tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14919099106060214272024-03-23T06:14:17.291-04:00Michelle MosseyThis is a blog about parenting, books, life and whatever else comes along, all while trying to keep my sense of humor.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-71118938609836136342020-04-13T16:16:00.001-04:002020-04-13T16:16:22.183-04:00A Conversation With My Dad<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you ever had a conversation with someone and afterwards you wondered what the heck you were even talking about?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe they kept hopping from topic to topic? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe they were mispronouncing words?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe they spoke in catchphrases?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enter a conversation with my dad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me first preface this by saying I love my dad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is funny (dad jokes for DAYS), sensitive (cries at movies) and friendly (talks to everyone like they are old friends).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But talking to him on the phone can drive a person insane.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If they weren't already.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But *ahem* we aren't talking about me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, here is how our conversation went the other day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Ring, ring.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Hello.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: Hey, Shelly!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Hi Dad. How are you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: Oh, you know. We're hanging in there. Making do. How are you and the boys?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: We're good. Just figuring out our new normal for right now. How to work from home and school from home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: *Chuckles.* Yeah. Okay. Okay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: What have you been up to?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: Well, I've been looking into some things. Trying to figure some things out. Doing a little research.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Have you called an electrician to take a look at your stove?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: No, we've been kind of busy with a few things but it's on my to do list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: How about your groceries? Do you guys have enough supplies?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: We're getting by. I'll open the fridge and see what we've got and throw some things together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: So you're good for supplies then?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: We're making it work. Putting things together. A little of this, a little of that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: So Shelly, have you seen anything good on Netflix lately? (<i>Side note: My dad is the only person who can call me Shelly and get away with it. Don't. Even. Think. About. It.)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Yeah. I watched The Witcher and the boys and I watched Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. It was pretty cute. What about you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: Well, we watched this movie the other night about a secret agent, or maybe a detective. He had to fight the bad guys and figure the mystery out. He had a partner. Oh, I forget the name. Do you know which one I'm talking about?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Um, no, Dad. I'm not sure. Sounds good. (<i>As he has literally described the plot to about 80% of all movies in the history of movies.</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: Thanks again for bringing over the groceries. You really didn't have to do that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: No problem, Dad. I'm happy to do it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: But, um, Shelly, what was in that bowl you gave me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Dad, it is taco soup.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: Oh, okay. What's in it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Uh, taco soup.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: *Chuckles.* Oh, okay, smarty pants. I'll put you on my list. I'll remember that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Laughing.* I think you'll like it. I had several bowls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Anything else going on?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: Well, I have been going online trying to figure this thing out. The insurance company screwed things up. *Sighs.* It's a LONG story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Um, are you talking about your car insurance?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: Yes. I've been trying to to get things right and I finally got a hold of them. But they said they just - ah - *sigh*. I had to go online and dig and dig and dig. Now, I'm trying to get things straightened out. *Sighs again.* It's just a LONG story. <i>(Side note: EVERYTHING with my dad is a long story. If he ever said it was a short story, my heart would stop from the shock.</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: That sounds rough. (<i>Because I am not really sure what he is saying and it sounds like the right response.</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: *Sighs one more time.* You have no idea. (<i>Said very dramatically</i>.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Dad, have you finished wiping everything down? Making sure to Clorox all handles, light switches, counter tops, door knobs and remotes?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: We're working on it. We've almost got it done. We're getting there. (<i>Side note: We are FOUR weeks into quarantine and my dad lives in a TWO bedroom duplex. *Blinks.* </i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Yelling in the background.*</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Dad, that's my cue! I'm going to have to go. I'll talk to you later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad: Okay. Talk to you later. Love you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Love you! Bye.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See what I mean?!?!?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>WHAT EVEN HAPPENED?!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What was our conversation even about?!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one knows.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess it's a long story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-55753592604184275542020-03-16T09:50:00.000-04:002020-03-16T10:03:57.574-04:00Maybe I Do Need Buttermilk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, I came across several tweets on my Twitter feed of people in Australia who were buying up all of the toilet paper. Like all of it everywhere. In their entire country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Blinks.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So at first, I laugh this off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Snort.* </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is <i>so</i> crazy! Why are they taking all of the toilet paper?! Bad bowels isn't even one of the symptoms of the Coronavirus. Are they worried they will get hit with a bad case of the squirts?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Chuckles.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That is just insane. I mean of ALL of the things to be worried about. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TP is at the top of your list?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Laughs loud. Laughs quieter. Sighs. Clears throat.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But then I started thinking, do the Australians know something that I don't know?! Like there is a TP Apocalypse on the horizon? Are they privy to some highly classified information that we Americans don't know?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I did the only reasonable thing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Okay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe it wasn't the <i>reasonable thing</i>. But it helped to calm my anxiety, so let'</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">s just go with that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I went and bought a ton of TP.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I mean, I am not going to be the only person out there with no TP!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However I do remember learning from one my of my kids' TV shows that if there are "leaves of three, let it be". So if I need to go searching for leaves outside, I can make sure and not get the itchy ones. Thanks, PBS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am what marketing folks would call "highly suggestible".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If I see someone buying a cute pink short at Loft, then I maybe I need to try on that shirt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you order a burger and fries, well that sounds WAY better than what I was going to order so I'll get that too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you are buying up all of the TP, then I am going to be buying all the TP.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So when I was at Kroger the other day, grabbing some supplies to hole up inside for a couple of days, I made sure to get some TP.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And as I was walking through the aisles, I grabbed some things I may need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's the thing: If you are a certified "wigster" like myself (i.e. someone who wigs out a lot) and someone who is highly suggestible, then when something like the Coronavirus goes down, You, Lose. Your. Mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Plodding through the frozen food aisle, I look at all of the frozen meat and wonder, "Do I need 47 chicken breasts?" "How many are enough chicken breasts?" "MAYBE I NEED 47 CHICKEN BREASTS!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Into the cart they go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Strolling by to grab some butter, I see some buttermilk. "Do I need buttermilk?" What if I want to make some biscuits and I HAVE NO BUTTERMILK?!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">MAYBE I DO NEED BUTTERMILK!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yeah, that went into the cart too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Walking by the cheese section, honestly, I can't even tell you what happened. I think I just blacked out and $50 later, I went on my merry way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am just not sure what I will need. I don't want to be caught without things I need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After I get home, I call my mom to tell her about my shopping experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In summary, she is laughing at me and keeps asking me "Why did you get the buttermilk? When was the last time you made biscuits?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Look, I don't remember when the last time I made biscuits, or if I ever have. But who knows?! I might <i>need </i>it. What if I have an overwhelming desire to make mouth watering biscuits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Better to be safe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let this be a cautionary tale.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do not be like me and be easily talked into buying things that you don't need. Be reasonable. Think about things you will actually need. Take a reasonable amount.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Except for the buttermilk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don't forget the buttermilk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-85248862670580155552020-03-07T12:05:00.000-05:002020-03-07T12:17:37.479-05:00Time Is A Tricky Thing<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Rr-e8xI6_Cb3cCci6ttRRJHUMfrXSgHe2HebWx0bcDarv5ZFJkTb-JrZ_2ilCN6Pe85z7jE2l0Cahtvzv9h4EfpQDtULQ9CDbj1n-J6YbUlJRy5ShdKac735P0o_a-YY0sRgfrFcqmg/s1600/240_F_277412640_WVE1FmtHzgIiVCMTrTkvZC13dNzLD04Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Rr-e8xI6_Cb3cCci6ttRRJHUMfrXSgHe2HebWx0bcDarv5ZFJkTb-JrZ_2ilCN6Pe85z7jE2l0Cahtvzv9h4EfpQDtULQ9CDbj1n-J6YbUlJRy5ShdKac735P0o_a-YY0sRgfrFcqmg/s320/240_F_277412640_WVE1FmtHzgIiVCMTrTkvZC13dNzLD04Z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time is a tricky thing. Is it not?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While you are in it, it seems to move at a turtle's pace. Or you are wishing it away for the weekend or a vacation or a holiday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you stop to look back, it seems to speed up at light speed, making you wonder how it went by so quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In hindsight, you can see all of the things that that you could have done differently or things that would have worked out if you were brave enough to do x, y or z.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we do this, we can often get wrapped up in "shoulds", "coulds" or "woulds". We can start to doubt ourselves or beat ourselves up for things we did or didn't do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The thing is...it's okay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's okay that things didn't go the way you thought they would.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's okay that you were scared to try something new.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's okay that you were brave and tried something new, only for it to blow up in your face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's okay that you got your feelings hurt or your heart broken.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Stay with me. I'm bringing it back around.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's okay because look where you are today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Look at who you are today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These experiences that time has taught us - the good and the bad - have made us who we are meant to be. It has helped shape our character and our own story. It has helped us to be stronger versions of ourselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I try to remind myself when time has not been the kindest to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That I am stronger for the bad or sad things that happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That I can use my own failures to help someone else along their life journey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That I am staring time in the face and I am not afraid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This post has been a long time coming. Lots of things have changed in these past two years. Some good. Some bad. Some amazing. Some sad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I find myself here. And I'm okay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm better than I have been in a long time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I can look back and say with confidence that "it's okay".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time is a tricky thing.</span><br />
