200th POST!!! (and a challenge)

Wow! 200 posts! I cannot believe I have 200 posts. Actually, I should be surprised that I don't have more posts than that. I have had this blog for well over a year and am just NOW making it to 200 posts which is only half of what I should have.

Anyways, this was supposed to be a happy post! So in honor of reaching 200 posts, I challenge YOU, my readers, to post 200 comments on this blog. Send a link to all your friends, have them comment too.

Be the 200th comment and win a prize! (Prize TBD but you won't be disappointed) SO START COMMENTING!!!

Movie Review Monday

I haven't been watching many movies lately. Just haven't had the time. I've been working and just doing the mom thing. And now with the Fall TV Season in full swing, I just don't have the time anymore. But I did go see a movie on Friday night, and I am going again this Friday (watch for my review of HSM3 next Monday). This week's review is on a movie called "The Secret Life of Bees" with Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifah.

The Secret Life of Bees: Set in the 60's when the Civil Rights Act was being passed, a girl (Dakota Fanning) runs away from her abusive father in search of the truth about her mother. With only a picture and her black housemaid (not Queen Latifah), she makes her way to a town where she thought her mother may have been at one point. A very heartwrenching story. I have never read the book but I have been told the movie does the movie a good bit of justice. Very much worth the $9 it cost to get in but I could have done without the rude people sitting near us that took it upon themselves to talk whenever there was a lull in the movie or laugh hysterically when something wasn't even funny or talk to the screen saying things like "You go girl!" or "Oh no she dinit." or "Mmm hmmm." Yah, could have done without that. All in all, loved it, 5 netflix stars!

Fun Photo Friday - Halloween Style

I took the three youngest on Monday to get their pictures taken at my place of employment. I took these pictures and while I am showing them off because they are the cutest kids in the world, I want you to know that I am not proud of these photos. My kids would not listen to me at all. I was excited to be able to "show off" some of my "professional" work, I will not be making that same mistake again. Next time I will leave it to my coworkers.

Security? More Like Insecurity

This evening while I was making dinner there was a knock at the door. The kids ran to answer it (like the defiant children that they are) as I followed yelling at them for opening the door. It was a man with a security company, Security Solutions I believe it was, owned by General Electric.

The man said I was referred by the neighbor who was having this system installed at no cost and he would like to do the same for me. I would just be an advertising house. They would install the system and put a sign in my yard. I would just have to pay a low cost of $30 per month. I was prepared to turn him away until he said it would be of no upfront cost and I thought it would be a good idea to have a security system (one that would move with us) considering we have five kids that we would like to keep safe.

He said all I had to do was see if I qualified. He would have to call "whoever" and make sure we could get it set up. His phone wasn't working (or so he says) and he would need to use my phone. He called the number and asked for my information... name, phone number, address. Then he asked for my birthday. I gave it to him, knowing what the next question would be. He asked for my social security number.

Nope, sorry, no can do. He replies to the lady on the other end of the line, "She doesn't feel comfortable giving out that information for some reason. We will just have to find someone else." As if I had no valid reason for not giving a strange man my social security number and he thought he might be able to guilt-trip me into giving it to him. I drew the line there. I did not go out seeking him, he came to me. How easy would it be to slap together some information on a security system and tag it with a GE logo?! I probably said too much to him as it was... there was no way I was offering up the rest of the information to steal my identity.

Call me paranoid, but as I drove by the neighbors I did not see the sign he said they were installing (it was dark though, I will check again in the morning) and I saw a man sitting outside in his truck. I think it was the same guy (two hours later) but he was gone when I came back from circling the block. As I got back home I had paranoia sneak up on me... I thought I would come home to a murder scene. Obviously I didn't, but I sure am going to keep an eye out for anything suspicious and enroll my dog in attack dog classes.

Disco Ball, Anyone?

That is what the emergency room doctor had to fish out of my 6 yr old's nose last night!

Ok, so it wasn't as big as a disco ball, and it was really a single bead from a Mardi Gras necklace... but still, looking up his nose to see what it was, it looked like a disco ball. Why he stuck it up his nose in the first place... he doesn't know.

After showing off their hilarious tumbling skills, the kids were sent to bed. About 15 minutes later, Jacob comes walking out of his bedroom complaining that his nose hurt. Totally kidding, I said "Well what did you stick up there?" To which he replies he doesn't know... well, he shrugs his shoulders, like he always does. I finally got it out of him that it was a piece of a necklace and realized, this was no joking matter.

