Novvember Thanks--The First

It's November and the month when we get all thankful for the things and people in our lives.  I think Wednesdays this month are a good day to get my thank on.  Or at least make a nod in that direction if I'm Hodgepodgeing. But today, no hodgepodge so thanks instead.

I'm going to get the big ones out of the way.  I very thankful for my family.  Nick is a fantastic partner, father and the love of my life.  I love how he encourages me to be better, reminds me when I'm slacking, and takes care of me. His enthusiasm is contagious and it does help motivate me. I am truly thankful to have him in my life.

I am thankful for both my boys.  Turbo is growing into a lovely young man.  He can also be an exasperating tween and I have no doubt he will be an exasperating, but fun, teen. Bruiser is a delightful mix of stubborn and adorableness. He is growing so fast but it is totally fun to see how he is learning and becoming a boy rather than the preschooler he was.

I am thankful for my mother. She is a wonderful grandma and truly adores her grandsons.  We would not be where we are without her love and help with both boys.  As much as she annoys me at times, I love her and appreciate all she does for us.
Next up is the family that has become very good friends.  Nick has a cousin who Nick is technically first cousin once removed.  Which makes Nick second cousins to his kids.  I think.  Anyway those kids are roughly the same ages as our kids.  We simplify the relationship to cousins.  And we have become the best of friends.  I am so thankful to have them in our lives.
I have a couple other friends that I am so thankful to have in my life.  One I walk with and get regular time out of the house for girl time. She is the one I can talk reading with, thrift store shop with and discuss country music with.  The other one I love shopping with and we get together for the occasional girl's night. We have also gone camping as families with this friend.  We have a great time when we are together.
I am thankful for Nick's parents too.  They love their grandsons and love being involved with them. We are truly thankful to have Nick's dad with us still.  The heart attack in October was a rough episode for all of us.
So that covers the friends and family I am thankful for.  What are you thankful for?

Tuesday Random Time

And Monday is over!  Not that this Monday was all that bad, but now we get to move on to another, better day of the week. Why better you ask?  One closer to the weekend, right?
Now let's get all random:

• I loved this:

• November is shaping up to be a busy month.  The boys are in swim lessons, Turbo gets to join the junior high ski team which starts practice this month, we have a big Thanksgiving shindig, and Nick starts up archery leagues again. I do think November will fly by.
• We got like 3-4 inches of snow yesterday.  This has reminded me that I need to get Bruiser snow boots.  He has everything else, but I must get him boots.
• It's laundry weekend coming up.  

• I think I need some chocolate:

• A routine is developing.  Although when Turbo starts ski practice it just might go out the window. Or need some major adjusting.  We shall see.

So what's your random this week?
Go random it up with Stacy.

November, Wow

This last weekend was busy, but relaxing.  Halloween started it off with a bang, tons of candy and good times. 
It all started Friday morning with Bruiser's Halloween parade.  He made the cutest Batman there:

Then Friday afternoon we carved pumpkins:

Next we stuffed something resembling dinner down them and then costumes and off to trick or treating with cousins and friends:

Over all Halloween was wonderful this year.  On Saturday Nick and I took a load to the dump--finally getting rid of the two dead dishwashers and the dead water heater and various other junk that has been cluttering up the driveway. Next it was off to the mountains for a load of fire wood.  We got to have a nice late lunch/early dinner at a restaurant/lodge on our way home. 
Sunday not much was accomplished.  I grocery shopped, got dinner in the crock pot and then we rearranged the living room some and then it was lazy mode for the rest of the day.  I did get out for a drink with a friend of mine, which was nice.  A little bit of girl time.
So I think we had a great weekend.  We did get to wake up to snow this morning though:

It is really coming down out there, but probably won't stick yet.  Now on to MMMM.  Songs of the 60s and 70s.  I was born in the seventies.  Not realy a music fan then, but I do ahve a few songs that I like that i have found since growing up.

Roberta Flack with Killing Me Softly:

ANd of course what Tribute to 70s songs can go without Cher. 
Cher with Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves:

And lastly America with A Horse With No Name:

Friday 5 with Confessions

Wooooo, it's Halloween! May today be just spooky enough!

