Friday Night Leftovers: the oh crap there are only 8 shopping days left edition

It's time for Friday Night Leftovers hosted by the fabulous Danifred of Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks...

• I am so proud of Marty. He just got his second promotion in ROTC. He is seriously kicking ass.
• We just got Marty's ROTC pictures back. He looks so grown up.

• The creeping crud has invaded our house and it won't go away. There has been at least one sick kid at home every day for the past week and a half. Please dear God let us be better for Christmas.
• My tree is up and it's gorgeous. I got an almost 10 foot tree for only $50 because I offered to talk about them on my blog. Post coming soon.
• Gabe and T were in the Christmas concert at school the other night, Gabe was just thrilled beyond belief to get to perform in front of everyone.
• Gabe is once again ahead of his brothers in one department. Because Gabe decided it was appropriate to go into the bathroom at school with his eyes closed, he managed to slam the door in on of his friend's faces. The poor kid got hit in the nose and Gabe had to go talk to the vice-principal. That makes 2 visits in less than half a school year.
• I got to do lots of Christmas shopping today, including my shopping for the angel tree. I had so much fun and it truly put me in the Christmas spirit.

Head on over to Danifred's and check out the rest of the leftovers. Y'all have anything you want to share with us

Friday Night Leftovers:Too Much Stuff Going On

It's time for Friday Night Leftovers hosted by the fabulous Danifred of Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks...

• Rys and I were creating our Thanksgiving menu. We'll be having Turkey, Smoked Ham, Apple/Sausage/Walnut stuffing, Mashed potatoes, a savory sweet potato dish, green bean casserole, glazed carrots, homemade cranberry sauce, croissants, pumpkin pie, caramel apple crunch pie, and Swedish coffee cake
• We are also planning a dual birthday party for Gabe and Rys's youngest daughter on the first weekend in December.
• Luckily, neither Gabe or T want to invite their whole class.
• However, between the two of them we have an invitation list of about 24 kids.
• Please, please pray that the weather is good and only half the kids show up.
• Joey is getting ready to take a trip with his cub scout pack. They are going to spend the night on the USS Yorktown down in South Carolina. My dad is taking Joey on his trip because it is scheduled for the same weekend as Gabe's party.
• I think I might have got myself put in charge of compiling the school's student directory. God bless google docs and how easy it makes it.
• Bionic Grandma is already far outstripping the recovery her docs expected. Her damaged muscle is regrowing and she's regained a great range of motion.
• My parents found out the Hurricane Irene did some serious damage to their roof...mostly water damage. Luckily, their insurance company is covering the complete repair. Unfortunately, they will be getting an entire new roof and new ceiling in 4 out of the 5 major rooms in the house.
• I have two exceptionally cool giveaways in the works. Make sure you check back for news on them.
• PLEASE do me a favor and stop by my Thursday post and wish my son, Joey, a Happy Belated Birthday. It would mean a lot if you took the time.

Head on over to Danifred's and check out the rest of the leftovers. Y'all have anything you want to share with us?

Friday Night Leftovers: the crazy, busy edition

Today was a much better than yesterday evening was. Nothing's really different except maybe I have had a teensy bit more sleep. However, while today was better, it was also kick ass busy. We spent the better part of the afternoon cracking our proverbial whips and getting our slaves errrrr, children to clean the messes they made in the den and backyard. Then, I spent the rest of the evening taking Joey to Tae Kwon Do and baking his cake. So, there hasn't been a lot of time for writing. But, I can always make time for some Friday Night Leftovers hosted by the fabulous Danifred of Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks...

• 16 years ago, we were nearing our 1st wedding anniversary. We had been married in a civil ceremony.  16 years ago today, we got married again in a church ceremony. 
• Happy Church Anniversary honey. I'd marry you again today and every day for the next 100 years. You are my heart and soul and I don't know what i would do without you.
• Marty's legs still aren't working right but there has been a very slow but steady improvement.
• Bionic Grandma is also doing extremely well. She has already exceeded the range of motion the doctor thought she would regain after her shoulder replacement.
• My van, despite having all three engine seals replaced, is still puffing smoke. My guess is a smaller leak that was covered up by the deluge of the seal going. So, she has been renamed. My van is no longer the Manatee. She is henceforth known as Puff the Magic dragon.
• All three of my boys got great report cards the first quarter. I am so proud of them.
• Eek, I was finally forced to give Joey "the talk". Something he said led me to believe he didn't know exactly what he was talking about and I cornered him on the way home from TKD. There's nothing quite like giving "the talk" when you are driving down the road at 45 mph.