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-83132656740561711352018-02-04T12:38:00.001-05:002018-02-10T15:36:00.174-05:00It's Easier And It's More Difficult<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7v18zeOUOrh2RFJnPPtxShgykzvwDzgqPdqNVHlK0bgutJg4ar3V458uQd4wp0HR5WiUNXOb4sZeJ5UizqW3tICvLTOdiiXKEpTp-yJnLxy0pI8IM3ZWEM6b0ykLrprlDN_7FiNVveQ/s1600/hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="396" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7v18zeOUOrh2RFJnPPtxShgykzvwDzgqPdqNVHlK0bgutJg4ar3V458uQd4wp0HR5WiUNXOb4sZeJ5UizqW3tICvLTOdiiXKEpTp-yJnLxy0pI8IM3ZWEM6b0ykLrprlDN_7FiNVveQ/s320/hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Remember when you were about to be a new parent for the first time?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remember how excited, worried, anxious, happy you were?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remember how hard you thought it was to get up every two hours to feed your little one?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or how you often forgot to bathe until people passed out when they got close too you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or how you had a love/hate relationships with the stretchy hospital underwear?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When our kids are young, we are often told that things will get easier as our kids get older.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, you get more sleep. *Unless they crawl in bed with you and elbow you in the neck in the middle of the night.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, they can go to the bathroom and wipe their own butt by themselves. *Cue the Hallelujah chorus.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, they can get their own snack. *No, you cannot eat an entire box of Goldfish.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, they can start to do their own chores, like make their bed. *Sort of.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, they start school so you can have more time to get things done. *Why is there stuff everywhere? You've only been home for 10 minutes.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of these things are true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a sense, it <i>does </i>get easier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And yet...I think it's more difficult.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is more difficult because you are sending your kids into the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You hope that their teachers, educators and coaches will love them as much as you do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You trust that your kids will be able to problem solve for themselves and make the right choices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You send them out there to experience life without you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But sometimes those life experiences can be difficult. They can be challenging. They can be painful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When your child realizes that not all people are nice. That there really are jerks in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When your child realizes that they have to push past the butterflies in their stomach and resolve their own conflict.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When your child realizes that not everyone wants to be their friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When your child realizes they are not the best at something they once thought to be true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When your child struggles to understand something taught in class and they wonder if they can do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I believe that <i>these</i> days are the hardest, the most difficult, the most challenging - not just for the kids, but for parents too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because we parents know that our children have to experience these things. They have to learn what it is like to solve their own problems, to figure out what motivates them, to build their self-confidence and to figure out their place in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This can be hard and painful. Because when I see my child hurting or struggling, I want to swoop in and fix it. My instinct it to try and make everything right.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I know this is something they have to learn for themselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That is what children are called to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Learn and grow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the kids aren't the only ones growing.</span></div>
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-78613003829813024632018-01-27T10:21:00.002-05:002018-01-27T10:21:53.039-05:00The Mysteries Of The Universe Solved!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I lied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do not <i>really</i> solve the mysteries of the universe. I just wanted to draw you in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The old bait and switch technique - which is really quite genius of whoever came up with this idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Crickets.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So anyway...I have been a stay-at-home mom since my kids were born. (Most of you know this. But to the new one person who accidentally stumbled onto this blog, this is for you. You're welcome.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that both boys are fully settled in school, I thought about starting back to work part-time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember mentioning it to my mom during our phone conversation last summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I think I might go back to work part-time while the kids are in school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom: That's a great idea!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: You know what would be fun? Working at a women's clothing store!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom: No.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Why not? You would get a HUGE discount. You could shop <i>while</i> working!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom: You would have to work weekends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Right. Weekends are sacred days of lounging in PJ's and kid cuddles. Excellent point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom: I have the perfect job for you. One you would be great at - substitute teaching!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom: You have your Master's degree in Education.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: It's Higher Education, mom. College kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom: Well, you are great with your kids. You are so patient. You have the patience of Job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Um, have you been around me and my children?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom: They'll love you. You'll be great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: I'm not sure...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Obviously, some of my finer parenting skills are letting them have cereal for dinner, playing video games until their eyes bleed and pretending not to hear them yell for me when I'm in the bathroom. (Actually, none of these things are true. Except the last part. Can't a person simply empty their bladder in silence?!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These skills will clearly be super helpful when it comes to substitute teaching.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So after casually bring it up in every conversation over the next several months, my mom convinced me to apply.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The principal contacted me about a long term sub position that would last 8 weeks filling in for a special education paraeducator.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember driving to school that day wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fortunately for me, the first day was shadowing the person who I was going to be subbing for. I got to learn her schedule and meet all of the kids. I was introduced to all of the teachers and staff. There was a lot to learn and a lot going on. The kids were so cute and each one had a different plan that worked for them. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was super busy and a big responsibility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I LOVED it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When my 8 weeks started to come to a close, I was so sad I had to leave everyone at the school. I got lots of hugs and a lot of we'll miss yous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know. I know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You're probably thinking, "Why is Michelle being so dramatic? She can still sub anytime she wants."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Touche.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it's not the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Sniff.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I enjoyed my weekend, then come Sunday evening I got a text to sub on Monday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They love me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They really love me.</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-5451109808019547612017-05-13T12:32:00.002-04:002017-05-13T12:32:50.545-04:00It Doesn't Matter How You Get There Just That You Arrived<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjnPXAotr3WyAGIiT20V4NLmSXkktDa7P2pMBAfNTEI25FlXy3qqlGevcPhhIYq31h1ViBuzZMaqQbPA23E-HO4Qc09-r62xVSMf6WlQBFusodX4OUgZ3lnaGcb_oYWdvUKGw3e7quSQ/s1600/IMG_6279+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjnPXAotr3WyAGIiT20V4NLmSXkktDa7P2pMBAfNTEI25FlXy3qqlGevcPhhIYq31h1ViBuzZMaqQbPA23E-HO4Qc09-r62xVSMf6WlQBFusodX4OUgZ3lnaGcb_oYWdvUKGw3e7quSQ/s320/IMG_6279+-+Copy.JPG" width="273" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Me and my little guys</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many years ago, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was diagnosed with Graves' Disease. For those of you not familiar, Graves' Disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. It is basically a ridiculously overactive thyroid. My thyroid was the Arnold Schwarzenegger version of thyroids. (<i>Admit it. You're doing the Arnold voice in your head right now.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While my doctor was treating me with medication, he explained that I should not get pregnant during this time because it would be considered a high risk pregnancy. He went on to say that even if my thyroid levels were at normal levels in the future that I may have trouble with my thyroid putting me at high risk if I ever got pregnant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To say this news was troubling would be putting it mildly. When I was diagnosed, we were newlyweds so we were not yet thinking about children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But let's be honest. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After I said, "I do", I constantly dreamed of the day when I would be pregnant, when we would have children of our own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the next couple of years, we worked on establishing our careers and obtaining our Master's degrees. We built a big, beautiful house. We had a little beagle named JJ who was the sweetest dog ever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Life was good. We had a good life. Things were going well for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, I am not going to lie. I wanted to have a baby. I wanted to be a mom. I wanted that little person to be part of me and part of my husband. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What I didn't want was to talk about it. If I talked about and said it out loud, then it would confirm what I already was thinking. I could not get pregnant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, miracle of all miracles, I became pregnant six years after getting my thyroid under control. Then, thirteen months later, I was pregnant with my second little guy. To say we were shocked would be the understatement of the year!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were going to have a baby. I was going to be a mom. Words cannot describe it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Elated. Ecstatic. Excited. Scared. Hopeful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some moms are not as blessed as I am. Some moms have to have help getting pregnant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To those moms who are undergoing artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Your commitment and endurance is inspiring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To those moms who have adopted children. Your willingness to open your hearts and your homes to a child is a testament to the warmth of the human spirit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To those moms who have lost their children. Your courage to persevere after walking though what I imagine is the shadow-of-the-valley-of-death gives me the strength to face my hardest of times.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It doesn't matter if you are a mom for five minutes or for eighty years. It doesn't matter if you are a mom to one child or twenty. It doesn't matter if you have kids via natural birth or via c-section.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the end of the journey, the result is the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You are a mom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It doesn't matter how you get there, just that you arrived.</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-62394777147208216742017-02-07T11:30:00.001-05:002017-02-07T11:30:25.511-05:00Winter Vs. Spring Smackdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jAlmlMhWkxgkhlA1_BONC4x70sD2A9jj_mBM8L9hwywY_xQqGRacQFIso15nUYW9qe1_2jbM-bhAW9znUs0mwNknwkZlu7r-wBLXcHOV9BstaSA3bUhT8QPxN6_qMrwB00DxuII7PHU/s1600/snow+covered+branch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jAlmlMhWkxgkhlA1_BONC4x70sD2A9jj_mBM8L9hwywY_xQqGRacQFIso15nUYW9qe1_2jbM-bhAW9znUs0mwNknwkZlu7r-wBLXcHOV9BstaSA3bUhT8QPxN6_qMrwB00DxuII7PHU/s320/snow+covered+branch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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*<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alarm goes off. Hits snooze.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Alarm goes off again. Stumbles out of bed. Heads downstairs.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Turns on coffee maker.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: Morning!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Yawns.* Hey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: Ready for the day?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Reaches for coffee mug.* Ready as I'll ever be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: Yeah, I know it can be hard to get yourself going in the winter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: *Snort.* Winter?! It's 50 degrees outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Starts. Chokes on coffee.* What are you doing here?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: What am I doing here? I'm ALWAYS here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: Yeah. Like a bad rash. You won't go away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: You're one to talk, Mr. Nobody Is As Cool As Me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: Well, they aren't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Looks between the two.* Why are you both here?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Rubs temples.* I mean what are you doing here at the same time?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: It's February. It's traditionally part of winter. Maybe you learned about it kindergarten?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Hilarious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: I know. I'm a riot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Looks to Allergies.* </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: It's 50 degrees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: So?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: *Eye roll.* 50 degrees is Springtime weather. Time for things to grow and blossom. Maybe you've heard of the four seasons?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: But it's February.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: EXACTLY. I could make it snow and freeze anytime I want. Then your precious blooms would be toast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: You can try. But I don't scare easily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Sips coffee.* That's a good point. Why hasn't it been very cold? What have you been up to, Jack?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: I've been busy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Doing what?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: *Crosses arms.* This ought to be good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: *Rubs back of the neck.* Well, the thing is... around Christmastime I was bored so I signed up for Netflix. I started watching The Walking Dead, then Supernatural. Then, the Easter Bunny told me about Pokemon Go and -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: THAT is why we haven't had much of a winter?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: *Throws hands up in the air.* Unbelievable. You do not take your job seriously. I, on the other hand, am completely dedicated to the job. I work 24/7.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: Oh please. Get off your high horse. Nobody likes you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: You are just jealous because I always win 'Employee of the Month' Award. You don't even work a full year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: You are just mad because everyone loves me. They love sledding, snow ball fights, building snowmen. Everyone prays for a snow day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: Do they also love freezing their as-</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Whoa, whoa! Let's all just calm down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: *Glares at Allergies.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: *Glares at Jack Frost.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Pinches the bridge of nose.* Listen up, it is too early in the morning to deal with this crap. I haven't even finished my first cup of coffee!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost : *Blushes.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: *Hangs head.*</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Look. Jack, take a break from Netflix. And Pokemon Go. You have a job to do and you need to get to it. You only have a few weeks left, You can do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack Frost: You're right! I have been slacking on the job. I'm going to get back to it right away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: And Allergies, why don't you take a break? You deserve a vacation! Seriously! When was the last time you took a vacation? You could go to Universal Studios and see Jurassic Park. I know you have a thing for T-Rexes. C'mon. What do you say?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allergies: I do love me some dinosaurs...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Claps.* Excellent! Now, get the heck out of my kitchen so I can enjoy my coffee in piece. And if I see you both again at the same time, I'm going to totally Hulk out on you.</span></div>
