guess who....

got braces?...Jake. He was so excited to get them on yesterday. Not sure how excited he will be in a week when the novelty has worn off! We were not home for more than a 1/2 hour and Jake comes to tell me that one of the braces is off his tooth. Sure enough...so I guess we get to go back to the Ortho today. Such a fun and exciting life I lead, huh?

Hey, can someone give this kid a haircut? Geesh what's wrong with his mother?

Printer Giveaway....

Pioneer Woman is giving away a printer...go here to enter!! :) Good luck....but I really want to win it, so don't have too much luck! ;)

Merry Christmas

Still feeling like a bah humbug this year...not good. Hopefully tomorrow I will get in the spirit since I only have to work half day and then I am off until Monday! :)

If you ever need to laugh (like I did today) please go here and here... sometimes, I can't stop laughing, especially if you read the captions & comments that go along with the pictures! :)

(picture from HGTV)

If I were having a dinner party, I would want my table to look like this...but since I am not having one....could someone else have one and decorate your table like this? Thanks.... ;)

We stayed at Paradise Point in San Diego for Tanner's last Pop Warner football game - ever. He has played for the last seven years! I cannot believe he will be a freshman next year, hopefully playing freshman football. It is going to be so hard not seeing all of the football families anymore, as so many of the boys are going on to different high schools...we have had so much fun with them! Tanner scored on a fumble...the first defensive play of the game! It was very exciting to watch. I, of course, forgot my camera and I have no pictures from his last game, nor did I take any pictures during the season? What's wrong with me?

Anyway, the resort was nice, the kids had fun swimming in the heated pool...Jake had so much fun that he feel asleep with his head on my lap at dinner Saturday night. I think he had too much fun swimming.

We got home and the kids wanted to get a Christmas tree...normally I go to Home Depot for a tree but they dry out so fast! We went to Peltzer Pines and cut one down- hopefully it will last a little longer. I left the house this morning with Christmas boxes everywhere...not done decorating! Now the kids will want presents to go under that tree!

(pictures from LHJ)

Christmas is usually my favorite time of year, but this year I can’t seem to get excited about it. The thought of lugging all my same ole’ decorations out again seems overwhelming. I am tired of the things I have, can’t afford to buy any new, we are limited in the placement of the tree and you know what really bugs me? Is that I get tired of seeing the decorations up after about a week!…then the thought that I have to pack it all away again- NOT FUN. Do I sound bah humbug or what??!

I hope I snap out of it soon, because my kids keep asking when I am going to start decorating….

laundry rooms

(pictures from BHG)

I need one of these ironing boards...anyone know where I can get one (at a reasonable price).
I have a laundry room, but it looks nothing like this, even when there are no clothes waiting to be washed/dried. I think one of our next projects needs to be redoing our laundry room- maybe if it looks like this, it will make laundry more fun?! Or maybe not!

(picture from HGTV)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I really like the fall, but this year I didn't decorate for Halloween and I definitely won't be decorating for Thanksgiving.... but aren't these great fall decorations? I was browsing Better Homes & Garden again....and found the following....love the mantle....

And I haven't been able to set a Thanksgiving table like this in years since we have been going to the desert for Thanksgiving...not that I mind, because I don't have to do the dishes this way...

Riley, Tanner & I are off to Arizona on Friday for Riley's Regional Cheer competition...I would love to see them place, but then that would mean she would go to the National championships in Florida...and we really don't have the money for that...

Yesterday I was browsing around BHG and found some things that I want for my house. The pillows above- I want that color combination (and those pillows) in the room upstairs that is a complete disaster!

this wall- I love it. I want something like this by my scrap table- however, I am the worst when it comes to putting things on the wall- I still have 3 things that I need to hang by my desk that I won't hang because I am afraid to make that "commitment".

I need this chair in my room but not in that color....

And I liked this - the set up is just like my room. I need all that "stuff" in my room too.

What I really need is the following- time, money & an interior decorator. I don't think I will be getting any of those things in the near future, so I can only dream when I look at these pictures....sigh...