Head on over to Danifred's and check out the rest of the leftovers. Y'all have anything you want to share with us?

Friday Night Leftovers: the truly random edition

Welcome to Friday Night Leftovers hosted by the fabulous Danifred of Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks...

• I am seriously jonesing for the new Kitchenaid 10th Anniversary Cook For The Cure Raspberry Ice Stand Mixer. 
• I would have no room for it (even if I currently had the money for it) and would have to get on the laundry room renovation I have planned stat. 
• That renovation ain't happening anytime soon. 
• I spent 4 hours volunteering in Gabe's classroom 2 days ago. Budget cuts mean our little school lost all their kindergarten aids. This means Gabe's teacher has 20 kids including 2 partially mainstreamed special ed kids and one child who speaks NO English. Teaching 5 yr olds is like herding cats. You can NOT teach that many 5 yr olds without help. Going in once a week is the least I can do. 
• I think my dog Jolie has SADD or Selective Attention Deficit Disorder. It's also known as the I'm old and don't give a shit disorder.
• I forgot to say that Marty is kicking serious azz in ROTC. He got his first two ribbons, his first promotion, was asked to join the drill team, and got a 100% on his inspection when Area Manager came to do his annual unit inspection. 
• Marty is on his way to Sugar Mountain, NC and Camp LutherRock with his church youth group. They are going hiking, doing a ropes course, and having camp fires. I hope he has a wonderful time.
• Rys and I were totally freaking out Marty last night when we were singing songs from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and doing the Time Warp.
• I'm making denim tote bags out of old jeans. I went to Goodwill and bought jeans with the most embroidery and bling I could find. The bags are turning out sooooooo cute.
• The fabulous Jenn over at Mamahood.org is giving away a $50 EdenFantasys gift card. Head on over and enter to win.

Head on over to Danifred's and check out the rest of the leftovers. Y'all have anything you want to share with us?

Friday Night Leftovers: the guests in the house edition

Welcome to Friday Night Leftovers hosted by the fabulous Danifred of Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks...

• On Gabe's 4th full day of kindergarten, he got sent to the vice-principal's office. Gabe was still feeling a bit under the weather because he was recovering from a cold and, when he feels icky, he's short tempered. He decided to treat the kids at school like he treats his brothers when he's out of sorts. He was pushing, hitting, poking with pencils, and wasn't listening to the teacher.
• I also found out he was righteously indignant at the thought of having to take an afternoon rest (even though he desperately needed it). I convinced him he could play video games on an imaginary screen in his head. Since then, it's all been good.
• Gabe's teacher said this week has been a great week...both with behavior and completing work. Thank goodness he learned.
• Gabe and Rys's youngest daughter have been as thick as thieves. On Monday, after coming in from outside, Gabe brushed T's hair back off, stood on his tippy toes, and kissed her cheek.
• A few hours later, T informed me that she thought she and Gabe might get married someday.
• I just got to have my very own DamnYouAutoCorrect moments. I'm using Rys's iPad and auto correct just tried to change the URL of my blog from http://thefertileinfertile.blogspot.com/ to http://the ergo do fertile.bloodspot.com.
• Beyonce (the celebrity, not the big metal chicken) - with all the rumors of pregnancy for her over the years, does anyone else wonder if she had trouble getting pregnant?

Head on over to Danifred's and check out the rest of the leftovers. Y'all have anything you wantt o share with us?

Friday Night Leftovers: The BlogHer With Beanis + More Edition

Welcome to Friday Night Leftovers hosted by the fabulous Danifred of Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks...

• When my dad stopped by today to drop off the dogs, he asked if I would give him Prozac before he read my blog the next time. I cracked up and said "I guess you read BlogHer with Beanis." My dad was just shaking his head.
• He then looked at Marty and said "I don't know what went wrong with her generation. Maybe it's genetic? Maybe it's environmental?...but, something went wrong." I was laughing my ass off.
• It was amazing how quickly he revised his opinion when I told him I had multiple people wanting to buy Beanises from me. Bwahahahahaha...the power of the almighty dollar.
• Marty had his second official  ROTC event...helping at the first Cary Imps football game. He looks so handsome in his uniform.
• Holy Shit...only 5 days and a wake up until school starts. All three boys will be in school this year. I'm so excited.
• Holy shit...only 5 days and a wake up until school starts. *sniff*sniff* My baby is going to school. Can't he be a baby just a little bit longer?
• Marty has decided we need to make risotto...damn those cooking shows. Guess I have to teach myself how to make something else.

