Can A Mom Say That School Sux??

Liam, Ian and Trent, our neighbor, playing in the sand before the rains came.
Brent relaxing with a beer. He was resting while I was busy preparing. wtf?
This is not a great picture of the cake but we used a John Deere tractor pan and then decorated it. He absolutely loved it -- it wasn't perfect but he thought it was.
Ian was actually blowing out his candles and was not happy about his picture being taken.

This morning before school -- Ian was excited, Liam was almost indifferent. Sporting his approved standard uniform -- school shirt and jeans. Can you believe Liam got his hair cut on Thursday? Hopefully with the new uniform code he will not be in violation. As long as it it "appropriately groomed" it should be ok. Should Liam get more cut off, what you think???

Yes, school officially started today at 8am. I'm really kind of sad. I love having the boys home, even though they do fight a lot, but it keeps it interesting and I guess I just love the freedom myself. So, can moms say that getting up and going back to school sucks big time? I guess so because I just did. So, we've been busy right up until last night. I'll break it down:

August 18th -- Ian's 8th Birthday. We had a neighborhood birthday/family party for him in the garage. It had rained all day but they were able to deliver the sand as promised and the kids all played in the sand pile, swam, and we did the eating/birthday cake usual. He said it was the best birthday he'd ever had. Really laid back and casual and since the kids weren't running in and out of the house all day I pretty relaxed. They even swam in the rain and they were so excited. It turned out well and we all had fun. Kind of ended up being a neighborhood get-together but it was nice to reconnect after a long summer. Of course the only downside is that some of the kids were over playing at noon although the party didn't officially start until 5pm and then I had to end up sending some of them home at 8:15pm. Ian had a blast with his friends so I guess that's what counts, not all the hairs I pulled out throughout the day. Good thing I have a lot of it so you can't see the bald spots! Nah, it was good.


Saturday we wanted to do something fun to celebrate the end of summer so we took the boys to eat and went bowling. We've done it a few times but they were happy that their granny decided to go and we had so much fun. We had great Mexican food at Carlito's, bowling and then we came home and talked and laughed until Ian fell asleep. Even Ian didn't gripe or whine one time... well... maybe once, but that was it and that's pretty good for him.

Liam was really kind of scared, maybe a little nervous about starting seventh grade today. He seemed nervous this morning but he said he was fine. I'm just praying he has a great day. Some of his teachers are supposed to be really hard and sticklers so I'm kind of dreading that, but I didn't tell him anything. Hopefully their personalities will overshadow their reputations. Ian was so excited about second grade. I'll download some pics of the first day of school and the birthday party in a bit. I don't feel like going out to my truck to get the camera. Lazy I know but I'm comfy and sipping my hot orange tea. Trying to get back into the swing of being on my own. Brent went with us and then he raced off to work. I can't imagine racing off to be at work so whatever floats his boat. He usually runs in the opposite direction.

Let's start something new:


How do I feel today???? (1) kind of sad (2) kind of happy (3) nervous about their day (4) positive about this school year (5) indecisive --nothing new there if you know me really well.

Oh yeah. I almost forgot. My sister and I attended my friend's Pure Romance party on Friday night. We had so much effin fun!!! We drank daquiri's, laughed, made fun of all the "tools" used for couples, drank more daquiris and ate all her snacks. It was the most fun I've had with a bunch of women in a long time. So, me and Tricia decided to book a party for September. Mainly I want the discount and the free hostess gift. I really want the free gift and the consultant said she'd give it to anyone who hosted a party so we decided to do one together. I asked her if we had to share the gift, and she assured me and she would give each one of us one. It was pretty funny but I was really curious. I mean she's my sister and all, but no one wants to be that close! LOL So I bought $212 worth of "tools" and creams and edible this and hot that. Everything looked like so much fuuunnnn I just couldn't decide. I know, I know, I totally blew the whole not spending frivolously thing, but I did some freelance work a while back so I decided that's what I would use that money for, and well worth it I might add. Anyway, this is like the first time I came home from spending a bunch of money that Brent didn't offer up a negative comment. HaHa He actually sat with me and I told him what everything was and what it was for -- it was like Christmas, well, only in a naughty and raunchy kind of way!!! So needless to say we had a great weekend and if you haven't been to a Pure Romance party or bought any of their merchandise and want to know which flavors taste the best, just ask me. We had so many things to taste, sniff and lick that I was full by the time the party was over. Ok, so that's pretty funny even I laughed out loud at that one. Yup, that's been my week. Birthday party - check. School shopping and picking up schedules - check. Learning what your neighbors and friends do in the bedroom - check. Giving the boys a great weekend before school - check. Giving my husband a great weekend - priceless.

Is It Over YET?? How long can they drag out the end of school?

(Denver, CO where Brent is trying very hard to get adjusted to the altitude and enjoying every minute of the cool temperatures. Booger.)

Of course, it's not snowing there right now but this is the first picture I found. I'll try and post some if he remembers to take any.

Well, the last day of school is tomorrow and I for one couldn't be happier. I am sooooo exhausted and this will be another hurdle behind me. Monday started with a bang and Brent got to his flight on time. I then went to a mammo and ct scan with a friend and then spent the afternoon at the hospital visiting my lil momma with Tricia and Bailee. We had fun and cheered her up. By the time we left a couple of hours later she was laughing and was in good spirits. Brent called and he said the weather in Denver is beautiful and cool. God, what I wouldn't do for some 60 degree weather around here. Tuesday was Ian's awards in his classroom and Bailee went with me to see him. He did really well and received four awards and some pesos from Chile for an added bonus if you maintained above a 95 average. He was so proud he couldn't wait to get home to call his daddy and tell him about his awards. We dropped Ian off at his last game and then took Liam and Bailee with me back up to the hospital to meet up with the doctor and discuss our options about momma. It is very sad and depressing. Enough of that ... so Ian wins his last game and his granny said that he hit the ball all the way to the fence twice which is really good as it is on the big field. I told him I know his daddy is sorry he missed it. Poor little thing but he did well considering it was after 9:00 before we got home, showered and in the bed.

