 80 hours a month. I am very close to that number and I couldn't let my boss down as it is only the two of us in the department.

I get to the doctors on Tuesday with both Goober and Bug, since Bug is now getting sick. Where my doctor informs me that the only thing wrong with Goober is a viral infection. She doesn't have bronchitis or pneumonia. The x-rays showed nothing wrong. ARGH! It's just a typical viral infection that usually last 4-5 days with high fever and then she will be just fine. Sure enough. Goober is running abound like a crazy person while Bug is sleeping her viral infection off.

If Bug had gotten sick first we wouldn't have panicked as much. She is 4(almost 5) and just wants to sleep when she is sick. She can be reasoned with and tell you exactly what hurts and how it hurts. With Goober we just get so worried about her having another seizure that we panic the extreme. Both girls are doing better. Bug is finally done with the fever and both girls just have snotty noses and coughs. I have finally caught up with my sleep. It's amazing what your body can do. out of 168 hours I worked for 17 of them, and I slept for 34. That isn't too bad since I usually run off of 42 hours of sleep in a week. I am now going to go to bed and sleep!

oh the confusion and staring

The girls and I were at the store early this week when we saw a lady/man? at the end of the aisle. Bug asks me, in her four year old voice that carries so very well, is that a man or a woman? "Hush Bug" (I couldn't tell) "Well, if I don't know if it is a HE or a SHE can I just call it a HE/SHE?" Let's just say I have never moved off an aisle as fast as that one.

Goober loves to snuggle with Hubby and I. Both girls do. Bug at least talks to you as she shoves you aside and climbs into bed. Goober walks to our door and slowly opens it up. And just stands in the doorway, clutching a stuffed animal in her arms. She then slowly walks up to my side of the bed and will just stare at you. It is really creepy. No matter how many times she does it, I still startle awake. Then she will crawl into bed.

fun times...

Now that..

I've got my guilty pleasures out of the way. I would just like to state how much I dislike mooches. I really don't care to know about how hard it is for you to make ends meet. I especially do not want you telling me this while you are paying with a food stamp card, and in the next breath, telling me about buying a $1,500 dog and breeding it. Also, earning $5,000 from the dog. Not working for me.

My daycare lady's daughter, told me a lovely story about while she was working, a lady and her were joking about winning a contest where you win free groceries a week for a year. Meanwhile the lady behind them in the line says, "I wish someone would pay for my groceries!" and then swipes her food stamp card. Hellooo, someone is! ME!

The welfare/WIC program is a wonderful system. I think it is a great program for the people who truly use it as it is intended. It's all the other people who abuse it that annoys me. Like the ones above.

Okay, that is enough of that.

Bug understands the concept of sequels and trilogies. She has a Barbie movie that she loves. It is in 3 parts. Part one...the fairy doesn't have wings/then gets them. Part two...Fairy needs to trade her wings for a mermaid tail to save her land/gets back wings. Part three...Fairy goes to special school to learn how to make a rainbow for spring. Bug was looking at the first movie when it all connected(we have seen the last two) "This movie is in three parts!" She then begins to explain to me why movies come in "sequels" and why it's better that way(to keep us excited for what happens next).

I think she has the vocabulary of a teacher. She has a pre-school performance in March. She told me, "I am very nervous and anxious about performing in front of an audience."

Oy.

Guilty Pleasures

1) Harry Potter Books and Movies
2) Twilight series
3) High School Musical 1-3
4) Britney Spears(all the cds)
5) New Kids on the Block
6) Smallville
7) Peanut Butter M&M's
8) Archie Comic Books

bad day

It started with my phone going off 15 minutes before I was supposed to wake up. Had to run down the stairs to turn in off before it woke up the rest of the house, sans robe. Figured might as well hit the shower. Grabbed the conditioner instead of the shampoo, twice. Managed to get to work on time, where everything I did was just blah. I had to give a vendor some papers. Made the copies(jammed the machine) and missed the vendor by 10 minutes. Printed out what I needed for the day. My goodness, did corporate forget their brains? Just all of this little tiny crap stuff I had to get out of the way before I could get to what I was supposed to be doing. Oh yeah, I was also called up front to check, a lot. I finally got to validating the items on the shelves. I was moving right along when I grabbed a 20 oz bottle of balsamic vinegar off the second highest shelf and the bottle came off the shelf, unfortunately the bottom of the bottle stayed on the shelf. Yeah, I got sprayed with vinegar, brown vinegar. All over the shelves, the floor and me. So there I went cleaning up while my fellow employees, curious at the strong smell of "garbage", came over to were I was cleaning up this huge mess, laughing at me. It was a grand time. I went to my manager after I cleaned it all up and said, "I stink and I am going home!" He laughed at me. I called my boss and told her I didn't want to work Fridays for her again. She got a good laugh. Probably as good as when I fell over the cans of food. I am that talented at work.