On to 5 thoughts:

1. Parenting a tween is not so easy.  They can talk back, have minds of their own and they ask questions.  So many questions, so much attitude, and he's not even 12 yet.  Turbo is going to give us a run for our money.  Why don't kids come with instruction manuals?
2. We will be pumpkin carving this afternoon, after school.  Both boys will actually be getting into the whole thing this year. We got a couple of pretty great pumpkins and they are looking forward to creating masterpieces. I think it's a fabulous activity to kill time until trick or treating time. Which will also be happening for all the kiddos, even the tweens.
3. Happy Halloween!  Can hardly believe that October is over and there is only a couple months til Christmas.  Does not seem possible that the year has flown by so fast.  I'm totally looking forward to the next couple holidays. we have some great fun planned!
4. Turbo had a project due for school today.  His teacher was proactive enough to send an email with the specs of the project to the parents.  I got him rallied and focused, but he did the work.  It turned out pretty cool. And he got it done on time!  Too cool for my little procrastinator.
5. Bruiser had a bit of a bug yesterday.  Some stomach thing with the required barfing.  Fun, fun , fun.  At least it was only a 24 hour thing.  He's right as rain and totally ready to Halloween it out today at school as Batman and then later for trick or treating as a vampire--which, let's face it is just another kind of bat man.

5 pictures:

Yes, I did dress up some for the downtown trick or treat.

And now for a confession or two or six:

•  I'm looking forward to the TABs (Tasty Adult Beverages) that we moms will get after trick or treating tonight.
• There has to be something to look forward to after shuttling 4 kiddos around the neighborhood.
• I do have to exercise great will power to not hit the candy hard.
• My hips do not need it.
• I have to come up with something to give the kids for dinner tonight. 
• You know, before they gorge on candy have a total candy overload.
• There will be no dressing up for me tonight.
• Tonight is all about the kiddos.
• But I do get a drive in the mountains tomorrow.
• We have to get firewood.
• So working trip, but it's still the mountains.

 

What do you have planned for Halloween?

Spin Cycle--Masks

This week the spin cycle is about masks, literal or figurative.  I'm not one for literal masks, but I often feel like I'm wearing a figurative mask.
There was a poster that I loved when I was in college.  It had a porcelain mask with the girl crying behind it.  It really spoke to me as I felt I was often smiling and not letting anyone see how sad and uncomfortable I really was.  I desperately wanted to fit in and be well liked, but the whole social scene baffled me most of the time.
As time went on the feelings the mask hid changed.  Sometimes it was frustration, other times is was unhappiness.  Then there were the times when the mask hid mild depression. I got good at faking it.  Sometimes I almost believed that the mask was real.
These days I don't wear the mask as often, but there are still days when I feel I'm stuck behind the smiling mask and all I want to do is cry.  But crying comes with explanations and I don't have explanations for how I feel. It's easier to just smile and move on than deal with the sadness.
I wish that there wasn't a mask to hide behind, but then I just might look crazy and emotional and no one wants to be around a crazy, emotional mess.  Therefore the mask stays firmly in place and I smile and go on as if nothing is wrong.  Until I hit a point I can't and then I take a moment to myself, cry it out and most of the time I feel better.
I guess everyone wears a mask at one time or another.  Everyone feel insecure and finds it easier to hide behind a mask than let everything show. Smiling and moving forward is just what people do.
What mask do you hide behind?

Wed. Hodgepodge--The Birds

And the questions:

1. My hubs spent last weekend pheasant hunting. Are there hunters in your family? If so, what do they hunt? Which of the following have you tasted-pheasant, rabbit, venison, duck, goose? Which of those would you most like to taste, or be most willing to taste? Nick is an avid hunter and we eat what he hunts. Actually I love the taste of venison, elk and even antelope when properly prepared. He's not much of a bird hunter, but that's more lack of opportunity than lack of enthusiasm. We have had ruffed grouse and blue grouse and we really liked them.

Vegetarians keep calm and Hodgepodge on.

2. What high spot have you visited that gave you a wonderful 'bird's eye view' of something below? We live near mountains. It's very easy to get a bird's eye view of the surrounding country around here.

In Rocky Mountain National Park.

At the Grand Canyon.

About 15 miles from home.

About 40 miles from home.

About 30 miles from home.

3. Do you have any birds in your home? These could be either real live pets or decorative, as in bird prints, knickknacks, fabric or pottery. We aren't much for the birds around our house.  I like cats and Nick likes dogs, so not really any birds in the house.  But, we have a pair of swainsons hawks that nest in the cottonwood tree by our driveway and have for the last three years at least.