We had him try blowing it out but he didn't want John touching his nose at all. He sneezed a couple of times and it moved down just a smidge. Not enough for us to be able to get out on our own. John wanted to try tweezers (my tweezers were pretty sharp too, I might add) but I refused to let him try. According to him I was being a little melodramatic when I said that I was not going to let him be responsible for his son's death. I don't think I was being dramatic at all... just cautious. It can be very dangerous and especially since Jacob wouldn't stop squirming just to blow his nose.

We head off to the emergency room (Jacob wondering if they were going to cut his nose off... maybe that part was a little dramatic, on my part LoL) and I realize, it's a full moon. Dammit, the emergency room was going to be packed. And it was. Luckily they moved everyone out of their pretty quickly... except for us, of course. We were the last ones in the waiting room. After waiting for an hour they finally called us back to triage. The nurse asks how the ball got in his nose...

"Well, you see. He wouldn't go to bed and he just wasn't listening. So for punishment I told him I would stick the bead in his nose if he didn't go to bed. As you can see, he didn't listen and I wasn't joking. He didn't believe me that I would do it. Oh, no, wait... that was the last time he got a bead stuck in his nose. This time it was because he was pretending to be a vacuum using his good nostril. How the hell do you think it got up there?!"

We went back out into the waiting room and shared an apple danish. Patients waiting to see the dr aren't supposed to have anything to eat or drink but I figured since it was only a foreign object in his nose that it wouldn't matter what was in his stomach. That danish was good even though it was probably in there for 6 months (since everything in that machine was $1, including a small bag of M&M's that a nice lady bought for Jacob earlier in the evening).

Back to curtain number 4 we were sent. We sat down on the gurney and waited. We played Monopoly on my phone, made our feet dance under the curtain, took pictures of each other, he sneezed a couple more times moving the bead just a bit more, and we waited *impatiently* for the dr to come in and ask the same thing the triage nurse did. "Magic. His sister put a hex on him and every time he doesn't listen, a bead shows up in his nose. Don't be surprised if we are back in the morning." Seriously, doc, just get the thing out. No need to call CPS on me or anything HA! I was laughing telling him again that he stuck it up his own nose. Do these things happen any other way? Really? Do they?

He leaves to go get his trusty "eye hook" which is what I am calling it (whether that is right or not, I don't care) and comes back to fish the bead out of Jacob's nose. Within 3 seconds the thing is out (and no, I don't wish that I had just let my husband do it). He reminds Jacob not to put anything in his nose again and Jacob agrees. The nurse comes to discharge us (but not before Jacob has to pee, AGAIN) and then we head home. I race Jacob to the car and we get home just after midnight.

That was my first first-hand experience with foreign objects in the body but I have a feeling it won't be my last. After all, it took almost 8 yrs for it to happen this time... and there are 3 younger children in this house. I'm scared. LoL

Fun Photo Friday - Look What We Got!!!

Mini Teens - Part Two

In addition to this post found here that was meant to be funny, I wanted to point out that I am SERIOUS!

The mini teens have taken over my house. They have the attitudes and the appetites to prove it. Sometimes they hit me with both at the same time. I just can't win sometimes. My cupboards seem to always be bare, unless I just got home from the grocery store and my kids are constantly talking back and using phrases like "You are ruining my life!" or just grunting. They each have their own teen qualities.

Lexi - She is 7 going on 17. I was having a yard sale with a friend when Lexi comes walking up the driveway wearing a red shirt, a mini skirt, and black knee high boots. Now, I don't mind her wearing her mini skirt or her hooker boots (as we adults lovingly refer to them) but not necessarily at the same time. She is also the drama queen of the family. Her life is not fair, I'm the worst mom ever, and heaven forbid someone touches anything that belongs to her. Frequent door slamming and screaming at her siblings are two of her favorite pasttimes. She hates cleaning her room and eating her vegetables.

Jacob - Actual age: 6 Behavorial age: 2 1/2 Now I'm no doctor so that is my best estimate. Seriously, he acts like a baby most of the time. His temper is that of a teenager though. Slams his hands when he gets mad and stomps off to his room. Playing video games is his niche. He could sit there and play 24/7 if he was allowed. This boy could eat 4 helpings of whatever vegetable is placed in front of him (except salad)... and meat, anything will do.

Kadie - This is my 4 yr old mama's girl. She wants what she wants when she wants it and there are to be no exceptions. If she is hurt, tired or upset she will not tell ANYONE, not even me, what the problem is. This is where the grunting comes in. She just scowls and grunts until she feels better. She is ALWAYS hungry. If someone else is eating, she wants to eat too.

Adam - What can I say about this little boy? Hmmm, he is a bully. He holds his own the best out of all the kids. Sara is not far behind but he just does not take crap from anyone. He could, and would, snack all day if I let him. Meals are not his strong suit. He could care less about the meat and the veggies... give him some starch and the boy is happy as a clam. Adam is the least like a teenager out of all of the kids.

