Tuesday Strikes Again

Tuesday, we meet again.  Something keeps you coming back.  Is it my wit and amusing conversation?  No?  Oh, it's just part of the routine.  How boring.
In other news it's time to be random.

• How come cats are nauseated by new or clean carpets?  And how exactly can they aim it to be right where a bare foot will land in it?
• Anyone have a good idea about how to teach a little boy how to poop on the potty?  Bruiser has issues with the whole going poop all at once.  Things have been unpleasant around here.  For everyone involved.
• We are sort of looking forward to the Superbowl this year.  We are spending it with our cousins and planning on munching our way through several different appetizer selections.  I watch mainly for the commercials.  
• Oh has anyone see the Matthew Broderick Honda commercial on line?  The one that spoofs on Ferris Beuller's Day Off?  I saw it yesterday and I though it was sort of cute, silly, but cute.

• Sleep has become elusive again.  Melatonin helps, but insomnia wins more often than I like it to.
• Valentine's Day is two weeks away.  Not that we will be doing anything exciting.  Nick Shoots Archery Club Tuesday nights.  And really who wants to try and find a sitter on a Tuesday?  Maybe we will go to lunch.  Romantic, I know.  We are living the dream.
• I scaled Mount Laundry this weekend.  It's just a mole hill now.

That about covers my random for this week.  Go join up with Stacy for more random.

And go join up with Shawn and Impulsive for Talk To Us Tuesday.

Happy List

What's making me happy this week?

1. Seeing Bruiser so happy with his low key birthday.
2. Seeing Turbo, my anti-reading boy, choosing his first chapter book, and liking it.
3. A good night's sleep, however elusive.
4. Greek yogurt.
5. Going swimming.
6. Reading good books.
7. Free Amazon Kindle books.
8. Salads for lunch.
9. Getting together with good friends--who happen to be family.
10. Dreaming about the fun of the coming summer.

What's making you happy this week?

Join up with Mamarazzi and tell us all about it.

Birthday Weekend

We had a fun and busy weekend.  There was swimming, friends, family and a little boy celebrated bring 6 3.
To start Turbo had a friend over for a play date after school on Friday.  This was the first time we had had this particular friend over.  The afternoon was a smashing success.
Saturday morning, after getting all the grocery shopping done, we packed the boys up and went to the rec center for some swimming.  A good time was had by all of us, even if Turbo got a small case of "I can't hear you" when it was time to go.
Saturday evening the guys had a pajama party in front of the TV and watched movies.  They had a blast, mostly. Nick didn't sleep all that well as Bruiser kept landing on him when he fell off the couch.  Getting a toddler butt on the head does not a restful night's sleep make.
Sunday morning when Bruiser got up we asked him how old he was.  He promptly told us he was 6.  We had to correct him and we think he has it.  He's three.  We took Bruiser to Burger King--they have an indoor play place--to meet up with the grandparents for lunch and do a bit of birthday stuff.

Some of the loot Bruiser got.

His first successful run down the slide.

He had a blast.  So did Turbo.
For the afternoon, Bruiser napped and then we headed over to our cousins' house and let the kids have fun.

Bruiser got to blow out candles--on a cupcake.  He got some monster trucks and a couple hot wheels cars.

Bruiser really liked the frosting.
It was an eventful weekend for the little guy.  For all of us really.  I know I'm not ready to face the week.
So how was your weekend?

I Confess

Time to confess:

• Mount laundry is growing again.  
• It's all I can go to keep the dish monster tamed.  
• The love affair is over.  
• There is nothing they can do to regain the magic. 
• I'd totally break up with them, but I know I don't want to see what they could do if left alone.
• I need a nap.
• I think that naptime should be a part of the day.
• For that alone I'd head back to kindergarten.
• It's Friday!
• It's Bruiser's Birthday on Sunday.  
• We are not doing much this year.
• Lunch with the Grands at the play place at Burger King.
• Then over to visit the cousins.  
• We really don't know anyone who has kids Bruiser's age.
• He will get his first big birthday once he is in school.
• For now, he will just be happy to see his cousins.
• We have never really done the party thing all that well.
• Organizing a big party just never really works out.
• I'm good to get a cake, presents and people in the same place.
• No big blow out extravaganzas here.