The day got a little bit better when Bug decided she wanted to spend the night at Grandma's and Poppa's house. So here I am sitting all alone, doing nothing. I figure I will surf on the net for a while and then just go to bed. I do have to get the girls by 8am so sleep here I come.

A good family day

President's day...
I had to work but my hubby had it off. So I told him on Sunday to think of fun things to do. I went to work at 5am and then was off at 9am. I thought off all our cool things to do. First, we would head out to Westport and have a picnic at a really cool park there with the girls. Along the way we stopped off at the Westport Winery. I normally do not like wine. It has a cloying type of taste. Hubby wanted to pick up some of the huckleberry candy they have there and I was wandering toward the wine bar, one of the ladies asked if I would like to have a taste. Sure, 5 tastes for 5 dollars why not. OH MY GOODNESS. I am totally in love with this fruit wine called Duckleberry Grunt. It has blueberries and a lot of other stuff in it. It was so very yummy! I could totally drink the entire bottle. Then the next three were good. I like them. Then I tried Red Sky at Night. It is a chocolate raspberry wine. It is a dessert in it self. I would recommend all my wine friends...the next time they happen to be up my way...it is really only about a 1 hour and 45 minutes from Tacoma. Just an idea. Bug and Goober were having a fine time staring at this huge crab pot...In the pot was this beautiful handmade wooden crab that was bigger than the girls.

We then went to Bay City Sausage. This is a place that hubby loves. People bring their game and they will process it into sausage or pepperoni or such things for you. If you have fish, they will smoke it for you. Then they have stuff that they get and process it to sell in the store. It is all very yummy. I only had a small amount of beef pepperoni...cholesterol and everything. Hubby got smoked gouda and a German style sausage. He had the best time. The lady behind the counter was very surprised when the girls took a sample of sausage. Most children apparently don't like this stuff.

Next we went to the park with all of our spoils. We had such a good time playing were Bug and Goober were running barefoot all around this playground. It's so funny to read on Matt's blog were they were going to bed in winter clothes because it's 40 outside. Heck, we were out at the beach running and it was only 42 outside. Of course they have been Californians for three years now. While at the beach in the true spirit of a geek child...Bug asks if we can please go to the museum now because she is tired of the beach.

On to the Olympia Hands on Children's Museum. This place is wonderful. It is completely geared toward children. Young children. The Pacific Science Center is cool but it is more towards children and adults. This place had water tables, boats, blocks, puppet theaters, a garden, a grocery store, and so much more. It was so much fun! It was also a very busy day. I was cringing a bit because there are parents who just let their children run all over while they sit and have a cup of coffee, reading a book at the entrance. I am having a hard enough time keeping up with my kids let alone telling your children to leave mine alone. Plus, my children cleaned up after themselves. Some of the parents just let their kids trash the areas. Bug and Alanna's favorite part was the water table. If you have kids and would like a good day go there! I would suggest calling and finding out when is a slow time though.

On to the Capital building, just across the street. Where we took the girls into the building and we walked touching the beautiful, cool marble walls. Hubby likes to walk barefoot and he was having a good time. Bug was just having the best time. She is learning all about presidents. Like George Washington. And since our state bears the same name, the Capital has busts, banners, and seals of him all over the place. Bug was in heaven. We then were able to look into the Senate and House rooms and Bug declared this part her favorite. Discovering why the two rooms were so different. Goober was having a good time finding the marble stars on the floor. After the Capital we showed Bug the Governor's mansion and went to look at the huge trees on campus. The one outside the Insurance Building and the huge oak near the children's museum just scream to be climbed.

Then off to Bug's favorite restaurant, Red Robin. Haven't really figured out why it's her favorite. We had a good meal....With Bug, holding up a sesame seed on her finger asking us if we could save it so we could plant cheeseburgers in our garden this year. Even telling her that cheeseburger don't grow from seeds, she looked at us like we were crazy asking us why then is there a seed on my cheeseburger. Goober was very happy eating her pizza. She ate almost all of it.

