Preschool Preview

Today the preschool Big Cubby will be attending had a "Get to know your preschool before it starts" day. We got to see where to hang up is bag and coat. Where he will be playing. We got to meet his teachers.

We get there and I get some paperwork, he is shown around then he is able to play with toys. Little Cubby got to play as well. The whole time there we would not let go of a Dirt Devil toy vacuum. When it was time to leave I had to pry it from his hands which made him cry.

I met some of the other moms which I am not good at. Luckily a woman came up to me and introduced herself and some of the other moms around. It seemed to me that they all knew each from last year preschool. I felt weird and awkward. I was staring to sweat. I even had boob sweat. I always do this when I get around other adults.

Good news is that Big Cubby loved it and was well behaved while there. When we got home he thanked me for taking him to see is school. I don't think I will have a problem with him not liking it. The problem will be in the mornings I take him to is class room Little Cubby will want to stay and will be very upset that he won't and Big Cubby will.

The countdown begins. 7 days.

Happy 5th Birthday Big Cubby!

Today you turn 5 years old. It seems like yesterday you were a baby cuddled in my arms. You are now a big boy.

You will be starting preschool soon.

You are learning to ride a bike (with training wheels).

Age 4

You love trains of all kinds. You like to go to your room and play with your trains all day if I let you.

You like to wrestle with your brother.
You love saying things like bootyhind and the line from the movie Nacho Libre “Hey let go of my blouse”.

You are a very picky eater only eating chicken nuggets and French fries along with some kind of fruit. No veggies.

Age 3

You like to look at books and for me to read to you when you go to bed at night.

You love Toy Story and playing with Buzz Lightyear and Woody. You still sleep with Bear.

Age 2

You like to take pictures just like your Daddy.

You like to be able to do things on your own like getting your breakfast stuff out or buckling yourself in your booster seat.

Age 1

You like to give hugs and kisses and tell us you love us all the time.

You are my beautiful first born son. The day you were born was the happiest day besides marring your Daddy. I looked at you and love that filled my heart so much I thought it would burst. I wanted to love you and protect you. I never wanted to put you down. I just wanted to hold you forever. You have turned into a funny, loving, stubborn and smart boy. I hope we are not messing you up to much just remember we love you.

Few days old

Leaving the hospital to go home

You are no longer my baby but a big boy.

I love you.

Happy Birthday.

I am no Rachael Ray

I want to thank everyone for their recipe ideas. I will be giving them a try in the next few weeks.

I did make a few meals this week I found in a Betty Crocker Casseroles and slow cooker meals magazine.

The first meal I made was Sloppy Joe Casserole. This is basically sloppy joes with a cornbread topping. First I did not have the right dish size so I had to use a bigger dish. I then forgot to add cheese before putting the cornbread mix on top.

Both boys did not like it. I made Big Cubby take one bite of it and he gagged. Little Cubby would not open is mouth and shoved the plate away. It really wasn’t that bad tasting. I thought it was ok. Hubby liked it and thought it was pretty good. He got it to work for lunch.

The second meal I made was a Chicken and Noodles Skillet. It had chicken, baby carrots, broccoli, egg noodles, chicken broth and cream of chicken soup. It was easy and quick. Once again both boys acted like I was serving them dog doo. I really like the taste of this. I was good. Hubby liked it. I still made Big Cubby take a bite.

The third meal I had made before. It was Lasagna Rollups. Basically you put on one noodle ricotta cheese, tomato sauce and whatever type of meat or just mozz cheese then you roll them up. Top with tomato sauce and cheese then bake. I just did cheese. Both boys would not eat it. Hubby and I did for a few meals.

Tonight I made Cheesy Tater-Topped Chicken Casserole. It has chicken, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots in cheese sauce topped with tater tots. It was good and easy. Big Cubby started crying because he ordered chicken nuggets and fries. Little Cubby shoved the plate away.

I am telling you these boys are way too picky. I am a picky eater and I make things that are not like what my family made when I was little. Cabbage Rolls. I get sick thinking about them now. I just don’t know what to do.

