No more mommy hair!

I got rid of my mommy hair yesterday.
Feelin' oh so sexy and sassy!
It's much more me than that long mop I had on my head. I'm a hottie!

Before

I was so stuck in mommy mode, it was sad. This is me only a few short days ago. No makeup so of course that adds to it BUT it's the hair. No style, no oopf, no sassy. NO MORE!

Things about me

Here are 7 random things about your truly.

1. I have a "thing" about motorcycles. Only street bikes- not Harley's. I grew up at the race track. I LOVE the sound of them. My husband- hat on backward- sunglasses on- in a white t shirt and jeans- just sitting on a bike..... HOT! (I haven't gotten his shoes picked out yet in this fantasy!)

2. I took roller skating lessons when I was a little girl. So 80's! Every Saturday morning. Every time I hear the song "Eye of the Tiger" I'm reminded of those mornings.

3. I love photographs. Pictures of my kids or me! Or me! Or family and friends! Or me! My aunt is a photographer and there is a picture she took I want. I asked my uncle if he thought she would notice if it was gone. It's hanging in their living room. Also, my brother and super sister-in-law had some amazing photos taken at their wedding. There is one of my SIL that is just gorgeous. If I wouldn't look like a weirdo, I would have that picture up in my house. Makes me want to have wedding photos taken.

4. I have to live near water. I am the happiest when I do. I have the best memories of wandering along waterfronts. Driving the kids to preschool, I always had a drive along the water. Happiness!

5. The washing machine lid has to be up when I'm done with it. I've even gotten so crazy about it that I put up the lids on other washing machines in our apartment complex laundry facility. Think about it.... you go to throw in laundry and the lid is down- kind of going into the bathroom and trying to pee with the lid down. Sure it looks better but so much more convenient.

6. I have a "thing" with names. Shocker I know especially with a name like Cattigan. I am fascinated by their pronunciations and meanings. Sleater-Kinney, Chehalis, Corpus Christie. I have a friend who just had a baby (Baby Bird)- his name is so cool- first and last together. Future sports star. Another little boy that Natalie went to preschool with has a very cool name. He sounds like a newspaper reporter from the 40's. He has a very strong name. I always had names for my kids picked out. Declan, Aiden, Griffen for boys; Talie (Natalie), Tegan, Camille for girls.

7. I really try to blog fairly often.... god knows I have plenty to say. I really love having this medium to highlight me! I love comments! I love knowing people actually read what I have to say! Is that really a random thing that you DIDN'T already know?!?!? :)

Memorial Day and Santa

I seem to have more stories involving Grace then anyone else. Her and I spend quite a bit of time together. Natalie is in school and at three, Cam isn't quite 'there' yet when it comes to 'why' questions as his five year old sister is.

Let me start out by telling you that I am a huge advocate of communication. I've taught my kids (or at least tried to) to use their words when it comes to talking to one another, their friends, teachers, family, my husband and I. That's not to say they don't fight with each other. They do and sometimes loudly but at least they are using their words. My kids are definitely allowed to be mad and upset. I want them to use their words to solve things rather than their hands.

In the car today, we started talking about going to pick up Emma, Natalie being out of school tomorrow (Friday) and Monday, going camping this weekend, and Memorial Day. These all tie into one another in our world. Grace asked what Memorial Day was. I told her that it is to honor and remember the people who have died in a war or during military service. She asked what war was.

I did my best to explain to my five year old brainiac what war was. "It's when there are two countries that are fighting and don't use their words to solve the problem. They use their fists or guns to hurt one another." Whew!

Grace asked next "Do they get presents from Santa?"

Her being in the back seat missed my EXTREMELY puzzled look, trying to figure out the connection between the two.

"Why wouldn't they get presents?" was the most I could come up with.

"Because they didn't use their words." Silly me, why didn't I think of that.

Arthritis Walk

I had intended to post these sooner...... we did it! My mom, Violet, me, and Miss Gracie. Both Violet (the yappy fuzz ball my mom is holding) and Gracie walked the entire trek.... except for a few steps after Grace tripped over a tree root and spent sometime on my back. It was a beautiful walk through Point Defiance/Owens Beach area. Whoever designed the course does not have arthritis or children because some of us were thinking "Seriously?!?!". We walked 'with' some other women that had us laughing most of the way. It was a lot of fun! Thank you so much for the donations!

Question and Answer

Answer:


















Question: What happens when the mama puts SPF 48 on everyone BUT her during a day at the beach?

Talented Child

During the much needed water fight yesterday afternoon among sisters, Grace discovered she could gargle "Twinkle, Twinkle". Her mother was hysterical laughing, she almost peed her pants. Look for her on American Idol 68! Her parents are so proud!

Perfect Friday

I'm getting old.

Why you ask?

A bottle of wine.
Kids, me, and Jimmy outside.
A lawn chair.
NEW People Magazine.
Dinner: turkey sandwiches and salad
Snack: Ritz crackers and cream cheese.
A "date" with my husband of online shopping later on OldNavy.com (summer clothes for the kids) and Amazon.com (books for me).
Sunshine
Laundry done
Bathrooms clean, house vacuumed, kitchen clean.

Perfect Friday night.

All I need is my new Vanilla Ylang candle lit (when it gets a little cooler outside).

I'm old.

Wine Update

Did you know that if you get pink eye when you are sick with other mucus, then more than likely you have VIRAL pink eye and while still EXTREMELY contagious, not treatable with antibiotics? The doctor's exact words were I could put drops in the kids eyes all I wanted (until the cows come home); I wasn't going to make a difference. She was sorry I was told I had to come into the office. Had she spoken to me, she would have just told me all this over the phone. If there was anything else I needed, to CALL her directly.

