Wordless Wednesday - WTF??? Not So Wordless Today

Usually I do keep my entry wordless but this one is so bizarre to me that I have to explain why I even bothered to keep it and not delete it as soon as I snapped it.

This is a picture of my son in my kitchen after we returned from his cousin's communion. He ran by the stove just as I was trying to snap his picture and this is the result.

Oddly enough, the lights in the center is a bulb above the stove which is really the only thing I can make out.

You can also make out my son. His face, head and the center line of his shirt.

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Wii - Me Love You Long Time

For my son's 5th birthday I mentioned Wii to my husband. I thought it would be something that we could build on and all enjoy over time.

Playing the hero, he surprised us with it and we have been enjoying it ever since.

The game was bundled with Wii Sports, a 5 game disk that includes bowling, tennis, golf, boxing and baseball and we got him Super Mario - Super Galaxy.

He also got 2 other games from my sister-in-law, Mario Kart and Go Diego Safari Rescue.

We, as a couple are having so much fun! We used to spend a lot of time together before kids, playing games on XBox, listening to music, talking, hanging out together, etc. Then kids come and everything is about them. We have different interests and different directions right now. He started his own company and works the hours of well the president and I am a full time mom also with few hours to burn. We enjoy different TV shows on our down time and rarely spend alone time together which is really bad for a marriage.

Hello, not saying that Wii has saved THIS marriage, we were hardly leaning toward that road but we are enjoying more time together. Our competitive side comes out and we pat each other on the ass while we strut around the room with our Wii remotes poised and ready to kick some spousal ass.

So, Wii thank you. Thank you for allowing me to try to kick my husband's ass at bowling or golf and legally knock my son out with a few rounds of boxing all while occasionally kissing the palm of my hand with a little game bop vibration through the wiimote.

The only thing that would make the game better would be if there was a little cooling unit in wiimote.

$249.00 without tax is well worth it.

Recently I rented Tiger Woods PGA 08, Carnival Games and Sonic and the Secret Rings, but more on the games later.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Things have been so hectic in the past few days.

Took car to shop and it's still not fixed - Day wasted.

Started some freelance work - Boring.

Shopping spree at Kohls - so much fun. I never buy myself anything so it was fun to shop for me. I really hate shopping but I need everything.

Nephew's Communion - Today, kids had an ok time. It was a long ride and in a restaurant so they were pretty bored of sitting for so so many hours. Can't say I blame them.

Spening time with my husband - My son got Wii for his birthday and we are reconnecting while competivally kicking each others ass.

Researching anything and everything Lost and Josh Holloway. Love the show and Josh. With the season ending I am just gearing up for the long, long, hiatus the show is taking.

Finishing up on Spring Cleaning and switching clothes from fall/winter to spring/summer for 4 people. Loads of washing and storing.

I hope in the next few days I can get back to reading, writing and blogging.

Amateur Book Review - The Book of Bright Ideas

My last book review post was in March, when I read Veil of Roses. The two books I read in between that and this are parenting books and will probably not be reviewing them right now. I am using them as my bibles right now, as they are a work in progress.

I chose the book because of the cover, of a little girl wearing a tiera and a tutu with a book strapped across her waist.
Anyway, The Book of Bright Ideas, written by Sandra Kring centers around 9 year old Button, family and a summer of friendship.

Button is our narrator and the story takes off in the first few pages as she and we are introduced to two strangers (20 year old Freeda and her sister Winnalee who is also 9) while in town with her loving aunt.

The story centers on the friendship with the two girls and between the women in their lives. Winnalee's sister Freeda, Button's Mother Jewel and Button's Aunt Verdella.

I loved the characters who were very real and most of them likable.

From Button's take on life to Winnalee carrying her mom's ashes in a vase. To the leather bound book of bright ideas and fairy hunting, the story is very human, very possible, very readable.

As for the title of the book, Winnalee believes when she has one hundred bright ideas, she will have all the clues to life figured out. I had nothing figured out. The story had twists and turns, and every time I thought I had it all figured out, I didn't.

On the adult side, like her daughter, Jewel Peters finds a best friend, in Freeda Malone, the young woman she had initially hated.

I enjoyed both friendship stories and with the men playing supporting roles this is a great female friendship read.

My favorite character had to be Aunt Verdella for her unconditional love to everyone involved and for offering of love even when it was unwanted or neglected. We should all strive to be the kind of neighbor that Verdella puts out to the world. Someone who can see the good in everybody while fighting her own past demon.