Sara - At the ripe old age of 21mths this girl can pack away her food. I always joke that if she isn't crying or sleeping, she is eating. Like Kadie, if she sees food, she wants it. This girl eats cereal and a poptart for breakfast plus something to drink, then she has a morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner and a snack before bed. If I'm eating and she isn't, she wants my food. If I'm drinking, and she isn't, she wants my drink. This growing girl eats the most out of any of my kids and puts the amount of milk needed to an all-time high in this house.

WIC (if we qualified) would never be able to cover the amount of milk we need in one month. I did the math yesterday and estimated that we could easily spend $100 a month just on milk. Maybe I should buy a cow! LoL Buying snacks at Sam's has been a saving grace for me too. If I shopped at the grocery store for them I would run out sooner, not to mention spend a ton more. And meals? Don't get me started. One pack of noodles used to be enough for Lexi, but now she is still hungry afterwards. One pound of spaghetti used to leave TONS of leftovers, now it's pretty much gone in one night. YIKES! They are eating me out of house and home. I so was not prepared to be starting this teen business for many more years.

C. Beth Blog - Contest

Good afternoon my loyal readers! And what do you owe this pleasant surprise of a blog post, you ask? Well, over on a fellow mommy's blog there is a little contest going on. A simple contest that could win YOU and ME this adorable bean bear! Go here and leave your comment for Beth. Make sure to mention that you were sent by me in case you win (cause then I win too)! Don't want the bear? Oh, well then comment anyway and give ME your bear. I could always use two (you do remember I have more than 1 kid, right?) So go! NOW! Comment away and keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow we are the big winners!

Invasion of the Mini Teens!!!

With their rebellious attitudes and overwhelming appetites, they come into your world unexpectedly. One day everything will be fine, the next all hell will break loose. They will break the rules, try to rule the roost, eat all your snacks and demand more soda that you just don't want them to have. Their size varies, as do their appearances but one thing remains constant... their demands for food and cries for attention. Be on the look out for these pint-sized creatures. They may be closer than you think. If you happen to come across one... this is the only way they can be contained.

Out of their mouths, into my ears

My kids say some strange things. They may not necessarily seem so strange to any of you but to hear these things from my kids in the context they say them... it just baffles me. I think, "How did they get so smart." or "How did they know what that was called?"

Just yesterday, on our way to cheerleading, Lexi saw something that amused her. She is almost 8 yrs old and she is my little Einstein so I shouldn't be surprised by much that she says but still, I was struck with the thought, "How did she know that was what that was?"

Lexi: "MOM! I just saw an orange and white cat on TOP of a green SUV."

I'm thinking, "What? I don't usually call them SUVs, I usually say trucks. How did she know to call it that?" I wanted to be sure we were both thinking of the same thing so I had her point out SUVs as we were driving. Sure enough, she knew what one was. It was just so strange to hear her say SUV. I know, pretty dumb, but still... LoL

Then this morning, again, she said something that made me think... "Where does she get this stuff from?" This time it was a conversation with her brother, but it was about me.

Jacob (spying my beverage of choice this morning): "Is that chocolate milk your breakfast?"

I replied, "Well, I had a hard boiled egg, and now I'm having some chocolate milk."

He must have looked baffled because then Lexi then says, "Jacob, you just don't understand girls."

Ummm, ok. Where that came from, I have no clue. She is too big for her britches sometimes. That I do know.

That was fun!

I got to work this morning and the assistant manager says "So today you get to take the first appointment." HUH? WHAT? Am I hearing her right? After only two days of training I get to do a REAL shoot, with REAL people. She helped set up the backgrounds, and helped pose the family (we did a family of 4, then some of the baby by herself). I took all the pics though, and I made the sales pitch. I did almost the entire thing unassisted (save for a couple minor details I wasn't sure on) and made an almost $130 sale. It was great and it made the day go by so fast.

Tomorrow won't be so fun. We only have one appointment scheduled and it's first thing in the morning. Wish I would have taken tomorrow off like I was originally scheduled. Then I could have gone to playgroup. I start as an official employee this weekend with an 8 hr shift on Saturday, followed by 7 hours on Sunday. Should be a nice first check though :)

I've Got the Tooth Fairy on Speed Dial

Lexi has lost three teeth in the last couple of weeks and is getting ready to lose a fourth sometime soon. The first tooth fell out in the middle of the night, I shared that story here. The second tooth was kicked out a few days later by a friend on a trampoline. It was ready to fall out, it just got a little extra motivation from a foot.