I will be trying everybody’s suggestions very soon. I am trying not to be a short order cook because it really makes me tired.

So there are my cooking adventures. Still don’t like it but am I really trying.

Count your blessings

For the past two nights, Hubby and I have watched the documentary When the Levee Broke by Spike Lee on HBO. I don’t know if I can express the feelings I had watching this.

I was sad, angry, pissed, heartbroken, in disbelief, and so on. Our government failed this people. Our President failed this people. It scares me to think for those of us who work paycheck to paycheck or barely make enough to support our families can be written off so easily and forgotten. It was been a year since Hurricane Katrina hit and very little progress has been made to get the people back home to New Orleans, Mississippi. This country can help other countries but when it comes time to help our own people they drop the ball. Why is that?

They are still finding bodies in homes there. The levees are still being worked on. Houses and debris are still in the state the hurricane left them. People want to go home but can’t.

I almost cried a couple of times and then last night I lost it. They interviewed a woman whose daughter drowned during the hurricane. She was only 5 years old. The little girl was staying with her father and his girlfriend and children and they did not evacuate. They found the body of the little girl 6 months later. They showed the funeral for the little girl and the mother just breaking down during it sobbing. I just lost it. I have a soon to be 5 year old. I can’t imagine losing him like that. The mother said she had a dream before she found out her daughter was missing. She dreamed her daughter was calling her and saying Mama, I am falling and there was water. She woke up in cold sweat and later found out her daughter drowned. The sadness, the guilt this mother must have felt even though it wasn’t her fault. This story hit close to home for me.

Everyday we should count our blessings. We should hug our children. We should be thankful for what we have because you never know when you might run into a situation like this.

I strongly recommend watching this documentary. It will be showing again a couple more times on HBO. Here is the link to the dates and times. If you don’t have HBO, I am sure it will be on DVD very soon. The first anniversary for this disaster is on Tuesday, August 29th.

Before anyone goes off on some of the bad seeds out there taking advantage of the system let say this point for every one bad seed out there, there are 10 good ones.

I am afraid for our country because I don’t think our government really gives a shit about us until election time. I am not a real political person. I am not really liberal and I am not really conservative. So don’t think I am on a high horse or anything I am just a concerned citizen.

Lance Armstrong types

Today we walked up from our house to watch this race. It was actually pretty cool to watch. Hubby took some pictures and when he has gone through all 600 of them he will post some of the best. I am not sure who won because he had to leave with 10 laps to go because Big Cubby was tired and was getting in trouble for not listening.

I love to people watch and let me tell you there was a lot to see today. Oh boy some of the clothes or lack there of that was abundant. We are talking about people who should not be showing that much skin if you know what I mean.

Overall, it was pretty exciting to watch. I have never seen a race like this in person before. I think it is pretty boring on tv. Live is cool.

I need your help

Ok, everybody I am asking for your help. You see I am not a good cook. Heck I really don't like to cook but I need to start making meals and I don't have any ideas. I am going to the grocery store tomorrow and so I need your help.

Please give me some ideas and recipes that I can use. I would like for them to be easy to make and remember I have to little ones and one of them can be picky.

I am begging for help!

Guilty Pleasures

OK, it is time to confess. I have to get this off my chest. I can’t stand the burden no more. Are you ready?

I have guilty pleasures. There I said it. I am now clean. That is right I have things I like that I would not admit in public.

You are asking yourself “why bring it up now?” Well, I need to say it out loud or in writing in this case. I want you to know the real me. I have been keeping things from you afraid of what you would think of me.

No more I am free and this is me.

Here are my guilty pleasures:

I like the new song from Justin Timberlake “Sexy Back”. I like to dance to it.

I like Kelly Clarkson

I watch So You Think You Can Dance. It was my dream to dance professionally.

I love the gossip blogs. Dlisted, Hot Momma Drama, Gabsmash just to name a few. Hollywood is so high school and I love looking in whether the gossip is true or not. These people are so sad. I feel better about my life when I read some of this stuff.