When we remodeled the house 7 years ago- we had to put in a sprinkler system in case of a fire. The fire alarm & water junction are in a corner in our garage.

This morning when Jake went to get his shoes from the garage, he tells me that he thinks Dad's radio is "buzzing' in the garage. I go out to turn it off- and guess what? It wasn't the radio! It was the stinkin' sprinkler system- one of the pipes burst- shooting water towards the wall- about 3 inches from the wall- spraying so hard that it created a hole in the wall! I tried to stop it and the water changed directions & created another hole. I shut off the water main- but realized that the sprinkler system is on it's own main....couldn't find it. Had to call Mark to come home from work to stop the freakin' water!

NICE! Great way to start the day!

How did your morning go?????

My only trick or treater.....He was the grim reaper (I guess??) Riley was at a birthday party sleepover & trick or treated there. Tanner went to a party, so it was just us with Jake. It was lonely for Jake, he is used to so many people to have fun with. We didn't stay out long, I think he was tired (from his sleepover the night before). We were home by 8:15....poor kid.

BTW- what's with the all the wrinkles- sucks getting old!

Great, great book- I could hardly put it down!

ok- so I bought this...and I tried using it last night. Not as easy as I was hoping for. I watched the tutorial again today and will try working with the real pictures tonight. It doesn't like any songs that Jake wants me to use...of course. Anyone ever use this? Anyone want to make the slideshow for me... ;)

Honestly, I am ready for this football season to be over, then maybe our household will be back to relative normal....

Gremlin Margaritas

Don't these look fun to drink??? recipe & picture from BHG

ingredients
Margarita mix (Tequila optional) or lemonade (optional)
Grenadine
Skewer
1 each Kiwi, lemon, lime, orange
Maraschino cherry with stem
Toothpicks
directions
1. Serve chilled margarita mix on the rocks and add a splash of grenadine.

2. Skewer a slice of kiwi for the face. Cut a cherry in half and attach with pieces of toothpick for eyes. Slip the skewer into the beverage glass. Add the cherry stem for a smile and twists of lemon, lime, and orange peel for hair.

Pumpkin swirl browines...

Don't these look good??? You can get the recipe here

I watched this movie Saturday night- good chick flick....It was nice to see a happy ending.

I had my fill last week of mean, nasty people. It's hard for me to understand how people can be so mean to each other and sometimes it is hard to "turn the other cheek". Someday maybe I will be brave enough to call out the mean people, but probably not- and really what good would it do. Those type of people probably are hoping someone will do that, so then they can be mean some more....

Update: So I have decided to buy these products & in order to do this, I am now a distributor. There are no monthly minimums or anything...so if anyone is curious or would like some samples, let me know...

Has anyone ever tried the following products?

A friend of mine gave me some samples and I have to say I really like them. The drink below- Thin, is so good. I don't use it as a replacement for food, but it does help me not eat so much at lunch and dinner! Sometimes, when I am sitting at my desk, all I can think about is FOOD, so if I have this drink with something small, I get full quick. And this liquid vitamin, Ultimate, is really tasty too. All of us are taking this. The kids don't even mind drinking it alone. At first I mixed it with juice, but it tastes really good by itself, so I just give everyone a small amount in the morning....

Stencils

Go to Better Homes & Gardens and look at all the free stencils you can print out for your Halloween pumpkin. We have never tried using a stencil- but they look so cute & fun, I think we will this year.

Tustin Tiller Days

The girls competed again for the 3rd year...(I think)...Their routine was really cute. After the parade they had to rush to the field to be on time to the football game. At halftime they performed another dance (from their cheer camp) with the Lakewood cheerleaders. It was pretty neat to see both cheer squads out there doing the same routine.

Right after half time, they learned that they took 2nd place out of 8 other teams in the parade competition.

Why is it when I feel like getting things accomplished around the house, I don't have time to do it, yet when I actually have the free time to do things, I don't??? What's wrong with that?

I have been in the cleaning, declutter, re-decorate phase, but I don't have time to actually do anything....Here is what I want my closet to look like....I already have the shelves, so I could make my closet look like this, if I put a little effort into- what do you think- pretty cool, huh?