Head on over to Danifred's for more leftovers

Friday Night Leftovers: a second mashless edition

Welcome to Friday Night Leftovers hosted by the fabulous Danifred of Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks...

• The other night Joey was reading to Gabe. He was reading Skippyjon Jones, Lost In Spice. There is a line in the book that says Skippyjon Jones is nuts about Mars. Well, thanks to the slang Gabe has learned from his older brothers, Gabe changed that line and said "Skippyjon Jones is balls about Mars."
• I was watching the news and a report made me wonder where they get some of the bond numbers they give to people. I mean why issue someone a bond of $270,000. Why not $250,000 or $300,000?
• Gabe struck again. He and Joey were talking  the other night and Gabe asked Joey if a T. Rex was a real animal. Joey told him it was and T was short for Tyrannosaurus. Gabe looked at Joey and said "So, T.Rex stands for Tyrannosaurus Sex?" Joey died laughing and Gabe had no clue what his brother thought was so funny.
• My 10 yr old Joey painted this in art class towards the end of the last school year.

• I think Gabe has created 80 million pictures of vampires, Pacman and Ms. Pacman, and the Pacman ghosts over the past week or so. I really think I could wallpaper our bathroom with them,
• Saw the cutest personalized plate on a chocolate brown van...CHCLTLVR

Head on over to Danifred's for more leftovers and stop in to congratulate her.

Friday Night Leftovers: the non-mashup edition

Sadly, this week you are deprived of the brilliance of a mashup post. I have nothing to mash the leftovers into because there is no Photo Friday...and blog summer camp doesn't mash together well with Friday Night Leftovers from the brilliant Danifred.

• I wasted 40 minutes laughing hysterically over damnyouautocorrect.com ...40 inutes that I could have been blogging or writing or editing or whatever.
• It's all Kim's fault...Kim and that damned Steve Wozniak...oh yeah, and the founders of Twitter because a tweet made me go there.
• I wouldn't trade those 40 minutes for anything because I spent those 40 minutes laughing uproariously with my 14 yr old. It was priceless.
• I spent the week teaching leading vacation bible school kidlets from event to event. It's amazing how tired such a simple activity can leave you.
• Or, maybe I'm really tired because I stayed up way to freaking late most of the week.
• My son says I'm not allowed to appear within 5 miles of him if I am wearing either this shirt or this shirt.
• He says he won't even let me where this one around him.
• It just makes me want to buy one even more.
• By the way, if that third tee shirt doesn't make sense, go read this post by The Bloggess. Seriously, go read it. It is one of the funniest things I have ever read...even on the 30 millionth reading.
• BTW, when I was threatening to buy and wear a Beyonce the Chicken t-shirt, Marty pushed the button on Joey's clone trooper helmet and it said "Get ready to turn those clankers into scrap metal." 
• If you don't understand why that's funny, you obviously didn't follow my instructions to GO READ THIS POST.
• Marty cooked dinner last night. He made Mexican Chili Chicken. It was awesome.
• I'm sensing a chicken theme here. Does it mean something?
• I guess technically it was two nights ago since it is technically Saturday.
• Marty said it isn't morning until you get to 8 am. I was going to say it wasn't morning until you wake up...but what if you don't wake up until 12 pm or later? That would be a serious time paradox.
• I think I am a little punchy...slap happy...or as Gabe would put it ridicleeeous. Lack of sleep and multiple nausea inducing migraines (fucking summer thunderstorms) in one week destroy my tenuous facade of a productive and sane person.
• Shhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone.

Photo Friday Night Leftovers

The mashup tradition continues here at the Lair...once again brought to you via Calliope's Photo Friday and Danifred's Friday Night Leftovers...

• Photo Friday's theme this week is vibrance. The first thing I thought of when I heard the theme were the vibrant colors of summer flowers...but, I was a slacker this week and all of a sudden it was Friday and I didn't have any new flower pictures. So, I looked through the pictures I've taken recently and this picture said vibrance...the beautiful colors...the striking design...I love it. 