I love powdered donuts. I hide them from the boys and sneak around eating them.

I love driving by myself with the radio blaring singing and dancing.

I am in a mood to admit some things about myself so here it goes.

I wanted to be a Solid Gold Dancer.

I dance in front of the mirror.

I have lived in a trailer. We were so white trash. It was college.

I have been hit on by another girl.

I had bad acne in my middle 20’s and now I have scars and pockmarks that I am embarrassed by. Hubby says they are not noticeable but he is being sweet.

I suffer from low self esteem.

I was a janitor at a college while attending the college.

I have quit three jobs the next day after I was hired.

The first time I got drunk was when I was 19.

First time I had sex was when I was 19. And no it was not the same time I got drunk. Hubby is the one and only.

I have only had two serious boyfriends.

I was the girl that was friends with the boys never a girlfriend. Went to dances with “friends”.

I love sports. I wish I had more talent in the athletics department. I played summer softball league from 2nd grade to 8th grade.

I miscarried in 1994 which put in a depression for months. I did not get out of bed.

I was in love with Rick Springfield. Have you seen him now? Gross.

I had a jean jacket with tons of buttons on it. You know what I mean by buttons like I had on that said I want my MTV. Those buttons or flair. Guess the movie where the word flair comes from.

I almost always never wear make-up. The reason being I have never been sure on how to wear it.

Ok, I have to stop now because I don’t want to scare all of you. I can’t believe I have admitting the above so far.

So I am a freak. Please don’t be afraid and come back and read me!

23 months

Little Cubby turned 23 months old on Sunday. I am saving my update post for next month since he turns the big 2. Also, notice his wispy hair. This weekend we are going to try to get him in to get a haircut. It will be his first. All of his baby curls will be gone. I am sad just thinking about it. But it is time.

New word of the day

Bootyhind.

This is Big Cubby's new word. Used in a sentence:"My pants are falling down and you can see my bootyhind".

He thinks this is very funny.

Something always happens when Hubby goes out of town

Hubby left yesterday to go on an overnight business trip so that means something usually happens.

The boys and I walked to the dry cleaners and dropped off some shirts. We then started walking towards the post office. We started crossing the train tracks when Big Cubby was not paying attention because he was looking down the tracks for a train when he started drifting off into the road and the light had just turned green. I reached out and grabbed his arm and yanked him back. He came close to getting hit. I was so pissed. I made him keep his hand on the stroller the rest of the way.

We moved our couch/futon because we thought our new couch was going to be delivered. Sidenote: They cancelled delivery again now two more weeks until it will be in. So the old couch/futon was in new place and there was a big gap between the wall and it. The boys were playing and chasing each and in a second Little Cubby raced up the couch trying to get away from his brother and fell backwards hitting his head on the wall. I raced to grab him and he had a huge bump on his head. I started to freak out. I tried calling Hubby and his phone went straight to voicemail. I left a message then kept calling it about 20 times. I knew which brand of hotel Hubby was staying at but not the specific one so I called one of six and he was not at that one. I did not want to call all of the making me sound like a stalkcr. Hubby hadn't had a chance to tell me which one and room number yet. I did not know what to do so I called my mother-in-law. She calmed me down and asked a few questions. By then Little Cubby was running back and forth in the living room and was dancing to the commercials. All normal things for him. He seemed ok.

I watched over him for an hour and he seemed fine then it was time for bed. Hubby called after I laid down the boys. It seems his phone died on him and he forgot his charger. He had to go buy one. Of all the times for that to happen.

This morning he is ok. The bump has gone down a lot. Hubby comes home tonight. Thank goodness.

Something always happens when Hubby goes out of town

Hubby left yesterday to go on an overnight business trip so that means something usually happens.

The boys and I walked to the dry cleaners and dropped off some shirts. We then started walking towards the post office. We started crossing the train tracks when Big Cubby was not paying attention because he was looking down the tracks for a train when he started drifting off into the road and the light had just turned green. I reached out and grabbed his arm and yanked him back. He came close to getting hit. I was so pissed. I made him keep his hand on the stroller the rest of the way.

