I had three birthday parties to buy gifts for today (the parties aren't today but if you're goign to shop for one, might as well get the other two out of the way while you're out, right?). I racked my brain thinking hmm.... what to buy for an 8 year old boy (NOT that I don't already HAVE one, mind you) and thought, well, I could get crafty and MAKE something but what 8 year old and what 3 year olds want or would appreciate anything handmade.... I see you shaking your head.... right -- none of them. Gifts to wrap, that was the ticket. :)
So where can I go -- that's NOT Target or Wal-Mart to get something fun, unique and unusual? Then, I remembered a new store that I saw that I wanted to go into that was full of learning toys. It's next to the Central Market in Southlake..... Learning Express Toys http://www.learningexpress.com It was FULL of ... well, FUN! It was mostly educational toys but had some fun mixed in there too. I could have spent hours reading over the walls of board games they had in there.... I definitely know where all of our birthday presents will be coming from from now on! It was just THE neatest store that I'd been into in a while. Drew had fun playing with their section in the middle that had all these bins full of stuff you'd put in goody bags. They had one bin full of little cars and train cars and helicopters and boats...and then he pulled out a green slug bug (Volkswagon beetle) and he said, "MOMMY LOOK!!!! GREEN HERBIE CAR!" It was beyond adorable! Why do I not have a camera during these moments? Ugh
I tried so hard to be good today, was planning on eating my salad leftover from last night's dinner for lunch but I was shaking so bad from hunger by the time I dropped Josh off that I had to get food...and I had to get it immediately! I stopped off at Panda Express -- Oh, I love their mushroom chicken... mmmmmmmmmmm... :) Eating it now. Shame on me, I know..but hey, I'm not shakey anymore! Ha!
And if ya'll can say a quick prayer for Tristen... he's in the hospital. Not sure what all is wrong... lethargic, lots of swollen glands in and around the neck area... he's 9... I don't know if he's being admitted or what at this point but prayers are prayers....and that's what he needs right now!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
One Sided Friendships -- and a galaxy far, far away
I had a good friend (or so I thought) at one point in my life. We were neighbors, our sons were best friends, we were scrapbooking buddies... I had thought that we'd really established some roots to a friendship that would really last through whatever might come... I was wrong. She moved. First she moved up north... we stayed in contact. Josh missed his friend and they spoke on the phone a few times. He was really too young to grasp the concept of a long distance friendship since children are general of the mindset of immediate gratification (aren't we all?) She had come to town while I was out of town one weekend... she phoned me while I was on the road back to town and I had hoped to hook up with her and spend a little time catching up. Unfortunately, my car had other ideas and I had to drive to the dealership IMMEDIATELY. If I'd turned my car off, it wouild not have started again. I was losing power intermittently on the drive back. It was kind of scary. I went to the dealership iand just literally was wanting to get home and just unwind. I'd been gone in Oklahoma all weekend, was stressed out, tired and just needed to see my kiddos. I forgot to call her when I got to the house... and I think she just never forgave me... I'd sent e-mails, placed phone calls, sent Christmas cards... nothing.
Out of the blue a few weeks ago, she telephoned. I unknowingly answered the telephone b/c I didn't recognize the number. She proceeded to say, "Hi April, it's ____, are you home? I was goign to run the money by for working on the house." I was like did you realize you just called April in Texas? Because I certainly haven't been near your house to do any work. :) She laughed, was a little embarrassed, made about 15 seconds of small talk and said she'd call back and we could catch up. She never did. She hadn't called in over a year, why would I expect it now?
So, I'm an administrator on a trivia site that I run for my friends... and realized that she took time... EVERY DAY to log on and play this stupid trivia .. but she couldn't take two seconds of her time to just shoot me an email and say, hey, how are you?" So yes, I went in and deleted her and banned her IP address from the site. I'm just so tired of one sided friendships... for me and my family. I want friendships that are enriching -- for me and for them. I want to be a good friend... I want my children to see me be a good friend and to know what it means TO be a good friend. I want to lead by example. I think one of those examples is to also let them know how to understand when you're the only one perpetuating a relationship and that sometimes, you just have to cut your losses and move on. It's a hard fact of life, but I chose to do that.
It's not two days later... and guess who calls me up out of the blue.... it was actually completely taken aback and beyond irritated that it took me banning her from a site I run to actually evoke any type of a frienship-like response from her... which then sends out the message that I want to be your friend when I have something to gain from it (i.e., you letting me back on your site). So that's not a friendly call... yes, she called both home and cell. How bizarre... I just don't even want to bother with the time of day for that.
