The Lego King

My 5 year old son has turned into a Lego Junkie. Actually, a Star Wars Lego Junkie. Thanks to Papa.

Papa gave him his first Star Wars Lego set for Christmas. Tommy and Dad worked on it every night. It was not meant for a 5 year old, but it quickly became the father/son activity. Tommy learned how to follow the directions and Dad learned a little bit about patience.

This is the first one they built. The V19 Torrent.
Since then he has gotten some smaller ones and can build them himself. We had some issues with him going to school and quickly learned to use Legos to our advantage. We set up a chart and everytime he went to school without crying, he got a check mark. After 6 checks (2 weeks) he would earn a new Lego set. Since we would be getting a new one anyways, we may as well make him earn it!

Wednesday he earned it! I took him to Target to pick it out. He has had his eye on a certain one.
The Jedi Starfighter. I was a little scared seeing it was for ages 7-12. My husband is away and I am not very good with Legos. I didn't want to have to help much, however I gave in. He earned it.

We bought it. He ripped it open an started. I was AMAZED. He put together 90% of it on his own! He is 5!
Here is the final product!
The proud boy!

Katie Plans Her Party......

Even though Kate's birthday isn't until May, she is starting to plan it.

I have been teaching her that her birthday is May 14th and she will be 3.
She tells me everyday that her birthday is "14th May"

In the car this morning she informed me she will have cake and candles.

Great, every birthday needs that.

Then she went on to tell me she needs chairs.

She is like her momma. A planner. She wants to make sure I know what her party needs.

She went to dance class and apparently shared that information with the teacher.
Ms. Patty came out and asked me about her birthday. "ummm ya, it is over 2 months away, she just likes to be prepared."

So on May 14th we will have a party with cake, candles and chairs! Easy!

Death and George Washington

I am listening to Tommy talk to his Dad about George Washington.

He just walked into the living room and said "Dad, I heard our first President died!" (like it happened yesterday)

He then explained to Katie "Katie, sometimes when you get old you die."

Tommy: "Dad, how old will you be when you die?"

Dad: "62 and a half" (because 5 year olds need a solid answer)

Tommy "Well, I am 5 and I won't die for a long time, I think you will die before me."

Dad: "I hope so!"

So funny!

HAPPY DANCE...WAHOOOOOO

THE KIDS ARE BACK TO SCHOOL! *can you see me dancing?*

Oh my, what a loooooong week! They are so lucky to make it back to school in one piece.
Why does New England have so many darn vacations and days off?

Yesterday I hosted a party for my sister who got married in January (on my birthday!)
I had around 40 people here. It was crazy! But well worth it. We saw people who we have never met, people who we haven't seen in years, friends , family and the best was that my parents (after being divorced for many years) were in the same room together and it was ok!
It was a great day.

Kate's 1st Movie

I took the kids (minus Sam) to the movies. We saw Hotel For Dogs.

It started as a fiasco getting there, of course. Nothing can be easy!

I went to the theater, pulled in the lot for the 12:00 show. I was 1/2 hour early so I figured that is why the lot was empty. We headed to McD's to get a quick bite while we waited.
As I was there I was looking at the newspaper clipping I cut out. THANK GOD!!! I was at the wrong friggen theater! No wonder why is was dead! They weren't even playing the movie we wanted!

So we hopped on the highway a few exits to the right theater. We got there at 12:15. I figured "ahhhhh, we will just miss the previews!"

WRONG

The movie started at 11:45. We missed the first few minutes. Which was fine, but it was packed and we had to sit in the 2nd row.

All in all it was fun. Katie sat through the whole movie! I was impressed for a 2 1/2 year old !
She loved it!

Teenagers

Can someone please tell me why teenagers are so frustrating and dumb? I know it sounds harsh, but really, we all know they are!

Why do they never ever think about anyone else?

Why do they never think ahead more than 2 minutes to prepare for what is happening during the day?

Why do they never clean up after themselves?

Why am I always the bad guy?

Why do they expect me to jump when ever they need a ride, money or anything else?

Why do they not like anything I cook?

