Back to the grind

I've gone back to work. Yes, you read that correctly. Bet you can guess when I started... simply go back to my last post and you'll see how much time I've been back to work! (Since October!)

I feel very lucky because I was hired as a virtual public relations consultant and work from home. After being out of the working world for nearly 7 years, breaking back in felt daunting, especially considering the internet marketing boom that had happened while I was home with kids. But I've adapted, so has my family. I'm still getting used to not being as scheduled as I was before, but I certainly appreciate having a paying job during our current economic status.

I'm making time to blog again. So come back soon to see what we have been up to!

Fun! iPod Meme

I stole this from Tommie over at Tuesday Update! Looked like fun so I just had to try. Thirteen things my iPod (using shuffle mode) says about me:

1. What would best describe your personality? Seasons of Love – Rent Soundtrack

2. What do you like in a guy/girl? Without your love- Aaron Tippon

3. What is your life’s purpose? Shine- Collective Soul

4. What do your friends think of you? Getcha Groove on- Limp Bizkit

5. What is your life story? Love in Itself- Depeche Mode

6. What do you think when you see the person you like? Master and Servant- Depeche Mode (this answer is way too funny!!!)

7. What do your parents think of you? Carrying your Love with Me- George Straight

8. What will you dance to at your wedding? Don’t Cry- Guns n Roses (hahaha)

9. What will they play at your funeral? Feed Jake- Pirates of the Mississippi (This one is weird because the chorus is “If I die before I wake, feed Jake.”)

10. What is your hobby/interest? I am the Bullgod- Kid Rock

t11. What is your biggest secret? Western Skies- Chris LeDoux

12. What should you post this as? I Can’t Take my Eyes off of You- High School Musical

13. What do you think of yourself? Old Paint- Chris LeDoux

I had so much fun doing this one. I kept giggling, especially after the Master and Servant song popped up! I hope you play, too.

Who doesn't love Halloween?

Our kitty and unicorn ready for a little trick or treating!

Our unicorn, post trick or treating... do not let go of the bag!

Not a good sign.

Mike's calendar. I guess he's a bit behind the times...

Not really that surprising.

Last Saturday night we had Mike's BF, Sean, and his kids over for dinner. The guys took over the kitchen and made a very memorable meal. The guys decided to have garlic bread and I was expressly sent as far away from the oven as possible. If you have ever been to my house for dinner, you know I ALWAYS burn the bread. ALWAYS! This is an ongoing joke.

Fast forward to Sunday evening. After falling victim to the marketing giant that is also known as "Free Samples" at Costco, I decided to have frozen Mystic Pizza (3 for $8.99!) for dinner. While waiting for the oven to preheat I found myself giggling because I thought I could smell burning garlic bread. When I opened the oven to put in the pizza I found this:

See, even when I'm not making garlic bread, I still manage to burn it!

Apparently, whoever was in charge of the bread put it in the oven and then promptly forgot about it. I think it might actually be my oven's fault. I'm no longer taking the blame. The oven emits some sort of mind altering drug the instant bread is set inside which makes the person in charge FORGET!

Neither of us learned our lesson the first time.

Behold, the loveliness that is the poor horse with no mane and

now, no tail!

So the scissors must be placed out of reach and

Dylan has to be punished, again.

Will either of us learn this time???

Another one bites the dust.

This is my husband's head on WebKinz drugs.

Reason #24,941 to not leave small children alone with scissors.

First! First! First!

We’ve had two weeks filled with “firsts” over here at Motherhood, Mayhem and Mirth. Bullet points of proof:

• Dylan celebrated her FIRST day of FIRST grade.


• Dylan rode the bus home for the FIRST time.


• Hayden celebrated her FIRST day of preschool.


• Both girls had their ears pierced.


• I had my FIRST job interview in 8 years.


• I plucked the FIRST gray hair out of my eyebrows.

Dylan started school on August 14, and we are so excited for another wonderful year. She was lucky enough to get the best 1st grade teacher and we know she has a lot to look forward to. She also now rides the bus home from school. I love this because it gives me an extra hour to get caught up on whatever I’m working on. Last year, the parking lot was so crowded after school that I resorted to leaving the house at 2:30 each afternoon to get a spot for 3:00 pm pick-up. Now that she rides the bus, I just meet her at the bus stop, 30 seconds from our house, at 3:30. Technically, she could walk the short distance, but the stop is on a country road that people drive VERY fast on, so I’d rather be there for the first few weeks.