4. Tell about a time you 'killed two birds with one stone'? Well, I will be trying to do this on Thursday.  The boys have swimming lessons adn I'm hoping to get some exercise at the rec center while they are in lessons. I mean, we are there, it would be silly not to take advantage of the time.

5. Your favorite song with a bird in it's title? Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might Be Giants:

6. What most recently gave you goose bumps?  I got cold and got goose bumps.  Happens all the time.  Cold and I don't necessarily get along.

7. Halloween is this Friday...any plans? Did you trick or treat as a child? Carve pumpkins? Share your most memorable costume. I did get to trick or treat as a kid.  It was fun. We weren't much for carving pumpkins, especially when I got into high school, but I did start carving pumpkins again when I met Nick.  Carving pumpkins has been a Halloween tradition.  Even when we didn't actually have time to carve the pumpkin, we still put one out with a drawn on face.

I was about 20 and dressed up as a country bumpkin.

We do have plans for Halloween.  We will head to our cousins house and take the kids trick or treating.  Pumpkins will be carved, costumes will be donned and the kids will have a blast.  The adults will have fun too, I'm sure.

8. Insert your own random thought here. How can it be almost the end of October?  Where has the time gone?  Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it.  I wish there was a slow down button, but I haven't found one yet.

Random In Here

And we arrive at Tuesday. A little bit better than Monday, cause we are closer to the weekend now. Let's get on with the random:

• Our temperatures have hit much closer to normal temps this week, so far.  Last night was actually cold. Like in the 20s cold. Feels kind of nice.
• Feeling more motivated this week.  Maybe because we have things to do this week.  The boys have swimming lessons and then, of course, we have all the Halloween doings on Friday.  Pumpkins to carve, trick or treating and hanging out with friends.  
• Next week archery leagues start up again.  Nick and Turbo will be going.  They are both looking forward to it.
• This last weekend felt like this:

• I am on week three of walking with a friend of mine.  We only make it out twice a week due to scheduling issues--both of us are busy.  But I get to add time ar the rec center while the boys are in swim lessons for the next month, so getting active--Yay!
• I like this quote from Mark Twain:

•  Turbo has brokered a deal with Nick about video game time during the week in return for doing chores. He gets time instead of money.  Just goes to show that he's not a teen yet.  This is motivation for good grades and non complaining work.  He has dog poop duty, dishes, watering plants, keeping his room clean, and then time as determined by us for good grades on homework and quizzes and tests.  This is a way around my rule of no video games during the week.  Weekends are free video game time. I'll take it for the motivation it give Turbo. The flip side is bad grades will subtract from his time.  So he has good motivation.
• This is why I don't like jumping in leaf piles:

Go random it up with Stacy.

 

Good Weekend and MMMM

We had a busy, but good weekend.  No disasters, no big issues.  Sadly Nick was unable to find the wily wapiti (elk).  Our freezer will remain more or less empty until next year when he can try again. The weather was just too warm this year.  We have yet to have a really good snow storm.  I'm really looking forward to the first one that sticks.  It knocks down all the allergens floating around and I can breathe easy again.
Anyway, the boy had a balst with the downtown trick or treat.  Turbo even dressed up and really appreciates the candy he scored.  I though they looked pretty cute.

My guys

The 1930s detective

Dracula!

We will get to do it all again on Friday.  I'm still trying to convince Bruiser to wear his batman costume to school because it would just be easier. I may be unsuccessful in this effort.
Bruiser also had a birthday party at the Gymnastics School again.  He loved it.  The poor birthday boy had to get stitches before coming as the wind caught the car door and it hit his eyebrow. The gymnastics school was less fun for him as he couldn't do some of the really fun stuff, but I think he still managed to have fun. I know Bruiser had fun.  He was actually ready to go to bed early Sunday night.
I also got most of the general weekend chores done.  Still need to vacuum, but laundry is done and I actually cooked soup yesterday.  Well I let the crock pot cook it, but still.
And with Halloween creeping up on us and our attempts at getting Halloween movies watched, or kid friendly Halloween movies, the music this week will be Halloween inspireed, even if it is a freebie week.
So MMMM picks for this week:
Ray Parker, Jr. Ghostbusters:

THe song from The Prisoner of Azkaban, Double Double, Toil and Trouble:

And from Beetlejuice: Jump In the Line:

Have a happy Halloween!