Keeping the tooth fairy on her heals and running low on one dollar bills (I only make so many in a night, HA! Kidding!), there were two more teeth just waiting to make the leap. This morning, one of them did so as she was eating her cereal. She promptly spit out her spoonful of cereal but could not find her tooth. We searched the floor but there was no little chompers to be found. The next thought was that it was in her bowl of cereal... since we are now out of milk we couldn't waste it so she went about with her breakfast keeping a close eye on finding the tooth. A full tummy and an empty bowl later and there is still no tooth.

Only one more possibility. Yup, we think she swallowed it. She is pretty distraught over this. Probably thinks the tooth fairy won't come now. Maybe I can grab one of the other teeth that she has lost and pull it off as the one that fell out, pretend like I found it while she was at school. That way the tooth fairy still has something to come for and she doesn't freak out about swallowing her tooth. She is probably regretting not letting me pull it when I offered 30 seconds before losing it.

First Day Jitters

I slept like crap on Wednesday night. As you all know, I was informed Wednesday afternoon that I was indeed hired at Sears Portrait. I had to quickly figure out who was watching the kids and I ran into a couple of snags. Luckily I got out of their when everyone broke for lunch so that I wouldn't have to rush home for soccer or leave my sitter with 5 kids for over an hour (it gets hectic adding two school kids to the mix when all they want to do is run off their energy they built up during the day... trust me, I dread it and I do it daily. There was no way I was putting that on someone with only one kid LoL).

I got to work super early and had no idea how I was supposed to get in (Sears doesn't open until 10, I was due to start at 10). I scoped out the entrances to see where I would go in and then realized I had to pee. I walked in the mall to use the bathroom and could feel my stomach tightening. You would think I never worked a day in my life... although it has been like 5 yrs since the last time I had a real job and I was never very good at staying long.

I finally made my way to the portrait studio and there was NO ONE there. I waited around for the opening associate to come in and then I got to see how to get started. She was counting down the drawer when our first appointment came in. I took charge and had her fill out the information sheet they always make you fill out when you come in (I've been going to Sears Portrait for 7 1/2 yrs, I know a little bit about how it works LoL). Another trainee came in and we shadowed the associate on a session with a little one year old cutie. He had the cutest smile but would get his grumpy face on and crack us up. He wanted to constantly be on the move but we got a decent amount of shots and fulfilled the pose quota. By the time the manager arrived (he was running late) a group of 8 came in for their 1030 appt 20 minutes early and they had been waiting a while. The little boy we just shot was getting hungry and even more grumpy so mom had to leave with him and decided to come back later in the day to pick out her portraits.

The manager took the large group and another woman that was waiting for her appt was taken in the other room. The other trainee and myself were told to shadow the manager, which to me, was not a good idea considering the room is so small and there were already 5 adults and 3 children in the room (not including the photographer). I feel like we were making the kids nervous being in there... so many unfamiliar faces. One of the mom's made a comment that she thought her daughter was "watching the girls in the back" and that was why she wasn't smiling. Sorry, I was just doing what I was told. This group took awhile to finish up because we had to get lots of different group shots. There were quite a few cute pictures but some just were not very good but they had no choice but to buy some because out of two options there was no real winner. I got to see how they make their photos "pop" and I so wish I had that program on my computer.

For the rest of the day we spent more time learning how to use the camera and how to edit the pictures. By that time my feet were killing me, so was my back, and I could feel a migraine coming on. I was going to stay til 330 but there really was no point since they break for lunch from 2-3 so I'd be coming back for 30 minutes, so I just went home (the manager okayed it, don't worry LoL).

I go back on Sunday, a busy day, to observe some more. Then on Monday I get to practice with the camera and the editing. Next week should be fun. I just hope I remember everything. I'm so forgetful.

Fun Photo Friday

Here are some recent random pictures that have been uploaded to the computer from my Olympus digital. Hopefully next week I'll have gotten the pics from my Canon Rebel onto the computer. There are undoubtedly tons of new ones on there LoL But for now, enjoy these!

No Call, No Show

Well, not really... I was there at 10am this morning, but to pick up my pictures. So yes, that means I got the job. But the reason I did not work today was because I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS!!! The manager never once called me to let me know that I would be employed starting today.

I just happened to find out when the assistant manager called me about 5 minutes ago to ask me what happened today, as she had me on the schedule. I said, "What schedule?" Thinking she might have meant for a picture appointment, but I knew what she meant. She replies, "For working." I inform her that I was not aware that I actually had a job but that I would be there tomorrow for training.

So, as of tomorrow, I will be a semi-professional photographer. Should be fun (but there goes my weekend social life LoL)