Hayden started her first day of preschool yesterday, Aug. 28, and loved every minute. There were no tears (OK, there were just a few and they were mine…) and she was so happy to be there. I was so proud of her.

On Sunday morning, Dylan said she wanted to get her ears pierced, so we loaded the girls up and drove to the nearest Claire’s. At the very last second Dylan opted out and Hayden said she wanted them. So she took Dylan’s earrings and Dylan left without any. L The next day, after Hayden had showed off her new earrings to Dylan’s friends before school, Dylan said she “really wanted them this time!” So I drove 40 minutes to Sacramento which is where the nearest Libby Lu is and lo and behold she did it.

So, my first job interview was so easy. I fell right back into corporate drone. I wasn’t sure how much “Mom” was written all over me, but apparently I did OK because I’ve made it to the next round. Truthfully, I love being a SAHM, but due to the current financial/ economy situation, I should probably go back to work. Unfortunately the residential remodeling industry is taking a huge hit, so rather than go into financial ruin; we figured it would be best if I somehow generated some income. Obviously, I’d prefer some sort of work from home situation, but the job I interviewed for would be away from home. But, man, the benefits alone make me want to get right back out there. We have done without “benefits” for nearly 10 years. We pay our own medical, dental, insurance, etc. There are no paid holidays when you own your own business. If Mike takes a day off, that means no money coming our way. So I’m looking into working. Blah!

Oh ya, yesterday I found a super shiny gray eyebrow hair. How much does that suck? I had to pluck it because it was a distraction. It kept catching the light while I was putting my make-up on. Does that mean that seven more will appear?

There you have it. Two weeks of firsts all wrapped up.

Another day, another project, Welcome to the Bliss Home!

Being married to a contractor is a true test of patience. What little I had when we first moved to our home has grown tremendously as we have been working on our house the ENTIRE 8 years we have lived here. There is always a project in some form or another. Now I can’t place the blame on Mike alone. Many times he has had to wait on me to finalize paint color, or pick the towel bars, etc.

Last year I finally put my foot down, NO MORE projects were to be started. None! No matter how badly I may want to change something in the house I have purposely kept my mouth shut for fear of a new project springing up before another was finished.

Currently, the siding project started in May of 2007 (yes 2007!) has yet to be completed and my house is three different colors. I’m somewhat OK with this because we haven’t started anything else and I know that this would be the next project completed… that is until Mike smelled something peculiar in our hall bathroom a couple of days ago. MOLD! Yuck!

Now it looks like this:



I cried when he said he was going to have to tear out the vanity because the last time he had to “just” tear-out something in a bathroom we ended up with an entire new bathroom (which I LOVE now that it’s done two years later), new air conditioning unit, all new ducting, new windows on the front of the house, and new siding around those new windows… you know, the siding that has not made it around the rest of my house.

Although I may sound like a complainer, I’m trying really hard not to be. I’m just weary of having a house in disarray. I know Mike works really relentlessly everyday to provide for our family and he makes it possible for me to be home with the girls. I am so thankful for his creative talent when it comes to building, his dedication to his craft, and his unending commitment to our family.

Now I have to post a picture of my other bathroom now that it is finished, lest you think I’m not thankful. I’m going to look at this picture anytime I feel a loss of patience, because when the hall bathroom is complete it will be beautiful and exactly how I always wanted it to be!

Summer Break

Summer break has been in full swing for my family since May 29. A full month already. Out of fear, I planned a thousand activities to keep the girls busy. The summer has gone well so far. And we have stayed busy, maybe too busy. This morning I've let the girls stay in their PJ's and they are currently making snowflakes. I should have known that every minute didn't need to be planned. They're old enough now to have fun with spontaneous, unplanned games, crafts, and basic playing. So simple, who knew?

Most of our activities have been of the free sort. Our local movie theaters offer free movies every Wednesday morning. The movies are not new releases, but the girls don't care. We have been meeting up with families from Dylan's class and usually have lunch after. Wednesday's are crazy; movie, lunch and then Dylan has gymnastics. We get home around 5:00 pm just in time to start dinner.

We just had a short vacation to San Diego, compliments of my mom and dad. The girls LOVED Sea World and Dylan would have ridden Atlantis a 100 times if I would have let her. They enjoyed swimming and they loved the sand at the beach.

We've celebrated both girl's birthdays in the past month and have spent tons of time in the pool. This week we are taking it easy...

Prom

In honor of Prom Season, From the Cheap Seats has put out a dare to all of her readers to post pictures of their own prom...

Here goes!!!