These two little creatures amaze me. I love watching Bug's mind work. She asks such intelligent questions and you need to only really explain it to her once and she remembers it. She can remember places and things that happened when she was only 2. Goober is just so easy. She is happy as long as everyone else is happy. She just goes with the flow. She is 2 1/2 now and language skill is just amazing. What fun I have.

Snowing....its freaking snowing

It's snowing here. I don't like it anymore. We are supposed to get up to 8 inches of snow but it's above freezing and while the snow is coming down like mad, it melts as soon as it hits the ground. We have about maybe 1/4 inch outside and it's been snowing since 6am. Not that I want another big ole' storm...but I want it to snow or go away, not this crap in between.

Updates:

Both the girls are sick...again. I really hate this season. Luckily both of them appear to have feathers up places and are prancing around like crazies. If they didn't have fevers over 100, I might think they were okay.

I have been losing weight. That sign that I should take care of myself...Well it's when I went and got my cholesterol checked and it's 257. That and my best friend has decided to get gastric bypass. I keep thinking to myself...I am killing myself for the only purpose of if I go to the gym I won't have anytime with my family. Or I don't want to go to the gym because I need to make dinner for my family....Well if I don't change my ways...I won't be here for my family. I have know I have had high cholesterol for years....I just kept thinking it would go away. Well here I am at 30 years old and I weigh 50lbs more than I did 11 years ago. Yep...Time to change.

hmm,

I used to watch those specials on T.V. were the lady or man was nine hundred pounds and would refuse to come out of his/her house. I used to watch those and wonder how did they get so fat? Didn't they see it happening, didn't they realize that their clothes didn't fit? I have a feeling I know how it happens. You just stop caring. You figure, well hell I am already at 200lbs and I am sad about it why not have the bag of chocolate. I have gained 60lbs in the last ten years. Not bad 6lbs per year but when that puts you at 200lbs and it's such a slow progression you don't even realize what happened. As soon as I walk in the door I put on sweats and a ratty t-shirt. If my clothes didn't fit it's because they are making clothes smaller not because my butt is getting bigger. I know people are saying work out/ eat right for your kids so they don't become fat kids/adults as well. What I feed them is different than what I do for myself. They only get soda when we go to the movies which only when a kid show is on. I give them no juice. Only 2% milk and water. They get fresh fruit and I feed them vegetables whenever I can. I try not to give them junk. I just need to do the same for myself. I have decided to do several things for myself. ME, not my family.

1) No soda of any kind.
2) I will not put on scrubby clothes. I am in fact going to phase those bad boys out.
3) I already have not had McDonald's in two years....I have since the first stopped all fast food.
4) If it is not raining, we are going outside for at least a half hour.
5) I will do yoga everyday.

These 5 rules are to prove to myself that I have the strength to lose the weight...If I fall off then back on I go and start the countdown all over.

cut off

It's been an ugly and crazy month. First we have the massive amounts of snow that finally has gone away from my yard. We got about a foot. That was before christmas so I had a really hard time traveling anywhere I wanted to go to get Christmas presents for friends who happen to live in California. Then, we had a cold snap where it was insanly icy and nobody wanted to drive and then it snowed about two inches and was gone in a day. Of course we have nice weather for about two days and the rain starts. Buckets and Buckets of rain. I live in a nice place where there wasn't any danger of being flooded but let me tell you...I really don't like being isolated. Couldn't go east because the Wynoochee river was over the road, couldn't go around the Olympic Peninsula because the highways out off Aberdeen were completely shut down with water all over the roads. I didn't have it as bad as a friend who was stuck in her little town because the roads in a 10 mile radius where completely covered. The waters are going down but there are still a lot of road closures. The Ranch House Barbecue is this little restaurant that sells pretty amazing home style food. Their building was completely destroyed last December when the creek that bubbles so nicely beside it when all raging and took out the building. The people who own it decieded to rebuild...in the same spot...and the little creek is the major reason why if you want to get to the beach for any reason you have to take the back roads. The little creek is a river once again. I really need to check out pictures and see if the building is still standing. So I am hoping that I will be headed out of town this weekend. I have gift cards at JoAnnes to use and some presents for people in California to buy...I do need to wait for one road to open...darn mudslides.