CA Girl

I need to get something off my chest.  I am having a real hard time loving my neighbor.  And it's getting harder and harder.  I have tried very hard to take the high road.  To be the better person.  I know I need to lead by example and lately my example has been poor. A couple of days ago, Kristin came tearing downstairs to tell me that the neighbors kids plus a couple other kids from down the street were wrecking our Christmas lights(yep we've gone redneck!).  She said they were pulling the bulbs out and smashing them.  These are little kids mind you.  No older than 10.  I jumped up to see/catch them but it was too late.  And the damage had been done. As you can see, the lights are gone.  There are many other places along the fence where they were pulled as well.  I just chose not bore you all with the pictures. This is only part of all the damage done to my fence.  On the other side is a green belt.  They go back there constantly.  I am afraid they will get hurt.  Th

I love this Meme as it gives a Mom a chance to boast, or to share some humiliation hoping she is not the only one.  Today, I am the latter.  So what is it?  Well after two weeks of free play, it's hard to get back into the routine of school, class, teachers and work.   On Ryan's first day, I told him to have a good day and go for "blue" for his behavior color.  Blue would be "good."  He came home telling me he was on yellow.  Yellow is only a warning color.  I asked him what for.  He said, "For spanking butts."  At this point, I am a little shocked, but then I realize we do this at home as a form of play.  I quickly told him it's not a game for school.  It's our game at home.  I had to suppress the laughter that was building up.  It still makes me laugh. On Emily's second day, she created a stomach ache.  We have been dealing with this for a while now.  Well, I put my foot down.  She did too, "I will just call you.&

It's Latin Night...and thus far, I do not have any pictures.  ABC won't let me use them?  I do not know.  I give credit where credit is due.  Hopefully before this post is ready to go out, the pictures will be there. Anyway, we are now at the halfway point!  Wait what?  We just started!  But here we are.... Jaleel & Kym Jaleel and Kym are dancing The Samba  ...Jaleel says he will shake it for Carrie Ann and even Bruno!  The he added he will get the technical down for Len. He listened to the judges, because he brought the technique to the dance floor.  Plus he just has lots of fun.  Len said the Samba must have rhythm and that he had it in abundance.  And as for his hips, "hip hip parade." Bruno told him, "You got the party started.  It was unstoppable. You've done that before.  Get out of here!" Carrie Ann said he came out with attack and fire and that he is  a good dancer but warned him to watch his arms when he is out of holds. Scor

I have the mind of a 12 year old.  Why?  Because when I get words like "pee" "poop" and "overflow" in Draw Something I use them.  I only wish I saved them.  For pee, I drew a dog peeing on a tree.  For poop....well I can leave that one to the imagination.  I will say there was steam and flies.  Overflow involved a toilet.  So is that a 12 year old mind or a sick one?  Yesterday the kids went to back to school.  I will be talking a little bit more about that on Thursday.  Let's just it was a pretty good day.  Not great, but not awful.  Today was the challenge.  Again, that will be left for Thursday. You know...those Proud Mommy Moments! There are just 7 little weeks left of school.  Seven.  How did that happen?  It also means the dreaded state testing is coming.  No matter how much we tell the kids, the test is more about the teacher they still stress.  *sigh* My neighbors had a party for their daughter who turned 9 over the weekend.  Complete w

Friday was the last day of Spring Break at our house.  So we were going out with a bang.  We decided we would go to The Living Desert .  We saw only a small portion of what this place has to offer.  The parking was free and the price was reasonable for a tight budget.  We ate lunch in the car when we got there and then got started on our journey. Once inside, I armed myself with my camera on auto as usual and thought...hmmm....why not try manual.  What possessed me?  I have no idea.  But I did.  Maybe it was the cool train layout. Ryan was in boy heaven.... I was picture taking heaven.... I wonder how many other angles and photos I could have taken.... But there were animals to be seen.... We saw a real live Pumba....he was sleeping....they liked this statue more. There were crazy cactus.... Ornery old goats  And just plain fun.... So where does the crazy come in?  It was crazy weather that day.  Luckily...the severe stuff was at home.  And just as we w