These are for you Mom...since I haven't posted a picture of him in a while.... :)

Cute water girls - they ran the water out to the boys during Jake's game. It was miserable hot on that field in La Habra...

The game was played right near Octomom's house- she was having a garage sale on Saturday. I wonder if she made enough to save her house?

A couple of days ago, Tanner asked me to get him some books for his Language Arts class, it seems he waited until the very last minute (no, not Tanner) to tell me he needed a book to read in class. He has to do 2 book reports a month! Wow, that's a lot of reading.

Anyway, I of course, loved the idea of picking out age appropriate books for Tanner. I searched Barnes & Noble online in the "Teen" section for something that I thought he would enjoy reading and in the process- maybe he would get something out the book. I had about 6 books that I wanted to buy him, but when I got to the bookstore I could only find 2 of them. (I couldn't order online because he needed the books that day!!) I brought the books home and he picked the book below to read first. It is being made into a movie as we speak, I think that is why he chose it first.And I was glad he picked that one first because, being the book nerd that I am, I starting reading this book as I was waiting in line at the Taco Bell drive thru! I love it and I am having a hard time putting it down. It is a total page turner and it is easy reading since it was written for a much younger age group than mine! ;) I definitely hope Tanner will learn something from this book- the main one being, you never know how your actions/inaction will affect someone else.....

I am thinking about purchasing this to create a slideshow for Jake's football team. Has anyone ever used this? Or do you have a different recommendation for me? I need some help here... :)

Not sure why I bother posting anymore...I think I am the only one that reads this, well besides maybe my mom....

We have all been busy with football, cheer and the drama of it all...geesh.

Proud

Of my little football player!! (#30) :) Go Cobras!

The other day after Jake’s shower, he comes to me saying his lip is bleeding. He is standing there with a towel wrapped around him covering his mouth with the end of the towel. As I am walking over to him, I ask what happened. He says “I don’t know”.

Hmmm, how does your lip bleed and you don’t know how it happened.

As I got closer to him, I could see that he had shaving cream on his face. I ask him if he used a razor on his face. He says “no” as he looks down, not looking at me in the eye. I ask why he has shaving cream on his face then. He says, because he was shaving….

I told him that he shouldn’t be using a razor – and cutting himself is the main reason why. The cut wasn’t too bad, but I think he learned his lesson. Too bad that I didn’t think of taking a picture…it was kind of funny….

Has anyone ever had pumpkin spice coffee from Brueggers- I love the Pumpkin Spice Latte's from Starbuck's...I am so happy it is almost time for them to return... :)

Happy 8th Birthday...I cannot believe how fast you are growing up!

For the last few days I have been obsessively reading Mamapundit's blog. I cannot stop myself from pouring over her posts, almost like I am watching a trainwreck, hoping for a different outcome that I know won't come. I have cried and felt my own heart breaking over her story and I don't even know her and I cannot stop thinking about her.

This woman is incredibly strong and I cannot believe the things she has gone through in the last few months and years, for that matter. I can't imagine how I would be if these same set of circumstances were to hit me and my family, I can only pray that they never do. I urge you to read her story. One thing is for sure, I have talked to my kids about her son's story, Tanner mostly...but it is never too soon to start this type of conversation.

New items to add to my wish list...all from the Pottery Barn I have always wanted a bedroom set- never have had one...and I really like the bedding. My bedroom is so blah...

And I want new couches- not necessarily white...if I could do it all over again, I would not have bought the couches we have in our family room- they are too big for the space and there is no other way to arrange them then the way they are....

And finally- I would so love to have this by the pool....that would be heaven. Why does pottery barn have to be so darn expensive????

Being a "flyer"

Riley went to cheer camp last weekend...she loves everything about cheerleading, the dances, her friends, but really I think she loves being up in a stunt. Here one of the instructors is telling her how he will put her "up" on his hand. She is a little reluctant, which surprised me....

getting her started....

She's up! First of all, how in the heck does he do that, he literally just lifted her up. I love seeing the big smile on her face...:) Look at Jake's head on the bottom of the picture. He was amazed. She has no fear....