My son, Josh has had to make the same type of decision here lately. There are two boys that live on our street... and he said that one of them (a boy that is older) told him that he didn't want to be his friend or play with him anymore because he wanted to play with kids his own age... mind you, he has had no problem the entire school year playing with him...but it IS his decisions. So, as Josh wants to go out and play and wants to go invite him to play, I have to remind him ... it's a one sided friendship... and when he's ready to be your friend, maybe he will come back and ask you to play but until then, just let him do his thing and you do yours. Maybe they'll meet back up in the middle, and maybe they wont... but you've been a good friend and that's all you can do. So, I've been proud of him for understanding such a grown up concept at a young 8 years of age. :) Boy the do have to grow up fast don't they?
Speaking of Josh, he had a buddy spend the night last night. They had a BLAST playing in the rain (yes, we've had like two feet of rain in the last 30 minutes (not really but it feels like it)... they went to the "playground" (as Drew likes to call it) and in the rain decided to blast down the slide... which had a puddle of water at the end and that turned into a puddle of mud. They were COVERED with mud...but were having a BLAST... they watched one of the original Star Wars (they're the only REAL Star Wars aren't they?) and then they went to bed. I got them up in time to eat some cereal, let in the housekeeper and then we jetted off to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History for the Star Wars Exhibit. Should I have taken my camera? Sure... the exhibits were AWESOME...but putting up with Drew during the whole thing was a WHOLE other story. He's been really whiney lately... maybe he realizes it sucks getting older! Ha! Turning 3 is hard to do! He's going to have to bounce for it! But this, today, was his first time to go to a movie.... an OMNI movie! He lasted about 24 minutes... until he was done, pretty much begging to go home, wanting a nap, wanting to leave. I was waiting for him to toss his popcorn, binkie, drink... anything but he didn't. When the movie was finally over, thank goodness, we started our ascent up the stairs to the exit at the top of the theater he was whining because he wanted to see the dolphins again...then he cried because he wanted to walk... then he cried because he was being crowded in the mass exodus and got frustrated someone ELSE (how dare they) were attempting to hold the very hand rail he was holding! I realized, it was just time to go. We loaded up and headed for home. I'm glad Josh had a good friend there to view the exhibits with since if he'd just been with Drew and I ... it would have been just sporadic and bizarre. :)
At the museum, Drew was enthralled with Chewy... he LOVED seeing "Darf Gay-ger" Sounds like some homo-porn title huh? Ha! He was also transfixed with some white snow beast "thing" that had pretty intense claws. I think he thought it was a real "animal" in a cage and was waiting for it to move. I wish I'd taken my camera... just to get some of his reactions if nothing else. But alas, the Canon SLR Digital Rebel is just so bulky and hard to transport that I tend NOT to take it with me b/c of having to tote everything else... it's just annoying.
So, I called Canon tonight.... found two cameras that I think would serve me well.... the one I really want is the Canon Powershot S5 IS. The zoom capacity on this is SICK man.... just awesome... it's got an image stabilizer... fastest processor.... (no lag time).... I'm going to go try one out if I can find a retailer that has it. The other one that I found that would work well, had less than half the zoom capabilities of this one...and if you know me and my photographic needs -- I gotta have zoom. I LOVE my zoom! AND with going to Disney World in October... I need something smaller and transportable. :) It also has the ability to take self portraits.... you can hold it out... turn the LCD screen around and point it towards you so you can see it and click... :) How fun woudl that be to get great mom/kid shots?! :)
Anyway, it's late... just thought I'd blab... and boy did I! :) Toodles...
Tomorrow and this weekend, my Memory Makers Master work will be completed along with my The Scrapbook Club Design Team entry! :) WISH ME LUCK!
Out of the blue a few weeks ago, she telephoned. I unknowingly answered the telephone b/c I didn't recognize the number. She proceeded to say, "Hi April, it's ____, are you home? I was goign to run the money by for working on the house." I was like did you realize you just called April in Texas? Because I certainly haven't been near your house to do any work. :) She laughed, was a little embarrassed, made about 15 seconds of small talk and said she'd call back and we could catch up. She never did. She hadn't called in over a year, why would I expect it now?
