Thursday, December 13, 2007

That Kid X 2 and their crazy mom


Let me just start off by saying that I was never going to be that mom.... You know that mom that gives lame generic answers and drops off her kid at school before she showered. The mom that always seems a little frazzled no matter the time of day.

Alas, I am that mom. I have come to accept it, maybe even embrace it. I tell my children "because I said so". I tell them " We'll see" just to avoid a public fight even though I know for a fact the answer will be no. I check to see if the windows are open before I yell (what would the neighbors think). I bribe them in the grocery store and I use the " when your father gets home” threat. That being said, maybe I should have expected to have "that kid" but I didn't. I surely did not expect to have THAT KID X 2!

RONIN - THE NAKED KID
Let me just say that I do get Ronin dressed daily. Multiple times every day but that kid is always in his underwear. I swear, every time I turn around, that kid has stripped. He does not care that it is cold. He does not care that the neighbors can see. In fact being outside seems to intensify his need for nudeness. You know I probably would not care so much if no one could see but we live on the green belt. All of our neighbors walk behind our house to get to the mail box and guess what they can see as the walk by. Our back yard and our living room and kitchen. Basically the three places that Ronin is the most. Good neighbors of PCS in the QC... I am sorry. Please advert your eyes.

RAVEN - THE CLASS CLOWN
I know that Raven is a funny kid. She cracks me up on a daily basis. She is also very witty and dramatic. Sometimes I think she is a 16 year old in a 6 year olds body. Even though this is funny at home, it is a little embarrassing at school.

ie. There is a 3rd grade teacher that comes into Raven's class just to see if she has said anything funny. One time while he was there, Mrs. B asked Raven's table to line up. Raven was sharpening her pencil and says "Well this is awkward. Do I sit down or do I line up?" Seriously what kindergartner thinks like that? Raven also has trouble keeping her lip zipped. I could tell she had been crying when I picked her up from school Tuesday so I asked her what happened. She burst in to tears and told me that she had to flip her card. The note from her teach simply stated "Very talkative today". (I have no idea where she gets that from ;0)) Raven of course cried all day about it. I CAN NOT WAIT FOR PUBERTY!!!

I guess the silver lining in all of this is that I do not have THE STINKY KID.


Just another random comment before I go. I was reading Deanna's blog a few minutes ago. You know the one about watching what we say in front of our kids and the one about listening carefully before answering. This is a picture of what my children talked me into without my knowledge right before dinner. Yeah that is the gingerbread house we made 3 days ago. Notice that Ronin has no pants. DIRTY WORD!


Monday, November 19, 2007

99 things I am grateful for

So I sat down to make a list of the things I am grateful for in my life. Some of the things are silly but it also helped me realize some of the things I take for granted. I really am blessed. Thank you to you all for making my life so much richer.


1. Gary
2. Raven
3. Ronin
4. My mom
5. My dad
6. Jesse
7. Becky
8. Andy
9. Kaidence
10. Bonnie
11. Gary
12. Josie
13. Jason
14. Josette
15. Mauro
16. Dianne
17. Kris
18. Kaitlin
19. Karli
20. Nathan
21. Mariah
22. Michael
23. Sienna
24. Grandma Perkins
25. Mimi
26. Stan
27. Grandma Lopez
28. Aunt Sanza
29. Uncle Narvin
30. Eric
31. Christine
32. Guhner
33. Addison
34. Deanna
35. Donny
36. Merik
37. Emma
38. Michelle
39. Bryan
40. Nash
41. Jared
42. Marcus
43. Lindsey
44. Jamie
45. Ally
46. Cody
47. Jonas
48. Our home
49. Our Health
50. Unconditional love
51. I got to know all of my grandparents
52. Friendship
53. Our past
54. The possibilities of our future
55. Books
56. Good food
57. E-telecare
58. Health insurance
59. The internet
60. Lexapro
61. Diet Coke
62. Crystal lite
63. Forgiveness
64. Play dates
65. Mrs. Broussard
66. Lucy
67. The Military
68. Our country
69. Detangling Spray
70. My DVR
71. IUDs
72. Hair color
73. Air conditioning
74. My supersized washer
75. Target
76. The microwave
77. Debit cards – I hate cash
78. Digital camera
79. Bubble baths
80. Music
81. Pedicures
82. Crockpot
83. Dishwasher
84. Electricity
85. Cars
86. Sleeping in
87. Giggles down the hall
88. Blogs
89. Email
90. Cell phones
91. Ikea
92. Sunglasses
93. Solar screens
94. Tylenol PM
95. Waxing
96. Bed time
97. Hugs
98. Kisses
99. Bedtime songs

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Tag I'm it

I have been tagged.

Four Places I have worked:
1:Jimmy's Filling Station ( a restaurant not a gas station)
2: Mountain Park Country Day School ( try answering the phone with that every day)
3: Comfort Inn
4: Phase 2/ Etelecare

Four Paces I have lived
1: Show Low, AZ
2: Fountain Hills, AZ
3: Gilbert, AZ
4: The QC... Andy and I try to make Queen Creek sound cooler than it really is

Four Favorite TV shows:
1: The Gilmore Girls
2: Friends
3: Grey's Anatomy
4: How I met your Mother

Four Movies I want to see:
1: I am Legend (mmmm...Will Smith)
2: Enchanted
3: Martian Child ( I love the Cusacks)
4: Charlie Wilson's War

Four Favorite foods
1: Orange Chicken from Panda Express
2: Diet coke or a diet Pepsi Max depending on the day
3: My mom’s bowtie pasta with pesto, asparagus and chicken
4: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Four Weird things about me:
1: I put 3 strokes of deodorant under each arm a day…. No more, no less
2: I am almost completely gray- thanks Grandma P and Mom
3: When I read a good book, I become obsessed. The house is a wreck and we order pizza or eat leftovers.
4: I like to have my toes popped- Gary tries but my Dad is the best at it.