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-58650357658197432682016-10-26T00:00:00.000-04:002016-10-26T00:00:08.160-04:00Hey Webster! Your Definition Is Wrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPCjIb_X-h9klVtuJvVNhxchw5xXcglnBRY7JwhFXHyeiOpicdpajN8Qiv5MeHP2NGUsXdWubI_bxj5oScK_K7tLHJzQXuXAMiWb3eVxSkVZ-2yNQnYyS9JHuS-FRYOAGoBol43V-Kq0/s1600/Doc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPCjIb_X-h9klVtuJvVNhxchw5xXcglnBRY7JwhFXHyeiOpicdpajN8Qiv5MeHP2NGUsXdWubI_bxj5oScK_K7tLHJzQXuXAMiWb3eVxSkVZ-2yNQnYyS9JHuS-FRYOAGoBol43V-Kq0/s320/Doc1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In school, you learn how to spell words and the meanings of those words. You are taught how to use the dictionary to define words. You are told that the definitions will always remain the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">FALSE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See, after having kids, your definition of <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">certain words </span>changes. You think you have a good grasp of the English language.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But you would be wrong.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>Dressing Up</u> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Before Kids</b>: Doing your hair by blow drying and flat ironing. Putting on your full face of make-up. Taking 20 minutes to find just the right outfit to wear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>After kids</b>: Making sure to put on a bra. Actually brush your hair. And your teeth<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span>Putting on a pair of clean-ish jeans.</span><br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fancy Dinner </span></u><br />
<u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></u>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Before Kids</b>: Going to a new trendy restaurant that opened downtown. 7pm reservations. White linen tablecloths. Leisurely enjoy a cocktail and appetizer while considering which entree to order. Finish meal with decadent dessert.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>After <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">K</span>ids</b>: Mac-n-cheese at home. Promptly at 5:00pm because the natives get restless. With a glass of wine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <u>Tired</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Bef<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ore <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kids: </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wow! <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Had a great time out with my f<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">riends last <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">night but stayed out too late and had <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">too many glasses o<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">f wi<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ne. I sure am tired.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>After Kids:</b> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Up every two hours. Then up every four hours. Then up on<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ce a night. Som<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">e t<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">iny person wants to crawl in bed w<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ith you and sleep with<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> th<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">eir fee<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t i<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">n your spleen. Some tiny <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">person peed the bed<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> You h<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">aven'<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t slept through the night in <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">seven years. Wh<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ere am I? What is happen<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ing?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>Coffee </u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Before Kids: </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe I'll have a <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">caramel cappuccino</span>. Oh! Or a white mocha. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I just love those fancy coffee drinks!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>After Kids: </b>Must. Have. Coffee. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cofffffeeeee... *Dumps coffee grinds directly into m<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">outh.*</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>G<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">oing To The Bathroom </span></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Before Kids: </b>I <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">think I'll go to the bathroom.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>After Kids: </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Goes to the bathroom. Naively locks door. Child or children bang on door repeatedly crying and <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">yelling to get your attention.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Ne<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">x</span>t time you open the door<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> thinking this approach is better. You get your kid wanting to climb onto your lap to read you a book. Or a play-by-play commentary<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> on your bathroom uses.*</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>Date Night</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Before Kids: </b>Nice dinner and maybe a movie. Out with a group of friends for drinks and dancing. Going to show or a concert.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>After Kids: </b>When kids are asleep, sitting in bed eating cereal while watching Netflix.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I don't know about you, but I think a <i>ton</i> of definitions have changed after having kids. I mean I could literally write down at least 50 definitions that are no longer valid right now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I would totally write more about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I'm exhausted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-66537868473579740982016-10-23T00:00:00.000-04:002016-10-23T11:14:20.576-04:00The Walking Dead Hurts So Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_GOhfqHRN5xZaLnECMgleYXnE1wGXLKsraWU5wRPiZIetAOMpEIrZItezTTjt6gqYc7Ga8zqbMCgVpnfBXXh56TsFApL9UUVHWKiH7jbgGzryvJ1VOCgh0uHWOiGkVG-KKZfROi7xPQ/s1600/zom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_GOhfqHRN5xZaLnECMgleYXnE1wGXLKsraWU5wRPiZIetAOMpEIrZItezTTjt6gqYc7Ga8zqbMCgVpnfBXXh56TsFApL9UUVHWKiH7jbgGzryvJ1VOCgh0uHWOiGkVG-KKZfROi7xPQ/s320/zom.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the last episode of season 6 of The Walking Dead, I was so distraught. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And numb.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And in denial.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Total denial.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was all "Hey! It's going to be okay. Surely nobody is <i>really </i>dead. They wouldn't just leave us hanging for AN ENTIRE SUMMER."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I started to venture into anger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Who do these chumps think they are?! Leaving us hanging all summer to find out what happened to Rick and the crew. HAVE YOU NO SOUL?!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, three days away from the season 7 premiere, I have reached acceptance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Okay, I get it. It's a post-apocalyptic world. Not everyone is going to make it. I don't like it and it rips me up inside, but I understand it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Sigh.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So over the summer, I was wondering what the heck I was going to watch while The Walking Dead is on hiatus. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enter Netflix.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We signed up for a free trial over the summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The boys LOVED that they had all their TV shows and some new ones that they could watch at any time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All my friends kept telling me about the gloriousness of watching a TV series on Netflix so I decided to check it out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My first choice was Breaking Bad. I didn't watch past the first episode.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I didn't like it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>WAIT. Don't throw things at me!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For my next choice, I did a little more investigating and choose a cult favorite, Supernatural.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">People. People. People. PEOPLE.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This show is amazing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I get it. I get the cult following. I totally get it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The plot line is interesting. They hunt supernatural creatures. There is a strong sense of family on the show. There is snarkiness and alpha maleness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And there's the brothers, Sam and Dean.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Oh, Sam and Dean.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Sigh.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Give me a minute.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Or several.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you have never watched Supernatural, you need to stop what you are doing IMMEDIATELY and go watch it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You're welcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And if that is not enough for you, Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays John Winchester, Sam and Dean's dad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Which - if I'm being honest - my brain is having a hard time with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John Winchester in Supernatural plays a good guy, stern, loving, albeit-misguided-at-times father who hunts all things supernaturally evil and plays Negan in The Walking Dead, bat-wielding ultra-psycho with a penchant for bashing in heads.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Does. Not. Compute.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So The Walking Dead starts back up again tonight. And I know one of my favorite characters will bite the dust.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know beloved characters have bit the dust in the past.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That is what happens in a zombie ridden world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But it cuts. It cuts deep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Walking Dead hurts so good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, it is a HUGE comfort to know that Supernatural will be there to console me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Hold me, Sam and Dean.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-69463580894708768862016-10-21T08:29:00.001-04:002016-10-21T08:29:15.947-04:00A Kindergartner's Birthday Party <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This past weekend, I took L (5) to one of his kindergarten classmate's birthday party. This was L's first kid birthday party so he was beyond pumped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lucky him, his older brother, J (7) got to tag along too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since it is close to Halloween, it was a costume party. L went as Iron Man (Mach 3) and J went as a ninja.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I feel I should tell you that I don't even know what "Mach 3" is but apparently Iron Man has several different suits. My boys know that this suit is the Mach 3. How they know, I have no idea as they have never seen the Iron Man movie. But, okay, sure. It's the Mach 3.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we arrived at the party, the kid's mom was so gracious and welcoming. She ushered us outside where the bounce houses were set-up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't know about you but for my boys, it really doesn't get any better than bounce houses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Except for maybe Minecraft. Or Pokemon Go. Or Wii U.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But still!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bounce Houses = Awesomesauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I quickly positioned myself on the deck to have the best view of the backyard and made myself comfortable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In between keeping an eye on my kids, I made polite conversation with the parents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was a mildly controlled chaos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">14 boys. 4 girls. 2 bounce houses, 1 pinata stuffed with candy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh yeah.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This party was ON.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since it is middle of October in the south(ish), of course, it would be 80 degrees. L quickly tired of his Iron Man suit, I helped him peel it off his sweaty little body so he could go play.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Minutes later, J comes up with his socks. Followed by L and his socks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm holding all of the kids stuff in one hand and my lemonade in the other. And I'm doing a fine job, I might add.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wanting in on more action, I make my way down the steps to the yard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Standing there watching the kids, a tiny little Spiderman comes up to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He thrusts out his hand to me, "Hold this." He then gives me three little trucks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Wait.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What?! </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Where'd you come from?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Okay," I answer and manage to shove them into my delicately balanced pile of kid stuff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He runs off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I strike up a conversation with one of the other moms.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Little Spiderman returns. "I want a gun," he tells me, pointing to my older kid's Nerf gun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Um, okay.