So what do you have to confess?  Go join Mamarazzi and confess away.  I've heard it makes the weekend better.  It always works for me.  Confess it up, go on it's easy.

Spin Cycle--Working Perfect

This weeks's spin cycle is the perfect job--the one you want, the one you have, or how ever you want to go with it.  Sigh, I had the perfect job for me and my family.  Then the economy crashed and I lost it.
But let me tell you about it.
It all started when Nick decided to go back to school so he could work smarter, not harder.  He had been in construction for about 7 years, 3 years full time.  It was a lot of out of town work and too much wear and tear on his body.  So in 1999 he decided that he would go back to college, this time for a degree that he could actually get a job in.  He chose Geology.  He graduated with his degree in 2002.
Shortly after that I got pregnant with Turbo.  I quit working at a chiropractor's office about 10 days before I had Turbo. Then after I had been home with him for a while the question came up about what I would do now.  Going back to work at a retail job held no appeal, and working in another doctor's office held even less appeal.  So what was I to do?  Well I liked the geology that Nick was telling me about from what he had learned.  Maybe I could do that.  So I looked into the student loans and headed back to school.
When I graduated, one of my professors came up to me at the reception and asked if I was interested in part time work from home as a consultant for a uranium exploration company.  I jumped at the chance and was able to work for them, from home for about a year and a half.  The work was interesting and allowed me to do research and field work.  And I was able to be available for Turbo.  Sadly the position did not last.
Now I work for the university in our town.  It is work as a geologist.  It might not be my ideal, but it is flexible and I enjoy the fact that it is not the same day and day out.
So what is your ideal job?  Do you have it, or do you know what it is?  Or does it even exist?  Spin it up and join in on the fun with Gretchen at Second Blooming.

WWTK--Favorite stuff

We Want To Know time again.  Mamarazzi is asking this week:
1)  What is your favorite room in your house and why? (bonus points for pictures)  I have to say our master bedroom.  It is calm, cool, quiet (it's in the basement) and with the attached bathroom, just about the perfect master suite.  (Sorry no pictures, it's not exactly showcase ready, the laundry mountain is growing.)
2)  What is your favorite time of day and why?  It's a toss up.  I like the going home form work time--especially on Friday, but the time after both boys are in bed is pretty good too.  I like the going home from work time because I get to see my little boys again.  I like the after bed time because I don't have to be on duty to police squabbles and such.
3)  What is your favorite genre of music (or band/singer) and why?  Right now I like country music, but I still like the 80s rock and roll I grew up with.  The country I like today reminds me of the rock I listened to in high school.  It's fun and I really identify with it.
4)What is your favorite go to snack?  Is it something you keep on hand?  I have sunflower seeds to nibble on.  Yes they are salty, but they are better for me than munching chips and such while I read.  I try to keep them on hand, especially if I'm reading a lot.
5)What is your favorite form of exercise or way to keep moving?  I like dancing and swimming.  I also like to walk.  Finding time, motivation and opportunity all at the same time is somewhat more challenging.

So answer the questions and join up with Mamarazzi, Crazymama and Queso.

Random musings

Random time again.  Comes around every week, but somehow it always surprises me.  So here goes the random.

• I like to cook, most days.  The guys like to eat.  Most days.  Except Bruiser, the original picky child.  Honestly the boy has been picky since he first tasted solid food and decided that nope, he didn't really want to eat that.  As far as food is concerned he eats what a typical toddler eats:  Chicken sticks, fish   sticks, corn dogs, cheese, goldfish, chips, cookies, the occasional biscuit or roll, and bits of meat from my plate.  On occasion he will eat peeled and sliced apples and raisins.  He won't touch milk (except on cereal), doesn't really like apple juice.  And he won't even taste most foods I cook.  I spend a lot of time coaxing him to eat dinner and telling him that there are no other options.  It usually doesn't work.  Amazingly the boy continues to grow.  It's a wonder that he does.
• The Allstate commercials with the Mayhem Guy are just a bit creepy.  OK, a lot creepy.  
• Nick's adventures in beer making are going well.  We should be bottling his third batch tomorrow.  It kind of fun and as soon as he gets the method down we can start experimenting a bit.
• Jackie Chan movies are getting a lot of air time around here.  Turbo just discovered them.
• What is it with all the 80s remakes?  Is it just that there are no new ideas out there? 
• Bruiser is sick today, so I get an unexpected day home.  Poor kid has thrown out (Yeah, Jen that caught on here too) three times.  He is doing a fabulous imitation of a lump on the couch.  A prime indicator that he does not feel good.
• Next weekend is Bruiser's birthday.  He turns three.  Where has the time gone?

