Friday, January 25, 2013

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on.......ME!

It has been cold here lately.  Been hit with the northeast cold front for a good week now.  We are bundled in coats and sweaters and gloves.  Tis winter for sure! It has finally hit for the 1st time in about two years.  Last year I was in shorts this time of the year.  So I shouldn't complain.  Except......... when it blows up in my face.

 I keep my soda outside in the winter rather than take up space in the fridge ( you know where this is going, don't you? ) .  Yesterday I noticed it was a bit slushy but ok all the same. I kinda like it slushy anyway.  Like drinking a Coke Icee from the store.

Today I go out and notice one of the cans was upside down.  That should have been my 1st clue.  Took it inside, popped the lid and BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  In my face.....up to the ceiling.........across the kitchen.....on my floor..........hitting a daycare child who just stares at me with Coke in her hair like "What the!?"

I totally understood that expression!

I come out of my shock and laugh while I clean it all up.  It was not easy an easy task.  Soda covered the kitchen but I got it done.  Set out my lunch, went back out to get another can (this time making sure it was upright) and opened it..............BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*sigh* 

Yep. I did it again.

The dogs went running.  The sleeping baby in the other room roared her displeasure.  Ryan just stood there shaking his head and saying "Really mom?!"

No. I did NOT think it would do it again!

Don't judge me!

I spend my day with Barney and little kids.  I never said I was the brightest.

I can, however, say I am the thirstiest. 

Monday, January 21, 2013

It's COOKIE TIME!

Ok. If you know me or you have at least read my blog...or both...then you know I am kind of, sort of, in a way, competitive. I try to pretend it doesn't matter that I lose but the truth is I am secretly hoping to kick your butt at that board game and so want to laugh with glee when I do!  I try not to let it show cause I was always taught to not be a sore loser or winner for that matter.  But if you look you can see my smile, my bouncing in my seat and maybe even a giggle under my breath.  A few drinks of wine and you might even get an open laugh in your face-kicking your butt-I am so winning-dance. 

My name is Kimberly and I am a win-aholic.

So it should not surprise anyone that being a mom of a girl scout this time of the year is kinda turning me into that 'I am so kicking your butt' cookie mom! 

It started out as a general sale.  Then I got more orders.  And those orders turned into more orders and before I knew it, we had a presale order of 89 cookie boxes. I could feel that secret giggle coming up. It is like a high.  But I was being good cause, after all, this is all about being a troop and working together and sales were the whole group and good nature and learning skills and...........blah blah blah. 

Lets be honest here.....it is all about the cookie sale. It is all about who rings that door first and I WANT IT TO BE ME!

It doesn't help that we have a troop leader that likes to advertise that she is THE cookie mom.  She is THE big seller.  She is THE head leader, queen cookie, major-three-star cookie person and she was sitting on a throne made of shortbread and chocolate.  I so wanna giggle and push her butt off that shortbread throne while I...I mean....Delaney.....takes the new spot.  Yeah cause, um, it is all about Delaney and a learning experience.  Yeah.  That's right.

Well. We have sold 220 boxes of cookies in four days.  Yes you heard that right.  220 boxes in FOUR days!  And that doesn't include the sales from the cookie booth we did this weekend also.  I won't know the tally of the booths till the end but I do know we ain't doing bad!! And I know that we have a good four more weeks to go.

Last weekend we hit my mother in laws area.  It is mainly older people and few scouts.  All we heard was how no one comes to their doors anymore. Ah yes. I know!! *wink wink* I do know!

Next weekend we are off to the retirement developments.  Older people all condensed in one lovely area with no scouts in residence and who go shopping mainly in the afternoons when girl scouts are at school. Little old ladies and men who love cute little Brownie scouts.....and cookies. Um hum.  I know where my cha-ching fix is!  And cookie momma is coming!