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"There are some upstairs in the living room. A whole bunch of them," I answer, pointing up the stairs for added emphasis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I want a gun." he repeats, slowly this time in case I didn't get it the first time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Who is this kid?!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Magically, my oldest son, J, appears and says, "I can show you where the guns are. Come with me."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Thanks, sweetie," I say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few minutes later, a tub is brought outside full of water and of apples.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Bobbing for apples!" the host mom yells.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking over at the ginormous tub, my eye starts to twitch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Bobbing for apples. With kindergartners. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Watching all of those little faces dip into the water, starts to give me the heebie jeebies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Please don't let my kids want to dive into that cess pool of bacteria. Please, oh please.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Five minutes later, "Mom," J asks, "can I bob for apples?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Crappity crap.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To which I reply, "No,sweetie. We're not going to be doing that. Oh look! cupcakes!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have never been so glad to see cupcakes in my life. Perfect timing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After we eat the cupcakes, the boys new costumes are covered in frosting, their foreheads plastered in sweat so I declare the party a success.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time to head out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I turn around and see the little Spiderman.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sticking out his hand that holds the Nerf gun, he demands, "Here, hold my gun."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Hold up, Spidey. I'm on to you.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pointing to the small table next to me, I respond, "Look! Here is the picnic table. You can set your gun down over here."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He glares at me, stalks over to a lady about 6 feet away and says, "Mommy, hold my gun."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Insert picture of sucker here.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Well played, Spidey. Well played.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As we head out, the host mom is so sweet and thanks us for coming.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I make sure to make mental notes about my kids' future birthday parties.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Have plenty of Nerf guns. And bounce houses. And cupcakes.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Definitely NO apple bobbing.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>*Shivers.*</i></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-69664049352180672572016-08-12T11:16:00.000-04:002016-08-12T11:16:20.299-04:00Shopping For Back To School Supplies Is Insanity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vyk3uaDs_c4EA4HNP_QhJ_FGOQdlWtOwMeo8PZ-oPLTLq4vKY6HlxSglvNcZIWvro81PVtk1XoqA9G4Vk0a21gaxDvHQGoIWDDPU9AMB63Y_Rz-OtSk8VNHeXjnHX2YLNpp3Thy2kS0/s1600/school+supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vyk3uaDs_c4EA4HNP_QhJ_FGOQdlWtOwMeo8PZ-oPLTLq4vKY6HlxSglvNcZIWvro81PVtk1XoqA9G4Vk0a21gaxDvHQGoIWDDPU9AMB63Y_Rz-OtSk8VNHeXjnHX2YLNpp3Thy2kS0/s320/school+supplies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Monday morning, as I sat down with my cup of coffee, I started to make a "to do" list for the week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of these items was to go shopping for back to school supplies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>No worries! I love to shop and I just have to get a few boxes of crayons and pencils! I got this!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I head over to our information drawer (i.e. junk drawer) and take out each of the kids school supply lists. As I start to look through the list, I am starting to feel a bit nervous.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Ticonderoga #2 pencils presharpened". <i>Who's Ticonderoga?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Pocket folders, Poly, with Brads, one of each color - Yellow, Red, Blue and Green". <i>What's a Brad? Does "Poly mean "polyester"?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Okay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How to best handle this so I don't miss anything?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aha!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember my friend, Amanda (i.e. Back To School Sensei), mentioning that she took all of her kids school supply lists and compiled a master list. That sounds like an excellent idea!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After compiling my master list and fortifying myself with two ginormous cups of coffee, I drop the kids off at my mom's and head to the store.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Let's do this, snitches.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After parking and heading into the store, I grab a grocery cart and I have a spring in my step. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>This will be a piece of cake.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As soon as I enter, I see a wall to my left stacked full of folders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Score!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I immediately find the four colored plastic three ring binders I'm looking for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>This isn't going to take long at all! I wonder what I can do with the rest of my free time...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I continue on to the the large "Back To School Supply" section. I figure I will grab the crayons and the markers first.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I glance at my list to see what I need. 8 boxes of 24ct Crayons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>BOOM.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up, markers! I need 3 packs of 8ct Thin Markers and 4 packs of 8ct Thick Markers. I look in the bins only to find 10ct markers of both kinds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>What kind of tomfoolery is this?!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I look at my list and look at the bin. I look at my list and in the bin again. I guess I am magically hoping some appear in the bin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Suddenly, I recall there is an office section in the back of the store. I bet they are back there! Plus, I bet it is a lot less crowded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>SCORE.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heading to the office section, I can't help feeling smug as I know I will find everything I'm looking for without as may people around.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Wrong, Kemosabe.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking through this section, I see they too only have 10ct markers. There are no 8ct markers to be found.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Guess what?! You are getting two extra markers! You're welcome.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking around for glue sticks, I find none so I head back up to the front of the store.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">15 glue sticks?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Eureka!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My kids are going to be gluing the HECK out of some stuff at school. For real.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wind my way back to the "Wall of Folders". This thing is ginormous. It almost rivals the Greek Parthenon in size.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I find the "Folders with Pockets, Poly, with Brads" on my list. Spotting the poly folders on the shelf. I bend over to look through a box. Grabbing a folder, I open it to find pockets inside and three tabs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are the tabs these so called "Brads"? Is that what they mean? If so, why didn't they just say "tabs"?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know what? Yes! Let's say that they are!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After going through another box and not find the colors I need, I decide I am going to plop my backside down on the nasty dirty public floor and search each one of these blasted boxes for the stuff I need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bending over like that is giving me a back cramp and my hiney is sticking up in the air.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sorry people. A mama's got to do what a mama's go to do.</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10 minutes or maybe 30 minutes, I honestly lost all track of time, I find all the folders in the colors on the list.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Finally. Deep sigh.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I go in search of the composition books. I need regular composition books and the ones for K-2 primary composition books. I easily find the first and cannot locate the later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wonder around aimlessly for about 10 minutes until an older lady who works here takes pity on me and asks if she can help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I take in her kind smile, her headband and her matching wrist bands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>This is a lady who means business.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Please", I hear myself say, "can you please help me find the primary composition books? I have looked everywhere and cannot find them."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She smiles and replies, "Yes! They are on an end cap over here. Follow me!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I follow her to the alleged end cap and locate the composition books.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Whew!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After thanking her profusely, I head off to search for </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the presharpened Ticonderoga pencils. I find tons and tons of pencils. No Ticonderoga.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Hmmm...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I make my way over to another section that has pencils.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Nope.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Where are these flipping pencils?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I spy the same nice lady a row over. I subtly maneuver my way over to her and sheepishly ask if she can help me again by locating these mythical Ticonderoga pencils.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She smiles and motions for me to follow her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She takes me right back to the main "Back To School" area. She immiedately goes to a bin which lots of items on the top - none of which are pencils - and pulls out a box of the pencils.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>They do exist!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"How many do you need?" she asks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I need 10 boxes of 12 presharpened," I reply.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another mom is within earshot. She pipes up, "I need some of those presharpened pencils too!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Listen, lady. I'd be happy to share. But if there is only enough for one person, that person is me. Capiche?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The kind store worker produces one box. Scratches her head and says, "I think I know where more are."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She ambles off with me close behind. And the other mom hot on my trail.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The store worker walks halfway across the store and we find a box crammed in among many other items. She starts to hand me the number of boxes I need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Yippee!!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I look at the pencils and I lean over to look at the price.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Wait. WHAT?!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What gives with the cost of these pencils being three times the normal amount? Why are they so expensive? Are they made with the blood of unicorns?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't get it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Deep sigh. Lots of deep sighs.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She says, "What else do you need?" I tell her about the Name Brand ultra fine black markers and the Name Brand Dry Erase Fine Point Black Markers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She turns and heads to the back of the store. Back to the Office Section.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Happy thoughts.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once there, we of course find only half of what I need but I decide I'll take it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I'll look again another day. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I ask her if she knows where a pink wedge eraser is and she responds that it is at the front of the store.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I'll go it get it", she says.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Oh don't trouble yourself! I can get it. Thank you so much for your help," I sincerely tell her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>This poor woman has been running herself ragged to help me. Now I know why she wears the headband.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I stomp back up towards the front and give a meaningful glance at the school supplies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Screw it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At this point, I don't care if I have to make a special trip, spend $10 in gas, for one tiny pink wedge eraser.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mama is all shopped out today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-18568477313387889222016-05-08T21:28:00.001-04:002016-05-08T21:28:43.282-04:00It Doesn't Matter How You Get There Just That You Arrived<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipemxVXaU6IpqkwKDVyGhypuKYAwUOTdAL56jwLavwhidp7P6cj9BTB2x5ebcBCH2yjH37u8X3czvIyMmvsW-UEcwHgrpCLZGRiRE-BLUaJ-QueI0jlYICBZ6N32TyP4Hh-N-xfXPhAQ0/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipemxVXaU6IpqkwKDVyGhypuKYAwUOTdAL56jwLavwhidp7P6cj9BTB2x5ebcBCH2yjH37u8X3czvIyMmvsW-UEcwHgrpCLZGRiRE-BLUaJ-QueI0jlYICBZ6N32TyP4Hh-N-xfXPhAQ0/s320/113.JPG" width="295" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Me with sweet baby J</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back in 2000, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I
was diagnosed with Graves' Disease. For those of you not familiar,
Graves' Disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. It is
basically a ridiculously overactive thyroid. My thyroid was the Arnold
Schwarzenegger version of thyroids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While
my doctor was treating me with medication, he explained that I should
not get pregnant during this time because it would be considered a high
risk pregnancy. He went on to say that even if my thyroid levels were
at normal levels in the future that I may have trouble with my thyroid
putting me at high risk if I ever got pregnant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To
say this news was troubling would be putting it mildly. When I was
diagnosed, Jeff and I were newlyweds so we were not yet thinking about
children. But let's be honest. After I said, "I do", I constantly
dreamed of the day when I would be pregnant, when we would have children
of our own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once
my thyroid levels were under control two years later, Jeff and I went
about our business as usual. We were not trying to get pregnant but we
were also not trying to prohibit it either.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For
the next couple of years, we worked on establishing our careers and
obtaining our Master's degrees. We built a big, beautiful house. We
had a little beagle named JJ who was the sweetest dog ever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Life was good. We had a good life. Things were going well for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However,
I am not going to lie. I wanted to have a baby. I wanted to be a mom.