• I have a high school student now. Marty has officially registered for high school and I'm wondering how in the hell more than 14 yrs have passed since I brought that baby home.
• I think Calliope stole my mashup idea. Check it out. The link to her Photo Friday also takes you to her Summer Camp post.
• I think I need to bathe my dogs in Nair hair remover. I vacuum the floor and, less than 2 hours after I'm done, there is more dog hair on the floor.
• Did I tell you I have a cat on allergy medicine? Twice a day I have to give Joey's kitty, Butterball, an allergy pill. It's not much fun but it works. He's no longer sneezing and slinging snot everywhere.
• The funny thing is the cat takes the exact same allergy pill as I do. Yes, I share meds with the cat. The medicine of choice for nasal allergies in cats is the same medicine I've taken for my allergies since I was 6 yrs old.
• I'm watching Joey at Tae Kwon Do sparring class right now. Two of the adults have already injured themselves. I'm glad kids are more elastic and bounceable.
• Late last week I hat 10 boys in my house at once...and my house and I both survived. The testosterone overload was almost unbearable though.

What kind of stuff is going on with you?

Photo Friday Night Leftovers

Yeah, it's mashup time in the Lair brought to you via Calliope's Photo Friday and Danifred's Friday Night Leftovers ...

• The photo Friday theme is drink, specifically your favorite drink. I forgot to take a picture of my coffee so I got a picture of my iced tea instead.

• In the course of 5 days, I have had 2 days that included 5 1/2 hours of driving. I am tired.
• Don't let me forget to tell you about the Kure Beach Camp toilet wars. It's a funny story Marty came home from camp with.
• This picture screams summer to me...

• Gabe is going into kindergarten next fall. He already knows basic addition, a little subtraction, is reading a bit but will be a fluent reader by summer's end, can count in English and Spanish, knows all the basic shapes plus a few more like octagons and pentagons, and has grasped that making things small in pictures makes them far away (basic perspective ideas). I am beginning to worry he is going to be very bored.
• I absolutely love the cross at Kure Memorial Lutheran Church. It is actually made of red stained glass but, when I took the picture, the red only showed up around the edges.

• Gabe woke up me up when he started crying loudly at 5:30 am. He was so tired that he knew he had to go to the bathroom but wasn't waking up all the way. Mess was averted and he made it to the bathroom but, sadly this woke him up most of the way. It took over an hour to get him back to sleep and that has exacerbated my exhaustion (I love alliteration).
• My mom's Rose of Sharon bush/tree has really exploded with blooms this year. They are simply gorgeous.

• Points I've earned through e-Rewards this year have bought me two $25 gift cards to Game Stop, a subscription to PC World, a subscription to Reader's Digest, and,before the year is up, another Game Stop gift card.
• I can't wait to do the pottery class with Joey but the start date has been delayed because they are still putting the finishing touches on the new Cary Arts Center.

What's going on in your life?

Photo Friday Night Leftovers

Once again, it's a mashup. I wanted to do Calliope's Photo Friday and Danifred's Friday Night Leftovers and so I'm doing them both at once again This seems to be becoming a habit.

• The Photo Friday theme is Sun and nothing says sun more than bright summer days...

Gabe at Kids Together Playground

I love how the bright sun sort of washes out the features.

• Remember when Gabe told me I wasn't his mother anymore? Well, he's expanded his repertoire. Today, I had a houseful of boys. Counting my boys, there were 7 boys between the ages of 5 and 14. Gabe was pinging off the wall and he was so loud it was difficult for the older boys to watch their movie. After multiple requests and then warnings, I made him come in to the living room with me. He was pissed. First, he informed me I wasn't his mother anymore. I laughed and told him he was stuck with me. Then he told me he wasn't my son anymore and again I laughed at him and said "Sorry dude, it doesn't work that way either. You're stuck with me. The he said "Fine, then I'm not living with you anymore." I think he was kind of pissed when I told him he could move into the dog house out back. We went through all the options but this time, every time I said he was stuck with me, he shrieked at me "Stop saying that." When we finally hit the "Fine, then I'm not living with you anymore" stage, I added to my response and told him he could live in the dog house, drink their dirty water, and eat mud. This really pissed him off. When he started crying, I cuddled him and asked him if it was sometimes hard to be the little one. He, of course, said yes and, after a little cuddling, he calmed down. I learned the hard way a long time ago that I had to go this route with him if I were to ever get him to admit to the real issue.
• The loose tension pulley (suppose to keep the belts in my van's engine tight) in my van finally caused my air conditioning belt to snap. We are right in the middle of a pay cycle. Luckily, our fabulous mechanics were willing to take the Manatee in, fix her, and wait until next Friday to get paid. They ROCK and the Manatee will be home and 100% fixed tomorrow am.
• Marty and Gabe just spent the past 10 minutes madly chasing and tickling each other around the center of our house. I love seeing my boys play together.