The book while mostly about friendship is also about how running from our deep dark secrets can and will effect us, and the people around us.

I recommend this book to anyone who needs a great beach read, go alone though because you will not want to be interrupted. Also, for anyone who was a child of the late 60's, 70's. I loved the references to the fashion, the make-up and hair, the candy button's on paper that Button and Winnalee ate and the pot holder sale they held to make some spending money.


Chotskies gives this book a B+

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Wordless Wednesday - Damn Allergies

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Late - Give Me Five Monday - Mother's Day

Over at Give Me Five Monday, we are to write about 5 things that we enjoyed about Mother's Day from prior years.

1. Mother's Day is much better since becoming a mom. I used to hate everything about it. Losing my mom at 12 and having to have this dedicated day to celebrate her was very hard growing up. I don't know why I haven't thought about this before but I really should have celebrated it anyway. She is still my mom. I should have just gone to church or remembered her in a quiet way but I was so busy hating walking by Hallmark or seeing all the Mother's Day ads to notice. My mother's day card from my husband and my kids was extra special this year because my son wrote in his and his sister's name. My husband always picks a great card (I am not sure if he really reads them but the sentiment always means a lot to me).

2. We got to play Wii this year. My son got it for his birthday and my husband and I played on Mother's Day. We boxed and we played golf. I am happy to say I was able to knock him out in both fights.

3. It was just relaxing. Usually we head out to the in-laws for dinner but this Mother's Day we stayed close to home because hubby was doing an all nighter at work.

4. I camped out in the living room with my kids and let them fall asleep whenever they did. No pressure no problem as they say in the islands.

5. More than all the others, this year and every 5 years I will share this day with my son's birthday. He was born on Mother's Day 2003. The best gift ever.

Ten On Tuesday - 10 Things I am really good at

Ten on Tuesday is asking everyone to write 10 things they are really good at. Interesting. Writing positive things about ones self is very hard to do. We can all write easily about the things we should, could, change about ourselves but can we see the good on ourselves?

1. Seeing past every one's faults and seeing the good.

2. Taking time to be with my kids every day. There is not a day that goes by where I am TOO BUSY to spend time with them doing things that matter like, listening, playing, enjoying, being in the moment or just holding them. There is nothing more important. The house is going to get dirty, and the TV will always be there.

3. Finding time to write. I know a ton of people who tell me they wish they had written in their kids books of firsts, had written letters, documented life experiences, or whatever. There is time. Just do it.

4. Taking pictures of my children. Loads of people tell me I take great pictures. They want to know how I know how to get the light or how to capture that moment. The truth is, I have no idea what goes into taking a fabulous picture. I am mostly just trying to capture the moment so I can live it again and again.

5. Keeping up with my family. I honestly think that if I didn't make attempts to reach out to them, I would never know what was going on in any of their lives.

6. Technical stuff. I am not the smartest person in the world but I can figure out how to use a camera, set a VCR, hook things up to the computer or TV, hook the computer up to the TV, download from my cameras to the computer and burn it to a disk, etc. I wish I had more time to hold an in house class for the many women I know who can't figure out how to load pictures to the computer, or once loaded where are they? I hear these questions so often.

7. Talking on the phone. Just ask my husband.

8. Making a good pot of coffee. Ask any coffee drinker and they will tell you just how important this is.

9. Researching information. I am an expert computer surfer. Ask me to find you something and I can turn it out. I love while talking on the phone, someone can bring something, anything up and I can Yahoo, Google, or whatever them an answer in less than 60 seconds.

10. Being happy, not sweating the small stuff. Easier said than done but I have become such an expert at just concentrating on things that I can change and not wasting time on things I have no power of that I scare myself sometimes.

5 Years Ago Yesterday

I really wanted to write this yesterday but with it being my son's 5th birthday, Mother's Day and the fact that my husband wouldn't be home after 4:30 p.m. I really wanted to spend the day just enjoying time with my family.

5 Years ago on Mother's Day was one of the happiest days of my life.

I have written about this in the past but to sum it up, my son was breech and was scheduled to be born on May 13th by Cesarean. However, on the morning of May 11th at 3:30 a.m. my water broke, we rushed to the hospital and I became a mom for the first time.

5 years ago, where did the time go?

5 years ago, I held you and wished the moment would never end. 5 years ago, I was handed a beautiful baby, wrapped in a blue blanket. 5 years ago, I kissed your forehead and said, "Hi, I'm, your mommy."

5 years ago we, your father and I, became a family. We were married 8 years before you came, but you made US a FAMILY.