Friday 5--Moving Forward

So, yeah I sort of missed this last week.  Ww had a water heater failure that necessitated some pretty major changes in our basement.  Also tons of clean up.  It finally doesn't smell musty or damp in our basement.  Not that there isn't still areas that need cleaning, but most everything is dry now.  Let's get on to the fun stuff from the last week.

5 Thoughts:

1. I walked twice this week around the park near our house.  And tried to get a walk in during my day and succeeded in that a couple other days this week.  Adding bits and bobs of activity are the best way for me to incorporate exercise.  I'm just not committed.
2. The boys start swim lessons next week.  This gives me twice a week 20-25 minutes of time at the rec center.  I can exercise there on an elliptical or maybe even swim. Depends on how motivated I am.  Nick might even join us for the exercise time.
3. We have been totally enjoying Face Off on SYFY network.  It's a makeup artist contest show.  I like it because the artists are supportive of each other, not all back bitey and mean to each other, like you get on some competition shows. The final show is this next week and we are looking forward to it.
4. Turbo has been doing better in school.  He's actually working at it and not just phoning it in.  Amazing what putting a bit more effort in to it will do, isn't it?
5. We have a nice busy weekend coming up.  The downtown does a trick or treat and we always go.  Bruiser has a birthday party on Sunday and Nick is going hunting--May he bring home the big one this weekend--please oh please!

5 Pictures:

My monkey, trying out for American Ninja!

Sunrise.

Halloween Cookies.  Must make more.

Bruiser's Halloween pumpkin chain.

Turbo and fedora.

 

Spin Cycle--At the...

At the grocery store, at the park, at the house, and at work.  That about encompasses my day any more. 

My day starts at 5:50am.  I sometimes sneak an extra five minutes, but not too often.  I hit the shower and then get dressed and head up stairs.  If I'm lucky, I get about 15-20 minutes to myself to check email, Facebook and such.  Then it's time to get kiddos up and moving for school.
Turbo is much easier to get up.  He's more like me in that once time to get up comes he just gets up.  He may move kind of slowly, but he moves.  Bruiser, on the other hand, is more like Nick and really likes to fall back to sleep if given the opportunity.  That kid will love the concept of the snooze button once he's old enough to have an alarm clock.
I guide kids through eating breakfast and getting Turbo out the door to his bus.  I also get Nick up and moving, but since he takes Brusier to school a bit later, he gets to sleep a bit longer in the morning. 
I head out the door to go to work about 7:15-7:20.  Mostly to be able to find parking.  Parking at our university is abysmal. Also, if I go in at 7:30, I can head home at 3:30.  I work through lunch and then can be home with the boys pretty soon after school.  It's really nice that they let me have a flexible schedule like that.

After work, it's guiding the boys through any homework they may have.  Turbo is getting better at it, but still likes me to be involved, for questions if nothing else.  He has been doing his reading homework on his own (which I will admit has me so very happy).

After that I get maybe a half hour to sit and do nothing before getting dinner ready.  That's when the I Don't Want to Cook bug doesn't hit me.  Which lately has been hitting far to often. We then eat around 5:30-6 and then zone in front of the TV, if we don't have some project around the house we are doing.

That is a typical weekday, but next week we are throwing in swim lessons two days a week. This will force me to come up with crock pot meals and actually get them in the crock pot in the morning so we have dinner when we get home from lessons.  This will prevent the stop for fast food, which we really don't need.
And a couple nights a week, when we can get together, I have been walking around the park with a friend.  The park is a half mile around so we put in about a mile and a half.  I should do more, but fitting it into the schedule is tough.  I will be working out some while the boys are in swim lessons.  Since I'm there and I have about 20 minutes, I should do something.
My life seems pretty mundane, but then there are those moments of excitement--last week and the water heater fail was one such moment.  We also do things to mix up the mundane on the weekends.  Last weekend there was a homecoming parade to attend with the boys, this week is the Downtown Scaramie Trick or Treat. I like to mix it up, but I can do without the surprises--a la appliance failure.
So how does your day go--lots of fun and surpeises or more on the mundane side.  SPin it up and link up!