Why do they think that whatever they want to do or where ever they want to go, I will say yes AND give them money for it?

Why is it, when I sak them to do something they huff and puff like the angry bad wolf? But then 5 minutes later ask me for a ride?

Can you tell I am having a bad teenager day. I hate school vacations.

Disney on Ice and the Cash Cow

Yesterday I took the kids to Disney on Ice. I love those shows. They really do put on a terrific performance. I have taken the kids to many of them over the years.
It was the first show that Kate was old enough to enjoy. It was great to watch her.

The show had Cars, Lion King, Little Mermaid and Tinkerbell.
They get you for EVERYTHING there! It is not cheap. Between parking, food and those darn lights!

Of course you need to get the kids one of those $20 lights...times 2!

Here is Tommy and is BFF with theirs.

Katie and hers (at home)

Then the food. I had Casey and her friend with us. Of course they want soda, Nachos and Cotton Candy.


It was $12 for Cotton Candy......times 2! They did come with some funny (cheap) hats that the kids keep wearing. I wore Kate's for a bit!

They do love those hats. Tommy won't take his off. They were eating dinner with them!
**please do not take notice of the unhealty dinner they were eating, no flaming allowed!**
All and all it was worth it. We had a great time and the kids loved it. And of course, we will go again when they come back.

Days.....

It has been a few days since I posted. We have been busy and have had a sick house.

This weekend Sam had a cheerleading competition. The girls did great seeing that 13 of the 19 were sick. Poor kids. They were passing a box of tissues amongst them all.
They came in 3rd. They were bummed, last time they were 1st. They brought home the "Sportsmanship Award" I thought that was wonderful! They cheer and holler for all teams.

My Sami is in the middle

I also hooked up with some old high school friends for a drink Friday night. We have not seen each other for almost 17 years. (Man, did I just date myself or what!) We connected through Facebook. It was so nice to see them all!

Today we are headed to Disney On Ice. Tommy is not feeling well. I Motrin'd him up and he is rearing to go! Motrin seems to be a wonder drug.

STILL THERE!

I went back to Target today. Yes, I am there often. In fact I have to go tomorrow too!

Anyways, back to my story.

I went back today and the bottle and rattle (post below!) IS STILL THERE!

Ugh......

What is wrong with this picture?

I was walking into Target yesterday and saw this off to the side.

Man, that doesn't look right! What is wrong with people?

Just like her brother.......

Katie has been wanting to be just like her brother. She copies everything he says and follows him around. Some days he likes it, some days he doesn't.

Yesterday, she decided to wear glasses like him. She even has a glasses case the eye doctor gave her when Tommy got his glasses. He didn't want her to be left out. She keeps her sun glasses in them.

Yesterday I walked around the corner and saw this.


Later in the day, while still wearing them, she fell alsleep in the car with them on, holding the glasses case too.
I wonder what today will bring!

Snowflake Torture

My darling son was taught how to make paper snowflakes in school this past week.

He now makes them all the time. I really have way to many.

Snowflakes are supposed to be unique in their own way. Not these. He only knows how to make them 1 way, and he makes a lot of them!

This is his craft table with his mess.

He must really like me. I have gotten about 1,000 snowflakes and this note the other day.
It says "dear mom" in a preschool kinda way. I am not sure of the top section though. When I asked him. he forgot what he wrote.

Oh...It was my fault.....partially

Ugh....
So, I get a call from a mom telling me that there was some bad things written about Casey in the science books at school. If you remember, she has been having a tough time at school with a nasty group of girls.

Well, I call the Mr. Guidance Councilor and let him know. I offer to come in after school to help go through the books.

Apparently they did it the other day. While they were doing it they also saw that Casey has written her name, herself, on pages. So they call her down and now she has in house suspension on Monday!

Don't get me wrong, she should be punished. But, if those mean girls didn't write those things and I didn't call, she wouldn't have been caught. So I am torn. I feel bad that no one knows who it was that wrote "Casey is a bitch" several times in the books, so that person will not get in trouble. Yet, my kid, who carelessly wrote her name (hello!?!?!?...not very smart to put your first and LAST name in there!) gets in trouble.

