Rock it Out

Poster Child

Adventures in Potty Training

Day 1
Diapers be gone!!! We started potty training this week on Bubby. I was starting to feel guilty that I have been home all summer and we haven't attempted to do it. So we went dove in head first and put him in "nundies" on Monday. No Pull Ups just undies. Well after many failed attempts to catch him before he went, I spent most of the day with paper towels and the swiffer in hand. But before he went to bed, he did "tee tee" on the potty. I thought Alright tomorrow he will start off strong since he has already done it once.

Day 2
Boy was I wrong. Day 2 was 10 times worse. The day started with Buggers making a mess at breakfast. So I put both kids in the bath. I always get Buggers out first. So while I was getting her ready for the day, Bubby was still in the bath. All of a sudden he comes running into Buggers room.

Conversation as follows:
Bubby: Momma Poo Poo!!!
Me: You need to go Poo Poo?
Bubby: Poo Poo
Me(jumping up leaving Buggers half way dressed): Let's go poo poo on the potty.
Bubby: No Momma Poo Poo in the Bath
Me: WHAT?!?!?!
Bubby: Poo Poo in the Bath Momma

Yes I spent the next 30 minutes cleaning poop out of the bath then cleaning the bath tub and all the toys that were in there. Fun!! This was all before 9:30. The rest of the day followed suit. I would put him on the potty every 20-30 minutes. And it never failed he would pee in his pants about 2 minutes after. He even peed on the stairs. Plus he did the unthinkable in his undies twice!!! (I don't see how people do cloth diapers)

Day 3
Sometimes it is best to admit defeat. I put Bubby in Pull Ups all day. Evidently my son does not mind sitting in a wet "diaper" all day. I even bought the Feel and Learn trainers hoping he would realize what he had done.

Day 4 (Today)
Not sure how I am going to approach it today. I am going to be out and about today so we will prob rely on trainers. I just don't think he is ready yet. I don't want to push him. People keep telling me that he will do it when he is ready. I hope that is soon.

Some comic relief to our adventures in potty training. He is so funny. He was saying "Elmo Hat".

Class of 97 Reunion

Hubs had his 10 year high school reunion this weekend. Had a blast!!!

National Lampoon's Vacation

We headed down to Kemah on Tuesday on an impromptu family vacation. My parents were down from Nebraska. As a family we decided to not torture ourselves by just sitting around and actually go do something. After we hung out in Kemah for a day we decided to go to Galveston. The kids swam and played at the beach. It was a lot of fun. You know family vacations can be alot of fun or a disaster. I think it is what you make of it. I had a good time hanging out with my sisters and spending time with my parents. My kids had so much fun swimming and riding rides. So that was worth any inconvinences (like the neverending rain) that we encountered during the few days. I hope everyone else had a good time too.

This is a quote from National Lampoon's Family Vacation. I thought it is so appropriate.
"This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest, a quest for fun. I'm gonna have fun and your gonna have fun. We're gonna have so much f***ing fun they're gonna need plastic surgeons to remove the smiles from our f***ing faces. We'll be whistling zippity-doo-dah out of our a** holes."

Sweet Sweet Baby

You'll never really know, my dear,
Just how much you mean to me,
A mother's love, buried so deep,
That only my heart can see.

When I sit and really stare at you,
All I can do is grin,
Somewhere down deep inside,
I see myself within.

I'd never change a thing in you,
I thank God that your so fine,
Even when your at your worst,
I'm so proud that you are mine


(click in box to start music)

Pink Paradise

I have been working on redoing Bugger's room this summer. I decided on pink (two different shades actually). I bargained shopped all her bedding and reused most of her accessories.

Costs
Quilt-$20
Sheet Set-$10
Pillow-$10
"Hot" Pink Paint-$15
"Light" Pink Paint-Free
Headboard-Free
Bed Frame-$10
Box Spring-$20
Curtains-$21
Total-$106


-----Before-----

It was green and yellow which we had painted before Bubby was born. His nursery was done in giraffes.




The inspriration for colors


------After-------

Welcome to Pink Paradise






I absolutely love this headboard. I picked it (actually I got two of them from teh guy)up from someone in town. At the time I didn't really know what I wanted to do with it. I put one up in Bugger's room and the other in the backyard. I'll post that pic some other time.



View from rocking chair


I'm waiting on Hubs to get back from Walmart with the other two curtains. Her ladybug with her nickname on it will go above her crib. I repainted it the darker pink and it is still drying.

Do you think I need a rug ?????

All things starting with B

We had a great day today. We went to church then to eat with some folks from church. Then we had a smashing time at a birthday party for our neighbor. There were bubbles, balls, and balloons. The kids had so much fun playing at the toddler friendly park. Even though it rained some it didn't spoil the fun. You know it is a good party when they are asleep before you get home. Slippin' and Slidin' in the Rain

Cupcakes are soooo good.

Fingerlicking good!!!

Once while we were in Nebraska, Aiden kissed me and it shocked us. I jumped back and said "Oooo" and covered my mouth. He did the same thing. Ever since then anytime he kisses me he does that. So cute!!

Kisses are so funny.

Finally Daddy got it!!!

Cooling off!!

Buggers and Daddy sipping lemonade

Bubbles...mostly in their hair thanks to momma




Happy Birthday Ava!!! Thanks for inviting us to your party!

"Lissen Friar-Wurks"

We headed out to my sister's for 4th of July. We have been out there the 3 of the last 4 years to see her subdivision's firework display. We had a great meal of real American food--fried chicken, baked beans, macaroni salad, rolls, and cupcakes. She is always such a great host. The firework show is really great. Buggers loved it she kept saying "Wow, wowee, Yeah" the whole time. It was adorable. Bubby on the other hand had a death grip on my arm. He didn't cry but that's not to say he was completely thrilled.