We moved our couch/futon because we thought our new couch was going to be delivered. Sidenote: They cancelled delivery again now two more weeks until it will be in. So the old couch/futon was in new place and there was a big gap between the wall and it. The boys were playing and chasing each and in a second Little Cubby raced up the couch trying to get away from his brother and fell backwards hitting his head on the wall. I raced to grab him and he had a huge bump on his head. I started to freak out. I tried calling Hubby and his phone went straight to voicemail. I left a message then kept calling it about 20 times. I knew which brand of hotel Hubby was staying at but not the specific one so I called one of six and he was not at that one. I did not want to call all of the making me sound like a stalkcr. Hubby hadn't had a chance to tell me which one and room number yet. I did not know what to do so I called my mother-in-law. She calmed me down and asked a few questions. By then Little Cubby was running back and forth in the living room and was dancing to the commercials. All normal things for him. He seemed ok.

I watched over him for an hour and he seemed fine then it was time for bed. Hubby called after I laid down the boys. It seems his phone died on him and he forgot his charger. He had to go buy one. Of all the times for that to happen.

This morning he is ok. The bump has gone down a lot. Hubby comes home tonight. Thank goodness.

Kitchen Cleanup

We have been mourning the loss of the Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux to the Dodgers so I haven't been in the mood to post a lot. I am hoping to be inspired again.

Now the kitchen clean up. Yesterday morning I had to scrub down our kitchen and here is the reason why. Last Thursday we had evidence that a mouse had been roaming our kitchen. So we bought a regular mouse trap and set it. The next morning we caught it. The following night there was more evidence that there was more. So we set the traps and checked the next morning. The cheese was gone but the trap was set. Did it again the next night with the same results.

So I went to the store and bought a sticky trap and a clip trap which do not require bait. The next morning Hubby woke up and went downstairs to check on the traps. There were four baby mice in the sticky trap and one baby mouse in the garbage disposal running around. Hubby had to get the mouse out by using a container and a spatula. He said what he saw grossed him out. I had to take everything and scrub it down because of the evidence left behind.

We had killed the mother and so the babies had to fend for themselves and were desperate. I am saddened and replused and the same time.

Today no evidence of mice so I am happy about that. I am sure that when winter comes we will have to battle them again. I am totally grossed out.

***UPDATE***
I just got back from errands and turned on the oven to preheat and a mouse ran from under the oven to behind the trash can to under our cabinets. I freaking screamed in surprise and it freaked out Big Cubby. Little Cubby thought it was funny. It ran by again or at least I think it was the same one and I screamed again. I HATE MICE! If I wasn't allergic to cats I would get one in a heartbeat.

Today is my birthday

Today is my 34th birthday. I had a birthday weekend. Friday we went to eat at Chili's where I had a nice birthday beer. Saturday, I had cake and ice cream. I opened my presents from the boys. I got two nice shirts, Dane Cook Retaliation CD, Dane Cook Harmful With Swallowed CD, KT Turnstall-Eye to the Telescope CD. We wore Spongebob Squarepants birthday hats and eat off of Spongebob plates. Big Cubby picked them out.

Sunday, Big Cubby and I went to the movies and saw Cars.

Today is officially my birthday. Do I feel old? Not really. I may look it on the outside but I still feel like I am 24. Fine lines are creeping up on my face that is the only difference. I did get carded at Chili's which made my night.

So today I will celebrate by cleaning our kitchen(I have a story about that but it is too sad and kind of gross to talk about right now. I will post about that later), going to the dry cleaners, and maybe reading a book.

Have a good day everybody.

PS. If you haven't all ready go check out R. Martini and help him win his challenge.

Help R. Martini

I know I know I haven't posted in awhile believe me I have a lot of things in my head I need to blog about. But this post is about R. Martini over at Aimless Ranter. He has been challenged by Manic Mom to blog everyday for 7 days and get five comments each day.

So help a brother out and go read his blog!