Four Places I would rather be
1: London – I love everything about that city – even the cold
2: At the park with my kids
3: At the movies with a friend.
4: On a date with my husband – we don’t do that enough

Four People I am tagging
1: Gary Henderson
2: Andy Alvarado
3: Clella Sinclair – come on mom join the blogging frenzie
4: Josie Rapper

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Mr. and Mrs. Alvarado





















So I have waited for Becky and Andy to post pictures from their wedding but apparently they have moved on;o) Here are a few pictures we got from the photographer early. Obviously they lucked out when they found this guy on Craig’s list and they got a SMOKING DEAL since he just moved here and is trying to build his portfolio. He is amazing. I cannot wait to see the rest!

If you want to see more of his work go to www.motionandpicture.com




Friday, November 2, 2007

The Great Mud War of 2007


So, one of our favorite things to do is hanging out with the McCleve Family after school. The kids play really well together ( for the most part ) and it gives me a chance to catch up with Christine and let’s face it- sometimes you need to talk to another grown up for more than 5 minutes on the phone. The kids all love to be outside and since the blistering sun is not a concern right now that is where they are most of the time. I love that there is really not too much trouble the kids can get into in the backyard since it a secured area with only "mom-approved toys". I am sure you know what I am talking about. I have an on-going list of things that are not allowed in the backyard. So far I have had to outlaw dolls, action figures, DVDs, and spoons. Yes, I said spoons. My children think that our eating utensils are better suited for digging in the dirt than for eating. There is no way we can have everyone over for Thanksgiving unless we eat with our hands!

Anyways, Christine and I sent the kids in the backyard to play. They were digging in the dirt, running around and having a great time. We heard the water turn on. Now let me just say here, that as a mother you are required to holler “stay out of the water,” I am pretty sure it is some unwritten law that mothers pass down to their daughters, but face it, we don’t really expect them to listen to it. Every child needs to squish mud between their toes and make mud pies. Christine and I did do the required holler and went out 10 minutes later to make sure everything was under control but all control had been lost ( along with all of Ronin’s clothes- more on that another day). The events of October 30th will always be known as the Great Mud War of 2007.

There was mud everywhere - on the patio, the walls and all over the kids. We watched through the window and as soon as we went outside Raven looked up with a guilty look on her face and asked, “Can we play in the mud?” A little too late for that, Missy.

Later that night Addison told me “ We had so much fun today but my mom said we can never do it again.” I had to laugh about it. It is one of those things that you rarely give them permission to do but you are glad when it is done. Childhood really can be so much fun!

Friday, October 26, 2007

Raven's Best Day Ever



So I know that I am way behind on my blog. It is my goal to get better. I also know that I should blog about my sister's wedding but I have no pictures... A camera was given to Gary but there was some sort of malfunction and only a few pictures were taken.


Raven turned 6 and in case you did not know, she thinks she is sort of a big deal. Becky and Andy got married on her actual birthday so I decided to do something special for her the day before. I took her to get her first manicure and pedicure - a simple indulgence that would make her feel pretty for the wedding. We went to the new place by our house and I was pleasantly surprised to find that children can get a manicure and pedicure for only $24. It was a real bonding moment for me and Raven. There was no whining... no begging... no temper tantrums - just a smile on her face as she was soaking her feet. As a matter of fact I actually got a “This is the best day of my life mom". It was so worth the $24. It was not however worth the $48 I was charged as we are leaving. That's right $48 for the nail care of a 6 year old. I forgot that those nails salons are tricky places. They speak so fast you do not know what you are agreeing to until they are almost done. They can "fife dahlah" you in to bankruptcy. My naive little girl agreed to not 1, not 4, but 6 flowers painted on her fingers and toes. Yes, they were cute and each one had "bling" in the center but seriously, $4 a flower? I about had a heart attack but decided to just pay and get out of dodge before I was charged "fife dahlah" for disputing the charges. When we got home, Raven went outside to play and came in with only 2 flowers intact.... I want my bling back.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Ronin is " FREE "


Ronin turned 3 on Saturday,( or as he says "free") and it hit me a little harder than I expected. The Henderson Home now only houses "big kids." I no longer have a baby that needs me to care for them every second of every day. It almost makes me want to start talking Gary into a 3rd...almost.

We had a very laid back weekend. The kids were sick all week and since they were contagious, we had to cancel their party on Friday night. They did not even put up a fight which tells me we made the right decision. They would not have felt well enough to enjoy it.


Guhner and Addison surprised the kids with Birthday/Get Well Baskets. The kids loved them! It was so nice to not only get a birthday gift when they were feeling a little down but also all kinds of sicky treats. A huge THANKS to Christine! The kids felt so loved.