The first picture is from my Junior Prom in 1989, hence the huge hair and the fake long nails that are painted black and white to match my dress. Dang my date was hot!!! He was a Swedish exchange student and was truly the sweetest guy in the world. They grow them and train them so well in Sweden. :)

Unfortunately I couldn't find the REAL picture from my Senior prom in 1990 so this one will have to do. At least my senior year I opted for a little less hair action. But alas, I failed in the garter department. Who wears garters to prom??? My date this year was another great guy. He was such a good sport and was kind enough to stay until the very end of Prom so we could dance. My best friend went with his best friend and we had so much fun.

So, now it's your turn to hunt down those old pictures and post them for our enjoyment!!!!

Have you ever thought “This time, I really am going to die?”

I have. And it wasn’t pretty.

Two weeks ago, on the same day my brother welcomed his first child to the world, my girls and I were flying from Ontario to Sacramento after a weekend of visiting my family. Both of my kids are star travelers because they have traveled since they were very young. (Dylan’s first flight was at 2.5 weeks old!) The flight started off fine. Dylan was happily sitting next to the window, Hayden was in the middle and I was sitting on the aisle. Both girls were playing with little toys I keep packed in a lunchbox. Suddenly the plane started shaking uncontrollably and all of the little toys in both lunchboxes bounced onto the floor.

I felt a moment of panic, not due to the turbulence, but because of the loss of the Polly Pockets now on the floor. Hayden wanted them back and Dylan started to unhook her seatbelt to pick them up. Then the plane sounded like it was going to explode and Dylan looked at me with huge eyes and asked if we were going to die. She begged me to sit next to her because she was scared. The plane just kept shaking, not the dropping like a roller coaster type of turbulence, but the kind where you can hear every single piece of the plane creaking and bouncing. The pilot came over the loudspeaker and said that due to the unsafe turbulence the flight attendants were not going to be able to leave their seats.

I was too afraid to unhook Hayden’s seatbelt to move next to Dylan. And Dylan just kept looking at me asking if we were going to be OK. And for the first time in my life I wasn’t sure. I was so scared. I kept thinking this was going to be one of the best days in my parent’s life (with the birth of their first grandson) and the worst because I wasn’t sure how much turbulence the plane could take and I felt like we were going to die. The feeling is dizzying. Being a parent and trying to calm your frightened children while not lying was horrible.

Hayden clung to Dylan and kept telling her she was OK. I tried to reach my cell phone in my purse so I could take a picture and then send it to Mike, because I honestly thought it would be the last thing he’d ever get from me. But then I told myself I wasn’t going to, I was going to send all my energy to the plane and the pilots. I stopped thinking about dying and focused all my energy to making sure we lived.

The turbulence lasted 40 minutes.

Once we landed, Mike met us in the baggage claim and I couldn’t look him in the eye. When I called my parents to tell them we had arrived, I lied and said the flight was fine.

As of today, two weeks later, I’m still not sure I can ever fly with my kids again.

Health 100% Happiness 100% Hunger 100%

“Dear Kathy- I’m worried about you. You have not commented on my blog for a couple of weeks and you haven’t posted anything new on yours. Where have you been?”

Could this note be from you? Do you feel like writing to me and asking the same question? Well if you do, I understand. I’ve been MIA for a few weeks and I really have a good reason. I’ve become addicted. Again. This time it’s not celebrities or reality TV… it’s my daughter’s Webkinz.

I must satisfy my virtual pet addiction. I have no time to write, read or shower. I have figured out how to complete two jobs per day in the employment office. I’m nearing the final gem for a “Crown of wonder.” I feel angry when Dylan spends the money I have earned for her. Since I won a trophy for being top-scorer in a Goober’s Lab tournament, I’m obsessed with winning another. And I can win EVERY single game of Dogbeard’s Bath Tub Battles. So if your 6 year-old is continually beat, I’m sorry, it’s me a 35 year old woman.

Wait, I’ll be right back. Sorry, I just had to take a writing break to check the hourly activities… today at 4:00 pm ET I was able to get a W shop coupon. Can’t pass that up. I even logged on my Mom’s (yes, she has one, too) to make sure she gets the coupon as well.

Today I found a site called webkinzinsider.com and another called webkinzisland.com so I feel comfortable knowing that I am not alone in my addiction.

It won’t be long and I’ll be begging your forgiveness for past hurts as I begin a 12-step program for my latest compulsion. Until then, if you want to hook-up, add me as a friend in Webkinz world. I’ll invite you over to see my super cool house and then I'll kick your ass at Dogbeard's Bathtub Battle.

Playing catch-up.