4th of July is always a time to reflect on our country and appreciate all the freedoms we have in this country. And what better way to do that than with the next generation of Americans sitting in your lap and next to you.

Mesmerized by the lights and sounds.


Us minus one (hubs was working firework stand...he was missed)


Ta-Da!!!!!


How could you not fall in love with those curls?!?!?! God bless humidity!


Hope everyone had a safe and Happy 4th of July. We certainly did!!!

So you had a bad day...

Today was a day to end all days. The kids were having a horrible day as was momma. We were having trouble listening, following directions, controlling our temper, suppressing our need to scream and trouble being emotionally stable. Yes I was included on all of those. We also issued an APB on the "spanking hand" because it was loose and it was armed and dangerous today. And with much regret it took two victims with it today...two small hineys on two toddlers. With all the screams, tears, apologies and regretful moments, we ended the day beautifully. It made me (almost) forget about the misfortunes of the day. I guess your day isn't so bad if you can laugh at the end of it.

During Bubby's S---nack (that's how he says it...over pronounces the "s")

"Whatcha hiding Bubby?"

"Puddin' face, Momma"


God bless little children!!! And Prozac!!!

Single mommy life

I got a taste of it this weekend. Hubs was working the firework stand all weekend. And I do mean all some days. We went to a birthday party, little bit of shopping, church, and to the firework stand to get some fireworks. I had a good time but damn I'm tired. It is alot of work keeping up with them. They are a hand full...doesn't help that I only have one working one.

How can you not love that smile? She can light up a room with that grin!!!


Stylin' in her CoolMommas


Climb Up

Slide Down

Wipe Down

Such a good boy waiting so patiently for his cake and ice cream!!

I don't abide by child labor laws...Pay attention to what you cleaning Buggers!

The floor...Not your mouth!!!

Thumbs Up

I went back to the doctor on Friday to get another cast on. I talked to my doctor for a while about my options other than getting that god forsaken thing back on. He agreed to let me keep robo wrist on as long as I treated it as a cast. No taking it off!!!! I am proud to say that it has been 56 hours and I haven't taken it off. Funny thing is, I had another "panic attack" last night. I woke up freaking out about my hand. I wanted to take it off but I talked myself out of it and just unvelcroed it to let my hand breathe. I felt better. I wonder why I am having these issues. My hand doc suggested I talk to my regular doc about it. If it happens again I will. Anyway I go back to the doc in 4 weeks. Hopefully my thumb will be healed meaning the ligaments put themselves back together. If not I will have surgery and definitely not be ready for volleyball. :(

Fun in the sun

We took the kids to the waterpark at the Y today for the first time. It was so much fun. They had a blast. The waterpark is only 2 ft deep so Bubby got around great in the water. Buggers had a great time too. She thinks she is a big girl and can go anywere.



I know I am brave for posting a pic of me in a bathing suit on here. But you know I am a mom to 2 kids. I have stretch marks, cellulite and hips the size of a double wide. Get over it!!!

I hope we can go back alot this summer.

Truly a 30 minute Meal

I am a huge fan of Rachael Ray's 30 minute meals. It is the only show that the kids will let me watch in its entirety. Both kids like watching it too. Bubby has been watching it with me since he was an infant. I have never tried any of her recipes just use some of her tips. I tried her Non-Sagna the other night since Hubs doesn't like lasagna and I do. So I thought this might be a nice compromise. It turned out great and we both liked it. Buggers loved it she ate 2 helpings!!!



The only thing I changed is that I used store bought pasta sauce instead of making it from scratch.


Not-sagna Pasta Toss Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Show: 30 Minute Meals
Episode: Come One, Come All


Easier than lasagna, because it's not, this pasta, meat sauce and ricotta toss-up is just as hearty and comforting as the layered Italian fave, but it's ready in a fraction of the time and with much less effort.


1 pound curly short cut pasta (recommended: campanelle by Barilla, fusilli or cavatappi
Coarse salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1 pound ground sirloin ***I used ground italian sausage instead****
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, eyeball it in your palm
Black pepper
1/2 teaspoon allspice, eyeball it in your palm
1 teaspoon, several drops, Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup dry red wine, a couple of glugs
1/2 cup beef stock
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup fresh basil, about 20 leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, a couple of handfuls, plus some to pass at table

Heat a large pot of water to boil for pasta. Salt water and cook pasta to al dente. Heads up: you will need a ladle of the starchy cooking water to help form sauce before draining.
Heat a deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add the meat and break it up into small bits as it caramelizes. Once meat has good color to it, 4 to 5 minutes, add garlic, onions and red pepper flakes and season with salt, pepper, allspice and Worcestershire sauce. Cook another 5 minutes, deglaze the meat and onions with red wine, cook off a minute, then combine about 1/2 cup of stock into the meat. Stir in the tomatoes and bring to a bubble. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer 5 minutes.

Place ricotta cheese in the bottom of a shallow bowl. Add a ladleful of boiling, starchy pasta water to the ricotta and stir to combine. Add a couple of handfuls of grated Parmesan to the ricotta and mix it in.

Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with cheeses. Add half the thick meat sauce to the pasta bowl and combine. Tear or shred the basil and add to the meat and pasta, toss again. Taste to adjust salt and pepper. Serve bowlfuls of Not-sagna with extra sauce on top and more grated Parmesan to pass at the table.

What do you get?

What do you get with one hacksaw, pair of scissors, an accomplice (hubs), and a claustrophia induced panic attack at 2 in the morning?

Can't figure it out........

You get the death to Ol' Blackie.


Long live Robo Wrist!!!!!!!!!!