The Easter Bunny

We enjoyed Easter at our house this year.  We even had a visit from the Easter Bunny!

                                     

Happy Easter!

Little Tikes

I’ve been wanting to get an indoor slide for the kids to play on for a while.  I’ve been checking Craigslist and keeping my eyes open, but haven’t been able to find much.  Last week, after I dropped the girls off at school, I turned down a side street that I only sometimes take.  I noticed a slide in the front yard of a house that looked like it was going through a deep clean.  I stopped and drove by again trying to determine if it was for sale or if it was party of the décor.  Deciding it was too early to knock on the door, I went home, planning on checking again later.  I picked my sister in law up from the airport and unfortunately Coop and Cass fell asleep in the car.  Knowing that naps were totally screwed up, I decided to go check on my slide after I dropped Debbie off.  This time a man was outside.  I rolled down my window and asked him if it was for sale.  He said it was and that it was only $10.  I said, “I’ll take it!”  He brought it too the car for me as I was getting the money.  I normally never have money but for some reason I thought I had ten dollars.  Nope.  Only $5.  So I told him and he said that he trusted me to bring him the rest and that I could take the slide with me anyway.  I took the slide home grabbed the money and took it back to him.  I wanted to prove my honesty and allow him to maintain his trust in people.  And it was a great deal at $10!

It was an instant hit! Literally!

 

We had to go through the rules many times.

#1 - No pushing

                               

#2 Climb up the stairs- not the slide.

#3- Wait for the slide to be clear

Oh well!  They’ll figure it out eventually.  Right now, they are having so much fun doing it their way!

I’m “Flipping Out!”

A couple of years ago, I stumbled onto a home improvement show that was nothing like any thing I had ever seen before.  This show was about a man in the real estate game in California.  In many cases, he was the investor, designer, and contractor all rolled into one.  He had amazing design skills and great real estate sense.  It was fascinating to see the before and after's- I was hooked.  And then the rest of the story started to unfold.  And much like witnessing a  horrific car crash- I couldn’t look away.  He had a small staff and the office was in his home.  He was a single man with a live-in housekeeper.  He also employed a ‘house assistant’.   He had an office assistant and a design associate.  And he treated all of them terribly.  He was completely ‘politically incorrect’ towards his housekeeper named Zoila, who I believe is from Mexico.  He insisted on insane rules for bathroom breaks and the way water bottles were lined up.  His house was to be immaculate at all times, no matter what the multiple dogs and cats were into that day.  And yet somehow, through all the berating, obsessing, embarrassing, and insulting things he said or did, you get the sense that he truly does care about the people he associates with and that he has an incredible work ethic. His name is Jeff Lewis,the show is called "Flipping Out",  and  like I said, I am hooked.

Along the way, my sister in law, Ruthie became a fan of the show too.  She emailed me a couple of weeks ago telling me that  Jeff Lewis and staff would be in Vegas for a brief seminar.  She reserved tickets for us and we went to check it out. 

It was really fun to go to an event with some one who knows the inside story about the show too.  Its weird to watch people live who you have watched on TV.  It is a strange sensation because you almost feel like you know them and yet they are complete strangers.  He was very open and honest.  He talked about the design industry and about the reality show.  In fact, his film crew was there filming the whole thing.  Parts of it will be featured in his show next season. 

He took some questions from the audience.  Ruthie waved her hand and the microphone was brought to her.  She got to ask about a high profile remodel Jeff was doing at a great Mexican restaurant in California.  He answered the question and was really great about it.  It was a really short and to the point seminar.  At the end they announced that he and his office assistant, Jenni (she really makes the show good- she handles his moods and craziness and balances the whole thing out) would be doing a photo opt for any one who was interested.  Ruth looked at me and said, “Want to do it?”   Sure I would want to, but would I ever really?  Probably not.  I’m normally a watch from a distance observer on this kind of thing.  But with a partner for courage, why not?  So up we went- and we were about 4th in line.  Now embarrassingly enough to admit- I think I was kind of nervous.  So silly.  It’s just such a weird voyeuristic experience seeing a reality TV show person right in front of you. 

Jeff was great.  The people were really working the line though, trying to make it a very fast photo opt.  They were kind of shuffling us through rather quickly.  They took the cameras of the people in line as they approached and then took the picture with our camera for us.  At one point Jeff stopped them to make sure the photos were turning out and to make sure that at least no eyes were closed before moving on to the next people.

And just for proof-  here we are.

Me, Jeff Lewis, Ruthie, and Jenni.

For the last year or so, I have fantasized about opening a business.  I have all the details worked out in my head and it is going to be so fabulous.  They are a few minor issues to be worked out- like the one million-ish dollars I would need to get started but, this is neither the time or the place to get into that.  I long ago decided that Jeff would be the PERFECT person to help see my vision.  And so since I had the opportunity- I told him so!

 

Well, I didn’t go into details but I told him that once I had money he’d be the one I wanted.  He was surprisingly interested.  He asked if I currently owned property and said that he was wanting to get into the Vegas market.  Oh, how I wish I had the money!  Paul thinks he looks annoyed here.  That’s just how he looks!

On the way to the car, Ruth and I laughed about our experience.  We joked about our dry mouth and twitching cheeks from all the nervous smiling. 

It was actually a really nice morning and Jeff Lewis was very nice and interesting.  I was a fan before and I will definitely be tuning in to the upcoming season of  “Flipping Out”!   http://www.bravotv.com/flipping-out

BTW-it is very difficult for me to post pictures of my self on here.  But I had to have proof.

“NOW”

When Allie and Kara were little, it became apparent that we said the word hate- a lot.  Nothing like a sweet little face saying that they hate something over and over, to make you see how bad it sounds.  We never said it about or to people.  But I hadn’t realized that it was the go-to word for whatever we didn’t like.  So we had to put a ban on the word hate until we could all control ourselves.