It was up to her to tell me and then the principal is calling me today. I will let you know how that convo goes.

Still here...

Yes my trash still sits at the end of my driveway. It is so infuriating.


When I called late yesterday she assured me it would get picked up this morning. Even if she "had to get a pickup truck herself and do it!" I guess she wasn't a woman of her word.

They have a trash inspector in town. He likes to tell you that you didn't put out your recycle or that you have to many barrels. Maybe he should come by and tell me what I did wrong?

Trash Vent

Ugh....why does the trash man torture me? I am so mad at them right now!

Friday was trash day. He emptied 1 out of 3 trash barrels. Huh??? Why would he leave 2 full?

I call the company. They assured me it would be picked up today.

Nope.

I called and had to leave a message Saturday and Sunday.

Monday, I spoke to a human. Once again, they said they would come and get it.

Hmmm.....it is now Tuesday and my trash is still sitting at the end of my driveway! My neighbors think I am trash now for leaving it out!

I called this morning. The dispatcher was very apologetic. Yes, she promised it would be taken care of.

At 3:30 I called YET AGAIN! She was horrified. I am not sure if it was because of my anger or that they still hadn't come. She called the truck driver. Do you know what he said???????

He said he wasn't coming! it was to snowy and slippery. Are you F**king kidding me? We live in New England people! It is only about 2" out there!

She PROMISED me that someone would be here first thing in the morning, even if she needed to drive a pickup truck herself her.

We will see! I am glad my tax money is going to a great trash contractor. GRRRRR

25 Random Things About me

This has been going around the Facebook world. I thought it would be fun to post it on my blog for those of you who aren't my Facebook friends.

Here are 25 random things about me!

1. I moved out of the house when I was 16, but did move back briefly before I graduated.

2. I had my first child at 18.

3. I can balance a spoon on my nose.

4. I can remove someone else's belt with my toes. (Ask Jerry D. to verify that one!)

5. I have my belly button pierced. It was the first Christmas gift my husband ever gave me!

6. I am very happily divorced from my 2 older girls dad. We were only married 3 years.

7. I have been with Chris for over 11 years. He is the best husband and Dad.

8. I have 4 crazy kids. But wouldn't change it for the world.

9. When I was in middle school I would steal cigarettes from my dad and hide them in a bag in the woods. (with Susan!)

10. I went to a Vocational School and got my hairdressing license. I have not done hair in 15 years. Anyone want a haircut?

11. When I was younger I wanted to be a Solid Gold Dancer! I still have hopes!

12. I smoked pot for the first time on my first day of High School. Please don't flame me, it was peer pressure

13. My husband and I balance each other out. He is a OCD freak......I am totally NOT!

15. I have a close group of friends I met on a parenting chat board 3 years ago. We talk everyday and are very close. They have met, I have not had the chance to. They think I am a troll. =)

16. I love being a stay at home mom. It was a job I always felt I was meant to have. I have been home with them for 8 years.

17. I used to be an event coordinator at EMC. I love my girls there and still are close with them.

18. My mother in law and I are great friends! We defy the odds!

19. I went to Florida 5 times the past 12 months. I am thankful for my inlaws and the free place to stay!

20. Being a parent of 2 teenage girls in the hardest, most emotional thing ever!

21. I got a Blackberry for my birthday. I am addicted to it. It is referred to as my "Crackberry"

22. I am addicted to reality TV. Real Housewives of Orange County and Atlanta, Hell's Kitchen, Amazing Race and many more. I like "mindless" TV.

23. I am addicted to reading People Magazine. Chris choked when he saw how much my subscription was!

24. I cry at weddings, even if I don't even know the people getting married.

25. I love going out to eat. So much a few friends if mine started Dinner Club once a month! It is like Book Club, we just go to different places to eat every month! We have gone twice!

Superbowl? Huh?

Superbowl Sunday.

I have a confession........I do not watch. I just found out yesterday who is playing!

I like the 1/2 time show.

I like the commercials.

I like going to my friends to eat and hang out.

But I really won't be watching the game. It isn't because the Patriots didn't make it this year. I don't even watch when they play!