So, I'm an administrator on a trivia site that I run for my friends... and realized that she took time... EVERY DAY to log on and play this stupid trivia .. but she couldn't take two seconds of her time to just shoot me an email and say, hey, how are you?" So yes, I went in and deleted her and banned her IP address from the site. I'm just so tired of one sided friendships... for me and my family. I want friendships that are enriching -- for me and for them. I want to be a good friend... I want my children to see me be a good friend and to know what it means TO be a good friend. I want to lead by example. I think one of those examples is to also let them know how to understand when you're the only one perpetuating a relationship and that sometimes, you just have to cut your losses and move on. It's a hard fact of life, but I chose to do that.
It's not two days later... and guess who calls me up out of the blue.... it was actually completely taken aback and beyond irritated that it took me banning her from a site I run to actually evoke any type of a frienship-like response from her... which then sends out the message that I want to be your friend when I have something to gain from it (i.e., you letting me back on your site). So that's not a friendly call... yes, she called both home and cell. How bizarre... I just don't even want to bother with the time of day for that.
My son, Josh has had to make the same type of decision here lately. There are two boys that live on our street... and he said that one of them (a boy that is older) told him that he didn't want to be his friend or play with him anymore because he wanted to play with kids his own age... mind you, he has had no problem the entire school year playing with him...but it IS his decisions. So, as Josh wants to go out and play and wants to go invite him to play, I have to remind him ... it's a one sided friendship... and when he's ready to be your friend, maybe he will come back and ask you to play but until then, just let him do his thing and you do yours. Maybe they'll meet back up in the middle, and maybe they wont... but you've been a good friend and that's all you can do. So, I've been proud of him for understanding such a grown up concept at a young 8 years of age. :) Boy the do have to grow up fast don't they?
Speaking of Josh, he had a buddy spend the night last night. They had a BLAST playing in the rain (yes, we've had like two feet of rain in the last 30 minutes (not really but it feels like it)... they went to the "playground" (as Drew likes to call it) and in the rain decided to blast down the slide... which had a puddle of water at the end and that turned into a puddle of mud. They were COVERED with mud...but were having a BLAST... they watched one of the original Star Wars (they're the only REAL Star Wars aren't they?) and then they went to bed. I got them up in time to eat some cereal, let in the housekeeper and then we jetted off to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History for the Star Wars Exhibit. Should I have taken my camera? Sure... the exhibits were AWESOME...but putting up with Drew during the whole thing was a WHOLE other story. He's been really whiney lately... maybe he realizes it sucks getting older! Ha! Turning 3 is hard to do! He's going to have to bounce for it! But this, today, was his first time to go to a movie.... an OMNI movie! He lasted about 24 minutes... until he was done, pretty much begging to go home, wanting a nap, wanting to leave. I was waiting for him to toss his popcorn, binkie, drink... anything but he didn't. When the movie was finally over, thank goodness, we started our ascent up the stairs to the exit at the top of the theater he was whining because he wanted to see the dolphins again...then he cried because he wanted to walk... then he cried because he was being crowded in the mass exodus and got frustrated someone ELSE (how dare they) were attempting to hold the very hand rail he was holding! I realized, it was just time to go. We loaded up and headed for home. I'm glad Josh had a good friend there to view the exhibits with since if he'd just been with Drew and I ... it would have been just sporadic and bizarre. :)
At the museum, Drew was enthralled with Chewy... he LOVED seeing "Darf Gay-ger" Sounds like some homo-porn title huh? Ha! He was also transfixed with some white snow beast "thing" that had pretty intense claws. I think he thought it was a real "animal" in a cage and was waiting for it to move. I wish I'd taken my camera... just to get some of his reactions if nothing else. But alas, the Canon SLR Digital Rebel is just so bulky and hard to transport that I tend NOT to take it with me b/c of having to tote everything else... it's just annoying.
So, I called Canon tonight.... found two cameras that I think would serve me well.... the one I really want is the Canon Powershot S5 IS. The zoom capacity on this is SICK man.... just awesome... it's got an image stabilizer... fastest processor.... (no lag time).... I'm going to go try one out if I can find a retailer that has it. The other one that I found that would work well, had less than half the zoom capabilities of this one...and if you know me and my photographic needs -- I gotta have zoom. I LOVE my zoom! AND with going to Disney World in October... I need something smaller and transportable. :) It also has the ability to take self portraits.... you can hold it out... turn the LCD screen around and point it towards you so you can see it and click... :) How fun woudl that be to get great mom/kid shots?! :)
Anyway, it's late... just thought I'd blab... and boy did I! :) Toodles...