Today Bailee and I did all my shopping for the end of school treats, gifts and teacher gifts all before noon then took lunch up to Nana at the hospital. Ian went home with my neighbor to swim in their lake so after school I dropped Liam off at Tricia and Drake's and then we went back up to the hospital until about 9:00pm. Once again it's been a really long day. Bailee stayed here and took care of Ian and did an excellent job. She fed him Caesar salad with chicken and made a huge fruit salad and they ate that too. She let him swim so he said he didn't have to shower. It's the last day of school and he's going to be getting all hot and sweaty so what the hey! Sitting here trying to relax but it's hard when your mind is racing. Watching your mom wither away to nothing just breaks your heart knowing there isn't any way to fix it or make it better. I've finally come to the realization that maybe we are a lot alike.... If I can get one smile out of her before I leave each day, in the end that's all that really matters. Making the people you love happy.

God I cannot wait for my sweetie to come home. This week has been long and exhausting and when his plane lands you won't be able to wipe that smile off my face. He's my rock that I lean on when I need to and it is so disappointing to not have that; he's trying to cheer me up over the phone but it's just not the same. I miss Brent and I really need to get on the ball and get his party planned or call the place and tell them we're postponing it and the caterer too. I guess I can make that decision after school gets out tomorrow. Got Ian's teacher the cutest travel bag and jewelry from my friend. Hope she likes it. Picked up a few things to perk me up too. The necklace is pretty cute and some bangle bracelets that go with a lot of outfits. I'll have to put a link on here to her website. She's really reasonable and she is the sweetest person in the world. Better go print out labels for Ian's little gifts to his friends so I can get to bed sometime tonight. I'm about one tired bi-otch. Ciao Bella.

Noggin Knots & Tasty Chicken

(My angel baby who bumped his noggin)

Busy, busy, busy. By 10am I was dressed to go shopping, had cleaned the house and was about to leave the house. I got a call from the nurse at Ian's school to come and take a look at him -- he had been pushed by another child and fell and hit his head on a metal balance beam on the playground and had this really big knot behind his ear, I guess it's part of his skull right? So, at first I'm like "So you want me to come and take a look or pick him up?" Of course, this is after I ask if he's OK and she assures me that he's fine and not bleeding to death. So, I have like zip, zero, nada nursing or body or anything that would involve actually touching a complete stranger, experience, and she's asking me to come and take a look --WTF? This is the trusting soul that we put our children's lives in the hands of if there ever were to be an actual accident or emergency! So, off I go and arrive within 5 minutes of the phone call, yes normally I would have to get dressed and all that but luckily not today. So then I go up to the school and I walk into the nurses office and "look at him." I'm standing there "looking" and Ian and the nurse are standing there "looking" at me. So ... I ask her what she wanted me to look at and she shows me the bump behind his ear/head and which, by the way, was pretty red, bruised and swollen. I asked Ian how long the ice was applied and he said "What ice?" She had told me she applied an ice pack. So, I asked him how he felt and he said fine and I said let's get your stuff and you can come home and spend time with me. Well, his little face just lit up -- too sweet. I told her I was bringing him home because evidently he didn't feel comfortable taking care of this at school today. We signed out and I brought my lil bug to McDonald's for a much needed Happy Meal and my fish sandwich (note to self: no meat on Fridays during Lent -- I have got to remember that!!) and we had a really relaxing lunch. He told me all about the other little boy who is sitting out of free play next week. He's in the first grade and reads on a sixth grade level -- I kid you not! (Note to others: I really like that saying "I kid you not" so I'll probably be using it a lot, and so if I offend you or you particularly dislike this and would not like me to use that statement for effect -- go create your own blog and blog about it because I'm going to use it anyway). I've witnessed it. So I think he's pretty bright only he is just so hyper and cannot keep his hands off of other kids. Well the other child next to Ian was pushed over by all the commotion also and fell head first onto the balance beam and there was a screw sticking up (all rusty from what Ian told me) and the screw punctured his forehead. Ian said blood was gushing everywhere. I would have fainted if I would have been the teacher to come across that scene. So, Ian scored pretty well considering what happened to his friend, not to mention a few inches down and it could have taken out an eye! My friend was furious and said she was going to make an anonymous phone call to the school and administration to have the playgrounds checked for screws and things that could be pose a potential danger. ISo, I guess I'll entrust my children to the school once again, hoping and praying each day it's the right decision. On with that....

(Photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman)
SCOOOP!!!! This week I made this recipe from The Pioneer Woman Cooks:

http://thepioneerwomancooks.com/2007/06/marlboro_mans_s.html

and it was fabulous!! Brent and the boys loved it, I actually really liked it and I'm pretty picky about how I like to incorporate bacon into my food but it was one of the best things we've tried in a while. Note to others: This sandwich is great when it's hot and juicy and will definitely be put on our favorites list!

Ian at a swim party and Liam at school yesterday. I have to give them a kiss when they get home from school today. I actually miss them while they're at school. Sad, but true. My sister that calls me Negative Nancy told me to get a job!!