Making Christmas cookies.

Christmas morning, our little Tinkerbell and Sleeping Beauty.

The girls just being silly.

After all the chaos of the holidays (losing my dog, having company for nearly three weeks straight, all those new toys, moving our office around to accommodate a space for both kids, etc. etc.) I finally feel like I’m getting back into the swing of regular daily life. And it’s only the middle of January...

One of my many resolutions for the year is to change my attitude. As I typed those words, I heard my Mom’s voice say them. My parents will be so happy that I’ve finally decided to do this because as a teen it’s the one phrase I’m sure I heard everyday. So there it is. I’m changing my attitude. See?

In the vein of being positive with a good attitude, I thought I’d share some pictures of the girls. Nothing like a little shot of cute kids to remind you to have a good attitude.

My dog, Willow

The past couple of days have been such a source of misery for me. Yesterday morning, my husband woke me to say that my dog, Willow, had a bloated stomach. When I called the vet they would not see her and instead said I had to take her to a critical care surgical vet because bloating is a really bad sign. I rushed her 30 miles away to the nearest surgical center and then waited.

The news was not good. She has a very aggressive cancer and was bleeding profusely from her spleen. There was nothing they could do. They sent her home with me but were unable to promise one more day. Mike called our vet and made an appointment for today, for him to come to our house and put her down. She was bleeding to death and I didn’t want her to suffer.

I have fed her every leftover meal in the fridge and let Dylan give her M&M’s. I slept with her last night and continually told her I love her and that she is the best dog I’ve ever had.

Willow was my companion during the darkest days in my life. My parents bought her for me 11 years ago so I wouldn’t feel so alone. She was with me constantly for the first few years. And I knew when she wasn’t with me, she wished she was.

Over the past couple of years, since I had kids, she has taken a backseat to them. But she’s always been the happiest dog on the planet. Even this morning, while dying, she wagged her tail and trotted down the hall to get a snack.

I will never be the same with out her… she changed my life in a time that I really needed someone to love. Although the past 24 hours have been tortuous for me, I am thankful I had this time with her because she has been with me nearly the whole time, exactly as she always wanted to be.

Maybe I did go a little overboard.

Yesterday, I spent six and a half hours wrapping Christmas presents. And today, I can barely walk. The end.

That's what I love about Christmas.

My kids, smiling, in red, in front of our tree. What is better than that?

I know, I know

Geesh, I've been gone an entire month. November was so busy, and now it's already December and I'm so out of sorts.

With out further ado let's get to some pictures. The first picture is my brother, Tommy, with the girls at Disneyland. The next picture is Mike's sister, Natalie, and the girls on Thanksgiving in La Quinta. The third picture is Hayden decorating a gingerbread house with Mike's sister and Dylan. And the last picture is me, enjoying one of my favorite activities ever: the horse races with my best friends!

See I told you we have been busy. Over the past month we have been to Disneyland, to La Quinta for Thanksgiving, to my parents house in So. Cal for a visit, the horse races at Golden Gate fields and to Pacifica for a bowling birthday party! And this, my friends, is the reason I have not had anytime to blog (or Christmas shop.)

Tagged!

Carrie tagged me to write seven things about me that you may not already know.

1. I’ll be 35 on my next birthday which just happens to be on Nov. 6.
   
2. I fell in love with my husband the first time I met him. I called my Mom and told her I had just met the guy I was going to marry.
   
3. We dated on and off for nearly 9 years before we married.
   
4. We will celebrate our 8th anniversary on Nov. 12.
   
5. November and December are filled with way too many dates for me to remember:
   Nov. 1- my dear friend Shelli’s son’s birthday
   Nov. 3- Mike’s best friend from childhood’s birthday
   Nov. 6- my birthday
   Nov. 7- one of my best friends, Aimee’s birthday
   Nov. 12- our anniversary
   Nov. 14- Mike’s best friend, Sean’s birthday
   Nov. 16- Mike’s Dad’s birthday
   Nov. 22- Thanksgiving
   Nov. 24- Shelli’s birthday
   Nov. 29- Mike’s Sister, Natalie’s birthday
   Dec. 3- my parent’s anniversary
   Dec. 5- Mike’s step Dad’s birthday
   Dec. 9- Mike’s birthday
   Dec. 17- Mike’s step Mom’s birthday
   Dec. 25- Christmas
   Dec. 29- my Best Friend, Marian’s birthday
   Dec. 31- my Brother’s birthday
   
6. I HATE snakes.
   
7. I love pickles.

If you haven't already participated, consider yourself tagged!