Well that covers my Random ramblings for today.  Go see Stacy of Stacy Uncorked for more Random.

And don't forget the link up with no rules Talk To Us Tuesday over with Shawn and Impulsive Addict.

Happy List--Thinking Happy thoughts

So what's making me happy this week?  Well let's see:

1. Trips out of ton and having fun with my family.
2. Snow, which we have been getting a bit if.
3. Turbo wanting to spend time with us--he suggested a movie night on Friday nights.
4. Bruiser wanting to hear a story before he goes to bed.
5. Nick getting to go archery shooting again.
6. Girls Night Out, tomorrow night.
7. Having the main part of dinner in the crock pot and knowing the rest is easy.
8. Turbo enjoying his swimming lessons makes me happy.
9. When Bruiser uses the potty on his own (this does not happen with any regularity but it does happen).
10. A warm cup of tea in the morning makes me happy.

So there you have it.  What's making you happy?

Go see Mamarazzi for more Happy!

Fun and Interesting...

...at least to us.  The weekend I mean.  We had some great family moments.  Some lazy moments.  Some frustrating moments.  Some relaxing moments.
We started out with a quiet Friday night.  We watched movies at home and Turbo played some video games.  We were worn out after what was a surprisingly long week.
Saturday morning we loaded everyone up and headed down to Ft. Collins (about an hour away) to do a bit of shopping.  We started out with a surprise trip to the ultimate kid store, Toys R Us.  Both boys got to choose an item to take home and then we went to a brewing store for Nick.  He got a brewing set up (I think I may have created a monster with that first brewing kit I got him, but he loves making beer).  While he was shopping I took the boys for a walk in Old Town and let them play.

We went to lunch and then headed home.
The evening was fun, as Nick had to start up another batch of beer in the new kit he got
(like any kid with a new toy).  He had a friend over and they had fun getting everything set up.
I did something a bit out of character for me Saturday night.  I colored my hair.  It is currently a dark red.  See:

Yeah, a bit of a change up.  It's not permanent, it will wash out, but I'm still tossed as to whether I like it.  Nick likes it, though.
And then Sunday happened.  I didn't really do much of anything.  Oh, I did dishes, more than once.  For a day of not doing much, I did a lot of dishes.  I did make an awesome glazed ham though.  It's one I could do again.  An orange glaze.  It was oh so very good.
The frustrating part of the weekend was the potty front with Bruiser.  It's a slow frustrating project with him.  Still keeping my eye on the prize, but it's not easy.
So not an overly exciting weekend, but a comfortable one.  Getting out of town was good for all of us.  Like I've said before hitting the city limits sign really does a lot for our stress levels.
How was your weekend?  Good, bad, boring, too exciting?  Let me know if it was better than our weekend, then I can be jealous and have something to strive for next weekend.

Let's Confess

Wow, Friday finally.  Time to confess so we feel all pure going into the weekend.  Or something like that.
I confess:

• This week has been so long.  
• Oh, I know I didn't have to work Monday.
• But it still seems that the week went on a day or two too long.
• I am really looking forward to heading to Ft. Collins tomorrow.
• A little bit of shopping (for beer stuff for Nick, maybe hit the toy store for the boys, and for me--just getting the heck out of Dodge) is in order.
• I have been reading a whole lot more since I got my Kindle.
• The free selections are fun to peruse.
• The wake up call I got from Nick yesterday set the tone for the whole day.
• Thanks Nick.
• I am still the finder around our house.
• Guys can lose anything--at any age.
• Who always seems to know where things are, or can find them by actually looking?
• You guessed it, me.
• Oh, hey check out my side bar.
• Over to the right.
• Down a bit.  
• There.
• See that nomination for Fascinating Blogger?
• I was totally shocked to get nominated.
• Please go vote for me.
• I would like to get a vote or two at least.
• Now that the shameless plug is over...
• Thank God it's Friday!!!!

GO see Mamarazzi, she has other confessions to check out--make yourself feel good for the weekend and confess along with us.