Numbers Update

Times to the doctors office: 2

Prescriptions: 1

Bottle of Ibuprofen left: 1 1/2

Money spent in co-pays: $50

Bottle of Wine consumed: 0 **

** I don't feel like it now that I have a sore throat, head ache, body aches and am just waiting for the runny nose, cough, and pink eye.

These posting of mine are so uplifting, aren't they?!?!?!?

Too ealy for wine?

I have another place where I sometimes blog and I wrote this there this morning... sorry, my public. I don't have the time, energy, or brain space to do it any different today! LOL

I want to cry!

Fevers, coughs, runny noses, and now pink eye! And not all together... first it was the mysterious fever and now ending with pink eye.

SERIOUSLY?!?!?

So far it's only two of them........ cross my fingers that it stays that way.

I really enjoy having a big family BUT sometimes (illnesses), not so much!

I just needed to 'cry' to someone. My mom isn't answering her phone and it's too early to make phone calls to anyone else other than the doctor's office.

Just to clarify so there aren't calls out to AA- me opening a bottle of wine would mean the kids are in bed and my day is just about over. Not just starting, doing the battle with the forces of evil!

Playing the Numbers

Kids who have recovered from germ sicky bugs: 1

Kids who now have the germ sicky bugs: 2

Kids who have yet to get the germ sicky bugs: 1

Bottles of Ibuprofen in the house: 2

Boxes of Puffs Plus tissues in the house: 1

Satisfaction of having a clean kitchen at 7 am because you've been up since 4 am: Priceless

Feelings toward husband person for leaving the aftermath of Mother's Day for the following day: Priceless!

The kids going to bed with extreme ease tonight BECAUSE they've been up since 4 am: BEAUTIFULLY Priceless!

Mother's Day Present

Natalie came home from school yesterday and gave me my Mother's Day present. The kids drew pictures, then they got sent in to a company, and made into a plate. Nat said that they had to draw what they like to do with their mom. The picture is of Natalie and I shopping for snow globes. I love the shopping cart.... all stores that carry snow globes have shopping carts I guess! It's so funny that she would choose that thing to draw about. I got a note from her saying that she also likes to go to the museum with me. Um.... yea, we haven't done either one in AGES! Do you think she's trying to tell me something?!?!?
I've been collecting snow globes for years. The glass million dollar ones. I get about one a year- Christmas. Jim went to Alaska a few years ago and brought me back one that was beautiful. It's one of my favorites. Here is my all time favorite! It's really heavy. The 'Emerald City' wall in the back is green glass. Every time we move, I hand carry that baby.

An hour or two, please

I have been keeping notes on topics to blog about, cute things my kids have said or done, and pictures of the same sort of stuff. NOW... if I can ever get around to actually sitting down to throw all of them together.... at least I've thought about it. Do I get points for that, Leah?

I need a way to add a few more hours onto my day. Between getting child in shower, dressed, fed, and on the bus NOT in her jammies, laundry, vacumning, picking up toys, wiping down the kitchen table from the previous meal, emptying and loading the dishwasher, bathing little people, making meals to feed the little people...... that's been my day today so far.... I had a point to this.... OH! I want more hours for ME!

I want to shower ALONE and SHAVE my legs. I want to get lost in my collection of books. I want to do my hair and make up. I want to catch up on emails. I want my room to be pretty again! It's exploded lately with clean clothes and Jim crap and fundraising paperwork from this year and next.

Heck, while we are on my list of wants and in fantasy-land.... I want a shopping spree at Borders; I want a hair cut and color to tone down the 'sparkle' my hair has recently aquired; I want MAC make up and lessons on how to do my eye makeup similar to Lacy's; I want new clothes for the kids and I and maybe, Jim; I want professional pictures of us taken; I want a vehicle that will hold all of us and is still this side of cool (in my eyes- not anyone else's!); I
want a ton of hanging baskets of flowers for my back patio and a green thumb to keep them alive.

That's it.

Oh, and just a few more hours in a day.

Thoughts in Pictures

Look at those eyes... the color.... those lashes. They make me melt!













One of my favorite part of Natalie. I love those little hands. As of recently, she would ball her hand up in yours to hold hands. I wish those hands would stop growing.












Where was their mother?!?!?!? They get huge points for being so creative! I'm so proud!

Ducks

Could you only imagine what we looked like on the bikes if this is what Jim's truck looked like transporting them? We had a few people walk/ride/skate past us and give a giggly smirky smile. Only when I was herding everyone across the street at one point did I realize why. I felt and I'm sure looked like a mama duck with all her little ducklings. Jim took to helping the stragglers along ... well, one little red headed mini-Jim straggler.

We biked quite a distance on the trail. The kids were troopers about it. Lots of fresh air and sunshine helps kids sleep the entire night through. It was beautiful sleeping all the way through. I woke up with a start at one point and had to check on everyone!

It was the first time I've been on a bike in almost #$^%^$# years! I'm a little sore in the seat area today.... comparable to having a baby. Too much information!??!

Here's to hanging out with my babies, getting Jim to do family stuff with us, and getting down a size or two.

Jacob Glen

Baby Bird had been named!

I got to see him tonight! I didn't realize how out of practice I was when it came to new little people until I held him :)

His mom looks wonderful and tired and I could swear that dad was glowing!

I don't see E calling him Jake at all- it's not her! He'll be Jacob to his mom :) Jake combined with their last name sounds great together!

Baby Bird

I just got off the phone with dad and Baby Bird was born just a short time ago after a very long wait through the night. Yea for epidurals! He's 8 pounds 8 ounces and a little over 20 inches long. He's got a bit of red hair like dad and sister so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Daddy Bird that it sticks. Mama Bird is resting. I didn't want to pester them anymore so I never got a name! Stay tuned....