Tomorrow and this weekend, my Memory Makers Master work will be completed along with my The Scrapbook Club Design Team entry! :) WISH ME LUCK!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Shocka duh haah
My sweet little crazy toddler.... likes Bon Jovi. ;) I can thank his older brother for that. Josh likes to put on his Zune and sing "You Give Love A Bad Name" by Bon Jovi... but Drew's interpretation of the lyrics leave much to be desired --- IF you want the song to sound like it's traditional melody. I kind of like Drew's version.
Shocka duh haah, yoooo to brain
you give luuuhh a baah name
I pay my car and you pay game
you give luuuhh a baah name
:)
He likes that song... as well as Uncle Krackers' "Drift Away"... gimme the beat boy and free my soul...
We went to a new grocery store today.... Sprouts... they're a whole foods market. It was GREAT. It was like an indoors farmer's market -- the prices, you couldn't beat them! :) we stocked up on lots of colorful foods.
Then, of course, had to hit Albertsons because a little man needed some Lucky Charms. I don't know many whole foods that would sell organic Lucky Charms. LOL. We're listening to Go Diego Go right now... they're coming in concert to Grand Prairie at Nokia Theater... I'm thinking of taking him. Not sure right now.
I've got so much to do over the next few weeks... love the busy! :) Among other things, I'm trying out for three design teams. :) Wish me luck!!
Shocka duh haah, yoooo to brain
you give luuuhh a baah name
I pay my car and you pay game
you give luuuhh a baah name
:)
He likes that song... as well as Uncle Krackers' "Drift Away"... gimme the beat boy and free my soul...
We went to a new grocery store today.... Sprouts... they're a whole foods market. It was GREAT. It was like an indoors farmer's market -- the prices, you couldn't beat them! :) we stocked up on lots of colorful foods.
Then, of course, had to hit Albertsons because a little man needed some Lucky Charms. I don't know many whole foods that would sell organic Lucky Charms. LOL. We're listening to Go Diego Go right now... they're coming in concert to Grand Prairie at Nokia Theater... I'm thinking of taking him. Not sure right now.
I've got so much to do over the next few weeks... love the busy! :) Among other things, I'm trying out for three design teams. :) Wish me luck!!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Pass the cheese, please
Have you ever looked back on the movies you really dug as a kid...they were cool, exciting, new... only to watch them as an adult and realize just how completely STUPID they were?! I swear I LOVED Conan the Destroyer when I was a kid and as Josh lies on the couch right now watching it while smacking his Big League Chew... I realize just how gay it is! Good GRIEF Charlie Brown! Clash of the Titans is another one...but I'm still not sure it's as bad as this one...
so hmm... wonder what other movies would hit that quota in my book. I remember when I was married to Bob we watched the movie "Cabin Boy" with Chris someone... Elliott maybe? I don't remember his last name... but it was the single most insanely stupid movie I have ever seen. I just sat there thinking that ... surely it HAS to get better than this... then I realized that was two hours of my life that I could never get back.. I wanted to hurt someone! LOL
I have spent most of the day trying to recuperate from the weekend... I was very tired, a little sunburned but all in all it was FANTASTIC! :)
Josh went to Six Flags and rode the Titan with his Great Uncle Russell. He isn't tall enough to ride the Batman but I told him when he was, that I'd ride it with him. :) So, oh boy... what fun I have to look forward to. Places like that are just a whippin to me now... I know we have to do it just because it's for the kids but darnit sometimes if you just don't want to. :)
Right now, Lola is curled up behind me in her spot on my chair... Drew is running around like a crazy man being a Power Ranger hyped up on Jolt Cola... I'm wondering where the day went... the wet, humid dreary rainy day we had... I would have preferred a Sangria by the pool... aaahh... but alas... rainy skies and children quickly throw rocks at that little glass house. :)
Not much else to report... Oh, I'm trying to plan a shin dig for my family next Labor Day -- a family reunion -- yes... I know, I need to be committed the things I elect to do but I'd really love to get to see my dad's side of the family on more than one occasion (funerals)... in the recent past, I had three people within three days tell me someone they loved had passed... leads you to understand and appreciate the time you get with your kinfolk... so I'm going to try to make the most of the time with mine. :)
Bed time for the beasts... Moo ha ha ha ha ha... later taters
so hmm... wonder what other movies would hit that quota in my book. I remember when I was married to Bob we watched the movie "Cabin Boy" with Chris someone... Elliott maybe? I don't remember his last name... but it was the single most insanely stupid movie I have ever seen. I just sat there thinking that ... surely it HAS to get better than this... then I realized that was two hours of my life that I could never get back.. I wanted to hurt someone! LOL