I shall prevail.........mwahhaaaaaaaaaaa! We shall sell the cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 On a serious note, Delaney is truly doing a wonderful job.  She is hauling those cookies, smiling and talking to people like she has never done before.  She has sold cookies to friends and family and teachers.  Sold to neighbors.  Sold at cookie booths and sold to strangers.  And been a trooper the whole way.  Sunday, when we walked around Grandmoms neighborhood, we walked for three hours pulling a wagon and ringing doorbells.  She never complained.  She sold till we had little left in the wagon to sell and after fill up many times along the way.  I am proud of her. 
 Although, I am wondering if she just might have some of mommas need for a win cause what 7 year old walks for three hours and never complains? Says thank you and moves on to the next house? Yeah.....maybe just a tiny bit like mommy.  It is all about learning skills along the way.
(And maybe beating Cookie Momma too!)


Thursday, January 17, 2013

MENDING

I come from a broken family.

There.  I said it.

I never really thought of my life that way as a kid.  My Grandparents worked hard to make things rather perfect.  We lived in the same house almost most of my life.  We had picnics and family vacations and game nights.  We cuddled on the sofa and watched movies and laughed at dinner time.  I was in the school band and did sleep overs and laid in the hammock on summer days eating watermelon and watching the clouds roll by.  I felt safe and secure and life was normal.  I can't say I ever felt like my family was broken.

I have come to realize though that trying to make everything all rainbows and sunshine doesn't really hide the reality of life.  The world is full of bad things and people.  Feelings get hurt.  Memories engraved.  Hearts broken.  Anger suppressed.  Making life as perfect as you can doesn't hide the truth.

I am grateful for the childhood I did have.  I can't say I would change anything cause....well....it was normal to me.  But the reality is......

My family is broken.

What I find sad is that many more memories were missed out on.  People passed by.  Moments stolen that can not be returned.  People hurt by the actions of another.  Souls that cannot be mended. Pretending that everything is perfect doesn't really face the truth in the end and doesn't allow one to truly heal.

I understand my Grandparents thinking.  One wants to protect.  But you really cannot. 

I will be honest and say what I haven't said in all my life.  I have held onto hurts over the years that I tried to hide behind watermelon summers and family game nights.  That I suppressed because they didn't really mean anything.  Or so I told myself.  I have met someone else like that.  Someone who doesnt' believe that the actions of another mattered.  But they do.  We can hide behind things and words but.....they do.

I believe that there is a reason for everything.  I once looked for my mother in the hopes of finding answers to hurts that were hidden.  I never had the opportunity to do so as she has passed away before I found her.  I struggled with this because I wanted answers.  I NEEDED answers.  There had to be something to explain how I felt.  But I won't be getting them.  What I found was someone else also struggling.  Perhaps a little lost like me.

I don't believe I was meant to find those answers I sought. I don't think I was meant to find my mother. I think perhaps my answers are in the feelings and understandings of another who can comprehend where I am too.  That perhaps we can reach out to each other and not, perhaps, understand the actions of another but to understand the feelings of each other.  We can't answer for another person.  But we can listen and understand where each of us are.

My father came back into my life.  I have come to realize that sometimes things are beyond our control.  That sometimes we wish we could change the past.  That the actions of others can alter forever and break hearts.

My brother came into my life.  We are on a new journey.  Taking slow steps and learning as we go.

In the end, as we slowly come together, heal and find peace in each other, I think that we might just be....normal.  No family is perfect.  There is no watermelon summers without all the other things that come with being a family.  We are all unique and special and frustrating and odd and perfect and loving and hurtful and imperfect as about every other family in the world. We are NOT perfect.  We ARE, however, family.

We might be broken but we are together and that is about as perfect a family as one can be!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Photos of the day.........

 Megan blow drying her hair.  I believe this needs little more said!
Delaney at Megans soccer awards ceremony.  And I do believe her face says exactly what we were all thinking! "WHEN is this thing over?!"
 Puppy vs. Child.  Puppy wins!
Congrats Megan! Great job!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

COOKIE TIME

IT'S GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME!!
 
Delaney is selling Girl Scout cookies for her brownie troop.   Below is the list of cookies available.  Anyone interesed, let me know before the yummy runs out!
 
 We will deliver!
 
Delaney (and Kimberly)
 
All varieties are $4.00 per box and there are 12 boxes in a case.
 