I wanted that little person to be part of me and part of Jeff. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What
I didn't want was to talk about it. If I talked about and said it out
loud, then it would confirm what I already was thinking. I could not
get pregnant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So,
miracle of all miracles, I became pregnant six years after getting my
thyroid under control. Then, thirteen months later, I was pregnant with
my second little guy. To say we were shocked would be the
understatement of the year!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were going to have a baby. I was going to be a mom. Words cannot describe it. Elated. Ecstatic. Excited. Scared. Hopeful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some moms are not as blessed as I am. Some moms have to have help getting pregnant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To those moms who are undergoing artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Your commitment and endurance is inspiring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To
those moms who have adopted children. Your willingness to open your
hearts and your homes to a child is a testament to the warmth of the
human spirit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To
those moms who have lost their children. Your courage to persevere
after walking though what I imagine is the shadow-of-the-valley-of-death
gives me the strength to face my hardest of times.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It
doesn't matter if you are a mom for five minutes or for eighty years.
It doesn't matter if you are a mom to one child or twenty. It doesn't
matter if you have kids via natural birth or via c-section.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the end of the journey, the result is the same. You are a mom. It doesn't matter how you get there, just that you arrived.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy Mother's Day.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-12490748026921448962016-02-20T11:16:00.001-05:002016-02-20T11:16:26.176-05:00Well, Hello Stranger!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Waves.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Um.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Ahem.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Shifts weight.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a while.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A year to be exact.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And you're probably wondering (all five of you) <i>"Where the heck have you been?!"</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I guess the short answer is I've been busy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SCRATCH THAT.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is such a ridiculous answer!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because everyone is busy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all just decide how we spend our time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really enjoy writing. It is a creative outlet for me. And it brings me so much satisfaction so see a piece all come together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I also enjoy doing a lot of other things too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like laundry and dirty dishes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Snort.*</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But seriously, there many things I enjoy. Playing tag with my boys. Reading a good book. Drinking my ginormous coffee drink from a certain coffee place we all know and love. Snuggling with Hubby and boys for our Friday Family Movie night. Having that "aha moment" during a sermon at church. Catching up with a good friend. Just to name a few.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of these things I enjoy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past year hasn't been all sunshine, glitter and rainbows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Actually, forget glitter. Glitter is the devil.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past year was also filled with stomach viruses, trips to the ER, fender benders, strep throat and some good old fashioned screaming and yelling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And of course those things we <i>have</i> to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know. The "being an adult stuff". (Blah.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, I am going to try to come back to writing because I do love it. I am going to write when the mood strikes me. And I won't feel guilty about it because I am doing something for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think it is not only good for me but good for my family to take some time for myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am not only "Mommy" and "Wife".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am "Michelle".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'M BACK, BABY!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Moonwalks. Cabbage patches. Does the worm.*</span><br />
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-49148509420426457232015-02-18T10:02:00.001-05:002015-02-18T10:02:08.476-05:00A Conversation With My Cleaning Products<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqJ8RCUIawDdijQKeewa4fB4Vaf0Vr9G0n3SiU7T3n7K-cReHZ24rVz_9FVjfpJaSrfpDv9B41ldGaLsWeKCmIQsEKnTvOREEvzSb_dJzqPbqLePnQwKOUTZmJn305gOoEtIHKvLLBa4/s320/Cleaning.jpg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before kids, I was the "Queen of Clean". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once a week, I would religiously clean my floors, dust, vacuum, Clorox, etc. I was the kind of person who made sure the display towels hung side by side at the same length. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some might say I was "Anal Retentive". I prefer "Highly Organized". (Eh, To-may-toe, To-mah-toe.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyways, I have spoken before about how it is cleaning your house after kids. Below is a recent conversation between myself and my cleaning products.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Hey, how's it going?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pledge: *Silence.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Look, I know it's been a while.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pledge: A while? Try 2 months.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: I have been so busy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pledge: Really? Not even a little end table?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: I mean it's crazy! I barely have time for the Clorox wipes -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pledge: Oh...I see. You have time for the <i>Clorox wipes</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clorox wipes: Ha ha! She loves me more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: (To Clorox wipes.) Be quiet! (To Pledge.) It's not like that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pledge: What is it "like"?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Sigh.* I'll try to do better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pledge: Yeah, yeah.</span><br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sassy cleaning products!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-NwZ87iSgX_YXoFU6SQcahiq8J4Ie1JAfCOSEWUIZLyfvLx_EEnicViSMsQdKf3Sw7ZjbCYcldJn9kXXF0A0B7YJ2GHBysRxtwIG1gbJ8kTJ-ycrqHbotX8WVixAkk3A8Ad8iHNCN5c/s1600/closet.jpg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: Let's talk about what you're wearing today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: I'm wearing skinny jeans, black and white plaid flannel shirt, grey leopard print scarf and motorcycle boots.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: Trendy. Very nice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Thanks. It's my one ace-in-the-hole.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: So tell me a little about your style.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: My style?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: Yes, your style. For example, think of what you would wear on a typical day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Whatever is clean.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: And what would those clean clothes look like?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: A long sleeved t-shirt and jeans. My typical momiform.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: *Horrified.* Did you say 'momiform'? As in 'mom uniform'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Pretty witty, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: That's awful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Oh, come on. Think of those doctors and nurses in their scrubs. I think they rock those pretty well. And so comfortable. Maybe I should wear scrubs everyday...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: Okay, switching topics, how about the summertime? What accessories do you wear?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Um, do kids count?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: *Eyeroll.* How about a long necklace?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: So the kids will try to swing on it? No thanks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: How about cute, dangly earrings?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: So they can be ripped out of my ear lobes? I'll pass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: Do you at least have a skin care regime?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Oh, oh! Yes, I do! I use First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: Now, we are getting somewhere. And what else?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Um, I wash my face in the shower?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: With?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Soap?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: *Sighs.* I think that's a wrap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Nudges with shoulder.* Hey, but I do look super cute and trendy today, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue: I'll give you that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Okay, that wasn't <i>really</i> an interview with Vogue. But that is how I imagine it would go down.</b></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdVgJXN6Dwj3nqFcbbljsXtzn3Ale62mStCuXdCcN8q-ziRIb9-Opbek9yuX5mGx6ovW_KC8XHnt86FN8ppJGkzSDVW3Wf78tuf54lCFgqiStkwDpkWsmKOlbXFrXb2zOG9nouAvfWtQ/s1600/nachos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdVgJXN6Dwj3nqFcbbljsXtzn3Ale62mStCuXdCcN8q-ziRIb9-Opbek9yuX5mGx6ovW_KC8XHnt86FN8ppJGkzSDVW3Wf78tuf54lCFgqiStkwDpkWsmKOlbXFrXb2zOG9nouAvfWtQ/s1600/nachos.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would you like to know what lies in the deepest, darkest corner of my mind? What tries to hide amongst the cobwebs and the dust bunnies?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheeseburgers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, you heard right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's no secret that I am not the healthiest eater out there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I get to choose between a cheeseburger with fries or grilled chicken with veggies, I'll choose the burger every time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Growing up, when it was my Dad's weekend, we used to go to McDonald's for A LOT of our meals, so much so, that the lady in the drive-thru asked my dad out. On a date. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">True story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With my mom being a single mom and working two jobs, our dinners usually consisted of things that were quick like frozen pizza or sandwiches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So learning to eat a variety of foods and making sure to eat lots of fruits and veggies, well, not so much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In an effort to loose some weight and eat healthier, I started counting my calories last summer. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started my caloric adventure towards the end of July and am still at it. (Note: I did not want to starve myself so I cut back around 300 calories from the recommended daily caloric intake.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not gonna lie.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That first month was <i>rough.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only had I been eating way too much but I was eating all bad stuff so my body was like, "What the heck is this?! Don't make me cut a b*#@%$!"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But slowly my body began to enjoy the good stuff, like fruits and veggies. And my body didn't even miss the fast food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Counting my calories really lets me see what I am putting into my body. Even if you just tried it for a week, it is an eye opening experience to really examine what you are eating. A food journal would accomplish the same result.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before when I would read the nutritional label for the amount of calories, I would consider it, then go ahead and eat my desired portion.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For example, I love mayo. And I always put mayo on my sandwich. But I never measured the amount.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, I measure out a serving size (which is a tablespoon) and I use that. Now I know for sure how many calories I am having.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me, the great thing about counting calories is that I can eat what I want as long as it's within my daily amount. We have also found if we make something at home, like pizza, instead of ordering out, we can control what and how much goes into our food.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've tried diets and they don't work for me. Whatever they tell you to omit that is what my body craves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The result is that I have lost weight and am maintaining my lower weight while at the same time eating healthier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How am I eating healthier?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really, it's just simple math.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are cutting back on your calories in an effort to lose weight, you eat less. Fruits and especially veggies have less calories so you can eat more of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once you lose the weight, you can slowly start to add more to your caloric intake to see how much you can consume to maintain your ideal weight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since I am eating healthier, this means my kids are eating healthier too. (Okay maybe they are not eating veggies <i>all</i> the time but I am offering it to them.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is an adventure. And food is part of that adventure. Yes, you want to eat food that is healthy but sometimes you really want that cheeseburger. (If you are like me, then you want that cheeseburger A LOT.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And you can have that cheeseburger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just not everyday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything in moderation, right? (Except hugs and kisses. You can give and take as many of those as you want. Especially from your babies.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So while getting dressed and putting on my smaller pants size, I decide that nothing tastes as good as thin feels...except maybe some nachos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-53450054422636145832015-01-18T00:00:00.000-05:002015-01-18T09:48:24.550-05:00Books I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On In 2015<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's no secret that I am a book lover.