5 years ago, you gave me the name "Mommy," a name I longed to hear myself referred to after not being able to use the word for more than 25 years.

5 years ago, you I loved your father with every cell in my body. Giving birth to you and seeing him in a totally different way, sealed my love for him forever. I was IN LOVE and knew he was the best thing that had ever happened to me.

5 years ago, I never loved anyone so hard in all my life.

5 years ago, you saved me.

Baby boy, (I will call you this until the day I die) I love you so much. Our relationship is one of the most beautiful things in the world. You are loving and sweet. You tell me you love me at least 25 times a day (No doubt where you learned that from - I have done it to you since you were born).

You kiss me and hug me at least 30 times a day. Again, I am not surprised, I told everyone that you would end up with a permanent kiss mark on your forehead because I could not stop kissing you.

You are challenging and assuring, strong and sensitive, caring and nurturing and shy and boisterous, loving and kind.

You love me to hold your hand or touch your head when you sleep, something I have done since your first days.

You love me to sing to you and still enjoy hearing the songs I put you to sleep to.

You are beginning to read and love hearing how things are spelled.

You know right from left and use directions every moment you can.

You like taking care of your sister but like most siblings, fight like the cats and dogs.

You enjoy watching movies, being read to, playing games on XBox or the computer, coloring, playing games like Bingo, going to the park and going on play dates.

5 Things I love About You:

1. You love hugs and kisses.

2. You are extremely sensitive and like being held and rocked still.

3. You take care of your sister. When she calls you, you run to see if she is ok. You help her turn on lights she can't reach, open doors she can't open, take her shoes off or get her something she can't get.

4. You enjoy laughing and have the best laugh.

5. You tell me you love me every single day. You thank me for taking you places and apologize

when you do something you shouldn't.

I love you with all my heart baby boy. You are my heart on legs and I pray that you always want to spend time with me.

Love, Mommy.

Thursday Thirteen - Mother's Day Gifts That Would Rock My World

My Thursday Thirteen is stretching it a bit much but hey it is MY Thursday 13.

In no particular order, I give you my Thursday 13.

1. A night with hello...my favorite celebrity male Josh Holloway. God damn, that would be the last gift I would ever need thank you very much. Here is my Eye Candy post from last month. He is just yummy and hey I know he's married and all but so am I. My husband totally wouldn't mind, would you hunny?

2. Canon EOS 12.8 Mega Pixel SLR digital camera. It sells for about $3,200 so this is just about as out of range as Josh. Oh well. I said things that would rock my world and well, this would.

3. More in the range of a possible gift would be through my cable company. I would love to have DVR capability. I hate missing some of my favorite shows and I wish that it was possible for my husband and I to record things for when there is absolutely nothing on the 380 channels we currently have.

4. I am a sucker for infomercials which is why I don't watch them. Buttttttt, about 2 years ago I saw an infomercial for Magic Legs and have it written on my dry erase board since. It is reasonably priced at $125.00 and folds up nice and neat for storage.

5. Since I am discussing exercise equipment, I would really LOOOOVE an elliptical trainer.

6. I need a bigger vehicle but right now with gas prices this would actually be my last choice. My choice would be a Toyota Sienna. Nice, big, roomy and the kids would be far away from each other. I want it in red or Metallic Blue. Nice!

7. It would be awesome to have a pool in my backyard. We have a lake near us but honestly, I am hardly a lake person. I love seeing the bottom and knowing there are no fish or weird things in the water that I cannot see.

8. A golf cart to get to the beach would be awesome though. A nice 4 seater that would take us there and back would be fun.

9. Wii Fit.

10. A plasma TV that would hang above our fire place and give us so much more room in our living room.

11. A new stove. We have a stove that came with the house. It is cira 1974 and only 2 of the 4 burners work and that is when they want to. I would love one of those easy clean cook tops would be nice.

12. A new vacuum cleaner. I really, really good one like a Dyson, Ball HEPA upright. I hate my rugs but mostly I hate them because my vacuum really sucks and not literally which is what a vacuum is supposed to do.

13. A night at a hotel with my husband and my kids. I would love to enjoy the pool during the day and then get room service at night. We can't go on a vacation right now, which is what we really need, but this would be great too.

Thursday Challenge - My Kids

Thursday Challenge is a place for photographic fun and learning. A theme is announced on the site each week.

It is impossible for me to pick just one picture of them.

Wordless Wednesday - Thursday Edition - Living Room Camp Out - Fun for Us All

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