Savannah Smiles™
Savannah Smiles™ are a lemony delight to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting. 
Samoas®
Tender vanilla cookies, covered with caramel, rolled in toasted coconut and striped with a rich, chocolaty coating.
Trefoils™
Delicate-tasting shortbread that is simple and satisfying.
Thank U Berry Munch™
Real, premium cranberries provide a delightful tartness in these hearty cookies sweetened with creamy, white fudge chips.  Crispy rice delivers a satisfying crunch.  Thank U for supporting Girl Scouts.
Thin Mints
A thin wafer covered with a smooth chocolaty coating. Made with natural peppermint.
Tagalongs®
Tasty cookies topped with creamy peanut butter and covered with a luscious chocolaty coating.
Do-Si-Dos®
Crisp and crunchy oatmeal cookies with creamy peanut butter filling. No artificial color or flavor.
Dulce de Leche
Inspired by the classic confections of Latin America, these sweet, bite-size cookies are rich with milk caramel chips.

 

I am getting too old!

Remember the days when you were young ( Or perhaps your still there)  when the adventures of a baby were fun? You didn't mind the spit up or the poop or the wakings in the early dawn.  You loved them and they were precious and you did just did it.

Well.  I am over it. I want to play and cuddle and then send them home with momma when I am done!

Course I am talking more so about the new puppy we just got but the theory still works.

I had a puppy when we first got married.  And I remember puppy teeth and chewing on everything and pooping and waking in the middle of the night crying and.........I remember it and want to forget it.  Which might be why I tended to go older when I got other dogs.  I like the one year stage. Still young enough to train and play with but old enough to know better.  A four month old puppy running around my house is not making me overly happy right now.

Why did I get one you ask?  Well because if you read my post below you will see I am a marshmallow.  No Santa doesn't bring puppies but Ryan, who works at the SPCA, does.  I caved.  I gave in.  I am clearly soft enough to roast over a fire and make into a smores.  And I am not happy.

We got a crate.  Ryan was told I am not caring for it.  I do not get up at 2am to take her out.  I do not clean up after her. I do not feed her or walk her and I am not so sure I want to play either.  That is his job and his sisters. And they have been fairly good with it.  Except for the potty training..............

I do not want to get up in the middle of a movie to find poop in my family room or to take her out and find that she decided to deliver a present even after spending 20 minutes outside in 20 degree weather.  And I am getting angry.  I simply do not have the patience for it.  And I cannot cuddle and send it home cause it lives here!

I am either going to slap a diaper on her butt or slap Ryan with it.  Either works. 

And I think Cherokee feels the same way.  My loving playful old puppy has spend the last three days grumbling and growling.  She is not overly impressed with this little bundle of fur.  And, Cherokee, I completely understand. I am sure she is over it too.

Maybe Cherokee and I will hide in the bedroom and grumble about the good old peaceful, poopless days together.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

And so starts a New Year

Well we made it through shopping malls, wrapping paper, Christmas pageants, bell concerts, and Christmas week.  Over is the rush of the holidays and the slow quiet week of Christmas.  Back is the schedules and schools and lunch boxes and momma busing to this that and the other.  I have to admit I am not looking forward to reality.  It has been a lovely week of nowhere really to go.  Work was slow.  No activities.  It was nice.  But we cannot ignore reality and sadly it is here.  This is our last day of nothingness.  I am actually sitting and writing this while still in my jammies and it is noon.  But we just got up not to long ago either.  Actually Megan and her friend are still in bed.  It promises to be a lazy last day.

We went out to dinner for New Years Eve and then came back to the house and the kids all had friends over for games, dessert and New Years fun.  We played and laughed and filled our tummies with chocolate burritos and strawberry desserts.  Then went out on the front lawn and made as much noise as we could when the bell struck 2013!  Yes, I made teenagers and college students don New Years Eve hats and bang pots and pans while blowing horns.  And even though I think they will probably never tell their friends, they loved it!

 Maybe not so much the neighbors.

Delaney even had a friend over and even though they both were up at 6am, they both stayed up till 2am last night! I couldn't believe they made it that late.  Two o'clock and I am heading for bed while they are dancing around the kitchen blowing bubbles.

Oh for some of that energy.

Well as I slowly and sadly clean up from the night before while still in my jammies.......
 I hope you had a wonderful New Years Eve. May 2013 be blessed with the love and laughter of friends and family.  May your life be blessed and healthy.  And may this New Year bring you much happiness.