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A "Bookaholic", if you will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just took a look at my "To Read" list on Goodreads and I have 391 listed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't judge me. (Or judge me. Either way.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, out of all of these books, there are some that I am just dying to get my hands on.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mean I would sell little portion of my soul to get these books tomorrow.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm kidding! Totally kidding! (Mostly.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Ahem.*</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But seriously, I am really excited about some of these books and I CANNOT wait to devour them.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here is a short list (and by no means extensive) of the books I can't wait to get my hands on in 2015.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13638020-end-of-days" target="_blank"><img alt="End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days, #3)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390873650l/13638020.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This series, you guys. THIS SERIES.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Sigh.*</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love this series. No doubt, one of my favorites of all time.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love how dark and macabre this series is.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is brutal. It is harsh. It will trample your soul.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is also beautiful. And hopeful. And moments that take your breath away.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a dystopia. (Score.) And it's a series. (Squee!) And it's about angels. (Knocked it out of the park.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have never read Susan Ee's Angelfall series, I challenge you to read the first book.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You will be so glad you did.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is number one on my "To Read" list.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20958632-the-darkest-part-of-the-forest" target="_blank"><img alt="The Darkest Part of the Forest" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397755014l/20958632.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, Holly. How you played with my emotions in "The Coldest Girl In Coldtown".</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How you batted me around like a cat plays with a mouse.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I guess I am a glutton for punishment because I loved it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved the characters. I loved the dystopia. I loved the world you created. And, if I'm honest, I loved the vampires.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would straight up punt a baby goat through a field goal to read this right now.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh look! Just got an email from the library saying this book is on the hold shelf for me.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All baby goats are safe.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21437200-mr-kiss-and-tell" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="Mr. Kiss and Tell (Veronica Mars, #2)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405566768l/21437200.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Veronica Mars. VERONICA MARS.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really don't think I need to elaborate further.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20455682-polaris" target="_blank"><img alt="Polaris (Avalon, #2)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403031615l/20455682.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first book in the series, Avalon, reminded me a lot of the series, Firefly, and I <i>loved</i> that series.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nathan Fillion.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Swoon.*</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sci-Fi. A bunch of rag tag loners who find themselves thrown together under circumstance to create a semblance of family. All while flying on a worn out ship in outerspace, running from a ruthless crime boss, trying to find their leaders who happen to be their mom and dad.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yeah.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Count me in.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15750874-the-glass-arrow" target="_blank"><img alt="The Glass Arrow" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403615883l/15750874.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a huge fan of Kristen's 'Article 5' series so I really excited to see what happens in this one.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a lot of positive buzz on this one.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20980781-fall-with-me" target="_blank"><img alt="Fall with Me (Wait for You, #4)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412778770l/20980781.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, Jennifer. I think we all know that I would read whatever book you decided to write.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It could be named 'Dead Skunk' and I would be like "Oh my goodness! I have to read her new book! I MUST READ IT!"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">True story.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jennifer does romance like no ones business. She knocks it out of the park EVERY TIME.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking forward to this one like a fat kid loves cake.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16085457-shadow-scale" target="_blank"><img alt="Shadow Scale (Seraphina, #2)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405355942l/16085457.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seraphina is the first book in this series. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved it. It was so different from anything I had ever read.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is about a young woman who is part human and part dragon in a world where the abundant humans loathe and massacre dragons.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This story reminded me of Sophie Jordan's Firelight series (which I loved) but a grown up version.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is at at the top of my list.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22465605-miss-mayhem" target="_blank"><img alt="Miss Mayhem (Rebel Belle, #2)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1409837879l/22465605.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rachel Hawkins wrote the 'Hex Hall' series which was a blast to read. I adored it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read "Rebel Belle", the first in the Rebel Belle series, and I was hooked.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is so much fun. It is funny, sweet and touching.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mean who can't love books that successfully combine teen angest, southern charm, Greek mythology and humor all in one.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Answer: You can't.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21570318-crimson-bound" target="_blank"><img alt="Crimson Bound" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413217438l/21570318.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year, I read 'Cruel Beauty' and I fell in love.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rosamund recreates epic fairy tales in her own words with her own spin.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cannot wait to see what ancient fairy tale she tackles in this story and how it all plays out.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18584521-hold-me-like-a-breath" target="_blank"><img alt="Hold Me Like a Breath (Once Upon a Crime Family, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1409843812l/18584521.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The buzz around this book is too much to pass up. Looking forward to seeing if this is as good as the hype.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20657437-salt-stone" target="_blank"><img alt="Salt & Stone (Fire & Flood, #2)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415193753l/20657437.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
(Courtesy of Goodreads)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first book in the series, Fire and Flood, was one of my favorites of last year. If this books is half as good as that one, I will be content.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dystopia? Check. Series? Check. Romance? Check.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THIS IS MY JAM.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what are you guys looking forward to reading this year? I'd love to hear from you.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am always on the lookout for my next favorite book!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-24150886956271475292015-01-15T19:41:00.000-05:002015-01-15T19:41:16.872-05:00Life Lessons From Special Agent Oso<a href="http://disneyjunior.com/special-agent-oso" target="_blank"><img alt=" Special Agent Oso" src="http://cdnvideo.dolimg.com/cdn_assets/c3f97802c51c9a2692d09d51a473f846abadee49.png" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Special Agent Oso (Courtesy of Disney Junior)</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of you with young kids may have had the pleasure (I use the term loosely) of watching Special Agent Oso on Disney Junior.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other day the boys were watching an episode of Special Agent Oso where he helped some best friends who were moving away from each other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In cleaning the kitchen, I overheard part of the show. It went something like this:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kid: We need something special.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Special Agent Oso: Well, if it's special, then it has to be something big.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kid: Not necessarily, Oso. Special things can be small too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So this got me to thinking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we think about our lives, is it the big things that we remember or is it the little things?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about the moment your significant other first kissed you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or the moment you found out you got the job you wanted?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or when you stepped on the scale to discover you had lost those last 5 pounds?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or the instant you found out that you had passed your Master's thesis exam?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or the moment you were told that your loved one didn't have cancer?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or when you discovered that you were pregnant?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or when you held your child for the first time?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or the instant you received your admission letter into the college of your choice?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or the moment your child smiled at you for the first time?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or when you had a horrible car crash only to be able to walk away uninjured?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or that laugh shared reconnecting with a dear friend over dinner and drinks?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or when your significant other asked you to marry them and be with them forever?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See, I think we can learn a lot from this Special Agent Oso episode.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is made up of a hundred, thousand different moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And these moments define us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is what life is all about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is the little moments that make up our life and make it all worth while.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So Special Agent Oso, I salute you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for making me take a moment to really appreciate my life and all of my blessings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-20953684211034271812015-01-10T16:08:00.000-05:002015-01-10T16:10:17.773-05:00My Favorite Books Of 2014<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So in checking out Goodreads, I discover I have read 102 books this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know. I know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Waves.* "Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm a bookaholic."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stay up late, huddled under my covers, desperate to find out what happens. I know I should be sleeping but...those amazing books keep me hooked until the wee hours of the morning! I JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW IT ENDS!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who needs sleep anyway? AMIRITE?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Ahem.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sorry. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just get a little passionate when it comes to books and reading.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have really some really good books, some okay books, a few not-so-good books and a handful of amazing ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, if you are looking for a good book to read when your holed up inside due to winter weather (or just because), then pull up a chair and get comfy. I'm going to give you my two cents.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Ward</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12399857-the-ward" target="_blank"><img alt="The Ward (The Ward, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351415847l/12399857.jpg" /></a><br />
(Courtesy of Goodreads)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the author's debut novel and I think she knocked it out of the park. I liked the main character, Ren. Ren is no nonsense and does what needs to be done. But there is also a sensitive side to her that not many people see because she has to be tough to survive.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ms. Frankel does a great job describing the world where Ren lives. Awesome! Fast paced, gritty, unique premise. Couldn't put it down. If you like a fast paced dystopian read, this one is for you.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ignite Me</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13188676-ignite-me" target="_blank"><img alt="Ignite Me (Shatter Me, #3)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375972497l/13188676.jpg" /></a><br />
(Courtesy of Goodreads)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me first day that this is one of my favorite series of all time. If you have never read this series, start with Shatter Me (book 1).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the character of Juliette. I love seeing how she changes from a scared, lonely, insecure girl in book 1 to a strong, confident, determined woman in book 3.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh yeah, she does have superpowers too which is pretty much bad ass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, there is also a love triangle which I am always a sucker for. This one is done quite well and has a lot of surprises.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The prose is beautiful. Ms. Mafi really has a way with words. She really gets to your emotions and makes you feel things. Oh, the feels in this book!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you like superheroes, romance or dystopia, you will love this series.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>White Hot Kiss</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17455585-white-hot-kiss?from_search=true" target="_blank"><img alt="White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377784515l/17455585.jpg" /></a><br />