I have spent most of the day trying to recuperate from the weekend... I was very tired, a little sunburned but all in all it was FANTASTIC! :)
Josh went to Six Flags and rode the Titan with his Great Uncle Russell. He isn't tall enough to ride the Batman but I told him when he was, that I'd ride it with him. :) So, oh boy... what fun I have to look forward to. Places like that are just a whippin to me now... I know we have to do it just because it's for the kids but darnit sometimes if you just don't want to. :)
Right now, Lola is curled up behind me in her spot on my chair... Drew is running around like a crazy man being a Power Ranger hyped up on Jolt Cola... I'm wondering where the day went... the wet, humid dreary rainy day we had... I would have preferred a Sangria by the pool... aaahh... but alas... rainy skies and children quickly throw rocks at that little glass house. :)
Not much else to report... Oh, I'm trying to plan a shin dig for my family next Labor Day -- a family reunion -- yes... I know, I need to be committed the things I elect to do but I'd really love to get to see my dad's side of the family on more than one occasion (funerals)... in the recent past, I had three people within three days tell me someone they loved had passed... leads you to understand and appreciate the time you get with your kinfolk... so I'm going to try to make the most of the time with mine. :)
Bed time for the beasts... Moo ha ha ha ha ha... later taters
Friday, June 22, 2007
In life you learn...
As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
Hormonal Hostage
Between going on some pills, getting off some pills, I think my hormones have been held hostage. I think I'm just done with pharmaceuticals in general. I'm left now with this huge bloated feeling like I'm having PMS... and frankly I don't want PMS for like...3 weeks... nor does anyone around me! So today... I just stick it all in a drawer and say... fuggetaboutit!
I was looking up some sights/sounds of Disney today... getting excited about that. :) I can't wait. M-I-C--- SEE YA REAL SOON! K-E-Y -- WHY BECAUSE WE NEED A VACATION! MOUSE!
I was thinking today... that there is a loss in the world, of the human touch. Before e-mail, before PDA's, I-POD's, before Tivo and all that junk... people took the time to write letters to one another.... that's something tangiable that you can really hold onto and cherish. I think I'm going to take the time to make a habit of once a month, writing a letter to my children to tell them, just what wonderful things they accomplished that month, how I feel, where we are, what impresses me, what I miss about them... something that when I'm gone from this earth, they can look back on and really hang onto it... it's not going to be something that a hard drive can erase.. it's going to be something they can hold onto and treasure that their mom loved them enough... enough to take the time to let them know how important they were... even when they won't know it until they're much older... what a wonderful way for them to be able to look back on their journeys as young men... what a gift to myself when my freakin memory is all gone taht I'll be able to have them read it to me... Ha! :)
Today is Josh's last day of camp... so far he's had a great time. Jackson and Austin have been his little running buddies... we've got a busy weekend coming up which is nice. I like having a full day planned! :)
You know what else.. I need a stapler! I went in my studio to scrap today and was just at a loss without my stapler! So wake up little suzie... it's time to go shopping for a stapler!
TTFN
I was looking up some sights/sounds of Disney today... getting excited about that. :) I can't wait. M-I-C--- SEE YA REAL SOON! K-E-Y -- WHY BECAUSE WE NEED A VACATION! MOUSE!
I was thinking today... that there is a loss in the world, of the human touch. Before e-mail, before PDA's, I-POD's, before Tivo and all that junk... people took the time to write letters to one another.... that's something tangiable that you can really hold onto and cherish. I think I'm going to take the time to make a habit of once a month, writing a letter to my children to tell them, just what wonderful things they accomplished that month, how I feel, where we are, what impresses me, what I miss about them... something that when I'm gone from this earth, they can look back on and really hang onto it... it's not going to be something that a hard drive can erase.. it's going to be something they can hold onto and treasure that their mom loved them enough... enough to take the time to let them know how important they were... even when they won't know it until they're much older... what a wonderful way for them to be able to look back on their journeys as young men... what a gift to myself when my freakin memory is all gone taht I'll be able to have them read it to me... Ha! :)
Today is Josh's last day of camp... so far he's had a great time. Jackson and Austin have been his little running buddies... we've got a busy weekend coming up which is nice. I like having a full day planned! :)
You know what else.. I need a stapler! I went in my studio to scrap today and was just at a loss without my stapler! So wake up little suzie... it's time to go shopping for a stapler!
TTFN
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