Fast forward 5 years and I am seeing the pattern start to repeat itself.  Not with the word hate- we’ve got that in check.  But a new word, not even a bad word, is currently up for banishment.  What is the word, you ask?  The word ………..NOW

Perhaps it is due to getting old, or maybe because of all these little kids running around here but apparently my patience is running thin these days.  When it’s time to go to school- it’s time to go right now.  Or bed time means go to bed now.  Or time to pick up the living room,- means right now- not later!  It is probably my most spoken words these days.

I knew it was getting bad when I started hearing, “empty Sippy NOW”  which means- “Would you please fill up my Sippy cup”  or, “Mity mouse now” which means- “May I please watch Mickey Mouse?”  And you when you look down and see a very cute, very demanding little face, you get the feeling that he really means it.

            

I do realize that my version might be a little much to ask for from a two and a half year old, but something must be done about the demanding orders, and it must be done, now!  (hmmmm, this may be harder for me)

But it reached a whole new level tonight when Cooper was saying the prayer for dinner.  He blessed Lydia, who was over for dinner, and Bobbi (she wasn’t here but since he uses any device- calculator, remote, play phone- to ‘call’ Bobbi, it made since for her to be included too) and talked about the pizza and physically touched the breadsticks and then started to concluded the prayer.  He said “name  Amen, Jesus Christ, NOW”. 

I’m sure we’ve all been tempted from time to time to request our prayers to be answered quickly, but dare are bold enough to demand them to so immediately!

I guess we’ve better get started- right NOW! 

note to self- immediately, instantly, straightaway, straight off, directly, right away, at once, forthwith, like a shot -are all synonyms for now.

 

Florida

Last week, Paul had to go to Florida for some business. I really wanted to go too. I checked on some flights but it was really expensive so I decided to sit it out. About a week before he left, I checked again, just for fun. Low and behold, the prices had dropped half the cost. My fabulous mother had volunteered to watch the kids (without me even whining, begging, or threatening mental break down- which some days isn’t very far from a threat) So early Tuesday morning I flew to Florida to join Paul. I had a fabulous time! I met Paul and his associates for dinner. Did a little shopping. Worked out for a minute. (almost literally!) Slept in. Went to the pool. And Read. I read the Hunger Games Trilogy.

I was completely intrigued by them. I cant say that I loved the direction the ending took, but overall a very fascinating read. I hear they are about to make it into a movie. I will be really interested to see if they get it right or even as close to what it was like in my head.

Paul finished up early on Friday so we took the opportunity to head on down to Boggy Creek for an airboat adventure.

It was so cool to ride in the boat. I have had lots of experience being on the lake. Its always kind of choppy and bumpy. That is what I thought this would be like. Especially with all of the tall grasses and reeds and marshy like water.

At times it looked like solid ground.

It was so loud. Thank goodness for the head phones.

.

But it was so smooth. It was amazing the way the boat just cut through the grass and vegetation. We saw turtles and birds and an alligator making an escape a little ways off in the distance. Then we got the chance to see one up close. It was hard to spot her at first. It totally blended in. The driver cut the engine and we glided right up along side of it. Because of our never ending insurance claim, I still don’t have a camera. These were all done with my cell phone. And I have to say they are not that shabby. However, in my excitement/fear of being so close to the alligator, I only have a 4 second clip and no still picture of it.

 

Alligator in the wild!

After we finished the ride, we went back to the dock where they let us hold 3-5 year old alligator.

The mouth was taped, thank goodness. We don’t have a picture of us holding it though because they wanted $15 for a 4x6 snap shot. Even I don’t charge that much! And boy were we wind whipped after that ride!

We had a wonderful time- and Paul did too even though he worked all of the days. He managed to fit in some golf and hot tub time and eating out. Just having no one to take care of made it wonderful enough.

Grandma took great care of the kids. She even ‘earned’ a candy bar from the piano teacher because she wwas so impressed with how well Allie and Kara sounded playing their music. They told her it was because their grandma help them. (umhum-hello what am I? Only the person who has knock-down drag-out fights with them over practicing- but hey, who’s complaining?!)

We got home a little after midnight- so Saturday morning. Mom got to hang out for the morning and then we went to Allie and Kara’s volleyball game. I think (I know) it was quite an exhausting week for mom because she volunteered to go to the airport 4 hours early just for some peace and quiet! Well, that's maybe not the whole reason- we were near-ish to the airport after the volleyball game.

The trip was great and it was great having mom watch the kids. She even did our trip laundry Saturday morning while I shuffled the kids around to piano recital practice and birthday parties. That right there is a gift by itself!

And that’s why there are professionals for things like this…

 

Paul has cut Cooper’s hair several times before.  This was the first time he’s done it since we got rid of the high chairs. (fabulous moment!)  But with out the high chair, it proved to be much more difficult.  To Paul’s credit, all of the cuts in the past have been great.  This one however, has some major issues.    Even Brandi asked what in the world happened to the poor boy.  It looks like individual pieces of hair were sawed off with a very dull knife.  Thankfully you can’t tell just how really awful it is when we spike it and put some product in it.

Allie was helping out by being the photographer.  I think she was really getting into because once Cooper was freed, she pulled him right in for a photo shoot.

 

Do you think it’s time?

I guess I should take this as a sign that it is time to clean out the fridge.

How long do you think it had to been in there to start growing a sprout like this?  Never mind- lets not think about that.  I wouldn’t want anyone to realize that it takes the growth of an onion tree or lack of tupperware in the cupboard for me to realize that I need to clean out the fridge!