(Courtesy of Goodreads)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jennifer L. Armentrout is a master of paranormal romance. She is one of my <b>favorite</b> authors. If you get one of her books, you know you are in for a good read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The way she develops these characters and their relationship. The way she adds a paranormal element and creates a whole new mythology surrounding it. The way she creates the snarky dialogue and the way she amps up the sexual tension between the main characters. Whew! It is scorchingly hot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get this one. Like yesterday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ex-Heroes</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16479439-ex-heroes" target="_blank"><img alt="Ex-Heroes (Ex-Heroes, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360646185l/16479439.jpg" /></a><br />
(Courtesy of Goodreads)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are a fan of zombies and/or superheroes, you will love this book. I liked the tone of this book which was no nonsense-simply stating the facts-kind of voice. The book is told in present day but there is some flashing back to events prior to the collapse of civilization. I really liked the character of St. George and seeing all of the different super powers that ordinary people ended up with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are kick-butt male and female heroes which I think it awesome. I love me some female superheroes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the idea of turning a movie set into a safe haven, brilliant! Love the concept.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've already got the next book on my library "Read Request" list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Fire and Flood</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069167-fire-flood" target="_blank"><img alt="Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384871012l/16069167.jpg" /></a><br />
(Courtesy of Goodreads)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's no secret that I enjoy dystopia books and series. So guess what?! This is both! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Squee!* </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is dystopia done right. It has "America but not really America because there something traumatic has happened to change everyone'e lives". It has characters that we care so much about, Chimeras (Chimeras!), romance, action, adventure and a magical race with thousands of participants with only one winner who will receive the cure for the disease that ails their loved one. Sounds good right?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next one in this series is at the top of my "To Read" list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>In A Handful Of Dust</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20359647-in-a-handful-of-dust" target="_blank"><img alt="In a Handful of Dust (Not a Drop to Drink, #2)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391706237l/20359647.jpg" /></a><br />
(Courtesy of Goodreads)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I read Ms. McGinnis' "Not A Drop To Drink", I was floored. It was unlike anything I had ever read. It was brutal, barren, harsh yet tender and innocent. The characters and the premise were so unique.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just knew I would have to read any other book she wrote because it would be awesome. And it was was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book did not disappoint.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book could be considered a second book in the series but you could read it as a stand alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I highly recommend reading "Not A Drop To Drink" first. And be sure you have lots of time because you won't want to put it down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Wild</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20896046-wild" target="_blank"><img alt="Wild (The Ivy Chronicles, #3)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403286315l/20896046.jpg" /></a><br />
(Courtesy of Goodreads)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ah, Sophie. Sophie. Sophie. Sophie. You, my dear, are a delight to read. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ms. Jordan has a way with contemporary romance that will pull you in, make you laugh, get your heart racing, reduce you to tears and envelope you in a hug to make everything all right. She is a <i>master</i> at romance. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This entire series, The Ivy Chronicles, focuses on a group of close female friends who go to college together as well as their romantic relationships.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book is such a fun read as well as the others in this series. I always enjoy her books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Thousand Dollar Tan Line</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18209454-the-thousand-dollar-tan-line" target="_blank"><img alt="The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393100477l/18209454.jpg" /></a><br />
(Courtesy of Goodreads)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First off, if you do not love Veronica Mars, we cannot be friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mean Veronica Mars! How can you not love her?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book is the first book by the brilliant Rob Thomas about Veronica. It picks up where we left off after the movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love Veronica because she is snarky, smart and doesn't take anybody's crap. She has had a rough life but she still is a good person and does the right thing. If you ask her to solve a mystery, there is no doubt she will.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Veronica and Logan - *swoon* - I love them. It is like they are bad for each other but they feel this pull towards each other and find it hard to stay away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking forward to the next one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Falconer</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15791085-the-falconer" target="_blank"><img alt="The Falconer (The Falconer, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384367442l/15791085.jpg" /></a><br />
(Courtesy of Goodreads)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's 1844. Aileana is supposed to be a proper lady during the day and hunt faeries by night. And steampunk! Sounds good, does it not?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I especially loved her relationship with her trainor/mentor Kiaran.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am not usually a fan of faerie books but this one was awesomesauce.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really enjoyed this series. Interesting premise and strong female lead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And steampunk! Did I mention steampunk?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Fault In Our Stars</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars" target="_blank"><img alt="The Fault in Our Stars" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360206420l/11870085.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">(Courtesy of Goodreads)</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I heard a lot about this book. There was so much hype surrounding this book. Plus the movie that came out last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I finally gave in and read this book. I'll admit this is not my sort of book but I was curious to see if it was really as good as everyone was said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And let me just tell you that it is. It is a really great read. It's emotional, brutal, sassy, cold and caring. I seriously laughed out loud reading this book and was also reduced to snotty, sobbing hot mess.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For anyone who thinks YA fiction is subpar, I challenge you to read this book.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book deals with some very serious topics and it is written as good as some of the best adult books out there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking forward to reading other books by Mr. Green.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you read any of these books? Did you love them like I did?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which books were your favorites from last year?</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-34140544104143223222014-12-30T00:00:00.000-05:002014-12-30T00:00:00.375-05:00What My Kids Are Reading #7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uGz8lv6B1CMlrWqc_2l5aMqRcSUUUO0KWFXCkuFysrnY4RQL3lsjp6k8qIBTWgWnKxdoZO5p-X5X2HIv3asSfqPtbv-WP2gPYQ7NOUU86Cx5PI5YBRk4_7HsnmBzeGVaTL40crqGl0I/s1600/dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uGz8lv6B1CMlrWqc_2l5aMqRcSUUUO0KWFXCkuFysrnY4RQL3lsjp6k8qIBTWgWnKxdoZO5p-X5X2HIv3asSfqPtbv-WP2gPYQ7NOUU86Cx5PI5YBRk4_7HsnmBzeGVaTL40crqGl0I/s1600/dragon.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Snapped a picture on the way to returning it to the library.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know when your kid discovers a movie or a TV show and they LOVE it so you watch it over and over and over and OVER again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Blinks.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You guys know what I'm talking about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Mom, can we watch so and so?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Mom, if we eat all our dinner can we watch so and so?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Can we please watch a little of so and so before we go to bed?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So if it is something like "The Backyardigans", "Amazing World of Gumball" or "Caillou".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"CALLIOU!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It makes you want to pull your hair out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every once and a while, my kids will stumble upon a real gem - a diamond in the rough, if you will.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For us, these movies are How To Train Your Dragon and How To Train Your Dragon 2.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my opinion, these movies are the best kids movies out there. Heck, they are just good movies period!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I discovered that they were based on a series of books, I knew we just had to check them out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are chapter books written as Hiccup's memoirs. There are a series of 8 books in all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was our first chapter book so I wasn't sure if the kids would like them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 4 year old will sometimes listen but my 6 year old loves them! He listens intently and always wants me to read a little more so we can see what happens next.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At bedtime, I usually read two picture books for the little one before delving into the chapter book for the bigger one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are slightly different than the movies but still very funny, adventurous and LOTS of dragons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are looking to introduce your child to chapter books, The How To Train Your Dragon Series is a great place to start.</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-86395825662185407582014-12-27T00:00:00.000-05:002014-12-27T00:00:00.024-05:00What I Learned From Watching The Hobbit Movies<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday, I ventured into society to watch the latest Hobbit Movie, The Battle Of The Five Armies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This movie was nothing short of amazing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I laughed. I cried. I lusted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wait.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Ahem.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I mean to say is that I learned a lot from watching these movies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And because I love you so much, I am going to impart my wisdom to you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No please.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no need to thank me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So without further ado...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>What I Learned From Watching The Hobbit Movies:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. <b>Golem is terrifying</b>. I've seen a lot of scary stuff. In fact, I LOVE horror movies. Vampires? Love 'em. Werwolves? Adore 'em. Zombies? One Word - Daryl. *Drops mic.* But Golem?! *Shudders.* He seriously scares the feces right out of me. Gives me nightmares. I'm not sure what it is about that bald, green thing, but he TERRIFIES me. "My precious." Ack! Now, I'm<i> never </i>going to sleep tonight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. <b>Legolas is one felxible mo fo. </b>Remember in Return of The King when Legolas takes out the elephant and slides down his trunk? Well, in this final movie, he does some fancy foot work battling with a huge orc that is insane. He bends and swivels and jumps. At one point, it looks like he is walking on air. Maybe Legolas was a yoga instructor/ ninja in a previous life?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. <b>Where has Luke Evans (i.e. Bard) been all my life.</b> Luke Evans plays Bard the Boatman in this movie. Not sure who he is? Go ahead. Look him up. I'll wait. *Drums fingers.* Oh, your back? SEE?!?!? What did I tell you? Totally dreamy right? This guy is some <i>serious</i> hotness. That face. Those eyes. Luke Evans - we need more of you. Like A LOT more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. <b>Old people can still whoop your butt.</b> It makes me chuckle how people who do not know Gandalf always underestimate him. They think he is some random old vagabond. I'm thinking "Idiot! You don't know who are messing with. You are fixing to get dealt with! You don't mess with Gandalf!" But I'm not going to lie. When I saw Sauron wield his staff with the agility of Jet Li or Jason Statham, I was impressed. I was like, "Dang. Gramps has some mad skills." Moral of the story: Never underestimate an old guy. They could be a wizard and whoop your sorry behind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. <b>Bromances are cool.</b> I'm sure you guys are familiar with at least one bromance. But I think Bilbo and Thorin finally made it PC. I mean how can one not like the love felt between Bilbo and Thorin each time they share a heartfelt moment, gazing lovingly into each others eyes, and silently sharing in their adoration for each other. It's enough to get this girl a little choked up. *Sniff.* Now, we just need a cute name. Bilbin? Thorbo? Dwarbit? I'll let you decide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did I miss anything?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you had not had a chance to see this latest movie, go and see it over Christmas break. If you have not seen any of the movies, go and get the first in the series from Netflix immediately!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, I'm off to dream about Luke Evans, er, I mean fold the laundry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-62014725640005724302014-12-24T00:00:00.000-05:002014-12-24T07:53:34.518-05:00Twas The Night Before Mossey Christmas<i>*Post this each year because, well, Christmas!</i><br />