What's going on in your life?

Photo Friday Night Leftovers

Yes y'all, it's a mashup. I wanted to do Calliope's Photo Friday and Danifred's Friday Night Leftovers and I'm running behind so I'm doing them both at once.

• We pass this sign every time Joey goes to Tae Kwon Do. I love it.
  
  
• Why do ice cream trucks(which by the way are no where to be found in cold weather) play Christmas carols? Yes, Christmas carols...Deck the Halls, Frosty, and others
• I just spent the whole day working out our summer schedule...lots and lots or summer camps. Wow does it ever get busy when you have 3 kids involved in activities.
• I'm beginning to think that my dogs need a bath in Nair. I am already sick of the clumps of hair I am finding everywhere. I think that if I collected the hair all season long, I could build another dog.
• Today's Photo Friday theme is chair. These chairs are at the front of the original church home of the oldest African American congregation in NC. This Moravian congregation still worships together today and occasionally even worship in this building.
  

Friday Night Leftovers

 

• I finally got my veggie plants into the dirt. I planted 3 squash plant, 3 zucchinis, 3 peppers (don't know what kind of peppers though), either 1 beefsteak and 2 heirloom or 2 beefsteak and 1 heirloom tomatoes, and a jellybean tomato. I actually already have a bloom on one of the squash.
• Speaking of veggies, I had a lettuce plant that made it through the winter and grew again this spring. Very odd.
• I resurrected my crackberry. About a week ago, the track ball fell out. I found a new track ball and a protective case for under $8.
• Today, I took the children's art gallery off the wall and hung new stuff up. Gabe has some really cute stuff he made in preschool this year and Joey has a few amazing pieces of artwork. Joey brought home this amazing still life done in sort of a modern art style. I would show you a picture but I have to find the cord to attach my crackberry to the computer. After I finished the art gallery switch, I asked Gabe if he liked having all his stuff up on the wall. My sweet boy hugged me and said "Mommy, you make me happy."
• I was truly possessed earlier this week. I commented on each and every blog on the May ICLW list...all 140 blogs.
• I'm running a giveaway for a $55 EdenFantasys gift card. Don't miss out on a chance to win.
• I finally got my husband writing on his blog again. Stop by and welcome him back please.

What's been going on with you guys?

Friday Night Leftovers

After seeing all the fun people were having with Friday Night Leftovers (hosted by the lovely Danifred of Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks), I decided I had to join in.

I got the recipe for Thai Chicken Burgers from the lovely TravelDiva. Click on the link and it will take you to her post with the recipe.

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I HATE with a mad passion websites with music embedded in them. It's a little tolerable if there is a playlist that a reader can turn off but the websites that play the music endlessly with no way to turn it off...they get banned from my bookmarks. Does anyone else feel this way?

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Le sigh...Gabe really is growing up. I registered him for kindergarten and he actually walked one of the dogs (as in held the leash all by himself) when we went for a walk the other day. I was so sure I'd have another little one by now and, as time passes, that becomes less and less likely. I guess I'll just savor the moments with Gabe.

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There are wildfires near the NC coast right now. They are putting off enough smoke that it is affecting the air quality here in the Triangle.When Vic was at work the other day, this lady actually called 911 to find out what was causing the smoke in the air around here...not report a fire, not report the presence of heavy smoke, no, to ASK why there was smoke in the air. When Vic told her it was from the wildfires, she got uptight and a bit indignant and said "Well, is it safe for adults and babies to breather?" Stupid twit...nothing can be done about it. We can't install a ginormous fan to blow the smoke back to the coast. If you are worried about it, turn on your air conditioning and STAY INSIDE. Don't bug the 911 dispatchers about it.

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Found a great goulash recipe but I couldn't bring myself to make it in the microwave like it called recommended. I doubled the recipe and the only changes I made were leaving out the caraway seeds, substituting Rotel (diced tomatoes with peppers) instead of the plain diced tomatoes, and added one tsp of basil.

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We were watching Bones this week and the show ended with them singing You put the lime in the coconut. Afterwards, Vic started singing it and said..."You put the lime in the coconut and then it turns British." I gave him my best What the fuck look and he said "well, that makes it Limey." UGH...sadly, Marty thought it was hysterical.