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'<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My children were acting like lunatics. Time to call in the spouse.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The stockings were haphazardly thrown on the mantle without care,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">in hopes that Santa Claus would shove some stuff in there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hubby and I were trying to nestle our kids in their beds</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But they kept using stall tactics instead.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But finally, me in yoga pants and Hubby in sweats from the Gap,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hoped we could get some quiet for at least a small nap.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When downstairs in the great room, we heard a loud noise!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We thought for sure it was one of the kids' toys.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hubby and I did rock-paper-scissors to determine who would go see.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When lo and behold, it turned out to be me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The light from the kitchen gave a soft glow</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So I could see clearly the first floor below.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Surely I'm not seeing what I think I see!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Some joker dressed in red under my tree.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He turned right around and I punched him in the face.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He yelled, "Good night, woman! You're a nut case!"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I said, "I'm not the one breaking and entering, fat man."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Santa said, "That IS what Santa does. It's part of the plan."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I took in his red outfit, his black boots and his huge pack.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I couldn't help wondering '<i>Does he have a bad back?</i>'.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I said, "You don't look so good, old man. Here, have a seat."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sighing, he said, "Going around the world in one night is no easy feat."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Running a hand over my face and sitting at the table,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I thought, "<i>Am I really talking to Santa? I must be unstable</i>."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I said, "Rest a minute, Santa. I'll pour you a glass of whatever we've got."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Santa said, "Do you have Corona Lite? I like that a lot."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We sat at the table. We sat there we two.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And we clinked our beer glasses and chugged down our brew.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I asked, "Santa, how do you do it each year?"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He chuckled and said, "Well, it can be tough when many people are without cheer."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I said, "So many people are grumpy, hateful, and downright mean."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Santa said, "Oh my dear! Some of which the likes you have <i>never </i>seen."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I said, "I take it you've seen some pretty horrible stuff."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He paused then said, "Yes, I have. I have seen mankind act pretty rough."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Swirling the last of my beer in my glass,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I looked at Santa and dared to ask, "How can you do it with so many on the naughty list?"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Santa smiled at me and playfully hit my shoulder with his fist.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He said, "Because as long as there is at least one person in this world who cares about others,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I know there is hope for our daughters, sons, fathers and mothers."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This time, I looked, <i>really looked,</i> at this old man in front of me.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My heart realized what it was that I see.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Santa wasn't merely a jolly old elf.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He was the best part of each person, the good inside of our self.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Smiling, I said, "Wow. You are not at all what I thought."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Chuckling, he said, "Yeah. I get that a lot."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I told him, "Next time, I won't punch you in the face."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He shrugged and said, "Well, at least it wasn't mace."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Santa picked up his pack and flung it over his shoulder.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Turning to look at me, he said, "Don't worry. You get wiser as you get older."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He continued saying, "Remember to look in your heart for what you know to be right.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And mostly importantly, hold your husband and your children real tight."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Before I knew what I was doing, I gave Santa a hug.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He patted my head and told me, "And here, you thought I was a thug."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Opening the front door, I said, "Glad you stopped by."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Saluting me, Santa said, "I'm off!" and he took to the sky.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I watched as he jumped in the sleigh and took flight.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Wondering, '<i>Exactly how much beer did I have tonight?</i>'</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I heard Santa exclaim as he drove out of sight,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-21294517205327396992014-12-17T08:24:00.001-05:002014-12-17T08:24:40.576-05:00A Conversation With Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsbmOp9qhPeu4RiCuoiUyOBFnv8YHRWvzEsV78OtjzQKGbQD9dtfQ6wDLcc3gOKLQHQ4fh-JkGrC2aknMJhFGd1j4FTzzyJYvHuSzLkqI0o2cKV_EIbxgTIw_V5JOd1wtggJzLxfGhE8/s1600/calender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsbmOp9qhPeu4RiCuoiUyOBFnv8YHRWvzEsV78OtjzQKGbQD9dtfQ6wDLcc3gOKLQHQ4fh-JkGrC2aknMJhFGd1j4FTzzyJYvHuSzLkqI0o2cKV_EIbxgTIw_V5JOd1wtggJzLxfGhE8/s1600/calender.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: Good morning!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Hey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: Are you going on a trip?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: What? No. What made you ask that?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: Because you're carrying a bunch of bags. Under your eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Really? That's what your going with? Before I've even had coffee?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: *Chuckles* Oh come on! It was funny.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Oh yeah. Hysterical.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: Maybe I'm trying to hard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: What?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: *Sighs* I just want you to like me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: What do you mean? Everybody likes you. You're "Hump Day".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: Oh, that's just great!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: It's true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: Here we go again! Another "hilarious" reference to "Hump Day". Ha ha ha - it's "Hump Day"! Nothing like alluding to doing the "horizontal bop". Or "making the beast with two backs".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Whoa! Hey! Geez!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: *Sobs.* You know it's true! Let's make fun of the middle guy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: *Awkwardly pats Wednesday on shoulder.* I don't think that's what it means.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: You don't?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: I think people call it "Hump Day" because the week starts out rough. We are overwhelmed because of all the things that need to be done. But Wednesday. Wednesday is the summit. The highest point. Once we make it there, we feel a sense of accomplishment and relief, knowing the rest of the week will be easier because it is downhill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: *Sniffles.* You really think so?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Absolutely.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: *Grins.* You are pretty awesome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: I know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: Let's go get you some coffee and unpack those bags!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Seriously?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday: I'm not only the best part of the week but I'm also the funniest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: Hilarious.</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-52482079755928000752014-11-15T16:06:00.003-05:002014-11-15T16:06:24.319-05:00What My Kids Are Reading #6<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rDZPzVbCw6WFOKQqhQgl1_IzsCbw2XQbnevHIrWcYyqSUNyVnP4EDQyT_EiArjYL6I2msK5xBo18UOuHY-lzqowKbLlppNQvL-aGb5bx8s5mjEx7AKyySF5MHVRwCXtkpAsYWen_eHQ/s1600/Pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rDZPzVbCw6WFOKQqhQgl1_IzsCbw2XQbnevHIrWcYyqSUNyVnP4EDQyT_EiArjYL6I2msK5xBo18UOuHY-lzqowKbLlppNQvL-aGb5bx8s5mjEx7AKyySF5MHVRwCXtkpAsYWen_eHQ/s1600/Pigeon.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a few of the many brilliant books by Mo Willems.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two words.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mo Willems.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who is Mo Willems, you ask?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, let me just tell you!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is an author.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But not just <i>any</i> author.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is a fantastic, superb, comedic, inspirational author.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay, maybe I am overselling it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BUT he writes really good children's books.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He writes books about a pigeon, like 'Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!' or 'The Pigeon Wants A Puppy'.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He also has tons of books about friends, Gerald the Elephant and Piggie.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He has written books about 'Knuffle Bunny', 'Leonardo The Terrible Monster' and 'Naked Mole Rats Don't Wear Clothes'.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WE LOVE HIM.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These days, we are all Mo Willems all the time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">True story.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These books with their surprising simple drawings with the funny character facial expressions give your little ones a laugh as well a life lesson learned, such as you can have more than one friend, good things are worth waiting for and it's okay to do things differently.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are looking for new books to introduce to your little ones and maybe even to give as gifts for the holidays, I cannot recommend Mo Willems enough.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1491909910606021427.post-66197760763132408772014-11-03T11:25:00.000-05:002014-11-03T11:25:47.023-05:00Is It Just Me Or Is This Wallenda Guy An Idiot?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tXR4XWXtHWhfDj-6FHK7DFAIGhXk4nmPSwkYwH-Bp1EidJ2WLS5vY5dJTBU5M-0WrnAZkeagGnI8GaTD9jxvwiSCqa6KjO2PLKKfqtVDOqbtPfQll63awKA8z-z9b86jJ_zsJ9zhEbM/s1600/tightrope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tXR4XWXtHWhfDj-6FHK7DFAIGhXk4nmPSwkYwH-Bp1EidJ2WLS5vY5dJTBU5M-0WrnAZkeagGnI8GaTD9jxvwiSCqa6KjO2PLKKfqtVDOqbtPfQll63awKA8z-z9b86jJ_zsJ9zhEbM/s1600/tightrope.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes people do stupid things and you just have to say something. You cannot NOT say something.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>But "Michelle", you say, "People do stupid things everyday. Do you have to comment on them all day, everyday?"</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good point.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, sometimes you see something SO stupid and SO idiotic, you just have to stand up and say something because you would burst from attempting to keep it all in inside.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nik Wallenda, I'm talking to you.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me understand.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You walked across a 3/4 inch tightrope 800 feet above ground in Chicago without a harness or a net to catch you if you fall, then you turn around to do it again blindfolded. All the while your wife and three children are close by watching the whole thing.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Blinks.*</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it just me or is this Wallenda guy an idiot?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay. I get that you like to be famous. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You even talk about how famous your grandfather was.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But your grandfather was famous <i>BECAUSE HE FELL TO HIS DEATH.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being famous is probably pretty cool. But you know what else is cool?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEING ALIVE.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe you are an adrenaline junkie.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fine.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If it's thrills and chills you seek, I've got some for you.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going to the grocery and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">not taking a grocery list?!</i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leaving Chuck E Cheese and <i>not using hand sanitizer?!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ask a female relative who you haven't seen in a while <i>if she's pregnant!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give an electronic toy for a four year old, <i>then don't give them any batteries!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know, right?!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SHOCKING! SCARY! TERRIFYING! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can experience ALL sorts of scary stuff to give you an adrenaline rush without being 800 feet up and falling to your death in front of your family to scar them for life.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But if this doesn't scare you enough, Wallenda, maybe you can take it up a notch.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next time, you can go blindfold AND drunk.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moron.</span></div>
<div>
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01150795794366179959noreply@blogger.com0